Kays Translations

Chapter 99: The Troops of the Demon Lord’s Domain and the Empire Take a Break

“Thank you for your hard work, Thor-sama.”

“The tea is ready.”

When I returned to the camp, the soldiers were resting by a fire they had made.

In one corner, Mabel and Agnis were waving their hands.

I wanted to take a break soon, so this was just perfect.

“I was able to talk with Archduke Kharon about the incident.”

I sat down near the campfire.

“As expected, it appears that high officials in the Imperial Capital were behind the magical beast summoning. The rest is now a matter for Her Majesty the Demon Lord, the Grand Duchy, and the Empire. My part is finished.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Lord Thor.”

“I want you to relax once you get back.”

“Thanks. I would like to examine the Magical Beast Nozerius, but obtaining the materials may take some time. I’ll rest once we return.”

The Imperial soldiers had begun dismantling the Magical Beast Nozerius.

The ones we defeated with the Meteor Replica had left only their claws, but this beast had been cleanly split from head to torso, so we should be able to recover many materials.

I hope I can get some of these materials too.

“Archduke Kharon severed that beast’s legs with an ordinary magic sword…”

Despite the limited use of his left arm, he had shown no difficulty fighting the beast.

Even with such strength, he still sought to perfect his swordsmanship. Believing himself inexperienced kept him humble and considerate toward others. That was the kind of person he was.

I wish I could have talked with him more.

If only he weren’t a high-ranking noble of the Empire.

“I have to master alchemy so I don’t lose either.”

“No, Lord Thor, I think you’re doing enough already.”

“Do you think so?”

“When you made the ‘cleaning robot,’ you worked late into the night. If Her Majesty the Demon Lord hadn’t said ‘No all-nighters,’ you probably would have kept working until morning, right?”

“If Mabel kept quiet about it.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Impossible, huh.”

“I’ve made it a rule not to lie to Her Majesty the Demon Lord.”

“I’m not lying! I just want you to keep quiet!”

“What will you do if Her Majesty the Demon Lord asks, ‘Is Thor getting proper sleep?’”

“I suppose saying, ‘Yes, he’s sleeping—personal opinion,’ would work. I read that phrase in a book from the Heroes’ world.”

“You mentioned that before. In the Heroes’ world, the phrase ‘personal opinion’ is used a lot.”

“In the ‘Mail-Order Catalog,’ it appears on every page.”

“It’s a strange world…”

“In that world, each hero is outrageously strong. So it probably means ‘This is the great hero’s personal opinion. It’s convincing.’”

“That’s very convincing…”

“So, regarding the report to Her Majesty the Demon Lord—”

“Then I’ll report, ‘He’s sleeping—Thor-sama’s personal opinion.’”

“Please don’t say that. Her Majesty will come to check.”

While we were talking about that, Agnis poured some tea for me.

She touched the kettle directly over the flames and poured steaming tea into my cup. Even while wearing the Health-Boosting Pendant, Agnis retained her natural resistance to fire.

This kind of scene has quietly become something I’m used to.

“After all, being with Mabel and Agnis is the most calming.”

I said as I took the cup of tea.

“No matter how attractive the offer, there’s no way I would leave everyone behind and go to the Grand Duchy—”

Clatter!

“Lord Thor, what did you just say!?”

“You were invited by the Empire… to the Grand Duchy!?”

“Yeah. Of course, I refused.”

I said to the standing Mabel and Agnis.

“Archduke Kharon asked whether I would teach alchemy in the Grand Duchy for about ten days each year. I refused immediately. Although it’s autonomous, the Grand Duchy is still part of the Empire, and I have no intention of returning to that country.”

The tea tastes good.

Recently, Agnis has started making tea as well. She comes to the workshop and helps with the housework. Most of the time, she wears a maid outfit.

When those two are nearby, I feel very safe.

If I work too much, they stop me, and during work, they prepare things I can eat with one hand.

I’m really grateful to Mabel and Agnis.

I have no intention of going to the Grand Duchy and making those two worry.

I still have many things I want to do in the Demon Lord’s Domain.

“…Haa.”

Mabel and Agnis sighed while holding their tea cups.

“Please don’t surprise me like that, Lord Thor.”

“I thought my heart might stop.”

“For now, I told him that I still had things I wanted to make in the Demon Lord’s Domain and wouldn’t leave until I finished them.”

“Things you want to make?”

“I haven’t completed all the items in the Mail-Order Catalog yet.”

“Do you intend to make all of them!?”

“My goal is to surpass the Heroes’ world. I want to reproduce as many of its items as possible.”

“…That’s amazing, Lord Thor.”

“…It’s a grand goal.”

“Even when I finish making them, that’s just the first stage. The second stage remains.”

“The second stage?”

“Yes. After mastering functional beauty, I want to master aesthetic beauty.”

Items from the Heroes’ world pursued functional beauty.

Of course, that in itself is appealing, but I think it’s just not enough.

“I once thought functional beauty alone was enough. But after coming to the Demon Lord’s Domain, I met Mabel, Her Majesty the Demon Lord, and Agnis—people who embody the divine beauty of creation.”

“…Huh?”

“Of course, I don’t think I can create anything as beautiful as Mabel, Her Majesty, or Agnis. But the challenge is worthwhile. If someone of a different species can recognize Mabel and Agnis as beautiful, then some forms of beauty must be universal. As an alchemist, I want to pursue that—wait, huh?”

“…Jeez! Thor-sama!?”

“…Please don’t say things like that with such a serious face!”

I got scolded.

Strange. I was being completely honest, though.

“By pursuing both functional and aesthetic beauty, I want to create something that brings happiness to everyone—a token of gratitude to Mabel, Agnis, and Her Majesty. It should make people happy through its usefulness and also simply by being beautiful.”

I would learn from the Heroes’ world and from the people of the Demon Lord’s Domain, then create a magical item that could bring happiness to everyone.

That’s my goal now.

For that to happen, the Demon Lord’s Domain… at least the area near the border with the Empire, needs to be at peace. That’s why I gave my full cooperation to the magical beast investigation this time.

“…Thor-sama.”

When I looked over, Mabel’s cheeks were flushed—and she was staring intently at me.

“When we get back to the workshop, we need to have a talk.”

“A talk?”

“Yes. Soleil and the other winged pixies should join us. There are things I want you to understand, Thor-sama.”

“…O-okay.”

Mabel’s expression was as serious as it gets.

As for Agnis… yeah. She had turned her back on me.

“Alright. When we get back, let’s talk slowly.”

But before that, there’s something I want to jot down.

I needed to make a clean copy of the spell engraved on the metal plate the Cleaning Robot had brought from the fortress.

I did take quick notes before handing the plate to Captain Isaac, but I want to write it down properly while the memory’s still fresh.

That might be the key to a new item.

Once I’ve had a rest, I’ll try making a prototype and show it to Erte.

Lately, I’ve only been making combat items.

But right now, I’m itching to make household goods.

Mabel will probably wait while I jot this down.

“Alright, let’s go home. To our workshop.”

“Yes, Thor-sama!”

“Agnis also has something she wants to discuss with Thor-sama!”

And with that, the magical beast investigation came to an end—

Then we returned to the Demon Lord’s Domain.

──Meanwhile, on the Empire’s side──

“Princess Liana should go to Noza Town.”

After the meeting ended, Archduke Kharon said this.

It was while everyone was tending the fire and having a meal before departing.

“I’ll have my adjutant Nona accompany you. After the break, visit your sister and discuss the matter with her.”

“Discuss?”

“How to win over that alchemist’s heart.”

“—Gah, cough, cough!!”

The tea she had been drinking went down the wrong way.

Princess Liana clutched her mouth and coughed violently.

“W-why are we even talking about something like that, Your Grace!?”

“When I spoke with that alchemist earlier, I got a strong impression. He’s not someone you can just leave alone.”

“…You really think so?”

“Indeed. He seems to care only about alchemical research. If that’s the case, and if you have feelings for him, then you should act in a way that makes those feelings clear.”

She didn’t know how to respond to that.

Liana had only just realized her feelings herself.

She wasn’t even sure if what she was feeling was love, or if it was admiration born of respect.

It felt more like the latter.

Thor Canaan had saved her.

He understood her.

Liana admired his strength and his empathy. Maybe that’s all it was.

More than anything, she wasn’t confident in her own feelings.

To Liana, such emotions had always felt… distant, unrelated to her.

That’s why she couldn’t attend the meeting just now.

She didn’t know what would happen if she saw Thor Canaan’s face up close.

What if someone noticed her heart pounding?

What if she got so flustered she said something ridiculous?

What if her hair was a mess from the battle? What if she was still spattered with beast blood? What if her clothes were in disarray and she looked terrible…?

All those thoughts swirled in her head, and she simply couldn’t go.

“But… asking me to act on it already…”

“That’s why you should talk to your sister. I’ll provide a carriage and an escort. During the journey to Noza Town, think about what you wish to say.”

“Why are you… going this far for me, Your Grace?”

“Helping the young is an old man’s duty.”

Archduke Kharon gave a firm nod.

“I have no children. The heirs I adopted into the Grand Duchy are precious to me, of course, but Princess Liana is also dear to me as a blood relative.”

“Thank you very much, Your Grace.”

“Moreover, it’s better to take action sooner rather than later—for the sake of that alchemist, as well.”

“For Thor Canaan-sama, you mean?”

“Indeed. There are those in this world who become so engrossed in mastering their path that they fail to notice the goodwill of others. Such people remain single forever, causing those around them no end of worry.”

“Oh? Your Grace, why are you introducing yourself to Princess Liana?”

“—Gaho, gahoh, gehon, gehon!”

“Ah! Your Grace!”

Adjutant Nona, who had brought more tea, spoke up and sent Archduke Kharon into a fit of coughing.

With a look of exasperation, Nona patted the Archduke’s back as she said,

“P-Pardon me. It just slipped out…”

“Nona, you really are something.”

“But Your Grace, your subordinates have always been criticized by your relatives. They say your continued bachelorhood is our failure. I have served you for only eight years, but even my mother, who served before me, told me the same.”

“I do feel sorry for you all.”

“Then please, do find a partner soon.”

“It’s too late to worry about it now.”

Finally calming down, Archduke Kharon wore a troubled expression.

“Besides, someone like me, obsessed with swordsmanship, would hardly attract any woman of sound mind. I know my limits. I can’t bear to make someone suffer by marrying them now.”

“…Sigh.”

Nona let out a long sigh.

Her eyes were kind, as if she had given up on something, as she gazed at the Archduke’s back.

Seeing this, Liana felt as if she understood Nona’s feelings.

She also understood the meaning behind the Archduke’s advice to “act quickly.”

“I understand your advice, Your Grace.”

“I see.”

“You’re saying I should act quickly, correct, Your Grace?”

“Indeed.”

“I should act quickly, correct, Nona-sama?”

“Now why are you asking Nona? And Nona, why are you nodding so enthusiastically?”

“Understood. In that case, Your Grace, I have a request.”

Liana spoke with firm resolve.

“Regarding our wager: as a reward for striking the magical beast, you promised to reveal the Empire’s secrets. I would like Alchemist Thor Canaan-sama to be present when you do.”

“…Hmm.”

“You said the details of this incident would be reported to the Demon Lord’s Domain, but the Empire’s past is another matter. I understand why you might hesitate to reveal it to someone from the Demon Lord’s Domain. However—”

“If it’s someone who was once a noble of the Empire, it wouldn’t be so difficult, is that it?”

“It might not be ideal to tell someone from another country about the Empire’s secrets, but…”

“No, I don’t mind. It’s a matter that concerns him as well.”

A strange feeling crept in.

For some reason, a chill ran down her spine.

“Before we fought the magical beast, I mentioned this: that when I was still a child, the Empire lost something it should never have lost.”

“Y-Yes.”

“It involved powerful individuals of the time. High-ranking nobles, warriors, magicians—and even a Sword Saint.”

“The Sword Saint before you, Your Grace…”

Liana’s eyes widened as she recalled the name—or rather, the surname—of that person.

She remembered the names of all past Sword Saints.

And among them, only one had any relation to Thor Canaan.

Sword Saint Void Regus.

A duke from her great-grandfather’s time who had served as Sword Saint.

He was also Thor Canaan’s grandfather.

“Well, it’s not that long of a story, nor is it a particularly entertaining one.”

Archduke Kharon shrugged.

“Very well. I’ll arrange a meeting in Noza Town with myself, Princess Liana, Princess Sophia, and Thor Canaan. Nona, make the arrangements.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Before that, we must deal with the fortress commander, Geralt Zelger. A troublesome task, but necessary.”

So saying, Archduke Kharon stood up.

The break was over.

Now Liana and the Archduke’s forces would proceed to the fortress, interrogate those responsible for summoning the magical beasts, and learn everything they could. Afterward, they would travel to Noza Town, where Liana would likely reunite with Sophia.

(There’s so much I want to tell Sister… But now, there are things I can’t tell her, too…)

Liana shook her head, driving away the thoughts that surfaced.

First, she had to focus on her duties.

She could see her sister after that.

First, she had to bring the magical beast summoning incident to a close. Then she would meet her sister—and introduce her to Thor Canaan. Then she would hear the Archduke reveal the Empire’s hidden truths. After that—

(—After that, what will I do?)

Nothing had been decided yet.

Would she continue swinging her sword at her brother’s command as the Princess of the Holy Sword?

Or—

“Let’s go, Your Grace.”

—Still carrying her uncertainty, Liana began walking toward the carriage.

And thus, Princess Liana and Archduke Kharon each began to move toward their respective destinations.

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