44 – Give me liberty…
A week had passed since the last wave. Six days since Malty S. Melromarc had ceased to be, turning into Mein Sophia, and five days since Mirellia had surrendered the territory in front of Zeltoble and Four Bray for me.
For the record, that was the area to the south and to the west of Melromarc.
Shieldfreeden was apparently to the southeast and Siltvelt was to the northeast.
Four Bray was northwest, and Zeltoble was southwest.
...Which was even more proof that I shouldn't be too caught up in details without confirming them because from what I remembered, Zeltoble was supposed to be directly east of Melromarc.
But either way...
I stared at Laevatein, the small emerald knife in my left hand. "...You're pretty broken, huh?"
Since it let me use 'magic without penalty' while held, I was curious how it would interact with the spells I had coded in <Parallel System>.
It turns out, those apparently counted. When I held Laevatein and used <Shape>, it was literally like creative mode in Minecraft- No, like godmode in Sims or something.
A sprawling suburbia, popping up in the span of a few minutes, along with the required infrastructure, fertile farmlands, and even coursing riverways connecting back to the main one in the distance.
Usually, my spells didn't use much mana to begin with since it just kinda used the mana as a spark to ignite the magical phenomenon before physics took over.
But when I had Laevatein... Well, there was a reason it was said to belong to Loki. While holding it, I was pretty much a master of the spells I had.
...Of course, I was just limited to <Restoration III>, <Lightning III>, <Radiant Emission I>, <Oxidize>, <Condense>, and <Shape>...
But considering that covered healing, lightning, light, fire/rust, liquid manipulation, and then general structure manipulation...
Hm.
"...I'm just a grand architect."
It was a bit ironic. Here I was with an entire <Parallel System> as a cheat where I could program anything I wanted pretty much and I ended up falling into a construction build.
"Papa, Papa!" A cute female voice echoed from nearby and then a toddler with flowing blue hair and iridescent wings floated over. Mina, the definitely NOT Filorial that I had hatched.
"Father!" Another cute female voice echoed too. Nina, the other not Filorial, but with blonde hair and shadowy wings.
The pair of sisters tugged my shirt, each wearing a loose blue dress and holding up a flower.
Mina held up a rose and said, "Red!"
Nina held up a dandelion and said, "Yellow!"
I smiled and ruffled their hairs. "That's right. You know your colors, huh?"
They giggled in stereo and then nuzzled into my sides, happy smiles on their faces.
Meanwhile, a few paces away, Sylvia was pouting as she held Bahamut and Lia was looking like she wanted to run over to hug me too.
Mein walked over from the distance, looking exhausted. "Okay, Master Naofumi. Everyone is settled in properly and we should be good on supplies."
Rishia skipped over beside Mein and nodded. "Yep! I triple-checked everything, so we don't have to worry about the people in Libertas!"
I lifted Mina and Nina to sit on my shoulders before looking over at Rishia. "...I still think that's a dumb name. But I guess if that's what the people want, that's what the people will have... As long as they don't crown me king."
Mein rolled her eyes, crossing her arms with an amused smile. "Good luck with that. People are already calling you the next king of Melromarc because you own me."
I pointed at her and said, "I don't own you, Mein. You're not a slave anymore, remember?"
"Please." Mein rolled her eyes. "Even if I'm not technically a slave, I'm still yours in every way that counts. For some reason, the rumors got mixed up. And now everyone thinks that the accusation is real and I became your woman, but while I was mindcontrolled."
"...Ew."
Mein looked amused. "Right?"
Sylvia walked over and frowned. "...Master doesn't have a woman."
I nodded. "That's right. I don't. But the people will talk, I guess..."
Rishia fidgeted and said, "W-Well, if Sir Naofumi is still single-"
"All romantic relationships on pause until Zeltoble and Four Bray dealt with." I immediately shut her down and said, "Less hassle for EVERYONE involved."
Rishia sighed.
Lia kept pouting. "...Not fair."
Sylvia nodded. "...Really not fair."
I pointed at them and said, "And you two aren't allowed to even consider it until you're PROPER adults. You're still pumped up with teenaged hormones from rapid puberty and mixing up gratitude for romantic love."
Demi-human physiology or not, it still was super weird mental maturity wise. Not to mention how naive both of them were.
Mein clapped and said, "Wow. A responsible hero for once who isn't abusing the naivety and innocence of a young demi-human beauty."
I gave her a side-eye and said, "I thought you were supposed to be fixed?"
Mein tossed her hair and giggled. "Sorry to disappoint you, Master. But sarcasm isn't a negative trait. And this is default, so deal with it. People can be nice, kind, AND sarcastic, you know?"
"...What even is my life these days?"
Rishia smiled and said, "It's a hero's life!"
"...Sure. We'll go with that." I looked at Mina and Nina who were sitting on my shoulders like a little devil and angel.
They both looked at me with bright blue eyes, smiling.
Then I looked at Lia and Sylvia. "...You two were so much cuter when you were smol."
Lia huffed and said, "I'm still cute, Goshujin-sama!"
Sylvia nodded. "Yes. We are definitely still cute. Master just has weird taste in women."
"I think it's normal taste considering you two are barely teenagers... The fact that grown men think you two are qualified as romantic pursuits..."
I shook my head. "No, if we keep going on like this, I'll be ranting forever."
Bahamut looked at me and gave me a serious nod.
I nodded back and said, "Glad one of us gets it, Bahamut."
He smiled and gave a thumbs up.
Mein fiddled with her sword and glanced back at the people settling into their homes in the sprawling suburbia. "...So I'm guessing we aren't just going to relax here, are we, Master Naofumi?"
Rishia looked nervous, fidgeting in place and palming her bow and quiver. "A-Are we really going to war, Sir Naofumi?"
Lia paused. Then she let out a dark smile, her crimson eyes flashing a bit. "...Are we going to punish the bad people, Goshujin-sama?"
Sylvia lifted Bahamut up hold him over her shoulders. Then she said, "Four Bray... is probably too soon, yes, Master? So am I right in assuming we are heading to Zeltoble?"
I nodded. "That's right." I glanced at the people... technically 'my' people since I founded the country. Seeing them mill around and get to know each other, still cautious but slowly accepting each other...
"...This is a good proof of concept. I'll need to work more on resources to expand it, but things should be fine."
Since Oyaji- Well, Erhard, I guess. Since him, the old innkeeper, and a few other upstanding people were around, I could rely on them to keep the peace.
In the worst case scenario, I could just start over anyway. But that wouldn't happen without outside interference.
And I would know if there was outside interference.
For now though...
Nina leaned against me, her blonde hair brushing against my cheek. "Father. Fighting?"
Mina nodded and said, "Papa? Monsters?"
"Yep." I turned towards Zeltoble.
Considering how effective declaring myself the allies to all the slaves in Melromarc and its territories had been...
"...Zeltoble is about to find out what happens when its slaves suddenly don't have to obey."
From what I'd read, and from some chats with various people, Zeltoble was definitely like Ancient Rome. Rich oligarchy, collosseum, slaves, fighting to win freedom, and corruption all around along with decadence and hedonism.
Basically, a shithole that was only running because slave crests forced obedience and the strongest fighters were bound by said crests.
But if those suddenly disappeared...
I chuckled. "Should be fun."
Nina pumped a tiny fist in the air and said, "Fun!"
Mina clapped her hands together. "Lotsa fun!"
Bahamut smirked.
Lia let out a dark laugh, her hand already resting on her sword hilt. "Good."
Sylvia paused, looking at the kids and Lia. Then she looked at me and said, "...Master. Is this a good idea...?"
"Good ideas are relative. Besides." I shrugged. "Some people shouldn't keep existing in this world due to their crimes against humanity... which I personally expand to include all sentient beings."
Mein walked up beside me and said, "...Master Naofumi. You wouldn't happen to be a revolutionary from your world, would you...?"
I laughed. "Revolution is in my blood, Mein. Technically. If you go back a few generations."
Rishia jogged to keep pace with me and said, "I-I've never... um. You know... killed anyone..."
"You don't have to, Rishia. Just provide support fire. I'll handle the rest."
I stared at Zeltoble, barely visible in the distance. Then I held out my left arm, activating <Portal Shield Mk II>. "You guys ready to drop?"
Sylvia blinked, confused. "Drop? Why would we-" Then she saw the glassy shield flickering into existence on my left arm. "Oh. OH." She laughed, resting her hand on her rapier. "Oh, my master... you are not going to give them the opportunity to even consider resisting, are you?"
Lia let out a bright smile, though her crimson eyes flickered with a dark light. "...We just have to cut everything we see, right?"
"Well. I'll give them one chance." I smiled too and said, "If anyone resists the slaves being freed and rescued or tries to attack us after I've done it... well. They'll have to answer for it. That, or turn into EXP. You guys ready?"
Mein pulled out a fancy looking staff and said, "Ready enough, Master Naofumi."
I paused and looked at her. "...Where'd you get that?"
"Oh. I think this is Daddy's? He used to be the Seven Star Staff Hero. But since he died, the staff picked someone else. Guess it picked me?" Mein shrugged and said, "Not sure why it didn't go to Melty, but I guess it sensed that you need a spellcaster?" She paused, tilting her head. "...Oh. No. It says that it's not going to lose out to that dinky dagger you have? Not sure what it's talking about though?"
I blinked and felt a clear pulse from Laevatein.
Huh.
Guess weapons had rivalries too.
But anyway.
"Alright. Rishia?"
"Y-Yes!" Rishia nodded. After taking a deep breath, she focused and said, "For Sir Naofumi!"
Sylvia's eyes lit up and she said, "For Master!"
Lia smiled and said, "For Goshujin-sama!"
Mina giggled and stuck up her fist. "Papa!"
Nina copied her sister and said, "Father!"
Bahamut stuck up his fist too, smirking.
As for Mein...
She shook her head and said, "...Definitely a Demon Lord instead of a hero. But hey." She laughed and held up her staff. "Let the malice of this world be erased by the villains, right?"
"I take offense to being called a villain. I'd rather be called karma. But anyway..." I pointed at Zeltoble with my left arm and said, "<Transfer>."
A flicker of blue light. A single instant.
And then we were standing in the middle of a sprawling marble plaza.
Merchants, adventurers...
Demi-humans and humans alike with a slave crest over their chests.
The moment we arrived, they all froze to look at me.
I smiled and held up my left arm before shouting. "I am the one who has discovered the core of existence!"
...I couldn't actually cast magic like people here could, but I knew enough to fake it.
So...
"Let liberty descend upon you all! I declare that all the slaves and oppressed within Zeltoble are my allies! Grand Arcane Magic, Libertas!"
For dramatic effect, I used <Radiant Emission I> in order to shine a pure golden light across all of Zeltoble as well as conjure an elaborate looking magic circle in the sky.
And then...
> You have designated [slaves and the oppressed in Zeltoble] as allies!
> Various negative effects are redirected towards you via [My Body as a Shield] and neutralized by [Homeostasis Shield Mk IV]!
> Your new allies can now be targeted with [Portal Shield Mk II]!
...I grinned and pointed back at Libertas before selecting all of my new allies. Then I said a single word. "Transfer."
The light display I put up vanished. And with it, so too did every single slave or oppressed person in Zeltoble, leaving just the rich upper class and a completely gutted country.
Mein burst out laughing, idly twirling her staff in her hands. "Oh, Master Naofumi. You are a TERRIBLE person."
"Terribly effective, you mean. Now come on." I cracked my neck and looked at the people who realized that, yes, I had just pulled off the heist to go down in history books, and that yes, I wasn't done. I held out my left arm again, materializing <Shattered Veil>.
The simple white shield with the broken jewel and void emitting a pale blue light reappeared on my arm.
Looking at the crowd, most of whom had already drawn weapons out of fury...
I laughed and said, "I've been in a bad mood for over a month now. Thank you for volunteering as my stress dummies."
And with that, I charged.