Day 63 – Evening, The Kingdom, Roadway
「Heey, Sta~lker Gi~rl? What are the nobles’ armies up to? Is Armored Pres-san’s『Great King Of Terror』plan going well? If you think about it, she is way scarier than the King of Terror even without any plans? Or rather, if it came to fighting and that appeared, wouldn’t everyone immediately run away? Just mass produce that armor and we’ll have an invincible army! Although we will look like the baddies.」 [1]
We got their leader, the First Prince, although, leader in name only, a mere figurehead. In other words, the ones that were propping him up are the real leaders. Either the great marquis house or the church.
If they are still going to head towards the frontier, then it’s definitely the church. Good grief, I thought I’d stop the flow of magic stones with the Fake Dungeon and force the kingdom to negotiate, but turns out, the kingdom had no real authority, and the real culprit behind the forced underpricing was the church.
In other words, the Theocracy provided the backing. Good grief, what a terrible thing was lurking behind.
Don’t get me wrong, I merely hate the church and the theocracy and don’t have anything against doing it from behind, be it all fours, standing or whatever, rather, I love it dearly enough to worship? What I hate is the triple set of the church, the old fart, and the theocracy being behind, while the back itself has no sin? No, in a way, it’s very sinful! The line from that pale seductive nape to the shoulders, which continues to the curvaceousness of her velvety white back below with that cute round butt. Doing it from behind while gazing at all that beauty does indeed feel highly sinful and very immoral, I could be going for hours, no, days, attacking her from the rear, doing it like this and like that, and then taking her from the back like that too and… WHOA! WoooorrrraughA!
It seems the Great King of Terror is back. Well, there was no knock, but there was a steel ball knock, or rather, it actually hurt? She knocked with an iron ball attack.
「Welcome home O Great Armored King? I guess? Or rather, you look more like Great Demon Lord of Demon Armor, if it’s fine already, then would you like to change? I brought your favorite『Silver Armor』back with me? Anyway, that『Are there bad kids around?』attack coming from the combination of『Spike Mail』and the morning star is dangerous, so let’s stop with that, okay? I was talking about attacking the rear of the nobles’ forces, and totally not about yesterday’s wet and slippery War of the Bucket’s woodpecker strategy that continued in attack on the rear, is what the legends that perhaps exist in this area might be saying, so it’s definitely probably not the case? I guess?」
The iron ball returned home before her, but following it, the main body, Armored Pres-san, also came back. Actually, that morning star just came with a ranged attack! Why does she always have it ready though? Yeah, I’m getting scolded? And restocking on Flat Gazium?
「Violence by the stray troops of the nobles’ army has been completely shut down with the Great King of Terror operation. By now 『Cursed Road』became a rumor among their soldiers, according to which if one goes too far from the main force they will encounter a majin asking『Are there bad kids around?』, so they are behaving themselves. That was really scary, even my clansmen were on the verge of tears. Of course, the troops that were trying to assault towns and villages were running around bawling their eyes out. Angelica-san was also teary-eyed and looked very sad. This is all.」
It appears that fear was carved into everyone’s hearts. Even Armored Pres-san seems to have taken damage? Well, what goes around, comes around, is a moral lesson from the ancient times. Well, when beating comes around, it hits hard, educating through violence without moral values relevance, but since everyone turned nice as a result, it’s not really a problem? It seems all of the bad kids were eradicated.
「At this point, it looks like it might be better to leave them be, refrain from guerilla activities, and pull back to the frontier? I thought I’ll just scorch them from behind with some forceful reconnaissance, plunder provision, reserves, valuables, and run away, but awkward interference might lead to damages to the surrounding settlements? Shouldn’t they be considered a bandit gang by now? Rather than an army? 」
「It’s fine to just treat them as bandits and not an army. But to think that you were planning to assault those army-like bandits from behind, scorch everything in sight, plunder provision and valuables, and then run away, what sort of a villain (Haruka-san) could be this much of a brute (Haruka-san) to think of such a thing?」
Attacking provisions is the most basic stuff, plus if I could sell it I’ll ascend to magnate, but it seems there might be an issue with it?
Certainly, if deprived of food, they might turn to attack villages, even though an opportunity to cause damage to the enemy by taking their food, reserves, valuable and giving me riches, is there, basically the famous proverb 『Chasing two rabbits doubles the taste』come true, I can’t execute this marvelous plan?
「Then, I’ll leave you Assault Reconnaissance Golem-kun, please take care of nearby settlements. The golem can be treated as disposable, got it? If you are in danger don’t hesitate to run away? Do you have enough flashbang debuffing sticky exploding magic stone hand grenades?」
「We have enough, but, after stunning the enemies with bright flash and a loud bang, it then binds them with glue, puts several abnormal status effects, and on top of all that, explodes? Isn’t that excessive damage? I tried throwing one of those to slow them down, but it annihilated them? Well, that does count as slowing down, but what was the point of debilitating them with flash and loud noise, and then gluing and debuffing them?」
Alright, sounds good. Flashbang debuffing sticky exploding magic stone hand grenades use magic stones as consumables so it’s a bit wasteful, but since it ensures safety it’s necessary expenses. Well, with so many effects it should stop most pursuers, even if it merely slows them down it serves its purpose. Safety comes first, as for the enemies’ safety… How about praying to the old fart?
I thought that I’d have Armored Pres-san protect towns and villages under the 『Great King of Terror』plan, but it seems there was more than enough of an effect already, no bad kids were left? Well, medieval people are probably superstitious, which worked well for the『Great King Of Terror』plan, but the person behind that persona is actually the Dungeon Emperor-san, compared to which Great King Of Terror is like a small fry? Rather, that armor in turn might’ve softened the fear factor?.. Wait? But why did everyone keep recommending that armor to me?
Let’s head to the capital.
With this Armored Pres-san and I can go together. No idea if Slime-san can make it in time, but if we are to welcome them after we come back from the capital and that is where the real fight happens, then how many will be needed to block them?
Adventurers’ Guild looked into it, three are for certain, likely five, but the four to make it nine should be out of reach. If there are five, supposed Armored Pres-san can take care of one, that leaves four, if Slime-san makes it in time then three, huh. I wonder if the pres and others can take care of one? If Slime-san will be there in time, then the geeks and idiots will be there too, with everyone present one should be possible. But it still will leave two, maybe the frontier army and Royal Girl’s guard… no, it’s too risky, would it be better to give up? Aah, let’s think about this after we get back! Yeah, nothing good is going to come out of thinking anyway. Or rather, if Slime-san can’t make it or if the sixth or the seventh appear there will be no choice but to give up. We’ll see what we have, if it can work’ we’ll try, if not, I can’t have them do something they can’t handle.
Even if Pres and others were to depart tonight, sending out a fast vanguard unit ahead of them, they will still reach the capital only tomorrow. And if they go all together, then even tomorrow night might be too much to ask. For Meripapa-san and others it will take even longer. Let’s make arrangements here, since the real one is going to begin here when we get back, I’d better have my preparations, devices, and plots ready.
Combat requires preparations, but avoiding combat requires even more preparations, that is a battle in itself.
「There are quite a few towns and villages near the capital, right~? It seems to be so prosperous that you begin to ask what the hell is going on with the frontier’s poverty? Well, before the neighboring city turned into a ghost town it was pretty prosperous too, so I guess that’s the norm? Then teleport us there first for crying out loud! Most of my troubles came from the location to which we were initially teleported, nothing to do with me! If we were teleported over there first it could’ve turned into an ordinary isekai life? The frontier was clearly supposed to be the final stage, I mean, it was literally littered with last bosses!」
I could’ve had a fantasy life like in those light novels. There are normally villages and towns nearby, I could’ve normally gone through Adventurers’ Guild and normally train in the nearby woods and dungeons. Why a forest all of a sudden? Starting from a forest overflowing with monsters to the brink of triggering a stampede, and on top of that, it even had the last boss Goblin Emperor… Having a last boss hiding right in the backyard of your home (cave)… I’m sure here it would’ve had a completely normal development, living in a normal inn, taking quests from a normal guild, getting equipment from a normal weapon store, and gradually getting stronger! And over there, merely stepping into a dungeon gets me a sudden rendezvous with a dungeon emperor!
Over there, even in the town, the blacksmith didn’t have weapons or even iron, the Adventurers’ Guild never changes quests on the bulletin board, the inn is White Weirdo with schoolgirls performing life-threatening body piles, and dungeons suddenly welcome you with dungeon emperors. I thought that the development was quite weird, but it turns out, it was HARD MODE prohibited for beginner players.
And the Capital is getting closer.
「Phew, so the time to test my true power has finally come. I’m sure it was for the sake of this very moment that my power was continuously honed by this world, probably?」
(Shake-Shake)
I’m wrong, it seems? But this is the place where True Power-san could shine? What exactly I’m wrong about is wrapped in enigma, but if I were to strip those wrapping, while getting my hands inside, rubbing and caressing what they conceal, getting my hands on the ultra-fine radical… WHOA! BUAharuugwaoh!
「Shhh! It’s a secret trip, we are infiltrating the capital, so let’s ban the morning star? No, even if you do your best swinging it so sneakily as not to draw attention, it still doesn’t work? Wait, why does it not draw anyone’s attention?! The fact that you could stealthily assassinate someone with a morning star scares me even more! This is an ultra-advanced technique, largely unfit for the use with the morning star. I’ve never heard of anyone getting silently assassinated with a morning star, so I’m sure it’s definitely wrong? Seriously.」
There is something off about a dance with a silently swung iron ball, definitely. Why are you blasting away with a morning star while making no sound and erasing your presence? I don’t think Armored Pres-san has a proper understanding of the concept of stealth, Sexy kunoichi-san seems to be impossible for her. Even though I had such hopes for bath scenes!
While darting around, evading iron ball silent killing attacks, I move towards the capital at high speed, max speed ahead! I mean, if I don’t hurry the iron ball will catch up with me from behind! Seriously.
It’s still far, but I can see it already, isn’t it quite huge to be visible from this distance? That thing sticking out from the capital must be the royal palace? Wouldn’t everything be solved if we hammer down that sticking out part? While considering such a lovely solution, I approach the capital while making a half-circle around it. We might get spotted if we keep getting closer like this, so dropping the speed we approach along the road. So this is the capital. A round trip in a day might be impossible, but if all fast travel skills are used it’s a one day trip. Not particularly happy about it!
But the Capital is way bigger than I thought. The size of the city should reflect the size of the population, so if I were able to sell Frontier wooden swords and mushroom pennants to all of the inhabitants I would make a huge profit.
Alright, let’s get to preparations. This accumulation of small efforts is what makes the difference? Some people want to have everything at once and go for a quick buck, but it’s this diligent work that it’s all about. Diligently procure goods, diligently sell them, diligently replenish.
The True Power that I attained by repeatedly breaking through my own limits ever since I came to this world. Finally, the time to test my night jobbing power has come! Rip off the capital!
『Souvenir Store, Capital Outskirts Branch? Kind of?』
The goods are abundant in quality and variance, there was an especially massive arrival of foodstuff and arms. I mean, I just diligently stole it from the royal castle, the great profits are coming!
Steal from the capital → The capital faces shortages → Sell it back at rip-off princes → Replenish the inventory by stealing from the capital. The perfect perpetual trade cycle of my enrichment! FInally, my rich man status met conservation of mass law! This is advice provided by management consultant M-san 『If you have no goods, then why not just steal them』, so I’m innocent. Since I’m going to recover them after selling, the stock of the Souvenir Store is permanent.
Plenty of new goods and souvenirs too. The stage for product demonstration is also ready. The sales (invasion) start tomorrow. As for tonight, I’ll retire for the night in the lovely bedroom of Capital Outskirts Branch, and do my best at a sheet invasion.
[TL Notes:
[1] I initially dismissed it as non-relevant, but considering his remarks later in the chapter decided to mention this. As one millennium was coming to an end, prophecies of Nostradamus became somewhat popular in certain parts of the world. So in late 90s, some people expected the coming of “Great King of Terror” or “fearful king”, un grand Roi d’effrayeur, which would usher in the end of the world. Japan was one of the places where this thing became more or less popular too. The “Great King of Terror” (kyoufu no daiou) is how the entity was called in Japan and is the phrasing Haruka is using. The thing even spawned a few songs and works of fiction.
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