◆ Matere Trading Company, Kashiram Factory, Furnace Area, Outside ◆
The person referred to as “Your Majesty” was, of course, the King. The King of the Kingdom of Kashiram was dressed in some kind of fur clothing, exposing his well-toned physique. He wasn’t as large as the Factory Manager, Douma, but his dark, chiseled muscles left an even stronger impression.
He had a rugged appearance, as if he were ready to fight at any moment. A thin black beard framed his mouth, and his round, dark hair resembled that of Jag. An axe was slung across his back. The King, looking like he had stepped out of the forest, lifted his thin beard and surveyed us with a piercing gaze.
“I came to see what kind of weapon factory Matere Trading Company has that is generating explosive sales within my kingdom. It seems you are quite busy here,” he said.
“I haven’t heard good things. Workers are being overworked, there is no crisis management, and the environment is appalling… To put it bluntly, this is nothing less than an act that tarnishes the dignity of our nation,” replied a silver-haired figure.
“Hmm… Well, that’s beside the point.”
“Beside the point?” I thought. “That’s not good at all.” Just as that silver-haired person had said, this was far too leisurely for a visit. I had to confront the King about this. No king from the Wizard Kingdom would allow such a horrific factory to exist unchecked. Well, maybe I didn’t know for sure.
But just as I took one step, then another, closer to the King, the silver-haired person leaped forward with a passive foot, thrusting the spearhead, shaped like a brown crescent, against my throat. It all happened in less than two seconds. The icy cold gaze from the long-haired silver figure pierced through me, their light blue eyes reflecting a chilling intensity, as if they were revealing the depths of their heart.
“What do you intend to do to His Majesty?”
“Well, that King is terrible. He allows this chaotic factory to operate and overlooks the suffering of the people!”
“Do not presume to voice dissent against His Majesty’s governance. Moreover, that familiar tone you use is an affront to His Majesty.”
“Lua-chan, step back…?”
Kurinka tugged at my hand, trying to pull me back, so I reluctantly took two steps back. Just two steps. The silver-haired figure clicked their tongue in clear displeasure and also took a single step back.
“Weiss, whether it’s disrespect or not is not for you to judge.”
“…I apologize.”
“Well, I can’t say I don’t understand. But, my dear. What is your name?”
“Lua. This is my friend, Kurinka.”
“Nice to meet you… Wait, my friend?”
I realized my slip-up after speaking and quickly covered my mouth. It was a total accident.
“Lua… Ah, yes, I believe I heard that name during the defense battle at the Garden of Beasts.”
“Flash Strike Girl… I never expected such a young girl to be behind that name.”
Even here, I was recognized by that title once again. I had no idea how my reputation had spread all the way to the Kingdom of Kashiram. Weiss’s mocking laughter irritated me.
“After swiftly defeating a leader of the Neo Demon Lord Army that attacked Avangarde, many adventurers have since retired after witnessing your extraordinary abilities during the recent defense battle. It’s almost legendary. Weiss, do you think you can defeat her?”
“I can’t say for sure without fighting… However, the fact that she showed no signs of fear when I pointed my blade at her suggests she possesses considerable skill.”
“Even S-rank recognizes her, huh? More importantly, where is the person responsible for this factory? How do you explain this situation?”
The King showed no inclination to confront Douma, the large man covered in soot and severe burns.
In the tense atmosphere, everyone watched as Douma shot a hateful glare at the King. I could understand why Douma was displeased; everything he had done was about to be exposed, and he could end up in prison.
“No, there was a bit of trouble during work. I thought it best to evacuate the workers outside in case something happened. Thanks to that, I ended up like this… Hahaha.”
“I see, that must have been quite the ordeal.”
What was that? It was clearly suspicious. The way the King nodded vigorously indicated he genuinely believed Douma’s words. No, it didn’t matter whether it was true or false. As Hart had said, if that man were doing his job properly, such a terrible factory wouldn’t even be allowed to exist. Why did he come here if he was going to swallow those words whole?
“We… we hardly had any time to sleep, we weren’t given proper meals, and we were forced to work without rest!”
“That’s right! Many have collapsed, and at times, we were even abused and killed! We are treated worse than livestock!”
“Exactly! Don’t let Factory Manager Douma and the employees get away with this! Don’t let Matere Trading Company get away with this!”
One person became the catalyst, and a torrent of protest surged towards the King. As Weiss raised his spear, ready to strike down, the King silently shook his head to stop him.
Then, with one hand resting on the back of his passive foot, he launched himself into the air with a powerful leap. Despite being such a simple action, the crowd’s uproar gradually faded, overwhelmed by the King’s presence. The moment he took a deep breath, I instinctively covered my ears.
“Don’t you dare cower!”
His voice was a thunderous roar that felt like it would expel everything inside me. It wasn’t just the volume; the King’s power resonated through his voice, reaching everyone present, akin to the intimidation I had learned from the Dragonfolk.
People fell to the ground, caught off guard by the sheer force of his voice, and more than half of them were unable to stand. Only Kurinka, Weiss, and a few guards remained composed. It was clear that Weiss and those guards were not ordinary individuals, given their role in protecting the King.
“You were used because you are weak! The fate of those who abandon their will to fight is nothing but crawling miserably on the ground! Whose life is that? It belongs to none other than you! If you regret it, stand up! Fight!
What you earn through battle is your rightful bliss! It is your natural right! Because you have won! Victory breeds new confidence and seeks further challenges! And it opens the way to greater realms! The clash of fighting spirits creates excellence and leads to all progress!
If you regret it, seize it! Become the victor!”
Everyone was overwhelmed and fell silent. There were things they wanted to say, but they couldn’t. That atmosphere was palpable. In the midst of it all, only a girl with sun-kissed skin maintained a resolute expression, not taking her eyes off the King. And another one.
“Not everyone is like that; not everyone can fight. Even if they stand up, they will be knocked down again.
Moreover, there are the elderly and children who are oppressed in this world. In the nation of Azuma, there were people who were confined to the mountains to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and forced to live in harsh conditions.
In the Wizard Kingdom, many died before the overwhelming power of Golems. Denying the existence of those who cannot achieve victory is the same as denying their lives. If they lose and die, it means nothing. Is a country where happiness can only be attained through victory truly a happy place for everyone?
I understand your thoughts, Your Majesty, but they are far too one-sided.”
“You dare to speak to me without flinching. You must be Kurinka. I have no intention of prolonging this debate. Let me ask you one thing. Is there even one loser present here?”
“These people are suffering under the harsh conditions of the factory…”
“They have stood up and fought back. These individuals have…”
I looked around, startled, but no one had stood up. Some were still on the ground from that earlier shout, and while I understood their feelings, in this situation, those words felt out of place.
“Regardless of the circumstances or the process, they have triumphed over those who impose terrible labor. After all, the Factory Manager is trying to obscure the truth with talk of ‘trouble.'”
“Ugh… It’s been exposed…”
The King was in high spirits, not mocking Douma’s flustered state. From the murmurs of the crowd, it seemed something was shifting. Perhaps the King’s words had instilled confidence in them.
Amidst this, a girl raised her hand to appeal to the King. The crowd parted like the sea as Tatarka walked through, approaching the King with a dignified stride.
“I will become the successor to my father, Hans! I will become the world’s greatest blacksmith, and I will fight against Matere Trading Company, which exploits the weaknesses of the weak with their monstrous deeds!
My weapons will surely shatter Matere Trading Company’s shoddy products! And one day, they will receive their due punishment!”
“Alright! I like that fighting spirit!”
The King casually pulled out a gold coin from the inside of his fur coat and tossed it towards Tatarka. Caught off guard, Tatarka naturally couldn’t catch it and let it fall to the ground, but the King didn’t scold him for it.
“I see, you are the daughter of the master craftsman Hans… That man forged this Grand Run for me. I will support you as well.”
“Thank you very much!”
“Hmm, is there no one else with a fighting spirit? If you want, I can buy them all at once!”
“I-I want to open a spice specialty shop!”
“I want to make a living from weaving…”
“I’ll buy them all at once!”
The King threw a staggering amount of gold coins into the air, enough to make one wonder how much he had in his pockets. The crowd jostled and pushed, and it seemed like someone might get hurt this time. The King laughed heartily while Weiss displayed his dissatisfaction all over his face. I could only think that this scramble for gold was nothing but greed blinding them.
The one showing the most anger in this situation was Douma. Production had come to a halt, and the workers he had been overseeing were now lively and in disarray. Where could he unleash his raised fist? Should he bring it down on that guy? It was a frustrating situation.
“Don’t mess around… You lot! Get back to work! Do you want to feel pain?”
“Shut up! I won’t bow down to you anymore!”
“Chiefs! Teach them a lesson!”
“Take this!”
“What, huh… What the hell!”
“Whoa!”
Weiss, gracefully wielding his passive ability, dashed through the crowd of Douma and his men. At the same time, Douma and his crew were thrown vertically into the air, only to crash back down to the ground. They were left in a daze, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Weiss showcased his prowess, spinning the sharp spear known as Grand Run above his head. The fallen Douma and his men writhed in shock. If they were thrown higher than that tree and dropped, it was no ordinary injury they would suffer. The only one who managed to stand up quickly was Douma, who had somehow survived the explosion and fire.
“W-What is happening…”
“I will not allow any more mischief. You will be taken to the royal palace, where I will personally interrogate you.”
“O-King! Buy my fighting spirit too!”
“Sorry, but I have no gold left.”
“Free is fine!”
“The shopping is over.”
“I was supposed to have acquired the latest technology of Metallica… Damn it! Shakuchi! Kantak! Ribow! Mooga! Sadoger! Teach those slaves a lesson!”
As I muttered “fools,” everything came to an end. Though everyone aimed for non-lethal spots, they were neatly shot through in places that would render them incapable of fighting. I felt my strength draining from my body like a deflating balloon as I slowly lost consciousness.
I watched the entire sequence unfold in slow motion. Douma was no exception; his massive body was punctured in several places, and moments later, blood erupted from him all at once. The scene of blood gushing from his body, like a fountain in the central street of the Kingdom of Avangarde, was something I never wanted to see, even if it was those guys.
“Blugh…!”
“Capture these guys!”
“Yes!”
The King’s guards efficiently restrained Douma and his men. The King didn’t even glance at the scene, as if it were nothing.
“Th-That is the strongest of the Kingdom of Kashiram… S-Rank Adventurer, Centaur Knight Weiss… I’ve heard he dominates the battlefield like a race of centaurs that existed in ancient times…”
“Rumor has it his level exceeds 300…”
“300? No way!”
“That has to be a joke…”
Only the King and I were not surprised by the number 300. Kurinka seemed impressed but didn’t truly believe it; her expression suggested she was just thinking about how hungry she was and what to eat next. Speaking of which, I wondered what she planned to do about that ridiculous offer to treat everyone.
If Weiss was at level 300, then Tiferia’s level must be around there too. My level was a result of being holed up in the Abyss Cave, and without that, I had no confidence I would have become that strong. Thinking about it, the strength of an S-Rank Adventurer was truly a mystery.
“By the way, Tatarka, I have business with your father. Is it alright if I come by another day?”
“Uh, um, yes…”
“That helps.”
With just that, Weiss turned back with his passive ability and returned to the King. Tatarka watched his retreating figure, her cheeks flushed. What was going on with her? Was she perhaps feeling flustered?
“Farewell, those who have gained freedom! You there, Flash Strike Girl, feel free to come to my royal palace anytime! If you want to test your skills, Weiss would be happy to oblige! Hahaha!”
With a loud clatter of hooves, the King and Weiss galloped away down the forest path, leaving behind a raucous atmosphere. I had no desire to test my skills. More than anything, I wanted them to stop calling me Flash Strike Girl. Wasn’t there a cooler class name like Weiss’s Centaur Knight? Master Knight, Fist Saint, and Platiu was a Machine Maiden, right? I was told that the class name was Machinery.
All of those names were so cool, yet I was stuck with Flash Strike Girl. It was so uncool.
“S-So, shall we all go eat… Ahaha.”
Kurinka seemed to have finally come down from the excitement of the moment, regretting her earlier claim to treat everyone. Of course, they were all eager, and there was no backing down now.
I was curious about how Douma had obtained that equipment from the Kingdom of Metallica, but right now, I had to meet the expectations of this group, who were so hyped up they were practically bouncing off the walls. Since it was Kurinka’s idea, I would leave it all to her. We had business with Tatarka too, but unfortunately, that would have to wait.
“Steamed Tooth Beef Pirate Platter!”
“Grilled Great Sea Lizard with Sauce!”
It seemed the ordering had already begun. The Steamed Tooth Beef Pirate Platter was a luxury dish that cost 2000 gold per serving, which had made us back down when we first arrived in the Royal Capital of Kashiram. I never thought I would see the day when I would use the phrase “taking advantage of people.” If they got too carried away, I would shout at them not to act spoiled like that King.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Someone, please, help me
Smoke, smoke, is the exit over there or
Is it hot?