落とし穴外伝：女たらしの噂 (Part2)
I was seething with rage when she said that.
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Well, I have to keep tabs on the dishonorable rumors surrounding Yuki-san. It’s all about maintaining a balance. The rumors about him being a womanizer are exactly as Yuki-san planned, you see. It wouldn't be good if people started thinking he was a man who could handle serious public office. Haven't you heard?"
"I have heard of it. I assumed it was to ensure that Seraria-sama and Eris-sama’s efforts were the ones in the spotlight."
"Exactly. Yuki-san handles so much work in other continents and with the dark guilds—the kind of work that happens in the shadows. If people thought he was also handling public administration, it would be a problem. It’s better if he’s just seen as a man chasing skirts. If people actually started demanding he take on more public duties, he’d be buried under even more work. Could you handle that?"
"…Honestly, it would be extremely difficult."
Even now, I’m stretched to my limit. I’m already struggling to organize the endless requests pouring in for Yuki-san from various nations. If I had to add Weed’s internal public affairs on top of that, it would be impossible.
"Precisely. Yuki-san and Seraria-sama both decided that they couldn't take on any more, which is why they maintain this public image. And more than anything, it’s also a way to flush out the people who try to target him, thinking he’s some kind of undisciplined fool. You know how people keep trying to force women on him, right?"
"I do. There are still people who come to us claiming they want to 'present' their daughters to Yuki-sama."
"Since he accepted Fiora-sama, they’ve been emboldened. I’m sure you’re handling it, but it’s not just royalty or nobility—even merchants try to offer their daughters as concubines, don't they?"
"Yes."
The ulterior motives of those trying to profit from Yuki-sama’s position were painfully obvious. Fiora-sama, of course, rejected them, and Aurelia, Hobis, and I were right there with her to shut them down.
"Well, I suppose that’s fine since Yuki-san seems to have his own eye on things, but the reason I’m moving is because there are people out there using Yuki-san’s name to commit actual crimes."
"Excuse me?"
I tilted my head, not quite grasping the meaning, and Lari-san continued with a wry smile.
"Just as I said. There are people impersonating Yuki-san to commit fraud or assault women."
"What!?"
"Yes, yes. Calm down."
Lari-san tried to soothe me as I flared up again, but…
"That is unforgivable. For the sake of Yuki-sama’s honor—"
I couldn't just stay calm. I needed to contact the police and the military immediately to crack down on this.
"I know. That’s why I’m investigating it. This happened even before Yayui and the others arrived."
"Eh? Is that so?"
I froze, stunned by this unexpected revelation.
"It’s not exactly a common occurrence, but small-time crooks sometimes use Yuki-san’s name to do bad things. Since the dark guilds have started moving, I’m on high alert, thinking they might be behind it. Though, honestly, it’s a classic tactic for petty criminals to use the names of powerful people to get away with mischief. Haven't you heard of that? Not just in Weed, but in other towns and countries?"
"…When I’m working, people often claim to be an 'acquaintance of so-and-so' to get their way."
"It’s the same thing. Well, Yayui and the others would know how to verify the truth, but ordinary people have no way of checking, and they wouldn't even think to try."
"I see."
It was true. An ordinary person wouldn't have the means to verify if someone was truly connected to a high-ranking figure, nor would they dare to try. At worst, they’d be accused of lèse-majesté. But Yuki-sama would never do such things. He plays with the children at school, even letting them ride on his back like a horse. I was shocked when I first saw it—the consort of the Queen being kicked by children and covered in mud.
"Besides, it’s not exactly a lie that he’s a womanizer, is it? Yayui and the others seem quite fond of him, after all."
"Th-that is out of deep respect and affection…"
"I know, I know. Regardless, I’m handling the investigation, so don't worry. Oh, and please tell Aurelia and Hobis about this through Yayui; if they get as angry as Yayui did, it might cause a scene."
"Yes, I understand. But are there victims?"
"I’m looking into that as well. These kinds of reports have been popping up again recently. Will you tell Yuki-san that I’ll be reporting to him soon?"
"Yes."
With that, I parted ways with Lari-san, but a sense of unease lingered in my chest as I returned to our inn. Rumors like these are the inevitable fate of a famous man, I suppose. But when it crosses the line into fraud, that is a different matter entirely.
Driven by indignation, the subordinates began to move.