Hilbert felt no hatred toward Rute's decision.
He was actually someone who saw things clearly, though he occasionally liked deceiving himself.
So he knew he had no right to resent others on Gilbert's behalf for not considering Gilbert all that important.
To put it more harshly, Gilbert himself could not possibly complain about it either.
In this world, if someone was willing to preserve his life while plotting against him in every possible way, Gilbert could do nothing but accept his fate and had no one to blame.
No, he could only blame his own lack of strength, which had reduced him to a pawn crossing the river on a chessboard... Though these pieces had all been protected by preservation spells and would not shatter even if captured, they could only remain in their own camp, stupidly watching others shine.
In any case, Gilbert could see what was happening from the River Styx. He would decide for himself how to handle his future relationship with the Black Mystery Tower, especially Rute.
What Rute and the others had done was actually rather good for Hilbert—or rather, for Russell in the future.
Harmony and warmth founded upon mutual benefit were far easier to deal with than genuine affection and loyalty.
If most of the Black Mystery Tower's goodwill toward the Hainalson Family rested upon the word "use," Russell's independent life in the future would be much easier.
There was a vast difference between limited assistance and being required to give everything one had.
As for Hilbert himself, he had even less need to react to this... He had always felt that Rute was a very contradictory person.
Rute's feelings toward Oliva, Aislin, and even Gilbert were genuine. As long as it had nothing to do with his so-called "grand plan," he was