CH 177

Chapter 177 – Those Who Returned to Port

We managed to hook the sea serpent, which was about to die and sink into the sea, with an anchor and slowly entered the harbor of Lafan. The quay was lined with onlookers, who were cheering and shouting.

Some of them were guards, but they forgot their duties and rolled their eyes at the huge monster pulled by the pirate ship.

It was long like a snake, so it probably didn’t weigh much, but it was still a huge body, more than twenty-five meters long. I thought about stowing it away as soon as it started to sink, but I guess people would want to see the results of the battle in person since they saw us kill it. It would be more exciting that way.

“It seems that it is no longer possible to conceal your true identity in a situation like this.”

I nodded with a wry smile. If this was going to happen, I might as well have bought a fast ship from the beginning. I don’t see any use for a ship that is suited for combat in the future. There are still some disputes with the Northern Territories, but I have no intention (for now) of getting involved in them.

I’d like to go back to Sarz and relax as soon as I get some tasty seafood.

“That’s impossible.”

“As I said, I don’t want you to read my mind there.”

The fat lord interrupted me as I was thinking about the troublesome future.

“Demon King, will you give us this one? I’ll give you 5,000 gold coins along with the East Lord’s body. Of course, this is in addition to what I owe you for helping me this time.”

“Do you want it, Myrril?”

Since we’ve hunted it so hard, I’d like to try some of the sea serpent’s meat.”

“Oh, yes, of course. All I need is only the skin and the skull. The meat will be cooked for the victory celebration.”

“Will you serve it to the inhabitants of Lafan?”

“Of course. It would take more than a hundred or two hundred men to eat that much meat.”

“Yes. Then I am willing to give it to you.”

So he wants to use the Sea Serpent as a banner for the Lord of the Eastern Territories and the set of Sea Serpents we have killed as a demonstration to the hostile forces.

“…..Um.”

“What’s the matter, Takifu?”

I don’t feel so good. I feel a strange bloating in my body. Like I ate too much.

“Oh, well.”

The crowd gasps as the Eastern Territories Navy gunboat pulls into port. There was a pause, then a loud cheer.

“Did you suffer from that?”

“I don’t know. But it seems to be so. Suddenly I felt much better. It seems to be a problem of volume, or perhaps I was close to the limit of my storage capacity.”

“I see. I didn’t expect that the storage magic of the Demon King wasn’t bottomless.”

I left quite a bit behind when I left Casemaian. I’ve been accumulating things again, so it seems that the weight and volume have been increasing. I’d like to release it somewhere and get it in order.

“What about that ship, Demon King?”

“I don’t use gunboats or pirate ships here, so do as you please. I’ll also hand over the supplies we took from the pirates’ den to you later.”

The fat lord bowed his head and said, “Thank you.”

“Feudal Lord-sama!”

“You are safe!”

McKin-dono, who had landed at the harbor ahead of us, was surrounded by his guards. It seems he is well-liked by the people.

“Oh, I had everything under control with the help of the Demon King!”

So I wish you’d stop spreading that name. But it’s too late now. The crowd cheered loudly, and the onlookers started shouting, “Long live the Demon King!”

Is that alright with you guys?

“Really, the people of Lafan aren’t discriminating.”

“I’d also say they’re lacking in moderation.”

Tig and Louis said with a look of dismay. Calmon and his father also nodded with a wry smile.

“Not only in Lafan, but all port towns tend to be like that. They are used to people from all walks of life coming in and out. So they don’t care about anything except whether they are good guys or not.”

“I don’t deny that. I think everyone has a good eye for people, Takifu-san. Everyone looks at you and judges you.”

“I was surprised to learn that you’re a Demon King, too.”

“You know, “Demon King” is like a nickname for a long time. In the kingdom, subhumans are called demons. I was a representative of them, so before I knew it, I was treated like a Demon King. In reality, I’m just a merchant.”

“There is no merchant who can kill the Sea Serpent. The only one who is that out of the ordinary would be the Demon King.”

Tig clapped me on the shoulder with a laugh. I think I’ve heard that line somewhere before.

“But thank goodness you’re here, Takifu. And Mir, too, thank you.”

“Well, it was just a coincidence this time.”

“Maybe. You guys have been building up your accomplishments like that for a long time, haven’t you?”

Louis observes us attentively as if she were looking at a rare animal, but I am at a loss for reactions.

“Your Majesty the Demon King.”

I turn around at the sound of a calm voice and see an elderly man who looks like he is a butler walking up to me and bowing before me.

“Your Majesty the Demon King, Your Majesty the Queen. My master, the southern lord McKin, would like to invite you and your attendants to the lord’s mansion. If you don’t mind, I would like you to go with me to the carriage.”

“Eh, no. I have a ship to take care of, and my clothes are all messed up from the tide.”

“We will take care of the boat. We will prepare some clothes for you, so please leave the boat as it is.”

No, I mean the ship, which is Calmon and his father’s ship in my storage, not the pirate ship that we brought back with us.

“So, will you all follow me?”

Tig and the other four looked at each other and nodded grudgingly. Myrril-san took her arm next to mine without hesitation. After having fought a naval battle in full view of the public, we had even exterminated a magical beast. There was no way we could run away now. The most outstanding achievement of the Sea Serpent’s battle, Mir-neesan waved her hand with a smile as she received cheers.

“”Long live Her Majesty the Demon Queen!””

No, it’s fine. You guys really don’t know what you’re doing.

We were taken on a horse-drawn carriage for a few dozen minutes. We arrived at a huge mansion in the center of Lafan. Since it is called the “lord’s mansion,” it is not only the residence of McKin-dono, but it is also a public building that serves to entertain guests and performs administrative functions.

“Wow…”

“What is this? It looks like a castle.”

“That’s true. If it is a public building, it must at least be prepared to be attacked by hostile forces.”

The height and thickness of the walls, the observation platform, and defensive equipment, the armament, workmanship, and manpower. I feel my upbringing is not good enough to see it from the point of view of an attacker.

“It would be easy if it were Takifu, wouldn’t it?”

The butler, who may have been just being cautious, immediately senses this and gives a convulsive smile.

“It’s all right. I’ve only dealt with people who attacked us to kill us.”

“This guy isn’t lying, but it’s dangerous to take him seriously, old man. For such a small, skinny guy, he’s killed more than 30,000 people.”

Stop it, Louis; I’m trying so hard to make the situation more comfortable. And I’ve only done maybe a hundred or so myself.

“Ha-hahaha… I know about it.”

You know about it!?

“I think there’s something McKin would like to talk to you about, and that’s one of the reasons he asked you to come here.”

“Is this about the war with… the kingdom?”

“No, it is about the mismanagement of affairs within the Republic, not about other people’s business. I’ve been telling him that it was his fault as a lord that things got out of hand with Your Majesty the Demon King.”

Pirates and bandits guild? They probably want to say that they didn’t want to be coerced into this. I kind of know that, though. The only reason I understood that was because the fat lord himself had come forward. He was probably just making sense in his own way.

“He may be eccentric, but he is a statesman.”

“Well, I know he is not a bad person, but he is a bit of a problem. As you said, it is especially troublesome for those who stand below him.”

“As expected of Your Majesty the Demon King and Queen. You have a keen eye.”

Is that what you say? The lord is the lord; the servant seems to be a little strange. Well, they seem to be a good match.

“In fact, my master’s life will end tonight.”

“”Huh!?””