Chapter 66 - Episode 9: We're Going on a Raid!
Gokigenyou. I am Violia Nico Fortesia!
We have now arrived in the Royal Capital.
In the capital, we shall participate in a masquerade ball where only the upper class... in other words, only nobles can attend.
And there, Keeb! Will wear a dress! And become a girl!
I am quite looking forward to it!
Being the Kingdom Festival, the Royal Capital is already bustling.
The Kingdom Festival is the grandest event of the year, celebrating the birth of the Kingdom of Orchesta starting seven days prior. After all, it is even more magnificent than the New Year's festival.
During the Kingdom Festival, stalls line the Royal Capital, flowers are decorated, men and women fall in love, people dance wildly everywhere... meanwhile, even in villages and towns outside the capital, modest festivals are held. Or, in the back alleys of large towns like Elsemarin and the like, drug addicts pass out drunk or fight energetically.
...And then, the nobles.
Yes. The nobles. The nobles of this country are noisily holding balls, evening parties, and whatnot throughout the Kingdom Festival. Since this time it is an informal masquerade ball starting from the first night, it is quite a peculiar turn of events.
"They are doing it quite grandly..."
"It likely serves as a way to vent frustration... but still, for it to be like this only half a year after you stood on the execution block."
Now then. Having arrived at the Royal Capital, we leisurely sightsee while blending into the crowd.
...There are guard soldiers stationed here and there at the festival, but with this crowd, if we act dignified, we surprisingly won't be found out.
"When I heard the Royal Family was trying to curry favor with the masses through the festival, I thought it couldn't be true... but looking at this state, it is entirely possible."
"Indeed. Well... I am glad they seem to be having fun."
As can be seen from the crowd, the Kingdom Festival is a great success on its first day. Those living in the Royal Capital, and those living in neighboring towns. A massive number of people gathered from all over are, well, looking very happy.
"I thought it'd be more chaotic. Boring."
For once, I agree with Chesta.
A festival hosted by the Royal Family—it would be fine if it became utterly chaotic! Wouldn't it be the best spectacle if the Royal Castle were surrounded by the masses, set on fire, and the King were executed by crucifixion while we're at it?
"...It's not that there are no elements for chaos. They just aren't here."
...If I carefully consider the reason why this festival is peaceful right now, the answer comes quite easily.
The people from regional cities who suffered from slime damage or bandit damage cannot come all the way to the Royal Capital to sightsee at a festival. So naturally, the people attending the festival are all peaceful, flighty, and full of energy. Yes.
"Are these guys idiots? Do they think criminals won't commit crimes just 'cause it's a festival?"
Indeed. Rather, in a flighty atmosphere and crowd like during a festival, one could pickpocket to their heart's content, steal as much as they want, and I feel like even if one were to briskly stab someone while blending into the crowd, they wouldn't be caught... It's a crime spree paradise!
"Since it's this lively even if it's only part of the country, it means at least the citizens here don't know the current situation and have no sense of crisis. Hah, how disgusting."
And the reason the masses are so flighty is, after all... because this is the 'Royal Capital.'
First of all, the citizens living in the Royal Capital are different from dirt-poor peasants at that point.
They don't have much trouble in their daily lives, and even if they say things like 'I'm afraid of criminals' or 'I'm afraid of the mass slime outbreak,' it's ultimately just a dissatisfaction without a real sense of crisis within the Royal Capital surrounded by city walls.
That many heinous criminals have escaped prison, that the daughter of the wicked House Fortesia is still alive, that slimes are breaking out in large numbers. Using such things as an excuse to grumble about their dissatisfaction with the Royal Family is a kind of entertainment.
There are almost no citizens who seriously think about overthrowing the Royal Family and starting a revolution. They are just saying it because they want to grumble. They just want to complain and act a bit cynical.
Since we haven't had time to scatter slimes lately, I wonder if everyone has forgotten about the mass slime outbreak? They might have even forgotten about me, you know?
While convincing themselves that inconvenient things have nothing to do with them, they still voice their dissatisfaction. And if there is something more fun than grumbling in front of them, they jump at it and start enjoying it. That is likely the ideology of the majority of the residents in this Royal Capital.
...I do think it is easier to live that way.
Without thinking about anything difficult, jumping at fun things when they appear, and using unpleasant things as an excuse to voice complaints. Being swept away, being manipulated, without realizing it, becoming neither a potent poison nor a medicine, just content with a faint, lingering poison, gradually rotting everything they touch.
Yes. I think that is the easiest way to live.
...But, I hate it.
Now, once we arrive at the inn on the outskirts, it is immediately time for the fun part!
"Now, Keeb! I shall make you adorable! Prepare yourself!"
"I told you! Why me...! Doran! Say something to her!"
"...Sorry. Give up. I'll increase your share by that much."
"You're kidding, right!?"
"Ohohohoho! Since Doran's permission has been granted! I shall make you grandly adorable!"
With this, I can make Keeb cute with peace of mind! I shall strip his clothes off immediately!
"It is a masterpiece."
The Keeb that was finished was perfectly a girl.
I was veeeeery torn between a mature navy dress and a lovely peach-colored dress. But in the end, I chose the navy dress.
Making him look extremely girly is one way, but by choosing an outfit that fits his image, the sense of incongruity definitely decreases. This time, it's an outfit that prioritizes blending into the venue.
Instead of aiming for a stereotypical beautiful girl, I aimed for a slightly unusual, beautiful-boy-type beautiful girl. Thanks to that, the awkwardness of the crossdressing has vanished brilliantly! With a chiffon stole and black lace gloves, it is perfect! Even without cheap tricks, he is a sufficiently fine lady!
"You've disguised him well."
"The raw material was good to begin with. I have done almost nothing!"
Thus, one girl is ready. I have done a good job. A top-tier girl that brings out the flavor of the ingredients.
"...Though as expected, we must not line him up next to Giovan..."
"Hm?"
"Ah, do I look rugged?"
Yes. That is it.
When you put Giovan and Keeb-chan side-by-side, Keeb inevitably looks a bit thick. That's because Giovan is too thin, though.
If Keeb had more curves... yes, a girl's body, it wouldn't be a problem. It would be a combination of a scrawny man and a cute girl. But Keeb's bones are still those of a boy after all... it stands out, this.
"In that case, I wonder if Keeb should pair up with Doran. Stand next to him for a moment... ah, it's a perfect fit. This is amazing."
"I'm meager compared to Doran anyway."
Most humans are meager compared to a muscular wolf.
...Doran is a bit too tall and has a muscular build, but he is perfect for standing next to Keeb. It makes Keeb look like a small and delicate girl.
"Which means the pairings will be Keeb and Doran, and myself and Giovan."
"I'm fine with that. Doran. What about you?"
"I don't mind. ...Keeb. You don't mind either, right?"
"Fine, fine. Whatever. Do as you like."
Then it is decided. We shall go on a raid to the ball with these pairings!
"Then Giovan and I will infiltrate, while Doran and Keeb will act as a diversion?"
"Thanks for the role distribution that's kind to non-combatants."
Giovan cannot fight, after all. In that case, it is better to leave the rough work to those two.
"We shall concentrate on information gathering. I want to know the current situation of the Royal Family, the state of the noble world, and the public reputation regarding Fruitier. Oh, and I also want to probe for the weaknesses of House Hornbone and House Clarino."
There is a mountain of information I want to obtain. While a certain amount of information comes in from the Guild in Elsemarin, there is also information unique to places where nobles gather. I want to reap as much as possible here.
"What should we do?"
"If something happens, it would be fine if you just draw their gaze. Well, since you are a pair of a handsome man and a beautiful girl, you will likely do that naturally."
It goes without saying that Keeb is beautiful, but Doran also has a fairly well-regulated appearance. He stands out due to his height, so I shall have them draw the venue's attention to their heart's content.
"Is it okay to let Keeb stand out?"
"I've put a long-haired wig on him, so it should be fine."
Since the hair length and gender are different, he won't be easily found out. Especially since it's a masquerade ball. Even the faces are hidden, so I think that part will be fine.
"Understood. However, I will let Keeb escape midway before things get serious."
"Then I'll just snatch someone and leave the venue when Doran starts rampaging."
"Please do so. Well, I shall also do my best to snatch as many people as possible, but please be careful not to let the illegal modification of the Spatial Bag be discovered."
This Spatial Bag, which has been illegally modified to allow living things inside, might be our greatest secret... If its existence were found out, the possibility that the mass slime outbreak was man-made would surface. I want to avoid that.
"...By the way. Young lady. I'm more worried about you than Keeb."
Indeed. Perhaps I am the one in the most danger. Yes. I am aware.
"It is a masquerade ball, for one. My face won't be known. Besides, I have a lower noble rank created with forged documents... and in the first place, I am currently supposed to be in exile and sheltered in a foreign country."
"Oh right, that was the case."
Yes. That is right. ...For the sake of a war plot that ended in failure, I am supposed to be sheltered in some random country! Well, it's fine since it's useful here!
"...Still, I think it's better to be careful. Are you really going? Young lady."
"Of course!"
It is a long-awaited pleasure! The option of not going did not exist from the start!
Generally, the things we need to do have been decided, so all that's left is to move in.
"How do we judge when to wrap up? Is it okay if we just disperse appropriately?"
Just as I thought that, I realized we had failed to decide one more important thing.
Indeed. If things have a beginning, they must also have an end. Especially the timing to wrap up; if one accidentally misses it, it will be a disaster. I want to avoid being the only one left at the venue and getting caught after everyone else has retreated.
"Let me see... then since we're at it, shall we use an easy-to-understand signal?"
I thought for a moment... and immediately reached a conclusion.
"I find this festival distasteful. So, when we pull out, how about we destroy this festival together?"
"Destroying the entire ball venue, huh. Understood."
"Not bad. I'm in the mood for a bit of a ruckus too."
"Ah, I'll lay off the lightning. I'll make it pour rain instead, so be prepared."
"Uh, then I guess I'll just commit some random arson outside the venue...? Yeah, I'll do that."
Now then. Since everyone's agreement has been obtained, the final pleasure is also a go!
"Now, you rascals! We're moving in!"
Now, let us go! To the den of the nobles!