"A soft, amused chuckle escaped her lips. "To think you would not only defeat Fango so easily but even manage to tame him. It isn't that I underestimated you, but I must say, I am quite surprised."
"Don't talk about 'taming' people. We just had a fair fight, and the guy simply kept his word. I don't remember making him a subordinate or a lackey."
"The feeling is mutual," Fango grunted. "I merely followed my own code and listened to the man who bested me. For the time being, at least, I have no intention of serving under him."
A few dozen minutes after the duel between Yugo and Fango had concluded, the group was enjoying a leisurely tea time at Drowa’s invitation.
To an outside observer, it appeared as though a group of elegant nobles—though two of them possessed rather sinister expressions and rugged physiques—were spending a refined afternoon together. However, Yugo and Fee had not allowed their guard to drop for a second.
They had successfully cleared Fango's Trial, which tested combat power through direct confrontation, but the gauntlet was far from over. Drowa sat right in front of them, and Mad Clay had vanished to parts unknown. Given that they had no idea what the pair might pull next, relaxing was out of the question.
"I feel a bit bad saying this while being treated to tea, but what about you?" Yugo asked. "Weren't you supposed to be testing me as well?"
"Now, don't be in such a hurry. It has already been decided that my turn comes last."
Drowa spoke with a meaningful tone, a thin smile playing on her lips.
As Yugo watched her, he caught the hidden meaning behind her words and spoke up.
"…In other words, that guy Mad Clay is in the middle of testing me right now."
"Precisely. But don't worry. He isn't going to do anything to you directly. That is why there is no problem with us enjoying a peaceful tea time like this."
"What is he doing, then? If he isn't going to touch me, how exactly is he supposed to be investigating me?"
When Yugo posed the obvious question, Drowa returned a grin like that of a wicked villainess.
With a small, amused giggle, she gave her answer to the man directing a suspicious gaze toward her.
"What Mad Clay is testing is your charisma. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say he is investigating just how much you are trusted."
"My charisma…?"
"Yes, exactly. It is an absolutely essential quality for one who stands above others. No matter how strong or clever a person is, they cannot serve as the Head of the House of Clay without a certain magnetic pull. If a leader repeatedly gives selfish orders to their subordinates, only to be resented and betrayed… well, that wouldn't even be a funny joke, would it?"
"I see. But how is he supposed to check my charisma? Not to brag, but until just a little while ago, I was known as the 'lowest of the low, absolute trash.' I didn't have a shred of charisma to my name."
"Hehe…! It's fine. It is true that you were loathed by the students of this academy after you were disowned, but even so, you still have subordinates and women you keep close, don't you? This time, they are being tested right along with you."
Yugo’s expression twitched, his eyes narrowing at Drowa’s words.
Finding his reaction entertaining, Drowa took a slow sip of tea to create a dramatic pause before continuing with a lilt in her voice.
"Right now, Mad Clay is approaching your subordinates with offers of betrayal. He is using sweet talk and underhanded schemes to convince them to leave you and join his own ranks. By observing their reactions to his proposals, we can get a general idea of your true charisma."
"Hah— I see. By the way, what kind of conditions is he offering to get them to flip?"
"It varies from person to person, but offering status or money is the standard. Since he has researched not just you but everyone in your inner circle, he should be offering conditions they find quite enticing."
"Hmm…"
As Yugo responded and tilted his cup to finish his tea, Drowa leaned forward across the table.
As if to fuel his anxiety, she spoke with a joyful atmosphere laced with pure malice.
"Let me tell you something useful. Mad Clay is a man with a rotten soul, highly skilled in these sorts of intrigues. He has expanded his influence by manipulating people and leading them to betray others. Even your friends might easily turn their backs on you when faced with his silver tongue. Your body may have come out of the fight with Fango unscathed… but your heart might be torn to shreds by the betrayal of your companions."
After letting the words hang in the air with a long, spiteful pause, Drowa narrowed her eyes to observe Yugo’s reaction.
She believed that the response he showed here would reveal the true caliber of his character. However, before her eyes, Yugo began to enjoy his tea time with a completely relaxed attitude, a total reversal of his previous guarded demeanor.
"Oh, these cookies are amazing! Being nobles and all, you sure eat the good stuff!"
"…You’re remarkably carefree," Fango noted, sounding genuinely puzzled. "Do you not think your subordinates will betray you?"
"Eh? Oh, yeah. First of all, they aren't subordinates—they’re my friends, okay? Don't get that mixed up!"
Fango seemed surprised by the sudden shift in Yugo's atmosphere, but Yugo merely maintained his composed, effortless attitude.
Drowa wondered if he truly placed such absolute trust in his comrades as he continued.
"To be honest, I don't think this has anything to do with my charisma or whatever, but I can say this for sure: those guys aren't the type of people to betray a friend."
After saying that, Yugo picked up a cookie from the table, tossed it high into the air, and caught it expertly in his mouth as it fell.
It was a vulgar way of eating, utterly unbecoming of a noble, but Drowa and Fango both felt the immense confidence behind his bold display. They looked at each other, realizing that Yugo was a man who would not be easily shaken.