Chapter 242 Tides of the West
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The follow-up reports on the “Stampede”ⁿ arrived shortly thereafter. To summarize the information provided so far in chronological order:
First, a powerful breed of monster emerged within the mountain range bordering the Ferguson Kingdom to the west and the Coalmine Kingdom to the north. This creature went on a rampage through the peaks, growing in strength as it gorged itself on the other monsters inhabiting the range.
It remains unclear exactly when this beast began its reign of terror. However, once its movements were detected, Ferguson reportedly heightened its vigilance. It was around this time that the nobles of our own Canaria Kingdom received the warning to “fortify their defenses.”
The fact that the “Stampede” was a topic of discussion during the recent summit regarding the “Ddo-Buddy Economic Sphere”ⁿ can be attributed to this looming threat. Up to this point, the information was more or less what we already knew.
Then, the situation began to unfold exactly as predicted by Popol Martin, the younger brother-in-law of my beloved slave, Lily-chan. To summarize his “prediction”: the monster in question would drive southward, engage in a fierce struggle with another formidable creature there, and then pivot east-straight toward the Canaria Kingdom.
Upon being informed of this forecast by Badcage Roost Duke-Tina-chan’s father-King Ferguson William took immediate action to halt the beast’s “southward advance.”
He resolved to dig in at the southern base of the mountain range to intercept the monster. I’m told it was a flawless defensive line, designed to ensure the creature couldn’t slip away to the east or west.
With the aid of Roost-dono’s strength, William-sama took the front lines himself to do battle with the beast. However, their strength was not enough. Faced with a bitter choice, he judged it better than letting the creature escape to either flank and allowed the “southward advance” to proceed.
This “southward advance” triggered several smaller “Stampedes.” Although the residents of the towns and streets along the path had begun evacuating in advance, it seems the damage couldn’t be entirely mitigated. Furthermore, the Ferguson Royal Army was left preoccupied with handling these “lesser Stampedes.”
The dragon that descended upon the Royal Capital, Canarias, the other day was apparently one such creature-an individual that had been flushed out of Ferguson by the chaos.
The palace officials, including Her Majesty the Queen, have now officially recognized the dragon’s attack as a byproduct of the “Stampede.” A kingdom-wide state of emergency was declared… or rather, with monster sightings surging everywhere, they simply couldn’t hide the reality of the “Stampede” any longer.
Now, the people of the Canaria Kingdom spend their days shrouded in a suffocating, leaden dread….
”Bread prices went up again…”
”I see… I guess there’s no helping it. They say roads are being closed off everywhere, and even if they weren’t, it’s too dangerous to even step foot outside the city walls.”
I let out a heavy sigh as I returned from my shopping trip. Lily-chan, my beloved slave, greeted me at the door while cradling our dear daughter, Momo-chan. Truth be told, many shops have shuttered their doors, and daily life is starting to grind to a halt. Honestly, the situation feels even bleaker than it did during the war.
”Now, now. If it comes down to it, we’ll just go out and hunt for food ourselves. Don’t you worry about a thing.”
”Yeah, in a way, that’s our actual job. Leave it to us. Besides, I hear some adventurers are already getting pumped up, thinking this is the perfect time to make a killing.”
Laika-chan, the dog-beastman adventurer, and Tania-chan, the elf adventurer, puffed out their chests with total confidence. I’ve finally moved past my dragon-induced trauma to the point where I don’t need to be physically clinging to them to feel safe, but I still feel a massive knot in my stomach at the idea of sending them outside the city when things are this dangerous. Yet, the reality is that we have few other options. If things get desperate, I’ll have to rely on them….
I wish I could handle the foraging myself, but for a guy who never made it past F-rank, the best I could manage would be bringing home some nice-smelling weeds. And in this climate, where the chances of running into a monster are through the roof, I doubt I’d even manage that.
Well, I suppose it’s a bit silly for a guy like me to worry about a pair of “Dragon Slayers.” As I stood there brooding, Lily-chan spoke up.
”More importantly, Goshujin-sama, you have two guests waiting for you.”
”Guests…?”
I set down the groceries and stepped into the living room. The “guests” were Nixfen Ray-sama and Sister Amelia-chan. Seeing the two of them together, I immediately grasped the situation. If my gut was right, they were both here for the same reason.
”Ah, sorry, Harvest-dono. I know you’re busy…”
”No, don’t worry about it. You came to say your goodbyes, didn’t you?”
”Yeah. I’ve decided to leave the sales in the Capital to the people in the Flower District and return to my territory.”
Ray-sama gave a cheerful smile, looking every bit the dashing “Prince” she always was. She had originally come to the Capital to sell “Help Sticks”ⁿ and prepare for the “Stampede”; if anything, her departure was probably overdue.
”Truly, thank you, Harvest-dono. Thanks to you, my funding is secured. I even found a few places willing to lend me capital, so I’ve been able to stock up on weapons and armor.”
”Right, yeah. I’m glad I could help. But… will you be okay? I mean, it’s like you’re diving headfirst into a war zone.”
”Ahaha! I may not look it, but I am the head of a noble house. Whether it’s ‘okay’ or not, I don’t have the luxury of abandoning my lands. My job is to make it okay.”
Ray-sama laughed. So that’s what it means to be a landed noble, I thought, feeling a bit foolish for asking such a blunt question. Still, I figure I’m allowed to worry about a business partner.
”I see…. Well, once things settle down, get in touch. If we don’t sell more collab items, my shop is going to stay in the red.”
”Fufu, you’re right. I’ll definitely come back to settle the debt. When I do, you just name the price-I’ll do anything you want.”
Wait, ‘anything’? I kept that thought strictly to myself. With that, she finished her farewell and took her leave. A “do anything” favor from her is a hell of a prize; I’d better pray she makes it back in one piece.
I turned my attention to Sister Amelia-chan, who had been waiting patiently. She didn’t really feel like a “guest” anymore, but she was sitting there with her back perfectly straight, her expression uncharacteristically stiff.
”Sorry to keep you waiting.”
”Not at all. I’m the one who dropped in unannounced.”
”You don’t look like you just came to see Momo-chan today.”
”No…. The truth is, it’s been decided. Mother Marian-sama and I will be departing for the west shortly.”
As I suspected, Amelia-chan’s visit was also due to the “Stampede.” She is a nun of the Canarias Conventⁿ and a member of the Church of Demon-Subjugationⁿ. Their true calling isn’t making lewd magic tools like “Ddo-Buddy”-it’s protecting people from the threat of monsters.
”I see. That’s… going to be tough.”
I couldn’t bring myself to tell her “don’t go.” I’m sure she’d braced herself for this the moment she took her vows. It wasn’t my place to interfere with that kind of resolve. Of course, in my heart, I wanted her to stay, which left my response feeling clumsy and inadequate….
”It isn’t so bad. This is our life’s purpose, after all. Though I fear we may cause some trouble for Kento-san and ‘Harvest’…”
She was referring to the production of “Ddo-Buddy” at the convent and the “experiments” I’d asked her to help with for quality control.
Currently, the shop has paused most “experiments” while I focus on starting a family with the employees. Even so, the quality control tests are a constant necessity-though even those have been rare lately.
Given the state of the world, sales of adult magic tools have slumped, just like they did during the war. We still need to push forward with exports to the Coalmine and Sylvaol Kingdoms, but….
”Don’t talk like that. Do you really think I’m the kind of man who’d complain about business when someone precious to him is heading into danger?”
”Kento-san…”
At my words, Amelia-chan’s hand drifted to her chest. She was likely touching the ring I’d given her, which she now wears as a necklace beneath her robes.
”Just… make sure you come back.”
”I will.”
—
Summary:
The ‘Stampede’ threat intensifies as a powerful monster moves south toward the Canaria Kingdom. Kento returns home to find the economy failing and daily life becoming difficult. Ray and Amelia both visit to say their goodbyes before heading to the dangerous western front. Kento struggles with his own weakness while praying for the safety of those he cares about.
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Character Insight:
Kento experiences a moment of profound vulnerability, realizing that as an F-rank adventurer, he cannot physically protect the women in his life who are far more powerful ‘Dragon Slayers.’ Ray displays the heavy burden of nobility, choosing duty over safety, while Amelia reaffirms her religious devotion to protecting humanity. The chapter highlights the emotional toll of the looming war on Kento’s domestic peace.
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Behind the Scene:
The chapter highlights the contrast between the ‘Adult Goods’ theme and the grim reality of a fantasy world on the brink of disaster, showing that even in an Isekai, economic and social stability are fragile.
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T/L:
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes.
• Laika – The beastwoman dog.
• Tania – An Elf adventurer who, despite her race’s reputation for low sex drive, is secretly quite passionate. She initially seemed ‘wasted’ (emotionally dry) to her friend Raika, but was easily introduced to the pleasure-items sold at ‘Harvest.’ She is easily embarrassed and attempts to maintain a dignified facade, despite her recent, frequent purchases. She wears practical but light armor over a simple cloth tunic and short pants, highlighting her grace and agility. Her primary relationship is one of friendly senior-junior with Raika.
• Amelia – The Sister of the Church of Demon-Subjugating, who usually buys from Kento, has light blue hair.
• 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.
• Marian – A ‘Mother’ and supervisor from the Church of Demon-Subjugation. Her appearance and demeanor defy the Church’s purported ‘chastity,’ instead she has wavy purple long hair, busty, black nun, tear mole under eye, and monroe walk. She has arrived with a clear purpose: to confront Kento about the ‘Devil’s Stick.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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