Ruins of Matere Headquarters
As we landed on the ground, Kurinka folded her Dragon Wings and returned to her human form. Not a single person spoke during that time. Though their expressions and gestures varied, I could tell they held no friendly feelings. After all, to them, it was hard to deny that we were monsters. Not that I thought that way at all.
I remained silent, unsure of how to speak in this situation. Even if I explained, I couldn’t be certain they would understand. More than anything, I absolutely did not want Kurinka to be called a monster.
“…Was she a dragon? Or was it some kind of magic or skill?”
“I can’t say for certain that such a skill or magic doesn’t exist, but to be able to replicate it to that extent, she must be among the best in the world.”
“Then she must be one of those few.”
I glanced back and forth between the King, who seemed either impressed or surprised, and Weiss, who looked utterly exhausted. These two were remarkably calm. If Kurinka were to be called a monster, it would hurt her, and I wouldn’t stand for that.
“Sh-she was a monster… No wonder she’s so strong…”
Finally, someone spoke up. This remark sent a ripple of murmurs through the crowd, and I felt a growing sense of dread. Even the employees we saved looked at us with the same expressions they had when they gazed up at the massive machine. I knew I had to voice a denial, but words failed me. Anything I said might only add fuel to the fire, and I couldn’t muster the courage. For Kurinka’s sake, to ensure she wouldn’t be hurt, I had to do something.
“Kurinka is… not a monster.”
I intended to say it firmly, but the actual words that came out were far too weak. I could tell that my statement had little effect without needing to see their reactions. The murmurs only grew louder, and I could clearly hear the word “monster” being thrown around. There was no point in staying here any longer. I tried to ignore it, but it was painful to keep watching Kurinka’s eyes welling up with tears. If those tears fell, I would fight against this entire country if I had to. This wasn’t some grand resolve; it was simply my honest feelings.
“Your Majesty, we’re leaving now…”
“I see, so it’s a dragon transformation skill! I’ve heard that very few can use it in the world, but indeed, indeed! This must be on par with S-rank, wouldn’t you agree, Weiss?”
“Y-yes. It’s truly fascinating.”
“Isn’t it? Isn’t it? It’s no wonder everyone is surprised! You lot, you’ve witnessed something rare! Give a grand round of applause! Hahaha!”
The King’s booming laughter echoed as applause erupted, reaching a volume that seemed to touch the sky. Weiss followed suit, and soon the captain and soldiers joined in, clapping enthusiastically. Seeing everyone genuinely convinced that it was Kurinka’s skill made me reevaluate the King. His words dispelled doubts in an instant; it wasn’t just because he was the highest authority in the land. He was the King, known as the Battle King. Thus, he could rally the employees to celebrate so grandly.
“So that’s what it was! I thought for sure a monster was disguising itself as a human…”
“The way Captain Deck reacted earlier was quite the spectacle! It was even more impressive than when he first entered the royal palace and lost to Lord Weiss!”
“Y-you’re bringing that up now? I was just starting to forget about it! And you, Captain, I remember you drowning your sorrows in drink for quite some time after losing to Lord Weiss!”
It was hard to believe that these older men could tease each other like this. At this point, everyone was convinced it was Kurinka’s skill. To be precise, it was something akin to a skill.
“Your Majesty, thank you…”
“That’s the truth, isn’t it? There’s no need for thanks.”
I couldn’t tell if he was being humble or if he genuinely felt that way, but I was certainly grateful.
“Kurinka, I’m glad. I feel relieved too.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I really don’t care at all.”
Watching Kurinka force a smile made me think she was still affected by it. After all, I was the one who encouraged her to transform into a dragon. She might not have needed to fly up to that position at all. What was I thinking? My selfishness had hurt Kurinka.
“Maybe if I had failed, that weapon would have exploded, and everyone would have died. So Lua-chan, you weren’t wrong.”
As expected, her words only deepened my guilt. Kurinka was trying not to hurt me, and I was trying not to hurt her. If we thought of it as proof of how much we cared for each other, it might ease my heart a little.
More than that, I had been noticing a strange smell for a while now. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but this odor was unmistakably…
“…Doesn’t it smell?”
“Aah! My back!”
“Eh… ehhh…”
I had never felt such despair in any battle before. The sensation of something warm and sticky on my back, where Shin had been clinging to me, was now gone. The smell and the unique discomfort were indescribable. I didn’t need to ponder who was responsible; it was the kid over there, whistling and looking away.
I was furious now, so I jumped into the air, grabbed the small body with both hands, and landed, lifting him up to inspect the wet spot.
“You peed on my back, didn’t you?”
“Hyuu hyuu hyuu!”
“That’s not whistling!”
“Hyuuuuuuuuuu!”
He was clearly trying to cover up his mistake, and I couldn’t help but think he had lost his mind. Did I have a change of clothes? Had I left them at the inn? Even if I did, where would I change? I just wanted to wash it off in the bath. My mind was racing with worries, yet this kid was still avoiding eye contact.
“Shin-chan, if you do something wrong, you need to apologize properly. Everyone makes mistakes, but what’s important is what you do after. If you’re not a bad kid, you can do it, right?”
“…Mmen.”
“Say it louder.”
“Shut up! Why would I, Shin, a high-ranking member of the Demon Lord Army, apologize to you lot?”
“Eh?”
Just now, something incredible was said. Wait, what did he mean by that?
“Oh, these guys are still breathing.”
“Everyone except Matere is unconscious. Still, it’s impressive they survived…”
“If they had shifted just a little to the right, they would have all been dead. The seat next to the control panel was completely shredded.”
From the wreckage of the massive machine, the King and Weiss dragged out six people, including Matere. Their clothes were charred, and despite their usual pristine appearance, they looked ragged. It was all my fault, but I wouldn’t apologize.
“My… my Matere Trading Company… Do you have any idea how long it took to grow to this point? After enduring countless hardships, I always faced business head-on… And now, this!”
Matere glared at me with bloodshot eyes filled with resentment. He might not bare his fangs like a beast, but the murderous intent directed at me was palpable.
“You’ve gone too far, Matere. You’ve strayed too far from being a merchant. Blinded by immediate profit, you made deals with thieves, ignoring the many subordinates who support you. You failed to notice your foundation crumbling, pouring your heart and soul into this puppet.”
“Shut up, Barbarian King! What do you know? You, who have only indulged in mock battles while warming the throne! I’ve fought constantly! To be superior to anyone else, to obtain happiness!”
“I have no intention of trying to make you understand me, nor do I wish to understand you. I will take you to the Royal Capital for your connections with thieves, and that is all.”
“Wait, please!”
Just as the King reached for Matere’s arm, Notes rushed in, out of breath, pressing his forehead to the ground in front of the King, apologizing with his entire body.
“If you’re going to judge President Matere and the others, I share the same guilt! I was complicit in their wrongdoing! But… if there’s any room for leniency, please consider reducing their sentences…”
“The evidence you’ve brought is commendable. I will consider your reduced sentence for having raised the banner against Matere Trading Company. However, those others cannot be spared.”
“That’s…! Then I’ll take their sins upon myself! I’ll accept any punishment!”
“You fool! You have no right to make such demands, nor did you think I would entertain them!”
Even as Notes pleaded desperately, the King looked down at him, spitting words of disdain. Watching this exchange made it clear what I needed to do. The King was a formidable opponent, and I had been warned by Kurinka that I might not be able to stay in this country if things went awry. But it didn’t matter; I would be leaving soon anyway. I turned to the King.
“Something’s coming!”
In an instant, something was charging toward us, kicking up clouds of dust from far away. Everyone’s attention was drawn to the approaching figures beyond the soldiers, and it became clear that there was more than one.
One, two, three, four, five… multiple vehicles. That vehicle I saw in the Kingdom of Metallica. But the one over there looks quite large. A long box is connected behind a glass-fronted cabin. It resembles a train more than anything I’ve seen before.
“What in the world is that?”
“Could that be a trailer? Hey! My son!”
As soon as Matere called out to his son, I recognized the identity of the driver. Behind the glass of the trailer, Formas wore a confident grin. It was obvious he was the one piloting it, but the real question was what he intended to do by arriving in such a contraption. The trailer came to a halt in front of the soldiers, and the side door swung open. Formas landed with flair, already spinning a gun around his thumb. Whenever he did that, it meant he was in a good mood. I hadn’t spent much time with him, but somehow, I could tell that much.
“Oh, oh, how splendidly synchronized! And on top of that, you’ve gone and smashed the headquarters. What are you up to?”
“You must be Matere’s son. As you can see, everything has come to an end.”
“No, no, no! You’ve got it all wrong. It’s you who are about to end!”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean this… Come out!”
As Formas snapped his fingers, a large box connected to the back of the trailer opened, and a crowd of people began to disembark. The soldiers braced themselves, but those people clearly didn’t look like they were ready for a fight. Many wore work uniforms reminiscent of those from Douma’s factory, but they were probably just ordinary citizens. Even now, I couldn’t grasp Formas’s intentions. The King seemed equally perplexed, unsure of how to interpret this gathering.
“Your Majesty, it is an honor to meet you. I am Andem, engaged in the iron industry in the Karant region.”
“Likewise, I am Hall, overseeing the mining operations in the Karant region.”
“That sounds like quite the burden. So, what exactly do you want from me?”
“To put it bluntly, the Matere Trading Company is a vital partner for us. A significant portion of our work relies on orders from Matere, and without it, all of us, including our employees’ families, will be reduced to slavery. And it seems we are facing the worst-case scenario… which is quite unfortunate…”
Even I, who often struggled to read the room, began to understand Formas’s intentions. The smirk on his face indicated that everything was going according to plan, and for some reason, he was looking at me. He was putting pressure on the King by creating this situation, but what he truly wanted to crush was us. If things progressed in his favor, it would only lead to our suffering. Knowing that, he could afford to smile like that.
“Your Majesty, the Matere Trading Company has deep roots in this country. The great tree draws nutrients from the land, but many creatures, like birds and insects, depend on its branches and sap. You’ve mercilessly chopped it down. Naturally, the birds and insects won’t remain silent, will they?”
“Stop beating around the bush. Are you trying to incite a revolutionary war against us?”
“If things continue as they are, we will starve to death. I’m sure you’re aware that not only in the Karant region, but also the subcontractors of the Matere Trading Company are scattered across various locations. What do you think will happen when those people learn of this situation?”
“Well, they’ll surely rise up in revolt! And their unified goal will be to overthrow the tyrant… just imagining it sends chills down my spine. Hahaha!”
Formas was completely reveling in his victory. Matere, on the other hand, looked at his son as if he were a newborn baby, his expression softening as if he had just been revived.
“Well done, my son! You’ve always been a kind child who thought of your father! Not only that, but you’re also concerned about the future of those involved with Matere… Children grow in ways their parents never realize…”
Formas was merely using those people to threaten the King. If a riot were to break out, he would simply watch with a smile, having no intention of helping. That was the kind of person he was.
“I see, so Matere’s foolish son is trying to threaten me. You’ve got guts; go ahead and try.”
“This isn’t a threat; I’m merely stating facts. Given that there are those little lesbians over there, it’s easy to imagine that you’ve foolishly allied with this King without thinking ahead. You’ve really messed up this time.”
“That’s enough. Any further disrespect will be considered treason.”
Weiss pressed the tip of his spear against Formas’s neck. It was clear he was ready to stab him if Formas provoked him any further. The flames of anger burned deep in his eyes, and it felt as if they would manifest in the spear, ready to pierce Formas. The intensity of Weiss’s demeanor made it clear just how dangerous the situation had become.
“Yes, I went too far. But Weiss, actions like that can have the opposite effect, you know?”
Panicking, Weiss glanced around, noticing the expressions of fear and anger on the faces of the workers, including Andem and Hall. Their clenched fists expressed their dissatisfaction with the King. Of course, even if they charged in, they would be stopped by the soldiers and killed before reaching the King.
“To destroy the Matere Trading Company is to destroy the nation. If riots break out across the land, the enraged populace will head for the Royal Capital. There are surely many who lost their jobs due to this incident within the capital, and a large number of people will rise against the nation. Even if everything is suppressed, what remains will be the corpses of the people. What kind of future can emerge from that… Hahaha!”
Formas laughed crudely, seemingly in high spirits, and began to grope Brikna’s backside. The moment I saw that, a chill ran down my spine. Kurinka narrowed her eyes, turning her face away from the filth. It was disgusting; her murmur reflected my own feelings. It was strange that Brikna didn’t seem to mind, and I couldn’t help but wonder why men were like that.
“Oh? Aren’t the little lesbians still doing things like this? You’re not holding hands and being all friendly, are you?”
“So they really were lesbians; gross…”
“Gross” meant disgusting. If that was the case, then what they were doing was a hundred times more disgusting. We would never engage in such filthy acts. Watching Formas and Brikna laugh together made me feel from the bottom of my heart that I never wanted to become like that.
And for some reason, I noticed a soldier glancing over here, swallowing hard. What was that about? At the very least, it didn’t seem like a “gross” kind of look. Regardless, it didn’t feel good.
“Now, now, what will become of this country?”
“Shouldn’t you be more worried about your own safety?”
“…Huh?”
“Oh, it seems they’ve arrived.”
As the King looked up at the sky, something was flying toward us from afar. That small dot grew larger until it became the airship we once rode. Just being above it stirred up a strong wind, forcing even the soldiers to brace themselves against it to avoid being blown away.
Of course, the airship bore the emblem of silver wings. Metallica, for some reason, had come here. It slowly landed in the distance, and the iron door opened, forming a makeshift ramp. The first to emerge from within was Genia.
“It seems the timing is perfect, King of Kashiram.”
“Indeed, I apologize for the trouble.”
“Oh, not at all. We cannot remain silent upon hearing that our nation’s technology is being used without permission.”
“…What?”
The most bewildered voice came from Matere. He froze, as if he had been left behind in a world of his own.
“Are you the president of Matere?”
“Wait! That’s unacceptable! Using it without permission is something I cannot overlook! I received this directly from your Lowei Company… Ah!”
Matere quickly covered his mouth, as if realizing he had said something terribly wrong. It seemed he had let slip something quite serious, but it might already be too late.
“I see, so it was the Lowei Company that provided technology to me without permission. We will consider their punishment later.”
“N-no, no! We had a proper transaction with them…”
“The transfer of technology within the Kingdom of Metallica is prohibited. As the Director of the Technology Development Bureau, I have full authority over all technologies related to Metallica. While I permit the dissemination of essential technologies and facilities for daily life, such as plumbing and electrical systems, I was not informed of this incident.”
“That’s not fair! This is not what we agreed upon! I want you to contact the president of the Lowei Company immediately! I’m sure it’s all a misunderstanding!”
“Indeed, many people are eager to meet you.”
Genia continued to speak in a calm manner, showing no interest in Matere’s pleas. It was clear that in her mind, the deal had already been settled, and no matter what Matere said, it wouldn’t change a thing. Her demeanor was machine-like, as if she had already made up her mind.
“Now, please step forward.”
As I watched, one by one, they emerged from the door, forming an ever-growing line. Even when they spread out side by side, it seemed like there was no end to the number of people still coming out. Young and old, men and women, they all stood in front of the soldiers, glaring at Matere with expressions that suggested they had something to say.
“Those who were unjustly dismissed by the Matere Trading Company, those forced into labor under unfair conditions, those whose families were targeted for refusing to comply with Matere’s demands, and those who were pressured to abandon their well-located shops—there are countless others who could join this list. Gathering them was no easy task,” Genia said.
“Wha—what do you mean you brought them all here? That’s impossible!” Matere exclaimed.
“With ALEX, tracking their whereabouts was easy, but the real challenge was mending their broken spirits. Do you have any idea how much effort it took to get them to stand here today?” Genia replied.
“F-Formas! What is the meaning of this? You brought these people here!” Matere shouted, his voice rising in panic.
“That’s because Dad has been doing nothing but underhanded things, and now he’s being resented for it!” Formas shouted back.
“Shut up, you foolish son!” Matere retorted.
The situation had escalated to the point where even the once-close father and son were now arguing. It was a clear sign that everything was coming to an end, much like the remnants of a colossal machine still belching smoke.
“Thank you, Genia,” I said quietly.
“No, all the arrangements were made as you specified. I believe it is only right that the Matere Trading Company faces appropriate consequences. But what do you plan to do about those unemployed people over there?” Genia asked.
“Well, I intend to buy their fighting spirit. If they have the will to cause a riot, then they can do anything,” Matere replied.
“So you plan to take care of them? That sounds quite challenging…” Genia mused.
“I’ll give it a try,” Matere said with determination.
I couldn’t help but wonder if we would ever witness the sight of the slender Genia shaking hands with the muscular, dark-skinned King. They were two people who would normally never interact, and it felt like I was witnessing a rare moment. As I listened to their exchange, I noticed the workers Formas had brought were gradually warming up to the King, throwing questions his way. It seemed their resentment towards him had somehow dissipated. Matere had mentioned buying their fighting spirit, but I was curious about what that would entail.
“Could it be that the King knew this would happen from the very beginning…?” I pondered aloud.
“Kurinka, what do you mean?” Genia asked.
“I think the King contacted Genia a long time ago. I’m not sure if he anticipated Formas’s actions, but…” I speculated.
“Yikes… I thought he was just a battle-loving uncle,” Genia said, her eyes wide.
The King was indeed a King. It wasn’t enough to just be able to fight; I realized that being a King required much more.
“You are Matere, aren’t you? Because of you, I’ve lost my family… It seems that vigilante justice is being tolerated here, so you should be prepared,” one of the workers said, his voice dripping with venom.
“Because of you, I’ve lost not only my job but also my loved ones! I’ll kill you! Just you!” another worker shouted, rage boiling over.
Matere found himself thrown into a den of beasts, surrounded by palpable hostility.
“Dad! You bastards, you all betrayed me! I’ll kill you all! Who’s first? You? Or you? Anyone who wants to die, come at me! I am… I am the son of the Matere Trading Company!”
Formas, held in a tight grip by Weiss, was thrashing about, spewing every curse he could think of. Only Weiss could manage to restrain A-Rank Formas from behind. At that moment, he looked like nothing more than a spoiled child. He had strutted around as the CEO’s son, but now he had lost everything. What was most tragic was that even Brikna, who he had once admired, now looked at him with disdain. It was infuriating to see such a drastic change in attitude, but it was Formas’s fault for not recognizing Brikna’s true nature all along.
“Do you know what will happen because of your pathetic actions? Do you? I’ll ask my dad to destroy everything you have! I am the son of the CEO of the Matere Trading Company! Hyahhahahaha!”
What was he saying? The Matere Trading Company was finished, yet he was still clinging to the remnants of his former status. This was the end for someone who had relied solely on the fact that he was the CEO’s son.
“Hey, Brikna! Kill these guys! Where are you going?” Formas shouted, desperation creeping into his voice.
The time had come for the Matere Trading Company to face judgment. I wasn’t sure what form that would take, but I had a feeling that the people Genia had brought would not be forgiving.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Hyahhahahaha!
Not happening!
Damn it! Damn, damn, damn! Damn Rua, die! Die! Die!
Lift this Shin and look at it all the way up to my… my…
I’m so embarrassed I can’t even get married now!
Damn you, muscle-bound idiot! You have no decency at all!
Apologize to this demon lord’s army, will you?
You filthy creatures!
Ah, my vision is getting blurry…
Fweee…
Rua, die! Rua, die! Rua, die! Rua, die!
I just can’t shake this feeling.
Shin isn’t at fault, is he?
He shouldn’t be at fault… Ugh.