Chapter 174 - One Hundred And Seventy Four
DID YOU KNOW? YOU CAN NOW READ THREE TO SIX ChapterS AHEAD. CHECK MY PROFILE FOR THE LINK.
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In the Nation of Maple Tree, the human leader of the Monster Empire was currently enjoying some quality time with her daughters in their private hot spring.
Kaede, Acer, Hanae, and Ari sat together in the steaming water, the warmth relaxing their bodies after what had been another long day.
"This is nice." Kaede exhaled contentedly, feeling herself relax as Ari gently massaged her shoulders. "You have magical hands, Ari."
The Prime Minister of Maple Tree giggled as she continued rubbing her mother’s shoulders. "Momiji enjoys this, so she had me learn it. I’m glad you enjoy it, Mother."
"How are things with your wife, by the way?" Kaede asked.
Acer handed her a cup of wine, which Kaede accepted with a grateful smile.
"Momiji is great." Ari smiled fondly. "We spend our nights passionately discussing politics, city management, and all the other boring things that come with running a nation."
Kaede stared at her.
Ari stared back.
"...You know that’s not what I meant."
Ari burst into laughter. "I know."
Hanae giggled from the other side of the spring while Ari simply smiled.
"She’s doing well," Acer continued. "We’ve both been busy lately, but we’ve managed to find time for each other."
"That’s good." Kaede smiled. "Momiji has always been a good girl."
Ari reddened. "She calls me that whenever we are passionate at night."
Kaede ooed at that.
Acer raised an eyebrow. "You call your daughter-in-law a good girl?"
"Of course." Kaede took another sip of wine. "She’s married to my daughter, so she’s family."
Hanae rested her head against the edge of the spring. "Mother calls almost everyone she likes a good girl."
"Not everyone."
"Most people."
"I called Rimuru a good boy that one time."
Ari laughed softly. "Mother, you’re not very convincing."
Kaede puffed her cheeks slightly before looking away. The conversation continued like that for a while.
They spoke about the various cities of Maple Tree, some of the recent developments in Dhistav, the Automaras, and even a few of the stranger requests Kaede had received from the citizens.
Apparently, someone had submitted a formal request asking whether the nation’s ruler could personally attend the opening of a new restaurant.
Kaede had declined.
A few days later, another request had arrived asking whether she could at least send a clone. That one had somehow been approved.
"Honestly, I don’t understand why everyone wants me to attend everything," Kaede complained.
"Because you’re the ruler," Hanae replied.
"That’s not a good enough reason."
"It’s probably the best reason."
Kaede sank slightly deeper into the water. "Being a ruler is troublesome."
Acer smiled. "Yet you enjoy it. I couldn’t picture anyone leading us if not you."
"I enjoy taking care of everyone."
"That’s exactly what being a ruler is."
Kaede thought about that for a moment. "...Still troublesome."
Everyone laughed.
The conversation moved on to other things, with no particular topic holding their attention for very long.
Eventually, however, Acer became quiet. She stared at her mother for several seconds.
Kaede noticed. "...What?"
"Mother."
"Hm?"
Acer tilted her head slightly. "Why aren’t you married yet?"
Kaede froze.
Hanae’s eyes immediately shifted toward her.
Ari stopped massaging her shoulders.
"...Why did you suddenly ask me that?"
Acer shrugged innocently. "I was curious."
Kaede narrowed her eyes. "That’s suspicious."
"It isn’t."
"It absolutely is." Acer smiled. "I’ve been travelling quite a lot recently."
Kaede blinked. "I know."
"Between Maple Tree’s cities and states, and even Dhistav as well as El Dorado, I’ve had the opportunity to see quite a bit of the world." Acer leaned back against the edge of the spring. "I’ve met nobles, merchants, adventurers, soldiers, spirits, monsters, and ordinary people."
She smiled faintly. "And I’ve learned quite a lot about how people live."
Kaede’s expression became increasingly suspicious. "...Acer."
"I’m getting there."
Hanae covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Acer continued. "I know you, Mother. Probably better than most people."
Kaede raised an eyebrow.
"And I know that you have romantic feelings for Lady Sally. And Lady Kirara."
Kaede’s face reddened.
"And Lady Towa."
"Wait..."
"And Lady Frey. So I have to ask." She folded her arms over the edge of the spring. "If you already have feelings for them, why haven’t you married any of them?"
Kaede stared silently at the water. "...It’s complicated."
"I care about all of them."
"We know."
"Sally is..." She paused. "Well, Sally is Sally."
Acer nodded solemnly. "That explains everything."
Kaede ignored her. "Kirara is someone I’ve known for a long time, and Towa is..." She smiled slightly. "Towa is Towa."
Hanae tilted her head. "And Lady Frey?"
Kaede smiled. "Frey is wonderful."
Acer nodded.
"So you admit it."
"I never denied it."
"Then what’s stopping you?"
Kaede leaned back against the stone edge of the spring, staring up at the ceiling.
"I suppose..." She took a slow breath. "I’ve never really thought about marriage for myself."
The others became quiet.
"I’ve spent so much of my life here worrying about Maple Tree, everyone living here, and the people I care about that..." Kaede looked down at the water. "I guess I just don’t want to lose any of you, and because of that I push back anything that might distract me. I try to ignore it. Even now, after talking to Sally and promising myself that I would finally tell Frey... I’m still trying to avoid it."
"Well, we think you should do whatever you think is best." Ari said, while giving Acer a look that clearly told her to stop.
Acer exhaled. "Sorry for putting it on you so suddenly, Mother. I guess I’ve been getting a little too invested in the gossip lately."
"So that’s what it was." Kaede smiled. "And here I thought you were getting wiser."
She gave her daughter a teasing look before continuing. "But I do understand what you were trying to tell me."
Kaede leaned back, resting comfortably against Ari’s chest as the warm water gently rippled around them.
"Sally’s been pretty busy, what with the conference she’s having with Rimuru. Frey just evolved, so she’s bound to be pretty busy as well. Kirara’s on a mission right now..."
She paused. "...which leaves Towa."
"Are you still hearing her at night?" Hanae asked.
Kaede nodded with a groan. "She keeps praying to me every night before she goes to sleep." She rubbed her forehead. "I don’t understand this whole faith business, but how am I supposed to look at her normally when I know that she worships me?"
Her expression became slightly awkward. "It’ll be so weird."
"I don’t think it’ll be weird." Ari said, gently running her fingers through Kaede’s hair.
"You’re married to Momiji." Acer added.
Ari immediately turned toward her. "Momiji is great." She snapped.
Acer raised both hands innocently. "I didn’t say she wasn’t."
Hanae swam over and settled beside Kaede, resting her arms against the edge of the spring. "Well, you won’t know until you try, right, Mother?"
Kaede sighed, staring at the rippling water for a moment. "Yeah, I guess..." She was about to continue when a faint chime suddenly echoed through the room.
Kaede’s ears perked up. "Hm?"
A small magic circle appeared in the air beside the hot spring, followed by the familiar signal of an incoming communication.
Kaede’s expression immediately changed. "We’ve got an incoming message from Rimuru."
She slowly stood up from the water. "Back to work, it seems."
Ari’s expression soured. "That meddlesome slime."
"Be nice, Ari." Kaede reached over and gently patted her daughter’s head. "Good girl."
Ari’s expression immediately softened. "...Yes, Mother."
Acer snickered.
"Don’t laugh."
Hanae giggled as well.
After drying themselves off and changing, the four eventually made their way back toward Kaede’s office.
The warm and relaxed atmosphere of the hot spring was quickly replaced by the familiar atmosphere of paperwork, reports, and various magical devices scattered around Kaede’s office.
Kaede sat down behind her desk before reaching toward the projector. With a small pulse of magicules, the device activated.
A translucent blue screen appeared in front of them.
A moment later, Rimuru’s figure appeared within the hologram.
Kaede leaned back in her chair. "Hey, Rimuru." She smiled. "How’d it go?"
"Well, I’m not declaring war, so that’s a good thing, right?" Rimuru replied.
Kaede immediately sat up straighter. "That’s a terrible way to start a conversation, Rimuru. What happened? Is Sally okay?"
"I’m the one who was attacked, you know." Rimuru looked genuinely hurt by her immediate concern for Sally, though he seemed resigned to it. "But yeah, Sally was okay the last time I saw her."
His expression became more serious. "We were attacked by people from Inglassia. Yuuki finally played his hand."
"...Yuuki, right." Kaede nodded slowly. "The Grandmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild."
Rimuru stared at her. "Did you just forget who he was?"
"What do you want from me?" Kaede retorted. "I’ve never even met the guy. I only know what you and Sally have told me about him."
She leaned forward slightly. "Did you at least catch him?"
"Nah." Rimuru shook his head. "He got away."
Kaede frowned. "So what’s the purpose of this call, then?"
"He had an accomplice." Rimuru’s expression hardened. "A Spirit Rider named Eugene."
Kaede’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Apparently, he has a grudge against Demon Lords.".Rimuru paused. "You especially."
Kaede blinked. "...What?"
"Here’s a recording." Rimuru raised a hand, and the holographic projection suddenly shifted.
The image changed from Rimuru himself to a recording taken from his perspective during the battle.
A blond-haired young man stood in the middle of the destroyed chamber, a luminous sword held in his hand. Beside him stood a brown-haired young man, the two of them seemingly preparing to fight.
Kaede’s eyes narrowed as she studied the blond. For several seconds, she said nothing. "...Yeah."
Her expression became cold. "That’s him."
The moment Ari heard those words, her expression twisted with fury. "How dare that insect!?"
Magicules suddenly erupted from her body, causing the water in the nearby basin to tremble despite them no longer being in the hot spring.
"Scum! Bastard!".Ari’s fists clenched as her anger continued to rise. "He dares!"
She pointed angrily at the holographic image.."To betray your generosity, your mercy, and your love!" Her aura surged. "I will destroy him!"
Ari’s sudden outburst made Kaede blink.
"Ari?"
"I’ll find him myself!" Ari declared, already moving toward the door. "I’ll drag him back here and make him apologize to you personally!"
"Ari, sit down." The command was gentle, but Ari immediately stopped.
She slowly turned around. "...Yes, mother."
Kaede sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, but you’re not going anywhere."
"But he betrayed you."
"I know."
"He called you an enemy."
"I heard him."
"He called you a monster."
Kaede paused. "...Okay, that one was a little rude."
Rimuru chuckled from within the hologram. "You know, I’m pretty sure he said a lot worse than that."
Kaede gave him a flat look. "You’re not helping."
"Sorry."
Ari crossed her arms, still visibly irritated. "He has been given everything. Maple Tree welcomed him, gave him a position, and allowed him to travel freely throughout our territory. How can he possibly repay that kindness by plotting against you?"
"That’s exactly why I wanted you to know about him." Rimuru said. "I figured you’d recognize him."
"I do." Kaede nodded. "He’s one of the Spirit Riders. I remember seeing him before."
Her expression became slightly more serious. "I just don’t understand why he’d suddenly decide to betray me."
"Apparently, he thinks you’re manipulating the world." Rimuru said. "He also seems to believe Demon Lords are the enemies of humanity."
Kaede stared at him for several seconds. "...But I’m human."
Rimuru blinked. "That’s what you’re focusing on?"
Ari looked between the two Demon Lords before shaking her head. "Regardless, he must be punished."
Kaede nodded slowly. "Yes, but I want to know why first."
"You don’t want to kill him?" Ari asked.
"I didn’t say that."
Ari’s eyes brightened slightly.
"I said I want to know why first." Kaede continued. "There’s a difference." She leaned back into her chair, staring thoughtfully at the recording still playing in front of her.
The image of Eugene stood frozen in place, his luminous sword held at his side. "I’ll have to speak with Charlotte about this."
Rimuru raised an eyebrow. "Charlotte?"
"She’s been handling most of Maple Tree’s administrative affairs lately."
"Ah."
Kaede’s expression became thoughtful.
"Actually..." She looked toward Ari. "Do you know where Acer is?"
"She should still be in the hot springs with Hanae." Ari answered.
Kaede blinked. "...Right." She had completely forgotten that she’d been there only a few minutes ago. "Let’s not disturb them."
"Send a summons for Kirara, then. Officially, of course." Kaede said, her expression becoming more serious. "Have her round up all of the Spirit Riders."
She paused for a moment before turning her attention back to the hologram. "Meanwhile... Charlotte."
In a sudden flash of darkness, Charlotte appeared behind Kaede, standing silently with her hands folded neatly before her. "Yes, my Lady."
Kaede glanced over her shoulder at her. "I think I need to familiarise myself with this Yuuki after all." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "And his Harlequin Alliance."
She leaned back in her chair. "Find out everything you can about them. Their members, their activities, their connections... everything."
Charlotte gave a small bow. "Understood."
Kaede’s expression hardened. "And then bring me Eugene." She paused, her voice becoming colder.
"Alive."