Isekai Nonbiri Nouka Chapter 1078: The Unifying King’s Memories of His Journey

Hello.

I am the Unifying King of the United Kingdom of Careland Region.

My only friends are the piles of documents that keep growing and the civil servants who watch over me.

Um, first of all, medicine is amazing.

My painful arm can move again.

I’m only allowed to use it about once every ten days because it’s not good to use it regularly, but it really helps.

But using it regularly is not good.

It’s important, so I’ll say it as many times as necessary.

Using it regularly is not good.

I’ll work hard.

I’ll work hard whenever I’m able to move.

-0-

I take the break the civil servants reluctantly allowed me.

I keep my body still in the most comfortable position possible.

In other words, I lie on my back.

I don’t put any strain on my arms or legs.

I wring out a towel soaked in warm water and loosely place it over my eyes.

Now then… I’d like some relaxing music or something, but I feel bad calling a musician all the way here just for that.

I have them open the window and relax to the sound of the wind.

Ahh.

I’m tired.

I’m exhausted.

The journey was difficult too, but it wasn’t this bad.

-0-

I was quite frightened during the voyage there.

After all, the only time I’d ever been on a boat before was when crossing a river.

It was my first time riding a large sailing ship across the open sea.

It was very frightening.

But I got used to it.

It helped that the ship stayed close enough to land that we could sometimes see the shore, and that we stopped at a port every few days.

We also never encountered any of the storms my companions had been so afraid of.

As we continued our voyage, I ended up being held up by ramen.

Yes, ramen.

What was the name of the country again…?

And the king’s name was… Clau… Clattan?

Clauden?

Something like that, I think.

I don’t remember very well.

What I remember is ramen.

Yes, nothing but ramen.

And how to use chopsticks.

Lady Tiselle and the others used chopsticks, and I’d already encountered dishes that were eaten with them, so I didn’t have too much trouble…

But ramen training was harsh.

It was quite a shock when I was told that the ramen I learned to make there, despite all that harsh training, wasn’t the real thing.

Fortunately, I was told that real ramen could be found in Village Five, the place I was heading to, so I felt like it was fate.

Incidentally, my companions didn’t undergo any ramen training. They simply enjoyed sightseeing as usual.

Why was I the only one?

No, even if they say they saw some talent in me… well, I don’t know what to say.

-0-

And so I continued my voyage in search of ramen…

I arrived at a port in the Six Dragon God Kingdom.

I thought we would resupply the ship there and then set sail for Shaashato City in the Demon King’s Kingdom, but the ship left without taking us aboard.

The reason was that someone from the Demon King’s Kingdom was in the Six Dragon God Kingdom.

That representative of the Demon King’s Kingdom knew who I was.

They also knew my purpose.

I gripped the hilt of the sword at my waist, thinking I should avoid being captured, but nothing like that happened.

Lady Tiselle had already told the Demon King’s Kingdom about me in a letter.

Come to think of it, Zahazaha-dono, an impure dragon who had a nest near the royal capital of the United Kingdom of Careland Region, was connected to the Six Dragon God Kingdom.

Originally, there had been a plan for me to ride Zahazaha-dono to the Six Dragon God Kingdom, but I was too scared, so I chose to travel by ship instead.

Of course, Lady Tiselle’s letter would have arrived ahead of me.

And my real objective wasn’t ramen…

It was to meet Lady Tiselle’s father, a man who even the Demon King, the ruler of the Demon King’s Kingdom, treated with respect.

I had no hostile intentions, but from the Demon King’s Kingdom’s point of view, I was the king of a country that belonged to a hostile faction.

It was only natural for the Demon King’s Kingdom to be concerned about me.

I wanted to make it clear that I had no intention of becoming their enemy.

With that in mind, I followed the guidance of the Demon King’s Kingdom’s representatives, but…

I hadn’t expected to meet the Demon King in the royal capital of the Demon King’s Kingdom.

I had planned to secretly meet Lady Tiselle’s father and secretly return home.

Was that not allowed?

Was the Demon King’s Kingdom trying to assess me, one of the kings of a human country?

Hmph.

I may rule a small country, but I am still a king.

Then by all means, let them assess me as much as they want.

…….

By the way, I’m not going to complain that it was rude to meet somewhere other than the audience chamber or anything like that…

But, um, why are we in a plaza?

And the Demon King… um, he’s wearing vertically striped clothes. Is he really the Demon King?

Well, he introduced himself as the Demon King.

It’s just that he wasn’t dressed the way I had imagined.

Ah, right.

I’m dressed in something similar.

These are clothes prepared by the Demon King’s Kingdom.

I thought it would be rude to appear in my traveling clothes, so I obediently changed.

Mine don’t have vertical stripes. They’re plain.

After seeing the Demon King’s vertical stripes, mine look a little plain.

W-Well, I suppose it’s fine.

Yes, the clothes are fine.

So, what am I supposed to do here?

I’m not very familiar with the customs of the Demon King’s Kingdom, but surely we aren’t going to have a discussion in the middle of a plaza, are we?

Are we starting with some warm-up exercises?

Are we supposed to warm up our bodies?

Hmm.

I didn’t really understand, but I imitated what the Demon King and the others were doing.

-0-

Once the warm-up exercises were over… Hmm?

You want me to hold a stick?

Do you want to see how skilled I am with a sword?

Well, I suppose I can show you that much.

They say strength is respected in the Demon King’s Kingdom, after all.

It wouldn’t be good to refuse and be looked down on.

Besides, I’m confident in my swordsmanship.

Who is my opponent?

Surely the Demon King himself isn’t going to be my opponent.

So, is it the person waiting over there?

But that person isn’t holding a stick.

…Huh?

They’re my opponent, but we’re not going to hit each other with sticks.

I’m supposed to hit the ball they throw with the stick?

This is…

Are they taking it easy on me?

If we had a sword fight and I happened to lose, it would be embarrassing, and if I were seriously injured, that would cause problems.

With this kind of match, I can show them my ability without getting seriously injured.

At worst, I’ll just get hit by a ball.

Yes.

All right, bring it on!

On the battlefield, I’ve used my sword to deflect arrows raining down on me!

Hitting a thrown ball with a stick will be child’s play!

…So they’re not throwing it directly at me.

I see. Since there’s someone to receive it, the ball travels along a course like this.

And I’m supposed to hit it from inside this square marked out on the ground.

I’m not allowed to step outside the marked area when I hit it.

Ah, stepping on the line is allowed.

Understood.

All right, come on!

-0-

After I hit about half of the balls they threw at me, around thirty in total, I was handed a strange glove.

This time, I’m supposed to catch the balls hit with the stick.

I don’t understand what the point of all this is, but I have no problem with it.

Once I catch the ball, I’m supposed to throw it to that person over there.

Very well.

I understand.

-0-

After I had caught and thrown about thirty balls, I was told to run next.

The distance wasn’t very long.

I just had to run from one square marker to another.

There were lines drawn on the ground as well, so there was no chance of getting lost.

It was simple.

They must want to see my explosive speed.

Hmph. I’ve run all over the battlefield wearing heavy armor.

If I’m not wearing armor, I can run as much as I want.

-0-

After running about five times, I was given a ball and told to throw it to the receiver.

Not a high lob, but more like the way the other person had been throwing the ball when I was hitting it with the stick.

No problem.

I remember.

Like this, right?

…….

Hmm, I was a little off.

The receiver failed to catch it.

Sorry.

If I adjust the speed a little more, the receiver won’t even have to move… What? That’s not right?

I’m supposed to throw it with all my strength?

But that will cause trouble for the receiver… No, that’s not it.

The Demon King wanted to see my strength.

The proof was that the receiver was fully equipped with protective gear.

…Very well.

I’ll throw it with all my strength!

Receiver!

Don’t die!

-0-

Finally, I was told to throw the ball as far as I could.

There were people stationed quite far away.

Hmph.

I threw it with all my strength, determined to get it all the way to the person farthest away.

-0-

「Hmm.

Your batting form is rough, but you have potential.

Defense, you’re not afraid of the ball. No problems there.

Throwing, a little concerning.

You’re not suited to be a pitcher.

But I can pass you as a fielder.

You’ll be in the second team for now, but you’re a promising talent who could aim for the first team before long.

I’m counting on you.」

The Demon King told me that.

Um…

What are the second team and first team?

I’m not joining the Demon King’s army.

Surely not.

Baseball?

What’s that?

-0-

Without really understanding what was going on, I practiced baseball with the Demon King.

Food tastes good after exercising.

Until Count Chrome and Count Pugyaru, the Demon King’s subordinates, arrived, I learned about baseball and how to play it.

-0-

Beezel「You checked Tiselle’s letter, right?」

Pugyaru「Her personal letters are short as always.」

Beezel「Don’t say that. Her reports are perfect.」

Pugyaru「That’s true. Ah, so the king of a human country has come here.」

Beezel「Indeed. His purpose is to meet Village Chief.」

Pugyaru「Then we have a lot to teach him.」

Beezel「Yes. And speaking of that king… where is he?」

Pugyaru「Isn’t he in the audience chamber?」

Beezel「He’s not there. He’s not in the waiting room either.」

Pugyaru「There is a record of him arriving at the castle. Where did he go?」

Guide「If you mean the guest, the Demon King said he was going to give him a baseball tryout, so he took him there.」

Beezel「…(It’s a beautiful day today.)」

Pugyaru「Don’t escape reality. Let’s go.」