Episode 113: Divine Will, True Intent
“By the way, why were they even at war in the first place?”
I asked Count Missgancia while sipping my tea.
Even if I’m not interested in the story, I still have to offer some conversation.
“On the surface, it was a dispute over the vast granary region in the southern part of our country, but… after hearing about the ‘Priestess Maiden,’ I realized there was a hidden truth, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Of course, right? Since this country operates on precognitive magic, doesn’t that mean there was a prophecy like, ‘Invade this country!’ or something?”
“…As expected, you are wise. That intellect could even fill Gaspard’s shoes. What a waste.”
“I’d rather not…”
“I know, I was just saying. …About that matter, though. This is confidential…”
“—There is a fear of the ‘Demon Lord’ being reborn.”
“…Huh?”
Did he say ‘Demon Lord’?
The Demon Lord… as in, that Demon Lord?
The strongest and most terrible Mazoku who plunged the entire world into the depths of terror some five hundred or however many years ago…?
The monster who rampaged with all its might, destroying and obliterating several countries, until it was killed by the traveling warrior band known as the Striders…?
Its revival.
That’s definitely a seriously bad story.
But… that’s not what I don’t understand.
“Then why would they come up with such a ridiculous idea as ‘Let’s invade this country!’…?”
Yes, that’s it.
Wouldn’t it be better if everyone got along? Like, form an alliance or something.
“Apparently, since it’s a global issue, in order to gather all the world’s power, the ‘Empire’ will first dominate the world… in this case, the continent. The ‘Empire’ will then command all the continent’s power to confront the Demon Lord, or so they say.”
“…Does the Empire realize they’re saying something strange?”
“Probably not. That’s why they were able to do such a shameless thing.”
“Or rather, aren’t they just using the prophecy as an excuse to invade?”
“Perhaps. However, the fact that the ‘Priestess Maiden’ is making prophecies with precognitive magic seems to be true. According to my intelligence network, at least.”
“Ah, so, the esteemed words of the Priestess Maiden’s prophecy were distorted by the secular imperial upper echelons, and that’s why… something like that?”
“I can’t say for sure about that. But that’s how I interpret it as well.”
Hmm…
“Anyway, it’s a ceasefire, right?”
“Yes. Both sides suffered significant damage, and we took a bit of the Empire’s territory, ending in a deficit.”
“And Count Missgancia, who donated a large amount of war funds to gain favor with the royalty, is also in the red, I presume?”
“Well, if you only look at the numbers, that’s true. However, the new business from the ‘Debt Trading’ you proposed is generating tremendous profits, and the deficit from this war will soon be erased. That was a good idea.”
“Ah, the debt? Did you like it that much?”
“Invest money in credit, and then have that amount returned later with a premium. If they run away, mobilize Striders and the mafia to collect. I immediately realized it was a useful system if I refined the details of your original plan. Currently, I’m conducting ‘public works’ to build ports and ships in the northern Frontier Settlement under my leadership, raising funds from private citizens and other noble families.”
“Ships, huh?”
“Eventually, I’d like to improve the roads as well. Build bridges over the Promelos River, too…”
“Ah, so, you’ll engrave the names of the investors on the roads and bridges that are built?”
“…I see, advertising. You really have a quick mind.”
“If it’s ships, wouldn’t insurance be profitable too?”
“Interesting, tell me about it later.”
Count Missgancia is working hard.
“Anyway, the war is over for now, and if we’re talking about winning or losing, it looks like we won. But in the end, it was a pointless war that only resulted in deficits for both sides, right?”
“That’s how it is, huh…”
After that, I talked with Count Missgancia for another two or three topics, and then he left.
I understood the war situation for the most part, but…
The ‘Priestess Maiden’…
What are you thinking?
And what are you going to do in the future?
It’s a complete mystery.
Even so…
“A Demon Lord, huh, Tris?”
“Yes, it seems so…?”
Tristia, the Mazoku slave girl, was clearing away the tea set I used for Count Missgancia.
Since the Demon Lord is also a Mazoku, I wondered if she had any information… so I asked her.
“I’m sorry…. I grew up in the Slums since I was a child, and I was persecuted as a Mazoku, so I don’t know anything about my own kind…”
“What about your parents…?”
“I don’t have any. When I came to, I was alone in a dark alley in a distant city. After that, I was captured by kidnappers and sold… to Andrews-sama…”
Eh…?
“You don’t have any memories of the past?”
“I don’t remember much. Medically speaking, it’s like forgetting painful memories from the past… it was, Dissociative Amnesia, I think? I think it’s something like that.”
Seriously…?
I have to be kind to her…
I pulled Tris, who had finished washing the dishes, closer and hugged her.
“Ah♡”
Tris let out a sweet breath just from being touched by me. How lewd…
“If you’ve forgotten your painful past, let’s make a lot of good memories from now on!”
“Yes…♡ Andrews-sama…♡”
I hugged her and went to the living room.
Tris sat on my lap, facing me on the sofa.
Tris then hugged my neck and started sniffing me.
It seems this girl has that kind of fetish.
I have her do the laundry, but when I peek sometimes, she’s secretly sniffing my underwear. She’s quite a pervert. Well, I forgive her for everything because she’s cute.
But… the ‘Demon Lord’, huh…
I don’t know if it’s a revival or if a new Demon Lord will be born, but…
Is that even possible?
Well, since it’s precognitive magic, something like a Demon Lord or something similar will appear, and there will be a big commotion…
…Well, someone will solve it.
I’m not the protagonist of this world after all.
“Andrews-sama♡ Andrews-sama♡”
Ah, I have to take care of Tris-chan, who has started moving her hips back and forth in heat.
I’m busy in my own way. I want the protagonist to save the world quickly.