Chapter 100
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Gilbert Rasmus is one of the cardinals of the Crater Church.
Those who know him well describe him as a handsome and refined gentleman at first glance, but one who harbors ulterior motives and loves to scheme more than anything else. They see him as a troublemaker lacking in consideration and thoughtfulness.
This assessment isn’t wrong.
However, it doesn’t tell the whole story about him.
In reality, while Gilbert is indeed an unconventional character as described earlier, he actually conceals a deep faith in his heart and is a compassionate person.
But because he deliberately tries to hide these aspects of his nature, it’s rare for him to be evaluated fairly.
Now, when Gilbert, who had been dispatched from the royal capital, made contact with Siesta, he didn’t tell her everything.
This was, of course, due to his thoughtfulness. He simply couldn’t bring himself to tell everything to Siesta, a pure and devout believer.
So, what did he keep from Siesta?
The plan to completely tame the Hero – Ryūgūin Ouji – was carried out by multiple collaborators, centered around Gilbert, one of the cardinals of the Crater Church.
They called this plan the 「Terrarium Project.」
They referred to the current Hero, who indulged in pleasure without a single doubt that his nest was a 「prepared terrarium,」 as 「Ein,」 a play on words from one of the phrases passed down by a previously summoned Hero.
These facts, which thoroughly degraded the Hero who had been synonymous with saving the country, were not conveyed to Siesta, as it was thought that knowing the minimum circumstances would be sufficient.
Moreover, the reason why such an elaborate and uncertain plan as the 「Terrarium Project」 was adopted was something too unseemly to even mention. Therefore, not only Siesta but also all others were forbidden from leaking this information.
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Even before being summoned to this world, Ryūgūin Ouji consistently argued that people who resort to violence are barbaric.
Therefore, to him, the people of this world who make such a fuss about magic and swords are nothing but a gathering of barbarians who deserve to be looked down upon.
However, he did understand that violence had its uses.
For example, negotiations backed by violence can put significant pressure on the other party. Ryūgūin was convinced that standing above the otherworlders and using violence appropriately was its true purpose and the smartest way to handle things.
He believed that as long as he ordered others to use violence instead of doing it himself, his actions wouldn’t be classified as 「barbaric.」
What a convenient way of thinking.
Ryūgūin Ouji also believed that jealousy, grudges, and resentment are inevitable for successful men.
Therefore, he, who considered himself excellent, didn’t think his safety was completely guaranteed at all.
The fact that he could declare all negative feelings directed at him as jealousy or personal grudges, and that all of these were the fault of others, shows just how thick-skinned he was. However, he did take measures to deal with the potential dangers that might result from this, in his own way.
That’s precisely why Ryūgūin wore a large number of ornaments.
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Ryūgūin is foolish, but not entirely incompetent.
Ever since Yamada was around, he had been somewhat aware of the potential dangers that might befall him, such as the possibility of being attacked by assassins or encountering crises in the dungeons he explored to achieve his goals.
While most of his income was spent on ridiculous indulgences like wine and women, a portion was used to purchase items to avoid personal crises.
The ornaments Ryūgūin had gathered so far included seven rings, two bracelets, two anklets, and a necklace.
Of course, all of these were expensive and rare items.
On the second, third, and fourth toes of his right foot, he wore the following rings in order:
The 「Ring of Poison Nullification」 that neutralizes all poisons.
The 「Ring of Instant Death Prevention」 that ensures survival for at least a few minutes regardless of the attack received.
The 「Ring of Paralysis Nullification」 that negates paralysis from any attack.
On the second to fifth toes of his left foot, he wore these rings in order:
The 「Ring of Death」 – disguised as a gift by assassins and the like, it kills the wearer when activated by the registered owner (of course, Ryūgūin is the registered owner of this one).
The 「Ring of Arrow Deflection」 that completely shuts down attacks from arrows or similar projectiles (like thrown knives) from a distance.
The 「Ring of Pain Relief」 that completely cuts off pain in case of injury.
The 「Ring of Inexhaustible Virility」 – Ryūgūin’s most frequently used magic item, perfectly suited to him, which endlessly draws out tireless sexual energy.
In addition to the seven rings, he wore the 「Bracelet of Physical Defense Barrier」 on his right arm, the 「Bracelet of Magical Defense Barrier」 on his left arm, and an 「Anklet of Health Recovery」 on each foot.
Furthermore, around his neck, he wore the most expensive and rarest of all the accessories mentioned so far – a 「Mythical Item」 called the 「Necklace of Resurrection」 that can revive the wearer once.
Despite wearing all these ornaments, he never wore rings on his fingers.
This was because he was concerned about being called a coward if others saw him wearing a large number of protective magical rings on his visible fingers.
Moreover, he found that numerous rings on his hands were very inconvenient during his encounters with women, so he didn’t wear any rings on either hand.
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In battle, Ryūgūin thought that the role of a strategist giving orders from the rear suited him best. He even believed that leaving the uncivilized and barbaric fighting to the idiots of this country, while utilizing his own 「creative」 talents to bring wealth to this country, was the best strategy to make himself stand out.
Whether he was consciously aware of it or not, what was important in this case wasn’t 「bringing wealth to this country.」
In the end, what mattered most to him – more important than any other person – was 「making himself stand out the most.」
All of his actions followed this pattern.
That’s why he never considered others or restrained himself.
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