Rest

I found myself with a bit of free time before our departure for the Empire.

The Beast King had goaded me into it, suggesting I take the opportunity to see the Castle Town with Elu. Since she was all for the idea, Fee and I ended up accompanying her. The three of us were currently in the middle of a "public execution"—otherwise known as a date.

Fee had a death grip on my right arm to ensure I didn’t sneak any Magic Stones, while Elu clung to my left with her entire body, looking utterly delighted. To any onlooker, I was likely in an enviable position—one that would make most men weep tears of blood.

Naturally, I didn't see it that way.

“That Emilina. She was smirking as she saw me off, right up until the very last second.”

I couldn't forget the sneer she’d flashed me the moment we left the room. I’ll definitely make her feel the same way, I thought with grim determination as I walked through this public execution.

“Saint Emilina was blessing us, you know,” Elu said.

“Blessing or not, that’s a conversation for after I’ve secured my independence...”

“Since my father said he would lend his support, that part is already set in stone.”

He was the king of a nation, after all. He was more than capable of appointing a single person to a rank like a Knighthood. Even if it involved a foreign power, an engagement with a princess carried immeasurable utility. He knew he could reap the rewards if he played his cards right, so he likely intended to shackled me with a title as quickly as possible to ensure I couldn't slip away.

“Well, I suppose so. I’d probably do the same if I were king.”

“Exactly. Because you are a king, Yuri-sama.”

“...Aren't you just cherry-picking the parts of that sentence you like?”

“Ehehe.”

Elu offered a sweet, innocent smile. Perhaps she was already plotting to install me as the king of the Beast Kingdom.

When I looked at it that way, it felt like there were far too many people in this world plotting something. I’d originally thought my father was the only Mastermind, but now there was the Empire, the Beast Kingdom, the Saint... The fact that everyone had their own hidden agenda gave the world a gritty sense of reality.

How many times have I wished this world were just a game?

I couldn't afford to let my guard down just because a path to independence had finally opened up. I’d have to pay for any failure with my life, so I needed to ensure everything was perfect. Things had ended with the best possible result in the Beast Kingdom; now, I had to prepare countermeasures to ensure I achieved the same in the Empire.

However, the Empire was a meritocracy on par with the Demon Kingdom. I could only wonder what the outcome would be.

“Yuri-sama, look what I got!”

“I received so many. They’re very delicious.”

The two girls smiled happily. I watched them with a gentle gaze before turning to thank the stall owner.

“Thanks for the food.”

“No, no, it's thanks to the Beast King that we can do business safely in this town. This is just a small token of my gratitude.”

Then give it to the Beast King directly, I couldn't help but think.

“The Beast King won't accept anything himself, you see,” the stall owner added, as if sensing my thoughts.

“I see. So you’re thanking his daughter, Elu, instead.”

“Besides, you were the one who took the lead and fought so hard in the recent civil war.”

“...How do you know about that?”

My participation should have been restricted to the royalty and a few select individuals. I was surprised a common stall clerk knew.

“Well, weren't you flying through the sky on a giant piece of white cotton candy?”

Ah. They’d seen me traveling on Ram. I could certainly see how Ram would stand out in that form, but I was still impressed they’d managed to spot me as well.

“Beastmen have superior physical abilities,” Elu clarified from my side. “Our eyesight is quite keen.”

Still, white cotton candy, huh? I thought. Even here, she’s being compared to food.

I couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.

“Is something the matter?”

“No, it’s nothing. Can I have a skewer too?”

“Of course!”

I took a meat skewer from the owner and reached for my coin purse. However, he flatly refused the payment, insisting that he could never take money from a benefactor.

◇　◇　◇

We hopped between several more food stalls until my stomach was completely full. Elu and Fee, however, still seemed hungry; they both had their hands full of skewers.

“Um... do you dislike girls who eat a lot?” Elu asked anxiously.

I reached out and lightly rapped her on the head.

“Ouch!”

“Do you really think I’m the kind of guy who judges people based on that?”

“I suppose not,” Elu said, her smile returning in full force.

“He's right,” Fee added, munching away while staring fixedly at me. Actually, she was staring at the bulge in my pocket.

Sorry, Fee. This isn't a Magic Stone.

It was an Infinite Magic Power Absorption Stone—or as I called it, a Plain Old Rock. Since I could use Magic Power with this without triggering Fee’s anger, I’d been using it continuously, even during our "public execution."

“Are you pushing yourself?” Fee asked, her voice laced with concern.

She had seen me run out of Magic Power and collapse more times than I could count. I couldn't blame her for being extra protective; it was my own fault for being reckless and constantly making her worry.

“No, I’m fine. I won't worry you like that again. I know I’ve put you through a lot, Fee.”

“As long as you’re okay, then it’s fine.”

Fee gave me a genuine smile, and I found myself smiling back.

◇　◆　◇

Inside the Empire's Castle.

First, the First Rank, wore a thunderous expression as he read the report from the Ninth.

“What the hell is the meaning of this?!”

“Um... it is a consolidated report from the Alchemist, Magna of the Fifth Rank, and the puppeteer, Luna of the Third Rank.”

“I know who wrote it! What I want to know is how the Empire’s proud Single Digits were decimated by a mere provincial Viscount!”

“T-that is...”

Certainly, there were people in the world capable of taking down one of the Single Digits in a fair fight. However, the Single Digits were the hand-picked elite of the entire Empire. The fact that half of them had been neutralized was a shocking reality—it was as if the Empire itself had been halved.

“And even Luna, the Third Rank...”

While the Single Digits possessed power on a different level from common soldiers, they were still fundamentally human. Those ranked Third and above, however, possessed truly inhuman strength.

Luna, for instance, could command colossal dolls that no human could hope to rival, allowing her to crush her enemies with total impunity. Being inanimate, her dolls felt no fatigue and ignored most wounds. A single strike from one of her larger puppets carried enough force to obliterate a battalion.

And yet, Luna herself had sent a recommendation, insisting that this man be recruited into the Single Digits immediately.

If he was truly such an extraordinary individual, it might not be a bad idea to meet him.

“Whether he turns out to be an ogre or a Demon... either way, he’d better keep me entertained.”