Chapter 120 The Man Who Observed the Labyrinth Kings
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I immediately head to the prepared warehouse. The building is a bit larger than I expected.
(It’s spacious…. But considering the daily harvest volume, it’s a space that can be sufficiently filled.)
Once the North Farm is completed, I’ll likely be able to fill this warehouse once every ten days. Even so, I can secure the Resource Point¹ necessary to run the Dominion².
”How is it? O Labyrinth King,” Lambdaine asked.
”Yes. Then, when the time is right, let’s bring the crops here. However, I’d also like to confirm what kind of produce you have on your end. Tomorrow, I will bring several types of crops. I’ll explain each one, so if you could let me know your preferences on what you want to stock and how much…”
”Fine. Let’s save the concrete business talk for after that, shall we?” Lambdaine replied.
I have to make various preparations as well. As expected, the discussion won’t be settled just today.
After concluding the talk to a certain extent, it was decided that we would head home for the day, with the rest to follow tomorrow.
”Ah, wait. Since you’re here, you should take a souvenir back with you,” Lambdaine said.
”Eh…”
When Lambdaine-san³ gave a signal, the old butler brought a wooden box.
He opened it in front of me, so I checked the contents. Inside was a single bottle with expensive-looking packaging. Seeing this, Eme-chan’s eyes went wide.
”This…! Lugar Moran⁴…!?” Eme exclaimed.
”Ho… little lady, you’re quite knowledgeable. Well, consider it a small token of my feelings toward a future business partner,” Lambdaine said.
I don’t really get it, but it’s probably an expensive liquor.
Receiving the wooden box, I finally returned to the Dominion via Teleportation⁵.
* * *
”He really did vanish from right before my eyes…”
The Labyrinth King appeared in this town as predicted. And as imagined, I was able to proceed with the business negotiations.
This is precisely because Luizef did not mess up the initial response.
”So? Luizef. Is that maid the one?” Lambdaine asked.
”Yes. She is the person against whom I could not even move a hand or foot,” Luizef replied.
”Ho. In other words, what. The Labyrinth King kept someone by his side who could massacre everyone in town at a single command. That’s quite a straightforward threat, isn’t it?” Lambdaine remarked.
There is no one in this country who can threaten me. There are zero people who would try to meddle with me out of a light heart.
Because everyone understands that even if they bite me in play, I will strike back with my full power. That is how I have built my current position within the Republic.
The Labyrinth King isn’t a person of the Republic to begin with. Above all, to someone living in the Demon Forest, the things I have built up probably hold no meaning.
”It’s been a while since you met the Labyrinth King and his group, right? How is it? Has your evaluation changed from before?” Lambdaine asked.
”No. While the green girl is somewhat difficult to grasp… as expected, I believe neither of them would be a threat if that maid weren’t there,” Luizef replied.
In Luizef’s mind, they are opponents he could handle as long as the maid isn’t there. At this, I snorted.
”As for the little lady… she’s been given various training, including negotiation techniques. The Labyrinth King was completely hopeless in that regard. She’s likely supplementing what the Labyrinth King lacks,” Lambdaine said.
But the kind of people who can receive such education are quite limited.
To complete such high-level and specialized training at the little lady’s age, and furthermore be able to put it into practice, is normally unthinkable.
In the first place, her appearance stands out. Despite that, no person I can think of comes to mind at all. In that sense as well, that little lady is of unknown nature.
”And as for the Labyrinth King… he’s the type of man whose actions are the most unpredictable once he snaps,” Lambdaine noted.
”Is that so…?” Luizef asked.
”Yeah. His eyes are completely clouded. He’s harboring quite a few complexes, not just one or two. He’s usually quiet, but once you make him snap… he’s that type. To begin with, he’s the kind of guy who chooses the Demon Forest as a place of residence; his mentality is fundamentally different from ours,” Lambdaine explained.
A normal human can distinguish between what is okay to do and what is bad. They have the judgment ability to realize that if they do this, they will be ruined.
But that type of person, even if they themselves are ruined, if they can relieve their stress by doing it… or if they have the conviction that they can make their hateful opponent realize… they’ll do it. Without thinking about what comes after at all.
This kind of opponent isn’t around often. As for the correct way to associate with them, it’s to not get involved in the first place.
But for the Kelna Merchant Guild⁶, there is no option not to get involved. To begin with, even if there are risks, the benefits of being involved are greater.
Then what do we do? It’s to become a good neighbor to them.
I’m a merchant of the Republic, and normally I wouldn’t act like that. But there are exceptions to everything.
After all, the authority of the councilors doesn’t work on the opponent. He’s the kind of guy who kidnaps the councilor’s grandson as his first move. This fact alone should be proof enough that nothing good comes of making him snap.
He comes at you with unexpected, outrageous actions. Moreover, he has the strength and ability to pull it off.
On top of that, he even possesses unique charms like unknown fruits, so he’s damnably hard to deal with.
I didn’t think I’d get a business partner like this at this age… hmph. Interesting… I can’t go into retirement just yet.
(Above all, he is a person highly likely to be holding Princess Liliarette Highness… who was kidnapped by a mysterious sorcerer and went missing.)
It hasn’t been made very public, but the sorcerer who kidnapped Princess Liliarette Highness had perfected flight sorcery. Flight sorcery is a great invention that changes the common sense of sorcerers thus far.
I inevitably think about the development of logistics and information transmission, but even considering it from a strategic aspect, it can never be ignored.
However, even the Emmeld Kingdom⁷, which has a head start regarding sorcery, has not perfected flight sorcery. It would be impossible even with the secret treasure orbs of the Holy City Ragnarond⁸.
So where did that user of flight sorcery spring from?
For example… if they could fly in the sky. Could they not fly from the depths of the Demon Forest to the royal capital of the Emmeld Kingdom in a short time…?
(The Labyrinth King hasn’t shown his hand yet. Now then… I can think of a few ways to probe it even slightly… but it’s a matter of consideration how far to step in.)
Heh… hehehe…. Good, this is starting to get fun.
I can have business negotiations again tomorrow; I’ll look forward to it as much as I can….
—
Summary:
The Labyrinth King visits a warehouse provided by Lambdaine and plans a large-scale agricultural trade using his harvest. Lambdaine gifts the group a rare liquor, Lugar Moran, which Eme recognizes as a high-end item. After the Labyrinth King teleports away, Lambdaine and Luizef discuss the threat posed by the King’s maid and Eme’s mysterious, highly-educated background. Lambdaine speculates that the Labyrinth King might be linked to the kidnapping of Princess Liliarette due to the existence of flight magic.
—
Character Insight:
Lambdaine shows his brilliance as a merchant-ruler by looking past the Labyrinth King’s quiet exterior to see a man driven by deep-seated complexes and a potential for ‘kamikaze’ style retaliation. He recognizes that Eme is the ‘brain’ compensating for the King’s lack of social etiquette. Meanwhile, the Labyrinth King remains focused on the logistics of his ‘Dominion’ growth, seemingly unaware of how much his ‘unpredictable’ nature and the presence of his powerful maid are terrifying and intriguing the Republic’s power players.
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Behind the Scene:
This chapter shifts perspective to show how the world perceives the protagonist—not as a hero, but as a high-risk ‘wild card’ whose logic doesn’t follow civilized norms. The mention of ‘Lugar Moran’ serves as a benchmark for Eme’s hidden high-society background.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Lambdaine – A powerful Councilor of the Shital Republic and a successful merchant who built his fortune from nothing. He is the grandfather of Iris and Aris.
• Luizef – An elderly gentleman accompanying Aristina and Iristina, dressed in attire suggesting a butler or senior attendant. He possesses high combat ability through a sacred treasure from Ragnarond.
• Liliarette – The other Princess, who sacrificed her ability to walk and her sorcery talent to save her sister, Cleonora. She is imprisoned in the East Tower and is being used as a political and monetary pawn by Viorga. C-cup, true golden hair, waist-length hair, the fringe was a slightly blunt, hair on her left side was braided to the chest.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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