Ｓｉｄｅ・フラム
While listening to His Majesty Gumnos talk about the Gagun Great Forest, the beast carriage suddenly stopped.
It seemed that the driver, Viola, had managed to soothe Rian and Fae well, so it wasn’t as abrupt as I expected, but did something happen?
“Did something happen?”
“Isn’t it because this Multi-functional Beast Carriage is rare, and they want us to hand it over?”
“Ah, that’s plausible.”
Besides us, ten Unions use them, and the Order’s Guild owns fifteen Multi-functional Beast Carriages. However, Amister developed and owns all of them, and this is the first time we’ve used one in Valentia, so it’s definitely rare.
So, an arrogant noble or trader has appeared and is loudly demanding we yield it to them, is that it?
“Troublesome. I suppose I’ll have to go see. ”
“No, I apologize, but I’d like to observe the situation for a while. I’ll trouble you for your assistance.”
Yamato, with a weary expression, was about to step outside, but His Majesty Gumnos stopped him.
He said he wanted to observe the situation, but does he have something in mind?
“It depends on the situation. If they’re trying to take this beast carriage by force, we can’t just stand by and watch, can we?”
“I understand, and it’s only natural. However, I want to discern who is thinking what. The matter of the branch and independence of the Federation Heavenly Empire, as well as Valentia and Libertà, has already been announced throughout the country. Such foolish acts will not be tolerated in the Heavenly Empire at this time.”
I see, so His Majesty Gumnos intends to deal with the noble or trader who is acting like this on this occasion.
After the establishment of the Federation Heavenly Empire, the laws will also be based on Amister’s, making it possible to punish nobles who were arrogant until now and haughty High Class individuals. Amister would never heavily rely on such people, so it seems he will eliminate the elements of unrest within Valentia using this incident as a reason.
“If that’s the case, I will also help. They might be people I know.”
“I will trouble you, but please do.”
“Then I will handle the audio.”
Prim, who was a noble of Valentia, also has acquaintances among the nobles of Valentia.
Therefore, they decided to observe the situation from the cabin with His Majesty Gumnos and make a judgment.
Mako will also relay the voices so they can be heard inside even from the cabin by using her fire-attribute C-rank exploration-type Engraving Magic, Candle Leaf.
Engraving magic can do anything, can’t it?
“Lord Yamato, it’s terrible!”
After deciding all that, Yuria came running down to the living room.
“Did a noble or trader come and demand we hand over this beast carriage?”
“That’s part of it, but they’re also trying to take Carol with them!”
Even Carol? But Raus wouldn’t allow that. Does that mean the situation is extremely tense right now?
“Your Majesty, isn’t this beyond observing the situation?”
“I believe Lady Carol is the daughter of Count Bernstein, is she not? In that case, I shall swiftly pass judgment.”
The Bernstein Count family is an Amister Count family, so not even the royalty of Valentia can treat them as they please. Such nobles are bound to cause problems even after the Federation Heavenly Empire is established with Amister as its core, so if they are not dealt with swiftly, it will bring disadvantages to Valentia, which will be branching off independently. Therefore, His Majesty Gumnos will undoubtedly impose punishment without hesitation.
“Since it concerns Raus and Carol, I will go as well.”
However, I can’t just stand by and do nothing. Raus is like a younger brother to me, and Carol is his fiancée.
“Then, shall we go see the face of the fool who picked a fight with us?”
I completely agree with Ludia’s opinion. I immediately ran up the stairs.
“You! Do you think you can defy me and get away with it!?”
“I don’t know! You’re the one who struck first, aren’t you!”
Outside, Raus was arguing with a man who seemed to be a noble, Rabitry. Some people were lying around the beast carriage, but I assume Raus repelled them because they tried to forcibly take the beast carriage and Carol.
“I am a Marquess of this country and am highly trusted by His Majesty the Beast King! You hunters are not the kind of people who should oppose me!”
“So what! Just because you’re a noble doesn’t mean you can do anything you want!”
“Nobles are absolute in this country! Just hand over that woman and beast carriage to me!”
I don’t know whether to be stunned or angry at his selfish claim…
“That’s enough. If you continue to embarrass Valentia, I will personally eliminate you.”
“A mere hunter… P-Primrose Hydrangea!? Impossible! The Duke Hydransia family was just demoted, they should have been executed for treason!”
“While my father was executed, the charge has been cleared. Streihait, Freiheit, and Gilfa Trial are the true traitors, and my father and His Majesty Gumnos were involved in a plot to assassinate them to take over the country. Weren’t you under Streihait’s command? Tell me, Marquess Roiver Borgenschütze?”
The moment the noble, Marquess Roiver, saw Prim’s face, his face turned pale. If he was under the command of the Duke Streihait, does that mean this noble is also a traitor?
“Sh-shut up! You are not even a noble, let alone have succession rights! How dare a commoner like you defy me!”
“Aren’t you listening? Valentia will be annexed by Amister and become an independent small nation. However, in reality, it will be no different from a noble territory with strong autonomy. Therefore, the laws will also change to Amister’s. In other words, corrupt nobles like you are the first targets for punishment.”
“Wh-what! Th-that’s impossible!”
“It should have already been announced. Since you reside in this Centro, I won’t let you say you didn’t know?”
“H-His Majesty Gumnos!?”
Prim continued to press him, but Marquess Roiver seemed to have not believed in the annexation by Amister. However, with His Majesty Gumnos appearing, whether he believes it or not is irrelevant to Marquess Roiver.
“Roiver Borgenschütze. Not only I but also the Amister Princess are in this beast carriage, and the owner is His Highness’s husband. Furthermore, the Lady Carol, whom you attempted to abduct, is the daughter of Count Bernstein of Amister. This is a grave act equivalent to a declaration of war against Amister, do you understand the folly of your actions?”
“Wh-what!?”
Marquess Roiver, whose face had turned from blue to white, seemed not to have known. If he had known, he wouldn’t have done something so foolish, but he seems to think that anything is permissible because he is a noble, so it’s not absolute.
“This outrage cannot be overlooked, neither as the Beast King in charge of Valentia nor as a noble. Furthermore, we need to question your relationship with Streihait, whom we captured earlier, so your person will be handed over to the Beast Knight Corps, and punishment will follow. Be prepared.”
There is a goal to unify the Philia Continent and counter Abaricia, so the annexation of Valentia will likely not be rejected. However, whether it will be allowed to become an independent small nation is uncertain. Thus, not only Marquess Roiver but also nobles bound by their so-called noble privileges need to be punished. Marquess Roiver will almost certainly be demoted as an example.
“Th-this… this traitor!”
Enraged, Marquess Roiver, to everyone’s surprise, drew his sword and charged at His Majesty Gumnos.
“You won’t!”
“Not only a severe penalty, but his entire family will be implicated.”
However, Prim protected His Majesty Gumnos with Barrier Magic, and Raus grabbed and stopped the sword. Raus is High Class, but his level is 62, so he can do something like that without issue.
“Im-impossible…”
“It was the first time I did it, so there was a slight possibility of error.”
As Raus said this, he crushed Marquess Roiver’s sword. Judging by the magic power, it was clear that Marquess Roiver was Normal Class, so the level difference with Raus was likely double. Therefore, Raus would not have fumbled the sword, and the deadly blade would not have reached His Majesty Gumnos. Prim seemed to have instinctively used Barrier Magic.
“Since you directed a sword at me, you will be charged with high treason. The interrogation will be even more severe. Take him away.”
“Yes!”
The Royal Beast Knights who were riding with them tied up Marquess Roiver and the fallen individuals, and one of them ran off to the Beast King Castle as a messenger. It was likely to prepare a beast carriage for escorting the prisoner.
“I apologize for the trouble. I will formally apologize later.”
“Please don’t worry about it. Valentia is still in turmoil from the recent rebellion.”
“Since you are planning internal purification with the annexation to Amister, such minor incidents may occur in the future. As for us, we are concerned for Your Majesty’s safety.”
As Mana and Yuri said, there will be individuals who plot to assassinate His Majesty Gumnos due to this incident. Even if His Majesty Gumnos were to be assassinated, the annexation of Valentia would still be supported by Madame Neige Ovest, the Western Baron and Prim’s cousin, and Monsieur Riviere Rodpiece, who succeeded the Northern Baron. Additionally, the two ducal families entrusted with the governance of the central-west region, including Centro, and the former Freiheit Baronial territory support His Majesty Gumnos. Therefore, the fact of the final annexation will not change. However, in that case, Ovest and Rodpiece would become independent, but the royal family’s directly controlled territories, including Centro, and the former Freiheit and Trial territories would not become independent and would be annexed as a region of Amister, making the conditions worse. It is expected that this has been conveyed, but nobles who attempt to assassinate His Majesty Gumnos do not consider the future and take rash actions.
“Regarding that point, it will put a burden on the Royal Beast Knights. However, before the founding of the Heavenly Empire, unnecessary infections must be purged. If my life can contribute to removing more of that infection, I will be content.”
“But!”
“Of course, I have no intention of dying easily. While I have not evolved to High Class, I am level 40, so I will overcome any minor difficulties.”
His Majesty Gumnos’s will seems firm, so it seems impossible to persuade him to change his mind.
“Then let us proceed. The welcome will be minimal, but as a key figure in Streihait’s capture, we will host you with all our might.”
“It was a sudden matter, so you didn’t have to go to such lengths.”
“That cannot be helped. We have our reputation to consider.”
“Understood. Then I accept your invitation.”
I want to say that lavish hospitality is unnecessary, and it truly is, but since Mana and Yuri, the Amister Princesses, are at Wing Crest, the country cannot help but offer hospitality. I don’t fully understand these matters, but I’ve heard these kinds of stories many times, so I’ll accept it as necessary.
