Chapter 68 Holy Capital Invasion and the Advent Festival Feast
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Holy Capital Seraph, Saint Lax Park)
”Food! It’s food! I hear they’re cookin’ a full meal!” a desperate voice bellowed.
”Hurry up! Prioritize the children; make sure they get fed first!” another person cried out.
”Thank you! Thank you so much!”
”A proper meal after weeks of nothing… I’m so grateful.”
So, yeah… I was only trying to whip up a huge batch of grub for Mary-chan, but I guess people from the entire Holy Capital just started showing up, all clamoring for something to eat.
”This is delicious… truly delicious… Thank you, Shin-san, Fenrir-san.”
Yeah, yeah. Mary-chan—one of the heroines who could totally end up getting the Blessing of Lifelong Devotion with the protagonist, Alexia—was slowly eating the porridge I made her, and she actually seemed a tiny bit better. That made me feel good.
”But… isn’t this just way too many people, though? I can definitely provide enough ingredients for everyone from my hideout, which is linked to the storage charm (Lin-karnation)¹, but the two of us can’t cook fast enough, right, Fenrir-k…” I trailed off, watching the scene unfold.
”””””””””””Then, let me split myself into a hundred to prepare the food. Trust me, Master.””””””””””
Whoa, that’s insane! A hundred copies of Fenrir-kun just started cooking all at once. What an overwhelming, jaw-dropping sight!
”You really live up to the name Skyscraper Wolf (Matenrou)², Fenrir-kun. Alright, alright! We’re making tons of food, so no fighting, everyone!” I cheerfully called out.
”Those people… they must be the Heavenly Messengers sent to us by the Great Lax herself.”
”…The rice… it tastes so good.”
”…Giving us food without asking for anything in return. Blessings upon them, blessings…”
People were practically worshipping us, but I was too busy managing the food distribution to care.
And that’s when it happened. A whole bunch of Lax Empire soldiers, dressed as Holy Knights, suddenly arrived.
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG!!
”You lot! Why are you all gathered in such a huge crowd? What are you doing?… The Grand Pope Cera wouldn’t allow… Wait, what is that amazing smell?” a Knight bellowed, but his voice wavered.
”Tomorrow is the Advent Festival! You should be hiding quietly in your homes… What’s that smell of food?” another one muttered.
”…Why is there food in the Holy Capital?”
Huh? Why did they just stop? They came rushing in with so much energy, and now they’re all frozen.
”Oh, Max! It’s food! Food has been brought to us! Come here, too! This is a meal that’s safe to eat; no poison mixed in or anything!” an old, gaunt man shrieked excitedly.
”Dad… why are you so thin? I’m coming now…” The noisy Holy Knight who’d been leading the charge was, what, the old, skinny man’s son? Wait, were they father and son?
”Mashil! Dinner is ready! Forget your Paladin Corps duties for now, and come eat! You’ll starve to death if you keep working at a time like this!” a woman’s voice screamed.
”Mom… you’re alive? I’m so relieved! …I’m sorry you’ve wasted away like that, Mom. It’s my fault for not being able to get you food…” This was an emotional mother-and-son reunion.
”Yalha! It’s rations! Food has finally reached this Holy Capital! Let’s eat together.”
”Yufi… yeah. I missed you.” That over there was a tearful reunion between lovers… wait, it wasn’t just those two. Emotional reunions were happening absolutely everywhere across the entire park.
”…Fenrir-kun. Was this, maybe, part of your reason for bringing me to the Holy Capital?” I wondered aloud.
”Hmm? I wonder? Was it not merely a coincidence that such a situation unfolded?” she mused, a faint smirk playing on her lips.
”No, no. There’s no way… Ugh, Anastacia, the food administrator at Lin-karnation, is going to be so mad at me later. This is just great…”
Darn it! I’ve been totally set up! She told me, “Leave the travel to me, Master!” so I hopped onto Fenrir-kun’s back and rode all the way to Lax, but the price tag is huge!
”Hmph. That is regrettable, truly… Tell me, then. If we secure a food supply from Lin-karnation and the border settlements, how long will the Lax Empire’s own food last, Master?” Fenrir-kun pressed, her blue eyes glinting.
”I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about, Fenrir-kun,” I stammered, trying to play dumb.
”Hahaha. You shouldn’t try to deceive me, Master. Along the Lax Empire’s borders… in the Scarlet territory, the Linndvurm territory, and deep within the Seyfried Territory’s mountains, vast amounts of grain are being harvested, are they not?” she challenged.
Gasp! How in the world did you know that, Fenrir-kun?!
”Cooperate with me freely, Master, unless you wish to have Hyde or Lin take everything. This is a request from me as one of the Five Great Spirits (Elements).”
She got me. I’m utterly defeated. She brought up the names of my dad, my loli-hag (Lin-chan)³, and the Five Great Spirits (Elements) first… that basically means it’s the will of the Alysphia (World) itself.
”What does the World, what does Alysphia, want from a villainous heir like me, Fenrir-kun?” I asked, defeated.
”Ah, it only asks for all the salvation you can manage. I won’t force you, of course. You’ve already purged two evils, after all. If you only supply enough food for the time being, you can do whatever you like afterwards. You may act on your own goodwill. You may rescue Lala-dono, then return to the Regain Kingdom as if nothing happened, forgetting the reality of this nation and the misery of the Holy Capital, and live a life of luxury with young women…” she stated, her voice a seductive, calculated drawl.
Ah, stop it! Fine, fine. The gist is that the World’s Will (Alysphia) wants people to survive, and if I manage that much, they’ll overlook all the bad things I’ve done up until now. But Fenrir-kun is banking on me saving the entire Lax Empire just because she wants me to.
”You should live your life.”
”…I’ll do it.”
”Hm? What is it, my kindhearted Master?” she inquired gently.
”Fine! I’ll do it! I’ll save the Lax Empire as a side mission while I’m saving Lala-chan, okay? All for the sake of your homeland, Fenrir-kun!” I shouted, exasperated.
”Oh, is that truly so, Master… I shall thank you.” Fenrir-kun murmured, completely satisfied.
Ugh! This Skyscraper Wolf, Fenrir. She really does have the best, most rotten personality, doesn’t she?
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Summary:
The famine crisis in the Holy Capital Seraph exploded when Shin, the villainous heir, accidentally triggered a massive food distribution, turning a routine park into a beacon of miraculous hope during the Advent Festival. The unexpected arrival of sustenance led to emotional family and lover reunions amongst the starving citizens and even the surprised Paladin Corps soldiers. Fenrir, the cunning Greater Spirit, revealed her grand scheme, coercing a frustrated Shin into becoming the unwilling savior of the entire Lax Empire by leveraging the World’s Will itself. This short scene escalates Shin’s mission from a simple rescue to a world-saving endeavor, setting the stage for major fantasy adventure in the corrupt theocracy.
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Character Insight:
Shin’s genuine good-natured heart shines through the chaos; his initial goal to feed one person (Mary-chan) inadvertently leads to feeding thousands. Despite his internal protests and exasperation at being manipulated, his sense of fairness and deep-seated desire to help people—even if it’s ‘for the sake of Fenrir’s homeland’—always wins out. He is a reluctant fantasy protagonist trapped in a ‘villain’s’ body, constantly wrestling with his assigned role and his heroic actions. His frustration with Fenrir is a key source of the story’s comedy and emotional depth.
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Behind the Scene:
This chapter is the point of no return. Fenrir’s calculated move, using the ‘Leave the travel to me’ ruse, completely boxed Shin in. She knew that by creating a massive, tearful public demonstration of need, Shin’s heroic nature would kick in, making him susceptible to her final emotional blackmail using the names of his family and the Five Great Spirits. The arrival of the Holy Knights and their own emotional family reunions served to multiply the effect, forcing Shin to accept the burden of saving the entire Lax Empire. The cost of the food will now be a source of future comedy and plot points with Anastacia.
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T/L:
1 [Lin-karnation] refers to Shin’s home base and hidden city, which is connected to his inventory (storage charm). ↩
2 [Skyscraper Wolf (Matenrou)] is an epithet for Fenrir, highlighting her immense power and imposing nature. ↩
3 [loli-hag (Lin-chan)] is an affectionate, if slightly derogatory, nickname for the Greater Spirit of Earth, Lin. ↩
Notes:
• Sera – the top figure of the Lax Empire’s church, currently possessed by or being a tool of a darker force. He wears white and gold papal robes and has a gaunt, manic appearance with crazed eyes. He is smugly preparing for a ritual using Lala as a sacrifice. His personality is unstable and menacing, focusing solely on the success of the ‘Advent’ ritual.
• Lin – Alt’s mentor, described as the ‘Great Hero who sealed the ancient dragon, Albion, who resides in the Dragon Country.’ He is suggested as someone who might possess knowledge of a cure for the dragon race’s strange disease.
• Lala – Delusional saint candidate from the Lax Empire who becomes fanatically devoted to Shin, founding a religion in his name and often speaking with the quirky suffix ‘~desuwa’
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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