Reincarnated as the Piggy Duke: This Time I’m Gonna Tell Her How I Feel! Volume 6 E-Book

Rhythm Aida

• Herausgeber: J-Novel Club
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Serie: Reincarnated as the Piggy Duke: This Time I'm Gonna Tell Her How I Feel!
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 361

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Reincarnated as the Piggy Duke: This Time I’m Gonna Tell Her How I Feel! Volume 6

Leseprobe

“The Piggy Duke was intelligent, strong, kindhearted, and sadly, too stubborn for his own good. From another perspective, the story of Shuya Marionette can be interpreted as his tragedy.”

—Director of Shuya Marionette

Prologue: The One Who Goes against the Tide

The history of the northern half of the continent was decorated with conflict after conflict. Its climate hindered the land’s crops from ever being bountiful, and in addition, heretic cultists had decreed a foreigner as their deity. However, instead of denouncing these wars, the culture of the north celebrated fighting in the name of survival as a thing of beauty.

The Dustour Empire was located here in the north, and its main settlement of Dustour City, also known as the Stone Capital, was built on the edge of a steep cliff. The ruling class of Dustour lived in this rock cave temple, and its unpredictable, mazelike interior was not unlike an ants’ nest. Legend had it that enemies of the empire would never find a way out once they wandered into it.

Deep inside the temple was a certain room; no light could find its way into it, and the air was perpetually damp. Darkness engulfed the entire facility, broken only by dim flickers of light from candlestick lamps that revealed a number of unknown tools dangling from the walls. The instruments gleamed ominously, leaving one wondering about their purpose.

It was easy to assume that this peculiar room’s owner was either a recluse or an eccentric old researcher absorbed in their obsession. However, inside this room, a youthful maiden sat on a leather chair.

“Give me your report, Rooney,” she said.

Despite her looks, her true nature was a far cry from the human girl she appeared to be.

She sat with her legs crossed and her eyes fixed on the man kneeling before her. His physique was a sight to behold, hinting at the dangerous strength within, and from his looks, it was obvious that his line of work wasn’t the respectable type. He stayed still and lowered his head, sporting a grin of ecstasy on his face as he began to answer the owner of the room.

“My master, where shall I start? No, perhaps the better question is, whose actions do you want to hear about first?”

“Oh, quit it with the farce! Of course I want to know about those guys first!” she said grumpily.

“In that case, I suppose I’ll start with movements in the Southern Alliance. The various countries there are glaring at us with hostility from across the border between the north and the south, marked by the Grant Wetlands...”

The master of the room displayed her annoyance, but even her glare was endearing in Rooney’s eyes. Every second of conversation with her was invaluable to him. She was the brain of the Dustour Empire; a superpower that had expanded her territory so much that half of the continent was now occupied under her flag.

She was both a human and something beyond—she was the famed Great Spirit of Darkness.

“Well, those guys would probably only make the first move when hell freezes over, so let’s not waste time with them,” she said flippantly. “What about Bardot?”

The man’s name that she whispered was another household name in this continent, like hers, with his tales told far and wide.

“The aged general is currently withdrawing his soldiers from the Grant Wetlands in increments just as you wished, Master. I should have expected nothing less from the man who proclaims himself to be your greatest worshipper. Despite your orders being contradictory to your previous ones, he immediately changed gears and acted when he heard that it was your will. For that elderly man, the word ‘doubt’ doesn’t exist when it comes to you. I am sure that he would die without question if you ordered it so.”

“Leave out all the extra stuff. Just tell me the facts and what’s going on.”

“Ah, please excuse my rudeness. The General of the Army, Bardot, issued his commands and the soldiers heeded them without a fuss. Their withdrawal was as swift as possible and was carried out without complaint.”

Rooney continued, “From the start, the soldiers were fatigued from the frequent wars to subjugate the northern half, and deep in their hearts, they dreaded the upcoming war with the south. After all, it is a war with both its start and conclusion date shrouded in mystery. Though plans of uniting the continent under Dustour’s flag have been scrapped, there are probably many who are secretly rejoicing.”

“We must provide our soldiers with sufficient rest.”

“General Bardot knows your compassion better than anyone else, Master, and naturally, he has acted on that knowledge. He has ordered soldiers who have served a long tour to go on leave, and has arranged for them to return to their families.”

“I see. I won’t comment further on it, then.”

The fate of the world had changed. If everything had gone according to plan, Rooney would have declared that the war should begin as soon as possible. However, after his return from Huzak, he had reported to the Great Spirit of Darkness that although uniting the continent was feasible, there would be little benefit. Hearing his analysis, she had made a different decision.

One of the Three Musketeers, Bardot, was unquestionably at the top of the chain of command of military affairs in the Dustour Empire. He had stationed soldiers along the border with the south in preparation, and after this new development, Nanatrij had ordered him to recall all of those troops.

“I must say though, Master, I honestly didn’t expect you to call off the war with the south only based on my comments. I was completely convinced that you had been joking, and—”

“Rooney, I gave you full authority to judge whether invading the south was a worthwhile endeavor, and I had sent you to Huzak with that in mind. That’s all I have to say about that.”

“If that aged general heard about this conversation, I am willing to bet that he would seethe with envy.”

The Great Spirit of Darkness had an exceedingly favorable opinion of the man she had sent to Huzak. She had trained this man to be someone like herself, someone whose judgment wouldn’t be blinded by emotions, and who could achieve his goals like a fine-tuned machine. And this man had been the one who had advised her to abort her plan on the basis that they might be caught off guard by a devastating counterattack on a scale they could never expect.

If Rooney had decided that this plan wasn’t worth it, then it was impossible for her to have any objections. Since Bardot had command over the military, she’d left the plans for the retreat to him. Furthermore, she had also told Dreibach Steibelt, her other spy she sent to the south and a member of the Three Musketeers, to fall back.

“Putting that aside...” The Great Spirit trailed off. “What is the south’s response?”

“As expected, the countries in the south are in disarray and are completely thrown off. Those rats that they had snuck into the empire all tried to spring into action to figure out our goals. I have lost count of how many infiltrators we have caught during these past few days.” Rooney shrugged.

Nanatrij narrowed her eyes. “Surely you haven’t killed them, have you?”

“I made sure to give them plenty of ‘souvenirs’ and let them go. With this, our intentions are probably clear to the countries in the south now. There might be some nations simmering in anger, thinking that we have played them for fools, but dealing with them falls down to the alliance leader of the Great Southern Alliance. That means Daryth, the Country of Knights, and how skillfully they can navigate it all. As for the messenger we sent there, they have fulfilled their duty. According to them, the higher-ups over there are most likely willing to accept a peace treaty. It’s the obvious choice since the empire is willingly withdrawing our troops and not asking for anything in return. To those in the south, there aren’t terms more favorable than these.”

There was a brief pause before Nanatrij spoke up again. “Good job, Rooney. It was probably tough for you out there too. So, what’s the flip side? The problems?”

“We haven’t been able to fully conceal information about the Living Dead’s injuries. The rebel factions in various places have heard the rumors and are buzzing with excitement. Right now, that witch and her subordinates are keeping them in check, but if all the rebel troops were to band together, they would become a formidable force. Much blood would likely flow again.”

“Is that the only thing you consider problematic?”

“Well...” Rooney paused, thinking.

What had surprised everyone was how Dreibach Steibelt had done something completely unexpected after her summons. The half-human, half-fiend had nearly destroyed Zenelaus, despite orders warning him to stay away.

The Great Spirit of Darkness had received reports about how the musketeer was possibly going rogue, and she had then immediately rushed towards the far end of the southern territory.

If any of the Three Musketeers manifested their powers, an entire city could easily crumble into dust. The cities in the south were not as powerful as in the north, and even Zenelaus, the great city of adventurers, was no exception.

But if that truly happened, it would be problematic for everyone. If people heard that a musketeer had been dispatched to Zenelaus, an all-out war with the south would be unavoidable.

In yet another twist of events, however, the man renowned as the Living Dead had suffered defeat at the end of his insubordination. He had lost. Nobody had expected this—how could anyone have ever considered the possibility of that man losing?

“What is it? Get to the point already.”

“It’s nothing. I just find it absurd to think that the Living Dead himself lost. It was a word I’d never associated with him.”

“Nothing is impossible in this world, Rooney. You should know that best since you suffered a harsh setback in Huzak.”

In Zenelaus, an elusive Great Spirit had appeared: Eldred, the Great Spirit of Fire. There was even a young man who could draw out and channel the Great Spirit’s power, and as a result, one of the Three Musketeers had been defeated.

The worst-case scenario was avoided, however. No, perhaps what had actually happened could be deemed to be the most ideal outcome. Eldred had only destroyed the lich that had bound the musketeer and went no further.

“There is the possibility that someone might start to object to your decisions, Master.”

“I don’t remember there being anyone in this empire who would go against me.”

“There isn’t. Or, that’s what I would like to say with confidence, but...” Rooney hesitated to complete his sentence.

After this series of events, Nanatrij had seen for herself that Rooney’s analysis had indeed been on point. If the empire began a war with the south, Eldred probably wouldn’t stay out of it. The very last thing Nanatrij wanted to do was to face that lunatic spirit. There was also the fact that there were many Great Spirits in the south that took the side of humans...and that was only counting the ones that she knew about.

For example, the Great Spirit of Light was in the Country of Knights, and the Great Spirit of Water was in Cirquista. Those two would definitely participate if a war broke out. Even though she had her musketeers that she’d trained into warriors powerful enough to kill Great Spirits, Eldred joining the fray meant a messy, tough war that would drag on with no easy way out.

“It seems that someone with opposing opinions has indeed made their appearance. I must say that they arrived much earlier than I expected. But Master...did you actually notice their presence from the start?”

The door slowly opened, and light from outside spilled into the room. However, seemingly contrary to Rooney’s words, there were no footsteps, and nobody came in. Still, Rooney placed a hand over the knife on his waist as he kept his head lowered. His eyes were fixed on the floor and his whole body stayed tense.

“I must say, I feel downright awful,” he muttered. “To think that I, of all people, didn’t notice someone sneaking up behind my back.”

A silhouette appeared behind Rooney, slipping into view like a wavering shadow.

The room was silent, and nobody had physically walked in, yet that person now stood there, almost as if declaring that they had just as much right to be there as the others.

“I believe I have just experienced the most hair-raising moment of my life,” Rooney commented.

The woman who had suddenly appeared behind Rooney finally spoke up. “My lady, Alliance Leader. I have heard that you are withdrawing troops from our border with Daryth.”

Her hair was a snowy white, and it somehow gave her an aura of sorrowful solitude. The woman looked to be in her early twenties, but she had a bewitching air to her that wasn’t common for her age; like a flower in full bloom.

Her eyes were gently shut, and she wore the cusp of a smile on her lips. There was something angelic about her expression, and she could almost be mistaken for a priestess.

“Rooney’s right. Your entrance was appalling. So, what do you want?”

“Knowing your perceptiveness, Alliance Leader, you must have realized that I’ve been here from the very beginning. I entered this room at the same time as that man.”

“You’re a nasty piece of work, as always. I seem to remember putting you in charge of the massive task of subjugating the rebel army gathering in Goldbeck. Why are you slacking off by being here instead?”

“You see, I happened to have heard a very peculiar rumor. It was a ridiculous story about how soldiers stationed at the Grant Wetlands were returning to their homelands one after another...”

“Well, I guess there’s a wonderful general out there who really cares for his soldiers,” Nanatrij commented nonchalantly.

“I felt very much left in the dark, so I decided that I should come here and beg for you to enlighten me as to your thoughts.”

“When I thought about all of the people who could possibly go against my will, you were just about the only one who came to mind, Francisca. And I was right.”

There were very few people who had access to the private quarters of the Great Spirit of Darkness. The only way to enter was either to gain her permission or to forcefully destroy its tenacious barrier.

An average mage probably wouldn’t even be able to make heads or tails of the element used to uphold the barrier protecting her residence. This woman must have taken advantage of Rooney and used him to gain entry.

“That’s not surprising, considering that you surround yourself with people who have abandoned rational thought and critical thinking altogether, whether it be that man over there or the aged general.”

“Yes, exactly, Francisca. I am surrounded by people who faithfully obey my will, and that’s why the Dustour Empire has been able to flourish to the extent that we see today.”

Nanatrij’s method of operation was nearly tyrannical, but she was confident in her actions. The Dustour Empire had only grown into such a superpower because of her abilities. No other being in this world could go against her decisions, and that was commonly accepted by the citizens of the south.

However, the woman with the snowy hair was different. Beneath her noncommittal expression, scorching-hot anger burned within her, and she had come all the way here while bearing its heat.

Rooney’s concern from earlier had been realized, but the alliance leader with the youthful appearance wasn’t perturbed at all.

“In that case, I’ll spell it out for you, loud and clear. My plan to unite the continent as one has been suspended and has thus been thrown out the window. That’s my final decision.”

Nanatrij’s flippant remark silenced Francisca for a moment before she could reply. “You made such a major decision without explaining anything to me, one of the Three Musketeers. Do you not think such an action is a little inconsiderate? I had put in an extremely strenuous amount of effort to prepare for realizing your plan.”

Francisca was heralded as one of the Three Musketeers, the strongest people in the empire. Despite Nanatrij’s cool demeanor, Francisca disregarded her words as if they were grating on her nerves.

“Hah! Inconsiderate, you say? Stop changing the topic, Francisca. I entrusted you with quelling the uprising that the surviving former great powers of the north are scheming. What is the state of things there and with taking down Goldbeck?”

“I have left the matter in the hands of people who can be trusted. You could say that they are to me what that man means to you: people whom you can trust with no reservations.”

“Oh really?” Nanatrij cocked an eyebrow. “Unlike you, however, I haven’t done anything underhanded like brainwashing Rooney with potions.”

“I did not come back to the imperial capital to waste time on meaningless chitchat. Alliance Leader, please tell me why you scrapped your plans.”

This doesn’t look good, Rooney thought. The man who had been nicknamed the demon of Huzak was now a bystander, and he had noticed that Francisca’s mood was gradually souring. I can’t let this go on.

The power of the musketeers was a good match for the power of his revered Great Spirit of Darkness. From the very beginning, the title of musketeer was given to those who compared favorably with the Great Spirits.

A worst-case scenario flashed in Rooney’s mind. He had to do something to avoid these two unleashing their powers here at all costs.

However, he had no intention of participating in this conversation at all. Francisca was known as the Dream Dealer Witch and the Healing Doctor for a reason, and when it came to her, letting sleeping dogs lie was the best policy.

“Was it because of that man over there? That frail person you sent to Huzak? I heard that he was the one who had the final say.”

Rooney stayed still and silent.

“Even if he is a favorite of yours, this is a decision that determines the future of a major nation. Leaving it up to some man with suspicious origins is rather... Alliance Leader, what were you thinking?”

No matter how much she disparaged Rooney, he kept up his poker face. He had done his job, nothing more, nothing less.

“Leader,” Francisca said at length. “You must not give up on the dream of having this whole continent under the authority of the empire.”

“Originally, my goal was just to unite the northern half of the continent. In the north, there had been a war that continued for so long that nobody knew when exactly it had begun, and I had decided that I would put an end to it. That was where my battle started in the first place. You know that, don’t you?”

“I do. However, the reason why I submitted to you, who had continued to wage conflict, was—”

Francisca once commanded one of the most influential factions in the Dustour Empire, and she had decided to surrender and join the Great Spirit’s army for one reason: Nanatrij had once declared that she would erase ugly conflicts from this world.

“I’ve achieved my original goal. As long as you vanquish the rebel army gathering in Goldbeck, the north will truly be united. What’s there to complain about? I’ve done what we set out to do.”

“Is that...really what you think?”

“Each and every word of it. I’ve learned that if I continue with my plans to wage war with the south, the price will be steeper than we expected. I had only planned on moving forward with uniting the whole continent if the sacrifices would be minimal. Right now, the empire’s might is depleted due to prolonged conflict. If we keep pressing on, the people will become unhappy. The army led by Bardot is living proof of that. Because they were eyeing the south, the rebel forces became active.”

“That is pure sophistry. You have the might of the Three Musketeers right now, standing as the epitome of glory. It won’t be possible to bring the continent together under our flag at any time but the present. Or, are the rumors possibly true? The ones alluding to the Living Dead’s defeat in Zenelaus?”

This time, Nanatrij was the one to fall silent. Taking over for his master, Rooney finally entered their conversation. “It was not a complete defeat. That lich was purged, nothing more. That man is still in good health.”

There was a tone of ridicule in Francisca’s voice. “Oh, I didn’t notice you there, vanquished one. I never thought you would speak up in front of me, but more importantly... I never thought that the lich would be overthrown. Even if I killed it, that thing just would not stay dead.”

This news was a bolt from the blue to Francisca. Francisca was on equal footing with Dreibach Steibelt, but even to her, he was a man whom she definitely didn’t want to face on the opposite side of the battlefield.

Nanatrij joined the conversation once again. “The one who sent the lich to its grave was Eldred, the Great Spirit of Fire.”

“Eldred is indeed a formidable enemy. I can see how the Living Dead could have lost if that thing had made an appearance. However...I still advise that we should make war with the south.”

“I won’t overturn my decision.”

“But the one who made that judgment wasn’t you, but that vanquished one over there, wasn’t it? Yes, your favorite lost, but that’s all. Bardot would probably abide by your ruling, but I am different. Unlike him and Dreibach, I do not have as much emotional attachment towards you, Alliance Leader. I shall take things into my own hands and use my methods to achieve my original purpose.”

“Wait, where are you going?” Nanatrij asked.

“I shall remove the obstacles standing in the way of uniting the continent. For that, I shall head to the south and confirm what happened with my own eyes.”

“Rooney...”

With just one word from Nanatrij, the assassin who had waged a heated battle with Slowe Denning in Huzak reacted. “Francisca, you should refrain from thoughtless and selfish actions,” he warned, sensing the overflowing bloodlust from Francisca.

“Ah, and here I thought you were scared of talking to me. Was that not the case?”

Rooney fell silent once again.

“A loser could never block my path,” Francisca mocked.

At that exact moment, Rooney froze, almost as if he was a prisoner in his own body.

Nanatrij’s response echoed through the room. “It seems that you’ve forgotten just who exactly taught magic to a mere potion dealer all that time ago.”

“I could say the same to you, Alliance Leader. Have you forgotten how many kings of formerly great northern powers I’ve brainwashed and turned into puppets so they’d cooperate with Dustour? I cannot possibly give any weight towards your decision this time.”

●

“You managed to keep your silence in spite of her barrage of barbs. Pretty impressive. You’ve improved.”

The oppressive atmosphere dispersed and Rooney felt the tension leaving his shoulders. He almost wanted to praise himself for managing to stand his ground even while Francisca had been there, right before his eyes. Compared to the other two, the Dream Dealer Witch was the hardest to read of the Three Musketeers.

“I will not be provoked by cheap jibes. I know that she was originally a miraculous healer and the founder of the Potion Dealer Association... It is absurd that she used to be called the Healing Doctor, however. Master, why did you let such a dangerous woman join the forces of the empire?”

“Well, she had talent. Or maybe I should say that she had too much talent. Anyway, you mustn’t underestimate the extensive intelligence network that Francisca has access to from that group.”

In the north, an area stirring with constant conflict, water mages had formed a charity called the Potion Dealer Association. That woman was once a great water mage in that group with talents so outstanding that she was even nicknamed the Holy Mother. She was a legend in the flesh and was rumored to have manufactured over half of the water elixirs currently circulating around the continent.

“So, Rooney,” Nanatrij addressed him. “What do you think will happen?”

“The Dream Dealer Witch has used her magic to manipulate others, causing many countries in the north to collapse from within. If such a lethal woman were to go to the south, everything would be for naught. You should send out someone to pursue her, and perhaps...consider killing her, if things get to that point.”

“You think he has a chance of winning against her?”

“A chance of winning...? May I ask what party you are referring to?”

“You know who I’m thinking of.”

One boy came to Rooney’s mind. The mysterious youth who had disguised himself as a monster in Huzak. He was also said to have drawn out Eldred’s power to the fullest in Zenelaus and used it to defeat the lich.

“Not in a thousand years. He is a far cry from the witch in terms of skill as a mage.”

“Oh? You have a pretty low opinion of him, even though he was the one who defeated you.”

“Even though they say anything is possible in the broad expanse of the Dustour Empire, there aren’t actually any humans who have defeated Great Spirits. That woman just so happens to be the one who managed to drive away the Great Spirit of Wind based on her own merits. I could never imagine a mere mage surpassing that witch. However, to change the topic, Master, how should Goldbeck be dealt with now that the rebel forces are amassing there? Without the Dream Dealer Witch on-site, I believe her worshippers would have trouble containing the enemy solely by themselves.”

The territory of the Dustour Empire was immense. With rumors of Dreibach losing part of his power circling around, there were countries taking advantage of this opportunity to start a revolt. This was why Nanatrij had gone so far as to send the Dream Dealer Witch to squash them, but now it was all for naught.

To the Great Spirit of Darkness, the southern part of the continent was insignificant. If sending troops there caused the north’s foundation to shake, it would be meaningless.

“Good question...”

This issue was a particularly stubborn thorn in Nanatrij’s side. Dispatching another spy immediately to Goldbeck would be useless. She had chosen the Dream Dealer Witch because her power had been the perfect counter to the priest there who was very likely to send the continent into a gravely dangerous situation in the future with his heretic ideologies.

She had wanted to take this opportunity to assassinate the priest of the rebel army, one way or another. Francisca had been slowly drawing closer to the priest, but she had now left her station on the front line. Without her, was there anyone else who had the skills to deal a devastating blow to the rebel faction?

Nanatrij sighed. “I’ll head there myself to rain on their parade. That’s our only option.”

“Now that is a decision I would never have expected. To think that my master would take things into her own hands!”

“That aside... Rooney, I now have a little job I want you to take care of.”

“I refuse. Stopping that witch is impossible with my abilities. I would rather not be brainwashed with a single word from her mouth.”

“That’s not it. My request is actually something different.”

After the Great Spirit of Darkness spoke, the man known as the demon of Huzak could only groan.

“Do I look like a deliveryman? Though I must say that you have concocted a very intriguing plan, Master. Doesn’t this mean that in the end, you are the one who is the most interested in him?”

However, the same could be said for Rooney, who was thrilled at the chance to meet the youth again.

Chapter 1: The Manor in the Denning Lands

One little pig, two little pigs, I counted.

This world before me was exactly like what my mind’s eye would picture if I thought of a ranch filled with lush greens. And now there were ten little pigs, eleven little pigs...

The peaceful paradise filled with greenery was surrounded by a fence. However, one after another, little piglets would sprint with all their might and leap over it, and this paradise was now crammed with them.

Oh jeez, yet another newcomer. The farm’s already practically bursting with pigs. Hey, if any more of you guys come in, this place is going to fall apart! And stop looking at me like that! Even if you snarl and snort at me, it’s not going to change anything, you know!

I didn’t speak a word as I watched on, sighing internally. Yeah, I know; this is a dream. I’m a cool and rational guy who can always tell dreams apart from reality, no matter what situation I’m in.

But hey, it’s fine for me to indulge in this sweet, pleasant dream for just a bit more, right? Reality never fails to be cruel, so of course there would be times when I would want to escape to dreamland.

I heard a weak snort. A damned voice with no charm whatsoever. Was that really a human’s voice? I’m pretty convinced that was the sound of a real pig!

“Oiiink...”

And, undoubtedly, it was my voice. It was I, who had crawled under soft, pristine white bedsheets, and I was letting out pathetic noises from within my hideout.

“Stop that, Young Master! Morning has already arrived!” a voice chided.

I wailed out several snorts of displeasure. “Please let me sleep just a little more! It’s still nighttime to me!”

“What nonsense is that?! You have been sleeping as much as you please every day!”

“Oink oink!” I snorted in protest.

“How many times do I have to repeat myself before I get through to you?! Speak in human words! Unless you do, you would make a fool of yourself in front of our people! Come on out of your bed!”

“Noooink!”

A loud snap, and a hard impact on my head. She had smacked me!

Th-This woman actually dared to hit me! You sure about that? I might not look it, but I’m the direct descendant of House Denning, one of the greatest noble families in this country! Even if you’re hitting me through the bedsheets, it’s still painful, you know?!

“Young Master! Get out of bed!”

“Oiiink!!!!!!!!!!!” I howled.

Damn! This old hag has done it again! The sheets were dragged away, and my squishy body was in plain sight for all to see. I let out a whimper in my mind. I was wrapped up for a long time and all warm from that, but now my body temperature is...

“Mallow! Give that bedsheet back! It’s mine!”

“Oh dear, you really have become such an unseemly sight... It pains your poor Mallow’s heart to see you in such a state...”

“Well, your heart can be pained as much as you like! More importantly, give me my sheets back!”

“You’re about the only one in House Denning who would be slacking off like this, Young Master. The world is heading off in a peaceful direction, and yet look at you...” Mallow sighed.

It was early in the morning, before sunrise, but this old woman was being extremely cruel to me at this ungodly hour. Her name was Mallow and she was a granny of a maid who had started serving House Denning long before I was even born. She was probably the only one in the entirety of the Denning lands who could show such audacity to me, a direct descendant of House Denning.

“Hey! My sheets!” I insisted.

“Your lack of fitness had been so atrocious that our citizens even dared to allude to you as a human orc, but you came back to our lands looking like a brand-new person. I, your dear Mallow, was overcome with joy at the sight. But look at you now! You’re a hermit pig once again. What is putting you off this much? Young Master, are you going to avoid heading outside yet again today?”

I didn’t have a good reply to that.

Here in the Denning lands, I could enjoy the warmth of the sunlight and my clean bed. My days were tranquil without anyone around to disturb my peaceful sleep. These were all things I had yearned for, but right now, I was living like a hermit... No, that wasn’t it. I was in the middle of a strike of protest, refusing to leave my room.

I harrumphed, sulking. “You would never understand what I feel.”

After that intense battle in Zenelaus, my situation had turned completely on its head. Where should I even start...? Uh, for starters, Zenelaus averted destruction. We narrowly avoided setting off the trigger that would start the war, since we were able to defeat Dreibach.

“At this rate, Young Master... Wouldn’t it have been better if even one member of your family...for maybe just your grandfather to have stayed here in the Denning lands and kept you company?”

“Mallow... I’m sure you’ve seen what kind of attitude they have towards me. I’m a taboo person in this family. I shouldn’t even be here. Grandfather was the worst of the bunch, remember? To him, a grandson who has even one single failure on their record should no longer be a member of House Denning.” I sighed. “And here I was, celebrating my luck now that all the yapping people were gone and I could enjoy my peace and quiet... I didn’t think that you’d become this naggy too, Mallow.”

Since that incident, there have been two big changes in my life. And they were like giant meteors that crashed into my routine life and shattered it to pieces. Before I start talking about the second change, I probably need to explain what happened first...

“But if you were together with your family, wouldn’t you have had the chance to redeem yourself?”

“Never. What could I do if I went onto the battlefield right now? I’d be nothing more than a speck of dirt on their boots, or they’d just use me in some way that profits them. Plus, they’re doing negotiations at the front lines now, not fighting. My very presence would simply be a hindrance.”

So this is just a rumor among the common folk and I don’t have concrete evidence to back this information up...but I heard that the Dustour Empire is slowly withdrawing their troops from the stalemate of a battlefront between the south and the north. When I first got wind of this rumor, even someone impassive like me jumped for joy.

The soldiers of the empire follow the orders of General Bardot, the head of military affairs there. He is one of the Three Musketeers and the self-proclaimed pious servant of the Great Spirit of Darkness that only answers to the Great Spirit herself. The sudden disappearance of troops from the front line means that Nanatrij must have been the one to call for retreat, which means that she no longer has the intention of starting a war, at least not in the immediate future.

“My, my, you might as well write me an entire speech at this rate. But I must argue one thing. Your family does not think that your existence is a hindrance. Even all your brothers were absolutely fascinated with you, weren’t they?”

I hesitated. “You’re the only one who sees it like that, Mallow. And let me make one thing clear: the war is going to end, and it’s going to end somewhere I don’t know. Thus, even if I lazily sleep my days away without restraint here, nobody will get mad.”

If everything proceeded on like this and the war fizzled out, it would be the best outcome I could ever ask for. It would prove that all my efforts hadn’t been in vain. Unlike in the anime, all those people wouldn’t be injured, and my tragic future would be avoided too.

From the bottom of my heart, I was glad that I had gone to Zenelaus. I mean, think about it. The defeat of one musketeer was enough for me to bring the gift of peace to the whole world! Now I won’t have to face General Bardot, whose Dustour soldiers are infamous for being more fearsome than monsters. I can also avoid battling the Dream Dealer Witch, who just loooves brainwashing people.

“And that’s why I’m going back to sleep, Mallow, and nobody is going to make me budge on that.”

“Young Master,” Mallow said chidingly, “your family is currently working very hard for the sake of the future of this country. And you’re...”

I paused when I heard that. “You probably don’t know this, but I was actually the one who created the opportunity for world peace to be possible. But I’m willing to bet that nobody would believe me.”

Mallow heaved a sigh. “This topic again? When you came back, you seemed so dignified, but look at you now.”

“It probably was a trick of the light or something... I haven’t changed at all. That aside, Mallow, how long are you planning on being a maid for House Denning? You’re probably around retirement age, or even past that.”

“Young Master, it is improper to ask a lady about her age.”

I blinked at that. “Well, you’re definitely no spring chicken. In the first place, it’s absurd for a remarkable mage like yourself to take on the job of mere maid just because my father was impressed. Oh come on, please go. I’m heading back to dreamland.”

“This is truly regrettable,” Mallow lamented.

Due to Dustour gradually calling back their troops, House Denning is overloaded with work since we’re responsible for military affairs in this country. My family has all gathered on the battlefront in the Grant Wetlands to glower at our enemies. As such, the only direct descendant inside the Denning Manor right now is me.

“I shall leave food on the table for you, Young Master. I am afraid I have to leave to take care of the children.”

“Pretty tough work, this early in the morning.”

“Please take your time with your meal. It will not grow legs and run away, after all.”

“...Whatever you say.”

And now, without any of the Denning members around, the one who ruled our house was this ancient maid. She was known as Mallow and was a commoner who had served us for a long time.

Despite her commoner status, she was a peerless mage and used to be my father’s private magic tutor. We were greatly indebted to her. I had also experienced her strict and extreme training when I was a child, and she was currently responsible for Charlotte’s education.

“Young Master, your Mallow prays that the day you leave your room will come soon.”

Seeing that she had finally left my room, I dived into my bed again.

“It’s all her fault,” I grumbled. “Thanks to her tedious ramble, now I’m wide awake.”

If I had to decide what the most significant change after the incident in Zenelaus was, it would be the fact that the war was no longer an immediate threat.

Sighing, I muttered to myself. “Whenever I talk to Mallow, I get flashbacks of my childhood fears, and those get in the way of me sleeping without a care in the world.”

This is just my guess, but I think this happened because the Great Spirit of Darkness loathed going into a long and messy war. Even in the anime, she ended up grumbling to herself when the war began to drag on. That was because of Shuya, who had Eldred on his side. She groaned with regret, saying that she shouldn’t have started the war in the first place since the Great Spirit of Fire was around.

In other words...Shuya going wild in Zenelaus and exposing his existence to Nanatrij probably turned out to be a good thing. Nobody in this world is stupid enough to step on a tiger’s tail that’s in plain sight! I wouldn’t have expected anything else from the Great Spirit who treasures the empire so much.

“The war has stopped...which means mission accomplished for me, but...”

Basically, I can pat myself on the back and cheer. The world is on the fast track to peace! Thanks, Shuya! You truly are worthy of being called the star of the anime! Now, all that’s left for me is to work towards my own happiness!

Or, well, that’s what I had thought. But what the heck is going on now?!

“Why am I back here...inside my family home...in the Denning lands...?” I wailed.

It was time to reflect on the second big change that happened to me after the fight at Zenelaus. We had returned from Zenelaus to find the queen of Daryth waiting for us. Her Majesty had praised me for protecting Kirsch Mage Institute, and I had thought that Charlotte and I would return to school quickly after that.

It would have been perfect timing since Kirsch had just finished polishing off its reconstructed campus, which meant that the holidays would end soon. But, well, I never got to return to Kirsch, because the queen herself had asked me to consider taking the position of Guardian Knight...

“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?! Stop slacking off! If you keep that up, you’ll end up running away from the military academy only one month into your training!”

“Who dares to look sleepy during drills?!”

“It is our duty to protect these lands during the absence of our lords and ladies in House Denning! This is a great responsibility! Do you not understand that?!”

House Denning was a ducal house in the Country of Knights and one of her most powerful noble houses. It was a stifling and troublesome place, and I was the third son of this lineage.

When I was a kid, there was a time when I was called grandiose nicknames, like “prodigy.” Lately, I also started being often referred to by a new, epic title: the hero who had saved Kirsch from a fearsome monster. Yeah sure, that’s great and all, but... The recommendation to become the next Guardian Knight still completely blindsided me! Who would have expected that?! I mean, this is the Guardian Knight we’re talking about! I’m probably the furthest one could get from a knight!

“Young Master! Please come ouuut!” a man yelled.

“Hey! You over there! Why are you shouting?!”

“The head maid Mallow told me to call for the young master from outside, so I did!”

“Young Maaaster!”

After I had been dragged back here to the Denning lands, I had been met with all sorts of reactions from my family.