A Terrifying Invitation
Daisy suddenly soured.
That bastard. He didn’t laugh when I was joking around, and now he’s bursting out laughing at something serious?
Choose an option.
(1) Still, he seems to genuinely find it amusing, so let it slide—no harm, no foul.
(2) Teach him some manners.
(3) Attack Salia.
“I see... You’re sharp enough to notice that. In that case, can you notice this as well? What problem would there be in accepting tribute after the royal inspection is over?”
“Hmm... The order is different, but I believe the same principle applies as before. Since it would be immediately after Your Majesty has shown me royal favor during the inspection, it would look as though I were offering a bribe to ensure you continue to look kindly upon me. But if the tribute were offered later, after the matter of the Cliad Sect has settled down, I don’t think there would be any issue. Enough time would have passed, and people’s attention would be focused on sorting out the aftermath.”
Daisy’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You are perceptive. Then again, a man who has performed such feats would hardly be foolish.”
“I’m grateful for your good opinion of me, Your Majesty.”
Ho-yeong, praised, felt rather pleased with himself.
“How much better it would have been if you had also piled up learning with that clever mind of yours.”
Our border count’s got a good head on his shoulders, but he doesn’t study.
“I—I shall devote myself more diligently to scholarship, Your Majesty.”
“Good. You have the makings of a wise general, so I hope you’ll be both civil and military in equal measure.”
Achievement [Intermediate Social Grace] obtained! As a reward, you have gained EP 50, and your Intelligence stat has increased slightly overall.
Daisy has given you very valuable advice. Since it is the king’s advice, it is recommended that you take it to heart.
Ah, not the part about studying—the part about politics.
Ho-yeong wasn’t particularly happy even after earning the achievement.
So this is what they meant by a positive event? Sure, getting smarter by raising my Intelligence is nice, but...
A super-positive event is about to occur! Daisy is in an excellent mood, so be careful not to accidentally offend her.
A super-positive event? Not just positive, but super-positive? What the hell is it supposed to be...
Daisy brought up Tamer Territory.
“The matter of the Cliad Sect is important, but so is fortifying Tamer Territory in the future, yes? If we cut down the fanatic’s leader, will the monsters stop coming altogether?”
“If only that were so, Your Majesty... But the scheduled assault will not be canceled.”
Ho-yeong shook his head with an apologetic expression.
If only it were one of those games where you just kill the enemy commander and it’s over.
The stage window in the status screen already listed at least five stages. Worse still, information from Stage 3 onward had not even been unlocked.
“Still, if we can stop the Cliad Sect’s forces, there will be no one directly controlling the monsters, so it should be much easier to hold them off.”
“That is a fine attitude. But did you say the angels gave you the power of foresight?”
“I did, Your Majesty.”
After the royal inspection, Ho-yeong had been bombarded with questions. Especially by the clergy.
Did you really receive a revelation?
What is your relationship with the angels?
Can you see the future?
And so on—one headache-inducing question after another.
In the end, he had no choice but to explain the information in his status window. He said things like, “I gained the power of foresight with the help of the angels,” or, “The angels grant me revelations.”
It was a desperate measure. He couldn’t very well tell them he had possessed a game world, and he couldn’t keep dodging the truth about the strange powers he had as a player forever.
It’s not a lie. No, it is the truth. A game system is, in the end, just a collection of angels.
Because it was true, the clergy’s cross-like insignia had flared with excitement. Thanks to that, he would not be hauled before an inquisition, and no one had any further objections. Though there were still those who envied him, feared him, or schemed to use him for their own ends.
“Then when is the next attack?”
“In about ninety days.”
“And what monsters will appear?”
“Rhino-saur, Your Majesty.”
Rhino-saur was a massive monster that looked like a fusion of a rhinoceros and a bipedal dinosaur. It was a formidable foe, with both outstanding attack power and defense.
“Rhino-saur... I have never seen one myself, but I have heard it is tremendously strong. Can Tamer Territory handle it on its own strength?”
“We have enough time to prepare, so I believe we can manage it somehow.”
Even with her vassal’s spirited answer, the queen still seemed worried.
“Then I should like to lend you my strength.”
“Your strength, Your Majesty?”
“I mean that I shall personally lead an expedition to Tamer Territory.”
At those completely unexpected words, Ho-yeong shot to his feet.
“R-Really, Your Majesty?!”
If Daisy, with her SSS-ranked might, were to take the field, it would be no different from using a cheat code.
Amazing! The king herself coming is basically a giant buff in cheat form.
⊳ Daisy will join the Stage 2 battle.
“Since I’m already going on an expedition, I may as well tour the western territories as well, and I should like to see Tamer Territory for myself.”
“It is the greatest honor to host a noble personage in our humble land.”
“I invited you to my home, so will you not invite me to yours as well?”
“Ah... that would be difficult.”
Having learned from experience, Daisy did not snap, “Why?!” or, “What do you mean?!” She had learned the hard way that if she lost her temper, she might accidentally unleash three consecutive rounds of father-insulting abuse.
“Is your home... nonexistent?”
October 15, 724, Kingdom Calendar, 9:30 p.m.
Border Count: Today’s palace emergency visit was fun! I’ll invite you to my home next time ^^
Your Majesty: Yes. I’ll wait : D
December 25, 724, Kingdom Calendar, 11:30 p.m.
Your Majesty: Do you perhaps not have a home? (Unread)
“Y-Yes... though I still need an office, so I’m making do by repairing the most usable of the ruined buildings. I do have an ocher bed—no, a mana-soil bed—so it does stay warm enough.”
“Even so, you are the lord in name as well as in fact. How can you have no manor? No, Duonoraong told me you even rebuilt the homes of the territory’s people who suffered damage in the disaster. And yet you haven’t made a place for yourself to live?”
“The soldiers’ quarters aren’t even finished yet. How could I stretch out and sleep comfortably before they do?”
“Joren Tamer. You fool—such a pitiful fool. I am ashamed of myself for ever scolding you about coveting wealth.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty.”
Lord and sovereign both sniffled in unison.
“Ah. Since Your Majesty says you will be visiting Tamer Territory, I shall have a guest residence prepared as soon as I return.”
“Build your own house first. At once! That is an order. If I arrive and the lord’s manor still does not exist, I shall punish you severely for disobeying a royal command!”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty!”
Just as Daisy was clicking her tongue, something suddenly occurred to her.
“Come to think of it... didn’t I once build you a house? Here in Kainea, I mean.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I was blessed beyond measure.”
“That house is still standing, I trust? You said you’d squandered your fortune—surely you didn’t go so far as to sell the house the king gave you?”
Ho-yeong flinched. Memories from the time he had departed for Tamer Territory surfaced in his mind.
Do I even need this house now? Sure, I still have to visit the capital periodically, pay my respects to the queen, and all that... but when that happens, I could just stay at an inn, couldn’t I? (...) No, no. This is a house bestowed by that rotten-tempered queen. If I sold it, she might get furious and start cursing me out. (...) Still, this house could probably fetch a pretty good price. The land value alone might be fairly substantial...
It was truly fortunate he had never sold the mansion.
“Of course not, Your Majesty. There are things one may sell, and then there is the house Your Majesty granted me. Surely you jest too much, Your Majesty. Hahaha...”
“Good. Then invite me there instead.”
“Pardon?”
Daisy said it so casually that Ho-yeong was left gaping.
“Right now, we both have weighty duties to fulfill. You must find the Cliad hideout and rescue the kidnapped citizens, while I must march north and annihilate the ogre horde.”
“But then how...”
“Once you and I finish our work, we will both return here, will we not? This palace is my home, and you must report the tribute and the aftermath.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then I’m asking you to invite me then.”
Important Quest Alert! You must proceed with Audience with the Cliad Sect Leader. Time remaining: 6 hours 30 minutes.
Important Quest Alert! You must proceed with Meeting a Noble Personage in a Humble Place. Time remaining: ???
No, why is that an important quest?
Ho-yeong went blank at the new message window.
“Do you not like it?”
“How could I not? I would be honored to host you, of course.”
It was truly generous of her to join the expedition to Tamer Territory, but the thought of her coming to his residence was terrifying.
“I’ve heard rumors that the Border Count is quite gifted in the kitchen.”
“Pardon? Ah, that’s a false rumor. I merely—”
“Then you’ll show me that skill as well, won’t you?”
“I-I shall serve you with all due devotion.”
“Thank you. It’s been a very long time since I was invited to a vassal’s house.”
With a smile, the queen left Ho-yeong with no choice but to nod.
That wasn’t an invitation. That was an order.
“Then I shall look forward to it until that day. May you prevail in all things.”
“I shall repay Your Majesty for the treasures and royal favor you have bestowed.”
Feeling a strange, lingering sense of an ominous death flag, Ho-yeong left the royal chamber.
“Border Count, have you concluded your private audience with Her Majesty?”
“Yes? Ah, yes.”
“Take care on your way. Inform the head maid that Her Majesty has finished receiving visitors.”
Watching the captain of the guard salute him, Ho-yeong was suddenly curious.
“Captain of the Guard, may I ask you one thing?”
“Please, ask.”
The captain of the guard looked even stiffer than Demis Ezef, both in expression and tone.
“Has Her Majesty ever joked with you, or with any of the other guards?”
“Joke? Her Majesty? To us? It sounds to me like the Border Count is joking.”
“I see... My apologies.”
As Ho-yeong hurried off toward the Marquis of Iolid’s estate, Daisy was left alone, lost in thought.
Hmm. I should have had some gold coins brought down, maybe? Enough for him to build a manor in Tamer Territory... No. Joren Tamer would just use the money to build barracks and call it a day.
Since she had intended to reward him the next time they met at the palace anyway, she decided to let it go.
But what in the world just happened? I was chatting nonsense with a vassal. Have I somehow been controlled by the elves?
For someone so devoted to royal dignity and authority, it was a difficult thing to imagine.
I was angry at that fool just now and may have said something I shouldn’t have... What was it?
She was usually so attentive to every word she spoke, every syllable she let out, that it was odd even to her that she could not remember what she had said.
I, a king, made a foolish, almost embarrassing display before a mere vassal who may be loyal but is still only a vassal. And all because that man keeps doing ridiculous things. A vassal laughing at the king and going, “Hahaha, Your Majesty”? Nonsense.
Thinking of the Border Count’s joke made her frown on instinct. And yet, when she thought about it again, it was somehow amusing, which only made her more irritated.
Now what did they call it when a king laughs at a vassal?
Daisy pondered it deeply.
Yes, that was it.
And in the meantime, she no longer heard the maids calling out to her.
“Your Majesty, then shall we—”
“Vaassal-hahahahah... ha?”
That day, the head maid spent the entire afternoon teaching the maids proper etiquette for announcing their presence.
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