Chapter 460

Day 104 – Nighttime, Royal Palace

The Idiots were still rolling around on the ground, but I left them to it and headed for the bath. Maybe they’d joined the Rolling Society? Seems to be a trend lately.

Yesterday, I made resting tents for the First Division to use inside dungeons and sold them to the Idiots. They were so smug presenting the tents with 『Simple Barrier』 on the outside to ward off monsters, and 『Recovery (Lesser)』and 『Healing (Lesser)』for the inside to their girlfriends, but then the Girls told them that the interior had messages along the lines of『Even from afar, I want to protect you』or 『May this love cure your wounds』suggested by the Girls themselves, and they’d been rolling and writhing all over the training ground floor in agony since. Seriously, you’ll get the floor dirty.

Anyway, tomorrow we’re off to the Beastmen Country, but are the Geeks over by the canal, or are they in the forest?

Right now, the biggest threat to the Geeks is the Confederation’s Seven Swords. I thought there are six other bastards on par with that Reroreroing Middle-Aged Man, but on top of there being only six of them to begin with, Reroreroing Middle-Aged Man left, and another one apparently died in the Beastmen Country’s forest… Since the Geeks and Idiots didn’t mention it, this was probably Slime-san’s doing.

But that still leaves four. However, the union that is the Confederation is on the verge of collapse, losing authority as a state. The chancellor and top leadership are still clinging to power, but that’s only driving merchants and guilds to keep defecting. How many of those four still serve the Confederation, and how many have switched sides to follow merchants is hard to tell.

It’s not like the current Geeks are in any real danger of losing and not being able to escape, but they’re still Geeking… Large groups are easier to watch for, but small elite teams are quite a nuisance. Well, with the protection of the Demon Scythes, there’s nothing to really worry about. That trinity spiral of giant scythes is something even Armored Pres-san acknowledged. Even Horsie-san passed inspection, but somehow the Master is still getting failed and beaten up. That calls for revenge(*Glare*).

The Stalker Girl clan is observing the Geeks from a distance… But according to their intel their ship is still hidden near the Beastmen Country forest. Even though by this time they should be returning to the capital to meet up with us?

Playking apparently has another shouting match lined up with the Theocracy’s ambassador. From what I hear, they’ve been doing it every day since then, how they aren’t getting sick of it? And then there’s Meripapa-san?

「Haruka-kun, are you sure that was the right way to handle it? If you’d stated your position, we could have brought the matter to any number of conclusions. For now, we’ve entrusted this to Princess Shariceres’ judgement on the site, but… it would mean you’ll be seen as one of her attendants. Once the Beastmen Country invitation is over, why not come back for a bit? The situation could change at any time.」

「Hmm, based on what I’ve heard there’s still plenty of leeway? Right now, the Theocracy’s ambassador and Playking are just trading insults, an ugly middle-aged-man slapfight, with no progress made, which means there’s still time. But the more time we give them, the more chances they’ll have to stir up trouble behind the scenes, so waiting would just be a waste. If we go now and scoop up the spoils before they use their war funds, it’s bound to be more profitable? 『Time and lost items are more precious than gold』(*Sharp look*). Well, I’ll be picking gold too though? I hope there is some!」