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Maoyuu Maou Yuusha
Chapter 6, “Your Lap feels good, Hero.”
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Volume 2 Chapter 6, “Your Lap feels good, Hero.”
——– The Village of Wintering, a Morning in Deep Winter, the Entrance to the Village
Thin Villager: “Hoi!”
Middle-Aged Villager: “What’s the situation?”
Thin Villager: “It’s cold today too.”
Middle-Aged Villager: “Yeah, it’s freezing. Where are you going?”
Thin Villager: “I’m carrying pork to the shed.”
Middle-Aged Villager: “I’m going to go cut out some ice…”
Thin Villager: “?”
Middle-Aged Villager: “Hey! Hey!”
Thin Villager: “Oh, isn’t it the Scholar! I’d heard you’d gone to the city, but why have you returned to the village?!”
Middle-Aged Villager: “Hey! Scholar!”
The Demon King shivers.
The Hero: “Stop shivering.”
Both walk off.
Thin Villager: “Welcome back! Scholar!”
Middle-Aged Villager: “Welcome back!”
The Demon King: “Yeah. I’m back.” Smiles.
——- The Village of Wintering, the Manor of the Demon King, in a Warm Room
Elder Sister Maid: “I apologise, Mistress.”
The Demon King: “I already said it’s fine, didn’t I?”
Elder Sister Maid: “But I borrowed your form and did something like that, with such a big impact, I’ve probably messed up all of the Mistress’s plans.”
The Demon King: “On the contrary, had you allowed yourself to get killed and become a spirit, I wouldn’t have a home to go back to. I know that your spirit would try its best, but a spirit is still a spirit.”
Elder Sister Maid: “Y-yes…”
The Demon King: “I’ve heard all about it from the Hero on the way back. Don’t worry.”
Elder Sister Maid: “Y-yes…”
The Demon King: “Has anything else happened in this time? Is everything okay? Are you hurt? Have you been going hungry?”
The Hero: “Nope, I’ve kept everything good.”
Elder Sister Maid: “Nope, everyone has been really nice to us.”
Little Sister Maid: “Yeah! Yeah! They even taught us the cuisine of the Kingdom of Metal!”
The Demon King: “Really? I’m looking forward to it then.”
The Hero: “Heh. What’s it like… the cuisine of the Kingdom of Metal?”
Little Sister Maid: “Things like Pirate Soup or Roasted Suckling Pig.”
The Hero: “That sounds extravagant.”
Little Sister Maid: “It has a strong flavour and tastes incredibly delicious.”
The Hero: “Ohh, I can sort of taste it.”
The Chief Maid: “So there were no problems around the house with the Mistress gone?”
Elder Sister Maid: “Because the house has been empty, there hasn’t been very much to do. We’ve been helping the villagers clean their homes and sweep the snow. Since you came back yesterday, we’ve started doing some large-scale spring cleaning. We hope to bring everything back to the same state as it was yesterday.”
Little Sister Maid: “I tried my best too!”
The Chief Maid: “What did you do?”
Little Sister Maid: “I washed all the sheets! And I scrubbed all the linen!”
The Chief Maid: “Fine. You get some points.”
Elder Sister Maid: “Then, I’ll get back to cleaning the place.”
Little Sister Maid: “Eh? But I wanted to talk…”
Elder Sister Maid: “Back to cleaning. We can talk over dinner. If we stand here and talk all day, you’re going to end up hibernating soon, aren’t you?”
Little Sister Maid: “Uhh—”
Elder Sister Maid: “Alright, let’s go.”
Little Sister Maid: “See you soon, Mistress!”
The Chief Maid: “Alright, Your Majesty. I’ve got to clean up the manor and run some other errands, I’ve got a lot of ch.o.r.es to do.”
The Demon King: “Mmm, I’m counting on you.”
The Hero: “Thank you.”
The Chief Maid: “Oh, that’s right.”
The Demon King: “What?”
The Chief Maid: “I’m not sure if there’re still parts of the house which are dirty. I haven’t finished checking so, though it’s a bit inconvenient, try not to move around too much. You can stay in the Maids’ Quarters until nighttime.”
The Demon King: “Yeah, good job.”
The Hero: “It’s just cleaning though, we won’t die from dirt.”
The Chief Maid: “If you walk around the house while it’s still dirty, you increase the amount of cleaning I have to do. Especially you, Hero, you don’t care about any of these things.”
——- The Village of Wintering, the Manor of the Demon King, in a Warm Room
The Hero: “The Chief Maid is way too neurotic—”
The Demon King: “Hehehe. Just listen to her for now.”
The Hero: “?”
The Demon King: “She just wants us to rest for a bit.”
The Hero: “Yeah, I guess… Let’s relax.”
The Demon King: “That’s the spirit.”
Snuggles.
The Hero: “…”
The Demon King: “…”
Snuggles.
The Hero: “So, tell me about this Quriltai.”
The Demon King: “You mean the Kurultai. It’s a gathering of the Chiefs of the various races in the Demon World. A really important conference.”
The Hero: “Is it alright for you to come back here?”
The Demon King: “After I officially announced it, it’ll still take a month for the delegates to be gathered. Messengers have been sent to every corner of the Kingdom and preparations are being made as we speak. The Kurultai is such a ma.s.sive gathering, it is almost unheard of for a Demon King to have two Kurultais in his lifetime. Many Demon Kings spend their entire time on the throne without organising even one Kurultai.”
The Hero: “Hmmm.”
The Demon King: “The conference will only consist of the Chiefs, but not just the Chiefs will be gathered. Their attendants and retinues will come as well. The markets will be buzzing with trade deals and negotiations. There will even be young men who will come to try to impress people with their martial skills and hope to get recruited to some elite squad or another. It is said that those who are born while a Kurultai is taking place are blessed with bright futures. There will also be lots of banquets. If you put all the banquets back to back, you could probably eat for a month.”
The Hero: “Heh. It sounds more like a festival than a conference.”
The Demon King: “There will be many strong-willed Demon Races. The Races tend to be powerful like the Dragon Race but most of the time, they shut their borders and try continuing to live in isolation from everyone else. The Fang Race lives as hunters in the mountainous wilderness and barely interacts with anyone. For this purpose, the Kurultai is also an opportunity to make contact with those Demon Races who have not had communication with the rest of the world for some time.”
The Hero: “I guess there’s no place for a human there.”
The Demon King: “Indeed.”
The Hero: “At least not at this conference.”
The Demon King: “It’s not yet time to repair the relations between Demon and Human.”
The Hero: “…”
The Demon King: “Don’t worry, it will come eventually. For this purpose, this manor and this world on the surface are being filled with research material and reinforcements.”
The Hero: “I see.”
Candlelights sway in the breeze.
The Demon King: “… …”
The Hero: “What’s wrong?”
The Demon King: “No. It’s warm, I’m kinda nervous.”
The Hero: “Are you tired?”
The Demon King: “I guess.”
The Hero: “When you’re nervous, it’s very easy to forget that you’re feeling tired.”
The Demon King: “Is that so?”
The Hero: “Especially so after a climactic. You enter a state in which you’re not even sure what’s going on anymore. There was once a time, after a battle, when I had jumped into the sea and swam while laughing and smiling for eight hours. When I got back to the sh.o.r.e, I immediately fell asleep and only woke up two days later.”
The Demon King: “That probably only happens to you.”
The Hero: “Hmm. Will you sleep?”
The Demon King: “No, I’m not feeling sleepy. Just lethargic.”
The Hero: “I see… Umm.”
The Demon King: “?”
The Hero: “The floor isn’t soft at all, so you shouldn’t rest there. Would you like to use my lap?”
The Demon King: “Can I?”
The Hero: “Please do.”
——- The Cheerful Murders Incident No. 5
“Stop right there!”
“Get your hands…!”
“Who the h.e.l.l are you guys?!”
Two shadows danced in the cold and frozen moonlight. One was a young lady’s with long brown hair who appeared to still be a child, yet she had the fire of life burning in her eyes.
Though she were young, there was a sort of pitiful beauty emanating from her that suggestedshe could become something in the future. However, what did not match this appearance was her full and large b.r.e.a.s.t.s behind her thin clothing. A frilly miniskirt rested snugly upon her loveable waist, giving way to knee socks which hugged her healthy thighs as they bounded strongly across the land.
“I am the Cheerful Swordsman!”
A cute youth stood by her side, watching her tenderly. His delicate, prep.u.b.escent body was visible beneath the thin shirt he wore while his half-length shorts revealed his thin and smooth legs. The boy was not ashamed of the circ.u.mstances and from within his small body, he hollered out to the strange black shadow.
“I am the Cheerful Philosopher!”
The two of them breathed together and gripped each other’s hands, the light shone from them, flowing like a river, dancing like small, shiny beans. Explosions sounded off almost musically, while seven-coloured bright lights illuminated the warehouse, burning the retinas of the group of strange things which resembled bats.
“We did it!”
“We did.”
The two spun around with their weapons and disappeared.
“Purging the enemy with extreme prejudice without even finding out if they were actually bad! What stubborn, naïve youngsters! This is going to be known as the ‘Cheerful Murders’! To think it was committed just 170 seconds ago!”
—— The Village of Wintering, the Demon King’s Manor, in a Warm Room
The Demon King: “—♪”
The Hero: “…”
The Demon King: “Your lap feels good, Hero.”
The Hero: “Oh? That’s good. You can sleep even though you’re not sleepy?”
The Demon King: “You’re about to make me.”
The Hero: “?”
The Demon King: “What are you reading?”
The Hero: “A new novel.”
The Demon King: “Huh?”
The Hero: “Yeah, I’m at Volume 5. This is The Cheerful Murders Incident No. 5— The Case of the Triple Murders at the Hot Springs.”
The Demon King: “I don’t understand.”
The Hero: “Actually, neither do I.”
The Demon King: “Why are you reading something you don’t understand?”
The Hero: “A friend of mine wrote it.”
The Demon King: “Oh?”
The Hero: “The Mage.”
The Demon King: “Is that so? She has such a hobby?”
The Hero: “Yup — Ah! This is a secret though! Don’t tell anyone.”
The Demon King: “I understand… But even if I know, it’s not like I could tell anyone.”
The Hero: “Shall I lend it to you? If you start from Volume 1, we can read together.”
The Demon King: “Yay, yay, yay! Let me read!”
The Hero: “Here, it’s really interesting, even though I don’t understand it.”
The Demon King: “…”
The Hero: “…”
Fireplace flames lick the air.
The Demon King: “Heh… I really don’t like the Lord of Apples.”
The Hero: “He’s so annoying, right!”
Pages flipping.
The Demon King: “…”
The Hero: “…Hoho.”
Pages flipping.
The Demon King: “Eh!? He filled the stomach with turnip juice…? What kind of depraved cruelty is this? Is the author for real?!”
The Hero: “…Well, since she’s writing it, it’s all kind of like that.”
Fireplace flames lick the air.
The Demon King: “Hmmm.”
The Hero: “How was it?”
The Demon King: “I didn’t understand it, but it was very interesting.”
The Hero: “It was interesting, so I read it to the end, but they still didn’t solve the mystery.”
The Demon King: “It’s quite a new experience.”
The Hero: “Very rare for a mystery novel.”
The Demon King: “Hmm, I’ve got it. The youth has a secret killing technique hidden in those shorts he’s wearing.”
The Hero: “…Uhh, I think that’s a bit too farfetched.”
The Demon King: “Then what do you think?”
The Hero: “Didn’t she spend sixty pages describing how the villagers turned into zombies along the roadside?”
The Demon King: “That’s scary.”
The Hero: “Really.”
The Demon King: “…”
The Hero: “…”
The Demon King: “I never thought there would be a day where I could just lie here on your lap and read books with you for an entire day.”
The Hero: “Neither did I, with you.”
The Demon King: “It’s very warm in your lap.”
The Hero: “Yeah.”
The Demon King: “…I’ve spent very long times reading books on my own. Researching and studying too. That’s what my Race is most adept at doing. We’re bad at the simplest of things, but with a book in our hands, we can read forever, just wondering about things in solitude. What is the Human World like? What kind of guy is the Hero? — But I never thought about how warm your lap would be.”
The Hero: “There’s no need to treat it like some kind of rare treasure.”
The Demon King: “Eh?”
The Hero: “If it’s my lap, you can have it any time.”
The Demon King: “Ahh. Ahh— Yeah. That’s true.”
The Hero: “Let’s just relax for today.”
—— The Village of Wintering, the Manor of the Demon King, Food Hall
Little Sister Maid: “Tada! Today’s a feast!”
The Demon King: “Wow! It looks delicious!”
The Hero: “Even though the manor is empty, you really went out of your way.”
The Chief Maid: “Yeah, a few villagers and the Village Chief have come as well. It seems they’re here to offer you their blessings on your return.”
The Demon King: “Yeah, thank you. They didn’t have to do that, though.”
The Hero: “Yeah.”
The Chief Maid: “Then, I’ll serve…”
The Demon King: “Yeah. Sure. Is it alright if I serve everything at the same time? We can all eat together!”
The Hero: “Yeah!”
The Chief Maid: “But…”
The Demon King: “This can’t be a regular thing. It’s got to be just for today. Please forgive me, Chief Maid.”
The Chief Maid: “Huh… The job of a Maid is to fulfil the wishes of her mistress…”
The Demon King: “Then, let’s eat!”
The Hero: “Let’s eat!”
The Chief Maid: “You’ve baked bread as well.”
Elder Sister Maid: “Yes.” Smiles.
Little Sister Maid: “Today’s bread is baked with raisins. Ah, Hero. I’ll set the table.”
The Hero: “It’s fine. Take a break every now and then. Let me get the soup at least.”
Little Sister Maid: “That’s wrong. This is my job. Preparing the meal, serving it to the table, watching everyone say ‘Delicious ～♪’. Even though that’s my job, nothing makes me happier. Until the end, I am a chef.”
The Demon King: “That’s right, the Little Maid Sister’s work is her own reward, isn’t it?”
The Hero: “Is that so? I understand. I’ll leave you to it then.”
Little Sister Maid: “Yup～♪ “
The Hero: “…”
Little Sister Maid: “How is it?”
The Hero: “Delicious. The bacon and potatoes are great too.”
Little Sister Maid: “Yeah～♪”
The Chief Maid: “Ahem.”
Little Sister Maid: “Yes!”
The Chief Maid: “Don’t shake when you carry the food.”
Little Sister Maid: “I’m sorry!”
The Chief Maid: “But hold the food up high.”
Little Sister Maid: “Y-yes!”
The Hero: “— She’s got them looking so prim and proper.”
The Demon King: “Hmm, the Chief Maid has got them well-controlled.”
The Chief Maid: “Do your best.”
Little Sister Maid: “Yes～♪”
The Hero: “Delicious.”
The Demon King: “Yeah, this clam tastes great with b.u.t.ter too.”
The Chief Maid (small voice): “On another note, Your Majesty.”
The Demon King: “What is it?”
The Chief Maid (small voice): “How was it?”
The Demon King: “What?”
The Chief Maid (small voice): “Your private time together.”
The Demon King: “Yeah, it was fun. We took it nice, slow and easy.”
The Chief Maid (small voice): “Oh my, what a virgin. Then did you hug?”
The Demon King: “We were both enthralled by two volumes of a powerful weapon…”
The Chief Maid (small voice): “What?”
The Demon King: “‘The Waste of Talent? ’ …No, ‘The Talent of Wastage’. I’m not sure what the reviews for it are like, but it was definitely intriguing.”
The Chief Maid (small voice): “What are you saying…”
The Demon King: “No, it was ‘The Cheerful Murders.’ The Hero introduced me to some new novels and we spent the whole time just reading them. It was really interesting.”
The Chief Maid (small voice): “The whole time?”
The Demon King: “Yeah, the whole time.”
The Chief Maid: “…”
The Demon King: “?”
The Chief Maid: “Hero?”
The Hero: “Mm? What is it, Chief Maid?”
The Chief Maid: “The Demon King would like you to wash her back tonight at the hot springs.”
The Hero & the Demon King: “?!”
Elder Sister Maid: “Eh, wha, wha—”
Little Sister Maid: “Bathing together? How nice～”
Elder Sister Maid: “We’re good on this end.”
The Hero: “What are you talking about?!”
The Demon King: “Why are you so angry? Is it a bad thing?”
The Chief Maid: “Dammit, don’t you understand that time is limited?”
The Hero: “This kind of thing needs to be seriously considered beforehand.”
The Demon King: “That’s right. Something like this needs the correct mood and timing.”
The Chief Maid: “You don’t listen to anything I say… Fine then. I’ll wash the Hero’s back.”
Little Sister Maid: “Wh-what? I think I’ll plug my ears with my fingers and try not to listen.”
Elder Sister Maid: “We are far too young to deal with this, let’s just keep quiet.”
The Hero: “To have my back washed by the Chief Maid…”
The Demon King: “What are you imagining, Hero? I won’t allow anything of the sort.”
Door opens.
The Female Paladin: “Hmph. Why does it always get like this every time?”
The Hero: “When the—“
The Female Paladin: “I heard everything. I’ve finally come to visit, but now I’ve walked into some kind of warzone again.”
The Demon King: “Oh, it’s the Female Paladin! You’ve come back safely, then. Well, sit down. Little Maid Sister, prepare another portion please.”
Little Sister Maid: “Yes!”
The Hero: “Well, in any case, let’s leave the bath thing alone.”
The Demon King: “Mmm. We’ll stop for an hour.”
The Chief Maid: “I understand this isn’t a two-man thing anymore, it looks like it’s becoming a three-person thing.”
The Hero: “Is that what the problem is?!”
The Chief Maid: “It is the responsibility of a maid to prepare the harem of her mistress.”
The Hero: “Are you for real?”
The Demon King: “The Way of the Maid is indeed very strange and complex.”
The Female Paladin: “It’s great that you’ve come back safely… Here’s some wine we produce in the Holy Order. Well, we try to drink it in moderation.”
The Chief Maid: “Thank you very much.”
The Demon King: “My words are simple, but do listen. In order to ensure that for both sides to suffer as little as we can possibly manage in this war, we shouldn’t be afraid to use whatever measures we can bring to bear.”
The Female Paladin: “The enemy are 20,000 whereas we are but a quarter of that. No matter how many skills I can use, we’re still going to die. Since it’s that way, I’m troubled too.”
The Hero: “Sorry for making you come all the way here. I was intending to visit you tomorrow.”
The Female Paladin: “I was the one who could not wait, so don’t worry about it — Welcome back, Hero. Welcome back, Demon King.”
—– The Village of Wintering, the Manor of the Demon King, the Study at Night
The Demon King: “Phew… I can finally settle down. I should probably write a paragraph for the records. Hmm, that’s right. I haven’t received the soil samples I requested for. I should probably show my face at the house of the Village Chief… Eh? Where’s the packaging I need…”
Knock knock.
The Demon King: “It’s open, come in—”
The Female Paladin: “Are you free to talk now?”
The Demon King: “Ahh, it’s the Female Paladin. I’m sorry, dinner was very rowdy.”
The Female Paladin: “No, it was fun. Dinner at the order is usually a silent, religious affair. It felt good to eat at such a fun dinner.”
The Demon King: “That’s good to hear.”
The Female Paladin: “Yes.”
The Demon King: “…”
The Female Paladin: “…”
The Demon King: “What’s up?”
The Female Paladin: “Ahh, yes— There’s something I would like to talk to you about.”
The Demon King: “Yeah?”
The Female Paladin: “While you were not around—”
The Demon King: “Yeah?”
The Female Paladin: “I gave my sword to the Hero.”
The Demon King: “…?”
The Female Paladin: “Don’t you know? That’s… to a Paladin, one’s sword is the most important thing… It’s like a ceremonial pledge, to say that I will forever follow that person.”
The Demon King: “Mmhmm.”
The Female Paladin: “When a Paladin has a Lord— when the Paladin offers his sword to his Lord, that person gains jurisdiction over the paladin. To offer one’s sword is the ultimate form of subordination, expressing a desire to work for the Lord, to take up arms and the banner of war when the Lord demands it. Whatever is the Lord’s will, the Paladin will deliver… One could say the Paladin becomes the belonging of the Lord.”
Awkward silence.
The Female Paladin: “That’s the kind of pact I have with the Hero.”
The Demon King: “…”
The Female Paladin: “I’m ashamed that I went behind your back and did this without obtaining your permission. I understand. But I don’t think I forced the Hero to do anything… I don’t think so anyway. That’s… After I gave him my sword, I went to the battlefield, and the Hero went to the Demon World, so I couldn’t confirm it. He had a very conflicted expression, though.
“But, I won’t go back on it. I’ve made this pact, and I won’t go back on it, there’s no way one could even break such a pact. To give the Hero my sword is to give the Hero my soul. — But, this wasn’t something I should have done behind your back. Especially since the Hero belongs to you.”
The Demon King: “…”
The Female Paladin: “I’m telling you because we’re friends.”
The Demon King: “…”
The Female Paladin: “Now then, come at me. I don’t mind even if you scold and shout at me. No, that’s the reason why I have come. Of course… While I belong to the Hero, the Hero doesn’t belong to me. — That’s what the Pledge of a Paladin is like. That’s why I haven’t stolen the Hero or anything, I’ll be patient for my whole life. I have no intention of getting in the way of your relationship, because that is your right… to own the Hero. Well, I’m not actually sure how it works, but I think it’s something like that?”
The Demon King: “Mmm.”
The Female Paladin: “Yeah…”
The Demon King: “I see.”
The Female Paladin: “Yeah…”
The Demon King: “I was raised in the Library. It was different from a normal library, but… In other words, I was raised in an environment devoid of company. That’s why I was so interested in the love between man and woman.”
The Female Paladin: “…”
The Demon King: “Would you say that you’re jealous?”
The Female Paladin flinches.
The Demon King: “Do you feel a tightness in your chest, a difficulty in breathing, and occasionally get lightheaded? Do you have a sort of strange feeling resulting from the pent-up anger from being unable to achieve what another has achieved, mixing with it self-deprecation and feeling of inferiority?”
The Female Paladin: “Umm, yeah.”
The Demon King: “Then I’m jealous.”
The Female Paladin: “…”
The Demon King: “If I became the kind of Demon King who allows herself to overflow with Demonic energy, this bed would probably already be burnt to a crisp.”
The Female Paladin: “Yeah…”
The Demon King: “There are periods when I feel incredibly, incredibly depressed about this.”
The Female Paladin: “…Eh?”
The Demon King: “Sometimes I think the Hero would be better off with a normal, human girl, and that makes me sad.”
The Female Paladin: “Demon King…”
The Demon King: “No, this weak side of me doesn’t manifest even 1% of the time. The Hero is mine, I won’t give him to anyone. I won’t allow myself to be controlled by the souls of previous Demon Kings either. And I won’t lose to the Female Paladin, even if she is a human.”
The Female Paladin: “…”
The Demon King: “But, it’s not possible. The Pledge of the Paladin is an unbreakable vow, much like the contract I have with the Hero, though I’ve been waiting to meet the Hero for a very, very long time.”
The Female Paladin: “Yeah.”
The Demon King: “…”
The Female Paladin: “…That’s right.”
The Demon King: “Then, it can’t be helped.”
The Female Paladin: “Eh?”
The Demon King: “I hate saying that it can’t be helped. I must admit that that is usually what someone says when he does not try very hard and just wants to take the easy way out of things. But sometimes, we really do have no choice, despite what we might hope to do. In these cases, it becomes a phrase filled with courage, the courage to accept the reality of unchangeable circ.u.mstances.”
The Female Paladin: “…”
The Demon King: “It can’t be helped that I’m a Demon. If you think of cases in similar situations, this is truly a painful scenario. To begin with, there have been very few Demon Kings that did not have their own private harems. I’m not sure about the Hero, but I never intended to have one. I don’t want there to be anyone else but me by the Hero’s side, but, out of everyone, if it’s the Female Paladin, then I suppose it can’t be helped. Above anyone else, I’ll have to endure it if it’s you.”
The Female Paladin: “…Demon King.”
The Female Paladin: “Listen, Demon King, carefully.”
The Demon King: “I understand.”
The Demon King: “I love the Hero. As the one who owns me, and as a man.”
The Female Paladin: “I love the Hero. As the owner of my sword, and as a man.”
The Demon King: “Yeah.”
The Female Paladin: “That’s right.”
The Demon King: “I understand.”
The Female Paladin: “…”
The Demon King: “That’s why while I intend to let you, I have no intention to lose. The Pledge of a Paladin doesn’t sound like a transfer of ownership. In other words, it’s more like a lifelong attachment of service. It’s an idea on a completely different level from what the Hero and I have.”
The Female Paladin: “I have a history of travelling with the Hero.”
The Demon King: “History? If you want to talk about history, I’m the one who’s been in that library, right? History refers to a period at least longer than 150 years, right?”
The Female Paladin: “I don’t understand what you mean. I’ve even sucked poison from the wound of the Hero, haven’t I?!”
The Demon King: “—?! Oh! So now you want to compare past achievements! Well, I’ve slept on the Hero’s lap! And just last night, we had a reading date!”
The Female Paladin: “Ha! A reading date? What are you, children?”
The Demon King: “Don’t go too far, Female Paladin.”
The Female Paladin: “Of course! The only things I have no choice but to lose to you in are trifling things like b.o.o.b size.”
The Demon King: “You mean your little girl sized chest?”
The Female Paladin: “Wh-wh-what are you saying, Demon King?!”
The Demon King: “What, did I say something wrong?!”
—— The Village of Wintering, the Manor of the Demon King, the Living Room
m.u.f.fled shouting.
Elder Sister Maid: “Those are some really loud noises…”
The Hero: “I’m sure they’re celebrating their reunion. They’ve probably opened some wine or something…”
Elder Sister Maid: “So the Mistress is drunk?”
Little Sister Maid: “Hey, hey, enough about that!”
The Hero: “Oh, that’s right, give me a while.”
Little Sister Maid: “Yayyy!”
The Hero: “Tada! I’ve got presents! Do you like them?”
Elder Sister Maid: “What’s this?”
The Hero: “First, for the Little Sister Maid, I’ve got this jade hairpin, and this steamer.”
Little Sister Maid: “Steamer? It’s big. Is it a basket?”
The Hero: “Nope, it’s something you put on top of a pot.”
Little Sister Maid: “On top?”
The Hero: “You boil water below it and the boiling water produces steam that can be used to cook food with. Get it?”
Little Sister Maid: “Wow! That sounds so interesting!”
The Hero: “And this is for the Elder Sister Maid.”
Elder Sister Maid: “It’s for me?”
The Hero: “Yep, she picked this out for you. It’s a comb she used to use a long time ago. The Demon… no, I mean the Scholar used to comb her hair all the time with this when she lived alone in her hometown. I hear it makes people more beautiful almost instantly.”
Elder Sister Maid: “It’s pretty. It looks like jewels.”
The Hero: “And this is from me.”
Elder Sister Maid: “This is…”
The Hero: “It’s a silk satin weave. Umm… I wanted to buy you some clothes or something to look nice in, but I don’t know much about it and I didn’t want to get the size wrong or anything. So, I’m sorry, but this is the cloth to make it yourself.”
Elder Sister Maid: “Wow…”
The Hero: “Ah, I guess it’s not good. Is it bad cloth?”
Elder Sister Maid: “No, it’s great. I’m really happy! This is the highest quality cloth I’ve ever come across in my life!”
Little Sister Maid: “Yeah, it’s great! It’s the sort of cloth a princess would wear.”
The Hero: “That’s right, the Scholar said she had something for you.”
Elder Sister Maid: “Yes. Thank you very much.”
——- The Demon World, the Trade Routes through the Borderlands
Strong gust of wind blows.
Middle Aged Merchant: “Whoa. What a strong wind.”
Anubite Merchant: “It’s a seasonal wind.”
Caravan Mercenary: “Oh, it’s strong!”
Middle Aged Merchant: “Everything is being blown around! I’d better check if all my goods are still here.”
Caravan Party: “Hey!”
Anubite Merchant: “You guys are really resolute.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “Doing business is the same no matter where you are, isn’t it? One has to be resolute to survive.”
Anubite Merchant: “Indeed.”
Caravan Mercenary: “How is the situation here?”
Anubite Merchant: “It’s good and it’s bad.”
Caravan Mercenary: “Hmm.”
Anubite Merchant: “It’s all calmed down recently, but this City of the Gate has been a hallowed ground for ages. Tens of G.o.ds have resided here. This was also a vital staging point for the war against the Human World. As I’m sure you know, it was controlled by the Crusaders for a while.”
Caravan Mercenary: “Yeah.”
Anubite Merchant: “The military was always patrolling the streets, but the order is getting worse. Many of these soldiers are hopeless drunks, while those who are serious about their job tend to become injured very quickly. Law and order in the City of the Gate has always been fairly inconsistent. Well, it’s really something which depends on the times.”
Caravan Mercenary: “I see.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “And what about now?”
Anubite Merchant: “The general consensus is that the administration now is pretty good. Even though the head of government is a human, the Fire Dragon Lady is right behind to keep him in check. Taxes are low and trade is, for the most part, free. A grand bazaar is organised every month and the marketplace is also open every week on Mondays and Thursdays. Of course, the fact that this is the sort of place where troublesome things are likely to happen still hasn’t changed. We must remain vigilant no matter what.”
Caravan Mercenary: “That’s the most important thing.”
Anubite Merchant: “You’ve got a pretty big train of caravans there.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “Really?”
Anubite Merchant: “Yeah, most of the merchants who come here usually come walking with goods bouncing and rattling off one camel.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “They don’t come with carriages?”
Anubite Merchant: “The sand and mud here is really soft. Rather than getting a consortium of ten or so merchants, in many ways it’s more convenient to come as just one merchant, a lot less likely to get stuck.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “I see. In my youth, I too have done business on the back of a single pony.”
Anubite Merchant: “So what have you brought?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “This time, I come with wheat, incense, and other things.”
Anubite Merchant: “Wheat, eh? Over here, we do grow some, but the quality isn’t very good. Most of it is used to make alcohol.”
Caravan Mercenary: “Is it any good?”
Anubite Merchant: “Not at all. In terms of wine, Fairy Wine is definitely the best, though Fire Dragon wine is the most powerful. I would say Banshee Wine comes as a close second, though I don’t see much of that around the market anymore.”
Caravan Mercenary: “I suppose wine would be tough to sell?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “It’s a very fragile, troublesome good.”
Anubite Merchant: “That’s right. But, if you could sell it for a good price, then it would be a pretty good business. No matter where you are or what you sell, that’s the most important thing.”
Caravan Mercenary: “Indeed. Hahaha.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “Now that I’ve gotten to the city, where should I lay down my roots, so to speak?”
Anubite Merchant: “You should probably head to the Sublime Porte and get a Merchant’s License first.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “License?”
Anubite Merchant: “Yeah. And after that, you should go to the teahouse and make some friends.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “Teahouse?”
Anubite Merchant: “Yeah, that’s right… It’s a bit different in the Human World, I suppose. A teahouse is a place where they serve tea. I don’t suppose you know what tea is?”
Caravan Mercenary: “Of course. We’re not stupid. Well, I sort of understand what you’re trying to say.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “And merchants meet over there?”
Anubite Merchant: “Yes that is correct. The teahouse is a place in the city where merchants gather to exchange information. A high-cla.s.s teahouse sells higher grades of tea and that’s where the richer merchants congregate. You could say that the level of tea you drink corresponds to your rank as a merchant. Of course, this shouldn’t be taken as a rule, but the same types of merchants tend to meet in the same areas, and that’s where you should go to make acquaintances. There are even teahouses where you get private rooms, those are very conducive for business negotiations.”
Caravan Mercenary: “Is that so?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “Sounds rather like a tavern.”
Anubite Merchant: “A tavern doesn’t open early in the morning, does it? A teahouse opens even before the chirping of the first bird. The buildings decorated with little birds hanging from cages outside it are the teahouses.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “I’ve learnt something great.”
Anubite Merchant: “I’ll see you soon then.”
Caravan Mercenary: “Oh… What a busy looking street.”
Anubite Merchant: “This is the City of the Gate, the greatest city in these parts.”
——– The Demon King Castle, the East Observatory
The Chief Maid: “…Hmph. Please gather!”
Maid Ghosts: “—”
The Chief Maid: “Heh, I understand. No. 12 is experiencing a stomachache, so she won’t be with us. Is everyone else feeling okay?”
Maid Ghosts: “—”
The Chief Maid: “I understand. Then, on to today’s business. We’re going to be very focused this week. Is that alright? Focused on cleaning the East Wing.”
The Chief Maid: “Make sure you clean the linen, arrange fresh flowers, and sweep the yard, please.”
Maid Ghosts: “—”
The Chief Maid: “The kitchen? Of course. We’re going to be moving all the food from the pantry in, so make sure it’s spotless.”
Maid Ghosts: “—”
The Chief Maid: “What? c.o.c.kroaches? I won’t allow it. Kill them all.”
Maid Ghosts: “—”
The Chief Maid: “Scary? Fine! If the situation calls for it, you can use some low-level spells. Got it? I won’t allow you to disgrace the name of the Royal Maid Squad!”
——- The Demon World, the City of the Gate, Sublime Porte
Aide-de-Camp: “Commander, sir, you have a visitor.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “Let him in.”
Door opens.
Middle Aged Merchant: “I apologise for the intrusion.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “Welcome. I am the Base Commander, the Council Chairman of the Self-Governing Council of this city. Ah, I’m sorry, but you are…”
Middle Aged Merchant: “I am the Middle Aged Merchant. It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I hear you’re a highly divisive figure in the Human World, but after such a long journey, it is indeed an indescribable feeling to finally meet you.” Smiles.
East Fortress Base Commander: “Hahaha. I was just left behind when all the other people managed to escape. Well then, take a seat. So? What news do you bring?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “I’m afraid I don’t have any reports to make. But I’ve got something better than urgent news.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “And what kind of news is that?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “It’s not news, I’ve got it with me. As requested from me, I have imported the salt.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “The Fire Dragon Lady? Hahahaha! She did it!!! She managed to get us the salt!!!”
Middle Aged Merchant: “That’s right, she’s a very spirited lady. She left me a note. Here it is.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “Amazing! From her?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “If she went so far as to write you a note, then I suppose she intends to stay there for a while longer. That’s right, let me introduce you. This is the Captain of the Guard of my caravan convoy, the Caravan Mercenary.”
Caravan Mercenary: “A pleasure.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “Yeah, a pleasure. This is my Aide-de-camp.”
Aide-de-Camp: “I am the Aide-de-Camp, nice to meet you.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “I have eighteen caravans worth of goods. Would you like to check?”
East Fortress Base Commander: “Alright, Aide-de-camp, do a check please.”
Caravan Mercenary: “I will go as well.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “I’m counting on you then.”
Caravan Mercenary: “I won’t be long.”
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Explanation
c.o.c.kroaches: Even though c.o.c.kroaches are regarded as unclean, disgusting pests in j.a.pan, throughout the world there are many cultures in which they are used for food, medicine, even as pets. Of course, in just about every country, having c.o.c.kroaches in the kitchen is a sign of a complete lack of hygiene.
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East Fortress Base Commander: “…With that, I have one less thing to worry about.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “I too can breathe a sigh of relief.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “How is that girl? How is she doing?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “I’m actually just a small merchant belonging to a nameless guild in the Union.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “Oh?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “The ones who have been in contact with her are my superiors. Based on their instructions, I began the trade mission.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “I understand. How shall I reward you for this then?”
Middle Aged Merchant shuffles uneasily.
East Fortress Base Commander: “Hmm?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “I already receive a salary from the Union. The Union has been informed that through cooperation with the Lady, we will move on to bigger things.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “Bigger things?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “It appears we’ll be stepping up the volume of trade in goods such as salt. This caravan alone won’t do enough, but I’m here to see how else I can help with your shortage of salt. That’s the reason why I was hired.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “…Hmm.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “That’s why there’s really no need to compensate me outside of my salary.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “I understand… In that case, would you like me to take you on a tour of the city?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “No, that’s really quite alright. I’m a minor character after all.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “Hah. If that was the case, I wouldn’t have made an appointment to meet you. Because this is a Self-Governing region, the food situation is quite troublesome, so we are quite grateful. I know a great tavern on the outskirts of the City.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “Thank you very much, then. I was actually quite scared about going to such a place alone because the people there might be apprehensive about newcomers. It’s my first time in the City, and moreover, I’ve come after such a long trip. —being taken to a tavern by a person familiar with the City to drink a flagon of cold ale, I wouldn’t trade a banquet in the Holy Imperial Capital for that!”
East Fortress Base Commander: “Hahahaha! You can stay there as well and take a good soak. More business can be conducted in the morning. By that time, the inspection of the salt should have been processed as well.”
Middle Aged Merchant: “Yeah, I can guarantee the quality. It’s Flower Salt made from Snow Gypsum mined from the Blue Moon Sea.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “So, I suppose you’ll be searching for goods to bring back with you?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “No, I intend to lay down roots in the City and gather information from various people. If I can, there are also a few sectors I intend to introduce myself to.”
East Fortress Base Commander: “Oh? Which ones?”
Middle Aged Merchant: “I’ll definitely need to patronise the Demon craftsmen and mercenaries. Constructing a safe and well-paved road to the large hole behind the Gate is also a worthwhile cause, I believe.”
——- The Village of Wintering, the Manor of the Demon King, the Maids’ Chambers
The Demon King: “Some really earth-shattering changes have occurred, eh?”
The Chief Maid: “Yes, as you can see from the report, there’s really been an uproar.”
The Demon King: “From the Inquisition to this Smallpox thing.”
The Chief Maid: “Yes.”
The Demon King: “The Merchant’s plan was to buy goods in bulk in order to force prices up. To go so far as to expend all his financial capital really sends shivers up my spine. And then he went ahead and invented financial futures. In a world without a significant banking system, he managed force this Money Creation in order to increase nominal money. This much rope is more than enough to hang the entire Central Continent with.”
The Chief Maid: “Yeah.”
The Demon King: “And on top of that, he’s trying to do something that can only be a joke.”
The Chief Maid: “Oh?”
The Demon King: “Yeah, the exchange for potatoes.”
The Chief Maid: “Ohh.”
The Demon King: “The Young Merchant, in his position, could have become the largest sponsor of the Holy Empire. Whether he chose not to because of our agreement, for ideology, or because of the tingling of his business senses, I do not know. However, he was willing to gamble with two large economic plans. He must be thinking of the future. His judgment, logically speaking, is correct. In order to ensure the expansion of the economy, it is necessary to come into conflict with many countries and currencies. Especially in dealing with the Demon Race, business experience is something absolutely essential.”
The Chief Maid: “Because the Gate was destroyed?”
The Demon King: “Yeah.”
The Chief Maid: “How quick.”
The Demon King: “There was no way he could have won those Traditionalist merchants who were fussing over culture and customs. No, to tell the truth, they have already been winning for some time now. And that’s why he had to gamble. He had to gamble for that never-before-seen victory. That’s why I hold such a deep respect for the Merchant’s spirit.”
The Chief Maid: “And now there will be a contest?”
The Demon King: “That’s right, it will be a contest to crush the other before time runs out and the opponent becomes aware. — However, at any rate, we are the same. Despite what they think, neither of the two worlds is heretical. At any rate, someone must have noticed that and torn down the wall between the two worlds. I don’t understand how the Gate was destroyed, but the person who managed to gather such powerful Magical Power in order to destroy the barrier between cross-world exchanges is clearly one who welcomes greater cohesion between the world above and the world below.”
The Chief Maid: “We can’t stop this wave.”
The Demon King: “Indeed.”
The Chief Maid: “If only we were prepared.”
The Demon King: “There’s no way a person could always be prepared. All we can do is react as best we can to situations as they come, make preparations for the worst foreseeable scenarios. Moreover…”
The Chief Maid: “?”
The Demon King: “Have you seen the proclamation from the Kingdom of Winter, Chief Maid?”
The Chief Maid: “Yes.”
The Demon King: “Isn’t it brilliant? Isn’t it wonderful! This is… This is what I’ve been bursting to see. The establishment of the three Fundamental Human Rights to Life, Property and Freedom. It’s not yet the merging of ancient faiths with theology, but this is the beginning of the extension of basic humanity towards universal love for the people around us. Lumen Naturale, this is the Enlightenment… This era was started by an individual girl who, amidst the blood of wounds, pain and spiritual suffering, strove desperately against all odds to find the seeds of the Enlightenment. This isn’t something I taught her. No, even if I had taught her, this isn’t a ‘knowledge’ that can be pa.s.sed down. Nothing would have come if I had tried to teach her. This girl crossed that wall borne on the light of her very soul.”
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Explanation
Creation of Money: This refers to the creation of more credit. Usually, money is borrowed from a bank, which is then used to enrich the supply of a good, hence money flows from the hands of the banks back into the economy and the total value of the economy increases. The Young Merchant’s Wheat Futures is an a.s.set which can create money when people with money they wouldn’t usually use release money into the economy by buying these futures.
Fundamental Human Rights: The rights every human is born with, regardless of position in society. Whether it be the country or the village, every construct should always strive to uphold fair human rights for every member of the society.
Lumen Naturale: The Latin word for the Enlightenment, as coined by Rene Descartes.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
The Chief Maid: “Yes.”
The Demon King: “Aren’t you happy? There’s a line written in the proclamation, ‘I will not go back to being an insect, no matter how hard it is..’”
The Chief Maid: “…No.”
The Demon King: “?”
The Chief Maid: “I…”
The Demon King: “Yeah…”
The Chief Maid: “What did she hope to achieve?”
The Demon King: “…”
The Chief Maid: “She shouldn’t have… It wasn’t something she should have said.”
The Demon King: “…Hehe. It’s not just her. Take a look.”
The Demon King: “It seems a whole slew of events took place. The resurgence of paper for records-keeping purposes. It allowed efficient experimental results, remuneration reforms, and even the establishment of a bureaucracy. Taxes have progressed towards a Bloc Economy, a brand-new economic system. And the matter with the potatoes as well, they’ve really managed to struggle through the whole heretical crop incident very well. Good job, Disciple Merchant.
“On the military side, I’m not very clear on the details but it seems that Field Camps and Oblique Orders are undiscovered military technologies, yet they were still effectively applied by the Disciple Soldier. Military medicine is definitely not yet advanced enough, but significant advances are being made in the field of medicine. The Disciple n.o.bleman is also working hard as a Lobbyist to the Central Continent. Despite their hardline stance, wartime negotiations still took place. I really respect the courage of that young man.
“Even though I taught them many things, all of these were miracles produced by their own hard work. The people born to this world, so that the world will become a better place, are truly willing to expend their knowledge and creativity in order to make miracles occur.”
The Chief Maid: “Yes.”
The Demon King: “Humans are wonderful. This world is wonderful… But we Demons won’t lose to them. We have many windmills. We have even established foreign exchange mechanisms. I was also shocked to hear about the establishment of a postal system. There is also a brilliantly effective system of Public Works and Hospitals. It seems the Fang Race and the Banshee Race have also entered into a sort of political union for effective administration.”
The Chief Maid: “Yes.”
The Demon King: “The world outside the Library— It’s so rowdy, so chaotic, and so loveable.”
The Chief Maid: “Your Majesty?”
The Demon King: “?”
The Chief Maid: “Are you crying?”
The Demon King: “Eh?”
The Chief Maid: “Your Majesty.”
The Demon King wipes her face.
The Chief Maid: “— I have a handkerchief ready for you.”
The Demon King: “Mmm.”
The Chief Maid: “Is it that tragic?”
The Demon King: “No. Probably not.”
The Chief Maid: “Yes.”
The Demon King: “No. I may be shedding tears, but I’m not crying. I’m just thinking about how good this all is. I’m probably feeling a bit proud. Even though it’s not my work — I really like this world.”
The Chief Maid: “I think so as well. I often think about how nice it is to have seen it.”
The Demon King: “Yeah, that’s right. It wasn’t a failure to leave the Library after all.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Explanation
Bloc Economy: An economic system which relies on the creation of barriers to trade through taxes and other mechanisms in order to limit the distribution of goods within one’s own country or union of countries. In this novel, the Disciple Merchant used Bloc Economy during the enactment of extremely high tariffs against goods from the Central Continent, with the goal of preventing the Southern United Kingdoms from suffering the same hyperinflation that the Central Continent went through.
Lobbyist: A person who attempts to influence government possibly by cultivating good relationships, negotiating, and otherwise persuading politicians. In Middle Age society, the society was then cla.s.sified into social strata based on connections and influences, hence the diplomatic world depended heavily on such lobbyists (not what they were called back then) in order to bring about suitable results for their home countries.
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——– The Village of Wintering, the Yard behind the Holy Order Headquarters
Swords clashing.
The Hero: “…Hah! Hah!”
The Female Paladin: “Hah, hah! …Hah!”
Swords clashing.
The Hero: “Haiya!”
The Female Paladin: “Yaaah!”
Swords clashing.
The Hero: “You’re really into it today.”
The Female Paladin: “Not yet! Hah!”
The Hero: “Over here!”
Swords clashing.
The Hero: “—! Speed Up Spell!”
The Female Paladin: “Prayer for Sp
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