Coercion
“……Well then, nice to meet you, King Mestoa”
I sit heavily in a chair and look at King Mestoa who sits on the opposite side. However, perhaps because he saw the sight from just now, it seems like somewhere I’m being made light of. But, it’s probably inevitable if he sees right before his eyes the sight of me getting scolded by Liscia.
Liscia and the others are being angry at the fact that I opened the door that I know is a trap without listening to everybody’s warnings. I was made to sit on the ground and reprimanded because of that.
I am possibly being slightly made light of because that sight was seen by the surroundings. Like, perhaps that just now was a fluke.
Moreover, my appearance is probably the cause as well. The appearance after I removed the hood is 12 years old……soon to be 13 years old huh. However, still a child. I guess it’s more unreasonable to tell him to not make light of such person. Well, I will proceed with the conversation nevertheless.
“I will say it in advance from the start, what I say from now on is not a request. It’s an order”
The ministers make a ruckus from my words. Even in this situation, the King just looks at me. I can’t tell whether he’s being calm or whether he’s frightened and can’t move though.
Though the ministers around look as though they want to say something to me, because they are being surrounded by Opus Killers, they only glare at me. The person who opened his mouth amongst that is as I thought, the King.
“……What is you guys’ objective?”
“It’s nothing difficult. It’s only to create our room in one part of this place. So, we have a certain objective, we are here with the intention to save our strength up from now on for that. We want a spacious place for that”
“Don’t screw around! There’s no way we will let lowly intruders like you people use this traditional castle!”
……Oi oi, it’s fine to get worked up but, look at the surrounding and say that, Minister-san. The King is showing a sour expression like he’s swallowed a bitter bug as well. Without even realizing that, one minister says even more.
“Besides, if His Highness Henrir returns, the likes of you guys will be taken down in the blink of an eye!”
Ahー, that’s the reason that the minister is able to be cocksure huh. Set off by that minister’s words, the others also express their unhappiness towards us. Let’s shut them up for once huh. It will influence the conversation afterwards.
“Nero, take that out”
“Understood”
Ignoring the ministers who are clamouring, I give an instruction to Nero. Nero took out a mirror from within his robe. That is a mirror that reflects a familiar’s field of vision. A Magic Tool I had Chrono create earlier. Moreover, what was projected when Nero pours magic power in is
“”Shit! Everybody retreat! Prioritize the wounded and let them evacuate!””
“”The ones who can shoot magic, shoot! Don’t let it get closer!””
Soldiers’ shouts that can be heard from within the mirror. As though to cover that, screams that sound like agonizing cries echo. The ground shakes every time the source of that voice walks. And then what showed its appearance on the mirror was, a large grotesque-looking thing.
An entire length of about 15 metres and to the extent that it obstructs the sun. The lump that is made by assembling people swings its large arm and several tens of soldiers were smashed.
“”Don’t gather in one spot! You’re going to get smashed all together!””
The ministers who lost their words at the bellows and shouts that can be heard from within the mirror.
“This fellow is a monster assembled to be bigger than those that are lined up over there, it’s called Gigantic Opus Killer. Naturally, it’s my subordinate. However, it’s laughable huh. Even though the insurrection that has never happened before and the raid on the Royal Castle are occurring at the same time, not one person think that these matters are related”
“uu! Which means the nobles’ insurrection is also you!”
“That’s right. We manipulated the nobles and made them raise an insurrection. Well, that is a diversion to gather up all the soldiers and the true objective is to target this castle though. I’m glad it went according to my plan almost amusingly so.”
And then, I give an instruction to Nero through my gaze and, Nero manipulates the Opus Killer. The Opus Killer moves according to instruction and swung its fist down on the minister who started to scream first. ‘Gucha’ echoes, the sound of being smashed.
The other ministers who were on both sides drop onto the ground from fear and create water puddles. Only the King is looking fixedly at me.
“Liscia, bring her here”
“Understood”
Liscia who leaves the room upon hearing what I say. Though the ministers are having a peace of mind, it seems the King understood who the word 「Her」is referring to. He glares at me like he’s going to shoot and kill me.
The one who Liscia carried on her shoulder over after a little while is, of course, the Flame Princess. Both her hands and legs are being tied up so that she doesn’t struggle.
“Fia! You bastards!”
“Don’t be that angry. It may look this way but we are her life’s benefactors. You see, our Liscia mangled her. She was on the brink of death, you know?”
“……Master. Doesn’t that makes it sound like I’m in the wrong”
I ignore Liscia who glares fixedly at me. And then I slap the cheek of the Flame Princess who’s dropped onto the ground to wake her up.
“……Uuu……he……re is?”
“Have you woken up?”
“……You! Guu, I can’t move!”
The Flame Princess who sees me who is an enemy, and twists about. It’s slightly amusing. As I am poking aloofly at her and playing about, I was hit on the head by Liscia. That hurts.
“Hardt-sama. Let’s quickly get on with the conversation. It reeks here”
It seems Mylene has slightly had enough of it. That’s right, Mylene is pitiful so let’s hurry up get on with the conversation huh.
“Well then, the order from me is to build a living space for us under this castle. After that, don’t leak anything about us to the outside, if you can obey that then I will spare the citizens and the soldiers in the mirror as well”
“……What’s your intention for creating such a thing underground?”
“What, it’s only to store up strength for the objective. If you turn a blind eye to that, I will also spare the King”
“Kuu, there’s no way I can do that, right! If I do that……”
“Then, I’ll blow away the capital first”
I say just that and bring my hand up to the sky. A black sphere appears from my palm and, it breaks through the roof as it is and ascended sky-high. And then, the sphere expands largely in the sky.
“Blow away, Bomb Of Chaos”
“Wait!”
The moment I was about to activate my sorcery, I heard a shout from my feet. I stop the activation and look below, the Flame Princess who looks at me.
“Wait……no, please wait! I am begging you, the citizens……please refrain from killing the people!”
“Fi, Fia……wha, what are you”
“……Chichiue1, we lost. Indeed, yielding is frustrating and I feel like dying but, I don’t want to kill the people because of that. Just because of protecting our own pride.
……Hardt-sama, please, I beg you. We will comply with what you have demanded so, please!”
The Flame Princess who pleads me, going as far as to place her forehead on the ground. I encompass the thought of ‘What will you do?’ and glare at the King. The King is grasping his hands tightly but
“……I get it. We shall listen to your orders”
I accept the King’s reply and erase the sorcery I released into the sky.
“Well then, I will put her under my slavery as a hostage. Aa, don’t get any funny ideas, okay? If you do anything unnecessary, she, as well as the country’s people, will become my subordinates’ feed. What, I will set you free if you behave until our objectives are reached”
The King and the others who hang their faces at my words. After that, I make the subordinates who are fighting within the mirror retreat. With this, I finally obtained a place where I can settle down. I just have to store even more strength from now on.
Well, this country will probably betray us once before that. There’s no way they will leave dangerous people like us alone. Even if he throws his daughter and the citizens’ lives away.
At that time, I will just show him hell. To make him regret that he defied us.
I go as it is to the side of the Flame Princess who’s crying from vexation. I have to put her under my slavery.
“I’ll be counting on you from now on, okay, Fia?”
“uu! You, don’t casually call me Fia!”
“Yes, yes”
I caress the head of the angry Fia. Fia who looks like she’s about to bite me even now is amusing. At the same time, I put her under my slavery. With this, she’s my subordinate.
Now then, firstly, I have to study about the surrounding countries. I don’t know anything outside the village, even this country was taught to me by Chrono. Thankfully, I’m not that troubled with the documents. I shall also have Mylene-sensei2 teach me.
“There, there”
“Don’t keep on petting me!”
