CH 226

Cheat Magician (Hazure Hantei) Chapter 226

Preparations for the feast

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I sent Manon, Noela-san, and Hamill home, and then went back to the boarding house with Amanda-san and Meisa-chan.

"Kent, don't you want to eat dinner?"

"Yes, I'm going to Barshania for a while, so dinner will be their treat over there."

"Barshania is it ... If a normal person said that, I'd think they were crazy, but in Kent's case, it's true, so it's shocking."

"Hey, hey, Kent, are you going with all the mofumofu?"

"Hmm ... That's what I was planning, but well, Barshania doesn't seem to be in danger, so I wonder if Mart-tachi can stay here."

"Really? Yippee~! I love Kent."

Meisa-chan was hugging me with a big smile on her face, but it's Mart and the others that Meisa-chan loves.

Mart and the others seemed a little dissatisfied when they heard they were house-sitting, but when I asked them to protect the boarding house, they reluctantly agreed.

"Kent, is it okay to dress like that when you go to Barshania?"

"Ehh, yes, it seems that they want me to come in casual clothes, and they will prepare a change of clothes over there."

"I see, if that's the case then it's fine, but the other party is the Imperial Family of Barshania, right? Don't be too discourteous."

"Yes, I will be very careful."

Well, I've said quite rude things before.

As my bodyguards, I asked the Kobold Corps scattered in the northeastern part of Resenburg to act as liaisons in preparation for the attack by the dark-attribute magician to return.

"Thank you for your hard work, everyone."

"Wafuu, Goshujin-sama, pet me, pet me."

After being crushed by the Kobold Corps that returned to the shadow space, I headed for Barshania.

A long line had formed at the palace in Guryayev, the imperial capital of the Barshanian Empire.

I didn't know what it looked like every year, but the main target of the procession was the skull of the Gigas on display at the palace.

The line of eight people lined up next to each other stretched out to the outside of the palace.

The last people in line, I wondered if they would be able to pay their respects to the Gigas' skull today.

"There are women, children, and the elderly, so don't push or run! I won't forgive anyone who disturbs the line!"

A large number of knights were lined up to guide the procession, and although they were wearing scabbards, they were holding spears while watching to see if anyone was disturbing the procession.

A large screen was placed at the entrance of the building where the Gigas' skull was displayed, so that the inside could not be seen from the outside.

And, on the screen, the appearance of the rare hero Kent Kokubu subjugating a Gigas, written in considerable dramatization, it was also written that Princess Seraphima would be married to me.

"Is it true that he single-handedly subjugated three Gigases?"

"If it's not true, there's no way Seraphima-sama would want to marry him."

"However, if you have a relationship with such an heroic figure, the Imperial Family will be more secure."

The row of 8 people side by side became rows of 4 people each, and they split left and right to go around the screen and proceeded into the building.

The Gigas' skull, which was placed on a pedestal about the height of an adult's waist, was illuminated by light magic tools from the surroundings, giving it the atmosphere of an exhibition in a museum.

It had a more angular shape than a human skull, and was slightly taller than an adult.

"Ooohhh ... What a size."

"I can't believe this isn't a fake ..."

"Just how big was the whole body."

When the people saw the Gigas' skull, they let out a cry of surprise, and that voice distracted the people behind in line, the knights who organized the procession were raising their voices and continuing their struggles.

Reinhardt let out a sigh as if in admiration.

[ Fuumu, seeing it like this, I realize once again how huge it was. ]

"Well, it looks different inside the building when the lights are on than when you see it outside in the daytime, and all we saw was the fleshy state."

The procession was led around the Gigas' skull on both sides, joined at the back, and exited the building.

A fence had been set up around the skull to prevent people from approaching it, but the people who came to see it were frightened by its majestic appearance and instead looked a distance from the fence.

[ It seems that the Empress' expectations were correct. ]

"I don't know. If the dissidents of Mungia didn't see it, it wouldn't make much sense, would it?"

[ No, no, this many people are gathered to see it. Even if you don't go to this place, the stories of those who see it will surely spread to the town. It should reach the Mungia's ears. ]

"Is that so, people's rumors ..."

[ People's rumors change as they spread. Perhaps this story about the Gigas' skull will be exaggerated even more. ]

Rumors become exaggerated, it seems to be the same everywhere in the world.

People who heard the rumor would never have guessed that Kent Kokubu was such a child.

The Gigas' skull wasn't the only thing on public display.

Elaborately carved monster bones and horns, beautifully painted large vases, rugs woven with elaborate patterns, things given as proof of friendship from other countries, and among the special products of Barshania, the finest products were pleasing to the eyes of the citizens.

Events like this, it felt like it was universal.

After taking a look at the exhibits, I visited Seraphima's room as promised in advance.

Seraphima sat face to face with Hirt on the bed and seemed to be talking to it, but it occasionally tapped her on the shoulder.

Perhaps, Seraphima was on the same level as Hamill ... Rather, that's not the case, is it.

"Sera, can I come in?"

"Kent-sama! I have been waiting for you. Please, come in."

Seraphima rushed over with light steps that made me think she had wings on her back, and she gently wrapped her arms around my waist and leaned closer to me.

"Happy New Year, Sera."

"A Happy New Year to you, Kent-sama."

After exchanging New Year's greetings, Seraphima rested her head on my shoulder.

"Sera, the time is fine, right?"

"Yes, we have some time before the dinner time. Kent-sama, after taking a bath, please change into the Barshanian outfit we prepared for you."

"Umm ... I don't really know how to wear Barshania's outfits ..."

"Not to worry. I have reserved a caretaker."

"Thank you, I'm counting on you."

"Yes, I will guide you to the bath room."

Seraphima guided me with our arms linked together.

Her soft hair tickled my cheeks, and a sweet scent filled the air.

When we went out into the corridor, two women who seemed to be maids followed us from about three steps behind us.

Perhaps, those two were the caretakers.

Perhaps, just perhaps, they would take care of me when I took a bath.

I arrived at the entrance of the bath room while my heart was puffed up with slightly naughty expectations.

"Well then, Kent-sama, there are caretakers waiting inside, so please leave it to them."

"Yup, got it. Then, later ..."

"Yes, take your time ..."

Perhaps, I wondered if Seraphima would join me ... Or so I thought, but it didn't seem to be the case.

However, when I stepped into the dressing room, there were two caretakers wearing just loincloths waiting for me.

Mou, they had great chests, so muscular.

"Kent Kokubu-sama, we've been waiting for you.

Uwaa, deep, it was a heavy bass that echoed in the stomach.

The caretakers were muscular giants both in shape and appearance, and both were skinheads.

"N, nice to meet you."

"Ha!, then, please take off your clothes here."

"U, understood."

I understand, but it's pretty embarrassing to take off my clothes while the two of you are staring at me.

I've been training since I came to Volzard, but there's a height difference of more than 20 centimeters between me and them, and if I was pinned down, I wouldn't be able to do anything and my neck would be broken.

Because of the unpleasant tension, I was completely shrinking ...

"Then, please proceed into the bathhouse."

"Y, yes ..."

"Come here ... I'll pour hot water over here. Please give me a signal when you're ready."

"H, haa ... Then, please."

"As you wish!"

The two caretakers grabbed buckets that were about three times the size of a normal bucket, filled them with hot water, and poured it over my head.

After being baptized with two buckets of hot water from each side, I would soak in the bathtub, which was how, wasn't it.

I was surprised when they poured the hot water, but it was definitely over 45 degrees Celsius.

It was hot enough to turn my feet red in no time.

"Come, come, Kent Kokubu-sama, please soak yourself up to your shoulders."

"Ye, sss ..."

When I soaked up to my shoulders, my whole body was burning.

And, speaking of the two caretakers, they were standing outside the bathtub ... Rather, can't they enter!

"Then, let me briefly explain the history of Barshania to Kent Kokubu, who has come all this way from afar. The history of the Balshanian Empire is old, going back more than 700 years ago ..."

Eeehhh ... Could it be that I couldn't leave until I finished listening to 700 years of lectures?

I'm boiling, that, maybe I'm being cooked for tonight's dinner?

Am I being simmered over low heat?

The pores in my head were fully open, and my eyes were dripping with sweat.

Even after about five minutes, it still was only about 200 years worth ...

"And ... that brings us to now, this is the history of Barshania. Then, please, come to this bathtub."

"Haa, I finally got out ... Cold!"

"This is a water bath. Please soak yourself up to the shoulders to cool down your flushed body."

"Eh! ..."

"Please ..."

"Y, yesss ..."

Uwaa, I was stretched out to the fullest, but right away as if on cue, I curled up again.

"Then, I will talk about the specialties of Barshania."

"Yess?"

"If you have questions, you can ask about them later."

"Yes ..."

The moment I entered, it was very cold, but my hot body was cooled and I felt better.

I often hear about a cold bath after a sauna, is this the same thing.

Haa, this might be surprisingly pleasant ... Or so I thought, until the first three minutes or so had passed.

Even after five minutes had passed, the explanation of the special products of the eastern region had just finished and the explanation of the special products of the southern region had just begun.

Was it possible that there were many specialty products in the north and west as well?

When my back teeth, which should have been clenched, began to make a clacking sound, the explanation of the specialties finally ended.

"Then, Kent-sama, this bath tub now ..."

"Y, y, esss ..."

Even if I knew it was a hot bath, I had no choice but to go in to warm my cold body.

Hey, is my heart going to be okay, go for it, don't break a blood vessel in my head, do your best!

Fortunately, this time wasn't long enough to get dizzy, and after my body warmed up, I was guided to the washroom.

To tell the truth, even though I was just taking a bath, I felt exhausted.

"Then, let me wash your body."

"Eh!, no, I can do it myself ..."

"Excuse me!"

The two caretakers dipped scrubbing brushes resembling a loofah into a bucket of soap and began to scrub my body.

Hey, it hurts, it hurts, my skin is peeling off, I don't think you're supposed to shave off my flesh, it really hurts.

After the power peeling treatment by the two caretakers, I went to the hot water bath again, this was like the White Hare of Inaba.(TN:A Japanese myth.)

I moved from the hot water bath to the cold bath, and when the hotness of my body cooled down, I was finally allowed to get out of the bath.

Hey, I really used self-healing.

I won't go into Barshania's baths anymore, no matter how much it is recommended.

After wiping my body and putting on super soft pants, I was asked to put on a super soft bathrobe.

"Kent-sama, have a drink ..."

"Ahh, thank you very much."

The lemonade-like drink had an exquisite balance of sourness and sweetness, and the slight bitterness made me feel like it was a grown-up taste.

When I was relaxing on a chair made of woven plants similar to rattan, two court ladies came to pick me up.

"Kent Kokubu-sama, we will guide you to the preparation room."

"Yes, please."

I was guided to a room in a separate building from the bathhouse, with a large dressing table and a full-length mirror.

"Please, come here ..."

First, I was seated in front of the dressing table and had my hair and eyebrows done.

When it was smeared with a good-smelling oil and hardened into an all-back style, my hair turned silver, and I looked a little more grown-up.

Compared to when I was in Japan, my body was tighter and my face was less round, which was probably why I looked more mature.

"Then, let's have you change ..."

The shirt and pants that were prepared were made of glossy white fabric with fine gold thread embroidery, and at first glance they were excellent items that you could tell were expensive.

The hem of the loose pants and the belt that tightened the waist were embroidered with silver thread on an emerald green background.

I put on the same emerald green short vest as matched the belt, and everything was ready.

Putting aside the contents, just looking at the outfit, I looked like royalty from the Arabian Nights.

"It suits you very well."

"Thank you very much."

"Then, we will show you around the waiting room."

I left the preparation room, moved to another building, and was guided to the room ahead of me through a long corridor.

Since it was an antechamber, I thought it was a waiting room before meeting the Emperor, but inside was Emperor Constant and Empress Lisaveta relaxing.

"Hou, isn't it quite good."

"It really is awfully good-looking."

"Thank you very much for inviting me today."

"Umu, there's still time before the opening of the meeting. You should sit here and relax."

"Yes, excuse me."

Besides the Emperor and his wife, there were only waiters waiting in the antechamber, and there were no Princes or Seraphima in sight.

At the beginning of the New Year, before the auspicious banquet, I thought it was a little unfashionable, but I talked about the turmoil that occurred in the royal castle of Aldaros.

If I got drunk at the banquet, I was likely to procrastinate talking.

"Havre Calvine attacked the New Year's party at the royal castle in Resenburg."

"Hou, you look pretty calm for that, don't you think."

"Yes, we expected an attack, and after that, it was just a matter of what kind of means they would use."

"Then, they were annihilated without causing any damage?"

"No, the knights who were in charge of security and the people who got caught up in it suffered casualties."

"What, were there sacrifices even though they expected an attack. The knights of Resenburg are no big deal."

"This time, we prepared a different security system than usual, and we were fully vigilant, but Havre's attack exceeded our expectations."

"Hou, is it safe to assume that there was an unexpected attack on the castle?"

"That's right. It feels like that tactic can be used as a means of attacking a castle. Havre ..."

"Ahh, wait a minute, it can be used as a means of attacking a castle ..."

When Constant-san interrupted my words as I tried to continue, and began to anticipate the means of the attack.

"Did they drive into the castle gate that invites the people in at once on horseback?"

"Nope, they didn't use horses."

"I see, then they blended in with the people ..."

"This time, we made it mandatory for anyone entering the castle to present a guild card."

"Fumu, neither on horseback nor mixed with the people ... What method did they use?"

"Havre Calvine brought in explosives."

"What did you say! Explosives! Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, I don't know how they were brought in, but he got a considerable amount of explosives."

"From Kilia?"

"We're investigating that too, but, probably ..."

Constant-san's expression clouded when I mentioned the barrels of explosives and suicide attacks using the Undead.

"We're still investigating the war between Kilia and Jogesen, and the term 'Dead Soldier' is often used in reports, but a dead soldier usually refers to a soldier who continues to use boosters at the risk of death, so apparently it means something different."

"If you prepare explosives, dark-attribute magicians, and boosters, you can get as many Undead corpses as you want on the battlefield."

"Nuu, it's a tactic that tramples on even human dignity."

"This time, I have seized the explosives from Havre's hideout, so I will bring them back another day."

"Really?"

"Yes, I just need to handle it carefully, so another day ..."

"Alright. As expected, I'm glad I got you on my side. You're suitable to be my daughter's marriage partner."

Constant-san lightly used his chin to point, and there was the figure of Seraphima dressed in a gorgeous outfit.

An emerald green dress embroidered with silver thread, a pure white veil embroidered with gold thread, and loose pants.

At first glance, the degree of exposure of the skin was extremely low, but everything was made of thin fabric that allowed light to pass through, and the outline of Seraphima's slender body could be seen.

"It looks like Sera is ready. Let's get the party started."

For the banquet, I stepped in side by side with Seraphima as if following the Imperial couple.

I thought it would be the same as the party held at Klaus-san's mansion, but I was wrong.

With the appearance of the Emperor, the banquet hall resounded with a groan like the rumbling of the earth, it looked bigger than a school gymnasium, and just by looking around, it seemed that more than 300 strong men were attending.

"From here on, the celebration party will begin."

"Ooooooh!"

The men's roars shook the air in the room and made my body shake.

Umm, is it okay if I go home? Doing that is no good ...