"Uh, master. Are you really going to take me with you?"
"Oh, I'll take you."
"Well, isn't it better for me to stay in Clover after all? I'm worried about Marle and Melkina, who are pregnant, and the prisoners may go on a rampage."
It's been this way ever since. It seems that he doesn't have a piece of his usual leeway, wondering what he's worried about. No, I can see why.
"Kuha"
I reached out my hand and put my hand on Kusuha's cheek, who had a worried look on her face, and stared straight into her eyes. Kusuha is taller than me because of his big lower body. It's a position I can reach if I stretch out my hand.
"No matter what people around you say, no matter what you think, you're my wife. You don't have to worry about that, and if anyone says something, I'll blow it away."
"Master..."
It seems like Kusuha has a bit of a complex about her appearance as Arkenia. No one in my family cares, including me. He doesn't seem to care when he spends his time with Clover, who is surrounded by beastmen, centaurs, lizardmen, and demon races, but he feels reluctant to go to Miskronia Kingdom and Kalendale Kingdom, which are full of humans. I'm still fussing like this.
"I still can't imitate this flirting."
"Hmm, it's hot"
Nera and Rifana, who were watching the series of exchanges between me and Kusuha, teased me. Stella smiled and remained silent. Yeah, I admit that I've entered a world of just the two of us. I'll admit it, you guys, stop giving me that lukewarm look.
"Kohon... are you guys ready?"
"Aren't you the one with all the preparations and all the luggage?"
"I am as you can see"
Nera is empty-handed, and Rifana is the usual hunter equipment. It seems to be a little expensive equipment for visiting the castle.
"Rifana, let's stop using bows and quivers.
"Yes? I understand."
Rifana obediently handed me the bow and quiver. I think it would be better to have a knife or a dagger, just in case. With me and Nella, it's probably fine. Kusuha is strong even without a weapon.
Store the Rijuana bow and quiver in the storage and open the transfer gate. The destination is the mansion of the Kalendale Kingdom. It's been a while, but how are Mabel and Mr. Jack doing?
"First, let's go to the mansion in Alfen, the royal capital."
"Ara, aren't you from the Kingdom of Micronia?"
"I want to arrange people over there. First, from the Kalendale Kingdom."
Saying that, I dive through the transfer gate. After a moment of floating and blackout, my vision changed, and I could see the hall of the mansion for the first time in a while. The cleaning is perfect as usual.
Following me, Rifana, Nera, Stella, and a little later, Kusuha appears from the transfer gate.
"No matter how many times I experience it, I will never get used to this feeling."
"I understand. It makes me shudder."
"I quite like it."
"Fumu, I don't really care… By the way, where is this place?"
While Rifana and the others were talking about their impressions of the transfer gate, Mr. Jack appeared from the back. When he sees me, he widens his eyes and gives a deep smile.
"Welcome back, lord.
"I'm sorry for leaving you so long. I'd like to have an audience with the king, can I ask you?"
"Leave it to me. Mabel!"
When Mr. Jack calls out, I hear footsteps from behind.
"Yes! Ah! Taishi-sama!? You were safe!"
Mabel, who appeared from the back, opened her eyes wide and rushed over. Didn't she grow taller without even looking?
"Mabel, I will give a hint to the royal castle.
"Yes, leave it to me."
I wonder if Mabel has become a full-fledged maid without looking at it for a while. Her demeanor seems to be quite sophisticated.
"Please, come here."
Seeing off Mr. Jack, who quickly left the mansion, we headed to the reception room. This mansion is human-sized, so it seems a bit cramped for Kusuha.
We each sit on the sofa, leave a little space for Kusuha, place her favorite cushions, and have her sit there. You can't sit in a chair where people sit.
While doing so, Mabel appeared in the drawing room with tea and sweets prepared for the number of people. She is served tea and she takes a breather.
"It's been a while. Haven't you grown taller?"
"Yes, it has grown a little."
Talk about each other's recent situation and spend a peaceful time. The wives seemed to be curious about the time when I spent time in this mansion, and they had heard various stories from Mabel. Yeah, I don't want to talk too much about the naked antics with Marle and Fulham.
In the meantime, Mr. Jack returned and headed for the royal castle.
"What's this"
"It would be inconvenient for the lady over there to use an ordinary carriage."
"I see, so that's true."
The carriage that Mr. Jack procured was not a box-shaped carriage, but a large one without a roof. Yeah, I've ridden it a few times. It's like a morale-boosting ceremony, like a triumphant return after annihilating an orc settlement.
There is an image that the British royal family was riding and waving in the original world news. Certainly, if it's this size, Kusuha will be able to get in without any problems.
"Then I'll dress like that too."
I stepped out of my seat and put on the mithril armor I procured from Peron-san's shop yesterday, and put the aurora sword on my waist as an anti-god weapon. I made the scabbard last night before going to bed.
"Yeah, you look brave."
"Umu.
"Yeah, you're really cool."
"Well, since I was able to get up on my feet, how much is it?"
Please don't praise me like that. It's soba yui.
The carriage we boarded is led by the royal guard knights and goes to the royal capital Alphen. Of course, we will be exposed to the public eye because we will pass through the city openly.
"Hey, look at that"
"Isn't it hero-sama? It's been a while. And with Princess Calynella... what the hell is that?"
"You're not human... your face is a great beast, but that body..."
"It was said that the hero-sama was a greedy eater, but it was true."
It's all you want to say. I don't care what you say, but I'm going to treat Kusuha like a jerk or seriously kill her? On?
"Lord, hold it down."
"I don't think so."
"I know that my master likes me.
Kusuha said so and kissed me on the cheek. I gave him a kiss on the cheek as well, looked at each other and smiled. Yeah, that's right. I'm angry, but if Kusuha says so, I'll put up with it.
"Both of you, haven't you forgotten that we're here too?"
"I will show you in front of me."
Nera and Rifana look a little dissatisfied. It can't be helped, the two of them aren't close enough to kiss right away when they're sitting across from each other.
"Fufun, it's a good deal."
Yeah, Kusuha-san should stop hugging my neck with such a triumphant expression. Because the smiles of the two are getting a little cramped. Get along, get along. Or rather, I decided on this combination without thinking too much about compatibility, but did I fail the combination?
But I want them to get used to it and get along well. It would be nice if this time would be a good opportunity to get along.
"It can't be helped.
"Speaking of which, I don't know how you guys got used to each other. May I ask you to listen carefully later?"
"Good. I'm also curious about the beginning of the relationship between the master and Rifana-dono."
"I don't need you. Is it okay for me to call you out too?"
"Do you mind if I call you by your nickname?"
The girls start talking about my worries in a friendly way. Thank goodness, it seems that I was not born because I have a stomach ache from the squeaky air.
While doing so, the carriage passes through the second castle wall and enters the aristocratic district. When you enter the aristocratic district, the traffic becomes sparse, and there are no people who say anything in a audible voice.
When you come this far, the royal castle is already in front of you.
"You've been home for a long time?"
"Since you married me, in a way this is your house too, you know?"
"I can't afford to own such a big house. The mansion I'm living in now is just right."
"Is that so? My family is going to increase from now on, so I feel like I can make it a little bigger mansion.
Hmm, if you say so, is that so? From now on, the number of children will increase, and it will probably be necessary to hire servants. If that happens, the current mansion may become cramped.
"Would you like to talk about that as well?"
"In that case, I will talk to your father first. The craftsmen who will build the mansion will also be able to gather first-class people."
"That's right. Let's have it built somewhere and move it."
By making full use of space magic and storage, it is possible to relocate the mansion along with its foundation. Because I practiced by destroying many rags! There's still plenty of room for construction costs.
Pass through the castle gate without checking, and step into the hall with the guidance of the guards. As expected, the passages in the royal castle are wide, so Kusuha was able to walk without any problems. It was only up to the audience room, and if it were a normal passageway, it would be barely wide.
When did we pass, it was the conference room where we met with King Kalendale before. A few chairs were put aside, cushions were placed, and it was Kusuha's seat. Stella seemed to have something to do, so when she arrived at the castle, she bowed and left.
"Isn't it better to wait for the king and sit like this?"
"I don't have to worry about it. The Kalendale Kingdom and the Demon Federation are not in a master-servant relationship. Or rather, in terms of power, isn't it better than the Federation of Brave Demons?"
"I'm only confident in violence"
"Violence..."
"It's a well-known fact that the Lord is the personification of power. I didn't see the scene, but it's said that he slaughtered tens of thousands of monsters almost all by himself. I'm slaughtering such heinous magical beasts in one hand.
Kusuha speaks with a somewhat proud expression to Rifana, whose face is cramping. Kusuha is that. He has a thoughtful side, but he's also kind of a believer in power.
"Hmm, well, Taishi's strength is certainly a little abnormal.
"God of war? Are you talking about Dior, the god of war?"
"Okay. I clicked on the throne to receive a little blessing.
"If this isn't you, I'll dismiss it as a hoax, but..."
Nera's face cramped this time. No, it's not a bogus story. Well, if I go to the temple and check it out, I can prove it, but I don't want to get too close to the temple right now.
While we were chatting, King Kalendale and his senior vassals entered the room. Leave your seat for the time being, bow once, and then take your seat again.
"I congratulate you on your safe return."
"Thank you for that. This time I came to report that I have repulsed the bandits who were attacking Clover, the capital city. Father-in-law."
"About that..."
King Kalendale massages the wrinkles between his eyebrows and turns his gaze to the senior vassal. The senior vassal, who was looking at the king, opened his mouth while cold sweat dripped down his blue face.
"Well... some of the Kalendale Kingdom's nobles also joined the subjugation army. They are local nobles who maintain a territory near the border of the Goebbels Kingdom."
"I wonder if there is anything we can do about it. Of course, since we started a fight, we will retaliate as soon as we can confirm the facts. It's a perception that it's a problem between the Brave Demon Federation and the local nobles who have dabbled in the Brave Demon Federation."
My policy this time is to be as gentle as possible with a smile. It's because I've been indifferent to the Kalendale Kingdom until now. There is also the position of Nera, who has been married, and from now on, I plan to treat the Kalendale Kingdom—or rather, the Kalendale Royal Family, as my relatives.
But you guys. What does it mean to see my smiling smile make my face blush even more? Don't you mean anything else? Fufufu... you're not angry?
"Um... how much retaliation do you have in mind?"
"Right... I'm making a request to the effect of handing over all the people and territories of the Brave Demon Federation, so it makes sense to ask for the same thing, right?"
Mr. Ore, turn a perfect smile towards the Kalendale Kingdom side. For some reason, the senior vassals' uncles' complexions have become dull. Nandeda rower.
Since all the senior vassals are frozen like frogs stared at by a snake, I turn my gaze to my wives. Nera thought, Kusuha nodded, and Rifana shrugged her shoulders.
"As long as you bare your fangs, you're naturally prepared to have your fangs bared."
"Nothing from me. However, according to the law of the forest, anyone who breaks into a robbery will have their property confiscated and exiled."
Listening to Kusuha and Rifana's opinions, Nera also opens her mouth, wondering if she has gathered her own opinions.
"I think it would be good to have the aristocratic family abolished, the territory under the direct control of the royal family, and all the property transferred to the Federation of Brave Demons as compensation."
Nera's proposal was the lightest among the four of us. Kusuha furrowed his eyebrows in disgust.
"Isn't it too much effort?"
"That may be true, but Taishi-sama doesn't need a territory in an enclave far from the Great Sea of Trees, right? I think that this is the only thing that can be done."
HM. It is certainly as Nera says. The only person I want to punch is the noble who pointed his blade at Clover. I definitely don't want to make the people who live in the area suffer excessively with the spirit of hating the priest and hating the robes.
Besides, even if the local aristocrat who is the top of the territory is killed and replaced as the lord, it doesn't mean that the management of the territory can be taken over as it is. There are probably people who have pledged allegiance to the current lord, and there are probably many merchants, village heads, and goshi who have built good relationships with them. No, most of the sages may have been blown away by Marl's mines.
Well, anyway, it's not always the case that such people will obediently obey a person who suddenly takes the lord's seat, and depending on the case, it's possible to stubbornly resist. If you think about it, there's no way to seize the territory.
"I think I will adopt Nera's plan.
"What do you say?"
The senior vassal, whose face had returned a little bloody, asked while wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
"I took a lot of prisoners in this war. I can't make fun of the food they consume. If there is surplus food, I want you to give it to me at a fair price."
King Kalendale, who heard my request, exchanged eye contact with one of his senior retainers, confirmed that he nodded, and then turned around.
"Let's support as much as we can even if there is no compensation."
"I have no intention of extorting you, so I will pay the price.
It's okay for me to go around towns and villages and buy them by myself without going through the country. Worst case scenario, if I work hard at hunting, I can get as much meat as I want.
"You, too much lending and borrowing is also a hindrance to a healthy relationship. In the first place, the Kalendale Kingdom owes you too much, so please accept it honestly."
"Mmm, is that so...? Then, can I take your word for it?"
It's true that if you owe too much, it's understandable that you'd be nervous about what kind of demands you'd make with that as a shield. Shall we obediently follow Nera's words here?