Chapter 139 The Unexpected King, One Dance, One Section...
"Ai, Aielheimer..."
"No."
"You can take a vacation... for as long as you want... and you can get as much salary as you want..."
"No."
"Elheisen, you can't do this...you can't do this to me..."
Mainkuhn was so anxious he was about to cry, swishing his short tail wildly, but the scholar remained unmoved.
Upon closer inspection, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, suggesting a hint of pleasure.
"You should know how to deal with rebellious subjects; you've done this kind of thing more than once."
"……Um?"
"Isn't that so?"
Elhesen glanced meaningfully at his hands, covered in black sharp armor that had torn apart countless enemies.
“Using force to intimidate and oppress is what you are best at and what is most effective.”
"After all these years, you should know that no matter what state you are in, whether you are cowardly or fearless, as long as you are still in this weak mortal kingdom of Sumeru, as long as you can still show strength comparable to the demon god, you will be omnipotent and no one will dare to disobey your will."
Every word was clear and distinct, as if a teacher were instructing their most valued student. Al-Hysen stared directly into Mainkuen's beastly eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife.
"Including me."
“Elhesen…”
He had a lot of presence, but unfortunately his students were the least perceptive in the world and couldn't connect with the role.
"I...I don't understand..."
"..."
"What I mean is, you can bind my legs, tie my arms behind my back, hang me in a dark room, and starve me—that way, I estimate that in less than half a day, a smart person like me will become obedient and do as you please under absolute violence."
"!!!"
The blunt suggestion caused Mainkun's pupils to shrink, and he panicked instantly.
"No, no! How could I do that to you... You, you are..."
"Hmph."
It wasn't a misperception; Elhesen was genuinely in a good mood. Though he didn't smile, his demeanor was relaxed and composed, as evidenced by the way he looked at Mainkuen…
It's like looking at a difficult problem that you have complete control over.
"Well then, I'm sorry."
"Today's conversation is my final piece of advice to you."
"Wait! Don't go! Hey..."
He left without hesitation, resolutely leaving the King of Sumeru in terror and despair.
“…Ugh.”
Even so, Mainkuhn never once showed him his fangs.
*
"Beep—"
"Void user loading."
Kavi: Who's going to do something about him! Who's going to do something about him!
"Kavi: Elheisen! Don't bully Mainkun too much! He's already... he's already—"
Tinari: Sigh, I guess you mean to say he's already had it tough enough.
Tinari: After all, that's what I think too...
Sino: This is a necessary test.
"Sino: We must confirm whether his desire to save the world has distorted his nature, causing him to fall into a dark obsession. This concerns our safety, after all, he is truly invincible."
Desia: ...Ah.
Desia: I can't help but wonder, does this intense desire to save the world stem from himself, or from the people of Fontainebleau...?
Al-Hysen: There's no need to be so pessimistic.
"Elheisen: The people of Fontaine are already used to the existence of prophecies and don't take them seriously."
Ehrlich: And the continuous decline in sea levels in recent years has made them view the end of the world as a joke.
Desia: Ah...that's great, I feel so relieved.
Desia: After all, if his efforts and the anxieties he has endured over the years were not of his own volition, but rather induced by humans…
Desia: Well, I'm going to be very sad.
Tinari: I understand what you mean. Every life should be free to choose.
Tinari: Even the Canon of the Church prohibits parents from forcing their children to choose a major; if this is proven, they will be subject to a home visit.
Desia: Hahaha! I remember this policy! I stopped several angry mothers outside the palace gates; it was the easiest assassination I've ever handled!
Desia: ...Actually, looking back now, it's not so funny anymore.
Kavi: Uh, ah, let's talk about something else! Um, Tina, how's that little girl? She's so thin, remember to tell her to eat more!
Tinari: Her name is Kolei! She's doing well. Although she has Demon Scale Disease, the symptoms are mild. Her biggest problems are the aftereffects of the Demon God's experiments and her longing for her family, but she can overcome those... Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen any severely affected Demon Scale Disease patients in recent years?
Desia: I've never seen it before. The scales on Dinazede's arms are practically decorative and barely noticeable.
Kavi: Huh? I remember that thing used to be a terminal illness? Why isn't it deadly anymore?
Nasita: The weary World Tree, she drank her fill of dew; the rain did not fall from the sky, but nourished her withered roots, causing the tree and everything on it to sing together.
'Erhesen: Made by Mainkuhn.'
...
Kavi: Huh?
Desia: Huh?
Tinari: Elheisen, thanks for the translation... Now I think I understand why Dead Zones are becoming less common...
Nasita: Don't worry, one day they will all disappear completely from the land we love so dearly.
Kavi: Lord Grass God... this is truly incredible news! Worth a drink to celebrate!
"Sino: Why didn't you finish explaining last time, Elhesen? You haven't revealed all the information yet! Come on, tell me the truth!"
Al-Hysen: That's too much to talk about, it's a waste of time. Let's focus on the next plan.
Seno: You bastard!
Sino: ...Alright, this is a matter of life and death. What are you planning to do? The soul isn't a topic we're familiar with.
"Elheisen: Do nothing except attack the Doctor and improve your reputation."
Al-Hysen: He himself will bring together the opportunity for new life.
"Erhesen: Just like how we're bringing each other together now."
...
Kavi: I don't understand.
"Kavi: You're not thinking of slacking off again, are you?"
*
Red Sand fears the eternal punishment of the ruler, the enigmatic master with beastly eyes, and the tyrannical king of the abyss.
This is the name that the Sumeru people gave to the new king out of fear and hatred.
“Replace him, otherwise people’s subconscious will keep recalling the scene of your brutal takeover.”
After skipping work for a few days, Al Heysen suddenly stopped Maine and took back the abbreviation he had given him.
"The title 'King of Tyranny' is unacceptable."
[No! ! ]
The cat arches its back and presses its ears down in protest.
But it didn't work.
"The Green Fields Bless the Everlasting Ruler, the Compassionate and Wise Lord, the Warm and Virtuous King, what do you think?"
"Aww!"
[You're lying through your teeth!]
Putting everything else aside, just looking at the word 'wisdom', Mainkun felt a strong sense of irony coming from it.
"no……"
"This is it. Goodbye, Your Majesty."
Al-Hysen came to give a heads-up, and since the message had been delivered, they decided to retreat immediately.
"Ai,"
[Erhesen!]
[Damn it!]
[Is he the king, or am I the king?]
[This won't do, brother...]
Suppressing his fear, Mainkuhn tiptoed out of the Papal House.
[Okay, I need to find someone to scare...]
Desperate times call for desperate measures; the cat panicked and frightened, but skillfully dodged the crowd and found a secluded corner.
In the corner, a young girl with red hair and a costume was practicing dancing.
This age is good! If it's too young, Mainkun wouldn't dare to scare it; if it's too old, Mainkun wouldn't dare to scare it. Young is good, young is good. Young people are physically strong and won't cause any problems if they're scared. The only problem is that Mainkun is afraid of people regardless of their age.
"..."
The Mainkun cat disappeared into the bushes, staring blankly at the girl's graceful dance.
She bends over, swings her arms, stretches her legs, and lightly touches her toes, graceful and elegant, like a butterfly fluttering down to a flower. Her smile is gentle and serene, like a water lily just beginning to bloom.
[Oh no, what did I do to scare people before?]
Mainkuhn, however, couldn't bear to watch any longer and was preoccupied with his own thoughts.
[It's been so long since I've personally taken action; Elhesen has been taking such good care of me...]
With a soft twist, Maine suddenly saw the girl's emerald green eyes looking in their direction, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.
[!!] We've been discovered!
Without a second thought, following his instincts, Mainkun straightened his back and leaped out of the bushes, his eyes wide open!
"hiss--!"
Exhale! Exhale hard!
"..."
"king?"
After finishing with Mayin, Kuhn was completely bewildered and looked at Nilu in disbelief.
wrong!
He took a step back and hurriedly retreated into the bushes.
The other thing is a person, not a cat!
"etc!"
Nilu glanced at the young man who had completely covered the lower half of his face, and couldn't understand what he had been doing just now, but she could tell that he was trying to back down.
"Don't go!"
[Alas!]
The cat-eared youth turned around calmly, as if asking Nel with his gaze, "What do you want to report?"
His posture bore a striking resemblance to one of his friends from Iwakuni.
"Was the feeling of unease just now an illusion...? Business is more important."
Deceived by the illusion, Nilu took a few quick steps, her face becoming serious.
"you…"
I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have scared you.
"...Would you like to see the dance we choreographed for you?"
[--ah? ]
“The people of our Grand Bazaar have been petitioning the Vatican to hold a festival just for you, like the Flora Festival.”
Nilu blushed slightly, seemingly a little embarrassed, but she still persisted.
"Originally, the Order of the Fathers had been against it, but for some reason, they suddenly agreed yesterday without any warning! The celebration will be held on the day you arrive in Sumeru."
...
"Your Majesty? Aren't you happy?"
Nilu saw a pair of seemingly calm eyes.
[Erhesen!! You bastard! You're serious!]
Mainkun felt his blood boil, his vision blurred, and he could see no glimmer of hope.
[No, what's there to celebrate that day? It was nothing but bloodshed and chaos!]
Unable to bear it any longer, the cat turned and tried to leave.
"Um, um... although you don't seem too excited about it."
But the girl's worried and anxious voice kept him there.
"But I still want to tell you that everyone in the Grand Bazaar is really looking forward to this celebration. Everyone in the theater is also working overnight to design my dance costume. Everyone is very enthusiastic and happy. I want to express my gratitude and love to you."
Nilu took a deep breath and stared directly into the young king's seemingly unmoved beastly eyes.
So, can you take a look?
"Because I will put all our heartfelt wishes into the dance steps and present them to you."
"..."
The young king remained silent for a moment.
Suddenly, he reached out and lightly flicked the largest diamond on the crown.
"Let's begin."
"...Huh?"
"You, the initial invitation."
His voice was indifferent, and his words were concise, like one of his gray-haired friends.
Nilu recalled from that voice that she had initially only intended to invite Wang Guanwu.
"Okay, okay!"
Nilu took a deep breath, a resolute glint in her emerald eyes. She stepped back a few paces and, in this secluded corner, with the sky and earth as her stage and the dappled sunlight as her flowers, began her performance.
There was no music, only the rustling of the wind through the grass and the soft sound of her clothes fluttering. At first, her movements were a little awkward and tentative, as if she was unsure what style this king, known for his bravery, preferred. But she quickly immersed herself in it, and every spin and every stretch began to be infused with full emotion.
Emotion, emotion, Nel is truly a genius dancer.
[Oh my god, what am I doing?]
Mainkuhn stood frozen in place, his golden vertical pupils unblinking.
[Things that are completely useless to me are a waste of my time.]
But the cat couldn't move his feet. He looked, and it seemed that what he saw was more than just a dance. In the dance, there were clearly layers upon layers of phantoms.
He saw the elegant and sharp strokes of the pen in the ecclesiastical chamber; those were the marks left by Al-Hysen's corrections of official documents.
He saw the gentle care of the scholars in the rainforest, their patient tendencies towards the animals; it was the drooping ears and focused gaze of Tinari.
He saw the heroic spirit of Dixia wielding her sword to protect the caravan, and he saw the striking blond hair of Kavi, who was struggling yet determined in front of the design drawings in the workshop.
He even saw the meticulous crimson pupils of Seno as he enforced the law, and the youthful determination of Narcida as she tiptoed as if trying to touch the World Tree.
This is not a dance.
This is an epic.
The overwhelming emotions resonated with Mainkuhn, causing him to choke up and feel a lump in his throat.
"Your Majesty, what do you think?"
As the song ended, fine beads of sweat appeared on Nilu's forehead.
"……good."
Mainkuhn turned his head away, avoiding her bright gaze.
"They just shouldn't be celebrating for me."
"Give the order that this festival shall be called the Festival of All People."
*
God, fate has played another cruel joke on me.
Mainkuhn stood on a high branch of the sacred tree, overlooking the land of wisdom from a height where no one else was.
I came here clearly to harm this city.
But now it's the other way around.
"The ruler who inherits the blessings of the green fields... Ha, how laughable."
El-Hysen, no one knows better than you what I'm plotting.
There was absolutely no goodwill toward Sumeru.
But why...?
"Changyou".
Why would you make such a wish of mine...?
Brother... what should I do...?
"They're all a bunch of stupid brats! The Order of the Fathers is getting more and more absurd!"
Just as the cat was feeling melancholy, a spirited female voice came from under the tree.
"In just one hundred years, it has become a feudal dynasty, which is one thing, but they don't even know the dangers of the remnants of demons. They all keep saying that they are born cruel... I think they are born idiots!"
[Ah... such an aggressive human, and they also seem dissatisfied with the current state of the Order of the Fathers...]
How about trying to stimulate some emotions?
Thinking of this, the cat gently shook the branch, deliberately letting a few leaves fall.
"who!"
The woman did indeed look up.
"Dare to eavesdrop? You're asking for death?"
But his fierce expression twisted the moment he saw Mainkun, looking extremely conflicted and ugly.
Is it coming?
Mainkun nervously raised its tail.
"Hey!"
Sure enough, the woman raised her hand and threw a hard object at her.
[! They've gone so far as to directly attack me?!]
Mainkun reached out and caught it with an air of nonchalance.
[Why isn't my demonic power increasing?]
He opened his palm and was astonished to find a sparkling gem inside.
"?"
He looked down blankly, but the woman continued to be sarcastic.
"What are you looking at! I'm your senior too!"
"Fix it properly on your crown, and put it right in the center!"
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