Hello.
I am the High King of the Keilland Region United Kingdom.
My only friends are the ever-mounting piles of paperwork and the civil officials keeping watch over me.
Uh, first of all, medicine is amazing.
My arm, which had been hurting so terribly, can move again.
Regular use is bad, so I can only use it about once every ten days, but it helps immensely.
However, regular use is bad.
It is important, so I will say it as many times as needed.
Regular use is bad.
Therefore, I want to argue that taking breaks is absolutely necessary so that I don't have to rely on it.
I will do my best.
Whenever I can move, I will do my best.
I took the break that the civil official reluctantly granted me.
Keeping my body in as comfortable a posture as possible, without moving.
In other words, lying flat on my back.
Placing no burden on my arms or legs.
Wringing out a towel soaked in hot water loosely, I placed it over my eyes.
After that... I would love some relaxing music or something, but it would feel wrong to bother calling a musician.
Having them open the window, I chilled out to the sound of the wind.
Ah.
I'm exhausted.
This is brutal.
The journey was harsh, but it was never this bad.
The outbound sea voyage was utterly terrifying.
After all, until now, the only time I had ever boarded a boat was to cross a river.
It was my first time boarding a massive ship that navigated the open ocean using sails.
I was scared out of my mind.
However, I got used to it.
The large ship traveled at a distance where land was barely in sight, and it was a blessing that we dropped anchor at a port once every few days.
We also never encountered the storms my companions dreaded so much.
As we continued our sea voyage like that, we ended up getting held up by ramen.
Yes, ramen.
What was the name of the country again...?
And the king's name was... Clau... Crattan?
Clauden?
I think it was something along those lines.
I don't remember well.
What I do remember is ramen.
Yes, only things about ramen.
Also, how to use chopsticks.
Lady Tiselle and the others used chopsticks, and since I had already encountered dishes eaten with chopsticks, that part wasn't too difficult, but...
The ramen training was merciless.
And despite how grueling it was, the shock when I was told that the ramen I learned there wasn't the real thing was indescribable.
Fortunately, the authentic ramen was in my destination, Village Five, which made me feel a tremendous sense of destiny.
Incidentally, my companions didn't undergo ramen training and went sightseeing like normal people.
Why was it only me?
No, even if you claim you sensed talent in me... well, that's just troubling.
And so, seeking ramen, I continued my voyage...
And arrived at a port in the Six Dragon God Kingdom.
I thought that after resupplying the ship there, we would set sail next for the town of Shashato in the Demon Kingdom, but the ship departed without taking us aboard.
The reason was that an associate of the Demon Kingdom was present in the Six Dragon God Kingdom.
That Demon Kingdom associate knew my true identity.
And my objective.
Wishing to avoid capture, I instinctively gripped the hilt of the sword at my waist, but nothing of the sort happened.
It turned out Lady Tiselle had already informed the Demon Kingdom about me via a letter.
Come to think of it, Lord Zaharzahar of the Mixed-Generation Dragons, who nested near the royal capital of the Keilland Region United Kingdom, was affiliated with the Six Dragon God Kingdom.
Originally, there had been talk of riding that Lord Zaharzahar all the way to the Six Dragon God Kingdom, but as expected, that was too terrifying, so I chose a ship instead.
Naturally, Lady Tiselle's letter could easily get ahead of us.
And my objective was ramen... no, not that, but meeting Lady Tiselle's father, to whom even the Demon King—the ruler of the Demon Kingdom—pays respect.
I harbored no hostility, but from the Demon Kingdom's perspective, I was a monarch of a realm belonging to a hostile coalition.
It was only natural for the Demon Kingdom to be wary of me.
For my part, I firmly wanted to convey that I had no hostile intent whatsoever.
With that in mind, I followed the guidance of the Demon Kingdom associate, but...
Meeting the Demon King at the Demon Kingdom Royal Capital was completely outside my calculations.
My plan had been to secretly meet Lady Tiselle's father and quietly slip back home.
Is that not allowed?
Does the Demon Kingdom want to test my mettle as one of the kings of the Human Kingdom?
Hmph.
Though ruler of a small nation, I am still a king.
Allow me to let you test me to your heart's content.
...
By the way, I won't complain that holding this outside the audience chamber is rude or anything, but...
Well, why a plaza?
Also, the Demon King... um, wearing vertically striped clothes, is it really fine for him to be the Demon King?
No, he introduced himself as the Demon King, sure.
It just wasn't remotely the appearance I had imagined.
Ah, right.
I am dressed in similar attire myself.
These were clothes provided by the Demon Kingdom.
Thinking it would be impolite to remain in traveling garb, I obediently changed into them.
Mine had no vertical stripes; it was just plain.
After seeing the Demon King's vertical stripes, mine feels a bit lonely.
W-Well, whatever.
Yeah, the clothes are fine.
So, what am I supposed to do here?
I am not well-versed in the Demon Kingdom's customs, but surely we aren't holding diplomatic talks in an open plaza, right?
First, warm-up exercises?
Warming up our bodies?
Hmm.
I didn't really get it, but I imitated whatever the Demon King and the others were doing.
Once the warm-ups were over... hm?
Hold a bat?
Do you want to test my swordsmanship?
Well, I suppose I can show off that much.
Apparently, physical strength is revered in the Demon Kingdom.
It wouldn't do to refuse and be looked down upon.
Besides, I am confident in my blade.
Who is my opponent?
Surely the Demon King himself won't be my sparring partner.
In other words, is it the person waiting over there?
However, that person isn't holding a bat.
...Eh?
He's my opponent, but we're not hitting each other with bats?
I'm supposed to hit the ball that person throws with the bat?
Is this...
Did they show consideration for me?
If by some remote chance I lost in a sword duel, I would be disgraced, and if I were severely injured, it would become an international incident.
With a contest like this, I can display my capability without risking major injury.
At worst, the ball just hits me.
Yeah.
Alright, bring it on!
On the battlefield, I deflected raining arrows with my sword!
Hitting a thrown ball with a bat is child's play!
...He's not throwing it at me, huh.
I see, because there's a catcher behind me, the ball travels along a path like this.
And then, I hit it from inside this square marked-off area.
When swinging, I must not step outside the box, huh.
Ah, stepping on the line will be overlooked.
Understood.
Now, bring it on!
After having about thirty balls thrown to me and connecting with roughly half of them, I was handed a strange glove.
Apparently, this time I am supposed to catch balls struck by the bat.
I have no idea what the point of all this is, but that's fine.
Once I catch the ball, I throw it to the person over there, right?
Very well.
I understand the drill.
After catching and throwing the ball about thirty times, I was instructed to run next.
The distance wasn't long.
Just sprinting from one square marker to another square marker.
Lines were drawn along the ground, so there was no getting lost.
A simple task.
They probably want to test my agility or burst speed.
Hmph, I am a warrior who charged across battlefields clad in heavy armor.
Without armor weighing me down, I can run for as long as you want.
After running the bases about five times, I was handed a ball and told to pitch it to the catcher.
Not lobbing it in a high arc, but throwing it just like that opponent did when I was at bat.
No problem.
I remember the form.
Like this, right?
...
Hmm, it went a bit wild.
The catcher failed to snag it.
My apologies.
If I take a little speed off the throw, the catcher won't have to scramble... No?
Throw with full power?
But the catcher might get hurt... No, that's not it.
The Demon King wants to gauge my true power.
As proof, the catcher is heavily armored in protective gear.
...Very well.
I shall throw with everything I have!
Catcher!
Don't you dare die on me!
Finally, I was told to throw the ball as far as humanly possible.
People were stationed astonishingly far out in the field.
Hmph.
Aiming to reach the absolute furthest person out there, I threw with all my might.
"Hmm. Batting: his mechanics are raw, but there's potential. Fielding: not afraid of the ball. No complaints there. Throwing: a bit shaky. Not suited for the mound. As a position player, though, I can give him a passing grade. For the time being, he'll start on the farm team, but he's got the raw talent to make a swift push for the major league roster. I have high hopes for you."
So the Demon King declared.
Uh.
What are farm teams and major league rosters?
I can't enlist in the Demon Kingdom's army.
Obviously.
Baseball?
What in the world is that?
Without having the slightest clue what was happening, I practiced baseball alongside the Demon King.
A meal after working up a sweat is delicious.
Until the Demon King's subordinates, Count Chrome and Count Pugyal, arrived, I was thoroughly schooled in the lore and techniques of baseball.
Beezel: "You checked Tiselle's letter, right?"
Pugyal: "As usual, her personal notes are terribly brief."
Beezel: "Don't be too hard on her. Her official report is flawless."
Pugyal: "True enough. Ah, so a king of a Human Kingdom is visiting our lands, then."
Beezel: "Yes. His objective is an audience with the Village Head."
Pugyal: "In that case, there is much we must teach him beforehand."
Beezel: "Indeed. And as for this king... where is he?"
Pugyal: "Is he not in the audience chamber?"
Beezel: "He is not. Nor is he in the waiting room."
Pugyal: "His arrival at the castle is on record. Where could he have gone?"
Mikel: "If you mean our guest, Lord Demon King said he was going to put him through a baseball tryout and took him away."
Beezel: "...(The weather sure is lovely today.)"
Pugyal: "Don't you dare escape reality. Let's move."