After finishing lunch at the mansion and resting for a while, we moved to Kron, the capital of the Kingdom of Micronia. I don't know what to do, but as expected, I also frequented this castle...or rather, I was forced to pass, so the castle gate is also a face pass.
And after requesting a meeting with Illone Blanc Miskronia, who is the queen of this country, the de facto ruler, and also the mother-in-law, we were guided to the reception room, where we immediately met with the royal couple who are the parents-in-law. I decided to
"It's been a while. I'm back safely."
"Yes, welcome back. First of all, you're safe. It's a big deal just to come back from God's trial with all your body satisfied."
Illone--Il-san treats me with his usual smiling expression. On the other hand, his father-in-law Erwin's uncle folded his arms and glared at me with a stunned expression.
"what is it"
"Hmph, it's because you disappeared right after you got married. It seems like you said something like God's trial, but didn't you simply run away because you couldn't bear the responsibility?"
"I'm sorry..."
This came as a surprise to me. This old man hates thinking how hard I worked to get back. He hit the table and tried to raise his voice, but there were two people who hit the table faster than me.
"How much do you think Taishi came back!
"Even if you're a king, I won't allow you to mock my master! You little boy!"
Rifana's cracked fist clad in the magical power of the wind and cracked an expensive-looking wooden table, while Kusuha's similarly cracked attack bowl, which looked like a large hammer, literally smashed the cracked table to smithereens.
I and the king and queen of Micronia were stunned by what happened in an instant, and the guard knights and maids who were around were the same. Nera is also gaping with her mouth open.
"Taishi! He was in tatters and had lost most of his strength and escaped into the Great Forest! All he was wearing was his tattered underwear and a shirt. He had lost his shoes, weapons, and everything else, and now he's lost his magic. Even in such a situation, I was wandering around the great forest where powerful monsters were rampant, holding only one stick! You could have chosen to throw everything away and live in seclusion in the Great Forest, but you didn't even hesitate to fight the gods and came back for your wives! Did you run away from that!?
That's right, Rihanna, tell me more.
"That's right! Master, you are certainly lazy, careless and self-centered! But you have the capacity to treat anyone without discrimination, form friendships, and love. It's not just us, Arkenia, who were called monsters by humans and had to hide in the Great Sea of Trees!Beastmen who were oppressed in the Kingdom of Calendil, Centaurs who were burned in the fires of war in the Kingdom of Goebbels, and the Kingdom of Miscronia. Various daughters who were illegally enslaved in WWII!Even if the Lord doesn't help them, they won't be reprimanded by anyone.I have a vessel that scoops up the weak with my hands and puts them in my pocket! What a comparison, you! No matter how much you have married two lovely daughters, keep it to the root forever! You know your vessel, you idiot!"
Yeah, don't raise Kusuha after dropping it. I don't mind.
The father-in-law, who was yelled at by the two of them, was stunned with his mouth half-open as usual. Should I preemptively handle this?
"Ah, thank you both.
"Ah... yeah, I'm sorry."
"... Hmm, if the master says so, I'll obey."
At my words, Rifana suddenly returned to her senses and took a seat with a slightly pale face, while Kusuha sat down on the cushion with a dissatisfied expression. As he watches over it, he collects the broken table into the storage, and uses it as a table by arranging two round logs of similar height.
It's a little wild, but it's guaranteed to be tough. Even with this, if I hit Kusuha with a heavy attack bowl, it would be a piece of wood.
"Ah... How should I put it, I'm sorry. I love you."
"Fufu... it seems so. No, dear. You must know best how harsh God's trials are, right? Besides, Maru-chan and Tina-chan have already gone to marry. I have to leave my daughter soon."
After Iru-san admonished him, the old man kept silent with an embarrassed look on his face. If she pecks again here, the story won't progress, so I'll ignore the silent old man.
"For the time being, I will talk briefly about various things…I wonder if it's okay to ask."
And I turn my gaze to the escort knights and maids waiting in the room. Even those who were stunned until a while ago seem to have already returned to their senses.
"It's okay. You guys, don't talk about what you've heard here. If anything leaks out, I'll dispose of everyone, so I'm going to do that. If you don't want to hear it, leave. Look, look."
When Iru-san said so with a smile, the maids rushed out of the room. Only two knights remained.
"Yes, I've already paid."
"Then let's talk in order. Rifana, if you have anything to add, let me know."
"I got it"
With Rifana's consent, I told her everything in order, starting from where I met the Mother Goddess Gaina in Alfen, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Kalendale. Gaina's Warning, Countering Trials, Fighting the Gods, and Rout.
Losing everything and falling into the Great Forest with Real and wandering around. The story of my encounter with Elmina, life in the elf village, salt trade, and the different races I met in the Great Forest. And that he went around the ruins in search of pseudo-gods.
After obtaining pseudo-divine and regaining power, he went around the throne of God. Encounter and dialogue with the gods. A battle with the god of war. And the return to Clover and the end of the rebel army. and post-war processing.
"Well, it's like this. I feel like I just said the discussion with the Kalendale Kingdom side."
After finishing the story, including the capture of the rifana, I drank a little thin ant nectar in a ceramic goblet and quenched my thirst. This ant nectar is brewed using the nectar provided by the Antilles who live together in Clover. It boasts a flavor comparable to mead, and the production volume seems to be moderate. It is an item that is being considered as a special product of Clover.
I liked what came out at lunch on the second day, so I asked him to divide it into a small barrel, dilute it to my taste, and put it in storage. Straight was a little too sweet for me.
"Even though it's what Taishi-kun said, it's pretty hard to believe…no, it must be true."
"That's right. If I were in the opposite position, I would think so too, but unfortunately it's all true."
"That's right, if you're lying, it's better to tell a lie that's easy to believe... If so, I'm in trouble."
Mr. Il put his hand on his cheek and tilted his head as if he was really in trouble.
"What do you mean?"
"I think you heard about it, but the Vault Temple is hyping up various things by touting that there is a divine enemy in the Sea of Trees. Because there are many believers, the power of speaking is strong."
"Hmm... it must be a headache."
I sympathize, but I honestly can't sympathize. Clover doesn't have a temple right now, and it's not a pressing issue for me. If we manage to manage the temporary food supply, the Federation of Brave Demons will eventually be able to self-suffice in food, and it's not like there's no place to get salt and mineral resources.
Or rather, salt and mineral resources should eventually become self-sufficient through the development of the southern part of the Sea of Trees. A mountain range spreads out in the southern part of the Great Sea of Trees, and it is also known that there is an ocean ahead of it. With my power, it would be possible to pave the way there, search for mines in the mountains, and advance to the sea. If only I had the time.
Or rather, in the first place, it's a story that I don't know even if I'm told that I'm in trouble with domestic power situations.
"There's no choice but to ask them to do something about it."
"Fufu, that's right."
When I shrugged my shoulders, Mr. Il said so and smiled. What, if it comes down to it, it would be nice to get a large amount of food on another continent where there are no ties. Even if I can no longer rely on the Kingdom of Micronia and the Kingdom of Kalendale, I still have a hand.
"There is just one thing I would like you to lend me a hand with."
"Oh, what is it?"
"As you may have heard, Marle and Melkina are pregnant, so I would like you to lend me someone who is used to taking care of pregnant women. "
I'm sure Marl also reported it to Mr. Iru... and when I thought about it, the reaction was strange. Mr. Il is surprised with his eyes wide open, and even the old man is glaring at me with bloodshot eyes. Stop it, I'm scared.
"...Didn't you ask Marle? It seems that the morning sickness has already subsided...I'm probably three months pregnant."
"I've never heard of it. That child... can't you bring him here?"
"It's no good. Transferring might have an adverse effect on the child in the womb, and no matter how well the highway is maintained, it's too dangerous to cut through the Great Sea of Trees and move a pregnant woman to the Kingdom of Miscronia. In that case. It's 100 times safer and more secure to create a safe environment over there."
"It would be nice if you could protect me and bring me. If that's the case, I can pick you up from here."
"I'm saying that moving a long distance itself is a foolish plan. What if something happens to the child due to the vibration of the carriage or the stress of moving?"
I refuse the opinion of the two who try to call Marl. Whether you use magic or not, long-distance travel is risky.
"Okay, I'll arrange for a first-class healing magician as requested. However, many of the healing magicians are related to the temple..."
"There is no problem if you are related to the temples of the god of blacksmithing, Balgand, the god of sake, Melonel, the god of wind, and Dior, the god of war. These four gods are on my side."
"That's right. Then I'll make a request to Zephyr Temple."
"Thank you.
Clover's lord's mansion has a magic tool for direct communication with Mr. Il. I definitely thought Marle was using it to report her pregnancy, but I wonder why Marle was silent.
"For the time being, I wonder if Taishi-kun's request is that much?"
"Right. I've made arrangements in Kalendale Kingdom to procure enough food to feed the prisoners of war...if there is any surplus food that can be sold here in the Kingdom of Miscronia, I would be happy if you would let me buy it."
"Okay, let's arrange it."
"I'll pay with cash or monster materials that I can collect at home. Also, it's related to the rebel army, but is it from the Kingdom of Miscronia?"
"There are no nobles from our house, though they seem to be dissatisfied. Look at us, there are many children who are afraid of Taishi."
Ah, the results of working like a workhorse when I first came to Micronia Kingdom.
At that time, I did my best to support Hinata in the shadow of Mr. Iru's discipline cleanup. I did something relatively dark, and I also did something similar to an assassination. Well, I didn't just do what I was told.
Basically, he overthrew the local nobles and big merchants who had been carefully researched. I had a person who was too unremarkable go missing. They were the kind of guys that would make you vomit even if you remember them now.
"In the Kalendale Kingdom, I did my best against monsters, but I didn't have much to do with the nobles. Did that backfire?"
In short, I guess he was despised and looked down on as a guy who can only kill monsters. Of course, he should have known that I was rampaging in the Kingdom of Micronia, but maybe he didn't realize it because it wasn't something that was familiar to him. Let them regret it later.
"Be careful. I can't confirm that there are forces that are using their power as a noble or a large merchant to make a big move, but I don't know if it's on an individual basis. The Kingdom of Miscronia is a country of heroes... so there are no stray heroes out there. There are also
"In other words, for some reason, that kind of thing might come in alone."
"That's what it is. I'm especially worried because the temple-type children sometimes do crazy things..."
"Please wear a collar properly for such a dangerous thing in Japan..."
It would be terrible if someone called a brave man went on a rampage as he pleases. I can't believe that a politician like Mr. Iru hasn't taken any measures.
"There are places in the temple where the royal authority cannot reach…..Though adventurer-type stray heroes can be controlled to some extent through the Adventurer's Guild."
"I just want to confirm, but no country certifies me as a demon lord or designates me as a subjugation, right?"
"Yeah, that's for sure."
Even so, there might be someone who attacks me...I want you to give me a break.
"... For the time being, I'll be careful enough. Let me tell you, it's a situation where you can't have the naivety to deal with someone who's trying to kill you, so it's not bad."
If something happens to pregnant Marl or Melkina... I don't want to think about it any more. I suddenly want to see everyone's faces. I want to go home.
"If possible, I'd like you to take it easy, but I can't help it because my life is at stake."
"That's right. Well then, around here today..."
"Let's stop talking about formalities!"
"Hey man... Um."
I tried to say that I'm sorry, but I was intercepted by Iru-san.
"I've met Nera-chan a few times, but it's been a while, and it's the first time I've met you two. I'd like to introduce you, and I'd like to talk to you more."
It's hard to say that I'm going home with such a disappointing face... I can't help it.
"Umm, she's Kusuha. She's the head of the village of Arkenia in the Great Sea of Trees, and she's my daughter-in-law. She has experience as head, and she's basically calm and supports me, so I rely on her."
"It's Kusuha. Nice to meet you."
"So, this is Rifana. She's a hunter of the Great Forest, and she's very skilled. She supported me when I wandered through the Great Forest."
"nice to meet you"
"I'm sure you know about Nera, but…you really help me a lot.
"Please ask as much as you want."
When I introduced the three again, Il-san and the three of them began to talk harmoniously. Yeah, the man can't seem to intervene! When you suddenly look at the old man, you look like he's wondering what's wrong with him.
Their eyes met, they nodded at the same time and left their seats.
"Well, we'll be out for a while."
"Yes.
"Ha, which one can you train with?"
"Both of you, don't overdo it, okay?"
I raised my hand in response to Mr. Iru's warning and walked with the old man from the reception room to the training ground in the castle.
"So, Marle, how are you?"
"Ah, it seems that the morning sickness wasn't that bad either. Another elf, Melkina, is also pregnant. She said she was comfortable because she wasn't alone. Some of our residents had experienced childbirth, so she said she managed somehow. I did."
"Really"
When I arrived at the castle's training ground, the guards and knights who protected the castle were sweating and training there. The soldiers and knights who were training for me and my father-in-law, the king, stopped training and saluted.
"Keep going"
When the old man said so and raised his hand, everyone resumed training.
"Even though you work for a castle, you train hard."
"At Maria's suggestion, both the soldiers and the knights who work for the castle are regularly tasked with mopping up monsters around the royal capital. Soldiers are still carrying out missions near the surrounding villages and towns."
"I see, that's why the soldiers working for the castle don't relax."
"Yeah. It will also play a role in maintaining public order, and if you properly pay for your martial arts, your morale will increase."
While talking, we look for swords for training each other. There are swords of various lengths and weights, so examining the ones that are easy for you to use is also part of your training.
"Hmm, well, that's not true."
"Well"
The swords that I and the old man chose were similar to each other. Rather than a sword, it's closer to a blunt weapon, it's a wide and single-mindedly sturdy sword. It would be difficult to wield it with an average soldier. If anything, it's not something that's used for fighting practice, but a sword that's used for practice swings to cultivate muscle strength.
Move to the vacant standing training space and practice swinging the sword several times. Her old man threw off his extravagant cloak, and furthermore, he took off her jacket and became light.
"Well, do you want to do it lightly?"
"Yes. Let's do it lightly."
Face each other with a smile. If you take a step towards each other, it's a distance that you can reach.
Gradually lower your hips and collect the springs to step in. The left shoulder, which is not holding the sword, is put forward to prevent the other from showing the tip of the sword. In other words, it becomes the same posture as nature.
I heard the saliva of one of the soldiers watching over us.
"Shhh!"
"Wow!"
I was a moment too early to set it up. A scooping upside-down blow was shot down by the old man's sword, and the old man's sword jumped up to use the recoil and came toward my neck.
I took a half step back to dodge the blow to the nape of the neck, knocked out the follow-up thrust, and this time I hit the counterattack thrust. The old man also shifted half of his body to avoid the thrust, but there was a slight response. If you look, the chest of the old man's clothes is torn a little.
"I got to do it"
"When you're in trouble, you grow."
"I see, so let me show you. Your growth."
That's all there is to the conversation, and the rest is silent exchange of swords. The practice swords with the minimum amount of magical power scattered sparks every time they touched each other, and the sword pressure that cut through the sky tore the ground of the training ground.
Did you clash for a minute? Uncle's movement slowed down. There seems to be a difference in stamina due to the difference in VIT value. I can still fight, but it doesn't seem like he can hold it any longer.
Taking advantage of the impact that the old man hit, I took a large gap and repartitioned the place.
"Hmm, I think I've grown up, but I can't attack."
"Ha, ha, fu…!
While listening to the old man's evaluation, I look at the state of my sword. Hmm, it's pretty badly damaged. On the other hand, the old man's sword still looks beautiful.
"No, it looks like it's still not enough. Under the same conditions, the sword will be destroyed first."
"Maybe so. I might be pushed before that."
Saying that, the old man smiles slightly. In fact, unless it's a surprise attack, I won't lose to the old man. Putting aside a stand-up with an iron sword like the one I used this time, if it were an actual battle using a weapon made from Godsilver or Orichalcum, it would be unlikely that the weapon would be destroyed.
"Do you still want to continue?"
"Okay, I'll lend you my chest."
"Haha, I'll make you crawl on the ground."
"Try it!
☆★☆
When I broke four swords for practice and the old man broke two, the soldiers in the department that manages the equipment cried and stopped me, so the meeting practice ended.
The old man advised me to take a bath, so I sweated lightly, and when I returned to the drawing room where I had just had a meeting, the four women were still talking harmoniously. Hahaha, this guy.
The sun is about to set, so we asked Iru-san to release the three wives and we decided to return to Clover.
"Ilone-dono is a great person, isn't he?"
"Yes, I want to talk to you again."
"I want to be that kind of woman someday."
And the three wives were surrounded by Mr. Iru. Mr. Il is terrifying... no seriously.