Chapter 235 Predictions ③
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Count Popol, regarding the things we just spoke about—would you mind if I told Ferguson?” Queen Cecile asked.
”Certainly, as long as you say it is only a ‘prediction’… I don’t mind,” Martin replied.
After hearing the prediction from Count Popol¹, who was Lily’s younger brother, Queen Cecile seemed sure it was very important information. Martin looked over at Crown Princess Ierse². Right now, he was a member of the group from the other country, acting only as Her Highness’s guard.
”Lady Ierse, as the Coalmine Kingdom³, would there be any problem with telling Ferguson?” the Queen asked.
”I wonder… I am in charge of this group, and that ‘prediction’ is indeed something we learned on our trip, but…”
Princess Ierse spoke with a stop in her voice. The topic was not her specialty, and it was a bit different from the goal of making the Ddo-Buddy Trade Zone⁴, so she could not decide. Even if the Canaria Kingdom⁵ believed it, she did not know if the distant Ferguson would trust them.
But the matter was fast-moving, and there was no time to ask the Coalmine home office for an answer. She had to choose right now. Suddenly, Duke Roost Badcage⁶ from the Canaria side helped her out.
”It will be fine if we hide where the news came from. I will be the messenger and tell Ferguson myself. If the news causes trouble, I will take the blame; if it helps them, then give the credit to Count Popol and Coalmine.”
The worth of news changes based on who says it. Because he was Duke Roost, he could probably make Ferguson listen even if the source was a bit strange. Or rather, people would believe him even if he lied and said it was his own idea.
But if this prediction was wrong and messed up Ferguson’s plans, he would be the one in trouble. He might even be locked up over there. Since he was also giving away the glory, it was a very bad deal for him.
”Duke Roost, that is…”
”Your Majesty, do not worry. Like we said before the meeting, I am just an old man now, waiting to see my grandkids. An errand like this is nothing. Also, I told you before, didn’t I? Use everything you have. Using people is the job of a King.”
He likely told her those words when she first became Queen. Duke Roost walked to Cecile and rubbed her head like she was his own daughter. His kind eyes were maybe seeing the old King and Queen through her.
”Kento-kun, watch over my daughters while I am gone. I might have to fight over there. I will be late coming back.”
While rubbing the head of his daughter, Tina, he spoke to me. I almost cried… Will I be able to let someone else watch my daughter in the future? The back of this veteran father looked very big.
”Lady Ierse, is this okay? I promise that even if things go wrong, I will not cause trouble for your country.”
”Yes. I think that is fine. But… will you not send more soldiers to Ferguson?” Princess Ierse asked.
After worrying about Duke Roost, who was going alone for Coalmine’s sake, Ierse asked for more help. But if they could do that, they would have done it already.
”It is not possible. Making two armies work together is very hard. To do it, we would need to lead the whole eastern front, but we do not have enough men to send, and they would not want us there anyway.”
”Even between Ferguson and the Canaria Kingdom?”
”Yes, sadly…”
So, only single strong people could be sent. But my father-in-law already thought about that, and sending a few would only make our own home weak. There is not much we can do.
”We must trust Ferguson and get ready at home for the worst. Now, how do we fix the hole left by Duke Roost?” the Queen asked.
”In that case, Your Majesty, how about Count Popol?” Ierse asked.
”Hmm? That would help, but is it okay? He is your guard.”
”I have other guards, and it is what Count Popol wants himself…”
At Ierse’s words, the Queen looked at Martin with wide eyes. The change in the man who tried to take our country a few months ago was a surprise to her.
”…I am sorry for the personal talk, but I cannot go home while my new niece is in danger.”
”Ah, okay. Lord Popol is that girl’s uncle. Anyway, since I heard that prediction, I am counting on you.”
”Leave it to me. Well, even if I don’t go out, I am sure my brother-in-law will do something…”
”Brother-in-law? You mean… Lord Harvest⁷, you, do you have a plan?” the Queen asked.
She looked at me with those eyes that had dark circles. I saw for the first time that those tired eyes could look very scary. Did I ever tell Martin about my ideas?
”…Well, I have some thoughts, but there are too many problems. I don’t know if it will work. It is just a vague thought right now…”
”Just say it. We will decide if it can work or not.”
I acted like I was worried. Truly, I had this idea since before I heard about the Stampede⁸. I first thought of it when the war ended. I have been thinking about it in case something happened again.
I can talk about it in detail, but I will not be too honest. I don’t want them to think I have dangerous ideas all the time.
”First, I need you to lend me Satsuki and Kushe.”
”I see. So you will make a magic item?”
”Yes. You might forget, but I am still just a small magic item shop owner.”
That was the first step. I cannot make this item alone. I need Satsuki from Canaria and Kushe from Coalmine.
”Lady Ierse, what do you think?”
”I can help a little, but…”
”I will do it! I will definitely do it! Helping with a new item from Lord Harvest… I would even pay to help!”
Kushe stepped forward with a happy face. I knew she would act like that.
”But Kushe is our best mind, so we cannot show all our secrets. You must tell us what you will make first.”
”That is the same for us. If two nations make an item, secrets will be seen. I cannot say yes easily.”
I knew they would say that. But it is only ‘for now.’ If I tell them, they have the choice later.
”So, what will you make?” the Queen asked.
”Please tell us, Lord Harvest,” Ierse said.
”It is, of course, a ‘───────’.”
””…Huh?””
”Like I said, a ‘───────’.”
”Ahahaha! That is the best, Lord Harvest! Let’s make it now! Right now!”
While the others looked at me like I was a sad person, Kushe was the only one laughing. Her words were pushed aside, but the Queen and the Princess finished the talk like this:
”For now, it is on hold. We don’t know how dangerous the monsters in Ferguson are yet.”
”Yes, we cannot say yes now. I hope we never have to say yes…”
I agree. I don’t want to make it either. But two weeks later, things happened just like Martin predicted.
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Summary:
Duke Roost Badcage decides to go to Ferguson alone to warn them about a coming monster attack. Queen Cecile and Princess Ierse discuss why they cannot send a full army to help a different country. Martin Popol chooses to stay and fight to protect his newborn niece. Kento asks for the best mages to help him build a secret and very powerful magic item.
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Character Insight:
Duke Roost shows he cares for Cecile like a father. Martin Popol is no longer an enemy but a family man. Kento reveals he has been planning a ‘dangerous’ invention for a long time, showing he is a deep thinker who prepares for the worst.
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Behind the Scene:
The author hides the name of the invention to keep the reader interested. The dark circles under Cecile’s eyes show she is working very hard as a Queen.
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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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Satsuki – A talented Court Mage who was forced to analyze the shop’s adult magic tools. Miranda’s granddaughter. Now she’s the new worker at Harvest, a development she finds both humiliating and surprisingly fulfilling due to the rapid progress in her research under Kento’s guidance. Has long black hair, palace mage robe, and staff.
• 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.’
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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