Moto Sekai Ichi'i no Sub-chara Ikusei Nikki Chapter 76 Wounded Beast

Chapter 76 Wounded Beast

Late because of allergies.

Sorry.

Pollen…… Pollen……

___

After taking the brainwashed director of the Royal Archives to Minister Hairai, it beca a tumultuous developnt.

First of all, Minister Hairai set up a eting with King Barwell before the Pri Minister could notice this. He gave priority to giving this information to the King the fastest. Secondly, the protection around the second Prince Maine was upped. And finally, acknowledging my contributions to bringing these facts to light, a reward would be prepared for .

Why was the need to increase the security around Maine? This was because of Windfield’s instructions. “I don’t know what the Pri Minister, and by that logic, the Empire, will do after being cornered”, she said. She elaborated on that we should consider the possibility of Maine being assassinated. I personally didn’t think they would do sothing this stupid, but it’s been said since ancient tis that you shouldn’t reach your hand out towards an injured beast since you can’t be sure what it would do. So, just to be sure, his security was strengthened.

On the other hand, about my reward. I asked the Minister if it wasn’t too soon for that, however, he said it was rather late. It seems he heard from captain Zephyr and the First Royal Court Magician Division about , and I had been greatly praised for so reason. What the heck did that Zephyr say? Incidentally, it seems these two were in such good terms that they would often go out for a drink. I wonder if they feel like kindred spirits, both being bald and all.

“It’s also my role as a Minister to make connections with excellent people like you.”()

Minister Hairai spoke without trying to conceal his intentions while adjusting his glasses, which gave off a little shine. Honestly, I thought he looked so cool, even though he’s bald. Yeah, even though he’s like barcode-bald. Trying to cover his head with that little hair left makes him look balder. How strange.

If in the not-so-distant future I am to beco bald, I just hope I am bald bald and not sothing like this……While I thought about sothing banal like this, it beca ti to et King Barwell. It was less than thirty minutes since I arrived. It was quite fast.

There were three people present besides the King, Minister Hairai, the director of the Royal Archives, and . The Minister and I were pretty much extras. The protagonist today was the director.

The Kind was visibly taken aback despite his position, after all, the main offender in the falsification of the docunts ca forward to confess and also brought with him proof that validated the original docunts had been tampered with.

The director insisted that these alterations were done under the orders of the Third Knight Order Captain, Djarum. In addition to this, he also confessed that he had been threatened by having his family as hostages, and then, using his position, he had to involve one of his subordinates.

“Why are you confessing now?”

The director answered King Barwell’s questions while in tears.

“He, he gave a chance.”

With this, I am now freed―― the director had a face as if feeling like that.

I think that probably because of the brainwashing, he felt as if I had truly given him this opportunity, so that’s why he said it like that.

After contemplating the director’s resolute confession, King Barwell crossed his arms and imrsed in thought for a while, then he opened his mouth.

“……It seems this dangerous suspicion was correct. Now that we have concrete evidence, I will have to make a decision.”

And this was the end of Pri Minister Val Morrow.

——

——

“Sovra-san, is dependent on, Caralia. He consus it every day since it helps him not rember his debt-bearing wife. Furthermore, he’s not the only one. In the Royal Capital, there are a large number of people who are addicted to it.”

“Addicted……? ”

As soon as I returned ho, I heard this as a result of Windfield’s investigations.

The contents were far beyond what I expected to hear.

“Every holiday, it seems he went to buy it from a seller, who was hiding in the Royal Capital. And that seller is bringing the price of Caralia higher and higher. To the point where it is no longer sothing easy to buy.”

“Is his sickness because of withdrawal?”

This is bad. I never thought about drugs.

Do potions work? ”

“This is more, like a disease. By principle, they don’t work.”

Do potions not work for diseases in this world? Rather, Mobius never had any diseases or drug dependency, so I’m not sure how to deal with this.

“If it spreads more than this, it will beco really dangerous.”

“Have you found out the source of it? ”

“The Sacred Country Kal. I heard Besaid-san saw the dealer several tis as he went around, and that person used the Kalian churches to hide inside the Kingdom.”

“Whoaa, the Sacred Country Kal……”

This was the na of a troubleso country.

The Sacred Country Kal was a religious country where the state religion was the Kalian religion. Players needed to visit this country in the quest that was required to learn the 【Healing Magic】 《Recovery?Large》, however, everyone had a strong impression that this was a terribly fishy country. Simply put, it was a dog-eat-dog country that invaded other countries and made money using religious reasons.

“It seems like, while the Kingdom was busy dealing with the Empire, they wanted to take a bite at it.”

“And the Caralia, was this a drug used in preparation for that?”

“Yeah. Because it looks like simple cigarettes, it has beco quite widespread. I’m certain the Sacred Country wanted to use Caralia to bring the Kingdom to the negotiation table and push for an unequal treaty.”

“Misfortunes just keep piling on this Kingdom, huh?”

However, it can’t be helped since it has spread this much. We have no choice but to think about how to deal with it.

“Should I talk to the King and ask him to ban Caralia? ”

“If that’s the case, the price of Caralia, will shot further up. It will beco the perfect market for Kal-chan.”

“Hey, stop that. This isn’t sothing to joke about. People related to have been its victims.”

“Sorry. But, that’s right, I wonder if it’ll have to be regulated?”

“Would it be a better choice to have it thoroughly regulated? ”

“I think so. It would be a less objectionable option. But I don’t think the Sacred Country Kal will stay silent.”

“Ahh…… after all, they’ll be making less money.”

Seriously, how troubleso.

“I’ll talk to Barwell about it.”

“Yes, please do. Well, there’s a limit to what we can do ourselves.”

Just when the issue with the imperial operatives was about to settle down, this ti is the damn Sacred Country……

After heaving a sigh, I opened the evening edition of the newspaper in the quiet living room, just after dinner.

The main contents are about the falsification of the official docunts. Here, it was written in detail about how the director of the Royal Archives had tampered with the official docunts by the order of the Captain of the Third Knight Order, Djarum. Furthermore, it was strongly argued that the three leaders, the Pri Minister, and the captains of the First and Third Knight Orders should take responsibility.

The King had already learned this fact, and those three will be held accountable tomorrow. Most of the people had co to support the Second Prince faction, and the imperial operatives had gone underground. No matter where one looked at it, they could no longer win at it.

And so, with this, the political strife had co to an end for the ti being.

……It seed both quite long and very short. I personally think this was a one-sided political conflict, just like that “Sugatayaki” analogy, getting cornered slowly, and without being able to notice what was coming to them until the last minute.

However, this political dispute originally began with Yukari’s forr master, the late Duchess Lucia Icene. Even if this didn’t have the conclusion that Yukari would have preferred, for the ti being, she got herself a reliable spirit and has settled down on it, so I guess it’s a decent outco.

“Windfield.”

“Yes? ”

I called out to Windfield and tried to say my thanks, but…… I felt there was sothing weird, so I stopped.

For her, this political dispute was a ga. And, I was a piece. That being the case.

“Good ga.”

“Fufu. Well, thank you.”

We understood each other well enough about the gratitude and effort without having to specifically say it.

For us, this was enough.

＊ ＊ ＊

“P-Pri Minister. How are you…… Pri Minister!? ”

The following morning.

Aware of the arrest of the director of the Royal Archives, the captain of the Third Knight Order, Djarum panickily rushed to the office of Pri Minister Val.

At this rate, I’ll be held responsible――With those thoughts in mind, he ca to beg to the Pri Minister.

However, the Pri Minister was surprisingly calm, given the circumstances.

“…………”

No. At first glance, he looked calm and composed, but inside, his rage burned like a firestorm.

Twenty years had passed since he entered the Kingdom’s inner circle as an Empire agent. Little by little, without letting anyone notice, he moved slowly and passed information over to the Empire as he continued his work. And finally, the walls protecting the Kingdom were falling, and he had stopped the First Prince from growing properly and independent, making him the ideal puppet. Nobody could understand his anger, nobody knew how he felt by having all the effort and hardships he spent half his life overcoming, being shattered in an instant.

“The high tide, huh……?” (TLN: This also ans “the right opportunity”)

He muttered a few words. “High tide? “, ignoring Djarum’s question, he slowly opened a locked drawer at the bottom of his desk.

“It seems like I was building a castle of sand from the very beginning. I was careful and tried my best to build it with precision so that it didn’t collapse…… but I guess I can only do it so far.”

“Are you giving up!? ”

“……There’s no way. It was the high tide (It’s the right opportunity), didn’t I say?”

What the Pri Minister took out from the drawer was a single dagger.

“If you can’t build a castle, you just have to take it.”

——

——

“Val. Klaus. Djarum. You’ll be placed in house arrest for an indefinite ti. This punishnt will be announced later. mphis, for you, I’ll give you a two-year pay cut.”

“Yes.”

These people were gathered before King Barwell as he handed down his judgnt.

Pri Minister Val was expressionless; Klaus, the First Prince, bit his lower lip; and Djarum, of the Third Knight Order, was shaking with his face bowed. The Captain of the Second Knight Order, mphis, accepted his punishnt without saying a word of complaint.

“Also, we will also reward Second Firstest, the special lecturer of the First Royal Court Magician Division, for his rits. Is there any objection?”

When Barwell spoke to this point, the Pri Minister quietly raised his hand.

“What is it? Speak.”

“It’s not an objection. This person will eventually be irreplaceable to our Kingdom. I fear it might be better to take so action before he gets the attention of the masses.”

This was a remark that was unlike the Pri Minister. “Are you changing sides? “, was sothing everyone present thought.

“What do you an by taking action?”

“Take him into the royal court before he is taken in by so other noble. It’s only this before people spread this information. When word gets out, every minute might count.”

Indeed, Barwell was also convinced of this.

Even with just the King’s information network, he was aware of the imnse power of this man nad Second. He certainly wanted to avoid a scenario where this power was monopolized by so noble or in the worst case, stolen by another country.

“Haste is also a virtue, Your Majesty.”

“That’s right. His reward will be given this afternoon. Hairai, are the preparations ready? ”

“Yes, everything is ready.”

Minister Hairai shared that sa belief that early was better. Therefore, the preparations for the award ceremony had been in place since the day before.

However, he couldn’t understand what the Pri Minister aid at with this.

What the hell is he up to?――While Hairai struggled to find aning in that, afternoon soon ca.

＊ ＊ ＊

When I was called for the award ceremony and ca to the court, I was told to et with the King first, and was guided to the room where Barwell was waiting.

As soon as I entered the room, Barwell greeted . So far, everything was as expected. However, I didn’t think this would be a one-on-one talk.

As I faced Barwell, silence flowed for so ti. He was the one to break the silence as he spoke.

“I’ll reward you. Is there anything you want? ”

Sothing I want. Is anything alright?

Then another Ring of Pursuit……No, it’s hard to pass an Amplification Bracelet. No, but, what about a Choker of Giants……

Not good, there are too many things I want! Or rather, I’d want to avoid feeling disappointed for asking sothing I could buy later on.

“Is it possible to choose later? ”

“Sure, I don’t mind. Then, at the award ceremony, I’ll give you only a certificate.”

At my response, he said “That took you so minutes”, and laughed. Ohh, he’s surprisingly flexible.

And again, silence flowed. Barwell might be a quiet person in the first place. Since I thought it was a good mont, I started to talk about ‘that’ thing.

“There’s one thing I want to report. Currently, there’s a cigarette called Caralia in circulation in the Royal Capital, however, this is an addictive drug. The Sacred Country Kal is bringing it in, and it’s becoming quite prevalent inside the country. I ask you to please regulate it as soon as possible.”

“Is this true? ”

“It’s from reliable information.”

“Understood. I’ll take asures imdiately. Thank you for this information.”

Whoa, this went faster than I thought. And he even thanked . This old man, he’s a good person despite being a King. Totally different from the ti at Mobius.

……Ahh, I see. This is the “connections” that the minister was talking about.

“Please worry not, I will not leave the Castall Kingdom. Instead, I’d like not to be bound by anyone.”

“Is that so? I’m relieved to hear that. Even if you don’t beco an ally, as long as you’re not an enemy, that’s fine.”

He was quite upfront about it. I see, so this is the reason for this being a one-on-one.

“How much do you know about ? ”

“I have ears in the Royal Great Library. And also, in the library of the Royal Magic Academy. Do you know Silk, the forr subordinate of the Director of the Royal Great Library, Paloma? ”

“Ahh, that……”

That fat old lady with puffy fingers.

“I got my information from those two, and with the information available from the general public, I made a guess.”

“As a result, you guessed my secret lies in speed reading? ”

“No. The secret is sothing that allows fast reading. And that sothing is a thing you possess. Also, it’s possible to teach it to your team mbers.”

Amazing, he pretty much guessed it.

“Haha, don’t make such a scary face. I won’t tell you to teach that sothing. However……”

“……However? ”

“Can I leave Maine in your hands?”

Barwell said that with a gentle smile. That remark was like virtually lying the next King’s position to him. However, that’s not what bothered .

Barwell had a face like there was sothing he couldn’t say, almost as if he knew he didn’t have long left.

You should be alright for at least the next five years――I thought to say. But I wondered if it was alright for to say it, so I swallowed those words. This world was similar to Mobius, but it was also different. The possibility that Barwell’s condition was worse than what it was back on Mobius is not zero.

“Your strength and its secrets are probably sothing unique. I’m not trying to imply you use them for the country. However, I’d like for you to help one person, Maine, as far as your friendship allows you to help him.”

A wish not as the kind of the country, but as the parent of the man who’ll eventually beco the King.

Sohow……This gave a nostalgic feeling. Like when I went to a friend’s house to play, back when I was junior high, and his mother told “Please get along with my son”, and he beca embarrassed and said “Don’t say unnecessary things ” with a rebellious attitude.

The relationship between parents and children is sothing itchy, even when viewed from the side. I replied to Barwell shily while scratching the back of my head.

“I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do as much as you ask but, if he finds himself in trouble, I’ll help him, I’ll point out when he’s wrong, I’ll invite him for a drink when he’s depressed, and celebrate with him when he’s happy. That’s what friends are for, right? ”

“Without a doubt. I couldn’t have said it better. I guess I didn’t have to ask you this, hahaha! ”

After laughing for a while, the one-on-one eting was over.

I went back to the waiting room and waited alone for the award ceremony to start.

“The preparations are complete. Please, accompany .”

About an hour later, a maid ca to pick up. “You surely made wait”, while cursing in my mind, I followed behind the maid.

——

“…Huh? Ehh, here? ”

“First of all, greet Your Majesty. After that, we’ll head to the throne.”

“Heee.”

The place where the maid led was Barwell’s room, the place which I had visited an hour ago.

Is that so?

With no doubts in my mind, I followed after the maid.

“Excuse , Your Majesty.”

……I should’ve noticed.

It was strange for a simple maid to go inside without even knocking on the door.

It was strange that, even after having t already today, I was asked to co and greet him.

And, I should’ve been wary.

Of the wounded beast.

“………………”

Following the maid, I went inside.

First, the sll of iron reached my nose.

Then, I doubted my eyes.

The whole room was dyed in dark red as if soone had scattered ink.

And at the center.

A person was lying down.

A blonde old man.

Lying on top of a large pool of blood.

His carotid artery had been slashed.

And before I knew it, the figure of that maid was nowhere to be found. Probably she wasn’t even a maid. It might’ve been a subordinate of Tender, I said to myself. That’s what the calm part of my brain thought, but the rest of it was boiling so hard that I couldn’t think of anything.

――Murdered.

Not Besaid, not Maine, much less .

King Barwell Castall was murdered――!

“Kyaaa!! ”

Behind , a maid scread. Unlike the maid in disguise that guided here before, she was probably a real maid.

“What is this noise……WH-WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!? ”

Seemingly with the preparations now in place, Pri Minister Val appeared. And while spitting so clearly predeterminate lines, he acted astonished.

Lured by the voice of the Pri Minister, people started to gather one after the other. Among them were Klaus, Maine, and Minister Hairai.

“…………”

……Being a suspect? Proof of innocence?

None of that mattered now.

“D-don’t you think you can escape. Ahhh, how terrible.”

Jarring.

Yeah……What should I do with this jarring guy?

A wave of anger that I didn’t quite understand, quietly raised to my lowered head.