Marina’s Faith

Marina and her father, Duke Ames, were ushered into an inn separate from the one housing Noris. Despite the comfort of their surroundings, the Duke was currently trembling with incandescent rage.

“Why is God debasing himself by serving such a trivial prince?!” he roared. “I should launch a campaign at once and—”

“Father, if you do such a thing, you’ll only make Yuri-sama—our God—hate you,” Marina cautioned.

“Mu... g-guu... But to leave such an irreverent brat to his own devices is—”

“Naturally, Yuri-sama understands what he is doing. He is letting the boy run loose for a reason. Perhaps even a creature like that has some part to play in His design.”

“T-That... you truly think so?!”

“I cannot say for certain. A mere mortal like me couldn't possibly fathom the full extent of God’s—of Yuri-sama’s—intentions.”

Marina spoke with an ecstatic, glazed expression, her hands clasped as she practically worshiped the Cooler installed in the room. Her behavior was so suspicious it bordered on cult fanaticism, but to these two, that didn't matter in the slightest.

“We won’t find the answer by guessing,” Marina continued. “So, why don’t you simply ask Yuri-sama yourself?”

“I would hate to trouble His hands with such trivialities, but it would be an even greater sin if our misguided actions caused Him grief,” Duke Ames conceded, nodding in agreement.

“Even so, God’s handiwork remains as extraordinary as ever, doesn’t it?” Marina mused, her eyes wandering across the room again.

Aside from the Cooler, there was a Refrigerator to chill drinks as if it were the most natural thing in the world. There was a bath where Water and hot water flowed freely, and even the Lighting Magic Tools—which required neither wax nor oil—were used throughout the town as standard equipment.

If one were to try and implement this level of luxury in the Holy Principality of Ames, even the entire national budget wouldn't cover the cost.

Then, there was the device in the hallway. Marina had spotted a Small Golem of a design she had never seen before: a short, cylindrical mass of iron wandering the corridors with erratic movements.

“Yuri-sama made this as well, didn't he?”

She didn't understand the logic behind its movement, but she assumed it served some profound purpose. Perhaps it’s a Security Golem meant to repel invaders? The more she thought about it, the more formidable it seemed. Its compact size was a masterstroke; with a few adjustments, it would be the perfect tool for Stealth operations.

Conversely, with these mechanical eyes watching every corner, no one could cause a disturbance undetected. Perhaps Yuri-sama had intentionally placed these Small Golems in plain sight as a deterrent.

“Um... Rooma-sama, was it? Is that the name of this golem? What a majestic title, truly fitting for a Town Guardian.”

“It is a Mythical-class Magic Tool,” the Duke added solemnly. “A tool fit for a God.”

“I’m sure it counterattacks with magic the moment it detects an intruder.”

“The way it’s been absorbing Wind all this time... that must be the source of its power.”

The Rooma continued its journey, its reputation growing more exaggerated by the second because neither of them could conceive of a machine that simply sucked up dust. They refused to believe it was merely performing a basic, pre-programmed function.

“There are even more wonders here than during my last visit,” Marina whispered, her cheeks flushing. “As expected of our God...”

“I finally understand the weight of your words,” the Duke said.

“Then, regarding the matter of Yuri-sama’s Independence?”

“Of course. I want Yuri-sama to rule our country by any means necessary. To that end, we must first invite him to our lands—”

“Father, don’t forget the talk of my engagement, as well.”

“Right. In any case, we will settle everything after we meet Yuri-sama tomorrow.”

Why is it always one thing after another?

After throwing—no, guiding—Noris, Marina, and her father to their respective inns, I collapsed in my room and buried my face in my hands.

“How did it even get to this point?”

The problem hadn’t started today, but it had certainly peaked. I needed to stay on the good side of Noris. He was a member of the Royal Family and Alexia’s fiancé; if the Second Prince took a liking to this territory, he might actually help me secure Independence.

But if I pursued that, I’d need someone to keep the runaway train that was Marina under control. Since she was obsessed with Magic Tools, maybe I should introduce her to Melty?

Then again, Melty was an essential asset to this territory now. She was an eccentric who wanted to spend her life on the top floor of the Swaying Tower, but when it came to Magic Tool Crafting, her skills rivaled my own. I suppose she really was a Sage, for better or worse.

Still, it baffled me. Why were all these main—read: troublesome—characters like a Sage, a Saint, and a Hero congregating in my territory? At this rate, a Sword Saint or even the Original Game Protagonist would probably show up next.

If a crowd like that gathered here, someone would eventually try to stick me with the task of Demon Lord subjugation. I had zero interest in taking that kind of risk.

No, there’s no point in overthinking it now. As long as I achieve Independence, my peace and quiet will be guaranteed.

Despite the nagging tinge of anxiety in my gut, I turned my thoughts toward a more pressing matter: exactly how I was going to suck up to my guests tomorrow.