Disaster Designation Subjugation Request II
“Ah, of course, I will suggest what I want.”
In the tense atmosphere, I leaned back against the chair’s backrest, allowing myself to relax as I spoke with a faint smile, my tone light and airy. I made sure my words were clear, though it felt as if I were speaking without engaging in a real conversation, reciting the lines I had prepared in my mind.
“Naturally, I will push for some unreasonable demands, right? After all, this is a subjugation of a Disaster-Designated Monster, a being capable of annihilating a nation second only to the Demon King’s Army. This isn’t a large-scale operation led by a kingdom, but rather a spontaneous subjugation mission by an individual and their companions. Such demands should be permissible, don’t you think?”
I pressed on without waiting for the King, the First Prince, or the Prime Minister to respond. The disaster itself was a calamity that could change form and move with a clear intent; that was what a Disaster-Designated Monster was. It was a creature so formidable that it was not only difficult to kill but also challenging to stop or divert with ordinary means.
To be honest, simply killing a Disaster-Designated Monster was a hassle, but it wouldn’t lead to death, so it wasn’t overly exhausting. Dealing with the executives of the Demon King’s Army was far more troublesome, as they often had numerous minions and each possessed annoying traits. The last one I fought, who claimed to be the strongest among them, would have died from a single mistake.
That said, I would demand a reward. Even if it wasn’t life-threatening, defeating such a creature would require time, effort, and resources. I wasn’t particularly durable, so I would likely sustain injuries. I would need compensation for healing costs, replenishing consumed supplies, and replacing any damaged equipment. After all, the very nature of this request implied that a reward was necessary. Some had agreed with me, insisting that I at least push for these demands to be met.
“That said, I don’t wish to destroy this kingdom, nor do I want to rule over it as a conqueror. Therefore, I won’t demand that you continuously provide me with funds that would only impoverish your treasury, nor will I ask for the princess or a nobility title.”
After all, such titles would only serve as a collar, a hindrance rather than a benefit.
“So, I have two requests to make.”
I raised two fingers, locking eyes with the King, who was quietly sweating as he looked at me. If I were in his position, I might have felt the urge to look away, but he remained steadfast, a testament to his status as a ruler. In a similar situation, I would likely be unable to maintain my composure.
“First, I want gold. I’m not asking for a bounty on the subjugation target; rather, I want compensation for the supplies I will consume, the costs of healing my injuries, and the effort expended in the subjugation.”
“Ah, of course, I won’t demand an outrageous sum. This isn’t a target that requires hundreds of billions or thousands of billions to subjugate; that would be a waste far more meaningless than tossing dust into a ditch.”
“Let’s see… at most, around ten billion. It’s a remarkably low amount. To put it into perspective, the cost of slaying an adult Dragon through the Adventurer’s Guild is comparable to the price of eliminating a disaster that could destroy a nation. This amount shouldn’t be a significant burden for you, right?”
In reality, if paying ten billion ten or twenty times could destabilize the nation, it would already be on the brink of collapse. In such a scenario, the populace would be suffering, and the kingdom would be in chaos. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be sitting here negotiating; I would be out slaying the Demon Race and the Disaster-Designated Monsters myself. While it might be possible for a smaller nation, this was undoubtedly a great nation, one that should possess sufficient wealth in its treasury.
“That’s why I prioritize my second request. It’s not a matter of asking; it’s a matter of making it happen. If this cannot be agreed upon, I will leave this kingdom and head far away without engaging in the subjugation of the Disaster-Designated Monster at all.”
…I had heard that this statement served as the greatest threat, but I hadn’t fully believed it until now. The King’s expression remained unchanged, but the First Prince and the Prime Minister behind him had lost color in their faces, sweat trickling down their necks. This expression reminded me of when I had climbed out of a pit trap set by a High-ranking Demon, filled with a horde of Demon Race and Monsters trying to kill me. That time, their faces had looked as if they were in shock, but I had swiftly dealt with them.
“Ah, rest assured, Your Highness and Prime Minister. I won’t act without warning. If you outright refuse to accept my demands and cut off all negotiations, then that is when I will take action.”
My intention was not to reassure them; rather, it was a stronger form of intimidation. I was conveying that they should either accept my demands or make concessions that favored me. If they couldn’t do that, I would execute my plans without hesitation. The King’s expression remained stoic.
“Now, for my second request: everything I kill from the Disaster Designation will belong to me. While I might sell some of it to you, fundamentally, all materials from the monsters I slay will be mine, to keep in my possession.”
I stated my demands casually. At first glance, it might not seem like a significant threat, but it was enough to make them question whether they should refuse or concede. The First Prince and the Prime Minister, who had lost color in their faces, seemed to wonder why I would make such a request, their expressions still pale. The King, however, appeared to have realized something, his eyes widening as a mix of emotions, primarily anxiety, flickered across his face.
I genuinely believed this was the case. Until one possibility crossed my mind.
Indeed, the materials from Monsters could be used for weapons and potions, and the stronger the monster, the more powerful the resulting equipment or elixirs would be. If the materials came from a Disaster-Designated Monster, they could potentially create weapons that rivaled the Holy Sword. If used for potions, they could possibly recreate miracles like Soma, which could resurrect the dead, or Elixirs that grant a form of immortality, or Spirit Medicine that defies aging. It might be possible to replicate these in the current era.
However, whether the technology to achieve this existed today was uncertain, and even if it did, a single material wouldn’t suffice. Still, even if used as mere materials for weapons or potions, they could yield far superior products than conventional ones, enough to equip dozens of people.
If I could kill these monsters without significant damage and recover their materials to forge weapons, I would undoubtedly create a substantial military or national power advantage over other nations. A ruler could not possibly overlook such a fact.
“Well, there is one monster that I’ve been asked to kill separately. We’ll be heading out to deal with that now, so please consider your conclusion carefully and relay it through the Knight Commander. Until then, I bid you farewell.”
I stood up, leaving the three of them in silence, and without waiting for a response, I opened the door and stepped outside, offering only a brief farewell. Ideally, I should have waited for their answer, discussed it, and then exited after they left the room, but… well, it was fine.