I Have No Interest in Host Bars!
I sprawled out with a groan. “Hngh… Your Highness…”
It was the first day since I’d become Regent, and I already felt like I was about to collapse from overwork. Even though I’d handed most of the duties over to my subordinates, the workload was still insane. Thanks to that, I’d ended up in a state where I couldn’t even resist Liana.
Am I a dakimakura or what?
Liana was hugging me like a body pillow and sleeping soundly. Watching her, I could only shake my head.
“That Liana… does she really like me that much?”
These days, the mountain of work meant that the moment I lay down in bed, I basically passed out. Because of that, I hadn’t had any time to spend the 5,000 points I’d received before.
“Today is the day I will definitely use them!”
Why save points that don’t even earn interest? I should spend them freely.
I carefully sat up so I wouldn’t wake Liana.
“Open the status window.”
Status Window
The only skill listed was Majesty of the Tyrant, but the fact that the fear effect could be used flexibly was a bit strange. Still—
“That’s not the issue right now.”
I immediately opened the shop. Honestly, I was torn. Should I buy the Today’s Recommended Item—abbreviated as Ochua—or try something else?
Ochua had been incredibly kind to me, feeding me multiple high-value items over three pulls. The chance of getting an item worth over 10,000 points was less than 10 percent, yet it had given me items worth 700,000 and 500,000 points. Frankly, it was beginner’s luck. There was no telling how long that luck would last.
Maybe it’s time to graduate from it. With that thought, I scrolled through the shop window, looking for something better.
Down. And down again. I kept scrolling. Before I knew it, the scroll bar was nearly at the bottom. I was just wondering if I should buy Ochua again when—
“Hm…? What is this?”
At first glance, I thought it was Ochua. Or rather, was this also Ochua?
◈ Description: Test your luck!
◈ Effect: Grants a random item (1,000pt ~ 3,000,000pt) upon use.
◈ Price: 2,500pt
◈ Description: Test your luck!
◈ Effect: Grants a random item (2,500pt ~ 5,000,000pt) upon use.
◈ Price: 5,000pt
The price had doubled, yet the maximum value had actually decreased. “This is a difficult choice…”
Should I pull twice with the premium version to aim for high-value items, or pull just once with the deluxe version to aim for an item I’d never seen before?
The first option is the safe bet, but…
Something about it just didn’t feel right. My head was screaming for the premium Ochua, but my heart wanted the deluxe one.
After much deliberation, I made my decision.
“I shall purchase the deluxe Ochua…!”
A world-renowned gambler and tycoon once said: All or nothing! This was do-or-die.
Are you sure you want to purchase? YES / NO
“Yes!”
The moment the purchase confirmation window disappeared, I experienced something I had never encountered before. A group of tall, sharply dressed men suddenly appeared out of nowhere and surrounded me in an instant.
Among them, one man wearing an especially flashy outfit shouted loudly.
“One! Two! Three!”
While I was still trying to process the sudden situation, the others began to respond in unison.
“Hey! Hey! Hey!”
Wait a second… Isn’t this the host bar guys’ ceremony? Also known as the Champagne Call. The one where, if you order a champagne tower, a whole crowd of hosts rushes over and puts on a show… Is this for real?
I’d prayed it wasn’t, but why is my prediction never wrong?
“Ah! Tonight’s star of the imperial palace!”
“Princess!!”
“Our fiery princess has—”
“Princess has!!”
“Boldly purchased the deluxe Ochua!”
“Ochua!!”
“What a flex! Raise the energy! Let’s goooo!”
“Waaaaah! We love you, Princess!!”
I’m a man, you idiots… Even if my outer appearance is that of a petite little girl, inside I’m a healthy adult male!
They began swaying their bodies in time with the sound of applause. Then the man who seemed to be the leader handed me an extremely luxurious black box.
As soon as I took the box, everyone stomped their feet and stared at me with eyes full of anticipation. I carefully opened the elegantly wrapped box.
“Th-this is a scam…!”
There was nothing inside but a single blue pearl.
I thought my dazzling gacha show had ended there, but the host bar crew immediately burst into applause.
“Our fiery princess has—”
“Princess has!!”
“Pulled the ‘Coral Pearl of the Dead Sea’!”
“Princess’s luck is insane!!”
◈ A blue pearl that only grows on the riverbank where souls cross into the afterlife.
◈ Effect: Can revive any dead person without any cost. (※One-time use only)
◈ Value: 5,000,000 pt
“Hah…!”
Treasure Map of Fate, Customized Support Scroll—what even were those? I felt embarrassed for thinking they were jackpots before.
This is the real jackpot!
Even though it was a one-time item, it was ridiculously overpowered. The special thing about this item that could appear in other novels was that it had no expiration date whatsoever.
“Does this mean it can revive even a skeleton that’s been reduced to bones…?”
Wow, I’m actually speechless. If I dug up the grave of the strongest person in history right now and used this pearl, I could literally perform edo tensei! The urge to run out and use it immediately was overwhelming, but I decided to hold back for now.
I should save it for a truly critical moment. It feels like a final trump card.
While I was distracted by the item, the host bar crew had vanished as if they had never been there. Thud—
Maybe it was because I’d gotten so excited, but a wave of drowsiness hit me hard. Both mental and physical exhaustion.
“Since I have to work again tomorrow, this lady will head to dreamland now…”
Hugging Liana, who smelled faintly of lily of the valley, my eyelids slowly sank into the depths of sleep.
At least 50 kilometers away from Grayton Territory. In the remote border region of the Barshain Empire, Belhart Territory, a war was currently raging. The conflict between the Coalition and the Barshain Empire.
Beneath a black tent, three men sat around a small table: Kalian Barshain, Magnum Belhart, and Persenand Ragna.
“Bordergrave, how many enemies are there?” Kalian asked Magnum Belhart.
“That is… estimated to be between 400,000 and 500,000…”
—Bang!
Kalian couldn’t hold back his rage and slammed his fist down on the table. The table split cleanly in two. On the broken table, the border map lay scattered, and countless black and white pieces rolled across it.
“Legion Commander, how many imperial soldiers do we have?” Kalian asked Persenand Ragna this time.
“70,000 in the vanguard and 30,000 in the rear, totaling 100,000 men.”
The individual firepower of each imperial soldier was unmatched by any other nation. However, when it came to one versus many, the story changed.
Mages. Beings who could easily incinerate three or four people with mid-level combat magic. Unfortunately, the empire did not train mages nearly as much as knights. Not only were there few people skilled in magic, but in Barshain, which valued the spirit of chivalry, the image of mages was not particularly favorable. And above all, there was no money to train mages.
The empire’s way was simply to cut, cut, and keep cutting. That was how the empire had seized dominance over the continent. It would be no different this time. Or ever.
“Your Majesty… is there no other way…?” At Magnum’s words, Kalian fell into thought. Charging recklessly into an area with mages would only turn them into easy moving targets, resulting in massive losses.
“We will not move until they do. If their movements are detected, the mages will launch spells at the front to create chaos. In that opening, the knights—including myself—will tie down the enemy vanguard, while the remaining soldiers strike the mages from both flanks.”
It was a strategy Kalian had devised himself. It could be called standard, or it could be called innovative. Both the Bordergrave and the Legion Commander began clapping after hearing Kalian’s plan.
“As expected of Your Majesty!”
“We can only marvel at Your Majesty’s insight!”
While everyone was admiring the answer Kalian had provided, Loclear entered the tent.
“Your Majesty, I will not say that the method you devised is wrong. However, would you listen to this humble one’s opinion as well?”
At Loclear’s statement, the Bordergrave and Legion Commander immediately began to scold him.
“How insolent! No matter how much of a Knight Commander you are, this is crossing the line!”
“The Legion Commander is right, Sir Loclear. We know your martial prowess is great, but this is not appropriate.”
Loclear simply stared at them with an expressionless face, not changing his expression in the slightest. Kalian, unable to listen to the continued criticism, slowly raised his hand.
“Let us hear Sir Loclear’s opinion as well. I am not always right. Speak. In your view, what seems to be the problem?”
Loclear took a deep breath and looked straight into Kalian’s eyes.
“It is certainly not that difficult to deal with the mages at close range. However, the enemy will not be unaware of that fact.”
“Get to the point, Sir Loclear.” At the Legion Commander’s words, Loclear nodded.
“Nine times out of ten, there will be soldiers protecting the mages. It would be somewhat difficult for our soldiers to subdue them quickly.”
“For the Knight Commander to look down on the prowess of imperial soldiers is unacceptable!”
“Legion Commander, that is enough. My patience is not that strong, you know?”
Facing Kalian’s chilling gaze, Persenand swallowed dryly and cleared his throat.
Loclear continued. “The imperial knights must spread out to both sides and strike the mages. That is the only way to minimize the empire’s losses.”
“If you, Kal, Dias, and Jack get injured, I won’t be able to face Iris. Would that still be all right?”
At Kalian’s warning, Loclear smiled.
“Please keep it a secret from Her Highness. I do not wish to upset the princess either.”