◆ Avangarde Royal Capital, Central Street, In Front of the Castle ◆
I had been on high alert for a surprise attack from Juo and Nentro, but days passed without any sign of them making a move. Knowing those two, they wouldn’t confront us head-on. It was a hassle. In the meantime, big news reached Ikana Village: the next King of Avangarde was about to be decided, and it spread throughout the nation.
A staggering number of people gathered in Central Street in front of the castle for the Coronation Ceremony. It wouldn’t be surprising if people from all over the Royal Capital showed up. There were those perched on distant rooftops, and others peering out from windows. To avoid being crushed in the crowd, we climbed onto a nearby roof. It was a bit hard to see, but it was better than being jostled by the throng. Plus, from here, we could rush in if anyone tried something shady.
Security was tight, just like during the national funeral. Entry to the Royal Capital was completely prohibited. Considering the risks of sniping and other dangers, only designated individuals were allowed within a certain distance. Even A-Rank Adventurers were mostly barred from entering. Even Eeks, who had been missing for a long time, couldn’t gain trust and was denied permission. He pretended not to care, but I could tell he was sulking somewhere.
“I wonder who will inherit the throne?”
“Who knows… I have no idea.”
“Take this!”
“Logically speaking, it should be someone close to the royal family. Still, it’s strange how suddenly this was decided… And to think Avangarde holds a Coronation Ceremony like this.”
“Is it different in other countries?”
“Usually, it’s held indoors with only important people gathered. This is quite unusual, or rather, strange.”
The Coronation Ceremony was to be held on the castle terrace, where Tiferia was keeping a watchful eye. Whenever the King had something significant to announce, it was done from here, and the height wasn’t too intimidating. So everyone looked up from below, eagerly waiting for it to begin. No one was indifferent about who would become the King. The ruler of this country would inevitably change our lives. Ikana Village wasn’t entirely self-sufficient; we relied on supplies from the Royal Capital, so this was no trivial matter for us. We also paid our taxes properly.
“Let the Coronation Ceremony commence! Everyone, please be silent!”
One of the ministers raised his voice with all his might. The previously bustling crowd fell silent in unison, and countless gazes focused on the terrace.
“Traditionally, the Coronation Ceremony has been held at the Lilyel Church on Pairland Island, but this time, at the request of the new King, we will proceed in this manner.”
“Oh, that’s the church where we held our wedding ceremony.”
The new King seemed to crave attention. I couldn’t shake off the bad feeling creeping in. To be honest, I had never held any hope. The anxiety that had been gnawing at me since the national funeral wouldn’t stop. The ministers were rushing to support someone who, under normal circumstances, would be considered exceptional.
The ministers held a flashy crown, a scepter, and the robe the King was supposed to wear. Finally, the new King was about to appear from the back. I felt more nervous than during a battle.
“Now, the new King makes his entrance!”
A figure walked out from the back of the terrace, moving slowly as if savoring the moment, with a somewhat unsteady gait. Ruffled golden hair was being scratched, and he even yawned.
“The new King, this person’s name is… uh, what was it…?”
Overwhelmed by the sight of the new King, the minister couldn’t even recall his name. In any case, I could no longer bear to look. The King appeared lazily, wearing nothing at all.
“Hey.”
“No, but the name…”
“Hmm? Now that you mention it…”
“Just call me the World’s Strongest Man, that’s fine.”
The last member of the Ten Destroyers of Noibranz, the World’s Strongest Man. He was the one I had looked up to when he rushed to our aid. Naked, completely naked. Even I, who knew him, was thrown into confusion; everyone else was bound to panic.
“Is that…?”
“The new King? No way…”
See? With someone like that showing up, no one could be happy. Why was that guy from the Ten Destroyers of Noibranz trying to become the King of Avangarde? This had to be some mistake. Seriously, wait a minute. Why weren’t the ministers saying anything about that naked man? This was supposed to be an important ceremony, yet those nearby wore expressions of calm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Are you really making someone whose name you don’t even know the King?!”
“Kurinka, something’s off. That’s the guy from Noibranz, right? There’s a chance he’s been brainwashed or something…”
“Now, let the Coronation Ceremony begin…”
The ministers holding the crown and scepter split to the sides. But just as they finished lining up, the naked guy snatched the crown, scepter, and cloak for himself.
“W-wait a moment…”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. This is all just casual. Alright, I’m the King now!”
The naked man donned the crown, draped the cloak over his shoulders, and held the scepter. From this distance, it was hard to see, but if I were closer, I definitely wouldn’t be able to look him in the eye. Ignoring the flustered ministers, the naked King looked down at the citizens.
“So, I’m the new King of Avangarde! Well, you know, there’s a rumor that I might actually be the King’s illegitimate child…”
He casually made an outrageous statement. Naturally, the crowd erupted into a buzz. They didn’t seem to fully believe it yet, so it hadn’t escalated into a huge uproar.
“Just a rumor, okay? Don’t take it too seriously! And, you know, I’m kind of confused about what a King is supposed to do. But anyway, I’m the highest authority in the country, right? So I can make rules as I please, right? So, I have some announcements for you all from your new King!”
“Kurinka, I have a bad feeling about this…”
How did it come to this? Even though it was called a Coronation Ceremony, it felt so casual, and while everyone was still trying to process what was happening, he was moving on smoothly. Is this really okay for a King? No, it’s not okay, which is why it’s turned out like this. I looked over at Tiferia, wondering what she thought, but she seemed completely unfazed. In fact, she looked a bit sleepy, desperately trying to stifle a yawn and keep her mouth shut.
“First, any woman I decide I want to marry will become my wife immediately, regardless of whether she has a husband or children. If you resist, it’s the death penalty!”
“See! I knew it would be something like this!”
I sensed a familiar aura reminiscent of Aleid. Not to mention, it felt similar to Formas as well. If I shot a Sonic Ripper from here, would it solve everything? I’d end up being the villain, and that would be the end of it. I was certain that’s how it would go.
“Second, we’re in an alliance with the Holy Nation of Uzei, so let’s get along casually!”
He suddenly said something unexpected. Why was he forming an alliance with Uzei? I couldn’t shake the feeling that dots were connecting.
“Third, I used to be an S-Rank Adventurer in some country, but from now on, those kinds of Adventurers won’t have to struggle anymore. I’ll leave the troublesome matters to the Avangarde Special Operations Unit, which I’ll introduce now. Come on out!”
“Ha!”
The members of the so-called Avangarde Special Operations Unit jumped onto the castle walls one after another. They wore black cloaks that reached their shoulders and perfectly wrinkle-free yellow military uniforms. The Avangarde emblem was emblazoned on their cloaks, making them look the part. The problem was that I recognized several of them.
“Alright, let’s greet everyone casually!”
“I’m Argil, the captain.”
“I’m Enkal, the vice-captain. Some of you might know me as the Head Hunter.”
“I’m Shim, the vice-captain assistant. The missions of the Special Operations Unit are absolute, so any interference will not be tolerated. Depending on the situation, you could be charged with treason, so keep that in mind.”
“And I’m Aida, a member.”
“I’m Nokiri…”
“I can’t believe this Donka girl is a regular member! Ugh!”
The Death God Argil and the others were the ones who had tangled with me at the Adventurer’s Guild. And I was shocked to see Nokiri. The Green Mage Nokiri was supposed to be A-Rank, yet he was lower than the B-Rank Enkal and the others. Donka was a One-Shot Wonder girl, and she was also A-Rank. The introductions continued with familiar faces.
Those who had become abnormally strong, capable of taking on the Zodiac without a second thought, and the alliance with the Holy Nation of Uzei. It truly felt like something was about to connect, yet it remained just out of reach.
“…Baste.”
“Alright, that concludes the introductions of the Special Operations Unit.”
The last person introduced was Rash, who respected a wizard named Baste. He was the one who had cast Weakening Magic on me during the Combat Tournament preliminaries. Before that, I had fought against Benkei, the Thousand Tools wielder, in the same preliminaries. I couldn’t help but suspect that nearly all the notable Adventurers were gathered there.
“…Eeks had mentioned before that Adventurers were disappearing from the Royal Capital. And now there’s an alliance with the Holy Nation of Uzei. This feels suspicious…”
“Did you think so too, Kurinka? This could turn into an unmissable situation…”
“By the way, the captain is Argil, but the overall commander is Tiferia over there.”
The one who looked the most shocked was Tiferia herself. She had stopped mid-yawn, wearing a face that said, “Huh?” But it’s fine. She definitely decided that just now. And then there was Argil, looking thoroughly unimpressed as he glared up at Terrace with a terrible expression. Tiferia, who had been serious during the national funeral the other day, now looked incredibly lethargic. I guess it’s because of the King.
“Even though they aren’t here, it seems like we still have some members around. Ah, I’m starting to feel sleepy… Hey, just take care of the rest, okay? The King is really exhausting. Yawn…”
This time, the Naked King yawned widely as he disappeared deeper into the castle. The ministers left behind were dumbfounded, and everyone seemed equally bewildered. It looked like most of them hadn’t fully grasped the situation yet.
“Ahem, that being said, the concerns of the citizens are valid. However, the safety of this nation will be responsibly guarded by the Avangarde Special Operations Unit. Now, disperse!”
After saying what he wanted, he displayed incredible physical prowess and leaped away. The gathered crowd, caught off guard by such an unexpected turn of events, finally began to voice their complaints and insults.
“What’s going on?! I didn’t hear anything about the King having a secret child!”
“It must be a lie. He probably wormed his way into the royal family by some means.”
“It’s all about money. Just like the nobles who send hefty donations. This country needs money right now, so it’s no wonder the ministers are clinging to him.”
“But the reconstruction funds have actually been helpful… Even if it is money, could it be considered a necessary evil?”
I could hear comments that would surely be considered treason or blasphemy if overheard. But if this continued, it could easily lead to a riot and a major uproar. The dissatisfaction was overflowing.
“This is no joke. If we leave the country in the hands of someone like that, it will perish. Everything the previous King built will be ruined.”
“We need to take action before that happens. Let’s hold a meeting.”
“Just like the Comet Wolf Brigade, it wouldn’t be surprising if a revolution broke out.”
“I don’t want to be the bride of such a King! If it comes to this, I’ll leave the Royal Capital!”
“Wait, isn’t that the Flash Strike Girl over there?!”
A loud voice from someone who spotted us on the roof drew everyone’s attention. Just when I thought, “Oh no,” a cheer filled with expectations erupted.
“That’s right! You should take him down!”
“If this continues, a coup will happen!”
“Please! Save this country!”
“U-Um, it’s not like something is definitely going to happen yet! Lua-chan, let’s go!”
I couldn’t just transform into a dragon here, so I picked Kurinka up in a princess carry and left the scene. I ignored the voices calling me back. Moving across the rooftops meant I didn’t have to deal with that crowd.
“Being relied on so suddenly… It’s not a bad feeling, but…”
“But even if they say to take him down, I haven’t done anything yet. That guy… what was his name again?”
“The World’s Strongest Man.”
“Right, the World’s Strongest… Is that really his name?”
“Who knows?”
Maybe he doesn’t even have a name. Yet, he continues to be called the World’s Strongest. Such absurdity can’t be dealt with through skills. It’s almost certain that he possesses some kind of Divine Nature. I wouldn’t know for sure unless I asked Elmera, but she definitely wouldn’t tell me straightforwardly.
“The Avangarde Special Operations Unit… This means that the King’s wish for the adventurers to become a national force has been realized. It’s ironic that it happened in this way after the King’s death…”
“Isn’t that fine? If those guys handle everything, we can take it easy.”
“Stop sulking like Elmera-chan.”
That was shocking. She often comes over to bother me, and I’ve had more chances to interact with her lately. Even if I close the door, she somehow gets in with her Imagination Magic or something. When it gets too bad, I tell Meria-san to scold her.
“Right, Lua-chan. How about we do some work at the Adventurer’s Guild to take our minds off things? I want to save up some money too.”
“Sounds good. If the remnants of the Comet Wolf Brigade are causing trouble, that request might be just right.”
While we came to the Royal Capital for the Coronation Ceremony, part of the reason was to earn some money. Nemea’s food expenses aren’t trivial, and I want to buy what I can with money. More than anything, I want to erase that filthy naked image from my mind as soon as possible.
◆ Avangarde Royal Capital – Adventurer’s Guild ◆
“I’m sorry. From now on, almost all requests will be taken over by the Avangarde Special Operations Unit…”
Just when I was getting motivated, this happens.
◆ Shin Report ◆
I can’t see anything, so I don’t know what’s happening.
I can’t see anything about the naked man.
Because of that so-called Special Operations Unit,
I’m running out of work, money, and food.
That’s the real problem.
I’m scared of that.
I, no, Shin.
What’s going on?
Why did it come to this?
I shouldn’t be able to see anything, but could this be his Divine Nature!?
◆ Character Brief Introduction ◆
Argil
Appears in the Combat Tournament arc. A powerful A-Rank adventurer ranked 7th, known as the Grim Reaper. He was defeated in the semifinals without being recognized by Tiferia. His class is a specialized class called “Wind Assassin.” His abilities are said to be on par with Shinbu of the Five Elites.
Enkal
Appears in the Babel Destruction Operation Part 1. He interrogates Lua about the location of the Abyss Cave alongside Argil at the Avangarde Adventurer’s Guild. He is a B-Rank adventurer known as the “Neck Hunter,” and his presence is enough to gather a decent crowd. He belongs to the specialized class “Neck Hunter.”
Shim
A companion of Enkal. He is also B-Rank but takes a step back when dealing with Enkal. His class is “Warrior.”
Aida
A companion of Enkal. She is also B-Rank, and her class is “Magic Archer.” Initially, she followed Enkal for his strength, but recently, she seems to have developed genuine feelings for him.