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Chapter 77

ーSeveral tens of minutes before the encounter of the Loli Baba and the Cross-Dressing Middle-Aged Man.

ーCapital of the Kingdom of Vestaha.

In the palace, which serves as the residence of the king, a lavish feast hosted by nobles and aristocrats was underway.
The banquet hall, adorned with luxurious furnishings, spanned an area of about two hundred tatami mats.

The buffet-style dining offered a plethora of dishes made from exquisitely high-quality ingredients, as if to flaunt the power of wealth.
A variety of drinks were available, and some attendees were already in high spirits.

At the edges of the hall, vomit was splattered on the carpet here and there, signaling that the atmosphere had already transcended mere revelry and descended into chaos.
Furthermore, it was noteworthy that half-naked maids were circulating, serving drinks wherever they went.

This was because if a favored woman was found, it was even possible to retire to a separate room together, thanks to the meticulously arranged system.
It was a sight that would make the commoners, burdened with heavy taxes, faint at the extravagance, yet in the midst of this spectacle, King Vestaha was genuinely smiling from the bottom of his heart.

「It was a great occasion. Nuraris Trading Company.」

With these words, the elderly man -King Vestaha- bowed his head respectfully.

「Your Majesty, to think that you would bow your head… Moreover, I am merely a delegate of the chairman…」

「Don’t say that, Vice Chairman of the Nuraris Trading Company. Thanks to the contributions of your group this time, our country can allocate even more funds to the World Alliance.」

「So that means… it will further secure the lead in acquiring Hero Cordelia Alston?」

「She is a native of our country. It’s only natural that our country has the right to acquire her. Well, this investment is just another push.」

「Ultimately, it’s a strategic weapon promised to reach the S-rank level in Guild terms. No matter how much money is spent, it’s not too much…」

「That’s right. As long as she’s alive, the security of our country is virtually assured. With this, in times of crisis, we won’t be at the mercy of the high-ranking individuals driven by their own desires.」

「But that’s not all, is it?」

King Vestaha nodded in agreement.

「With the overwhelming force of Cordelia Alston as a background… it’s also possible to subdue the barbarians who have long been in a state of cold war within our borders.」

「Barbarians, you say? Young brown-skinned women fetch high prices due to their rarity. In that case, please make use of the slave traders of the Nuraris Trading Company in service of your house when the time comes.」

「Of course. And we will be able to expand the wheat production areas. With that as capital, we will attract high-ranking adventurers and further strengthen our military power… Then, we can even stand shoulder to shoulder with the great powers, not just the small border countries…」

At this point, the vice chairman of the trading company chuckled wickedly.

「But that’s not all, is it?」

The king responded with the most grotesque smile imaginable upon hearing the words.

「Well then. Starting with the barbarians within our borders— I aim to subjugate all barbarian tribes from every direction, north, south, east, and west, and keep their women by the hundreds. That, indeed, is my aspiration.」

「Will you be creating a harem as well?」

「Why should I start whoring with barbarians?」

「…Is that what you’re saying?」

「My dream is to create a barbarian zoo! Ha ha! If I release a herd of mating orcs into it… it would be an extraordinary spectacle, wouldn’t it?」

「Your usual taste are very delightful…」

Then, once again, King Vestaha bowed his head.

「All of this is thanks to your Nuraris Trading Company! No, I should say, ‘Praise be to the Nuraris Trading Company!’」

「Your Majesty… Please raise your head.」

「No, I shall not raise my head. I am not one to raise my head to the best money fountain who can offer endless amounts of gold!」

「But Your Majesty… the dignity of a king…」

「Pride and dignity are powerless before money! I will bow down as much as needed for a money fountain! Haha! Hahahaha!」

「Excuse me, Your Majesty?」

「Hm? What is it?」

「As for the return on this investment…」

「Are you referring to the permission to sell the diamond imported from our neighboring country, the Beastman Country of McKinley?」

「Yes, that’s it. The history between humans and demi-humans… Many countries are still trapped in old-fashioned thinking. There are few countries that grant permission to sell imported goods from demi-human countries…」

「Our country also prohibits trade with beastmen. It’s a long-standing prohibition that has been passed down through generations of the royal family and must never be changed.」

「Huh?」

The vice chairman of the trading company looked surprised, his face gradually turning pale.

「But…」

「….?」

「Do as you please. As the king, I permit it, and I declare it. The ancestral injunctions are hereby abolished as of now.」

The vice chairman of the Nuraris Trading Company deeply bowed his head.

「Your bold decision… We appreciate it.」

「You will continue to be a money moocher in the future. I cannot treat you unkindly. Haha!」

「And, by the way… there are a few more favors I would like to ask for…」

Upon hearing these words, King Vestaha laughed heartily.

「Is it about the kidnapping of the beastman girl? Pressure Cordelia Allston herself, and imprison her parents as hostages. And… What else was there? Anyway, you want me to arrange various conveniences for the harassment of that villager guy, right?」

「Yes, exactly.」

Then King Vestaha patted the vice chairman of the Nuraris Trading Company on the shoulder.
Upon hearing this, the king displayed the most grotesque smile imaginable.

「Well then. Do as you please. Not only will you enjoy extraterritorial rights, but you’ll also gain the full force of our country’s judiciary for any false accusations and punishment. But why are you so stubborn about a mere village peasant?」

「Haha. Well, the policy of our company is… a lion gives its all even against a rabbit.」

With that, the vice chairman of the trading company took out a pocket watch.

「Your Majesty?」

「Hmm?」

「We have prepared something special for today’s banquet.」

「After hosting such a lavish banquet, there’s still more entertainment?」

「Yes, indeed. We have prepared fireworks. And now, it’s about time… the big one is about to explode.」

「Hmm? Fireworks, you say?」

At that moment… a distant explosion reverberated.
No, it was not just an explosion, but a deep bass that resonated within the depths of one’s organs.

Following that, violent light burst through the windows, illuminating the room like flashbangs.

「Haha, isn’t this quite intense? It’s so bright I can’t see anything.」

「Yes, indeed, it’s a powerful fireworks display. Since it’s daytime fireworks, they’ve increased the amount of gunpowder. Well, of course— we spared no expense!」

With that, the king addressed the nobles and aristocrats in the hall in a loud voice.

「Everyone! A daytime fireworks gift from our dear friends at the Nuraris Trading Company! Let’s gather by the windows and enjoy it together!」

Leading the way, the king walked to the window with a wine glass in hand.

And what the king saw from the window was the highest peak in his own country—

—Enveloped in a mushroom cloud.

Then, in astonishment, the king exclaimed,

「Firework artisan… Don’t you think you used too much gunpowder!?」

At the king’s outcry, the vice chairman of the Nuraris Trading Company approached the window with a puzzled expression.

「Your Majesty? What on earth are you saying…」

And what the vice chairman saw from the window was the highest peak in their own country—

—Enveloped in a mushroom cloud.

Then, in disbelief, the vice chairman shouted,

「How much gunpowder did they use for this fireworks artisan!? I did say not to spare any expense, but this—!」

It was an incredibly exaggerated reaction and explanation.
Then, as if their legs gave out, the king and the vice chairman collapsed on the spot.

「Seriously, fireworks artisan, calm down…」

With a horrified expression, they muttered in unison.
And the next moment, the vice chairman knelt down right there.

「I apologize, Your Majesty! Our fireworks artisan has turned the nation’s highest peak into a bald mountain. Moreover, a portion of the summit has completely blown off!」

With a pale face and a vacant expression, King Vestaha muttered as if lost in thought,

「Hmm. Recent fireworks are truly something else.」

At that moment, the captain of the royal guard stepped forward.

「Your Majesty, this is clearly not fireworks.」

King Vestaha’s eyes widened in surprise.

「What do you mean? Not fireworks?」

「Yes, exactly.」

「If it’s not fireworks, then what’s happening?」

「It appears to be some kind of natural disaster. At the very least, the diabolical sight before us… exceeds the scale of anything artificially induced.」

The king nodded slightly.

「Now that you mention it, that might be the case. Something serious might be happening. Knights… send the knights to investigate immediately! We must determine what’s going on!」

—

The scene shifts back to the hermit, Ryuumi, and Merlin, who launched a nuclear attack on the mountain.
With pink hair tied in a ponytail, wearing denim shorts and a micro bikini top covered by a short-sleeved hoodie, Ryuumi, a male crossdresser over a millennium old, grinned.

「Well then… shall we do that?」

「Do what?」

「You attacked the mountain with a nuclear strike, right? So I’ve got to do something impactful too. How about summoning around two thousand people here?」

「Changing the form of the soul through the description of the body in the art of Senjutsu… creating thought bodies through differentiation? In short, a technique to create tangible duplicates.」

「Yeah, that’s right.」

「But why summon such a large number? It’s hardly impactful compared to a nuclear attack, and if you’re going to differentiate to that extent, each entity would possess only minimal power, right?」

Ryuumi laughed incredulously.

「Seriously, can’t you do anything besides explosions? At least learn some basic scouting spells.」

Pointing to the Vestaha Kingdom, Ryuumi continued,

「Hmm?」

「According to my clairvoyance, a contingent of about five hundred knights is marching towards us.」

「Indeed, Senjutsu arts are truly convenient…」

「No, Western magic can do similar things. It’s just that you’re only good for explosions, aren’t you?」

「I’m not good with the details. So, summoning just two thousand people isn’t the whole plan, right? What’s going on?」

「I mentioned it before, but it seems like about five hundred knights are heading our way. They should be here in about ten minutes.」

「And then?」

「Four for each.」

「Four for each?」

Ryuumi nodded vigorously.

「First, those riding horses will be pulled off. Infantry will be dealt with using Outer Reaping… an Otherworldly martial art… something like judo, right ?」

「Ah, that’s right! Haha! Senjutsu arts are techniques!」

「And then? What’s the point of making everyone crawl on the ground?」

「That’s when four for each really comes into play.」

「Comes into play?」

「Yeah, first, we lock their joints. Both arms are twisted, and both legs, too. Isn’t it amazing? Each person gets a limb.」

Merlin looked perplexed.

「Sorry, I don’t quite understand the significance.」

「Imagine it. A super handsome male crossdresser over a thousand years old, times two thousand!」

「Well, that’s quite a sight.」

「And then, the knights are instantly neutralized, dragged to the ground, swarmed by multiple male crossdressers, getting joint-locked all over their limbs, with five hundred of them writhing in pain on the ground, screaming!」

「…Certainly… intense.」

Merlin pondered for a moment, tilting her head.

「But with five hundred people, wouldn’t there be several individuals with at least B-rank level or higher skills? Will it be that easy?」

「Well, with five hundred people, there might be some like that.」

「In that case, won’t our duplicates be severely outmatched?」

「In that case…」

「In that case?」

Ryuumi nodded.

「I’ll personally go out and torment them thoroughly. By the way…」

「By the way?」

「If they happen to be under twelve, beautiful boys or girls…」

「If they are?」

「…I’ll personally apply joint locks thoroughly. We’ll both end up soaked in sweat, persistent… slimy… making them squirm! Haha! Senjutsu arts are truly delightful!」

「Ryuumi… You’re… quite something…」

Ryuumi laughed heartily at Merlin’s reaction.

「Haha! Don’t sweat the small stuff! Cute is justice!」

Watching the seemingly innocent ponytailed old man laugh without a care, Merlin couldn’t help but think,

ーThis guy’s hopeless… We need to do something about him soon.