Mentally, I begin making a plan to recruit the other person who’s reincarnated.

Well, he’s almost certainly reincarnated, anyway.

Even if he isn’t, he still seems to be quite powerful. More than powerful enough to recruit.

Even though the knight house is under me, that doesn’t mean that I can just do whatever I’d like.

In my mind, there’s two ways I can go about this.

1, I can befriend the protagonistic boy, then allow the knight house he’s part of to fall, and take the boy in, with the excuse being he’s my friend, after his house falls.

Or 2, I can keep in touch with the head of his house, and convince them to have the reincarnated boy train here once he turns seven or eight.

It’s not uncommon for nobles to send their children who won’t inherit the title away to train at a superior noble’s home, in hopes that they do a good enough job to gain a title of their own.

Though, it is seen as a slight weakness, it’s a weakness more than made up by the possible support of the house they sent their child to.

It’s a risk that quite a few, take, though most do still just keep their children at their own home.

The preferred option for me is the 2nd option, as the viscounty needs to try to keep the knight houses that are actually loyal from falling. I’ll even excuse a little treasonous action if that’s what it takes in order to recruit the protagonistic boy. Though only a little. Then the 1st option is more viable.

The 1st option is more of a backup. It’s just far more likely.

I peek out through the door. I’m already starting to regret causing such a scene…That was pretty stupid. It was too much…

…I’m gonna have to at least make use of it though while trying to talk to other noble children.

Even if it was a bad decision, I should at least be making use of it. Turn it back into an acceptable, though somewhat bad, decision.

My anxiety, which wasn’t doing anything earlier, has really gone up now that I have a chance to think.

…I kinda have to do it, don’t I? I gotta head out of here.

I force myself to stand up straight, and head out the door trying to look as confident as I can.

Apart from a few extra glances my way, no one seems to care about what had just occurred.

I look around to try to find the boy who seems protagonist-like. Oddly enough, he seems to have completely disappeared, along with the girl he was protecting.

I do find the ones attacking the girl though. I walk over to them.

“So, care to explain to me what was going on in that room in detail? I’d particularly want to get names.” I ask

Since I can’t ask the boy myself what his name is since I don’t know where he is, and I forgot to ask, I’ll be doing this to get his name instead.

“That would certainly not be an issue, Viscount Akashi.” One of the boys replies

His speech is certainly fitting for a noble, even if he isn’t one of peerage. He seems to be a pre-teen, like the rest of his friends.

Not looking down on me is something I like.

I suppose, even though he was bullying, I don’t think I’ll get rid of him.

Being mean and being a noble are two things that have no issues co-existing.

I’ll do my best to discourage his bullying if I don’t get rid of him.

The noble boy introduces himself, and his friends, and then tells me what the names of the two he was fighting.

The girl is called Towa Fan, and the boy that seems like one of those generic anime protagonists is called Akio Arita.

I try my best to remember the unimportant names of the bullies.

After that, the noble boy explains his version of the story.

It’s a version that’s quite twisted, I’m sure, but I’ll make use of it anyway, if only to convince the two they were bullying to give their side of the story.

Essentially, he’s saying the girl, Towa, brought one of his friends into the room to fight, and he and his other friends went in to protect their friend. Then Akio went in and attacked them.

It’s a story that would make sense if I didn’t have a bias for Akio.

I mean, he looks so much like a generic anime protagonist. He seems like one too. And generic anime protagonists aren’t really often wrong when it comes to forming their harems… The girl who’s saved by the protagonist soon after he’s been reincarnated is the childhood friend.

I’m very inclined to believe I’m a character in a web novel who’s either a side character or a main character. Though not the protagonist.

I’ve been way too influenced by web novels and light novels, but not arrogant enough to believe myself to be the protagonist.

As such, I’m inclined to use things like stereotypes and tropes to influence my thoughts on people I don’t know.

It’s not something that I should do, probably, with the whole, ‘Don’t judge a book by it’s cover’ thing, but it’s something I’m pretty much doing subconsciously, and it’s not something that is entirely wrong. For the most part, it’s correct. If you look like a farmer, you’re probably a farmer. If you look like a noble, then you definitely are one. If you weren’t, you’re either in the process of being killed by a noble, or will be soon.

Nobles take great offense to those who pretend to be nobles.

I make my way out of the area.

I should see what the adults are doing… and what takes place at banquets.

I’m quite curious, actually.

On my way, I see the girl that was being bullied down the hallway.

…Her name is Towa, right? I might have already forgotten…

Since she has already triggered some flags to becoming a member of the protago- sorry, Akio. I should call him by his name. Towa has triggered a flag to become a member of Akio’s harem.

I can probably use her to get in touch with Akio in a more natural, and less odd manner.

I mean, it’s quite normal to have a friend introduce you to another one of their friends.

Rather, in this world, that’s the primary way people get to know each other.

Of course, as a candidate for Akio’s forming harem, she’s likely quite talented too. I’ll attempt to recruit her as well, though I’ll also double-check.

There’s a chance that she’s not a combatant. Though not a high one.

I walk up to her.

“Salutations, I’m Takabi Akashi. I’m asking those involved what I saw occurring in that room… I’m quite curious. It didn’t seem to be a duel,” I ask

While combat in duels is something respected, as well as combat where both parties have agreed to battle, combat where only one side wishes to fight, is quite looked down upon.

Actually, combat between nobles where only one side wishes to fight is seen in a very bad light. It’s natural for a bystander noble to do a little investigation, especially if the location it took place is inside their territory.

“They were bullying me, and Akio went to protect me…” Towa explains,

…You should probably learn proper noble etiquette. You need to start with a greeting.

I push the thought to the back of my mind and reply to the girl.

“I’ve already asked the other party for their side of the conflict. It’s essentially the opposite of what you’re saying happened… you’ll have to explain better than that, else I’ll have to place punishment upon you and Akio,” I tell her

I have to make everything seem the least suspicious as I can.

Trusting her immediately would be incredibly suspicious.

It’s hard to become friends with someone you’re suspicious of.

“...You can punish me if necessary. Please, whatever you do, don’t punish Akio please… He was just helping me.” Towa immediately pleads, a few tears leaking out of her eyes

…That was fast. Really, really fast.

I sigh. “Don’t worry, yet, I need to see both sides-”

I’m interrupted.

“What are you doing to Towa?” a voice from behind me asks

It’s Akio.

…well isn’t that wonderful?

“I’m simply requesting an explanation on what was going on in that room. I was going to look for you after this, but it seems it’s a better idea to do so now,” I reply “The other party has already given me an explanation.”

Akio looks at me with a bit of suspicion, but much less than previously.

…Da-...Dangit. No cursing, Takabi.

This might put a bit of a wrench into my plans…

What Towa’s reason for quickly crying to paint me as another enemy or something? Would I be bad for the plot of the story if I were to be on friendly terms, or something?

…Do I need to fit into an Archetype?

What Archetype would I even fit into? I’d refuse if I’d have to be part of a harem, or a love interest, in general.

I’m straight… mostly. I mean, other than just regular girls, I’m fine with traps and reverse traps…

Err, never mind.

In any case, I refuse to fit into a love interest Archetype no matter what.

Couldn’t I just avoid the protagonist and whatever the protagonist is here to stop, while also dealing with the underworld on my own…?

I kinda feel like I should be avoiding Akio now…

“And, who, exactly, are you? Just because you walked in on the situation doesn’t mean you have to be involved in it.” Akio asks

“I’m Takabi Akashi. I walked into a situation that’s against noble etiquette, occurring inside my own home. So, I do belive I have reason to involve myself.” I reply

“...Fine.” Akio sighs “I’ll tell you my side of the situation.”

Akio goes on to explain, with Towa filling in some information, and speaking up to vocally agree with Akio, here and there.

Essentially, it’s that Towa was brought into the room by one of the bullies, and the other four went in to bully her with their friend afterwards. Akio followed them in, and they began to fight.

Akio didn’t last long in the slightest, but then I interviened.

Now that I think about it, it’s not that impressive that Akio held on that long. I think it felt longer to me since I was also in a combat situation between seeing Akio leave to enter the room, and entering the room myself.

Combat is something that is often very fast. It’s never as long as anime and the like portray it. Being able to hold out as long as he did was quite good.

I act like I’m convinced by Akio and Towa.

I was never really planning on passing a fair judgment. A protagonist-like person such as Akio is far too valuable to pass up on recruiting.

“...I’ll punish them harshly when I next get the opportunity,” I tell them, before continuing to head off towards the adult’s area.

I’ll take things slow. I’ll figure out if there’s anything tying the bully’s families to any illiegal activities, and call upon Akio and Towa to watch once it’s time for their judjment.

A somewhat worse punishment compared to average is not a big deal. Often, when passing judjement for something, the results are heavily influenced by the judge's mood, in this world.

Judges are mostly also nobles, are royalty. They aren’t trained, so mood has a large influence. A bad mood can lead to particularly bad punishments. A good mood often leads to some punishments that aren’t difficult.

As such, it wouldn’t be suspicious in the slightest.

“Why can’t you punish them for their actions now?” Akio asks

“Though I’d prefer to, what they did what a breach in noble etiquette, though not a breach in law. As no one was really harmed, it’s not something I can punish them for. The best I can do is punish them particularly harshly when they next get punished. Else, I’d be the one breeching noble etiquette. In a worse way than them, as I’d be breaching the trust between house Akashi and the other knight houses. That could, in turn, prove deadly to the territory. Something such as a particularly harsh sentence, can be assumed to be me having a particularly harsh day, however, and would not breach noble etiquette.” I explain

“...What does noble etiquette matter when people like that are just walking around?” Akio asks

I sigh.

Well, I suppose my mindset doesn’t clash particularly well with the mindset of someone protagonist like such as Akio.

“Well, will you take the explanation of ‘Politics suck’?” I ask “I don’t particularly want to get into detail of such a thing.”

“You’re like two…” Akio sighs

“Yes, and? I’m a particularly mature person for my age, even for nobility.” I reply

“...Fine. Please send a message to houses Fan and Arita, while those bullies are being judged.” Akio requests,

“I will,” I tell him, before heading off to the adult’s area of the party.

A success. How nice. Now, I just need to last the rest of the night while working on the other objectives, and this night will go down wonderfully.