Chapter 306 The Advisor’s Job ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Um, what exactly is… this?” I asked.
”Hmph. Don’t be so tense,” the Queen said. “It’s not as if I’m going to bite you.”
I was in the Queen’s office, as usual. I was supposed to be receiving a briefing on our relations with neighboring countries, but instead, I found my arms pinned by the maid Muse and the Captain of the Guard, Merluza. Well, “pinned” wasn’t quite the right word-it was more like they’d each claimed an arm and were sandwiching them between their breasts. That’s when it clicked.
”…Is this, by any chance, a honey trap? ¹” I muttered.
”Indeed. To put it bluntly, yes,” the Queen replied.
To my shock, right there in front of Her Majesty, Muse and Merluza began sliding my arms down from their chests toward their laps. The sensation of their soft skin was still fresh in my memory, and I felt myself starting to react in spite of myself.
”You know, you don’t have to go through all this,” I said. “If you just ask me properly, I’m happy to help.”
”I’m sure you are,” she said. “However, I’ve judged that since I’m about to ask a great deal of you, it’s best to provide whatever ‘incentives’ I can. One can never have too much leverage when it comes to persuasion.”
Good grief. After all her warnings to me about being wary of honey traps, I never expected the Queen to be the one setting them. Just how easy of a lay does she think I am?
”…May I ask what exactly this ‘great deal’ entails?” I asked.
”Very well. You are to be appointed as my Special Advisor ²,” the Queen declared.
”…I’ve never heard of that position.”
”Naturally. I created it specifically for you,” she said nonchalantly.
If it were anyone else, I would have shouted, “What kind of shady, ‘do-whatever-I-say’ position is that!?” but for now, I decided to let her finish.
”The formal title is ‘Special Advisor for Trade Policy and Magic Technology.’ Your first task is to manage the sale of your shop’s inventory to the Willowp Empire ³ to the east,” she explained. “And I don’t just mean selling them goods. I want your products to permeate their society until they become a vital bargaining chip for our diplomacy.”
”…So, you want a repeat of what we did to the Coalmine Kingdom during the war?” I asked.
”In short, yes,” she replied.
”But that worked because there was a massive demand for the ‘Hot-Shot-kun’ ⁴ heating circuits,” I countered. “I have no idea how well my… other products… will be received in Willowp.”
”I am aware. There is no rush,” the Queen said. “We will let them circulate gradually. If they prove effective as leverage, then we’ve gained a great deal; if not, the mere increase in exports is a net win for the kingdom.”
”I suppose so, but…”
Her Majesty’s “first task” was straightforward enough. But straightforward didn’t mean easy. Who would handle sales? How would we transport them? And more importantly, how could we produce that much?
The Archbishop just got done breathing down my neck about building new factories to increase output. I haven’t even settled that mess yet… and then it hit me.
The Queen must know all of this. After all, the letter I sent requesting help from a certain someone had to pass through her hands to be delivered by her couriers.
”…Don’t tell me you’ve already cleared this with the Archbishop?” I asked.
”You’re quick,” the Queen said with a smirk. “As with Coalmine, the Church will handle the logistics and distribution within the Willowp Empire. As for production, I assure you, the request in your letter will not be refused.”
The speed of her machinations was terrifying. I couldn’t tell where her plan began and the Church’s needs ended. Was the Archbishop’s request even his own idea, or was he acting on her orders?
As my mind raced, Muse and Merluza began caressing my back and chest as if to drown out my thoughts. Stop! She’s found my weak point!
”Now, for your second task: I need you to develop new magic circuits,” the Queen said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
I’d expected as much when I heard the words “Magic Technology” in the title. On the surface, it sounded like business as usual, but…
”You mean… you want me to make whatever you desire?” I asked.
She probably wanted me to branch out beyond adult goods. After I built the “Ddo-Buddy Cannon” ⁵, it was only natural she’d want to weaponize my work. But the Queen simply blinked in surprise and tilted her head.
”What? Is it your dream to be my personal slave?” she asked.
”No, I’d much prefer to be left alone, actually…” I muttered.
”Quite. You seem to be under a misunderstanding. I have no wish to earn your resentment-though, admittedly, there are many circuits I would be delighted to see you create,” she said.
”Such as?”
”Let’s see… A convenience circuit that revolutionizes daily life for the commoners. A defense circuit that repels any monster. A production circuit that could end poverty forever,” the Queen said wistfully. “If such things existed, my job would be significantly easier.”
”I’m a shopkeeper, not a wizard out of a fairy tale…” I replied.
”Ha, it was a joke. Though, with you, I suspect you might actually pull it off,” she said.
”Don’t give me that much credit. I’m just a humble magic circuit tinkerer from a back-alley shop.”
”If you say so,” she replied.
I really am just a tinkerer, but she wasn’t listening. It seemed she didn’t have a specific invention in mind just yet. She was probably just venting the frustrations of a busy ruler. Or so I thought.
”However… if you ever did happen to invent a magic circuit that could dismantle the Willowp Empire from the inside, that would take top priority,” the Queen added, her expression suddenly dead serious.
They were clearly the biggest thorn in her side and her greatest obstacle to peace. But if we were going down that road, I had to be sure.
”Your Majesty… do you seek a path of conquest?” I asked.
”…! Is that what it sounded like?” she asked, looking genuinely offended. “Fear not. My only desire is the tranquility of this kingdom. I want to hand the throne to Roland in a state of absolute stability. That hasn’t changed since the day I was crowned.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. If she’d started talking about becoming an Empress, I would have packed my bags and vanished. I wanted no part in a bloody war or mass murder.
”Anyway, that brings us to the third task,” she said.
”There’s more?”
”Don’t look so miserable. Here-Muse, Merluza, press yourselves closer. Get him in a better mood,” the Queen commanded.
”Wait, I’m not that easily sw—Huh?” I stammered. “Are you both wearing open bras and crotchless panties? And is that… our shop’s entire ‘Full Seduction’ set!?”
The shocking truth was whispered directly into my ear, and my brain immediately began to melt into a pink haze. Gah…! Stop nuzzling my shoulder! Stop looking at me with those puppy-dog eyes! She’s playing dirty!
”Ahem! Anyway, this shouldn’t be too difficult,” the Queen said, clearing her throat. “I had my reservations, but I can’t afford to be picky anymore.”
”Fine. What is it?” I asked.
”I want you to help educate my younger brother, Roland,” she said.
”Wait… really? I thought you were keeping me hidden from His Highness?”
”I told you, I had reservations. I’m loath to introduce my darling Roland to a man like you,” the Queen admitted. “But after the ‘Ddo-Buddy Cannon’ incident, it’s impossible to keep you a secret. Besides, I need you to be prepared to serve the kingdom-and Roland-long after I’ve stepped down.”
”Ah, I see…”
So, the Prince was starting to ask questions about the “mysterious mage,” and she wanted to bridge the gap for the next generation. For a woman with a serious brother complex, this must have been an agonizing sacrifice.
”Furthermore… it is time Roland learned how to handle women,” she added.
”Wait, does that mean…?”
”Don’t get the wrong idea! Anything lewd is strictly forbidden!” the Queen shouted. “This is to be wholesome and proper! Roland is going to be targeted by honey traps from every nation on the continent. I want you to teach him your… ‘techniques’ for charming the opposite s*x. Do you understand? I repeat: no lewdness. Just teach him how to talk to them, how to behave, and perhaps… how to keep a harem without getting stabbed. That sort of thing.”
You’re asking for the impossible… I recoiled inwardly. I mean, I could try, but most of my skills were drilled into me by my lovely slave, Lily.
”Right. Well, I think I understand what you’re looking for,” I said. “Is that everything?”
”…No. There is one more job I need you to do,” the Queen said.
”There’s still more?”
”Don’t make that face. We’re going to change locations for this one,” she said.
”Wait, what?”
At the Queen’s signal, the two women at my sides hoisted me up. Hey, hold on! My feet are dangling! My dignity as a man is taking a serious hit being carried like this! Where the hell are you taking me!?”
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Summary:
The Queen formally appoints the protagonist as her ‘Special Advisor’ to handle trade with the Willowp Empire and develop new magic circuits. She uses Muse and Merluza as physical ‘bait’ to ensure his cooperation. Finally, she requests that he mentor Prince Roland in the art of charming women to prevent him from falling for foreign honey traps.
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Trivia:
- The protagonist previously destabilized the Coalmine Kingdom using heating circuits.
- The Queen intercepts the protagonist’s private mail for logistics planning.
- The Queen explicitly forbids the protagonist from engaging in ‘lewd’ education with Roland.
- Muse and Merluza are physically strong enough to carry an adult man easily
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Character Insight:
The Queen’s ‘brother complex’ is confirmed as a major motivator, showing she’s willing to sacrifice her own protective instincts for Roland’s future political safety.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Ddo-Buddy’ refers to a recurring magical item/brand in this series used for high-powered, often absurd magical effects.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Merluza – The Captain of the Royal Guard, a veteran soldier and Lion Beast-person. She testifies to the military necessity and effectiveness of the ‘Tremble Ddo-Buddy’ (which she calls ‘Bob’) for female beast-person soldiers, ensuring job performance isn’t compromised by ‘heat’. Have dull yellow hair, large feline ears, wearing armor, and large scar over the right eye.
• 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.
• Roland – he younger brother of Queen Cecile and the heir apparent to the Canaria throne. Clean, golden-blonde hair, same color as the Queen, innocent, beautiful face that could be mistaken for a girl but dressed in a boy’s formal wear.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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