◆ Ikana Village, Central Square, Meeting Hut ◆
“As for the village funds up until this month… as you all know, at this rate, even a year ahead looks bleak.”
Once a month, a meeting is held in Ikana Village. I was taught that it used to be a gathering of just the village chief and the adults, but now we, the ones said to be the village’s main source of income, are forced to participate as well. The villagers deposit a portion of the money they earn with the chief, who manages it as the village’s overall funds, which are used for various maintenance costs. Farming tools break with use, and houses inevitably have parts that wear out over time.
In the past, we were completely self-sufficient, but it was never an easy life. I didn’t understand that as a child, but now I’m learning the hard way.
“Resources will eventually run out. This place is blessed, but we can’t sustain ourselves forever. We’re fine, but what about the children and grandchildren who will be born? They’ll end up suffering for generations.”
Originally, everyone here couldn’t keep up with the Demon Lord’s way of thinking and ended up here, independent. It’s certainly difficult to rely on no one and manage everything ourselves. That’s why we need to start saving money little by little and gradually develop the village.
“Thanks to Lua and Kurinka, aren’t we doing well right now?”
“I misspoke, Zeke. Your daughter is truly doing well. It’s not about the current funds, but the income. Everyone must feel that, right?”
“If we take the vegetables harvested in the village, no one buys them…”
Bongo, who lives next door, is at a loss, unable to even afford alcohol. The others don’t wear bright faces either; they look pained, as if someone is pinching them.
“…Even if we go to the Adventurer’s Guild, there are only low-paying requests. The country has taken all the others.”
“It’s because of the Avangarde Special Operations Unit, Kurinka. They’re monopolizing everything.”
“That’s probably part of it. They won’t even trade with the people of Ikana Village. That’s the situation, right, everyone?”
“Yes, we were all fired up to become adventurers, but it’s terrible.”
“Meria… when did you get here?”
I noticed Elmera sitting next to me. I hadn’t called for her.
“This village must have incurred the wrath of the new king, right?”
“Elmera!”
“Well, big sister, it’s the only explanation I can think of.”
“That’s true.”
If they agree so quickly, I wish they wouldn’t scold me. With these sisters around, the tension dissipates too much, ruining everything.
“The new king… I haven’t confirmed it, but he seems quite… unique. However, I don’t want to think that he’s targeting this village specifically.”
“But it seems like other adventurers are also struggling with hardly any requests. It’s as if they’re trying to eliminate anyone but the Special Operations Unit.”
“Lua-chan can’t earn anything either, and she’s not contributing to the village. What will we do when the current funds run out?”
“I’ll just have Elmera use her Imagination Magic to conjure up some money.”
“Ugh, that’s just wrong.”
Meria scolds me, saying that could lead to economic collapse. This was supposed to be a serious discussion, but I found myself getting swept up in it. The adults are in no laughing matter.
Ahem! “In any case, we must each negotiate patiently once more. Lua and the others… can’t you join that Avangarde Special Operations Unit?”
“I don’t want to be a puppet of that Naked King…”
“This isn’t the time to say that. But when we were introduced to the members of that unit, it was already decided. We weren’t even given a chance to speak, which is suspicious.”
“They’ve been turning down invitations from various places…”
“Ah…”
Kurinka seemed like she was about to say something good, but my retort made her feel down. In the end, nothing was decided that day, and the meeting dispersed. Only Nemea, sleeping in front of my house, looked carefree. I need to think about her food costs too, so I’ll have to go to the Avangarde Royal Capital again tomorrow.
◆ Avangarde Royal Capital, Central Street ◆
“The Special Operations Unit has returned!”
“It seems they successfully completed the subjugation with cool faces again!”
As I was about to head to the Adventurer’s Guild, a crowd had gathered at the castle gate. The one basking in the lively cheers was the Avangarde Special Operations Unit, led by Argil. Behind him were Vice Captain Enkal, Assistant Shim, and the regular members. The sight of them marching in their yellow uniforms was already far removed from that of adventurers.
Since the formation of the Special Operations Unit, monsters that were previously difficult to defeat even for A-Rank parties have been falling one after another. Because of this, valuable materials have flooded the market, causing their worth to plummet, while items made from lesser materials have become nearly unsellable. As evident from the warm welcome, the Avangarde Special Operations Unit has become the face of the Royal Capital.
“I heard all of them have levels exceeding 1000… Where did they train?”
“It’s just strange… Lua-chan, even after spending ten years in the Abyss Cave, only just surpassed 2000, right?”
“Maybe there’s a place where you can get stronger in a shorter time than the Abyss Cave. Ah, I’m already useless now…”
“Lua-chan’s strength is real! Don’t give up!”
“Well, are we to be considered fakes then?”
Argil approaches the line of the Special Operations Unit. For some reason, the gazes of the surrounding people feel sharp. The smiles of the former adventurers behind him convey a message: you won’t be able to act so confidently anymore.
“Now, what this Royal Capital needs is us, the Special Operations Unit. The old adventurer system is over; take this opportunity to rest.”
“We’ll work too. We’re being inconvenienced because of you.”
“And the Adventurer’s Guild won’t stay silent about this either, will they?”
“We will complete the jobs we take on. Where’s the problem?”
“W-Where is it…?”
Even Kurinka, known for her sharp tongue, is at a loss for words against a unit recognized by the country. After all, everyone here acknowledges it. Noibranz was the same; to us, it seemed like a crazy country, but the people living there thought it was perfectly normal. In this case, it’s us who are out of touch.
“By forming the Special Operations Unit, we can quickly tackle local issues by splitting into multiple teams. First of all, here’s the reason you’re no longer needed.”
“No matter how strong an individual is, they can’t help everyone. While one is being helped, someone else is calling for help elsewhere. In short, the necessity of the Flash Strike Girl has diminished. Isn’t that right, Assistant Vice Captain Shim?”
“Just as Vice Captain Enkal says. You can no longer walk around the Royal Capital with your head held high.”
“So… it means there are more issues that can be resolved without us.”
When Kurinka bluntly states that, I feel my strength drain away. She seems to be accepting the reality while making a fist against her chest.
“That’s right. If you understand, then clear the way. Unlike you, we are busy.”
“You’re the one who started talking to us.”
“Be careful with your words, will you?”
Enkal jingles his chained scythe. Just because their levels have risen, they act so arrogantly. I wish I could measure them with a Detect Ring.
“Move.”
Argil boldly shoves me aside. The impact is stronger than I expected, and I’m slightly knocked back. At that signal, the line begins to march forward.
“Hmm, I thought I wouldn’t even be able to budge you before…”
“We’ve gotten stronger, Captain Argil. Even the Flash Strike Girl, without the advantage of levels, is just like this.”
“Hmph, just because we wear the same shoes doesn’t mean we can reach the same heights. Tomorrow will be busy… cleaning up the remnants of the Comet Wolf Brigade, exterminating the Heartless, and dealing with the mobile weapons left by Metallica. It’s tough, but if it’s for the good of the citizens, then so be it.”
“See you later, Lua-chan. If you look closely, you’re cuter than I thought. If you behave, I’ll take care of you. Life must be tough, right?”
Argil and Enkal say whatever they want as they walk away. The other members follow suit, snickering coldly as they disappear down Central Street.
“But now, it’s really sad for those two.”
“It’s sad, but in every era, there’s always a generational change…”
“And the Special Operations Unit was formed with the expectation of tackling Calamity Class threats, right? I was horrified when I saw the Dragon God appear in the sky the other day…”
“With the Flash Strike Girl around, it’s unacceptable for something like that to be left unchecked.”
To these people, the Dragon God is a Calamity. Even if I explained the circumstances, they wouldn’t believe me. I hadn’t even considered that. It wouldn’t be surprising if rumors spread that the Dragon God is a Calamity that even the Flash Strike Girl can’t handle.
“Kurinka, let’s go.”
“Ah, wait a moment…”
I stumbled forward, my steps unsteady, yet I was determined to do what I could. My destination was the castle. To be honest, I didn’t even want to lay eyes on it, but at this point, I had no choice but to confront him directly.
◆ Avangarde Castle, King’s Chamber ◆
“Hey, hey! Glad you could make it!”
The throne had transformed into a plush sofa, and there lay the Naked King, sprawled out comfortably. Flanking him were naked women, and a lavish feast was spread out on the table before him. On either side, beautiful women fanned him with large leaves. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a pool had been set up beside the sofa, completely altering the King’s Chamber we once knew.
“We have come for an audience…”
“Oh, it’s fine, it’s fine! No need for formality. You’re not the type for that anyway, right?”
“Then I’ll be straightforward. Please allow us to join the Avangarde Special Operations Unit.”
“Hmm…”
I would never serve under those fools, but I knew that refusing him outright would lead to a pointless argument I couldn’t win. Instead, Kurinka aimed to fight within their system.
“Um…”
“Oh, ah… right there, yes, just like that…”
“Um?”
“Your shoulders are tense, aren’t they?”
“Yes, they’re very stiff!”
He wasn’t even listening. The women were massaging his shoulders, and he was lost in bliss. Kurinka was struggling to contain her anger, on the verge of transforming into a Dragon and unleashing her breath attack. She pursed her lips and glared at him.
“May I speak?”
“Ah, ahh… sure, sure. What is it?”
“It’s about our integration into the Avangarde Special Operations Unit.”
“Well, that’s already been decided on our end.”
I was ready to explode. The audacity of this man! I was tempted to draw my sword. Who did he think he was? One moment he was in Noibranz fighting the Ten Destroyers, and now he was the King of Avangarde. How he got here was a mystery, and I was left wondering who he truly was. In moments like this, I wished I had ALEX with me. Corin’s words about information being a weapon resonated deeply now.
“Ahahaha! You’re turning red! I like you even more now! If you become my concubine, I’ll consider the treatment of your village too.”
“Um… the treatment of the village…?”
“Oh, yes. You see, this is my challenge to you.”
He suddenly revealed his true nature. While it was refreshing to have him lay it all out before I could press him, it only fueled my anger further.
“Remember when you rushed to aid Noibranz? Our eyes met then, didn’t they? At that moment, I thought, ‘So those are the Flash Strike Girl and the Flame Princess.’ Naturally, I wanted to test who was stronger.”
“…Then why not just challenge us directly?”
“No, no, that’s not it. You see, for me, strength isn’t just a simple matter. I’m bored with that kind of thing.”
His speech was drawn out and frustrating. I felt like I didn’t need to hold back; I could just defeat him right here and now. That thought began to dominate my mind.
“With the Ten Destroyers, I found it dull. I wondered why I was on the same level as those fools. It was so boring that I came here instead. I’ve always won at everything, so I’m not interested in trivial matters. Yet, you two shine brighter than the rest…”
He didn’t see us as worthy opponents; we were merely playthings to him. I began to grasp his Divine Nature. He could just coast through life, and everything would work out for him.
“So, I thought, why not try to win? I could strip you of your status and home, make you hit rock bottom. Then it would be clear who the real winner is, right? The King versus the beggars—who’s superior? You get it, don’t you?”
“How trivial.”
The Naked King paused, his expression still relaxed. My blunt response seemed to catch him off guard.
“Go ahead and do as you please. Honestly, it’s a relief to know you’ve been so fixated on such things. I was curious about the kind of person who would push us into a corner.”
“World’s Strongest Man, right? Sorry, but I don’t feel anything from you.”
“…Huh?”
He might not even understand what I was saying. Kurinka and I had only spoken the truth. But there was one thing I absolutely could not forgive.
“If you cause trouble for the people we care about, I won’t hold back.”
“Hiyaaaah!”
“O-Oh, someone help the King!”
The women around him were also present, so I restrained my killing intent. Yet, the Naked Fool remained unfazed, still grinning as he lounged on the sofa. It was clear he didn’t fear my strength. He even had the audacity to pull the women closer to him, stroking their heads with a smug air.
“See? Scary, right? That’s why we formed the Special Operations Unit—to protect everyone from calamities like this. No matter how strong you are, if you have nowhere to go, it all amounts to this. After the war, heroes are just murderers.”
“Well then, goodbye, fool.”
Despite his claims of disrespect, the guards never intervened. They knew the fear we instilled. Now, what should I do next? How should I deal with him?
◆ Shin Report ◆
To cut the bait of the Nemea, it is best to…
There are also dining tables for the nurturing Platium.
You could entrust it to a genius.
There are ways to make use of Elmer and Meria.
Income is a must.
I’ll help you, so give me money.
You don’t need to be an adventurer to solve this.
The true cost of sweets is necessary, rather, it’s about the effort put in.
Since I need something sweet, I can demand it.
Where does that large tide of the Special Operations Unit come from?
Just because your level has increased doesn’t mean you can act all high and mighty.
It’s regrettable that you can’t make judgments based on numbers alone.
I wonder how you’ve managed to survive until now.
At this rate, you’ll misjudge your opponent’s strength and end up losing ALEX.
You’re no different from Metarika.
In the end, it’s not about whether you have information, but whether you have judgment.
Ah, I’ve used my head for sweets, sweets.
Mmm, delicious. Anyway, if there’s no income, I’ll cut out the waste.
Yummy, yummy.