Chapter 77: World's Greatest Husband Contest - Eve (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 77: World's Greatest Husband Contest - Eve (3)
The appearance of Andrasta, the King of Erin, sent the entire Empire into a frenzy.
Berlina, the Imperial Capital, was bustling daily with people flocking from all corners of the land. It started with ordinary folk coming to see a spectacle that might happen only once in a lifetime, followed by a never-ending stream of those who possessed skill but lacked wealth and fame.
A week had passed since then.
In my consultation room, a man who had appeared out of nowhere sat across from me.
"Sigh..."
"To think you'd sigh instead of offering a warm cup of tea to your brother who traveled such a long way. My heart is breaking into a thousand pieces, my beloved little brother."
Despite his words, my brother was grinning ear to ear.
I don't know what he finds so amusing... my mind is a mess...
If my brother stays at the mansion, I won't be able to enjoy myself whenever I want like I usually do...
"Anyway, what brings the next Lord all the way to the distant Imperial Capital?"
"What else? Talent scouting. At the World's Greatest Husband Contest starting tomorrow."
"...You're the one who came up with that name, aren't he?"
"Hahaha."
I had a feeling, and it turned out I was right.
Only one person, the winner, can become Andrasta's consort. In fact, it wasn't just my brother; nobles from all over were making their way to the capital at this very moment. Whether in times of war or peace, talent is always in demand.
As I took a sip of today's equally tasteless tea, my brother asked pointedly.
"So, what do you plan to do?"
"I'm entering."
"Ha! That's my brother. Hmm... if luck is on your side, you might place reasonably high. If you play your cards right, you could land a decent position in the military or the Knight Orders. The swordsmanship you've been honing since you were a kid will finally see the light of day."
Despite his teasing, it seemed my brother had been giving some thought to my future.
Of course, I just smiled without a word.
Naturally, his expression turned serious the moment he looked at my face.
"...Are you serious?"
"Of course."
"Heh..."
My brother just stared at me with an incredulous look, but he didn't try to stop me. I thought he'd say things like, 'You're the second son of a Margrave,' 'It'll be a disaster if you're seriously injured or killed,' or 'Don't overdo it.'
"You're not stopping me? I thought for sure you'd laugh at me. Or tell me not to push myself."
"Laugh? Why would I? Besides, are you the kind of brother who would say 'Yes, brother' and obey just because I told you not to?"
"Not really."
"And you probably have a plan."
"That's also true."
"Then I have no reason to stop you. As your brother, all I can do is cheer you on. Well... actually, Father told me to make sure you don't do anything useless."
"Then why aren't you doing that?"
"Let's just say it's a reward for what I received from you."
Received? I haven't sent my brother anything...
Wait a minute.
"...Really?"
"I received the women you sent quite well. My beloved little brother."
I enjoyed the meal very much~
My brother's smirking face seemed to say exactly that.
Damn it... I let the fox guard the henhouse...
Nina, the Sword Saint's former mistress... she was a beauty with such lovely brown hair... I was planning to enjoy her myself in about ten years... and even her daughter, Nadia...
"I must be crazy, ugh... wait a second."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"You definitely said 'women,' plural."
"Oh... did I? Mwahaha."
Crazy, even Nadia?
My brother got to have the mother-daughter pair before I even had a taste?
"Ha... I'm seriously pissed off."
"I really have a great brother. Thanks to you, every day is a joy, brother."
"Ugh... just don't use them and throw them away."
"What a thing to say. Of course I won't."
Well... yeah... my brother will take good care of them in his own way...
Sigh... this leaves a bitter taste in my mouth...
Was it the sense of loss from having the snack I was saving for later snatched away? I signaled Helena and Natalia, who were under my desk, to stand up.
"...Huh?"
"It has been a long time, Eldest Young Master."
"Yes... Miss Helena... but the beautiful lady beside you is..."
"She is my older sister. I believe the Eldest Young Master has heard the name of the Sword Princess."
As soon as those words were spoken, my brother's jaw dropped as he stared at me. His face clearly asked how on earth I had even gotten the Sword Princess, let alone Helena.
To my brother, Natalia gave a bright smile and a slight bow.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. You resemble my Master quite a lot, just as I heard. Fufu."
"Yes... a pleasure to—wa-wait a minute. What did you just say...? M-Master...?"
A mother-daughter pair is good, but a sister pair isn't bad either.
As I exchanged a heated gaze with Natalia, my brother suddenly grabbed my shoulders.
"Hey, tell me right now."
"What?"
"How the hell...!"
He meant how I had made these beautiful women mine.
Well... how should I put this...
"Hmm... I suppose I pleased them with all my heart and body... right, Natalia?"
"Fufu, yes. Master fills my heart and body every single day."
My brother looked beyond stunned; he looked like his brain had short-circuited. I suppose it's natural... his brother, whom he sent to the capital, was building a harem of breathtaking beauties...
Because of that, my brother had no choice but to ask me again.
"And in the midst of all this, you're going to take the Queen of another country into your arms too?"
"Yes, my respected and beloved brother."
"This is insane..."
My brother's head must be spinning. He's probably guessed by now that Helena and Natalia aren't the only ones in my harem. He's likely wondering how on earth he's going to explain my behavior—aiming for the Queen of another nation—to our father and mother.
"Consider it the price for the mother-daughter pair."
"You brat... sigh, what a life I lead..."
He'd probably faint if I introduced him to Valeria and Sitri too. One is the daughter of a Duke and currently the highest-ranking lady in terms of precedence, and the other is a Great Demon who fought against the First Emperor 500 years ago...
Perhaps because of that, a welcome sentence popped out of my brother's mouth.
"Haa... I should get going..."
"Huh? Where? I had the largest room prepared since you were coming. I even set things up according to your tastes."
"Shut up... I don't know what will happen if I stay here any longer... I'd rather not know... and I know you're lying about having things prepared."
"I really like people who are quick-witted like you, brother."
"Why you... argh..."
Yep, that's my brother. He really is smart.
I approached my brother, who was already preparing to leave.
"You're still going to watch the contest, right?"
"Yeah... that's why I came... no need to see me out..."
"If you say so. Give my regards to Father."
"Whatever."
Despite his words, my brother left after giving a polite farewell to Helena and Natalia.
Now that our sudden, welcome guest has gone to rest...
"Shall we continue what we were doing earlier?"
"Ah-haang...!"
"Haang...!"
*
Unlike the inside of the massive city gates, the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, Berlina, were shrouded in darkness.
On the plains where only the sound of the chilly wind lingered, the unmelted snow held the cold moonlight.
Crackle...
The sound of frozen grass and thin ice breaking echoed through the silence. Simultaneously, a pair of yellow predatory eyes flashed in the darkness.
"Grrr..."
The low-growling beast was a lion. As if covered by the veil of night, the lion was entirely draped in jet-black fur, from the mane of its massive head to the tip of its tail. It was truly a beast worthy of the title 'King of Beasts.'
However, the woman standing beside it, Andrasta, the King of Erin, smiled softly and stroked its mane.
"Panthera."
"Grrr..."
Panthera let out a satisfied purr and slumped down onto the ground. At that moment, a figure appeared before Andrasta and Panthera.
Andrasta naturally sat astride Panthera's back and spoke the name of the person who had appeared.
"Sreng."
"Your Majesty."
As the moonlight emerged from behind the clouds, the face of the kneeling Sreng was revealed. He was a warrior with the head of a saber-toothed tiger, long fangs extending down to his jaw, and a physique at least twice the size of an ordinary man.
In comparison, Andrasta had almost no beastkin features other than the lion ears sprouting from her head. Nevertheless, Sreng bowed his head even lower toward her.
"Preparations for the arena are complete."
"Good work. Send an envoy to the Emperor. Since he has lent us the entire Grand Arena, it is only right to offer our thanks. Do not forget to hunt a suitable monster to send as a gift."
"Yes, Your Majesty. However... there are far more applicants than expected."
"Weed them out. I have no time to deal with every nobody."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Having finished his report, Sreng immediately stood up. It seemed he intended to return to his post right away, but...
"Sreng."
At the King's word, Sreng knelt again.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Do you see those walls?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"What do you think?"
"They far exceed my expectations."
"I think so as well. Despite being steeped in peace for so long, the Empire's walls are high and thick. Their soldiers and knights are also formidable. There must be many hidden powerhouses as well."
"Indeed."
Andrasta was silent for a moment, but Sreng remained kneeling. To the warrior who showed absolute loyalty through his posture alone, Andrasta posed a question with a faint trace of a smile.
"What do you think would happen if we went to war with the Empire right now?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Sreng also gave a low chuckle and replied.
"I did not expect you to ask a question to which the result is already known."
"Haha, is the result already out?"
"Yes. It would be an overwhelming victory for our forces."
To the subordinate who declared it without a shred of doubt, the King also offered a silent smile. Breaking the brief silence that followed, Andrasta spoke one more word to Sreng.
"Sreng."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I will accept a challenge at any time. If you defeat me, I will gladly fall into your arms."
"Yes, Your Majesty. In that case, I shall see you in the finals."
"Fufu, I will be waiting."
"You will not have to wait long."
"Good. You may leave."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As if melting into the darkness, Sreng quickly moved away from Andrasta. Andrasta looked back and forth between his retreating figure and the black sky, then suddenly turned her gaze toward the bushes on her right.
"You can come out now, Medir."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The beastkin that emerged from the bushes had a gaunt appearance, more like a rat than a human. Protruding front teeth, scruffy features, and a pathetic tail without a single strand of fur...
Compared to Andrasta, who shone even in the darkness, he was an incredibly hideous beastkin. However, Andrasta looked at Medir with the same eyes she had for Sreng.
"So, has the scheme you hatched as soon as we arrived in the capital succeeded?"
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
"Good. As you know, I affirm all forms of power."
"..."
"Challenge me at any time. If you defeat me in any form, I will happily fall into your arms."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Tell me. Have you found a suitable warrior?"
"You will not be disappointed."
"Haha, good. I shall look forward to it."
With a nod from Andrasta, Medir quickly vanished into the darkness. After looking back and forth between his retreating figure and the night sky once more, Andrasta stroked Panthera's mane again.
"Let us head back."
"Grrr..."
Step, step...
The black male lion, carrying its master on its back, headed toward the garrison where grand fires were burning.
'I wonder how it will turn out.'
With a small smile, Andrasta gazed at the Imperial Capital, Berlina, with sparkling eyes.