Before we left, I made sure Rea had something to eat in case she would be left out of the meal later. We then made our way to the Fizameria Restaurant. Upon reaching, one of her escorts was standing outside the establishment. She smiled upon seeing us and said, "please, Ava-sama. Virina-sama is waiting in the lounge."
She guided us past tables of people eating, then up the stairs to a private dining floor, and then further into the back rooms that held the private lounges. For someone to reserve a lounge like this, just how expensive would it be?
We entered through a door, that upon closing, shone with the light of multiple enchantments. Rea took her cues from Virina's escorts, and went to stand along the walls of the room. Virina smiled when we came in and said, "don't worry about the enchantments. They're intended to prevent anyone from eavesdropping on and recording our conversation."
I nodded and presented Virina with a pendant, saying, "a token of our first meeting, Lady Virina. This pendant has the effect of conferring the [Multi-Cast] skill."
Her eyes widened as one of her escorts received it and checked it for safety. He then returned it and said, "Virina-sama, this Ava-sama has left out an important detail. It also greatly increases [MAG]."
"Ara, what a fine gift you've given me. I can't believe you'd so easily give me such a valuable item."
"It was just something I made in preparation for our meeting, Virina-sama. It does not bear such praise."
However, hearing that Virina looked even more surprised. According to her, only high-level craftspeople could make such items, and the material requirements were also demanding. Well, I did have the [Equipment Reinforcement]
"Well, on to the main topic, Ava-san. Have you heard of the phrase, 'Noblesse Oblige'?"
I nodded. She smiled wolfishly, saying, "ara, is that so? Do you know, people of this world don't know this term?"
My eyes widened. Ah, so she was a reincarnation, huh? That would explain her vastly different attitude towards people than the other nobles that I had heard of. As if I hadn't reacted, though, she continued, "when I was a child, I asked my Otou-sama if he had heard of the phrase. Apparently, he hadn't. Neither had any of my friends once I made my social debut. So, it seems that only otherworlders like us have heard of it."
She then looked to me with a fierce spark in her eyes, asking, "Ava-san. How do you feel about the Empire?"
I held her gaze for a few moments before opening my mouth, "Virina-san, do you wish to rebel?"
"E-eh? What was that, all of a sudden... well, it's not that I hadn't thought of it. But it's the Empire, you know, the Empire! Even I can do no more than obstruct and inconvenience part of the slave trade..."
It's strange that she hadn't yet been contacted by the Empress or her aides, I was thinking. However...
"Virina san, what's the Count like?"
"Eh? Otou-sama? Well...he's pretty good to me, but honestly he's the worst. I've seen him beat and rape slaves. He often buys a ton of slaves to feed the monsters that some of his aides have [Tamed]. For as far as I know, he's the lowest of the low when it comes to the slavery market."
Ah, that would do it. They would probably not risk reaching out to someone whose father was notorious for abusing slaves.
"I see. Let me ask you again, Virina-san. Do you wish to rebel?"
It was Virina's turn to hold my gaze, staring deeply into my eyes as she tried to figure out what I was trying to say. Her escorts, too, seemed to hold their breath as they waited for their mistresses's reply.
"...yes."
"Rea."
Instantly, a sword-tipped whip was pointing at the throats of everyone in the room. In the stunned silence, I addressed the room.
"You will have to risk your life and the lives of people you care about. You will have to take lives and be merciless. Do you have the resolve?"
To my surprise, the first person to move was Virina. She smiled fiercely, and gripped the sword in her hand, causing blood to began dripping from her palm. She said, "I mentioned 'Noblesse Oblige' earlier. Having been reborn into this world as a noble, that is my resolve."
Rea retracted her whips, standing as if nothing had happened.
"Good resolve. Ask the Palace for an audience with the Empress. I'll pass word along to receive you."
"E-eh? Ava-san, you're acquainted with the Empress?? Wait, also, the Empress is involved in rebelling?"
I simply smiled and said, "the Empress should have something for you to do. The rebellion is already underway."
"Uwaa, and here I thought I was all alone...wait, Ava-san, just how long have you been in the capital?"
"Hmm, maybe around a month?"
"A month??? And you're already so deeply involved? Aah, I'm useless, aren't I, I've been living here all my life and yet I've accomplished nothing..." Virina trailed off, her eyes increasingly looking like a dead fish.
"Maa...I think a big reason that I was approached was precisely because I wasn't a citizen of the Empire."
That seemed to revive her. Following our discussion of the rebellion and how things were going, we defaulted to talking about our experiences after being reincarnated into this world. Virina was born to the family of the Count. She was a [Slira], which made up most of the population in the capital. She had gained consciousness the moment she was born, and realised that she was a reincarnation. Bringing the values from her past life into this one, she looked at the state of the Empire and saw the worst of it reflected in her eyes.
Certainly, it's not like countries on Earth were free of exploitation. However, being a noble, Virina felt a much greater sense of responsibility to make at least the people that lived on her land happy and healthy. Rather, the House of the Count of Chalcen was one of the worst offenders. They treated common people like slaves and slaves like dirt, constantly accumulating wealth without end. Virina, however, didn't lose heart. She figured that since she would become the heir to the estate, she could create change where she could.
Alas, in this world where various kinds of power could only be retained by combat power, the sheltered noble daughter who had very few chances to level up hovered at around D-rank. For someone who was supposed to be a Countess in the future, she was certain that this meagre amount of strength would not even come close to effecting any kind of reasonable change. Furthermore, her less-than-subtle machinations had led to assassins targeting her while she stayed in the capital.
Virina had come to the capital to study under a government official. As such, she was living by herself, albeit surrounded by servants, soldiers, and her escorts. Yet night after night, her subordinates would repel the attacks of assassins sent for her life. Virina thus sought strength - if not her own, then the strength of others. She had noticed that Vier seemed strong. I, his master, seemed even stronger. Thus she had extended an invitation to me, seeking my help.
"I cannot help you directly. However, send a direct commission to the Mercenary Guild and ask for Vier and Marcta. They should be able to join you for a time and help you out."
Although I could certainly help her directly if I so wished, it would limit my movements too much. I had too many things to consider and do to shoulder being constantly tied down at someone's side. In replacement of that, I told her to directly commission my subordinates to stay by her side in the meantime. Being a [Berserker], Vier could protect her bodily while the [Assassin] Marcta could repel the assailants. Furthermore, it would help them learn how to interact with nobility, which would expand their horizons and probably be useful in the future.
"Ah, in that case...I'll send two of my best people to you. Train them for me? Ah, and of course you can use them however you wish."
Virina hit me with a proposal that surprised me. I wasn't expecting her to ask me to help train them. Although, if I was able to use them however I wished, that would also be a good thing. I could request that they train my subordinates in etiquette and some other social mores. It wouldn't be enough for them to simply be strong - I would like my subordinates to be versatile in their proficiencies.
"Nn. I'll accept them."
"Thank you, Ava-san! Un, now how about you tell me about what happened with you after being reincarnated?"
I told Virina about being reincarnated a few months ago into the [Labyrinth], and detailed my experiences fighting out of it alone. I then talked about meeting Rea and finally coming to this city, how I met the rebellion, and how I ended up freeing the slave children that I had bought from the market, eventually training them and turning them into my own elite squad.
"Uwaaa, Ava-san, you've had it really rough, huh? I see why you're so strong now. To make it out of there alive, only overwhelming strength and an unbreakable will would do it, ne?"
"Nn. Certainly. However, I also collected a lot of valuable materials, like what I used to make your pendant. So I'm certainly not struggling to live right now, thankfully."
"Umu umu. Ne, can I call you Ava-onee-chan?"
"Are?"
"Well...you just seem so mature and reliable, and have that cool beauty vibe, you know? You seem very onee-chan like!"
"Eto...maybe in time to come, when we're more familiar with each other?"
"Ah, true. Well then, I'll be waiting to call you onee-chan, ehehe!"
Sighing, we concluded the dinner and I took my leave with Rea. I told Virina to send whomever she wanted to the Oris Inn and look for Rea and I. On the way back, though, Rea was walking unusually close to me, looking as though she was a little upset.
"What's the matter, Rea?"
"Ah, Ava-sama! Um, it's nothing..."
"Rea, you can tell me, you know? Are you feeling jealous?"
"Well, a bit...Ava-sama seemed to get along so well with that Virina... and both of you are from the same world, too. Rea felt a little far away..."
I patted her head and told her, "silly girl. In this world, no one is more important to me than you, okay? Don't forget, you were my first friend and first family in this world."
"Mmm, Ava-sama... Rea just... felt a little sad."
I stopped, causing Rea to stop next to me. I then pulled her into a hug and said, "Rea, your place in my heart is not going to get replaced, you know?"
The red-faced Rea mumbled, "u-understood, Ava-sama. Thank you. Rea was being silly."
"Nn, so long as you understand," I released Rea and stroked her head again, then continued on our way back to the inn. Once we got there, I teleported over to the house where the children were staying and told Vier and Marcta to expect a direct commission from the Mercenary Guild soon, letting them know about Virina's circumstances.