Disaster Designated Subjugation Request III
“Honestly, what a ridiculous thing you’ve done, huh?”
“It’s not my initiative. You should know that, right?”
“That’s true, but I never expected you to go that far.”
“From the start, I had no intention of showing any respect to the King. I understood that opposing him would be a foolish move for survival in this Kingdom, so I merely acted respectfully.”
“Is that so?”
“Indeed.”
As I walked along the path leading away from the Royal Castle, I chatted with the Knight Commander who had been following me from behind. The atmosphere felt as if I were joking with a close friend, a stark contrast to the serious discussions we had just had. My steps were light, almost carefree.
“Still, was that really okay?”
“Hmm? Oh, yeah. I think it was more than enough to prove that I’m not just someone to be used. At the very least, His Majesty has no choice but to meet our demands.”
“I see… By the way, what about the materials? Unfortunately, I haven’t relied much on weapons, so I don’t have any connections in that area. Even if we gather a lot of materials, it feels like it would be a waste if we don’t use them.”
“That’s something you all should discuss. For us, it’s sufficient that the disaster-designated materials won’t end up in His Majesty’s hands. If you’re having trouble processing them, let me know. I can introduce you to a blacksmith who guarantees skill and confidentiality, even if it’s a personal connection.”
“…I see.”
The negotiations regarding the earlier request had been directed at me by Stella, who was currently waiting at the mansion that served as our base, alongside the Knight Commander. To be more specific, Stella had instructed me to demand specific rewards when accepting the request and to approach the King with an attitude that was almost contemptuous, as if looking down on him. Meanwhile, the Knight Commander had asked me to ensure that the corpses—or rather, the materials—from the monsters we subjugated under the disaster designation wouldn’t fall into the King’s hands, and offered to cooperate if necessary.
So, last night, I had discussed with Stella and the Knight Commander how to accept the request and negotiate the rewards… and the result was the scene we had just left. If I had been more skilled in conversation, I might have been able to maintain a respectful demeanor while subtly conveying that I could tear off the collar at any moment and rip out the King’s throat. Unfortunately, I lacked the eloquence for that, so I instead projected an air of superiority, as if I were on equal footing with the King. Stella had mentioned that in the worst-case scenario, we could simply listen to the request and then retreat after making our demands, so I felt that managing to assert our requirements was a success.
“However… is it really alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not worried about being expelled for offending him, but what if my parents or acquaintances back home are taken hostage?”
Given that they had come to fetch me, they were aware of my hometown’s location. It would be quite troubling if my parents or friends were taken hostage to ensure my compliance. While I could eliminate those who would take them hostage before they could kill them, I hadn’t been able to visit home or do much for my parents. Moreover, I had already caused enough trouble for my hometown by being taken away, and I wanted to avoid causing any more inconvenience.
“Rest assured. I’ve deployed a dozen of my direct subordinates under the pretense of avoiding hostages from the Demon King’s Army. Regardless of the King’s orders, they won’t be taken outside of the Kingdom, and they will contact us if anything unusual happens.”
“…That’s good to hear.”
“Indeed. We cannot sacrifice innocent civilians.”
If the Knight Commander says so, I can trust him… Though our acquaintance has only been for a few days, I have come to understand that he is indeed Fana’s father. He doesn’t force goodness upon others, but he strives to be a good father. He wouldn’t distort that nature or do anything shameful in front of his children.
“By the way, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Are you okay with becoming a liaison with the King in the future?”
“Ah, that’s fine. But can I use Fana for that?”
“？…Oh, I see. You mean through Fana.”
“Exactly. It’s not that I have a problem with doing it directly, but it could lead to unnecessary suspicions.”
“Unnecessary suspicions?”
“Yes. They might think that the Faritia Family is getting too close to you, or that we’re trying to gain power by surrounding you, or that we’re trying to bring you into the fold as a leading candidate for the next generation… something along those lines.”
“…I see, that makes sense… Well, I understand the situation. But if possible, I’d prefer if you could give Fana a written note instead of explaining it to her.”
“Huh? I don’t think she’s that foolish.”
“No, no, it’s not that. I want to refer back to it and plan accordingly. That’s why I brought this paper.”
“Oh, I see. I misunderstood, my apologies.”
“That’s alright.”
In reality, if it were just Fana and me, we could share information that way, and since I could plan and execute the arrangements, Fana wouldn’t object. However, with our group expanding, that wouldn’t be feasible. Stella and Ruru would likely be more knowledgeable about the situation and geography than I am. It would be better to discuss and gather opinions rather than making unilateral decisions.
…Well, it wouldn’t be a lie to say that I was worried about forgetting the details before Fana returned. After all, I had seen someone fall back into a pitfall just moments after being pulled out.
“Alright then, I’ll leave the troublesome matters to you.”
“Leave it to me. Just make sure you don’t die.”
“Of course, I have no intention of dying yet.”
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We left the Royal Castle and headed to a residential area located far from both the Noble District and the Slums. At the farthest end, we found a spacious mansion that could comfortably accommodate a dozen people. This would serve as our base of operations while we were in the Kingdom.
The location was quite poor. It was far from the main street where food was sold, and it was also distant from the Royal Castle, where we would often be summoned. Additionally, the nearby residential area was bustling, and the mansion itself, while somewhat grand in appearance, drew attention. It was also quite a distance from the two gates necessary for entering and exiting the Castle Town.
The advantages were that Fana’s family home was just a wall away, and there was a watchtower with knights stationed on top, allowing us to climb over the wall and exit. Plus, it was far from the Noble District.
Why did we choose this place? It was spacious enough to accommodate a large number of people without causing issues, and it was located in an area where troublesome individuals were less likely to bother us. Moreover, it was the cheapest option available. While the distance to shops was a downside, considering the physical abilities of our current group, it wasn’t a significant concern. There were various amenities, including a food storage facility that maintained a low temperature, so we could stock up on supplies if needed.
But putting that aside…
“…So that’s how it is. The Knight Commander is expected to bring back their response.”
“I see… I think that’s not a bad outcome. You’ve shown that you’re not just a dog wearing a collar, obediently following orders.”
Back at the mansion, in the room closest to the entrance, I spoke with Stella in what would likely be our meeting room. We were sharing simple reports: I recounted the events at the Royal Castle, while Stella updated me on the preparations for weapons and consumables needed for the subjugation. While we could have done this without using the meeting room, we needed to share the contents of the written documents regarding the disaster designation, as well as mark our location on the map for easier distance calculations.
“That’s good. How are your preparations going?”
“Mostly complete. I can’t say we’ve achieved the absolute best preparations, but we have enough to fight without any issues, and we’ve gathered the necessary supplies for long-distance travel.”
“Good. What about our means of transportation?”
“On foot. We didn’t have anyone who could drive a carriage, and there’s a chance that horses might run away during a disaster-designated subjugation. We have several Magic Bags ready, so we can avoid bulky loads, and considering our physical abilities, we agreed that traveling on foot would be fine.”
“I see…”
“Shall I prepare it?”
“No, that’s fine. I’m good.”
I could technically drive a carriage, but if we could manage our load and stamina on foot, that would be preferable. Riding a carriage often meant sitting in an unstable position, which would lead to stiffness in my joints, requiring me to stretch before moving. I suppose it wouldn’t be too bad once I got used to it, but after nearly five years, I still hadn’t adjusted, so it seemed I simply wasn’t suited for it.
Even if I did get tired, I could take a longer break just before entering combat, and if necessary, I could have someone who could fight alongside me and Fana rotate in and out during battles.
…For now, I would let Stella and the others handle the fighting until we made contact, and then Fana and I would step in to engage. I didn’t have the strength to fight alone yet, but once we gathered our weapons and grew stronger, I could pull in a suitable Dragon for testing.
“So, when shall we depart?”
“The timing is a bit tricky… If the Knight Commander reports back after this, we’ll leave tomorrow morning. If not, then it will be the morning of the third day at the latest. I’ll head to the watchtower and inform the knights stationed there that we’ll be using this place for entry and exit.”
“Understood. Who will our first target be?”
“The target for revenge requested by Rio, the Dead Eater in the plains.”
“Well, that makes sense. Should I inform them?”
“Go ahead. It’s crucial that we share information about the enemy.”
“Got it. What will you do next?”
“I’ll inform the knights in the watchtower that we’ll be using this place for entry and exit. I’ll also ask them to relay the information to the knights at the checkpoint and the Knight Commander after we leave.”
“Ah, that’s definitely important. Then let’s wrap up this report meeting.”
“Alright, I’m off.”
“Yes, safe travels.”
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- Weapons made from materials equivalent to disaster-designated entities possess the strength of a thousand warriors. For instance, the heart of Fronis, one of the Demon King’s Army Executives, can enhance the power of a staff’s magic by at least five times when processed as material.
- The protagonist has not relied on weapons up to this point, meaning he has had no involvement with the materials from the monsters he has subjugated. He only brought back the heads as proof of subjugation.
- The whereabouts of the materials obtained from the corpses of the Demon King’s Army Executives that the protagonist has defeated are clear for only five bodies.
Aside
Initially, the protagonist planned to demand equal speaking rights with the royal family and nobility. He intended to secure the right to speak from an equal standpoint at all times, but after consulting with Stella and the Knight Commander, he abandoned that idea, fearing it would lead to complications and a collar worse than that of a Hero.