Chapter 174

Chapter 174

Honey Mustard Sauce

We had escaped the counts castle that had been taken by an army of ants.

I returned to my army immediately and ordered them to retreat.

You are not going to go and attack them at once?

Eve asked.

We dont know the size of their fighting force or what their purpose is. It would be unwise to attack them now.

Like Sun Tzu, who you are always talking about.

Yes. If you know your enemy and know yourself, in a hundred battles you will never be defeated. We will withdraw the soldiers for now. I want to know why they are here and about their chain of command.

Thats a job for Fuma Kotaro.

Just as she said this, Fuma Kotaro appeared.

I ordered him to investigate, and he disappeared without a word.

And then there is this princess.

Eve looked at Jessica, who was still sleeping.

We will look after her in the castle town for now. And she will have a servant. She is, after all, the counts heir.

Does that mean the count has died?

I believe he did. With that wound.

I offered a brief moment of silence for him. A very short one. There was so much for us to do as the living.

First, have some guards escort Jessica to the town. In the meantime, we will continue to retreat. And make sure that the enemy doesnt follow us.

Certainly.

Eve began to make preparations at once.

The others also gave orders for their subordinates to retreat.

And like that, the Ashtaroth army retreated from Count Ismalias lands.

One week later, the entire army was able to reach the castle safely, and we discovered the reason that the ants had appeared at Ismalia castle.

Fuma Kotaro explained it to me solemnly.

They are Hive Workers. A race that has lived under this continent since ancient times. They never contacted humans or demons, and their unique world has evolved independently.

Unique?

The world of the ants revolves around a queen ant.

So we can beat them by defeating this queen ant?

If anything, that is the only way.

I see. Thats troublesome. And where is this queen ant?

I do not know. Because the Hive Workers are constantly moving their nest or hive around.

Always moving? But dont they live underground?

Yes, they are constantly moving underground. My guess is that they built their hive under Ismalia castle and were waiting for an opportunity to attack.

In that case

I looked at the floor of the war council room.

And I tried to imagine what could be down there, deep underground.

So its possible that they are building their hive right underneath Ashtaroth castle at this very moment.

It is so.

Can you investigate it?

I can. In fact, it is currently underway.

Apparently, he had Hanzo the Kobold ninja investigating the underground.

So word must have spread then.

Yes. There was even a rumor that it is a heavenly vegetable, and that you will be able to go to heaven if you eat it.

I wouldnt want to go there, being a Demon King. But I suppose it is different for these humans.

Yes.

Well, time for the insurance, I suppose.

Insurance?

Aye. I had Gottlieb create a moving food stall.

Oh, how very perceptive.

And with it, we will sell steamed and fried potatoes. These taste especially good with butter.

What a wonderful idea.

Hmm. And not just butter. But chilli powder and honey mustard sauce should be prepared as well.

What about selling onion rings too?

Splendid. Id expect nothing less from the head maid of Ashtaroth castle.

Eve smiled at this praise.

Now, I would like to go and see it for myself. But there is one problem.

A problem? Do you mean these documents?

There were stacks of unattended papers on my desk. They had piled up while I was gone from Ismalia castle.

There is that, but they can be finished in one night.

Very good, master. So, what is the problem?

Asked Eve again. And so I answered.

If I dont take the Saint with me to such an event, she will complain about it for eternity. Im sorry, but could you wake up the gluttonous Saint and bring her to me?

Eve chuckled at this.

Well, you may be right about that. Very well. I will wake up Saint Jeanne.

Eve said. And then Jeanne appeared in front of me half an hour later. While there wasnt sleep in her eyes this time, her hair was different from usual. It wasnt tied up and was just let down. Clearly her hunger was more important than her hair.

But it was like her, and so I didnt point it out.

Now, I think that I will go to the market with the head maid and the Saintess. There, we will eat some fried potatoes. It will be our breakfast.

Wonderful! Jeanne said as she jumped up. But her expression quickly changed.

Oh, no! Ive already eaten breakfast.

So thats why she had taken thirty minutes to get here. I was a little exasperated, but said,

Then it will be lunch. So you can eat as much as you want so that you wont need lunch later.

Jeanne looked at me as if I had gone insane.

Lunch is an entirely different meal. Potatoes are a mere snack.

She said plainly, and then led me by the hand.

I sighed at her bottomless appetite, but went to the market with her.

There, the three of us ate some fried potatoes. I had butter and salt. Eve had mayonnaise, and Jeanne had hers with chilli powder.

While food always tastes better when you are with women who you got along with, it wasnt particularly romantic. One of these days, I might have to take them to a luxurious restaurant in a big city.

But Jeanne objected when she heard this.

It is quite luxurious enough to eat food with a Demon King. And so even being out under the cold sky is better than the most expensive restaurant. It is three stars.

She said without a hint of embarrassment. Which made the second-hand embarrassment all the more severe for me. And so I ordered more potatoes and handed them to Jeanne.

And with her saintly smile, she drowned her potatoes in honey mustard sauce.

The Legendary Rebuilding of a World by a Realist Demon King