Chapter 200: The Tin Knight and The Interlude of The West - Part 1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 200: The Tin Knight and The Interlude of The West - Part 1
Franka Aglaia, who had brilliantly taken her master's head and succeeded her as the Witch of the West.
She had been spending her days in a very, very busy yet rewarding manner.
-Ooki! Ooki-keek!
“You've regrouped all the monkeys within the barrier? Excellent work! Here, have some fruit and rest!”
Seeing the fruit basket Franka offered, her two homunculi began to savor its contents with delight.
After watching them fondly for a moment, Franka turned her gaze to one of her ‘work tools.’
It was a wide board made of processed, highest-grade black slate. Using a writing tool made from a mixture of gypsum and other materials, one could easily write and erase on its surface.
Had the Tin Knight seen it, he would have exclaimed in amazement that such a thing existed here too, but its identity was a ‘chalkboard,’ a tool rarely used on this continent outside of certain circles like alchemists. The one Franka used, however, was a particularly high-quality model.
Several phrases were written on the chalkboard in a rather pretty script. Franka drew a long line through the item that read, [Locate and retrieve the homunculi left behind by the Witch of the West].
“Fufu, fufufu, fufufufufu!”
A delighted laugh escaped Franka’s lips.
Somehow, her sinister and gloomy appearance was the spitting image of a villainess—the comedic type, at that—but her familiars, long since accustomed to it, paid her no mind.
In fact, even if others had been present, it was doubtful Franka would have stopped laughing.
That was just how brightly Franka had been shining lately.
After the Witch of the West’s subjugation, the vast treasures she possessed had fallen into Dorothea’s hands, but to put it another way, that was all that had been taken.
The countless research materials, homunculi, and workshops Elphaba had left behind were now in Franka’s possession—a treasure beyond compare for an alchemist.
If the Alchemists’ Association knew, they would have wanted to acquire it even if it meant paying a fortune large enough to buy a country.
The Golden Monkeys, each one comparable to a skilled knight. Though many were ground to dust during the battle with the Witch of the West, hundreds still remained.
A vast alternate dimension, not quite as large as the entire Locria Federation, but vast enough to cover about a quarter of it.
The know-how for creating various types of homunculi, researched and improved over an immense period.
On top of all this, she inherited the social influence and various commercial rights that came with the name of the Witch of the West.
When combined with the power of the Aglaia family, which was already one of the five wealthiest families in the Locria Federation, it was a truly formidable force, one that could potentially vie for hegemony over the entire federation.
“Fufufu… Foolish Dorothea Aschengard. To cast aside such immense benefits and take only the physical assets. Her shortsightedness is almost pitiable. And for what? To retrieve some silly sacred treasures.”
Franka scoffed at the foolishness of the black-haired witch, who had left without a second thought, claiming she ‘didn’t have time to leisurely absorb all this.’
This was by no means her telling herself ‘those are just sour grapes’ because she had effectively been eliminated from the sacred treasure hunt. At least, that was Franka's version of the story.
“It would be a problem if she thinks we’ve grown close just because we fought together for a short while. Once I fully inherit the power of the Witch of the West, then it will be time for revenge, yes, revenge…”
Franka’s voice trailed off.
The image of the Tin Knight literally grinding the Witch of the West’s formidable army into dust flashed through her mind like a panorama.
Franka’s eyes flickered to the familiars beside her.
The familiars crossed their wings and arms, forming an X.
“…Hmph! What a cowardly witch. If it weren't for that dastardly Blood Oath, I'd have my revenge in a heartbeat, but I have no choice— Vvvvmmm! Eek!?”
Muttering excuses to no one in particular, she leaped in the air as if she’d had a seizure at the sudden vibration.
A moment of silence.
Realizing the sound wasn't the witch and the knight coming for her after hearing her insults, but the vibration of a magic tool announcing a visitor, she frantically fanned her flushing face and, feigning as much composure as possible, activated the device.
“What is it?”
《The guests you invited have all arrived.》
Hearing the voice of one of the Golden Monkeys she had inherited from the Witch of the West, Franka nodded.
“I’ll be there shortly. Have them wait.”
At Franka’s signal, the two familiars, who had been engrossed in their meal, fell in line behind her.
Clack, clack.
As she walked down the corridor, the sound of her heels echoing, the Golden Monkeys serving as attendants in the castle all bowed their heads in respect.
It was a show of reverence for the new master who had defeated the Witch of the West and inherited her position.
Her destination was a large flower garden in the inner courtyard.
Although the witch’s castle, currently undergoing renovations to suit Franka’s tastes, had a perfectly fine banquet hall, some of today’s ‘guests’ were difficult to entertain properly in anything but a wide-open space like this.
《Presenting Lady Franka Aglaia!》
At the cry of a Golden Monkey dressed like a butler, the guests, seated in their respective places in the courtyard, turned their gazes toward her in unison.
Franka met their mixed stares—a blend of scrutiny, wariness, fear, and indifference—with confidence and took her seat at the head of the table as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The attendees were a diverse lot.
Not just in age or gender, but on a species level.
There were lilliputians the size of an ordinary person's palm, and in contrast, giants who could crush a person in one hand.
There was one with a human body, but with wings on its back and the head of a crow, and another who looked like a cross between a wolf and a human.
The Witch of the West.
The Golden Alchemist, Elphaba, had recreated these homunculi based on ancient legends.
The current situation was the result of Franka gathering the representatives of these beings, who had each formed their own unique cultures on the islands scattered throughout the workshop.
“Well now, thank you for accepting my invitation. All of you.”
As Franka emphasized the word “all,” several figures in the banquet seats flinched visibly, their faces turning pale.
Every one of them was a leader of a faction that had opposed Franka’s succession, either by ignoring her or by showing outright hostility.
Of course, in a way, this was to be expected.
Elphaba had isolated each island to create her own personal miniature garden, and the inhabitants’ perceptions of Elphaba were all over the place.
On some islands, she was worshipped as a god; on others, she was regarded merely as the queen of another nation; and on some, her very existence was unknown.
Those who were friendly to Elphaba naturally resented the ‘usurper,’ while those who weren't resented this unknown person suddenly demanding their obedience.
Franka had shown no patience for their circumstances.
If she couldn't even manage the workshop and its inhabitants, succeeding to the position of the Witch of the West would be a distant dream.
She had tried polite ‘recommendations’ once or twice at the beginning, but those who refused to listen were suppressed with force.
She had so much to do while simultaneously assessing and absorbing the other legacies that she had barely been able to leave the barrier since Dorothea’s party had departed.
However, that would all become much easier after receiving their oath of loyalty today.
Feeling satisfied, Franka opened her mouth.
“You’ve likely heard from the monkeys beforehand, but I have no intention of treating you like slaves. Unlike Elphaba, I won’t confine you to your islands, so feel free to interact with the other islands as you wish.”
A reasonable level of tribute and the provision of labor when necessary.
That was the simple summary of the conditions Franka presented.
Treating the homunculi in the workshop like toys or consumables, as Elphaba had, was not to Franka’s taste. Besides, it was clear that if she, still inferior in ability to Elphaba, acted so recklessly, she would face a serious backlash.
“So, are there any questions?”
Franka asked, looking at the leaders of the various nations, who were murmuring amongst themselves with complicated expressions.
The first to react was the king of the lilliputians.
“O new ruler. I acknowledge that you are the noblest and greatest among us, for you have proven your abilities. However, I find it difficult to accept that all others present here are my equals.”
“What did you just say?”
“Watch your mouth, you little rat!”
“Ha! If you have a problem, then come at me! I'll show you just how useless a big lump of flesh can be! Ruler! I request permission for a duel!”