Suspicious Invitation -2
Suspicious Invitation -2
"So, can you tell where our tentacles are?"
The Main Body asked.
"Isn't that something only the Main Body can do?"
"Hmm..."
Then, as if racking its brain, it gathered several tentacles around its core.
But talk is cheap—it's a lifeform that can split endlessly without a core to begin with.
It just roughly senses and thinks.
"Oh, I can feel it?"
With that, the tentacles turned their gaze.
"There's one pretty far away... a Clone that's grown quite a bit...?"
"How far exactly?"
"Pretty distant... If we're this size, then it's about this much..."
Since it was instinctual, it vaguely gestured with its tentacles.
"Hmm..."
The tentacle in human form spread out a map upon hearing the Main Body's description.
"This spot... it's a small kingdom."
No way to guess what's going down there.
"Alright, then let's go check it out."
Meanwhile, the Hero.
Anyway, like that, the Hero headed toward the kingdom with their support.
"Welcome, Hero."
"Hello! King-nim!"
"Yes, lately monsters have been rampant, attacking our rural territories..."
With that, he put on an over-the-top act, pretending to be sad.
Of course, he wasn't sad at all.
What reason would royalty have to care if a few commoners died?
But the monsters rampaging was a fact.
So the Hero would fall for it more easily.
Solve a real problem while at it, then snag the now-relaxed Hero.
Flip it around, and it's the villain's scheme: use everything up and betray them.
"Yes, before you head out, we should show some hospitality first."
"N-No, it's fine. It's not that big a deal for me."
"No, no, I'd feel bad otherwise."
Naturally, the Hero had some wariness from all her past experiences.
So now wasn't the right time to extend the kingdom's evil clutches.
Better to wait till after the subjugation, when she's off-guard—that'd be way more likely to succeed.
"Come, enjoy the banquet."
The banquet itself was just a normal one.
"...Thank you."
Even the Hero, who'd considered the trap possibility a bit, relaxed a little at the welcome.
And so the slightly floaty banquet began.
"Oh, Hero-nim. This is a piece made by our Blacksmith."
"...Thank you?"
And for the still-wary Hero, they handed over a proper gift for now.
Sure, it paled compared to the Hero's buffs and gear, but it showed some sincerity.
"This is a Potion. If you get hurt on our account, use this."
"Yes, thank you."
And at the unexpectedly generous treatment, the Hero lowered her guard another notch.
"Hyaap!"
As the Hero swung her sword, even the monster that seemed unslashable got cleaved in one go.
The one wrapped in steel armor split clean in half before her casual swing.
"Are they all done now?"
She'd asked for monster locations, charged in solo, and sliced them all at once.
The Demon King was dead, but her blessed fate's power remained intact.
Whew.
By the time she strolled out of the forest leisurely, villagers were waiting.
The folks who'd been terrorized by monsters showered her with thanks.
"Thank you! Hero-nim!"
At first, she'd been a tad suspicious of the kingdom.
How soon after the Demon King's death could monsters be swarming like this? Hard to buy.
But heading to the countryside for subjugation proved it wasn't a lie.
Monsters really were rampant around that forest.
Anyway, the Hero had subjugated more monsters as a hero does.
"How can we ever repay this kindness..."
"No need! What's this about?"
Hehehe...
Blushing a bit at the rural kingdom folk's cheers, she proudly flashed a V-sign.
Then sheathed her sword and shouted.
"If monsters pile up again, just say the word! I'll come!"
Her red hair fluttered as she smiled once more.
"Yes! Hero-nim!"
The rural residents probably had no clue.
That the kingdom had let the situation fester more to lure her out...
Anyway, having neatly cleared the kingdom's monster overflow, she headed back.
Hmhm~
She smiled and waved at the village kids watching from afar.
Her steps back to the kingdom were light.
"What should I do once I'm back~?"
Humming a tune, she headed straight for the lair of those plotting to capture her.
Who could've guessed that'd be the last moment she could smile like that?
"I took care of them all!"
"Ooh! As expected of the Hero!"
"Then I'll head back now."
Not even asking for a reward, she tried to leave.
But of course, they weren't letting her go that easy.
"Wait... I'd feel too bad sending you off like this, so we prepared a special banquet just for you. Enjoy that and go."
With that evil face, he somehow managed a pretty folksy smile.
"This time, including booze—specialties you can only get in our kingdom."
"Hmm... In that case, I'll accept King-nim's kindness!"
Special kingdom foods? She got all kid-like excited.
She'd already beaten the monsters, so her guard was basically gone.
"Yeah, yeah... Wait there. I'll serve you the best banquet you'll never see again."
With that, the Hero followed a retainer to her room.
And the King licked his chops watching her back.
......
Meanwhile, the tentacle fragment still play-acting as a normal tentacle, observing it all.
Who'd be the winner?
"Here, Hero-nim. Let me pour you a glass."
"Huh? Sure..."
Thus, the private banquet for the Hero unfolded.
Aside from retainers far off bringing food, no one else touched the dishes.
She took the poured liquor.
"Mm! Stronger than I thought."
"It's a specialty of this kingdom."
"I see~"
They egged her on to drink the strong stuff faster.
"Your glass is empty."
"Huh, yeah? I'm good..."
"Come on, drink up. You're not heading out to subjugate monsters anymore anyway. What~"
"W-Well, okay?"
The food was tastier than expected, paired perfectly with the booze.
The Hero eagerly downed the retainers' pours.
"Ugh..."
She was starting to feel a buzz.
'Time to slip it into the food... got it?'
'Obviously.'
The retainers swapped dishes without her noticing.
Still tasty, but now laced with processed drugs.
"Here, Hero-nim. Try this hot dish that just came out."
"Huh? S-Sure?"
She ate without a second thought.
"...How is it?"
"Tasty!"
Zero clue about the paralytic poison.
The retainers sighed in relief inwardly and kept serving paralysis-drug-heavy food.
"Here's the second specialty booze!"
They kept the liquor flowing to cloud her mind.
But the Hero was a Hero.
Her blessed body might've already neutralized most of it internally.
'Time for the other drugs.'
'Got it.'
They eased off the paralytics and mixed in harsher stuff.
'Drugs to cloud the mind.'
'Ones that make you pass out easier when mixed with booze.'
'Stuff that messes with mana use.'
They kept serving food laced with various drugs.
...
By now, she'd ingested enough to be "done for" by normal standards.
But not quite yet.
The kingdom had backups ready, of course.
"Oh, and Hero-nim."
"Uuum~ Whaaat?"
Now fully boozed—and drugged, unbeknownst to her—zero guard left.
"This is the necklace we had our Blacksmith make just for you."
A flashy accessory.
But peel back the layer, and it's a Demon World item from the Demon King's treasure chest—a Magic Tool to suppress and control mana.
The Blacksmith had just reskinned it.
They'd temporarily blocked the evil magic aura and offered it.
"Even this is okay, but..."
"Come on, just try it on!"
"W-Well, then..."
'It's not like I'm keeping it—just trying it on should be fine.'
The moment the retainer clasped it around her neck.
Clack!
The useless decorations shattered, revealing the Magic Tool's true form clamping her throat.
Kehak!?
She panicked at the sudden turn.
Soldiers burst in.
"Guhk, you... you fucking bastards...!"
Drugged to hell and necklaced, she still tried one last stand, rising.
Heroes really are something else.
But the kingdom was fully prepped.