Chapter 190 Diplomatic Delegation ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
My introduction to the Crown Princess of Ierse, facilitated by Her Majesty Queen Cecile, had only just commenced. Yet, I already found myself cornered by the man I’d just been introduced to—the head of the Pink Clan¹, Count Martin Popol.
”Frearis!”
”Ha!”
As I racked my brain for a solution, Her Highness Ierse’s reaction was instantaneous. She called out to a woman who seemed to be a fellow member of the Pink Clan, and in the blink of an eye, Martin was expertly trussed up in rope.
Consequently, he joined Kushe—the Chief Court Mage who had similarly lunged at me moments ago—as the second human cocoon rolling across the floor.
Kushe and Martin writhed there like beetle larvae unearthed from the soil. While it was undeniably a result of their own actions, the sight was profoundly pitiful. For my part, I was caught in the awkward space between irritation and laughter.
”Wh-what are you doing, Frearis?! This man has our sister…! H-hey, wait! Stop that! Mgooo, mgoogogo!”
”Sister-complexes are creepy. Just be quiet for a moment, ssu,” Frearis replied.
To conclude the ordeal, Martin was gagged, his protests effectively silenced. So… let me get this straight. This man is the younger foster brother of Lily, my experimental slave, and this woman is her foster sister?
According to Lily’s account, the Pink Clan intended for her to bear her foster brother’s children just to preserve their ‘power’… Hmm. I wonder if I’d be forgiven for kicking him two or three times?
As these thoughts crossed my mind, Frearis—Lily’s foster sister(?)—offered Martin up to me with an expression that practically begged me to go ahead. No, I’m not foolish enough to settle a private grudge right under the noses of Her Majesty and the other royals…
”Ierse-dono, what exactly am I to make of this? Am I to interpret that the Coalmine Kingdom² holds our nation in contempt, or perhaps intends to incite a quarrel? When I am introduced to individuals who accost my subjects twice in succession, I am left with little choice but to perceive it that way…”
Witnessing the unsightly spectacle of Kushe and Martin, Her Majesty massaged the bridge of her nose while questioning Her Highness Ierse. Good grief, the ceasefire negotiations just concluded—don’t start this now.
”It is quite the contrary, Cecile-sama. If anything, it is precisely because we do not hold you in contempt that we brought these two…”
”Hmph. Well, if there are extenuating circumstances, I am willing to listen,” Cecile said.
Perhaps Her Majesty was equally exasperated, as she accepted Her Highness Ierse’s lead and prompted her to continue. Yes, please. It’s a problem if they bring people like this without a valid explanation. We’re supposed to be doing business together; I’d much prefer we maintain a friendly rapport.
”Thank you. To be brief, regarding Kushe: as I previously noted, it would be a waste not to utilize her expertise with magic tools… however, as you can see, she has developed an obsessive fascination with Lord Harvest’s inventions. Had we left her behind, she likely would have trespassed on her own initiative. We felt it far better to introduce her formally than to risk such an incident…”
”Ahhh! I’m absolutely captivated by your ‘Ddo-Buddy’³! I’m a total prisoner of the ‘Ddo-Buddy’, boku! If necessary, I was prepared to don a disguise and sneak into your shop just for the sake of the ‘Ddo-Buddy’!”
I don’t understand it. Getting women to utter the product names was supposed to be my ultimate pleasure, yet hearing this disappointing ‘boku-girl’ shriek “Ddo-Buddy” repeatedly brings me no joy whatsoever. Boku-girls should be right in my strike zone, too… Is it the lack of maidenly shame?
”Kushe, that’s enough! Frearis, gag Kushe as well!”
”Ha!”
”Whoa, don’t be too rough, Frearis. Mgoogogo, mgo-mgo,” Kushe mumbled.
It’s a bit late for this observation, but I guess gags really are a thing in this world… A boku-girl bound in rope and gagged. On paper, it sounds somewhat erotic, but…
Actually, I suspect this woman Kushe is acting this way intentionally to force her demands through. Given that she looks strangely satisfied even while gagged, it seems like a calculated move to impose her will…
”…Umu. I suppose I can follow that logic. Very well, what of this man?” the Queen asked.
”His situation is largely the same. We received word that his sister, Lily Popol, had sought asylum in the Canaria Kingdom⁴ and taken refuge with Lord Harvest. It appears the Popol family wishes to reclaim her.”
On the other hand, Martin seemed to be the genuine article. Unlike Kushe, who was now listening attentively, he continued to flop about like a fish out of water. Or rather, he had adapted to his bonds and evolved from a beetle larva into an inchworm, and then from an inchworm into a fish.
I wonder if that truly qualifies as evolution, and what form he’ll take next? My curiosity is boundless. Just kidding. I couldn’t care less.
”Your Highness, I must request a correction. The only ones who wish to reclaim our sister are this sister-con and a few old fossils at most, ssu,” Frearis said.
”Ah, is that so? There you have it, Lord Harvest,” Ierse replied.
”I see…”
Frearis requested the clarification from Her Highness Ierse and relayed the truth she’d overheard. What does this imply? If I can just deal with this guy, can I sever the ties that are binding Lily?
”So the situation is thus. This Count Popol might prove a nuisance to our country—and specifically to Lord Harvest—so you are delivering him to us as a person of interest…?”
”No, we cannot simply hand him over. He is a noble, after all, and a valuable asset in terms of both skill and history. However, we believed that if he could meet Lily Popol in person and face her rejection directly, he might finally concede…”
”Mgooo! Mgoogogogo!”
Yeah, I suppose physically severing those ties isn’t an option. Since he is technically Lily’s foster brother, simply cutting him down would leave a bitter taste. I could have my shop staff pummel him, though. But even then…
”…So it would seem, Lord Harvest. What is your decision?” the Queen asked.
”I refuse. Lily is in her final month of pregnancy, you know? I can’t possibly subject her to such a burden,” Harvest replied.
Exactly; our shop is currently occupied with preparations for Lily’s delivery. I’m working myself to the bone because Lily claims she can’t rest easy unless I’m active, but there’s no way I’m letting a deviant like this anywhere near her.
No, I wouldn’t want him around even after the birth. He feels like he’d be a terrible influence on the child. As for that Frearis woman who seems relatively sane, well, I might consider it.
”Lord Harvest, I sympathize with your position, but in that case, our nation cannot guarantee the Count’s future conduct. According to Frearis, a single word from Lily-san should put an end to this…”
”I will personally ensure our sister’s safety. If this sister-con tries any stunts, I’ll beat him within an inch of his life, ssu,” Frearis said.
Apparently, Martin’s standing with his sister has plummeted beneath the earth. He evolved from a landed fish into a bizarre toy that leaps and stays suspended by arching its body, all while muffled complaints leaked through his gag.
”Hmm, even so…”
”Lord Harvest, I’ll even dispatch Muse to assist you if necessary, so why not simply ask Lily for her thoughts? We won’t make any progress otherwise…” the Queen said, a grimace on her face.
Come to think of it, Her Majesty is being inconvenienced by what is essentially my domestic trouble…
”Understood. I’ll ask her. However, if Lily refuses to see him and this man won’t take no for an answer, please be aware that I will utilize every resource at my shop’s disposal to crush him,” Harvest replied.
”Yes, I would be most grateful, Lord Harvest,” Ierse said as I gave my reluctant consent.
And behind her, Frearis chimed in cheerfully, “In that case, please let me join in on the crushing too, ssu!”
—
Summary:
Harvest meets the diplomatic delegation from the Coalmine Kingdom, which includes Lily’s obsessed foster brother Martin and foster sister Frearis. Martin and the court mage Kushe are tied up after acting out, leading to a tense discussion between Queen Cecile and Princess Ierse. The delegation wants Martin to meet Lily to resolve his obsession, but Harvest is hesitant due to Lily’s pregnancy. Eventually, Harvest agrees to ask Lily, with the condition that he can use force if Martin refuses to accept her rejection.
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Character Insight:
This chapter highlights Harvest’s deep protective instincts toward Lily, prioritizing her well-being during her pregnancy over international diplomacy. It also introduces the chaotic dynamics of the Pink Clan, showing that Lily’s exile was likely fueled by the creepy obsessions of the clan’s leadership. Frearis serves as a grounded contrast to Martin, showing that not everyone in the clan supports the ‘sister-complex’ behavior.
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Behind the Scene:
The author notes that the previous chapter’s comment section was filled with readers laughing at the ‘sister-complex is creepy’ line, which is why it was emphasized here.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Cecile – A high-ranking, powerful woman in the capital who possesses the authority to regulate business and commerce, particularly concerning moral or public order issues. She is currently investigating Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Have long golden hair, elegant, and wearing expensive white dress with gold accesories.
• Martin – Lily’s non-blood-related younger brother. Considered the strongest candidate to succeed the Popol family due to his lineage and manifested ‘power. He has pink hair.
• Ierse – The Crown Princess and wife of Gilliam, originally from a foreign land. She is described as lively and healthy with a unique charm. She wants to cheer up her husband. Has long haired hair.
• Frearis – Martin’s younger foster sister. Has pink hair. Member of the covert unit. Displays a cold, almost vengeful pragmatism when reporting her sister’s words to Martin.
• Kushe – The Chief Mage of the Coalmine Kingdom. She has dark green hair grown out haphazardly and wears a mage robe loosely over her shoulders. She has a blunt, informal, and somewhat insensitive personality, focused on her ‘thinking experiments.’
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Muse – Cecile’s trusted attendant and chief maid, Muse handles sensitive, discreet tasks like espionage and product acquisition. Have sharp, black eyes, wearing maid uniform, and have expressionless face.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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