Chapter 799

The parade’s progress toward the royal capital has been postponed but that doesn’t mean that the parade has been interrupted.

It just didn’t proceed to the royal capital as scheduled. The parade is still ongoing inside and outside of Shashaato City.

The most popular, or rather most exciting parts are…..

Perhaps the experiment of the combination transformation of the carriages being conducted by the mountain elves.

Whether the combination transformation succeeds or fails, everyone’s getting excited.

I wondered why the success rate seemed to have increased but I heard that the teachers of Ifrus School are cooperating with them.

I would like to think that there is no problem with Ifrus School doing that since Loo is supposed to supervise it but…..

I’m a little worried because Miyo said that “there are many people who need to be considered there, both top and bottom.”.

I hope the mountain elves don’t go in a strange direction.

-0-

The next most crowded place is the waiting area of Kuro and the others.

A dry run was also held in Shashaato City so the residents of Shashaato know about the kuros.

However, it seems like they were not able to get a good look on them during the dry run so an audience gathered to catch a glimpse of Kuro and the others.

The kuros don’t seem to feel bad about being looked at and a few of them even walk around with children who wish to ride them on their backs.

The kuros are still in their big forms so even adults can easily ride them but no adults seem to want to ride them.

Incidentally, the children are not allowed to ride alone so they are assisted by the high elves.

Ah, perhaps the adults don’t want to be assisted by the high elves because they were embarrassed.

-0-

There aren’t a lot of them but there’s also a crowd at the waiting area of the angels.

Unfortunately, it seems like during the parade in Village Five and in Shashaato City, the angels were attacked.

About 30 of those who made those attacks were gathered to apologize……

「You’re still alive you god d*mn angel! I’m going to kill you this time!」

「I didn’t know you were still alive……demons are pretty stubborn, aren’t you?」

Instead of an apology, it looks like they were challenged.

I thought it would be a sword and magic match but it was an arm wrestling match and drinking battle.

Is this alright?

No, I don’t mean you should compete with sword and magic.

「In case you’re wondering, we’re allies this time so….Ah, no, I threw the spear as a reflex, or rather, if her leave you flying, the evilest thing will surely follow.」

「It was just a reconnaissance. I’m not doing anything strange. Well, the information I bring is too accurate and it might be a bad thing for the enemy…… well, since we’re on the same side this time, that’s no longer a problem.」

Well, they are playing their matches without getting nasty so as far as I’m concerned, I’m not going to stop them.

In this kind of situation, if you stop halfway, the grudge will continue.

I won’t tell you to be reserved or go easy on each other so give it your all.

Just don’t leave any alcohol get the better of you tomorrow.

…….

No, I didn’t mean to beat alcohol by drinking all of them until there’s nothing left for tomorrow.

-0-

The stuffed animals with the spiderlings inside them are on display.

I asked them if it’s alright for them to be outside during the “exhibition” but they said they would abide by Zabuton’s instructions.

They have improved the habitability of the inside of the stuffed animals so staying in them for a long time is not a problem.

However, the clothing artisans of Shashaato City are looking at them pretty closely so…..

Will they be okay?

If the presence of the spiderlings is discovered, they will be scolded by Zabuton.

Let’s warn the artisans to not touch them.

Eh?

Ah, no, it’s true that I’m basically the owner but…..

Not for sale.

Won’t be sold.

You want to see the base of the foot?

You want me to lift it?

Ah, okay?

How about this?

No, I don’t think I want to flip it over.

You want to see the back…..

Wait, this pressure, the pressure is too much……

Somebody, help me!

-0-

I had a bad experience.

I guess enthusiastic craftsmen can’t see what’s going on around them.

I would have been in danger if the employees of the Goroun Company had not helped me.

The craftsmen, who had cooled down after being seized, apologized but they still couldn’t hide their desire to see the back of the stuffed animals.

Should I praise them for their dedication?

No, they shouldn’t cause trouble for those around them.

Who should I ask to remind them?

Governor Ifrus?

No, if there’s a craftsmen guild so something, that would be enough, right?

Let’s ask Miyo.

-0-

There’s no sign of Dors and the others in Shashaato City.

Dors and the others were to wait at Doraim’s nest.

As a matter of fact, after the parade in Shashaato City, Dors and the others planned to skip the cities and villages between the royal capital and Shashaato City and just meet up with us at the royal capital.

This was because the dragons would be traveling by flying instead of using teleportation gates so time coordination would be tight.

It would be a problem if Dors and the others were too early or late.

Coordination is almost impossible.

Since that is the case, we decided to just leave them out.

Well, the main parade team would have to run through the cities and villages on the way to the capital so there’s no other way.

I wonder if the decoys that the demon king had mentioned will work with this arrangement.

Anyway, Dors and the others will not be in action tomorrow either.

Thus, they will have to relax in Doraim’s nest.

……..

I didn’t send them there to avoid further trouble.

-0-

The wyverns, like the dragons, will not be in action starting tomorrow.

Thus, I suggested that they wait in Doraim’s nest like Dors and the others but they didn’t want to because they thought it was too dangerous.

As a result, they decided to go to the royal capital ahead of us and wait at the waiting area in the royal capital.

A civil servant from the Demon King’s Kingdom went to contact them using the teleportation gate so they would not be mistaken for a group of wyverns that had attacked the royal capital.

-0-

Late afternoon.

I was taken to a private room in Big Roof Shashaato, separated from the rest of the restaurant by a screen.

A big round table was placed in the center of the room and chairs were arranged around it.

The chair across from the one in which I’m sitting was occupied by Governor Ifrus.

This was what I promised Miyo.

As I had expected, he immediately rescheduled it because the parade had been postponed.

Miyo is really a capable little girl.

However, as for me, since I was dining with a distinguished person, I wanted time to reconfirm business manners such as upper seat and lower seat greetings and table manners at meals.

「We’ll make it work」

Miyo pushed all those ideas aside.

Well, it’s fortunate that I didn’t have to worry about upper and lower seating since it was a round table.

……

No, the table they use at Marla is square so they must have prepared a round table for this dinner.

Did Miyo arrange this?

I’ll say it once again.

Miyo is really a capable little girl.

-0-

The dinner with Governor Ifrus began with an apology from Governor Ifrus.

He wanted to apologize for having thoughtlessly accepted the challenge by Dors and the others and for stalling the progress of the parade.

I don’t think it’s something that a governor like himself should apologize for and if anything, there wouldn’t have been any problem if Dors and the others hadn’t initiated the game.

I also think that if he really has to apologize, it shouldn’t be to me.

However, I don’t think that Ifrus would make such a mistake and he must have a reason for apologizing to me.

What reason, I realized.

From an outsider’s point of view, I am the boss of the civil servant girls who are involved in the parade proceedings.

In fact, the boss of the civil servant girls is Frau and not me but it’s impossible to tell that from an outsider’s point of view…..

If the emphasis is on the postponement of the parade, I can understand why he would apologize to me, who is apparently the boss of the civil servant girls.

I see.

I guess properly apologizing to me is officially apologizing to those he should have apologized to like the demon king, the civil servants of the kingdom, and the civil servant girls.

As expected of Governor Ifrus.

As long as I know the reason, I will not deny the apology of Governor Ifrus.

I accepted his apology and replied that I would do my best to make the parade a success.

Yeah, it seems like I was right.

Governor Ifrus had a look of obvious relief on his face.

Good.

-0-

That was the end of our business but the dinner had just begun.

I enjoyed Marla’s curry with Governor Ifrus.

Spice curry with lots of vegetables.

Delicious.

However, I mustn’t get carried away with the meal.

We must have a proper conversation.

Ehto, come to think of it, weren’t you scared of the Dors and the others?

「Yeah but we met before when we were searching for Count Pugyaru.」

Ah, right.

「Also, I could feel the dragon’s dedication to their grandchildren……I was so impressed with their dedication that I decided to respond to it.」

Yeah, Dors loves his grandchildren……

Areh?

So, does Governor Ifrus already have a grandchild?

I heard that the baker’s daughter and Gilspark, the son of Governor Ifrush, got married but I didn’t know that they already had a child.

「Hahaha, unfortunately, not yet. However, we are preparing for the birth of my grandchild at any moment.」

From this point on, the conversation about Governor Ifrus’ grandchild continues.

Looking at Governor Ifrus, I could see Dors and Raimeiren’s love on Hiichirou, Doraim and Grafaloon’s love on Rananoon and Kukulkan, and Beezels’s love on Fracia.

Grandchildren are so adorable.

Alfred, Tiselle, and Ursa too will….someday.

No, it’s too soon to tell.

When I finished my meal while listening to Governor Ifrus, he looked at me with a serious expression on his face.

What?

Did I make a mistake in something?

「Village chief, actually, I have something to tell you……」

Something to tell me?

Is it something that needs to be said at a meeting like this?

I was a little defensive but the content of the message was not that difficult to understand.

「Did you know that the demon king is not hereditary?」

Of course, I know that.

So, even if the current demon king falls, that doesn’t mean that Yuri will succeed him.

「Yes. As for the position of demon king, when a new demon king challenges and defeats the current demon king, it will be easy for him to take over the throne…. However, for example, if the demon king is to fall in a war, there is a period of absence until a new demon king is chosen.」

Ah, well, I guess so.

「During that period of absence, there are those who lead the kingdom and will decide on the new demon king. The new demon king is going to be chosen by an Elective Parliament.」

Maa, are those people necessary?

「Those who belong to the elective parliament will not indulge in selfishness but will solemnly and quietly decide on the next demon king.」

Sounds strict.

「Yes, it is strict. However, only when there is no demon king. Otherwise, they are just a bunch of normal nobles……easy going nobles if you ask me.」

It is true that you can’t be uptight even when you’re not working.

So, I learned a lot but, what is the reason why you took the trouble to invite me for this?

「Here’s the main issue. Those dissatisfied with the current system have moved to the top of the elective parliament.」

Moved?

Even though the demon king is still alive and well?

Can the elective parliament dismiss the demon king?

「No, the elective parliament doesn’t have the right to dismiss the demon king. Once the demon king has been decided, he will be the demon king until he is overthrown or withdraws on his own accord.」

Then, even if the top of the elective parliament makes a move, he can’t do anything, right?

「The top of the elective parliament is the present demon king-sama’s maternal grandfather.」

In short……the demon king’s relative?

「Yes. He is someone who is concerned about the current demon king-sama. A few days ago……three days to be exact, I saw him in this city. 」

……did he come to watch the parade?

「I hope so……in the meantime, I thought I should pass this information to you.」

I see, thanks.

Just to confirm, you’ve told this to the demon king, right?

「Yes. He’s already on alert. Please be careful too, village chief.」

Thus, the dinner with Governor Ifrus ends.

………..

Ehto, why should I be careful just because the top of the elective council is here?

I’ll ask Miyo later.

……hnn?

Areh?

Wait a minute.

If it’s just this information, Miyo could have told me, right?

Did he really need to invite me to dinner just to tell me that?

Or is there some meaning if Governor Ifrus personally tells it to me?

……

I don’t know.

Let’s ask Miyo that too.

-0-

Village Chief: I better ask Miyo what’s going on in Shashaato City.