I Was Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Who Gets Killed Midway Through the Story but It Looks Like I’ll Be Executed as a Traitor if I Try to Do Good Deeds

70: Priorities

I head to the school to confirm the situation. I want to resolve the matter once and for all. To do so, I need to investigate various things.

I plan to discuss it with Millra and Lana. If I proceed alone, it might cause problems. Even if I identify the culprit, if I’m seen as acting arbitrarily, it’ll be bad. No, as the employer, I shouldn’t think that way. The other party has emotions too.

If I unilaterally decide everything, there’s no point in cooperating with others. Deciding on a strategy and giving instructions are separate issues. Both Millra and Lana must have their own thoughts on the matter.

At the same time, I couldn’t help but think about the school situation. With a series of incidents occurring one after another, it’s only natural that I wouldn’t be in a good mood. I had to do something about it. If I could somehow calm things down, that would be great.

“Ah, Rex-sama! You’ve come again today?”

“Yes, I’ve come to check on the situation. Thank you for your concern.”

“I was worried that you might be upset, so I’m glad you’re here.”

As usual, Julia and Stellaluna welcomed me. I’ve grown accustomed to this kind of scene. It’s become a part of my daily life. Now, it’s an indispensable part of my routine.

That’s why I had to solve this incident no matter what. If something happened to the two of them, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.

Who would have thought that I, the protagonist, would end up in a relationship like this with Rex? I never imagined it when I was reborn. But it feels good.

“We’re not having any problems, Rex-sama. For now, things are going smoothly.”

“We’re also making progress with the investigation. For now, it’s going well.”

At least, I didn’t think things would take a turn for the worst. Unless the culprit remained unknown and managed to escape. Since the two of them said everything was fine, I had to believe them. However, I couldn’t let my guard down. There was still a possibility that another incident might occur. A cornered culprit might do something strange.

“You’re the one who poisoned us! You’re the one who’s been causing trouble!”

“…Crono, is that how you talk to our benefactor? If you continue to act like that, I’ll have to reconsider.”

“Rex-sama, don’t mind what he says. We’re all grateful to you.”

“Yes, we were saved by Rex-sama. We should return the favor.”

I could understand why Crono would be suspicious. The Black family wasn’t exactly well-liked. However, it was nice to see that everyone trusted me. My current doubts were almost forgotten.

Crono seemed to be genuinely suspicious. He looked like he was about to shout, his eyes fixed on me. But it was a false accusation. I thought it was better to remain silent in this situation.

If I played my cards right, I could turn the tables. However, I didn’t want to eliminate Crono just yet. Even if he disliked me, I didn’t want to harbor ill feelings towards him. After all, we had conversed with each other to some extent.

“Lana-sama, why…”

“I understand that the Black family is in a difficult position. It’s not a big deal.”

“Don’t make fun of me! You’re just trying to get on my good side, but it’s pointless!”

Crono stormed off, his footsteps echoing. Well, it was only natural that he would react that way towards someone he suspected. It seemed like I was disliked, but that was to be expected. Maybe that was just how it was.

“Ah, he’s gone. But that’s probably for the best. To be honest, he was a nuisance.”

“Yes, it’s good that we don’t have to deal with him anymore. He was getting in the way of our chance to impress Rex-sama.”

“I also think it’s about time we stopped tolerating him. It seems like he respects me, but it’s annoying.”

Ah, did Lana respect me, but was bothered by the rumors that I had sold her out? If that was the case, I could understand why she would dislike me. That would also explain why she didn’t want me to be protected. Or maybe Lana had feelings for me? Either way, it was unlikely to work out. At any rate, it was a hopeless situation.

“Someone like Rex-sama is one of a kind. Considering my environment, it’s easy to understand.”

“Well, I don’t pay attention to what nobodies like him say.”

“Maybe it’s about time we kicked him out? I think it’s necessary. If we don’t, it might lead to discord.”

Is that what he thought? Did Crono really dislike me that much? Or was he just being efficient and judging me as a nuisance? Either way, it was a sad situation. Crono’s feelings didn’t seem to be reaching me.

“You’re looking down on Rex-sama’s kindness… If that’s the case, Rex-sama is too merciful.”

“Well, Crono did suffer from the poison. It’s natural to want to lash out sometimes.”

“That’s no excuse to pick fights. At the very least, it’s not like Rex-sama is a bad person who would harm others.”

“If you leave, you’ll realize just how kind Rex-sama is.”

But what could I do? In this situation, was it really okay to kick someone out? There were many anxious students, and it was possible that they might be expelled. Thinking about Julia and Stellaluna’s situations, it seemed like there were many people who were struggling.

There were people who had nowhere to go, gathering here. If I kicked them out, they would be in trouble. If I abandoned them, they might end up dying on the streets. It was a heavy responsibility.

“I’ll think about it. If we’re sent to Astral Academy, it would be a problem.”

“Rex-sama is really too kind. I don’t dislike him, though.”

“I’m just grateful to be alive. I can’t make demands.”

“If you order me to, I’ll do as you say. That’s the right thing to do.”

“If I’m with Rex-sama, everything will be fine.”

Well, let’s think about the direction of the investigation. If I’m suspected too much, it’ll be a hassle. As I see it, if the kids rebel against me, it’s fine as long as they’re not too harsh.

In any case, the most important thing is to ensure the people involved are safe. To achieve that, we might need to cut off some connections. We need to think carefully about what’s most important for the future.