167 15. Foolish King and the Shikoku Shōshū





 SIDE: Gert.

So you're the half-breed who almost killed the descendants of a despised fake hero.

'Yes . I'm told he was born and raised in the Fermor Trading Company, where he makes outlandish magic tools.

''Well, ...... that sub-human trade association, if you destroy the empire, I'll be the first to make you a slave to the kingdom and have you work for the kingdom for the rest of your life.

Oh, that's nice.

 Now, about six months after arriving in the kingdom, I was having an audience with the king for the first time.
 And I was patiently listening to a very irritating conversation that was taking place in front of me.

 Mixed people ...... is a racist term used for people with non-human blood in their veins.
 This kingdom looks down on non-humans to the extent that it has a law that allows them to be treated as sub-humans, like slaves.
 I really didn't want to come to this place, but ...... was the only place that would pick me up.
 So I can't get angry at the ridiculous conversation between the fat foolish king and the idiot vizier who is right in front of me.

 But the way he mocked Fermor's merchants... it really pissed me off.
 My uncle worked so hard to grow the firm and now you want to enslave it?

 Uncle Colt was a bit of a bad drunk, but unlike my dad, he was always kind to me, even when I was a kid.
 He was always looking out for me instead of his dad, who was focused on developing magic tools.
 I have fond memories of him taking me around the countryside with him in his carriage when he was working.
 And I have nothing but gratitude for those craftsmen.
 My father thinks he taught me to make magic tools, but mostly they were taught by the Fermat craftsmen.
 Whenever I visited the workshop, it was always one of the spare craftsmen who taught me how to make magic tools.
 Truly, they were warm-hearted people.

 When I heard that they were going to be my slaves, I almost killed these two idiots.
 But I didn't want to die here, so I didn't do it.

 Besides, there was a brave man next to me, so it would be impossible to kill them.
 With that thought in mind, I turned to the man kneeling next to the foolish king.

 His name was Kite.
 He's been in this world for about a year now, and apparently he's been training.
 He's dark-eyed and dark-haired, and he's probably a native Japanese from a previous life.
 I've gotten to know him pretty well over the past half year: ...... tall, lean body, good-looking face, gentle personality, and recently rumored love affair with the princess of the kingdom, I've come to understand that no matter how hard I try, I can only be a supporting role for him.

 But he was a good guy.
 But in a previous life, he would have been a good-looking high schooler with a good personality.
 In this world, he seems like a saintly person with a clear mind.

 Cheating each other is normal, I don't care about other people as long as I can live, it's a world of the weak and the strong, a world of the strong and the weak, a world of high school students who grew up in a warm atmosphere on earth is too naive.
 Well, we're going to be in the same boat for a while, so I'll keep an eye on this guy to make sure he doesn't get cheated.


And I want you guys to get ready for the war that's coming up in the next few years.
 When the two idiots were done talking, the foolish king said appropriate words to us.
 What do you mean, "Hang in there"? It's over when you're trying to fight a war that you can't win unless you do your best.

"Yes.
 Well, I guess I'll just have to answer honestly.

'Kite raise the bar as high as you can. The admixture ...... Geralt will invent Kite's weapons and armor for the war, weapons that can defeat the Empire.

Yes, sir.
 I'm used to being called a mixed-up person.


 Then the brave man and I left the audience chamber and chatted in my room.

Do you think this country can win the war? In a country where people like that are at the top of their game: ......
 Yes, this brave man has no loyalty to the king at all.
 The king made him wear a slave collar, but I took it off and made a dummy collar, so now he can complain about the king all he wants.
 Of course, the walls of this room are soundproofed so we can't listen in.
 Well, the king doesn't believe in the slightest that the enslaved brave man would betray him, so he doesn't have any surveillance on his actions.

''Well, I guess it's impossible . You'd better think about how you're going to escape when you lose.
 If we're going to escape, then the Teaching State is next. If we head there, we'll have to go through the Empire. .......

'Huh? Is it so bad that you have to think about running away?
 huh? There's that peace demon.

No, think about it. Even if we won the war, do you think that idiot of a king could manage that much land? Don't you think a rebellion would be the end of the country?
 You think that a guy who looks like a racist elected official is going to be supported by the people?
 How could you possibly think that's possible?

I'm pretty sure that ...... is something we learned about in history class. Hmmm, I don't want to destroy Hélène's country, and I don't know what to do about it: ......
 Elaine. .......
 This guy is firmly in line with the Prime Minister's plan to tie her to the kingdom.

Are you sure you like the princess?
 Princess Ereminanne, the jewel-crazed princess.
 I've seen her several times in the castle and she's like a daughter to her father.

Surely you're right. She's a hard man, she's a jewel collector and she spends a lot of money and uses her men like slaves?
 Shit. That's right.
 I thought you were being tricked by a jewel-crazed princess who only wears a cat mask in front of you.
 Do you know who he really is?

"Hmm? Then why?
 Knowing that personality, how did you like it so much?
 You don't care about character as long as you look good?
 I don't think it's a good idea to do that.


 I'm sure you could marry a better woman with your face.

I know that Hélène is simply lonely. That makes her harsh personality all the more endearing. In my world, there's a word for tsundere: ......

Okay. Okay.
 Brave men like a mean girl. Yeah, yeah.
 Is he a sensitive person? No, it's not.
 Do you have a twang because I'm wearing a cat in front of you?

'You'll have to hear me out! I can already ...... for now, I'll take care of that Elene's character. I'll make the villainous daughter into a ladylike, kind-hearted, perfect heroine by me: ......

Yeah, yeah. Good luck.
 Your protagonist says something different.
 He's supposed to be snotty.

I'm asking you to hear me out!

I'll tell you what you need to know to prepare for war.

'What? Is it just the two of you in a strategy meeting?

The kingdom is full of idiots. Wouldn't it make more sense for you and I to talk about how to survive?

'Well, yes, but ......'
 Unlike the Empire, this country is not well educated.
 The knights in the kingdom are only spoiled second and third sons of noblemen...so they can't think about anything but protecting themselves and getting ahead.
 Discussing strategy with them is just a waste of time.

Where's General Edmont?

Oh, that guy: ......
 Yeah, he could be our guy.
 I can't forgive him for betraying us while we were at Philibert's house, but a general who has the brains to instantly choose thoroughness in that situation if he becomes one of us should be called to the meeting.
 Well, that guy is the dog of the kingdom, so we have to hide the fact that we might betray our country.
 Now, shall we do everything we can to prevent the worst-case scenario, where the Empire loses badly and we're killed before we can escape?
 If I could, a draw would be the best future for me, but with that foolish king's character, the next war will be difficult because he'll probably keep fighting until the winner is decided: .......