[WN] Shut-In : Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Demon Lord

Translator : PolterGlast

After dropping the hammer of justice on Izel II who tried to launch a sneak attack under the guise of holding talks with demons, being unexpectedly asked by the demon Lirica-san to become her master, and having Emilia go out of her way to travel to the Grust Kingdom—while a continuous stream of turbulent events occurred, a full day had quickly passed. I, who never miss out on a proper night's sleep no matter what, slept as usual even in a time like this. After slowly taking a break to rest my mind and body, I decided to return to Grisnia anew at noon the following day.

When Miku and I, having slept soundly at Home, arrived at the Royal Castle, we were greeted by Alicia, who apparently hadn't had time to sleep properly and had been working non-stop without rest. Perhaps there was just that much post-processing work to be done; the color of fatigue was clearly visible on her face.

「Phew... We somehow managed to work things out, didn't we?」

「Can we really say we 'somehow managed'...?」

「The enthronement is over, and we've become able to establish friendly relations with Lirica-san and her companion, so didn't we somehow manage?」

Despite looking a bit low on energy, Alicia smiled. Looking purely at the results, we could say we avoided the worst-case scenario of ending up in a deathmatch with the demons right then and there. Well, the possibility that Izel II abdicating, Misha renouncing her right of succession, and Alicia taking the throne was the absolute worst-case scenario for her is not zero, though... But the indoor-loving beautiful girl who basically used to stay completely still in her room is no longer anywhere to be seen. Energetically moving around and issuing instructions to her retainers, she looks far more lively than before.

「No problems occurred after that?」

「Yes, fortunately, Kazuma-san and the others cooperated with us...」

As of last night, we silenced the annoying folks in the Kingdom with physical force and magic, suppressed the complainers using the absolute authority known as Emilia, and with a development where 'might makes right,' Alicia's enthronement was safely (?) completed. However, it seems various problems still occurred after that. Those who had been sucking sweet nectar under Izel II, those who had sucked up to Misha or Kazuma-kun thinking they would be the next king... Dealing with protests from all sorts of people, morning apparently arrived in the blink of an eye.

「Thinking about the future gives me a headache... or rather, it's been a long time since I stayed up all night, so my head actually just hurts...」

「You okay? All Heal.」

「Ah, fuwaaaaahh...」

Alicia recovered with a melted expression on her face. Recovery Magic can heal physical fatigue to some extent. There's nothing to be done about mental fatigue, but I'm sure the current her will manage somehow.

「For the time being, I plan to come to the Royal Castle regularly to check on the situation. Though it might depend on what happens to Izel II and Misha.」

For now, Izel II has abdicated and is under house arrest in his private chambers within the Royal Castle. And Misha has remained in the Kazuma harem just like that. We've set up strict security for the former so he wouldn't selfishly seek asylum somewhere or cause trouble for Alicia, and we've decided to leave looking after Misha to Kazuma-kun. Having seen me heal Lirica-san and the other, and casually beat up Izel II, Kazuma-kun and his group have been obediently following our lead for now. However, standing guard over a former king must be difficult emotionally... so we might need to put some thought into how to handle that. If it was okay to kill him, I'd be perfectly fine turning him to cinders with Gungnir, though. I already have the crime of kidnapping Heroes, so adding regicide on top of that wouldn't hurt or itch at this point.

「Ah, speaking of which, I've been normally cleared of all charges, right?」

「Yes. As a result of discussions with Emilia-san, it was decided that you will not be charged with any crimes.」

Through the official meeting held yesterday between the top leaders of the two countries, Alicia and Emilia, a few things were decided. Among them, the most important one is regarding the treatment of the Heroes, including Kazuma-kun and the currently missing Mitsukawa-kun and the others. Having recruited Heroes and taken them to the Empire, although my specific charges were fabricated nonsense, I was recorded on a list accessible to the higher-ups as a person who could be killed on sight. Likewise, wanted posters were circulating for the Heroes who went to the Empire, stating they should be captured alive if possible, or killed if not. During this meeting, all those charges were withdrawn, and I have officially been cleared of all crimes. Ah, by the way, I was also given the option to be officially recognized anew as the thirty-first Hero, but I politely declined. Being called a Hero now doesn't really click with me, and it'd be boring if my movements were restricted because of it. I want to be an eminence in shadow, after all!

「But it was surprising, wasn't it?」

「Surprising? What was?」

「I thought more of everyone would go to the Empire.」

「Ah, that.」

Through the meeting with Emilia and the others, it was decided that we Heroes can choose to affiliate with either the Empire or the Kingdom. There is no mandatory participation in battles or anything; those who want to fight will fight, and since even those who don't want to fight have high growth rates, they can train to some extent and then do what they want... It seems things will settle down in that manner. I went to tell my classmates about it, but there were few among them who wanted to move from where they currently are. Onda-kun and his group intend to put down roots in the Empire, which is more comfortable to live in and has a higher standard of living than the Kingdom, and Mitsukawa-kun seems to want to live freely as an Adventurer without staying in one place. And Kazuma-kun and his group intend to stay in Grust regardless. Kazuma-kun, who couldn't bring himself to abandon Misha, might actually be quite a deeply affectionate guy after all. By the way, the only ones who had a firm resolve to absolutely move were the few classmates who shed tears of blood after being suddenly treated coldly once the king's honey trap orders were lifted. They seem to genuinely intend to devote themselves to training in order to find a boyfriend or girlfriend in the Empire. So that's what a human who has gotten serious looks like... is what I thought. Having seen hell, the look on their faces was different.

And so, the other-world circumstances of us, Class 1-1 of Shishikawa High School, have settled down for the time being. From now on, those who want to fight will fight, and those who don't will utilize what they're good at, and we will live on in this world. It must be tough for Alicia to be forced to take on the Grust Kingdom, whose economy is sluggish and whose reputation among surrounding countries is close to the absolute worst. But if she exercises her shrewdness, she should be able to surpass the achievements of the abdicated Izel II in no time. Since Miku and I also played a part in inciting her, we intend to do what we can so she can be passed down in history as a rare and wise ruler.

「Well then, I suppose I should get going soon. Miku, you stay here and help Alicia out.」

「Mhm, got it.」

「Ah, may I have a moment, Masaru-san?」

A voice called out to my back as I was about to leave. Turning around, I saw Alicia reaching her hand out toward me.

「Mhm, what is it?」

Alicia grasped her left hand, which she had placed near her chest, opened it, and grasped it once more. Then, after taking a slow breath, she bowed her head lightly.

「Umm... thank you very much. Also, please, call me Alice.」

「—Mhm, understood... Alice.」

「Yes! I look forward to continuing to work with you!」

Her smile as she said that was far stronger and full of beauty than when we first met. The current her will surely be able to steer this country. Enough to make me spontaneously think that way.

I slowly left the spot. And the place I headed to was... the guest room where they were staying.

「Excuse me.」

I knocked and then entered. Inside were Lirica-san and Priola-san, who had straightened their posture and were sitting formally in seiza.

「Welcome, we are glad you came.」

「Mhm, well... I had various things I wanted to ask.」

「Please, go ahead. If it is something we know, we will tell you everything.」

Everything, huh... in that case, it seems this might turn into a rather long story. I sat down on a chair with the two of them once more and thought about what I should ask first. There are various things I'm curious about... but for this sort of thing, it's best to start with what I want to know the most.

「Lirica-san... why did you come to this country?」

「Yes, that is because—I must become the Demon Lord. I must become the Demon Lord before Odd, who falsely claims the title, and bring order to the Demon Lord's Domain... Because that is what I promised my father, the previous Demon Lord.」

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[WN] Emperor's Seventh Son : 11 - 7 Part 2

11-7 Part 2

The Town of Stakes, Ratatosk

- Insects of the Abyss -

Translator : PolterGlast

「That is an Abyss Ant! Please be careful, Shinza-san, Abyss Ants have hard skeletons that repel even steel!」

「Well, I can tell that just by looking without you telling me. Sorry, Yung, never mind us, please evacuate the pilgrims.」

「Wait, Sh-Shinzaaaa?!!」

Without waiting for a reply, I charged at the monster. Abyss Ants after Abyss Hounds. The Abyss truly is a hell.

Reinforcements of Abyss Ants were coming out of the gate one after another, but that's not a problem. This is the Labyrinth City Ratatosk; passing adventurers were surrounding the increasing Abyss Ants, readying their respective weapons.

「Oi, don't do anything reckless, coordinate with us, youngster!」

「Sorry, I'm bad at that.」

The number of enemies is currently 7. We are roughly 10 people. But the Abyss hole hasn't disappeared. Monsters are leaking into our world one after another.

First, slipping through the adventurers' encirclement, I closed the distance with the one closest to me. From their perspective, it might have looked as if a piece of meat jumped right in. But that guy is making a huge mistake.

Toward that meat, the ant unleashed a continuous attack using its front legs and jaws. I, a muscle-brain, parried all of those sharp and powerful attacks with the steel Shovel. By sheer force before I even had time to explain.

「This is... troublesome now that I actually try it.」

I can be a peerless master swordsman against humans holding metal weapons, but it seems I can't cut through their exoskeletons. My Shovel doesn't exhibit any special efficacy against flesh and bone. For now, that is.

So, while keeping a close eye on the ant, which is fast but has monotonous movements, I handled the attacks flying at me intermittently.

「I'm already starting to miss Sigrun... If only I had that absurd strength...」

「I, I (Atashi) am here! Besides, you should be able to defeat a guy like that easily, Shinza, because you're strong!」

Compared to the pack of goblins I fought in Corin Village, these guys are even more ferocious, and on top of that, they have ironclad defense. Although Kachua is encouraging me, now what should I do about this.

While I was exchanging blows and searching for the opponent's weak point, an adventurer fighting alongside me screamed. Caught by those strong jaws, he was bleeding while being covered by his comrades.

Ratatosk, quite a dangerous town. However, this is bad at this rate. If we don't settle this quickly, our numbers will dwindle and we might end up surrounded by enemies.

「Eh... Shinza, you're running away?!」

That's right, running away. I turned my back on the Abyss Ant and started running. The enemy is an idiot. The individual confronting me closed in, trying to eat me as I fled.

But that is a trap. Traps are the very essence of the Shovel. Reversing direction suddenly, I dug up the paving stones I had cut beforehand and turned them into a wall.

Due to this, the enemy crashed into an unexpected object and, furthermore, lost sight of me due to the cover. You could call it the secret technique: Paving Stone Flip. If I can't cut the hard exoskeleton, I just need to cut the ground instead.

Using that perfect opportunity, I leaped over the paving stones and got on its back. Then, I thrust the hard and sharp Shovel into the insect's weak point, the thin joint connecting the thorax and abdomen.

The result was truly immediate and effective. Having its nerves deeply severed, the Abyss Ant's upper and lower halves began moving in opposite directions. The dangerous giant ant lost the ability to walk straight.

「Leave the rest to me, Shinza!」

Following that, Kachua loosed her bow again. It shot through the joints of its two front legs, robbing the ant monster of the strength to stand. With this, one Abyss Ant was as good as incapacitated.

This accuracy, it's too good to be a fluke. As expected, is it the skill brought about by the bizarre book, the power of the Emperor's Round? Setting such questions for later aside, it was extremely reliable covering fire.

「Shinza, don't look over here, the enemies, the enemies!」

「Oops... sorry, it seems I was fascinated by your technique.」

While I was looking at Kachua from atop the incapacitated individual, this time two Abyss Ants swarmed me. But they are no longer our match. The eccentric using a Shovel as a weapon parried the two's front legs and jaws, caught them, and skillfully brought the fight to a standstill.

「Now, Shinza!」

「Oh, this is impressive...」

Seizing that opening, Kachua's arrows once again shot through the joints of their front legs. With their legs taken out, both fell forward, so taking advantage of this, I stepped on their heads and severed the nerves connecting the thorax and abdomen respectively.

『Ashley, enough playing around with the small fry. Now, cut off the enemy reinforcements immediately.』

At that moment, the usual meddlesome voice echoed in my head without a care. However, even if you tell me to cut off the reinforcements, what exactly should I do?

『Never mind, just pierce the Abyss Gate with that power! Eei, this is frustrating, I shall help you!』

I see, so that settles it. Zirant is a born busybody. Namely, she finally couldn't stand just watching anymore, and manifested her figure along with light in the midair right before my eyes.

The girl possessing dragon eyes and scales remained floating in the sky, pointing her arm toward the Abyss Gate and the Abyss Ants swarming on the way there. Then, she shouted something I could hardly agree with completely.

「Those who obstruct the Emperor's march, freeze!!」

When the Dragonewt Zirant unleashed what is called an Ice Spike in the books from the other world, the Abyss Ants were frozen solid all together. Because even the individuals on the other side of the Abyss Gate were frozen, the gate is temporarily closed to traffic with this.

「E-Eh... A g-goddess...?」

「You went overboard, restrain yourself a little, Zirant.」

I charged into the perfect opportunity without hesitation. Leaping over the Abyss Ants that had turned into ice sculptures, I reached the thing called an Abyss Gate beyond them.

「Now pierce it, my Apostle!」

I didn't know what to do, but since I was told to pierce it, I have no choice but to do it. Just as told, I thrust the Shovel into the gate. A heavy response returned. From there on, the usual method should be fine. I flipped the Shovel that pierces everything, and by brute force, dug up the Abyss Gate itself.

Alright. I don't really get it, but it seems the gate closed with that. Accurately speaking, it might be more correct to say I dug it out along with the gate and severed the connection.

The distortion known as an Abyss Gate disappeared, leaving only the normal scenery of Ratatosk. However, what an Evil Dragon, making me do such unreasonable things...

「Is this fine, Zirant?」

「Ooh... So it turned out like this after all, splendid, you are truly splendid, Shinza! That's right, remember that sensation! You just dug right through a dimension itself!」

The Evil Dragon Zirant was elated. But it seems she exhausted all her power with that single Ice Spike. The girl possessing the same dragon eyes as me vanished from the real world once again, like a mirage the other day.

Because Zirant took the best part, the remaining Abyss Ants are 3. These guys were also surrounded by the adventurers, and with reinforcements arriving, they were quickly subjugated.

The Town of Stakes, Ratatosk—that is an outrageous danger zone. To think they can spend their days peacefully with such monsters as neighbors, I was made to realize once again the habituation and robustness of people.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

Now then, since everything was cleaned up, Kachua and I discussed how to regroup with the pilgrims.

「Ah, Shinza. An official is here.」

However, we were interrupted there. Thinking I might have done something that violated a city ordinance, I fearfully looked back, only to find a mysterious middle-aged man whose eyes were sparkling with joy and expectation for some reason.

Let me say this first. I'm bad at dealing with the kind of people who wear exaggerated togas.

「Thank you very much, warrior-sama! If you please, could you meet with our Mayor! The Mayor wishes to meet you by all means!」

「We did it, Shinza, doesn't this mean you achieved a great deed?!」

「No, I refuse. Sorry, but we are in the middle of an escort mission; considering our job, we simply eliminated the threat before our eyes.」

Turning my back to the middle-aged man, I searched for the figures of the pilgrims. ...No good, I can't find them. Well, with monsters like that appearing, I'd want to run to the ends of the earth too.

「W-Wait please, we want to thank you—」

「Don't need it. An enemy common to humanity appeared right before my eyes, so I assisted the people here. That is all. It is not something I alone should be praised for.」

「Ah... Sorry, mister. Shinza is just this kind of person... He doesn't mean any harm, though—ah, there's Priest Yungwi over there!」

Kachua's bow skills are good, but her eyes are also incredibly good. Chasing after her running back, I started walking down the emptied main street.

「Please wait, Shinza-sama!」

「I refuse. Kachua, let's shake off this weird middle-aged man.」

「No, why are you being so modest... The Mayor-san might even treat us to delicious food, you know?」

「That—that is slightly tempting, but let's not after all. I can't balance a mission and a free meal.」

「You can! Please, I beg you, please wait, Shinza-samaaa!!」

Ah, I see, this sensation... This overlaps with that sensation of being chased around by Jii and it's extremely bad. I just hope he doesn't ruin his health from being too devoted to Father...

「Let's go, Kachua!」

「B-But... Wah, wait, where are you touching... Sh-Shinza...?!」

Pulling Kachua's firm upper arm, I fled the scene. Still not knowing at all that an unexpected treatment awaited us ahead...

---

- Table of Contents –

【Name】 Ashley

【Lv】 32 → 33

【Exp】 5330 → 5580

【STR】 62 → 63

【VIT】 256 → 259

【DEX】 131 → 133

【AGI】 211 → 214

【Skill】 Shovel LV 5 Scoop LV 1 Imperial Bond LV 1 Direction Sense LV 1

『Do you intend to throw away a precious chance to make a connection... What a troublesome guy, let me, Wagahai, produce you a little... As expected, a living body is a good thing.』

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