kscans

Chapter 150 - The O-saki and the Emissary

"With this, we’ve visited all the borderland countries."

After leaving the Sucaraba Kingdom, Little One was listlessly buried in a cushion, surrounded by a multitude of mononoke. To the right observer, it might have looked like a scene from a fairy tale like Snow White, but the creatures swarming her were mononoke. It was far from such a whimsical sight. Rabbits, chicks, and squirrels were one thing, but there were also spiders and snakes, frogs, scorpions, and praying mantises. Crawling on the floor were centipedes of all sizes. For someone who disliked them, it was a scene worthy of a scream. Her retinue, which had grown even larger after passing through each forest, was happily munching on sweets, pori pori.

"Next is Donautil. I think we can stretch our wings a bit there."

Adonis offered her some tea, and Little One nodded happily as she accepted it.

"You’re right. With Marrow and the others, there’s no need to put on an act. We can relax for a bit, nyo."

Perhaps because she had been putting on an act in every country they had visited so far, Little One’s face showed genuine relief. While Little One’s troupe watched her with fond smiles, the father and son magic user duo stared in astonishment, a cold sweat dripping down their faces.

Wait, after all that? I know she was putting on an act, but to say she couldn’t stretch her wings after doing whatever she pleased… Just how much more is there!

What Darvy knew was the basic life of nobles. Haughty, arrogant, and indulging in every luxury, they were nobles in the worst sense of the word. They also had high pride, disliked impropriety and disrespect, and were purebred nobles who valued hierarchy.

Viewed from that standard, Little One was far too unconventional. She was disorderly and frank, with no room for mind games or anything of the sort. She would gouge out her opponent’s weak spots relentlessly and advance the conversation as she pleased. She offered no compromises, just a grin as she cut them down. A wild freedom, like that of a beast. Even when veiled in polite etiquette, her untamable wildness stood out.

And yet, they learned that even that was her putting on an act when they arrived at the Lord’s Forest.

In the Lord’s Forest, Little One had started dancing with a cry of "Waai!" and frolicked with the mononoke, just like the innocent children of the city.

Ah, so this is her true self.

The two of them smiled, having come to a light understanding, but it seemed even that was still part of the act.

Dumbfounded, Darvy checked with her.

"Um… so, are we giving a lecture in Donautil too?"

The girl looked at the anxious Darvy and shook her head.

"Nope. Marrow is in Donautil, and they already have dedicated magicians dispatched from Frontier, so a lecture isn’t necessary."

That’s right. Donautil and Flowers, where princes had studied abroad at Frontier’s noble academy, were a step ahead of the other countries in establishing their own magical institutions. These institutions had now grown to the point where they could focus on research. Flowers in particular had solidified its foundations and had been quick to develop them. It was rumored in Frontier that technicians sent from Kilfan were also staying in Donautil, continuing to provide technical and disaster recovery support, leading to remarkable development.

"I’m looking forward to it."

Little One’s eyes narrowed happily.

It had been a long road. How many years had it taken to get here? She had started preparing at the age of two, traveled the world from the age of seven, and now her promise with the gods was finally nearing its end.

Then, suddenly, Little One realized something.

I haven’t heard the resonance.

The resonance that had echoed throughout the world, making Merda and Sapphard doubt their own eyes. Little One had yet to hear the proof that the Golden Ring was complete.

Eh? What does that mean? Don’t tell me it’s not complete? Is something missing?

As Little One stood there, utterly stunned, the Honeybee Carriage, which had been flying day and night with breaks in between, arrived in the Kingdom of Donautil.

Following the guidance of people waving flags on the ground, Little One instructed the honeybees to land the carriage in the royal palace courtyard. The familiar red and white flags. The ones used for various kinds of guidance were likely brought from Kilfan. Marrow ran up to the quietly descending Honeybee Carriage with a beaming smile.

"Hero! I’m so glad you came!!"

"It’s been a while, Marrow, nyo. We’ll be in your care for a bit."

The magic user father and son duo’s eyes went wide as the prince lifted Little One by her sides. Their familiar appearance was like that of close relatives. They didn't seem like strangers from another country at all. Marrow was about to head toward the palace, holding the girl with one hand, when Dorfen and Chihaya stopped him.

"Could you please put her down? It is disrespectful to Chihiro-sama."

"Forget disrespect, don’t touch her! She’s a maiden, you know!"

Glared at by the two sharp-tongued watchdogs, Marrow looked down at Little One.

"You don’t like it?"

"I don’t mind, but you’ve gotten so big, Marrow. Have you grown again?"

Little One was on the small side for being nearly ten, while Marrow was on the large side for fifteen. The height difference was over fifty centimeters. Marrow, who could easily hold Little One in one hand, must not have neglected his training. Compared to two years ago, he had changed as much as a child to an adult.

"Hero! If you want to be held, your big brother will do it for you!"

Compared to Marrow, Chihaya was still a child and did not have the physique to hold Little One with one hand.

"If I may be so bold, I will…"

Marrow slapped away Dorfen’s outstretched arm. He then snorted and stared at Dorfen.

"You are bold indeed. For a mere attendant. You will stand aside."

Dorfen stared blankly at his slapped-away arm, a faint smile spreading across his face. The moment Chihaya and Dorfen both began to emit an unsettling, murderous aura, someone forcefully struck Marrow on the back of the head with something. The object that hit him with a good, sharp "kakon" sound was a luxurious scepter decorated with gold, silver, and jewels.

"Owwww!"

Little One jumped down from Marrow, who had involuntarily crouched. She looked up to see Masahad, the new king. He was looking down at Marrow with a loathsome gaze he didn't even try to hide.

"I watched you in silence, but you… are you an idiot! Don’t pick a fight with Frontier’s attendants!"

Behind Masahad, who was yelling at Marrow, were Dīvadatta and his family. From behind the couple, who were smiling wryly, Prince Tepia and Prince Aristro, Dīvadatta’s sons, jumped out.

"Chihiro-sama! Do you remember me? I’m Tepia!"

"I’m Aristro."

Prince Tepia? Wow, he’s gotten bigger too!

They had the blue-silver hair and crimson eyes characteristic of the Donautil royal family. The two of them, smiling with innocent cheerfulness, were naturally bigger than they had been two years ago.

"I remember you, Your Highnesses. It has been a long time."

Little One gave a graceful curtsy and bowed her head respectfully. The two of them hurriedly bowed their heads in return.

"Forgive our rudeness in not greeting you properly. Welcome."

"Welcome."

The adults were soothed by the sight of the cute children.

Marrow, who was glaring at the three of them with teary eyes, garururu, was poked again. Guarded by Masahad and the others, the Frontier party entered the Donautil royal palace.

They borrowed the detached palace they had stayed in before. As the knights took out a great deal of luggage from the storage gems, Marrow looked at Little One with an excited expression.

"How long can you stay this time? A week? A month? If you want, you can stay forever. You can just marry me."

"Don’t be ridiculous, I have nothing to my name."

A royal family joke was not funny.

"I need none of that. I will prepare something extraordinary for you."

Little One’s troupe looked coolly at the serious Marrow. Just as Chihaya snapped his fingers and Dorfen began to lift the hilt of his sword, a deliberate cough was heard from behind them.

"Marrow. You, that’s enough. If you spout any more nonsense, go and finish your work first! If I let you run wild, I won’t have enough lives to spare!!"

Literally, not figuratively.

It was His Majesty the new king, who once again sent a high-pitched sound ringing from the back of his foolish younger brother’s head.

Little One’s troupe was known as Frontier’s powder keg. Watching his brother charge headfirst into them was always bad for his heart, Masahad thought. Donautil now received real-time reports from their clandestine units infiltrated in various countries. The magical institution, mainly run by Marrow, had grown. The number of nobles who had mastered water mirrors and wind messages had increased, and though rudimentary, information was now being sent back.

However, the contents of that information were sending fresh shivers through Donautil.

Most of it was about Little One’s exploits. Reports like screams would come in from all over every few months, and Masahad would stroke his chest in relief, thinking how lucky Donautil had been. News that Castrato had become a semi-vassal state, that Claudia’s forests had withered and monsters had gathered, bringing the country to the brink of collapse, or that she was on friendly terms with the princess of the Torzebisont Kingdom. Just yesterday, they had received eye and ear-doubting information that the Crown Prince of the Sucaraba Kingdom was taking a monster for a walk. Among them, the images of Castrato’s noble district destroyed by monsters and the overwhelming number of monsters surrounding Claudia had left him speechless, and Masahad renewed his vow never to oppose Frontier. If they had taken one wrong step, Donautil might have suffered the same fate. It was a happy accident that Marrow had become friends with Little One, and that she had come to their aid when they were on the brink of death, leading to a sense of camaraderie that had been forged out of necessity. As a result, they had reached an unimaginable conclusion, and here they were now.

Ah, they had been truly fortunate. At the time, it had been a desperate situation with no way out, but that had brought them the rare backing of Little One.

Masahad savored his current bliss as he watched the children squabbling. The brothers laughed out loud. Children growing up without knowing the danger of their lives. A future for the royal family without a single worry.

However, an unsettling air began to leak into the scene.

Masahad keenly sensed the Frontier members on the verge of exploding at Marrow’s insolent words, raised his scepter to strike the back of his thoughtless brother’s head once more, and coughed deliberately.

His cute younger brother crouched, ooooh, after being struck by the scepter.

You really need to understand your own position, or you’ll be in serious trouble. I’ll admit you have the guts not to give up despite your grand failures, though.

The common sense of royalty differed between Frontier and Donautil. In Donautil, status was absolute in their class-based society. Any kind of tyranny was permissible, and exercising it was a status symbol. They constantly had to display their power both internally and externally. However, Frontier was different. Those who made unreasonable demands or acted tyrannically were pointed at from behind as shameless. The strong should have composure towards the weak, not arrogance. What they should give is protection, not trampling. That is what creates and nurtures future taxpayers.

"What’s the point of reducing your source of money? Are you an idiot?"

Masahad and his aides were enlightened by Little One’s explanation. It was exactly as she said.

Our country is still so far behind.

Their current relationship with Flowers, through Frontier, was also good. It was a daily struggle of trial and error with the technicians who had come from Kilfan, but he wanted to believe they were making some progress.

First, I have to reform this one, who’s not making any progress at all!

Even as he lectured Marrow, who had abandoned his work as the head of the magical institution, Masahad couldn’t help but smile at the enjoyable days.