Chapter 70 Party in Karl
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Your Highness, won’t you introduce us soon? Everyone is simply buzzing about the gentleman you have with you, you know?”
A woman of a certain age stepped between us, hiding her mouth behind a folding fan while her eyes sparkled with blatant curiosity.
Lashara said, “Ibuki-sama, if this is a bother, I can handle it myself?” to which the woman showed a disgruntled face, but Lashara ignored her, looking only at me for direction.
”I don’t mind. Though, I suspect her interest lies more with our Hero than with me, wouldn’t you say?”
I used a formal, public-facing tone, and the woman’s eyes went wide.
”Oh! Hero-sama…?” She looked genuinely stunned, as if she really hadn’t realized who she was looking at.
The people eavesdropping nearby all turned their heads in unison, their eyes fixed on us.
In the midst of that, Senior said, “Ah, yes. I am the Hero, Yamada Haruki. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” and gave a light bow. Immediately, she closed her fan, returned the gesture with a curtsy, and smiled back, saying, “I am Miranda, the eldest daughter of the Duke Bordeaux family. I had heard that the Knights who subjugated the Orc King were in attendance, but I never dreamed the Hero-sama himself would grace us with his presence! Please, forgive my lack of manners.”
”No, not at all. I’m really just here as Ibuki-kun’s companion…”
Senior looked at me with a pained expression. (Don’t just dump everything on me,) I thought. But then I remembered I was the one who threw him under the bus first. I cleared my throat.
”It was a reward for my Knights, so I was invited as part of the arrangement. I heard he had fought alongside them, so I thought it a rare opportunity and asked him to come along.”
”My, oh my…” Miranda’s eyes drifted back toward Lashara, her expression questioning. She clearly wanted to know exactly who I was.
Well, I could introduce myself properly… but calling myself a King from the other side right now felt like overkill. Being part of the Hero’s party was a much easier label to wear.
”Forgive me for the late introduction. I am one of the Summoners, Kisaragi Ibuki. It’s a pleasure.”
”Oh, so that’s how it is! If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, won’t you and the Hero-sama tell us more of your stories!”
As soon as she said it, a swarm of other noblewomen descended upon us. “I would simply love to hear them as well~desuwa,” they chimed in.
”My apologies. I wasn’t actually present for the battle. If you want a first-hand account of the situation, you should speak with my Knights.”
”What?! But didn’t the Hero-sama perform the subjugation with them…?”
The wall of women shifted their collective gaze back toward Senior.
”Ah, well, yes. Though, I mostly stayed in the back and watched…” Since he admitted he was there, the women pounced. “In that case, you must tell us everything!”
I took a smooth step back, fading out of the circle to give them the floor.
”Wait—Ibuki-kun!?” Senior looked at me, his eyes wide with betrayal. I just smiled back at him. (You’re on your own, buddy.)
I watched them lead Senior away like a lamb to the slaughter. I turned back to my wives, sipping my juice while we used Senior’s plight as entertainment.
”Well,” I mused, “maybe he secretly enjoys the attention?”
”Right?!” Shuri laughed, clearly having a great time. “He practically walked right into that one himself!”
”But,” Meena interjected, her brow furrowing, “that woman was a little rude to Lashara-sama, wasn’t she? Even though Lashara-sama is a Princess… why would she act like that?”
It hadn’t been a massive slight, but the disgruntled face the woman had made hadn’t gone unnoticed. I felt like it was a “takes one to know one” situation, as Lashara hadn’t exactly been warm either, but a bitter look crossed Lashara’s face.
”Our factions are different~desuwa. She is the daughter of the King’s brother, and her family holds a great deal of power. Even when she’s bold with me, I have to let it slide. She’s a very tiresome opponent… especially since I have no backing of my own right now…”
Normally, treating a royal who was about to marry into another house with such flippancy would be a major faux pas. But since her engagement had just been canceled, her social standing was currently complicated.
”Do Erina and Amelia just… sense those things without being told?” Maria asked. Both girls shook their heads. Lashara blinked in surprise. “Wait, why would the two of them know about such things?”
”Ah,” I explained, “Amelia used to work at the castle, and Erina was originally born into a family of the Karl nobility.”
”Oh! My, I had no idea. I’m so sorry, Erina-san… I didn’t realize…”
”Please, don’t be,” Erina replied, her voice neutral. “I was never in a position to attend the kind of balls where royalty would be present.”
”Same for me,” Amelia added. “I wasn’t there long. Just my apprenticeship. It’s only natural the Princess wouldn’t recognize me.”
Seeing Erina’s lack of enthusiasm for the topic, Lashara tactfully pivoted, dispelling the awkward tension.
”Yamada-kun seems to be fitting in surprisingly well… I think he might actually like the attention, deep down.”
”No, look closely,” I countered. “That is the face of a man desperately wondering how to escape. I agree he ‘likes’ it in theory, but…”
(He’s enjoying the ego boost but he’s socially paralyzed,) I thought, watching his struggle.
”Oh, you’re right!” Yui laughed. “He keeps looking over here for help.”
Lashara noticed as well and looked worried. “Um… perhaps I should go and retrieve him…?!”
”Nah, he’ll be fine,” I said. “Sia-chan¹ is with him, after all.”
Sure enough, she had successfully claimed the spot right next to Senior. A girl as sharp as her wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this; she’d manipulate the situation to her advantage in a heartbeat. Just as I thought that, she began leading Senior away from the crowd. Surprisingly, the two of them disappeared into the deeper parts of the venue.
”Oh, she’s definitely going for it,” Yui said with a smirk. Shuri shook her head, though she was grinning. “No way! She wouldn’t… not here, right?” The rest of the group started teasing and smirking suggestively, wondering if they were actually going to find a private spot.
(With that look on her face, she’s definitely planning something…) (But Hero-sama is so shy…)
The group turned to Lashara, looking for a tie-breaking opinion. “I… suspect Yui-san might be right… because the place Sia-chan was headed for was the break room rather than the reception room…”
While we were busy gossiping, a man approached our group.
”Hero-party members, and everyone from the Principles of Ibuki², thank you for your incredible help the other day.”
He was a slightly stout man in his thirties. He placed a hand over his heart and gave us a deep, respectful bow.
”Ah… sorry, we didn’t get a chance to properly introduce ourselves the other day,” Yui said, looking around. Realizing I was staying out of it, she took the lead as the Sage, scratching her cheek. “I am Sato Yui.”
”Not at all! Your assistance was more than we could have ever hoped for. We are eternally grateful.”
”Ahaha… well, I’m glad we could help,” Yui replied.
Once she finished the pleasantries, Rosanna and the others chimed in. Eventually, the man’s gaze landed on me, and I gave a standard greeting as a member of the Hero’s party.
”I see! Now it all makes sense. I had been wondering why the members of that Knight Order were so impossibly powerful.”
As we spoke, an elderly man dressed in high-noble finery approached. “Marquis Argu, won’t you introduce me as well?” While most of the room was clamoring for the Hero, this man had specifically sought us out.
”I am Valan Helkud, head of the Marquis Helkud family. I apologize for the suddenness, but I was desperate to make contact with Knights of such exceptional caliber.”
He explained that one of his subordinate’s territories was struggling with a monster problem. Apparently, a High Species³ had appeared, and their attempts to slay it had failed. He was looking for someone capable of handling a Special Grade Subjugation⁴.
”The habitat is quite far from the nearest town, you see. Frequent patrols are difficult. And because the capital is forcing conscription right now, our local forces are spread thin. If the Baron had informed me sooner, we might have handled it, but… I can’t afford to lose any more men. I need someone who can finish this safely and reliably.”
The old man gave a tired, weary smile.
”Where exactly is the location?” I asked. He described a mountain-locked region on the other side of the range where we had defeated the Trent. Geographically, it sounded like a nightmare to reach. But it caught my interest. I had used up a lot of my Trent heartwood⁵ recently and needed a restock.
”Hmm. Alright, I’ll take care of it personally this time.”
”What?!” Rosanna blurted out. “Ibuki-sama, if you’re going, then we should handle it!”
”No, I have something else I need you all to focus on. That task requires a lot of people. For a simple monster hunt, I’m more than enough on my own.”
”Ah… you mean the main topic?” Olivia asked, her expression turning sharp. The mood of the entire group shifted instantly to one of cold professionalism.
”Yeah. Sorry to cut the fun short, but I think things are finally about to start moving.”
”Understood,” Rosanna said. Despite being in a ballgown, she dropped to one knee. “If it is your command, we are yours to deploy.” The other knights followed her lead immediately.
”You guys are the best. I really am proud of my Knights. But remember, today you’re here as my wives. So, stand up and stay by my side as my beautiful dates, okay?”
I took Rosanna’s hand and helped her up, and the rest of the girls huddled close to me.
”Anyway, Marquis, I’ll accept the subjugation request.”
”T-that is wonderful news! Truly! Now, what would you like as a reward?”
”A reward… let’s see. Ah! I want to open a branch of ‘Sha-sha’⁶ in a prime location in your town. Could you help me secure the permits and a building?”
The Marquis—and everyone eavesdropping—gasped. “Sha-sha? You mean the merchant guild from Paul?”
”Exactly. My wife runs that guild. We’re looking to expand, and having the local Lord’s blessing makes the process much smoother.”
Whispers broke out immediately. “The brand Sha-sha is behind this…?” The people around us gave up any pretense of casual conversation; they were hanging on our every word.
”That is more than I could have hoped for! But are you sure that’s enough of a reward?”
”Absolutely. Securing a prime location is a huge win for us.”
”Done! I will personally ensure the finest plot of land is made available!”
We shook hands, and I told him I’d head out immediately. He hurried off to prepare a fast horse and get the paperwork ready. Almost instantly, several other nobles approached me, asking if I’d consider their towns as well. I told them I’d think about it once the Marquis’s branch was established.
Later, I was called back to the King of Karl’s table. He seemed to be in a fantastic mood—likely because he’d seen Hero Yamada Haruki-dono and Sia-chan hitting it off.
’I truly wish to remain on friendly terms with you, as you were the one who brought Yamada Haruki-dono to us. And please… look after Lashara.’
He spoke with such genuine sincerity that I gave him my word. I promised I would do everything in my power to keep her smiling. With that, the party finally came to a close.
—
Summary:
Ibuki navigates the political minefield of a Karl banquet while the Hero Yamada Haruki is besieged by curious noblewomen. The group shifts focus from social pleasantries to an upcoming military objective. A deal is struck with Marquis Helkud for a specialized monster subjugation in exchange for guild expansion
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Trivia:
- The Trent heartwood is noted as superior to magically created lumber for high-durability projects
- Lashara’s social isolation is emphasized by the flippant attitude of the Duke’s daughter
- The Marquis is struggling with national conscription depleting his local defense force
—
Character Insight:
Ibuki demonstrates a shift toward aggressive commercial expansion, leveraging his military reputation to secure prime real estate for his ‘Sha-sha’ guild.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Lashara – Second Princess of Karl, long black hair, large slanted eyes, regal tiara and dress, greets guests with formal curtsies and quiet delight. Internally she is submissive, idol‑like, haunted by kidnapping trauma and social ruin. Now she follows Ibuki to his nation, bridging royal duty with devotion, while navigating a delicate post‑engagement political stance and lacking institutional backing.
• Ibuki – Kisaragi Ibuki is a pragmatic Summoner and strategic leader who wields a unique Crafting skill, commanding his own knight order and merchant guild networks while maintaining a protective, socially adept demeanor toward his wives. As the protagonist, he balances political influence with personal loyalty, having forged deep ties with the princesses of Karl and earning the trust of his companions through steady guidance and unwavering support.
• Hero – Ibuki’s upperclassman from Earth—summoned as the naive Hero with emotional, mentally fragile personality. Empathetic yet reluctant and inadequate-feeling, lacking survival instincts and political skills. Currently in despair and terrified by his situation.
• Bordeaux – The Bordeaux family name, representing a high-ranking ducal lineage within the Kingdom of Karl.
• Miranda – The eldest daughter of the Duke Bordeaux family. She is a woman of a certain age who utilizes a folding fan to navigate social encounters and displays a transparent curiosity toward high-status individuals like the Hero.
• Haruki – Haruki Yamada, the Hero also called Senior, summoned from another world, has sleek black hair and a reserved demeanor. Overwhelmed by foreign nobles’ aggressive attention, he leans on Ibuki for social rescue and shares a room with Kuria‑chan.
• Senior – A summoned Hero, slightly disheveled in a tattered cape, who sides with demi‑humans. Still inexperienced and flustered, he wrestles with modern Japanese morals and the weight of his new world duties. He leans on Ibuki for counsel on navigating relationships with the demi‑humans.
• Yamada – Haruki Yamada, a Japanese-summoned hero magically enslaved to the Kingdom of Dole, wears ornate armor and wields a masterful sword, his combat prowess rivaling a Knight Commander after rigorous training. Known as Senior by his family name, he navigates complex social and sexual norms while traveling with Ibuki and Yui, serving as their protector and gear coordinator—reliant on Ibuki for elite equipment. His past draws constant banter, yet his quiet dignity and loyalty bind him to his companions, the Yamada name a quiet emblem of his fractured identity.
• Kisaragi – Ibuki Kisaragi, a summoned otherworlder of the rare Crafter class, presents a composed, formally styled appearance and leads his group with pragmatic restraint. The Kisaragi family name, tied to his lineage of summoned beings, guides his cautious approach to royal politics and signals his growing influence in the new world.
• Shuri – 15‑year‑old tomboy lancer, 170 cm tall, messy blonde hair, lean athletic build, worries about the Dole Kingdom’s beef heating up. Blacksmith‑savvy Knight Order member, pragmatic, values Ibuki’s pricey crafts, wields a spear with a tough‑chick grind. Also one of Ibuki’s wives, cheerful and energetic, amused by Yamada Haruki’s social mishaps.
• Meena – An 18‑year‑old thief, youthful and 140 cm tall, acts as the group’s cheerful messenger and guide in the Royal Capital, familiar with its temporary lodgings. One of Ibuki’s wives, she notices social slights and shows protective curiosity about Princess Lashara’s treatment, staying upbeat yet easily overwhelmed by Ibuki’s crafting and dejected when her workload drops, but remains a resilient, supportive presence.
• Amelia – White‑haired, red‑eyed and petite yet the strongest, she was a falsely accused castle servant turned enslaved apprentice, later reclaimed by Ibuki. Now his loyal CQC bodyguard and husband after killing a noble, she bears a rough exterior, becomes affectionate after intimacy, and seeks to repay his kindness. She reunites with her mentor and knows palace intricacies.
• Erina – Seventeen‑year‑old swordswoman, once a Karl noble, now a humble knight in Ibuki’s service, wears a drill‑styled elegant outfit. Calm yet mischievous, she manages logistics and public image, fiercely protects Ibuki’s reputation, and uses diplomatic skill—even arranging political marriages—to preserve his standing.
• Maria – She is a 16‑year‑old swordswoman with long, lustrous red hair and a sharp, dignified face. A new recruit in the Knight Order under Ibuki’s command, she is surprised to be counted among his rewards, and also one of his wives who leads group discussions and shows keen interest in her companions’ diverse backgrounds.
• Mari – A girl associated with the prisoners/warriors. She feels a sense of shame regarding her sexual encounter with Yuki the previous day. A young girl who accompanies the group, acting as an escort for the Princess. Vice-commander of the Third Division. An Elven woman with blonde hair. Previously had a large jagged scar on her cheek before being healed. Disciplined but shows a flustered, tsundere-like personality when her authority is undermined.
• Yui – An Earth‑born Sage and Ibuki’s wife, she appears composed yet seethes with resentment toward humanity and Dole. Gentle, level‑headed, sharp‑witted, she teases Yamada, fiercely protects Ibuki, lectures Senior on his hypocrisy, and, during the princesses’ visit, is ushered to a separate room.
• Sia – Sia‑chan, the younger princess and sister of Lashara, has a supple figure and a bold, proactive nature. She is shrewd and opportunistic, quick to claim a spot beside the Hero and manipulate social scenes for advantage. Affectionate and spoiled, she dotes on the Hero and Senior, constantly seeking closeness.
• Sato – Japanese upperclasswoman, summoned as the Sage and bearing the Sato family name (used by Yamada‑kun), appears grounded and cautious beside the protagonist. She is highly emotional—sobbing while comforting the Saint—yet masks fear, seeking mutual support. When annoyed she delivers a jito‑eye, a scornful half‑closed stare.
• Rosanna – An ex‑slave turned noblewoman, she moves with solemn grace and quiet authority, volunteering for intel on dark groups and spotting the crew’s weakened power levels. Bowed in reverence before missions, she exudes confidence in her party, smiles knowingly at royal audiences, and accompanies Ibuki to the drawing room. As leader of Ibuki’s knights, her loyalty is unwavering and fiercely protective, even in formal attire.
• Helkud – The Helkud family name, representing a powerful marquisate within the Kingdom of Karl.
• Valan – An elderly nobleman and head of the Marquis Helkud family who seeks out the assistance of specialized knights to deal with a High Species threat in his territory.
• Olivia – Standing 160 cm tall, the eldest new recruit has deep blue‑black hair and a calm demeanor. She queries “weird” monsters, displaying technical‑magic insight, and admires Ibuki’s efficiency. As a member of Ibuki’s inner circle of knights, she reads companions’ emotions, knows their pasts, and instantly grasps shifts in mission priority and tactical discourse.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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