240. Giant (3)
240. Giant (3)
In stark contrast to the Raitel Kingdom, which had the atmosphere of a house in mourning, the Lilliput Kingdom had been in an unbroken festive mood.
When they first pressed the war against the great nation of Raitel, the people's and retainers' sentiments had plummeted into the abyss. But now, her renown soared to the heavens like never before.
In a battle where defeat seemed certain, she had taken command of a giant, personally led her army, and secured victory, so this was only to be expected.
"Long live Her Majesty the Queen!!!"
"Oh nooo, not to that extent..."
"Long live Her Majesty the Queen!!"
"Hehe..."
"Long, long live Her Majesty the Queen!!!"
"Heehehehe..."
Voices of praise for Im Ga-eul rang out ceaselessly.
Forgetting the dignified persona she had initially adopted, she grinned broadly with a flushed face.
"Ehehe..."
She was grinning and scratching her head indecorously when it happened.
"Your Majesty, it is now time to exact the price of war."
Among the retainers beside her, a stiff-looking old woman spoke up in a serious voice to offer counsel.
"...Price?"
"Yes. Traditionally, the victor must exact a price of war from the defeated. What's more, we overcame a power disparity of more than five times. Whatever we demand of the Raitel Kingdom, they will have no choice but to accept."
At her counsel, Im Ga-eul wiped the smile from her face and scratched her cheek.
'Hmm, what should I take from them...?'
To be honest, what did Im Ga-eul know about running a kingdom?
When she thought about what to take, she simply—
'I guess I could just ask for Yu-ha hoobae.'
That was all she was thinking.
"What are your views?"
Fortunately, the Lilliput Kingdom was full of retainers who could do her thinking for her.
"The Raitel Kingdom is fundamentally a massive kingdom, so there is much to be gained."
"It would be acceptable to demand horses to feed the giant, our Lilliput guardian deity. If it is the Raitel Kingdom, they will surely be raising a sufficient number."
"Our food supplies are insufficient."
"However, provisions have too short a shelf life; would it not be better to receive payment in treasure instead?"
"Above all, land! We must take land! With land, both treasure and provisions can be levied from it—land is the true bargain!"
As if they had only been waiting for her to ask, the retainers began voicing their opinions one after another. The mood was different from when they had first tearfully pleaded with her to simply slay the giant, with no other recourse.
'Hmm, I still don't really get it even after listening... Maybe I should just go see the giant?'
She was listening to the tedious talk with one ear and letting it out the other, about to leave the room, when—
"Your Majestyyyyy!!!"
A knight in heavy armor came bursting through the audience chamber doors in a flurry.
"You insolent wretch! What is the meaning of this rash behavior! Do you know where you are!?"
One of the high ministers rebuked her with a displeased look.
"I-I... it's... so-sor—"
"No."
Im Ga-eul extended a hand to stop the knight who was about to prostrate herself on the spot and beg forgiveness.
"If you came in such a hurry, there must be something going on. So, what is it?"
"Well, it's... from the Raitel Kingdom..."
"The Raitel Kingdom?"
"Y-Yes. T-Two people have come!"
Those who had tensed up at the mention of Raitel relaxed their faces when they heard it was only two people.
"...Two, you say? Envoys, then?"
"Hoho, the Raitel Kingdom does have some decorum after all."
"Indeed, it is only natural for a defeated nation to send envoys."
But the knight was still trembling.
"I-It's... it's the Raitel Kingdom's Minister of Magic, and a... a single soldier! They said... 'Inform the Queen that Jin Yu-ha and Ichika have come!'"
"!"
At that, everyone's eyes flew wide open.
The Raitel Kingdom's Minister of Magic was known even to Lilliput.
She held power rivaling that kingdom's Queen and could single-handedly fight a battle against a hundred. A woman who was lauded.
But why would someone like that come here?
"Y-Your Majesty, absolutely not!"
"It is clearly a wicked stratagem of the enemy!"
"Disarm them completely, and ready every soldier—"
The high ministers sputtered.
However, having heard the names Jin Yu-ha and Ichika, Im Ga-eul wore a bright smile all over her face.
"You've finally come!!!"
"...Pardon?"
"...?"
The high ministers looked at her with expressions that asked what in the world Her Majesty was talking about.
"Th-Those two are... m-my spies planted in the Raitel Kingdom!! Spies! So, h-hurry up and escort them to a secret chamber!"
Under the gaze of the high ministers, Im Ga-eul fell back on the same excuse she had used before with the giant.
Whoosh—
Im Ga-eul vacated the audience chamber.
The remaining high ministers began talking among themselves with grave faces.
"...O-Our Queen was even able to plant spies... in the Raitel Kingdom?"
"If I did not mishear, did she not distinctly say 'Minister of Magic' just a moment ago?"
"The Minister of Magic... at the very heart of power... as a spy...?"
"Our Queen is truly a fearsome person..."
Unbeknownst to her, the deification of Im Ga-eul was deepening further.
* * *
Jin Yu-ha and Ichika were guided to a secret chamber by a knight who, for some reason, kept glancing at them.
And a short while later.
Bang—
The door swung open.
"Hoobae!!!"
Im Ga-eul rushed toward Jin Yu-ha, a wide smile across her face.
'Hoobae hugged me first, last time. So it's okay if I start it this time, right?'
With that thought, Im Ga-eul had thrown herself forward in a rush. But—
Poof.
What she ended up hugging was the black shadow Ichika had summoned.
'What is the meaning of this.'
Having embraced the shadow instead of Jin Yu-ha, Im Ga-eul narrowed her eyes and glared at Ichika.
"This is no time for a happy reunion."
Ichika turned her head away primly as she said that. At this, Jin Yu-ha also nodded with a solemn face, as if he agreed.
"She's right, sunbae. We need to prepare for war right away."
"...What? W-War? We just ended a war not long ago!?"
Im Ga-eul blurted out in disbelief.
How much time had even passed since the war ended, and now they were talking about war again!
"So, well... this time, thanks to you and Ichika's efforts... we're moving straight into the final chapter."
"...What?"
"So, probably, the other side will soon summon a demon and come charging in for the last battle. That's why we've come over to your side—to fight that demon."
"...You're insane. N-No, wait. This is all going way too fast, I'm not taking it in. Hoobae, can you explain a little more?"
*
After hearing Jin Yu-ha's explanation, Im Ga-eul pressed her fingers to her forehead in dizziness.
"S-So, you're saying... the minions' plan to possess the giant with a demon... during the war... that completely failed?"
"Yes. Thanks to you strengthening the giant, Ga-eul sunbae, they had no opening to cast a curse. And because I went and wiped out every single one of the demon's minions back then, well, their side completely ran out of options."
"Le-Let's say that's true. But how can you be so certain that those guys would really sacrifice the entire Raitel Kingdom to summon a demon...?"
"Ichika was able to figure that out quickly by investigating while we were fighting the war."
Jin Yu-ha patted Ichika on the shoulder as he spoke.
At that, Ichika stuck her chest out, as if showing off.
After hearing the whole story, Im Ga-eul could only utter a single remark with a forlorn expression.
"...This is crazy."
"So, sunbae. Could you possibly arrange for me to meet the giant separately?"
...To be honest, because it was all so sudden, she still hadn't fully grasped the situation. But Im Ga-eul nodded and said,
"...Uh, uh-huh. Got it. Follow me."
* * *
Thanks to Ga-eul sunbae's connections, I was able to face the giant again after just a few days. Not the one whose eyes had been consumed by battle, but the one sitting in a field, leisurely passing the time.
"!"
The moment the giant saw me, its eyes went wide, and it shouted in a voice like rolling thunder.
"You, you are! The warrior who bested me that day! Ha! Could it be! Have you come seeking the duel we could not finish to the very end!?"
Thwack!!
At that, Im Ga-eul, who had covered her ears with both hands, kicked the giant and shrieked.
"Quiet! Lower your voice! And I told you he's on our side! Have you forgotten already!?"
At that, the giant rolled its eyes around and let its mouth fall open with a dumb look. Ah.
"Th-That is so... In that case, warrior, why have you come seeking me...?"
The giant spoke in a timid voice. Even its volume lowered.
"Well, I don't plan on a long talk either."
I nodded and answered.
"I'll just get straight to the point."
"...?"
"You came here looking for a demon, right? To fight it."
At that, the giant's eyes grew wide.
"H-How did you, how could you...! D-Don't tell me you know where the demon is!?"
"Yeah. We'll soon be fighting the demon. And I want you to lend us your strength when that time comes."