Read The Legendary Rebuilding of a World by a Realist Demon King

180 - - Hannibal in the sunset

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　You have escaped from the castle of the Demon King Ashtaroth because your friend is coming, but you have not yet decided where you will meet him.

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　The only clue I had was that he was sure to be in town, and the chances of meeting him were slim to none.

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　However, I strangely did not consider the possibility of not meeting him.

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　I stroll around the town thinking that I will surely meet him again somewhere.

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　I go to places that a military strategist would like to go. I look for the old man in bookstores and other places, but I can't find him.

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　On the way, I find a saintly lady who is happily eating and shopping in the town, but I try not to talk to her, and on the contrary, she catches me.

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　A part of her blonde hair stood up straight and sniffed, "I smell the demon king.

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　I give up and call out to Jeanne, thinking she's a dog, but in fact she's probably just a dog.

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"I wonder if the saint is out.

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"She's on her way. I'm on patrol to keep the peace in the city.

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"A hero indeed! But what are you holding in your hands?

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They're croquettes and grilled corn.

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I know, but you can't patrol while you eat.

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"I know that, but you can't patrol while you eat." "I know that, but I can't patrol while I eat. I know. That's why we eat while patrolling.

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"............ I see."

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　I let out a giggle, but don't pay any attention and invite Jeanne to join me.

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"Just one, and I'll have one too. We can eat at the fountain square in the city."

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　Jeanne looks at him with a "Really? Jeanne makes a face.

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"It's unusual for the Demon King to ask me out on a date. It might rain.

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　The sky was a pleasant blue.

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"Eating and shopping with Jeanne is not so bad sometimes. Besides, I was looking for someone, but I couldn't find him. We're leaving today."

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"I see. Well, that's all well and good, but wait a minute..."

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　Jeanne quickly disappears. At first I thought she was going to get her makeup done, but she was wrong.

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　It seems that she is going out to buy more food for me, since she doesn't want her own food supply to be reduced.

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　She doesn't seem to have the concept of sharing food with her loved ones.

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　I smiled like Jeanne, so I followed her without saying a word, and we went to the fountain plaza together.

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　We ate croquettes and grilled corn on a bench at the fountain square.

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　The croquettes were inspired by a new kind of potato I had brought with me.

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　It's a mixture of ground meat mixed with a potato that's very soft and chewy. They were full of calories and very popular with manual laborers.

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　I liked it with a dash of vinegar.

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　Grilled corn is a traditional food, but I used a variety I brought with me.

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　It was a very sweet variety, not a staple food, but very good as a side dish or on its own.

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　When you eat roasted corn with butter, you will feel as if you are a heavenly person.

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　In fact, Jeanne had a very happy face.

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"I'm ...... happy. I'm so happy, so happy......."

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　The saint was very lovely as she ate croquettes and roasted corn.

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My hometown was very poor. I have never eaten such greasy and sweet food.

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"This other world has a reasonably good food supply."

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　Compared to Jeanne's birthplace, the magic, frozen foods, and well-developed distribution system make it easy to get delicious foods in this war-torn world.

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"Yes, I don't want to go back to the old world."

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　Jeanne even starts to eat my croquette, but I don't pay attention to her. No other girl eats food as deliciously as she does. I had no problem sharing my portion with her.

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　However, I didn't want her to eat all of it, so I took out one croquette and put it in my mouth.

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　The croquettes in this world were very sweet and tasty. They are delicious enough without Worcestershire sauce.

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　While the Witch King and the saint were tucking into their croquettes, there was an old man who spoke to them.

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　He walked over with his cane and sat down next to me without permission.

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　Jeanne scoffed, probably because he had intervened between us.

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　She was angry with me for being such a tactless old man, but I had nothing to be angry about. I was not angry, because I realized that the old man was the one I was looking for.

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　I handed the croquette to the hooded old man and he took a bite.

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　The munching old man swallows the croquette and says

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It's delicious. Maybe it would be even better with a drizzle of olive oil.

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　I quickly take out the olive oil.

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　The old man grins.

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"That's the king of intrigue. He knows what he wants."

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Hannibal Barca is a hero of the Mediterranean world. I thought he enjoyed olive oil as much as the Japanese do soy sauce.

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I see.

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　The old man called Hannibal takes off his hood. There was the old man I had met in the village of Danke.

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　He had given me a book of military strategy.

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He gave me a copy of Hannibal's War Diary, which is my bible.

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I'm glad it was useful, but a genius like you might not have needed it. There is a saying that the Buddha is the only way to learn.

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"I still have a lot to learn. Especially from a great general like you.

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Maybe it's this way to learn. Now, since there's no point in continuing to praise you, I'll cut to the chase and say that you and I will have a decisive battle in the near future."

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You're so direct, aren't you?

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There's no point in being dramatic. And since you don't seem surprised, did you know I'm a member of the ant army?

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The Goddess told me.

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"Oh, you are favored by the Goddess?"

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I'm not so much favored as favored, but favored.

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"I see. Usually the gods don't interfere with earthly things, but you are different. But you are interesting to observe."

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"I think you're all being a bit naive," he said.

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I don't think you're being naive. Not since Scipio did Hannibal go to all this trouble to see him.

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He's a Roman hero. He's a Roman hero. He's the man who put Hannibal on the map.

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Yes, he's quite a young man.

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I wish I knew one part of Scipio's strategy and tactics.

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　He said lightly, as if he were Scipio himself.

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"Well, I know it's futile, but I'd like to take Hannibal out."

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　Hearing these words, Hannibal laughed.

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"Don't be ridiculous."

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"Is it a stupid thing to say?"

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It's a stupid thing to say. Look, look at the blonde beside you.

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Jeanne, isn't it?

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　Jeanne looks at me with a puzzled look.

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"Daughter, would you turn if I asked you to join my army?"

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"Don't even think about it. I am always with the Demon Lord.

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　I answer immediately.

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"Not only this young lady but that oriental samurai as well."

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　He must be referring to Toshizo.

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I will not betray my master just as you will not betray the demon king Ashtaroth.

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What kind of a master are you?

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"My master is like silk floating in a clear stream."

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"He is ......"

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"So beautiful and strong. But so fragile."

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　Hannibal closes his eyes and says.

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"She summoned me to this world. She summoned me from my miserable old body, defeated by Scipio, and taught me the meaning of life. She taught me the meaning of life. She told me that even an old man like me could be relied upon."

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"So that's the Lord."

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"Yes."

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　He nodded.

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"I am not the only one. Many others have been attracted to her. We want her to be our future queen.

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"When you say future queen, you mean you don't serve as queen of the ants?"

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"A future queen. I'll tell you something that will be easily discovered if you try to hide it from me. The ant queen's name is Alioth and I serve her daughter, Alicia.

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"Ariosh and Alicia: ......"

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Ariosh took root underground and brought down the castle of Ismailia in a matter of hours.

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I know that.

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"But the ants are prolific. The castle of Ismailia is not enough. They will soon attack the castle of Ashtaroth.

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Can't we avoid them?

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Not if my master becomes queen, but Ariosh is greedy and will not be stopped in his lust.

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And the daughter cannot disobey her mother's commands, can she?

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"Yes. So it's fate. A battle of wits between me, who once shook Rome, and Ashtaroth, who is shaking this other world.

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You mean the inevitable confrontation.

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That's right. But alas, my blood is still hot. I shudder with age at the thought of facing a hero with whom I have never fought before."

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　Hannibal stands up.

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"No, it was fun. And they were delicious. These croquettes are the best in the world. I'll buy some on the way home to make Lady Alicia happy. And in a few months we'll conquer this castle and dedicate it to her."

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"That's not going to happen. I understand your situation, but I have a duty to protect the castle of Ashtaroth, my men, and the people.

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"It seems that you have a duty and I have a right. Which of us is stronger?

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I do not know, but I will do my best.

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　I stood up and shook hands with General Hannibal.

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　The old man returns my handshake with a strong one.

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　The hand of the man who had once shaken the most powerful empire in the world, the man who had made Rome an empire within an empire, was very thick. No, they were hot.

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　I was so moved by the passion that I couldn't believe he was an old man, and I couldn't let go of his hand.

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　But I couldn't hold his hand forever.

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　I let him go.

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I hugged him goodbye and watched him go.

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　The sun is setting over the city of Ashtaroth.

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　It lengthened Hannibal's shadow.

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