Disaster Classification Subjugation Request ③
“Honestly, what a ridiculous thing you’ve done, huh?”
“That wasn’t my intention. You should know that, right?”
“True, but I never expected you to go that far.”
“From the start, I had no intention of showing any respect towards the king. I understood that opposing him would be a foolish move for survival in this country, so I merely acted with a semblance of respect.”
“Is that so?”
“Indeed.”
As I walked along the path of the royal castle, I conversed with the Knight Commander who had been following me from behind. The atmosphere felt as if I were chatting casually with a close friend, a stark contrast to the serious discussions we had just had.
“Still, was that really okay?”
“Hmm? Ah, I think it was more than enough proof that I’m not just someone to be used. At the very least, His Majesty has no choice but to comply with our demands now.”
“I see… By the way, what about the materials? Unfortunately, I haven’t relied much on weapons, so I have no connections in that area, and 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 enough that the materials classified as disasters 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 I trust, who guarantees skill and confidentiality.”
“…I see.”
Regarding the earlier request, it was Stella, who was currently waiting at the mansion that serves as our base, and the Knight Commander walking beside me who had instructed me to ensure that all the second materials from the subjugation would go into my pocket. To be more specific, Stella had said that if I was going to request a reward for the subjugation, I should ask for something concrete, and she suggested I adopt a somewhat arrogant attitude towards the king. Meanwhile, the Knight Commander had asked me to ensure that the materials from the disaster-class monsters we defeated wouldn’t end up in the king’s possession, and offered to cooperate if necessary.
So, last night, I discussed with Stella and the Knight Commander how to approach the request and negotiate the reward… and the result was the scene we had just experienced. If I had been more skilled in rhetoric, I might have been able to convey my message without breaking my respectful demeanor, subtly hinting that I could easily tear off the collar and rip out his throat at any moment. Unfortunately, I lacked such eloquence, so I opted to project an air of superiority, as if I were on equal footing with the king. Stella had mentioned that in the worst-case scenario, it would be acceptable to simply listen to the request and then retreat after making our demands, so I thought it was quite a success that I managed to assert our demands firmly.
“But… is it really okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not worried about myself being chased out or anything, but what about my parents and acquaintances back home? Will they be taken hostage?”
Since they had come to pick me up, they knew the location of my hometown. It would be quite troubling if my parents or acquaintances were taken hostage to ensure my compliance. While I could certainly eliminate those who would take them hostage before they could kill them, I hadn’t been able to visit my family or do much for them. Moreover, I had already caused enough trouble for my hometown, so I wanted to avoid causing any more.
“Rest assured. I’ve deployed a dozen of my subordinates under the pretext of avoiding hostages from the Demon Lord’s Army. Regardless of the king’s orders, they won’t be taken outside of our hometown, and if anything unusual happens, we’ll be notified.”
“…That’s good to hear.”
“Indeed. We cannot sacrifice innocent people.”
If the Knight Commander says so, I can trust him… Though our acquaintance is only a few days old, I have come to understand that he is indeed Fana’s father. He doesn’t force others to be good, but he strives to be good for the sake of his child. He wouldn’t distort that nature or do anything shameful that he couldn’t openly show to his child.
“By the way…”
“What is it?”
“Are you okay with becoming a liaison with the king from now on?”
“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. People might think that House Faritia and you are too close, or that House Faritia is trying to consolidate power, or that you’re trying to recruit the next generation’s strongest candidates… 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 just telling her.”
“Huh? I don’t think she’s that foolish.”
“No, no, I mean so I can refer back to it and plan accordingly. That’s why I brought this paper.”
“Oh, I see. I jumped to conclusions, my apologies.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
In fact, if it were just Fana and me, we could share information that way, and since I can plan and execute the schedule, Fana wouldn’t object. However, with more companions now, that wouldn’t work. Stella and Lulu are likely more knowledgeable about the situation and geography than I am. It would be better to discuss and gather opinions rather than making unilateral decisions.
…Though I can’t deny that the possibility of forgetting the details before Fana returns crossed my mind. After all, I’ve seen someone fall into a pitfall mere minutes after being pulled out.
“Well then, I’ll leave the troublesome matters to you.”
“Leave it to me. Just make sure you don’t die.”
“Of course, I’m not planning on dying just 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, specifically to 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 also distanced from the royal castle, where I would often be summoned. Additionally, the mansion, while somewhat grand in appearance, attracted attention due to its location within the residential area. It was also quite a distance from the two gates necessary for entering and exiting the town.
The only advantages were that Fana’s family home was easily accessible via the wall, and there was a watchtower with knights stationed on top, allowing us to climb over the gate and exit. Plus, it was far from the noble district.
Why did we choose this place? Because it was a location where a large number of people could live without causing issues, it was difficult for troublesome individuals to get involved, and it was the cheapest option available. While the distance to shops was a bit inconvenient, considering the physical capabilities of our current group, it wasn’t too much of a concern. There were various amenities, like a food storage room that maintained a low temperature, so if it became too much of a hassle, we could stock up and store supplies there.
But anyway…
“…That’s the situation. 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 that obeys with a collar around your neck.”
Back at the mansion, in the room closest to the entrance, I spoke with Stella in what would likely become our meeting room. The discussion was a simple report. I shared what had transpired at the royal castle, while Stella reported on the preparations for the 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 documents detailing the locations of the disaster-class monsters. Additionally, we would mark our current location on the map to make it easier to understand our distance from there.
“That’s good. How are your preparations going?”
“Mostly complete. I can’t say we’ve achieved the best possible preparation, 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 risk that the horses might run away if we go to subjugate a disaster-class monster. We have several magic bags ready, so we can avoid bulky loads, and considering our physical capabilities, we agreed that traveling on foot would be fine.”
“I see…”
“Shall I prepare it?”
“No, that’s fine. I’m good.”
While I could technically drive a carriage, it would be better to travel light if we could manage it. Sitting in an unstable position 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 never did, so I must not be suited for it.
Even if I did get tired, I could take a longer break right before entering combat, and if necessary, I could have someone who could fight alongside me and Fana switch out during the battle.
…For now, I think I’ll let Stella and the others handle the fighting until we engage with the disaster-class monster, and then Fana and I will step in. I don’t have the strength to fight alone yet, but once we gather our weapons and grow stronger, we can pull in a suitable dragon for a test.
“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 the latest will be the morning of the third day. I’ll head up to the watchtower and inform the knights stationed there that we’re using this place for entry and exit.”
“Understood. Who’s our first target?”
“The Dead Eater in the plains, as per Rio’s request for revenge.”
“Well, that makes sense. Should I inform her?”
“Yes, please do. It’s essential to share information about the enemy.”
“Got it. What will you do after this?”
“I’ll let the knights in the watchtower know 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 indeed important. Well then, let’s wrap up this report.”
“Alright, I’ll be off.”
“Yes. Safe travels.”
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- Weapons made from materials equivalent to disaster-class monsters possess the power of a thousand warriors. For example, the heart of Fronis, an executive of the Demon Lord’s Army, can enhance the power of magic by at least five times when processed into a staff.
- The protagonist has not relied on weapons up until now → (which means) they have had no involvement with the materials from the monsters they have subjugated. They only brought back the heads as proof of subjugation.
- The whereabouts of the materials obtained from the corpses of the Demon Lord’s Army executives that the protagonist has defeated are clear for only five bodies.
Aside
Initially, the protagonist intended to demand equal speaking rights with the royal family and nobility. They planned to request the right to speak from an equal standpoint at all times and under any circumstances, but after consulting with Stella and the Knight Commander, they abandoned that idea, fearing it would lead to complications and being treated worse than a mere hero.