Chapter 419 Triumphal Return ③
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I see them! The heroes are back!”
The roar of the crowd outside reached us deep within the cathedral. Since those were cheers and not screams of terror, it seemed the Wielope Empire hadn’t launched their raid yet.
Or perhaps the attack had already happened and Muse’s team of maids had already suppressed it. Regardless, everything appeared to be going perfectly. I wasn’t sure if I should breathe a sigh of relief or stay on guard, but either way, there was nothing left for me to do.
”There is no need for you to be so restless,” Queen Cecile said, looking back at me.
Apparently, my anxiety was written all over my face. I was already seated behind her on the dais. To be specific, we were positioned to the side of the pulpit – the same spot where the Inquisitors sat during the infamous “Ddo-Buddy Trial”¹.
The chairs were arranged in two rows; the Queen sat in the front left, and I sat directly behind her. Being positioned like a high-ranking official made me uneasy, but that wasn’t the real problem.
”K-Kento, even you get nervous, I see…” Prince Roland muttered.
The source of my stress spoke without realizing he was the cause of it. For this ceremony, both Her Majesty and His Highness were presiding.
Thrusting Roland into the spotlight – a boy who had rarely appeared in public – was the Queen’s way of preparing the succession. By debuting him here while strengthening ties with the Church, she was signaling that this alliance would endure into the next generation.
That was all well and good, but the poor kid was stiff as a board. His nerves were contagious, making me feel like a frantic parent at a school play.
Between worrying about the Empire’s attack and Roland’s performance, I was at my limit. I wished I only had one crisis to manage at a time.
On top of that, I was genuinely excited to see Sister Amelia and Satsuki again, yet I felt a pang of guilt seeing them paraded around as “heroes.” My emotions were a total roller coaster. You can’t blame a guy for being high-strung in a situation like this.
”Ah, it looks like they’ve arrived,” the Queen said. “Roland, it’s your turn.”
”Y-Yes, Mother!” Roland replied, snapping his posture straight.
As the subjugation force reached the entrance, the Prince stood tall. Every eye in the cathedral fell upon him. With the weight of the kingdom on his shoulders, he moved to the center of the dais. Prime Minister Dan Samoro and Duke Badcage sat nearby, along with a row of civil officials.
Across from us sat the Church’s delegation: the Holy Figure Loire-Rose, Cardinal Mork, and several high-ranking clergymen. Behind them sat the town’s most influential figures, including Guildmaster Ulgate and Chairman Chromans of the Beast-person Association.
The commoners were barred from entry, but they were peering through the windows, whispering loudly. I even heard someone shout, “Is that really Prince Roland?!” which made him give a slight, visible shiver.
The Queen and the Holy Figure stood in unison, stepping behind Roland like guardians. It was a calculated display of power, proving that both the Crown and the Church stood behind the Prince’s future reign.
”Silence, everyone!” Archbishop Trantestar shouted, gesturing toward the entrance. “Behold the heroes who slew the two Great Dragons and delivered us from the terror of the Stampede”²!”
General Oromanso and Mother Marian entered first. While Marian was as provocative as ever, the General looked magnificent – chin tucked, gait commanding. The crowd outside erupted into a frenzy.
”To our Great Queen, Cecile Canaria! To His Holiness, the Holy Figure Loire-Rose! And to the Prince, Roland Canaria – I bring word!” Oromanso barked as he knelt. “Alongside Mother Marian, I have successfully subjugated the evil female dragon Zil Meina and the ancient dragon Ur Hamit!”
The onlookers roared. The two knelt before Roland to deliver their report. I didn’t care much for the political nuances of the address, and I doubt the crowd did either. They were waiting for the words of their future King.
The cheers faded into a hushed, expectant silence. In that pin-drop quiet, Roland’s voice rang out.
”You have done well,” Roland said, his voice firm. “On behalf of this kingdom and its people, I offer you my thanks. I shall never forget your struggle, and I promise that your devotion will be rewarded.”
It was a strange sensation. His hand was thrust out without a single tremor. His voice had finally deepened, resonating with a warmth that made something hot well up in my gut.
”Your words are more than we deserve!” the General replied, his own voice finally trembling with emotion.
The rowdy onlookers watched in stunned, reverent silence.
”Will you introduce the heroes who fought by your side?” Roland asked.
”Yes, Sire!”
Following the General’s prompt, a group of soldiers and clergymen entered – the representatives of those who had distinguished themselves. As they knelt, their deeds were read aloud. The frontline fighters were praised for their bravery, and the people finally let loose, their cheers shaking the stone walls.
Surprisingly, the logistics train was honored as well. When the Archbishop mentioned those who supported the front lines from the rear, the crowd gave them a standing ovation.
Finally, the main event began. At the signal, they entered the cathedral.
”And now! We must call upon those who played the most pivotal role in the dragons’ demise: Sister Amelia and her comrades!”
Amelia and Satsuki entered, along with Marsetta and Kushe. Even Count Martin Popol was there. I wanted to run over and hug them, but I had to behave. I was so relieved… but perhaps I relaxed too much. When the final “item” was wheeled in, I couldn’t help but snort.
”And here it is!” the Archbishop shouted. “The New Model Magic Weapon that made their victory possible!”
My snickering was drowned out by the crowd. There it was, hauled in on a cart. It was covered with a cloth for discretion, but the shape was unmistakable. The cloth was tented up, pushed toward the rafters by a rock-hard, throbbing protrusion.
It was, without a shadow of a doubt, the Ddo-Buddy Cannon³.
Well, buddy… glad to see you made it back in one piece, too.
—
Summary:
The subjugation force returns to the capital after defeating two Great Dragons. Prince Roland makes his public debut as the future king, delivering a surprisingly regal speech that moves the crowd and Kento. The ceremony concludes with the unveiling of Kento’s secret weapon, which is hilariously undisguised beneath its cover.
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Trivia:
- Kento is sitting in the specific spot previously occupied by Inquisitors.
- The ‘Stampede’ was the primary threat caused by the dragons.
- Roland’s voice has officially changed, marking his transition toward adulthood.
- The logistics/support teams were publicly honored, which is rare in fantasy settings.
- Kento’s maids (Muse) are potentially fighting a secret battle against the Empire
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Character Insight:
Prince Roland shows significant growth, overcoming paralyzing stage fright to project the ‘King’s Caliber.’ Kento’s parental-like pride for Roland’s success is contrasted with his inability to stay serious once his ‘adult’ inventions appear.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Ddo-Buddy’ is a recurring joke/weaponized adult toy in this series that often saves the day in absurd ways.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• Cecile – A queen 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Amelia – The Sister of the Church of Demon-Subjugating, who usually buys from Kento, has light blue hair.
• 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.
• Loire-Rose – The current Saintess, possessing a divine appearance yet a modern, playful, and irreverent attitude that clashes with Church tradition. She has white hair, pale skin, blue eyes, and wears clergy robes.
• Chromans – President of the ‘Royal Capital Beast-person Mutual Aid Association’ and the manager of the ‘Grizzly Merchant Guild,’ a top-tier weapons and armor dealer. He’s powerful, influential, and very business-savvy. Have round, cute bear ears (sooty brown), bushy beard and hair (sooty brown), and large build with muscular physique under a expensive gown.
• Ulgate – The head of the Adventurers’ Guild. Using rough words. Middle-aged man with a professional yet blunt demeanor. Protective of his guild members.
• Mork – A central figure in the ‘Inquisition.’ Acts panicked and constantly looks sideways, seemingly pressured by the masked Inquisitor. He represents the rigid, fear-based opposition to the protagonist’s products. A Cardinal and the right-hand man to the Holy Figure. He is a skilled user of Holy Arts.
• Trantestar – The middle-aged man Archbishop of Canarias and the initiator of the current trial. He is an alleged ally of Kento but remains suspiciously neutral.
• Oromanso – A General serving as the assistant to Duke Roost. Bear beastman.
• 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.
• Marsetta – A senior court mage and specialist in magical weaponry. She has disheveled hair tied back, wears glasses, and has deep dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. She hasn’t eaten in two days and is under heavy pressure to find a countermeasure for the enemy’s weapons.
• 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.
• 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.
Thanks for reading.
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