Isekai Nonbiri Nouka Chapter 1082: The Unifying King’s Memories of His Journey and Miscellaneous Duties

I am the Unifying King.

I have finished the major task of meeting Lady Tiselle’s father.

What a relief.

All that’s left is to go home.

Or so I thought.

I still have to work out the details of things like trade based on the policies we discussed during the meeting.

Well, I won’t be handling those myself. My companions will take care of them.

That’s why they came with me, after all.

I hope they do their best.

I’ve received quite a few invitations.

-0-

First, Youko-dono, the acting village chief of Village Five.

We already met during my meeting with Lady Tiselle’s father, didn’t we?

That’s what I wanted to say, but I received an invitation.

She said she wanted to discuss things we couldn’t talk about there.

I wonder what it could be.

I politely declined, saying that I wouldn’t make any decisions on my own, but she hinted that it concerned the Third Princess of the Kingdom of Gozlan.

I couldn’t refuse that.

So I accepted the invitation and went with the messenger who came to escort me.

Our destination was a private room in a large restaurant.

This restaurant prides itself on its noodle dishes, and apparently they serve ramen as well.

Wonderful.

They know what they’re doing.

And this definitely isn’t going to be a scolding or anything like that.

If it were, they wouldn’t have called me to a ramen shop… no, a restaurant.

I can relax.

There were Youko-dono and two secretaries in the private room.

And there was also an unfamiliar girl… Huh?

She looks familiar somehow.

Oh, she’s the girl who was selling cakes!

Huh?

When I think about why she’s here…

Could she possibly be the Third Princess of the Kingdom of Gozlan?

There are people around the girl who look like bodyguards, so I suppose that confirms it.

She introduced herself as the Third Princess.

There was no mistake.

Ah, um…

I’ll apologize first.

For proposing marriage without knowing the Third Princess’s age and causing a war to break out.

All I wanted was a civil servant.

「So, you weren’t actually looking for a wife?」

I nodded honestly in response to Youko-dono’s confirmation.

I had heard that the Third Princess was highly capable when it came to domestic affairs, so I had assumed she must be of a suitable age.

My thinking was that I would ask for a marriage alliance, and if that didn’t work, I would ask for someone who could help with domestic affairs.

But they attacked us because they were angry about the marriage proposal, so we had no choice but to fight back.

I’m sorry.

I have no intention of making any advances toward the Third Princess anymore, and members of the Gozlan royal family are still alive.

If she wants to return to her country, I can make arrangements for her to…

I was flatly rejected.

The Third Princess intends to pursue her dream of becoming a cake pâtissier in Village Five.

…I see.

Just as I saw a future in ramen, the Third Princess saw a future in cakes.

I’ll support her wholeheartedly.

However, I want her to let her parents and siblings know that she is safe.

After all, we went to war to protect the Third Princess.

A letter will be enough.

I’ll deliver it.

I’ll also take letters from those who accompanied the Third Princess.

Please have them ready before I leave Village Five.

Once we had worked out how the letters would be exchanged, the discussion came to an end.

All right, time to eat.

I’ll have the restaurant’s recommended ramen.

As for the portion… A large serving can throw off the balance of the flavors, so I’ll start with a regular one.

I’d like to have the best ramen this restaurant has to offer.

Youko-dono ordered kitsune udon, while the Third Princess and her guards chose a long, thin pasta dish.

One of Youko-dono’s secretaries said that people normally eat the same dish at a gathering like this, but I don’t mind.

Everyone should eat what they like.

Yeah.

-0-

Next is an invitation from Ruincia-dono, the vice-chief of the angels.

To put it simply, Ruincia-dono is Lady Tiselle’s grandmother.

I want to refuse.

But I can’t.

If I refuse, she might come all the way to my country.

That would be a bit much.

Yeah.

I do feel like dragging everyone in my country into this, but if I did that, it would be no joke.

So I did my best.

I really did my best.

-0-

I met Ruincia-dono at a restaurant called Kuro and Yuki.

It wasn’t a private room, but I was shown to a table set up in a spacious area toward the back.

A drink was brought out immediately.

They must have ordered it in advance.

For the time being, I wouldn’t be able to leave until I finished this.

Could I drink it all at once?

It looks hot, though…

Oh, there’s also a pot of tea for refills.

……

I almost burned my mouth and throat for no reason.

Um, thank you for inviting me today.

Yes, this is about Lady Tiselle, isn’t it?

I reported everything to Lady Tiselle’s father, but was there something missing?

Lady Tiselle is doing well.

…………………………………………

Ruincia-dono said nothing.

What is this…?

What am I being tested on?

W-what should I do?

Even if I ask the people around me for help…

Ah, no. This is bad.

Everyone around me is an angel.

When did that happen?

I didn’t notice at all.

I let my guard down because the manager of this restaurant is an elf.

That manager is… too far away.

And she’s busy serving customers.

She doesn’t look like she’ll be able to help me.

Damn it.

D-do I just have to endure this?

Will enduring it somehow make things work out?

The tea is… still hot.

It would be difficult to drink it all.

…W-wait.

Why am I thinking about running away?

I am a king.

That’s right, a king.

A king does not run away.

A king must not run away!

No matter what difficulties I face, I must stand my ground and face them!

I have to show the people of my country what it means to stand and fight!

I look Ruincia-dono straight in the eyes!

…………Scary.

I-I think a strategic retreat is unavoidable.

That’s right. In that case, it isn’t running away.

It’s the same as regrouping.

You don’t call it running away when you are regrouping.

Yeah, you don’t.

Besides, there aren’t any people from my country here.

My companions aren’t here, either.

They ran away the moment I said the other party was an angel.

So I’m allowed to run away too!

The only question is whether they’ll let me escape.

There doesn’t seem to be any opening.

She’s watching me closely enough to respond if this turns into a fight at any moment.

W-what should I do?

Throw the cup of tea at her and use the opening to……

No way.

I’d be killed before I could do that.

C-calm down.

The other party is an angel.

I must not think I can win through force.

If I am going to win, I need to use my brains.

…………

As if I could beat an angels in a battle of wits!

-0-

Phew.

I calmed down.

You could also say I gave up.

It was a short life.

I wondered what I should have written on my gravestone.

While I was escaping reality like that, help arrived.

It was Lady Tiselle’s father.

He joined the table with Ruincia-dono and interpreted for her.

……

Interpreted?

Was she talking?

No?

Through the movements of her wings?

Um, ordinary people can’t have conversations through the movements of an angel’s wings, you know?

N-no, complaints can wait.

For now, I’ll accept it.

And as long as we can have a proper conversation, there is no problem.

Relying on Lady Tiselle’s father’s interpretation, I told Ruincia-dono everything I knew.

I wouldn’t lie.

I wouldn’t exaggerate, either.

I spoke honestly.

-0-

I survived.

Thank goodness.

Then I heard what had happened from Lady Tiselle’s father… the village chief.

Why hadn’t Ruincia-dono spoken?

Simply put, grandmothers tend to be disliked when they pry into what their grandchildren are doing.

But she was curious.

She had a mountain of things she wanted to ask.

But if she asked, there was a chance Lady Tiselle would dislike her.

Apparently, that conflict was the reason for her silence.

Hmm, what a nuisance.

Well, I ended up receiving plenty of souvenirs for my country as compensation for the trouble, so I suppose things worked out well in the end.

…….

Did they?

Isn’t that a little cheap as compensation for being prepared to die?

Huh?

They’ll also arrange the transportation?

Thank you very much.

And the one who called Lady Tiselle’s father was the manager of Kuro and Yuki (that shop).

Because I looked like I was having trouble.

Thank you!

-0-

After Ruincia-dono, I received an invitation from Yuri-dono, the Demon King’s daughter.

I had never had any dealings with Yuri-dono before, so I wondered what she wanted, but I couldn’t figure it out.

Since the invitation came directly from her… it probably wasn’t a marriage meeting.

If it were a marriage meeting, the intermediary would have contacted me.

Ah, is that just my common sense?

Things might be different in the Demon King’s Kingdom.

There were quite a few proactive women in the books at the library, too.

Still, considering our respective positions, a marriage meeting seemed impossible.

Hmm, then what could she want?

W-well, I suppose I’ll find out when I meet her.

Before meeting Yuri-dono, I asked Count Pugyaru about her personality.

I couldn’t catch Count Chrome.

Count Pugyaru told me that she had been sensible lately.

…….

Lately?

So was she not sensible before?

Like some outrageous princess who would suddenly start a war?

N-no way.

And what could someone like that possibly want to discuss with me?

-0-

In conclusion, it was a marriage meeting.

And it did not work out.

Because the Demon King barged in and ruined it.

Thank you, Demon King.

But why did it become a marriage meeting in the first place?

Yuri-dono didn’t seem to know that was what it was.

Whose idea was it?

Count Chrome, who was somehow there, raised his hand.

It was you?!

No?

To be precise, it was Count Chrome’s mother’s idea?

Count Chrome’s mother had been thinking that there was no one in the Demon King’s Kingdom who would make a suitable partner for Yuri-dono, so they would have to look outside the country.

Then I happened to come along, so she decided to set things up and see how it went.

She asked Yuri-dono to meet me under the pretext of another matter.

I see, I see.

Ah, um, I don’t know anything about the culture of the Demon King’s Kingdom, so I can’t really say much, but wouldn’t it be safer to meet at a small party first rather than suddenly arranging a marriage meeting?

At first, since we were complete strangers, we talked entirely about official business.

I wouldn’t even have noticed if the Demon King hadn’t barged in and shouted that he was against the marriage meeting.

And I don’t remember ever meeting Count Chrome’s mother, yet she decided to introduce me to Yuri-dono?

I did meet her?

I didn’t meet any woman like that at Count Chrome’s mansion, though.

Could she have been dressed as a maid?

No?

She was dressed as a shopkeeper?

What?

She runs a shop in Village Five while dressed as a shopkeeper?

……..

N-no way, was it the shop where I ordered my cloak?

That madam?

I-I do remember her asking me an awful lot about my family situation and what I imagined my ideal wife would be like.

What?

Whaaaaaaaaaat?!

In the Demon King’s Kingdom, do nobles actually run shops themselves?

I-I mean, even if she’s the wife of the previous lord…

The differences in culture continue to surprise me.

-0-

Beezel「Mother, I think it would be better not to interfere in unnecessary matters.」

Bee-baa「What are you talking about? If things stay like this, Yuri-chan won’t have anyone to marry.」

Beezel「But if her partner is the king of a human country…」

Bee-baa「His character is not a problem. His manners can be improved with training. I don’t care about his bloodline.」

Beezel「Shouldn’t we at least consider his race…? Their lifespans are different.」

Bee-baa「There are plenty of ways to extend one’s lifespan. Just have her meet him for now.」

Beezel「I-I’ll do my best.」

-0-

Demon King「I’m against it, against it, against it, against it.」

Bee-baa「Don’t you want to see your grandchildren?」

Anee(Demon King’s Wife)「Grandchildren… That might be nice…」

Demon King「I-I don’t want to think about that yet!」

-0-

Yuri「I’m sorry, but I’m not thinking about marriage yet.」

Bee-baa「I understand. However, Frau has already had children.」

Yuri「I’m not Frau, you know. Hohoho.」

Bee-baa「Fufufu.」

-0-

Beezel「Wasn’t that rather forceful, for you, Mother?」

Bee-baa「Perhaps. But she needs to start thinking about it.」

Beezel「Were you all right with the marriage falling through this time?」

Bee-baa「The purpose was to make her think about it.」

Beezel「…We will have to pay that king compensation for the trouble.」

Bee-baa「You can afford that much, can’t you? I’m counting on you.」

Beezel「…………」

-0-

Bee-baa「We don’t know how long the Demon King will remain the Demon King. When the next Demon King seeks Yuri-chan in order to secure his position, we need to make sure she can refuse. But if I push Yuri-chan into a marriage she doesn’t want, that defeats the whole purpose. Ideally, Yuri-chan would become aware of it and look for someone herself, but…」

Yuri「I’m going to work on the harbor! (Piloting the humanoid heavy machinery is so much fun!)」

Bee-baa「…This is hopeless.」

Yame「Don’t rush her, don’t rush her.」