47 – Do they know…?
A makeshift warehouse hidden within the Spirit Tortoise's magical core.
There, a young man with long white hair, glasses, and a long coat with a strange belt around his chest filled with test tubes frowned as he looked at a series of messages floating in front of his eyes.
"...What in the world is this?"
Kyo Ethnina, the false Book Hero... using his stolen Vassal Weapon he had arrived in this world and even managed to find the mythical Spirit Tortoise.
With his great intellect and knowledge, he had even managed to hack into the Status Magic System of the world to read messages and study how to hijack the weapons of the Legendary Heroes.
But right now...
===
> WARNING! An enemy more dire than the Waves has emerged!
> WARNING! The Pacifier has been deemed inept! The role has been given to the next in line!
> WARNING! The role of Dragon Emperor has been usurped by the Highest Lord of Dragons Bahamut!
> WARNING! A Legendary Weapon has been destroyed! The frequency of waves has increased! Next wave: 14 days
> WARNING! A being that understands the core of existence has been detected!
===
"...Hmph." Kyo laughed and said, "This must be talking about me. Of course, a genius such as I would be an enemy more dire than the Waves. And I of course understand the core of existence."
It was an unexpected series of messages, but it didn't change his plans too much.
While he wouldn't complete his takeover of the Spirit Tortoise in time for the next wave since it appeared to be expedited, he could at least begin to siphon energy and study the way this world's Status Magic System worked.
Kyo grinned and said, "Soon... this world will bow before true genius."
===
The outskirts of Four Bray, around one of the many dungeons within its territory.
There, a certain prince posing as an adventurer adjusted his bandana and looked towards the south. "...Weird."
A young female maid looked over and said, "Is something wrong, Prince Takt?"
"...Hm." Takt adjusted his stolen Seven Star Whip on his side and grinned. "I feel like a hidden boss just appeared. Malty is from Melromarc, right?"
The maid nodded. "Yes. Lady Malty hails from Melromarc... Did you wish to visit?"
Takt cracked his neck and said, "Well. Considering that Daji said her daughter was stolen... and since the nobles have been complaining about how Melromarc forced the summoning of all the heroes..." He laughed and looked at the maid. "How about it, Ellie? Should I try to steal a kingdom this time instead of just a Seven Star Weapon?"
Ellie covered her mouth and giggled. "If you say it is your desire, Prince Takt, I am sure it is possible."
"Good. Then, let's go get Daji, my sister, and some of the other girls. If that pig king won't take advantage of this situation as an excuse for war, I will. Besides." Takt laughed, greed clear in his eyes. "I'm the real hero. I should liberate the Legendary Weapons from the hands of those trashy idiots who got summoned, shouldn't I?"
===
Late at night in her royal chambers, Mirellia let out a deep sigh as she read the latest reports from various intelligence agencies and agents across Melromarc.
"...That man works fast, I see."
It had been a single week.
Since then, Naofumi had raised an entire kingdom- No, not a kingdom. He had explicitly denied the status of king.
But he had raised an entire country with self-sufficient resources, energy derived from the sun itself, waterways that were self-purifying via light-powered enchantments, as well as fertile farmland and buildings that towered into the sky.
Those of Melromarc's citizens who could no longer accept Mirellia's rule were already fleeing en masse.
The nobles who had been involved in the slave trade or harmed citizens in general were dead in the ground... in the best case scenario.
In the worst case, they had met Naofumi and become 'resources' like he so aptly said.
Because of that, Melromarc's capital was mostly a ghost town. Although there were loyal knights, upstanding nobles, and a few citizens who still had faith in her and in Melty, who would inherit the throne...
"Less than half... more like a quarter, is it?" Mirellia ran the numbers again and sighed.
In the capital alone, the population had reduced to a quarter of what it was.
Mirellia could only imagine what it was like for the outer territories.
While word likely hadn't reached them quite yet... Since Naofumi had performed that mysterious grand magic that forcibly drew all the corrupt nobles for him to execute, word would reach those citizens soon enough.
"...It's fine." Mirellia let out a slow breath.
The Three Heroes were moving around Melromarc and helping the people who did choose to stay.
The knights who were still alive were those who had seen the injustice before and now burned with fervor to correct it.
The Church of Three Heroes...
Well, since the Pope had foolishly attacked the Three Heroes along with a squad of knights, and since their corpses had been confirmed, only the extremists of the Church clung onto their faith.
A majority of people had become disillusioned and instead worshipped the Three Heroes themselves, treating them as Saints sent by the heavens... at least, that was what was being passed through the grapevine.
"...Melromarc survived. And it will survive."
That was the bottomline.
Although it was a shadow of what it once was... and although it had been hollowed out.
What was removed was the rot and malice.
The bones were all that was left. But with these bones, Mirellia could rebuild Melromarc properly.
A soft knock echoed on the door, and then Melty's soft voice called out. "Mother? Can I come in?"
Mirellia paused and then let out a warm smile. "Of course, Melty."
The door creaked open and Melty entered. Her usual twin tails had been let down, leaving her blue hair to trail behind her in waves. Meanwhile, her dark blue night gown trailed behind her as well.
Mirellia pulled out a chair for her daughter and said, "Sit."
"Thank you, Mother." Melty sat down and then pursed her lips when she saw the reports. "...Are you still working?"
Mirellia sighed. "Yes. There is much to do."
Siltvelt and Shieldfreeden were quiet. But Four Bray had sent a declaration of war.
It was signed by a Prince Takt, no doubt the one who Malty originally gave herself to.
But other than that, there was silence.
Mirellia would have thought Zeltoble would have sent something, but...
Well, Naofumi had apparently set off towards it this morning, so odds were high that it had already fallen.
Melty looked up at Mirellia and frowned. "...You look exhausted, Mother."
Mirellia let out a bitter laugh. "I am, Melty. I am..."
How could she even begin to describe what she was feeling to her young daughter?
The fact that her husband had ruined everything after she entrusted it all to him.
The fact that her eldest daughter had colluded to bring down the one hero Mirellia had hoped to ally with.
The fact that Melromarc survived only by the mercy of the one who had every reason to purge it entirely...
And the fact that the one who Melromarc's citizens had called the Devil chose to stand by their side when the world was clearly beginning to move against it...
"...Very, very, very tired." Mirellia finished with a soft whisper.
Melty walked over to hug Mirellia.
Mirellia froze. But then she softened and leaned against Melty. "...I'm sorry your mother is so weak, Melty."
Melty shook her head. "That's not true. You're strong, Mother. Too strong. But... it's okay to be weak. Just a little."
Mirellia was quiet. Then she lowered her gaze, letting a few tears run down her cheeks. She instinctively reached for her fan to cover her face, but then she remembered that she had thrown them all away.
Still, she didn't need to hide it.
Melty reached up and brushed the tears away before saying, "Didn't you tell me, Mother? Tears don't mean that you're weak. They just mean you were forced to be strong too long."
Mirellia's breath hitched. And then she let out a choked laugh. "...You've grown up too soon, Melty." She pulled Melty into a hug and trembled. "...I'm so sorry."
Melty hugged Mirellia back and said, "It's okay. We're still here, right? So it'll be okay. And Mister Naofumi fixed Big Sister. And he's helping too. So we'll be alright. Won't we?"
Mirellia noticed that Melty had stopped talking formally. Was it because she was that worried for Mirellia? In that moment, it was just a daughter comforting her mother... like Melty had in the past when Mirellia's son had died during the peace talks with Siltvelt.
Realizing that, Mirellia's breath hitched. Then she placed her forehead against Melty's and murmured, "You're the strong one, Melty. How did that Utter Trash and my incompetent self result in someone as perfect as you?"
Melty smiled and said, "I'm not perfect, Mother. But I'm learning." She patted Mirellia's back and said, "Now come on. You said that a queen resolves every danger to her country, right? What dangers are we facing?"
Mirellia brushed her tears away and looked at Melty.
...She was still a young girl. No more than ten years old.
But at the same time, Mirellia could see glimpses of the future Queen of Melromarc in her already. A bright, determined, and unwavering young woman who believed a happy ending would come.
Seeing that, Mirellia composed herself and nodded. "...I suppose it would help to talk this through. And you would benefit from the experience."
Melty nodded. "Yes. And..." Her face dimmed a bit with sorrow as she said, "Since Father is no longer here, you need someone to talk to. Right? So... let me help. Just a little."
Mirellia let out a sad smile and brushed a strand of Melty's hair away from her eyes. "...Okay. Then..." She pulled her hand back and took a breath. Then, completely composed, she said, "The main dangers we face will come from Siltvelt and Shieldfreeden. The eastern front. Since Naofumi has allied with us and secured the western front, Four Bray and Zeltoble are not a concern."
Melty glanced at the war declaration from Four Bray still on the table and frowned. "...Even though they declared that?"
Mirellia nodded. "Yes. I am certain that-"
A pale blue light emerged.
Mirellia's eyes widened and she reflexively drew the stiletto hidden at her thigh.
But then Naofumi appeared, holding a thick packet.
"Sorry to disturb you. A lot happened." Without any decorum or explanation, he dropped the packet on the table and said, "These are requests for information as well as a summary of inventory from Zeltoble after I dismantled it. Four Bray is next, but I'll wait until after the wave. If you have any questions, send a messenger to Libertas in the morning."
After that, a glassy shield appeared on his left arm before he vanished again.
Silence fell upon the room.
Then Mirellia burst out laughing. "That ridiculous young man...!"