Chapter 233 Predictions ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”By the way, I have one question. Why don’t you invite the Ferguson Kingdom¹ to the west to join the ‘Ddo-Buddy² Economic Sphere’? Canaria³ and Ferguson have been friendly nations for a long time, so it seems like the best move…” Her Highness Crown Princess Ierse⁴ said.
As the talk reached a natural break, Her Highness asked this out of nowhere. This question was actually very sensitive. Up until now, no one from the Canaria Kingdom side had dared to bring it up.
In the tense meeting room, Her Majesty Queen Cecile took a deep breath. Her face looked incredibly bitter. It was like she had just eaten a bitter-bug snack while drinking a cup of bitter-bug tea at the same time.
”Crown Princess Ierse… are you telling me to invite my former fiancé to an ‘Economic Sphere’ with such a silly name…?” Queen Cecile asked.
I almost said, “So you did know the name was silly!” but I kept my mouth shut. That is right—the current King of the Ferguson Kingdom was the fiancé of Her Majesty until her parents died.
She chose to become Queen for her little brother, so the engagement ended. He married someone else. Now he is a father of four—no, five children, if you count the baby the Queen is carrying.
I do not know how Her Majesty really feels about it. But it seems she could not bring herself to ask him, “Hey, we are starting a ‘Ddo-Buddy Economic Sphere’—do you want in?”
”Ah… Now that you mention it, that was the story. That was… well, I am very sorry for my mistake…” Princess Ierse said.
Even the cool Princess Ierse looked awkward and apologized. In Canaria, people mostly think of Ferguson as the country of the Queen’s ex-fiancé. But in Sylvaol⁵ or Coalmine Kingdom⁶, that news is old and forgotten.
”No, it is hard to invite him, but we cannot ignore the issue. I do not want to be nice only to new friends while leaving old allies behind,” Queen Cecile said.
”So, you do plan to invite them later?” Princess Ierse asked.
”Umu. We already trade with Ferguson, and ‘Ddo-Buddy’ goods are already sold there. They might not join a specific group since we already trade so much, but we will see…” Queen Cecile said.
”For the Coalmine Kingdom, making friends with Ferguson across the mountains is a good idea. If you can, please bring them in,” Princess Ierse added.
”I see. Your country and Ferguson are connected by land. What do you think Sylvaol would say?” the Queen asked.
”I am not sure. In Sylvaol, people think Canaria and Ferguson are a pair. But Ferguson might think Sylvaol is just a country blocking their way to the southern sea. They might even hate each other…” Princess Ierse replied.
I see. The real problem is not our invitation, but whether Ferguson even wants to join. This is tough.
If Ferguson joins the “Ddo-Buddy Economic Sphere,” almost every country in the west will be in it. It would be a “Super Economic Sphere.”
Actually, if the east or the islands join, it would be even bigger. Maybe it is too soon for “Super.” I should call it “Great Ddo-Buddy Economic Sphere: Mark II.”
”Well, all of that comes after we solve the trouble near Ferguson,” Princess Ierse said.
”True. First, we must deal with… that problem,” Queen Cecile said.
While I was thinking about weird names, the two ladies moved to the next topic. The Queen stopped her words because she was worried about ‘kotodama’—the power of words. It was the same as Viscount Ray Nixfen.
To keep talking about “Ddo-Buddy,” we have to stop the monster swarm called a ‘Stampede⁷‘ that is starting to happen.
”This is the last topic today. Sylvaol and my country have not been close for a long time. The trade roads are messy. If there is trouble there, our trade plans will fail,” Queen Cecile said.
”I see. So we must talk about this for the ‘Ddo-Buddy Economic Sphere’ too,” Princess Ierse said.
It would be a waste to make more goods and then have the roads blocked. The Queen was late to the meeting because she was busy working on this problem in the west.
”I want to hear from the Coalmine group who were just in the west. Is that okay?” Queen Cecile asked.
”Yes. I do not know much about war, so I will let Lord Martin Popol speak. Lord Popol, are you ready?” Princess Ierse asked.
”Yes!” Martin said.
Lord Martin Popol, the brother of my slave Lily, answered. He looked very serious. This was not the face he makes when he plays with my daughter Momo.
”The ‘Stampede’ is coming from the west to the east. It is almost certain. It will happen in about two months,” Lord Martin Popol said.
”What…?” the Queen whispered.
Everyone from the Canaria side twitched when they heard him. He said the taboo word ‘Stampede’ out loud. The room became very tense.
”You said the word…! How can you be so sure!” Marquis Dan Samoro shouted.
”Calm down, Marquis Samoro. Let him speak,” Duke Roost Badcage said.
”But Duke Roost…! Fine, let us listen,” Marquis Dan Samoro said.
Marquis Dan Samoro was the most upset. He is the Prime Minister. But Duke Roost Badcage stopped him with a sharp look.
”Sorry. I know people in the south do not say that word. But my family says that ‘fear stops you from understanding,’” Lord Martin Popol said.
Everyone looked serious. Maybe that was a saying from the ‘Pink Clan⁸‘ in Coalmine. Or maybe from their cold home in the far north.
Martin did not look scared of the Stampede at all. He looked like a man who fights monsters every day. He is a professional. Even if he is a weirdo who loves his sister and niece too much…
”Do you know the monster called the Aglowvulture⁹?” Lord Martin Popol asked.
”No. Is it famous?” Marquis Samoro asked.
”I know it. It is a big, mean bird monster. it flies very high and then drops its food from the sky to kill it. It even plays with the bodies. It is very dangerous,” Duke Roost explained.
Duke Roost knew a lot. His daughter Tina looked worried too. It must be a famous monster in the Badcage lands.
”Right. On our trip, I saw Aglowvultures flying from west to east,” Lord Martin Popol said.
”We were late because Martin and Flearis were watching the signs. They told us which roads were safe,” Princess Ierse added.
Martin and Flearis-chan nodded. Now I see why they kept their trip a secret. You cannot just tell people about a monster swarm.
”So! Does that mean ‘it’ has already started!?” Marquis Samoro asked.
”Calm down. ‘Fear stops you from understanding.’ Lord Popol… will the ‘Stampede’ really happen?” Queen Cecile asked.
”Yes. I am sure of it,” Lord Martin Popol replied.
This time the Queen used the word too. Her voice was strong, but her shoulders were shaking a little bit…
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Summary:
The meeting turns to the sensitive topic of the Ferguson Kingdom and the Queen’s past. A sudden warning about a ‘Stampede’ brings intense fear to the southern nobles. Martin Popol confirms the disaster is only two months away, using monster migration as proof.
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Character Insight:
Queen Cecile shows a rare moment of personal pain regarding her failed engagement for the sake of her kingdom. Martin Popol demonstrates his elite skills as a monster hunter, contrasting his stoic professional side with his silly family-loving side. Marquis Samoro represents the deep cultural fear of ‘taboo words’ in the south.
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Behind the Scene:
The ‘Pink Clan’ is mentioned as a resilient group from the frigid north, hinting at why their perspective on danger is so different. The ‘Aglowvulture’ is a pun on ‘Aggressive’ and ‘Vulture,’ used to signify a particularly nasty aerial predator.
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T/L:
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• Nixfen – A viscount aristocrat who has started manufacturing and selling adult goods similar to Kento’s products in the Royal Capital’s pleasure district. He is described as a ‘pretty boy’ or ‘gentle-looking man’ (yasao) but is a territory-holding noble likely trained in combat.
• Ray – A Viscount with flaxen-gold hair in a men’s wolf cut. Possesses a sweet mask and a prince-like aura. It is revealed at the end that Ray is actually a woman. She has started manufacturing and selling adult goods similar to Kento’s products in the Royal Capital’s pleasure district.
• 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.
• 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.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes.
• Samoro – A middle-aged Marquis and Prime Minister with a lot of white hair, a magnificent mustache, and luxurious attire. He is a key figure in the court who has supported the Queen since her enthronement.
• Roost – Duke of Badcage and father of Tina Badcage. He has long silver hair mixed with some white, a cool-headed expression, and red eyes. Despite a relatively slender build, he possesses a strong fighting spirit.
• Flearis – A member of the diplomatic envoy and guard. Has pink hair.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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