First, the prize goes to Mikael Shin. The winner is Rufina Rutland. Congratulations. What a shame…
“You bastard! Are you kidding me, using annihilation magic in a place this cramped?!”
“Hmph, there’s no ally that would die from this,” Mikael replied.
What’s with the “hmph”?! As I was wondering what to do while looking at my now-unwearable bench coat, a “rotting great wind” flowed in. Instantly, I scooped up Priscilla and activated Mode Three.
Why is Priscilla blushing? Maybe it’s because I’m naked? It can’t be helped, being held by a strong man.
“Let go, you jerk!”
Please, no kicking me in the groin. Naked, I had no protection, and the direct hit sent my leg to heaven. …Grandpa, I’ll be there soon.
“…Gnnngh…”
Will I ever cross the river of Sanzu? I’ll have to someday, but please spare me for now. I have to defeat the Demon Lord… What will happen if I don’t defeat the Demon Lord?
I believe the Demon Lord will conquer this continent. But ever since they took Klinshvelbach Castle, I haven’t heard any news of their army advancing. Perhaps they were satisfied with Klinshvelbach, or got bored…
If defeating the Demon Lord isn’t part of the “interesting ending” the gods mentioned with the White Lily Corps… this uncertain goal of “interesting” is confusing me.
“Either way, I won the bet. I’ll be taking the captain.”
Tied up and bound by restraining vines, Rufina and I disappeared into the depths of the cave.
I was freed about a day later. For a full day, I wasn’t given any proper meals, and when the White Lily Corps found me, they cursed, “Look, a dirty monkey!”
Unlike Rufina, who is satisfied as long as she can drink blood, I’m the type who wants to eat balanced meals three times a day. I like meat, but I don’t forget vegetables. As a mercenary, my body is my livelihood, so I can’t afford to be picky. But when she said, “Just drink your own blood,” I had to open my mental dictionary.
“P-please, something to eat…”
I quenched my thirst with water dripping from the cave, which was full of iron and likely to upset my stomach, but the hunger couldn’t be appeased by my fat burning alone.
“Here, here! Dried meat!”
Demon! If you’d just hand it over, it would be a cute gesture! I snatched it up with Mode Four and put it in my mouth. Yeah, it’s tough. Tougher than jerky, but the savory flavor seeped into my body. I’m glad to be alive. …Grandpa, we’ll meet again someday.
“We have a message from Lady Annelyse.”
Right now, I’m too busy with this jerky to care… No, wait, this is important. We’ve cleared one of the conditions for forming a joint front with the dwarves, so I should actually be the one contacting them.
“What did Lady Annelyse say?”
Of course, I’m still chewing the jerky. The more I chew, the more flavor comes out, and I want to chew it forever. Also, when talking to people, look them in the eye, not my crotch, and give me clothes.
“The Harmonian army has moved towards Rothfar.”
Huh? Uh… Huh?!
“Not towards Klinshvelbach Castle, but towards Rothfar?!”
“That seems to be the case.”
“Seems to be the case”… There’s a southward route between Klinshvelbach Castle and Shidenzach, the dwarven autonomous region. There’s a large city called Denberg Nankoka, and further south is the border with Rothfar.
“Weren’t they heading for Denberg Nankoka, near the Rothfar border? Giving up on Shidenzach…”
“Yes, the city of Denberg Lussheim. The messenger only said they were going to Rothfar.”
Why Rothfar? The defense of Shidenzach city isn’t much, but the castle in the cave is a strong fortress that can’t be attacked from one direction. And they’re giving that up to go to Rothfar? Why?
“Why?”
I think it’s a foolish question, but the situation is making me foolish. They easily abandoned Klinshvelbach Castle, attacked the dwarven autonomous region, and now they’re going to Rothfar. I don’t understand what His Majesty the King of Harmonia is thinking.
“I haven’t heard the details. You should ask Lady Annelyse…”
“Lady Annelyse didn’t go to Rothfar, did she?”
“It seems not.”
I have a lot to ask. All my hard work could be for nothing. I quickly tied a child-sized black robe that had coincidentally fallen nearby around my waist, greeted the fire god and the dwarves, and headed outside. Rufina was making a fuss about something, saying, “It’ll get dirty!” but I couldn’t afford to care.
“What happened to your clothes?”
Duke Annelise Flüge said it with a cool expression in the temporary office she was using. This is important, but isn’t there something more pressing right now?
“Is it true that the King of Harmonia marched towards Rothfar?!”
After leaving the cave, I hadn’t seen a single Harmonian soldier. Furthermore, the number of refugees seemed to be decreasing. I told Alana and Rufina to get me some clothes that would fit me, and then rushed to Lady Annelyse’s place. Do they have any sense of urgency, worrying about my clothes?
“It’s true. His Majesty the King intends to attack Rothfar.”
Huh?! What’s the point of attacking? The enemy is the Demon Lord, and we need Rothfar’s cooperation. What’s the point of attacking Rothfar?! I can’t understand it! I don’t understand what important people are thinking!
“W-what do you intend to do by attacking Rothfar!? Even the Ashtal Empire is heading here to cooperate!”
Don’t think I’ll fall for you just because you look down with a sad expression. Your bangs are falling into your eyes, and you’ve looked down as if you’re truly troubled, but *I’m* the one who’s troubled. I had just made arrangements with the dwarves… Then, she swept her hair up and tied it behind her ear, which was devastatingly effective.
“I’m sorry… I tried to stop him, but… he told me if I couldn’t keep up, I didn’t have to come…”
The Duke is the King’s relative. What could possibly be so important that it requires leaving her own family behind? It’s less “leaving behind” and more “abandoned.” They’re going to attack Rothfar at such a cost.
“What is the King thinking? He doesn’t seem sane…”
Yes, beheading. Criticizing the King is grounds for beheading, but I think I have the right to criticize him here. Honestly, if he were in front of me, I’d slap him across both cheeks!
“Criticizing His Majesty the King is punishable by beheading, Brigade Commander Shin.”
When did you get here, Yuma Bashar! I haven’t forgotten the pain and resentment from having my Achilles tendons severed by you. If I’m to be beheaded, I’ll take your head first.
“From here on, I will… —Brigade Commander Shin, the King intends to break through Rothfar. He intends to escape past Rothfar, past Ashtal, all the way to the ends of the continent.”
Is His Majesty the King an idiot? That’s impossible! Even if he breaks through Rothfar, the next is the Ashtal Empire.
That idiotic emperor… My emperor is impatient to use his dangerous toys. He’s ostensibly here to subjugate the Demon Army, but he doesn’t care who the target is. The Ashtal army, with its trained Knight Order and hyper-vibrational weapons, is likely the strongest on this continent.
“…And, please wear some clothes.”
Should I slap you across the face from Tokyo to Osaka too! Leave me alone, there’s a reason for this.
“Lady Annelyse refused that…”
“Th-this is a Harmonian problem. Even though His Majesty the King gave the order, attacking another country for his own self-preservation…”
Nice hair flip. It’s quite impactful. Perhaps she was waiting for the right moment? But I felt her strong will. That the King is wrong.
“What do you intend to do? Are you going to let the King attack Rothfar?”
“Brigade Commander Shin! Your words are too much!”
Don’t interrupt their love conversation. Shut up, I’ll make it so you can’t speak later.
“W-what should I do…”
What to do? Isn’t that the job of white-collar workers? You don’t just sit on your chair with your chest puffed out. Are you a NEET? Work!
“How many troops did the King mobilize?”
“Ah, well, it’s almost the entire army and militia, so about fifteen thousand.”
“Lady Annelyse’s forces?”
“My Knight Order and the mercenaries, about five hundred… Mikael, what are you thinking…”
I’ll slap His Majesty the King across the face from Tokyo to Hawaii and drag him back. But fifteen thousand is a lot. We have five hundred, so the force difference is thirty times. How many troops did Nobunaga have at Okehazama?
“Lady Annelyse, what makes His Majesty the King, the King? Is it merely blood relation?”
“…Um…”
“It’s not just that. A King is one who holds the crown, the scepter, and the Royal Seal to rule this Harmonia.”
I don’t like it, but I’ll call it nice follow-up. I don’t need a follow-back, though. There are four conditions for being King: blood relation, crown, scepter, and Royal Seal. With these, one can become King. One of them is right here.
“Lady Annelyse, please become the Queen of Harmonia.”
I won’t forget Lady Annelyse’s surprised face at that moment. Lady Annelyse’s “alluring charisma” elevates her, regardless of her own intentions.
