Chapter 471 Carley ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Well, it’s true you guys were reckless for jumping the gun, and Lady Carley was just as wrong for wandering off on a ‘stroll’ without a word,” I said, looking at the newcomers. “But my shop and this country are the ones paying the price. How do you plan to make this right?”
The customer was an Ancient Elf¹ who had arrived just before closing. She was the one adored as ‘Mother’ back in the Wielope Empire². I directed my question at her and at Gustav, the leader of the ‘Shadows’ who had been frantically pursuing her.
The shop was a mess, but honestly, the whole ordeal had chilled me to the bone. From a national defense perspective, having the royal capital breached again was a major blow. The maids from the dark side of the administration who were guarding our place would undoubtedly face the wrath of their superiors. We deserved a sincere apology-and probably some compensation. Or so I thought.
”Now, now, it isn’t all bad news,” Carley said without a hint of remorse. “You and I have spoken face-to-face. That is a momentous achievement, and it never would have happened if I hadn’t gone for my ‘stroll.’ The boy is such a nag; if I hadn’t snuck out quietly, we wouldn’t be standing here noja.”
The ‘boy’? I really hoped she wasn’t referring to Demandyl, the Emperor of the Wielope Empire. But judging by the way Gustav and his men were panicking, it wouldn’t be a stretch.
”Hey, Gustav,” I said. “If I’m too hard on this lady, is it going to wreck the relationship between our countries? Or am I just putting my own life in jeopardy?”
In times like this, it’s best to ask the people around the person in question. Self-evaluation and public opinion rarely align. Gustav squeezed out an answer, his face twisted in a grimace.
”It would be best if you operated under that assumption,” Gustav replied. “For our sake and yours. If anything were to happen to this lady, the Emperor would fly into a murderous rage. A full-scale war wouldn’t just be possible-it would be a certainty.”
What a nightmare. Why does this shop only attract high-maintenance disasters? Still, Gustav’s honesty made it easy to set my policy.
Point one: This Ancient Elf has to go home in one piece. Point two: I need to use her safety as a shield to squeeze every possible concession out of them for my country.
In that regard, I was completely out of my depth. I needed the Queen’s input, or at the very least, Muse the maid. As I was weighing the options, a voice as sweet as an angel’s drifted in from behind me.
”Dada!”
”Oh, there’s my girl! What are you doing out here, Momo? It’s dangerous right now, honey!” I cried.
”I’m sorry, Master,” Lily said, appearing with our daughter in her arms. “She simply wouldn’t listen. She insisted on coming to you.”
It was my daughter, Lady Momo, held by my love-slave, Lily. Momo flailed her chubby little limbs, desperately reaching for me. I didn’t want to bring her into this tense atmosphere, but she looked like she was about to launch herself out of Lily’s arms. I had no choice but to scoop her up.
The moment the defense system had triggered, everyone in the living quarters had been alerted. Not that Lily and the others would have needed it; they were sharp enough to sense the shift in the air on their own.
”My, how rare,” Carley said, her eyes widening. “You have a very ancient kinsman among you. I feel more years coming off her than the elders of my own village.”
”Whoa, they’re all just dangling there in the slime,” Tania remarked as she entered, shifting the weight of our son, Wakaba. “Our Darling’s tastes are as unique as ever, huh?”
My love-elf, Tania, and my love-dog, Laika, who was carrying our daughter, Mikan, followed close behind. They didn’t seem threatened by the situation at all. Had they just come over because the kids were restless and it looked like the danger had passed? Lily stepped forward to explain.
”They didn’t seem to harbor any more hostility, Master,” Lily said. “Also, I’ve already sent Flearis to fetch Lady Muse. I wanted to report that to you.”
”Right, thanks,” I said, breathing a sigh of relief. “I was just wondering how to handle this.”
It turned out while things were going sideways here, they’d already coordinated with my foster sister, Flearis, over at the Ddo-Buddy Mansion³. If Muse was on her way, it would be fine. As I relaxed, I felt eyes on me from behind the magic barrier. Carley was beaming, while Gustav and his men looked like they had just seen a miracle.
”Ho! I thought I sensed something precious,” Carley said. “These are your children? A rare Elven babe, a beastman child… My, how delightful! You have a much larger presence than that boy back home!”
”Is that… an actual Elven infant?” one of the assassins whispered.
”So tiny!” another squealed.
”Look at those squishy cheeks!”
Carley was being cryptic, Gustav looked shaken, and the assassins-especially the women-were practically cooing. I’m glad they like my kids, but for a group of elite killers, they really have a soft spot for babies.
”Hey, everyone, stay calm,” I warned. “If you move too much, the Spooky Ivy⁴ will tighten its grip. We’re waiting for the people who actually decide your fate, so just sit tight.”
I tried to soothe them, but the assassins were so star-struck they kept wiggling to get a better look, only to get further entangled in the vines or stuck in the slime. I suppose I can’t blame them; my kids are adorable.
Momo, who had been headbutting my chest, turned around and spotted Carley.
”Granny?”
”No, Momo,” I hissed. “You can’t call her that. Try… ‘Lady’ or ‘Miss’…”
”Lady?” Momo mimicked.
”Oh, ‘Old Hag’ is perfectly fine by me noja,” Carley laughed.
”No, it isn’t!” I snapped. “Even if you’re fine with it, it’s a diplomatic incident waiting to happen. Look, Momo, this is Lady Carley.”
”Ma… ma?”
”Close enough, I guess,” I sighed.
Momo probably sensed the same vibe she got from my magic medicine mentor, Old Lady Miranda. She called Carley by the same nickname. The Shadows looked incredibly awkward, but Carley seemed genuinely touched.
”Momo, was it?” she asked. “Come here, let me see your face. My, my, such fine features and a healthy glow! You’re going to be the greatest beauty on the Northern Continent!”
She had gone full doting grandmother. Honestly, she was acting exactly like the Elven reinforcements who keep crashing at my place. I had completely lost the thread of the tension.
”Now, tell me the names of the others,” she said. “I shall grant them the Blessing of the Forest⁵.”
”Wait, what?”
”What, are you the sort who thinks a witch’s curiosity is a curse?” Carley teased. “Peace, boy. I’m simply praying for them to grow tall and strong. It’s no different than any other mother’s prayer.”
”…Wakaba and Mikan,” I muttered.
”Oh, those are strong names! Momo, Wakaba, and Mikan. I shall remember them. Truly, I have seen something wonderful today. This was the best part of my entire ‘stroll’!”
I wanted to point out that a witch’s prayer is definitely different from a regular one, but she was so pushy I just gave in. Tania didn’t object, so I figured it was safe.
By the time a frantic Muse finally burst through the door, Carley was busy playing peek-a-boo with the kids, and they were all giggling right back at her.”
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Summary:
The high-stakes standoff with the Wielope Empire’s ‘Shadows’ and their ‘Mother’ Carley dissolves into unexpected domestic chaos when the protagonist’s wives and children enter the scene. Carley, an Ancient Elf of immense political importance, becomes infatuated with the children, treating them with grandmotherly affection. The protagonist realizes that keeping her safe is paramount to avoiding an all-out war between nations.
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Trivia:
- The ‘Spooky Ivy’ and slime are part of the shop’s active defense system.
- The term ‘Dee-bou’ is Carley’s disrespectful nickname for the current Emperor.
- Momo is a rare ‘Elven infant’, which is why the assassins are so shocked.
- The protagonist is intentionally using the term ‘out of my depth’ (yakubusoku) incorrectly as a meta-joke.
- Flearis was at the ‘Ddo-Buddy Mansion’ and was summoned by the other wives
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Character Insight:
The protagonist shifts from a defensive, profit-oriented mindset to a diplomatic one, realizing his family’s presence is actually his strongest ‘negotiation’ tool. Carley shows that despite her status as a ‘living nuke’ of the Empire, she values the purity and lineage of her kinsmen (Elves) above political strife.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author uses the arrival of the children to ‘deflate’ the tension (dakuryuu) often found in these high-stakes fantasy encounters, a common trope in the series to maintain the slice-of-life/comedy balance.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Carley – Ancient Elf ‘Mother’ leading Wielope Empire assassins—young human looks with ancient aura, long green hair, carefree villain vibe calling Emperor ‘Dee-bou.’ Never birthed but matriarch figure, grants Forest Blessing, stays chill even tentacle/slime-trapped.
• Gustav – Leader of the Wielope Empire’s elite ‘Shadow’ assassin crew—captured in royal dungeon & victory parade hit, now snagged by shop defenses. Die-hard Emperor loyalist, shakes at the thought of Carley getting hurt from political fallout.
• Demandyl – Emperor of the Willope Empire. Known as ‘Dee-boy’ (Dee-bou) by Karla. A man past middle age approaching old age, wearing opulent robes. He has children and wives.
• 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.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes. Very energetic and vocal for an infant. Approximately one year old. Capable of standing on her own and mimicking simple words. Energetic and affectionate. The shopkeeper’s eldest daughter who has recently started speaking.
• 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.
• Wakaba – Newborn son of Kento and Tania. A half-elf magic user with large Mana Circuits. Has squishy cheeks, tiny fingers, and soft floppy ears. Emits magical discharges when throwing tantrums. The newborn son of Kento and Tania. Has green hair and elf ears.
• 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.
• Laika – The beastwoman dog.
• Mikan – Kento’s daughter. Orange-themed. The protagonist’s newborn daughter. Described as having a cheerful, oblivious expression. The shopkeeper’s newborn daughter.
• Flearis – A member of the diplomatic envoy and guard. Has pink hair. Lily’s sister or Martin’s younger foster sister. Has pink hair. Member of the covert unit. Displays a cold, almost vengeful pragmatism when reporting her sister’s words to Martin.
• Miranda – An elderly woman known as Granny Miranda. Kento’s master of magic medicine and an experienced midwife. Uses magic to monitor the status of babies in the womb.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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