Mushoku Tensei (LN) - Volume 22 - Chapter 5

Chapter 5:

The King of the King Dragon Realm

SOMETHING I’D LEARNED over the past few years was that even among equals you still have to demonstrate your authority. When dealing with a big organization, you had to show them you can hang or they’d walk all over you. When in Rome, do as the Romans do… This situation was a bit different, sure, but it was important to do the appropriate prep so that you could keep up. 

So here we were at the Asuran Embassy in Wyvern, capital of the King Dragon Realm. Ariel was a major shareholder in our corporation, and no matter where we were advertising the fact that we were backed by the Asura Kingdom brought clout. Borrowed authority and all that.

In reality, Orsted was the one backing the Asura Kingdom, not the other way around. Both were backing me, though, so either way it worked out. In any case, this time we were negotiating directly with the King Dragon Realm government. If it were just me, I’d get my butt kicked to the curb, but by borrowing like crazy from the Asuran Kingdom’s authority I thought we might avoid another Millis.

That was my motivation for borrowing clothes and a carriage and everything else I could think of from the embassy, holding tight to the letter with Ariel’s seal on it.

At the moment, though, I was sitting in silence, twiddling my thumbs and checking out the interior of this room at the embassy. Someone was taking forever to get changed.

“Aisha, you can take anything you like back with you, so hurry up. Eris is waiting.”

“Hmmm… But Big Brother, I can’t decide. Do you think green is best, after all? Eris is wearing red, and you’re in gray…” Aisha had been wandering around in her undies trying to choose her outfit for some time. I’d usually avert my eyes while a woman got dressed, but Aisha had said, “Big Brother, I want you to choose,” and so, while enduring the glares of the other maids, I was here watching Aisha get changed in the flesh.

The thing was, despite saying she wanted me to choose, Aisha had no intention of giving me the last word on the matter. When I said, “Okay, that one,” she shot back, “No, it’s too much like Eris’s,” and went to look at something else. As the maid outfit had caused a bit of a problem last time, I was all for her wearing something more proper… But she was getting way too into it.

We went through three flouncy, floofy dresses. No one around me put much effort into getting ready, so this was a welcome novelty at first. It was wearing thin at this point.

“But then, I’m not in a leading role, so maybe plainer is better?” she mused.

“You can be showy if you like. In fact, yeah. Let’s blow the minds of the King Dragon Realm big shots with your unparalleled cuteness.”

“Oh, be serious!” she yelled back.

Now she was mad at me. If we were being serious though, given how few men Aisha got to spend time around, she might as well dress up fancy and try to get some attention here. Step out in a super cute outfit, chat up the noble boys at the palace, grab that trophy wife bag! Or whatever. We’d have to have a talk if she brought home someone too weird… But as Aisha herself said, she didn’t really have any real work to do here. And besides, she was free to love whoever she liked.

“Okay, wear the dark-green one. That way you won’t match Eris, plus it’s not too showy. How’s that?” I suggested.

“I guess,” Aisha said. “But, like, the skirt’s so short! You can see my legs.”

What’s wrong with that? Hell, show them off. If you’ve got it, flaunt it, I thought. But the maids around us were making faces that told me this was a no-go, so I could only assume legs were indeed a little risqué.

“Ugh,” Aisha grumbled, then returned to rifling through gowns. 

Standing there in her underwear, I was getting a front-row seat at how much she’d grown. She’d filled out in all the right places. Hotness seemed to run in our family, and Aisha was no exception. It was the kind of hotness that brought the creeps calling.

Paul’s family, the Notos Greyrats, had a thing for big breasts—see Zenith and Lilia. I bet my grandma had giant knockers too. Must be in our genes.

My daughters would probably turn out the same. I couldn’t picture Future Lucie with her breasts bouncing around… But if Eris had a daughter, she’d be a knockout for sure.

“Hey, Big Brother?” Aisha said.

“Huh?”

“Well?” she said huskily.

I realized she was standing with her hips thrust to one side, her hands on the back of her head to show her sides. I’d seen that pose somewhere before.

“Who taught you that?” I asked.

“Pursena. She said it’s got a perfect hit rate.”

“She’s lying. She’s never scored with that pose… I wouldn’t trust her advice.”

“No way!” Aisha replied. “She’s so popular in the mercenary company, though…”

“Hey, we’re not here to hang out!” I said. “Hurry up and choose.”

I was trying to move her along, but we had plenty of time. The King Dragon Realm was unexpectedly relaxed about punctuality, so no one would make a fuss if we were a bit late. Great country, right? But my personal motto was to not leave things to the last minute. Still, it was important to always have a bit of wiggle room so you could go through life with time and peace of mind to spare.

Unfortunately, some people wanted to get everything done as fast as possible.

“Hurry up!”

Eris threw the door open with a bang and barged in. She wore a luxurious red jacket with black pants, the formal dress of the King Dragon Realm nobility, and had her hair pulled back in a ponytail. It really suited her. She was every inch the gallant swordswoman.

Actually, though, she was wearing the men’s version of formal dress. According to the maids, she couldn’t wear a sword with any of the gowns they had at the embassy, so that made her decision for her.

“How are you still trying stuff on?!” she exclaimed.

“Oh, hi Eris,” Aisha said. “Sorry, there’s just so many options…”

Eris huffed. Her bright red hair swishing behind her, she strode up to Aisha, then grabbed one of the gowns hanging around her. It was a wine red dress.

“Put this on, now!”

“But Eris, then we’ll match…” Aisha whined.

“What, you don’t want to look like me?”

“It’s not that. It’s just, like, I’m supposed to be in the background. It’s no good if you don’t stand out.”

“Not today! You’re my little sister, so you’d better wear something that doesn’t embarrass me!” 

Aisha went a bit pink. Then, with a sheepish laugh, she took the dress from Eris.

“Well, when you say it like that, Eris, I guess I’ll take this one.” She looked more than a little pleased. Maybe she was happy Eris had called her “little sister”. The mind of a teenage girl was a mystery to me, but what was important was that she was happy. 

With that, we had a dress for Aisha, so we set off for the palace.

***

I arrived at the castle then went to the audience chamber of the King Dragon Realm. I don’t mean to sound pretentious, but I’ve developed some strong opinions about audience chambers. I’ve seen a lot in my time—the Asura Kingdom, the Kingdom of Shirone, Kishirika’s castle… Audience chambers are a chance to flaunt your wealth. A wide open room, gorgeously furnished, sometimes with a guard dressed up in swanky armor… It’s a great way to show off to any outsiders who step foot inside just how powerful you are, how amazing your country is, how important your king is. That’s what audience chambers are about.

The Kingdom of Asura did a spectacular job on size and luxuriance. Its audience chamber was spacious and full of people. Simply dazzling. When I first checked it out, it was decked out more heavily than usual for Ariel’s coronation, but everything—the scale, the staff, the expense, the throne, the beauty of the one sitting on it—was top-class.

But let me be blunt about it. The Asuran audience chamber was amazing, no doubt about it. But it came in hot at a global number two. The audience chamber I ranked as number one didn’t stop at the audience chamber itself, but extended its grandeur to the route you took to get there. Starting outside the castle, visitors were charmed by elegant gardens and well-curated artworks. As you approached the chamber, you never ran into anyone else. As you passed down that corridor, soaking up the majesty around you, you couldn’t help but feel your nerves jangle. Then, when you finally reached the towering door to the audience chamber, the anticipation was overwhelming. Your imagination ran wild with expectation for what could possibly be behind those doors. Then, they opened. You couldn’t call the room that came into view luxurious, even if you were trying to be nice. The furnishings were all stripped-down simplicity. Twelve knights were lined up in front of the throne, all of them wearing masks that lent them an air of mystery and intimidation. Even they seemed somehow unremarkable.

There was a reason for this. The layout was designed to further focus attention on the throne. On the throne there sat a man, the only one not wearing a mask. All who made it there were rendered speechless by his breathtaking delicacy, refinement, and sheer presence. They praised his magnificence to the heavens.

Where was this audience chamber, then? It was no secret—that was the audience chamber of Chaos Breaker, the floating fortress. The abode of Armored Dragon King Perugius. The opinion crept up on me, but I’m not exaggerating when I say that Perugius has the best taste in the world.

A sigh of incredulity slipped out of me as I looked upon the audience chamber of the King Dragon Realm. It was of a different breed to Asura’s palace and Chaos Breaker. In a word it was sloppy. First of all, the entrance was flanked by two huge sets of armor like door guards. They had to be about three meters tall. These suits of armor, easily as huge as the Magic Armor, glared down at all who entered the audience chamber like guardian statues at a temple. There were no giant races in this world—well, it was possible that there was some tall race somewhere that I didn’t know about, but no one residing in the King Dragon Realm would fit this armor. Which meant that it existed only to scare and overawe visitors. When you entered the audience chamber the first thing you saw was, you guessed it, the armor. From the doors almost all the way to the throne, empty suits of armor stood around the edge of the chamber. Fencing the gold-threaded carpet that ran up to the throne to protect the king—wow! More armor. This time occupied. The throne they guarded was dull gray steel, like they’d repurposed a suit of armor into a chair. A cushion was affixed to it with rivets. It looked extremely uncomfortable. Aside from this, there were practically no other furnishings. There were some bits and pieces with the marks of allied nations and crests of knight orders, but that was it. Silver armor and rough stone walls. It was like someone had thrown a bunch of stuff together because it looked tough, then called it a day. Even so, the sense of being watched by all those helmets was fairly intimidating. 

…It won’t be for everyone, so I’m giving it four stars. 

There was one other reason I downrated it, though…

“His Highness, the first prince of the King Dragon Realm, Kirkland von Kingdragon!”

Yep, the guy sitting on the throne wasn’t the king, but a guy about my age. A young guy with blond hair and a wispy beard. 

I’d done my research. Kirkland von Kingdragon: the current first prince of the Kingdragon Kingdom. He would one day be king. He was extremely intelligent and politically astute. When the king was absent, he handled affairs of state in his father’s stead.

Still, when I dropped the name of the Asuran Kingdom, I’d requested an audience with the actual king. It was possible they didn’t respect me enough; they may have dismissed me as an interloper. Just an unaligned nobody, so they could get away without sending the king himself.

I knelt, then kept my head down and waited for what he’d say next.

“Rise, and state your name,” he said.

“It is an honor to meet you, your Highness. I am Rudeus Greyrat, follower of the Dragon God Orsted. I trust I find you well.”

“Oho.” He sounded interested. “Were you not the one who vanquished the Water God Reida, then alone turned back the hordes that threatened Shirone, Rudeus Greyrat?”

The rumors of my exploits had been embellished yet again. They’d start saying I sparkled like a Christmas tree at this rate.

“Actually,” I replied, “Water God Reida was my master. And I wasn’t alone against that army. My companions and I fought alongside the soldiers of Fort Karon to stop them.”

“An honest man to boot. Surely you do not dispute, however, that you were involved in the deaths of both Water God Reida and North Emperor Auber.”

“I don’t deny it, your Highness.”

“In the King Dragon Realm, we place ability above rank and status. We value those who achieve great things—such as you, for instance—though they may lack social standing.”

“I appreciate you saying so,” I said.

Huh, after I thought they were being disrespectful, he seems surprisingly well-disposed towards me. But no, I should chalk that one up to mentioning the Asuran Kingdom.

“First, I must apologize,” the prince continued. “My father, His Majesty King Stelvio von Kingdragon, thirty-third ruler of the King Dragon Realm, has taken ill. Thus, I am here leading in his stead.”

“Please, think nothing of it, Your Highness.”

Oh he’s sick, you say! Well then, there’s no helping that. All good. 

“Now, I was told you have something to say that will be worth my while. I don’t often get to hear from people like you… Or to rephrase, I have never known a man like you to come to me without some purpose.”

“Yes, your Highness, I—” I began, but he held up a hand to cut me off.

“Wait, don’t say it. Let me guess.”

He stroked his chin, regarding me with genuine interest. He came across as a cerebral fellow with self-confidence to spare. Like a man assured of his own considerable ability and that he could see it in others too. Well, he wasn’t wrong. Over the next few decades, he would build up the King Dragon Realm into a nation to match and even rival the Asura Kingdom. His political acumen outmatched even Ariel’s, to be blunt. He, along with the retainers he surrounded himself with, were all exceptional.

Unfortunately, there was also sadness waiting in his future—the sadness of a broken heart. 

Kirkland von Kingdragon was in love. When he attended the coronation in the Asura Kingdom as ambassador, he’d been smitten with Ariel at first sight. He would have many more chances to visit the kingdom, but at the age of about twenty-five he would confess his love and she’d flat-out reject him. He hadn’t been turned down yet, however. So as of now, he’d be advocating for friendship with the Asura Kingdom. For sure.

“You’re not looking for an appointment, that much is for sure. I believe you’re close to Queen Ariel of Asura, so if that was what you wanted you’d be better served going there. She would be amenable to giving more than a mere government appointment. I daresay she’d grant you a title. How am I doing?”

“All true, Your Highness.”

He stared at me even more intently. Then, with a grin, he went on. 

“What could bring a man such as yourself to our door, seeking favor? Well now, there’s a thought. There has been a strange rumor on the streets of late… Remind me of it, Shagall!”

At this, one of the knights at the prince’s side looked up. He had the face of a small-time crook and wore the same armor as Randolph.

“Rumor has it that Rudeus Greyrat is appealing to the rulers of all the different lands in preparation for the resurrection of Laplace some eighty years hence,” said Generalissimo Shagall Gargantis. I’d been told he was a quarter elf and spoke rough, but this guy’s ears were rounded, and he spoke like a noble at court. Maybe because he was addressing royalty.

“Ah, that was it,” said the prince. The pope in Millis had known all that too. You really couldn’t underestimate these powerful nations and their information networks. 

“And as part of your appeals, you are placing branches of your own organization in each of those countries, then using them to do business… Am I wrong?”

“You are not, your Highness.”

You’re not wrong…but I sense we’re about to get a bit off track.

“And thus,” he continued, “you have come to the King Dragon Realm, as you went to those other nations, to request our cooperation and permission for your business activities… Is that right?” The prince wore a smug grin of satisfaction.

I mean, yeah, okay. If not for Geese, that was going to be my plan. Only this time, things are a little different… But he’s so pleased with himself. If I contradict him he might get grumpy. Not that part of me doesn’t want to…

“You came all the way here to seek permission for something you could just as easily do without my leave. I admire that attitude,” he said. The prince was in high spirits.

None of this was especially surprising to me. Randolph and Shagall were old friends, and my business could easily have come up in conversation.

“However, if I were to immediately grant your request, it would reflect poorly upon the dignity of my country. We cannot have a senseless mob banging at our door because they think the royal family will grant anything asked of us.”

I didn’t reply.

“As such, I impose a condition upon—what is it?” the prince said, looking suspiciously at my raised hand. We were getting off track. I had to do something.

“Excuse the interruption, your Highness,” I apologized. “Everything you said is true, but today, I’m here for a slightly different reason.”

The prince stopped. “…Oh,” he said.

First, let’s explain why I’m here.

“It’s about Lady Benedikte’s child,” I said, then watched the expression on the prince’s face change along with his demeanor. “My friend Randolph tells me that Lady Benedikte’s child…that Lord Pax II is regarded as an unwanted annoyance, and that there are some who seek to do away with him.”

“What of it?” the prince replied haughtily, without a hint of remorse. “With his mother being what she is, he is of no political use. Why should the King Dragon Realm support the life of one who will only encumber us?”

“What about Lord Randolph? If the child is killed, he won’t stay here.”

“The King Dragon Realm is not so feeble that I can be swayed by the strength of one man.”

No doubt. If you were, there wouldn’t be any talk of murdering Li’l Pax.

“You’ve come before me today, then,” he said, “to ask that I spare the child’s life?”

I looked into the prince’s eyes. “No. I wasn’t thinking of sparing him. It was more like…if you have no use for him, would you give him to me?”

“Pfft.” The prince snorted with laughter, then looked at Shagall. “Did you hear that, Shagall?”

“I did, Your Highness, with these very ears,” the general replied. The prince stamped his foot, then leaned forwards to glare at me, resting his elbows on his knees. His attitude had changed yet again. Was I seeing his true colors now? 

“Tell me this then, Rudeus Greyrat,” he said. “How would that proposal serve the King Dragon Realm?”

Don’t panic. Don’t freak out. Perugius has way more majesty than this guy.

“Allow me to explain,” I began. 

The government of the King Dragon Realm is in the hands of the Orsted Corporation. 

“First, I’m told that, ever since the death of the former king, a vassal state of the King Dragon Realm has been under assault by three other nations from the conflict zone to the north.”

The prince didn’t reply, so I went on.

“These vassal states may be under your dominion, but they are still your vassals, and thus you have to support them. The King Dragon Realm was badly affected by this war breaking out in the middle of your domestic unrest, and I expect that you are stretched thin trying to respond.”

“What…is your point?” the prince asked.

“I can put an end to all that.”

Because Ariel’s the one who’s driving that war. She’d gone and riled up countries that had long hated the King Dragon Realm, and now she was selling them weapons. Not only that, but she was also looking over their shoulders and applying enough pressure to make sure they kept the war going. The Asura Kingdom had deep coffers—I’d relied on them myself many a time. But that gold didn’t grow on trees. They played dirty when necessary. The Kingdom of Asura didn’t regard this any more seriously than light harassment, so all I had to do was ask to cut it off at the source.

“One more thing, Your Highness. When the former king died, you took out a loan from the Millis Church because you were in urgent need of cash, correct?”

The prince looked at me.

“Even though you paid off the loan, you still allow their knightly orders to sojourn here to this day. Their high-handed evangelizing is causing a bit of upset, from what I hear.”

“What, you can put a stop to that too?” the prince asked.

“I can.” If he’d still been in debt my hands would’ve been tied, but it was paid off. The knights’ behavior was little more than Millis’s own way of harassing the King Dragon Realm. All I had to do was put in a word with the Blessed Child, or the pope, and then the knight orders should return to their own country right away. I’d owe the pope a favor, but that wasn’t a problem. Times like these were why I maintained that connection.

“In addition, if, in the future, any difficulties arise between Lord Pax II and the Kingdom of Shirone, I will take full responsibility for it,” I added. If it came to that, I’d bring along Zanoba. Zanoba, Randolph and I would make for quite a trio. It’d turn into the Battle to Avenge Pax in no time.

“What say you, Your Highness?” I’d put forward three proposals so far. That should be plenty to persuade him of the benefit of letting the nuisance child live.

“What’s in this for you?” he replied.

“I can’t reveal their name, but someone in Sir Orsted’s inner circle cares deeply about Lady Benedikte and Lord Pax II. I intend to use this as a bargaining chip with him. Those of us who serve the Dragon God are all one under Sir Orsted, but strengthening such friendships is nevertheless important.”

I wasn’t lying. I was just adding an air of gravitas to telling him I wanted to help Benedikte and Pax II for Zanoba.

But the prince didn’t look satisfied, and he didn’t reply.

That’s one scary glare he’s giving me. Was there something I forgot to say?

“I think it’s a good offer,” said Shagall, throwing me a lifeline. 

“Sir Rudeus has the ear of both the Asura Kingdom and the Holy Country of Millis. We can therefore assume he is trustworthy. Our own plans to deal with the issues he raises are already in place, so the benefit of his proposals may be minimal… But from what I hear, he knows the weaknesses of Queen Ariel and the Blessed Child of Millis. Building a relationship with someone as well-connected as Sir Rudeus will benefit us. At present, we’re trying to replace a great loss with a smaller one, so any benefit will—”

“Shagall, be silent,” the prince said quietly. Shagall immediately clamped his mouth shut. “I understand the benefits.”

All right. So what’s the hang-up?

“What I don’t like is his manner,” the prince went on. “He speaks as though he holds us in the palm of his hand.”

Dang, so I should have bowed and scraped a bit more, huh? I guess I did lord it over him a bit. Hitting the right balance on that is tricky…

“My distaste, however, does not mean that I want to reject your offer. The fate of Benedikte’s child ought to be decided by parliament. I can hardly make a unilateral decision on the sudden offer of an outsider.”

“But Your Highness,” Shagall objected, “you explained to parliament that the plan is a last resort, didn’t you? If the question is whether to spare the life of a child who may cause strife in the future or lose the Death God now, parliament prefers the first option. Should a better option present itself, however, there would be nothing remiss in you taking it.”

“I’m not talking about that! Not that at all,” the prince replied. “My concern here is for safeguarding the position and dignity of the King Dragon Realm. If other nations see my father’s rule as indecisive, or if it should appear thus to the people, it may even call into question the loyalty of our retainers.” The prince was concerned about his father’s…no, his country’s prestige. Admirable, in someone so young.

Only…it sure seemed improper having this conversation right in front of me. 

Shagall seemed to be on my side. It helped that he was friends with Randolph, I guessed. Every point he made supported my position.

“Hmmm,” the prince mused. Hey, I didn’t mind if he wanted to bring in more players and mull over the decision. We could include the king on his sickbed, maybe the prime minister, and really go through the issue slowly. Once we talked it through properly, they had to see it was a generous offer. Even if they still refused me, I had another plan ready to go: I’d already acquired all their central players’ personal information, including their preferences and their weaknesses, and I could put it all to use to clear any obstacles. I could lead them by the nose. The hard sell would certainly have repercussions, though, so I preferred to avoid it.

As we stood there in silence, a new voice said, “What did I tell you?”

All of us looked to see where it had come from, and there he was, emerging from a door off to one side and behind the throne that led into the back of the audience chamber. He was ordinary. A fellow of roughly forty with mousy blond hair, he looked bone-tired. Overall, he kind of reminded me of Ariel’s older brother… No, I could do better than that. I’d met someone with an even closer resemblance—a certain someone I’d met when I went to see Shagall on Randolph’s instructions—the man who’d been so valuable on the topic of the King Dragon Realm’s problems. Vio Pompadour. But this was very strange. Today, he was dressed in incredible finery. Especially that king’s crown resting on his head. Now where could he have gotten that thing…?

“This isn’t someone you want to make an enemy of,” he went on.

“Your Majesty…!” the prince exclaimed.

Here was His Majesty, King Stelvio von Kingdragon, thirty-third ruler of the King Dragon Realm.

“Listen, Kirk,” he chided his son. “We can’t openly make an enemy of the Asura Kingdom until we’ve restored order to the conflict zone. It’s public knowledge that Sir Rudeus is friendly with Queen Ariel. If we accept his proposal and enter into a collaborative relationship with the Dragon God Orsted, the Asura Kingdom will be hard pressed to pull this kind of trick again. This is all for the sake of our country.”

Vio… I mean Stelvio, walked over to the throne as he spoke, then changed places with the prince. Despite that decisive speech, he didn’t exactly radiate competence. If anything, he was the picture of mediocrity.

“All right,” he said, then addressed me. “Sir Rudeus.”

“Your Majesty,” I replied.

“We accept your offer,” said the king, just like that.

He must have already deliberated to be so decisive. He’d probably pondered it while he sat there telling me all about this rumor and that cuisine in the King Dragon Realm. Maybe before that—maybe it was a factor in his decision to conceal his true identity to get close to me when he heard I was in town. It just happened that there’d been someone else who remained unconvinced. Maybe this whole scene had been set up in order to convince him.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I replied. In accordance with etiquette, I bowed, but right away, a voice from directly above me said, “That’s enough. Rise.”

I rose obediently and the king shot me a wry smile. There was no majesty there. Just a tired man and his crooked smile.

“This is all that remains of the King Dragon Realm,” he said. “We are locked into unending unrest thanks to a wavering and undignified king. I know you have your battle coming eighty years hence, and I regret that we may offer but little assistance.”

“Not at all,” I said. “Would you mind if I asked you something, though?”

“What is it?”

“What was with that act?” I asked. The king gave that same tired smile.

“I merely wished to learn more about you.”

“Me…?”

“What you would say and do when we sat beside one another as equals, rather than me up here and you down there. I wanted to know whether you were someone worthy of trust… I don’t know of a better test.”

Oh, okay. Okay, this is who the king really is, I realized. Now I remembered what Orsted had told me. King Stelvio’s reign was not a long one. In less than a decade, he would fall gravely ill and abdicate the throne to his son. After Kirkland became king, the King Dragon Realm would make staggeringly rapid progress. That would be the true beginning for the King Dragon Realm—Stelvio was a pitstop on the way to that worthwhile destination. That was why he hadn’t stuck in my memory.

Funny, though. Right now, I was more interested in the king than in Shagall and Kirkland, the important players. In my mind’s eye, I kept seeing his face from the other day as he told us about his country’s food and famous places, and unique products. He’d looked so happy. So proud. 

“Well, I think, you know, uh, that’s great,” I said.

I had a hunch that he hadn’t ever wanted to be king, or even assumed the slightest aptitude for it. And truly, he had neither aptitude nor talent. Yet he still sat on the throne, surrounded by suits of armor. And when he sat there, he had to play his part.

As long as he lived he put everything he had into being the king. He never lost his principles, and always did what he could while those around him lent him their support. That is to say, he would, future tense. He’d act the part of king. For the sake of his beloved country, he’d do his best.

“Hahaha. Great, is it? You’re a little overfamiliar, Rudeus Greyrat.”

“My apologies, Your Majesty,” I said. He was the kind of person who wouldn’t leave any mark on the world. Continuing to associate with him wouldn’t reap me any great benefits.

Stelvio then said, “And given that your etiquette could use a little help, let me give you a friendly word of advice. And pass it onto the former prince Zanoba, your friend who is so concerned about Lord Pax II.”

“Yes?” I replied, waiting.

“Before you seek an audience with the rulers of a country, learn their faces. Even if they’re not much to look at.”

“Ah, haha… I’ll do my best.”

Still, I thought, even as I grimaced in embarrassment at his advice, I’d like us to be friends while he’s still alive.

***

Li’l Pax’s safety was secured. As Benedikte was still part of the royal family, the King Dragon Realm took it upon itself to guarantee their safety. Benedikte was temporarily freed from the fear that dogged her, and Randolph looked like the cat that got the cream. The threat to the King Dragon Realm had also been subdued for the time being, and they’d kept Randolph, so there was plenty to celebrate. I also managed to slip in my primary reason for coming—putting out wanted notices for Geese—so that was a load off.

Setting up the mercenary company was going to have to wait for another day, but I was reassured that the current king would allow it. It looked like I’d established good relations with the King Dragon Realm. If only it hadn’t been another arsonist-putting-out-his-own-fire–type situation, it would’ve been perfect…but I’d never be satisfied if I let every little quibble like that bother me.

I now owed favors to both Ariel and the pope, but I’d pay them back eventually. I assumed more trouble would crop up for Li’l Pax in another few years, but when it happened, Zanoba and I would sort things out again.

“You really did help me out,” Randolph said when I went to bid him farewell. “I thought I was going to have to burn the King Dragon Realm to the ground and leave with the queen.” He gave his usual rattling laugh.

He didn’t have the power to do that—Orsted had told me as much—but I guess that didn’t mean he wasn’t willing to try. The King Dragon Realm would’ve had to choose whether to send soldiers for Randolph to slaughter, or a scuffle with the Kingdom of Shirone further down the road.

“If it’s the good graces of His Majesty you’re after, I’m afraid I won’t be of any use to you. A shame. I so wanted to be your go-to fellow in the King Dragon Realm,” Randolph said wistfully. “This is no good. How am I supposed to repay my debt to you now?”

“Now that the threat to Pax is gone, I’d be happy to have you fight by my side.”

“Just because no one’s targeting him, we can’t say for sure he’s in no danger,” Randolph pointed out.

“You’re one to talk, after starting me on that goose chase.” I had a hunch that it was Randolph who’d told Stelvio I was in the King Dragon Realm. He might even have informed him if he just gave me a few hints about the problems in the King Dragon Realm, things would more or less head in the right direction.

Okay, no, that sounded a bit paranoid. I couldn’t help suspecting him a bit even so… This was Death God Randolph we were talking about.

“Whatever can you mean?” Randolph said. The look on his face was as good as a full confession. “I certainly cannot predict how His Majesty will act.”

Anyway. Randolph had no plans to leave Benedikte, so I couldn’t rely on his strength for the fight against Geese…but that wasn’t the end of the world.

Zanoba cut in. “Yes, Sir Randolph’s place is without a doubt here with Lady Benedikte and the little prince.” Zanoba had waited here with Randolph and Benedikte, just in case the negotiations went south, set to spring into action if things got severely out of hand and the king ordered Li’l Pax’s summary execution or whatever. I’d done my best to ensure that didn’t happen, and in the end it hadn’t. Their presence was an insurance policy, nothing more.

“Thank you. And so I will remain,” Randolph replied with a grin that as good as said, All according to plan. “Having said that, you must allow me to express my gratitude, even if it is only a gesture. My ‘too cool for gratitude’ reputation shall follow me into the next life at this rate.”

I doubt it. You’re going to be remembered as more of a con man. No matter what you do.

“On which note, Sir Rudeus, I think you’re acquainted with the Demon World’s Great Emperor, Kishirika Kishirisu?”

“That’s right. I’ve run into her a couple of times.”

“If you’re hunting for someone, I’d suggest hunting her down first.”

Oh yeah… Kishirika is around.

Randolph had a point. Kishirika had a demon eye similar to the Eye of Distant Sight; Roxy said she’d used her powers to search for Zenith. If I asked her she might tell me Geese’s whereabouts just like that…or, if not just like that, she could narrow down the options a lot. Why hadn’t I thought of her before?

Wait, that’s it. I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I could trust her.

“She may demand some recompense, but show her this ring and say that Randolph asks it of her. Then she should hear you out, even if your request is a little unreasonable.”

“Ooh.”

You mean I don’t even have to wine and dine her?

“Sounds good. I accept,” I said. Randolph passed me a white ring. It was a creepy little thing, presumably crafted from some sort of bone. It looked cursed, but I put it on anyway.

After Randolph’s letter of introduction had proved pretty useless, I wasn’t sure how effective this ring would be. But Randolph, whatever else he was, took his obligations seriously. I decided that this would do for now.

“I’m just happy that Pax is safe,” Zanoba said, peering at Benedikte. “Now Lady Benedikte can give all her attention to raising her child.”

Uh, his name is ‘Li’l Pax,’ I thought. Get it right.

Benedikte didn’t reply. Was she still scared of him…? But then she met Zanoba’s eyes, her lips pursed. 

“Th…” The sound that came out of her was almost too small to hear, and as her voice persisted she stammered over the unfamiliar words. “Thank you. I am very…grateful…for your…assistance.” 

She spoke from the heart, even with all the stuttering. I could tell.

Zanoba smiled, then clapped his hands together like he’d just remembered something. “Ah, yes. I almost forgot,” he said, then called, “Julie!” Standing behind him, she nodded, then lowered her pack and pulled out a box. The box was painted white and decorated like a fanciful building…

Hold on, I’ve seen that somewhere before, I thought. Aha! It looks like the royal palace in Shirone. 

Julie opened the box. The inside was decorated like a canopied bed, and in the bed lay a figurine.

“Oh,” Benedikte said softly.

“I had it made for this day. I hope you will accept it,” Zanoba said. Benedikte slowly reached to pick up the figurine from the bed and gazed at it, wide-eyed. It was short and blond, a bit on the plump side. A glance was enough to see that it was him. It was a figurine of Pax.

“As his reign was short, I believe there are no portraits. I made it from memory. Julie here did the actual crafting.”

“Th…tha…” Benedikte began to cry, fat tears running down her cheeks. She looked at the figurine, trembling all over and sobbing. She gave a wet sniff to pull herself together and turned to face Zanoba.

“I’ll…treasure it,” she said, cradling her son in one arm and the Pax figure in the other.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Zanoba said. “But nothing material is indestructible. When it becomes damaged, send word to me, and I shall come to repair it at once.”

“I…will,” Benedikte said with a small nod.

Crap, watching this is gonna make me cry too. Zanoba, you done good, man.

“Well, Zanoba,” I broke in, “I’d better be going,”

“Very well, Master Rudeus,” he replied. “The rest is safe in my hands.”

I’d decided to have Aisha, Zanoba, and Julie stay in the King Dragon Realm for a little longer to mediate things between Asura and Millis.

“I’m counting on you,” I replied. Obviously I was busy, but Zanoba had plenty to do as well. Business was booming for The Zanoba Store, but I still needed them to expand further. I also needed him to continue development on the Magic Armor. He hadn’t had any chances to shine on this mission, but he was a reliable guy, and I’d be relying on him even more in the future.

“All right. I’ll be off then.”

“Farewell, Lord Rudeus. May you have strength in battle.”

“You too, Randolph. Stay well.”

My time in the King Dragon Realm had come to an end.

Next stop: the Demon Continent. I wasn’t going there to look for Kishirika. C’mon. I didn’t have the time to go around asking after someone who could be literally anywhere. I’d still keep an eye out for her—I wasn’t stupid. It was a low priority, that’s all. No, I had someone else to talk to there: the Immortal Demon King Atoferatofe.