NOVEL WEB Chapter 415.1: VIP ②
I, Tony Code, am the second son of the King of Code. The area I control is second only to my brother Angus in size, and is known as one of the most prosperous areas in Code.
I, the head of the area, am, in a single word, a pleasure seeker. I am cheerful and frank and talk to everyone without discrimination, which even if it does not make me dignified, makes me friendly. I have several brightly painted private Spiders, and me riding around on them is a famous sight in the area.
My area is known as a pleasant place to live in because I have divided up and entrusted the majority of the management of the area among several nobles. In other areas, the nobles are also in charge of management to a certain extent, but this tendency is much more prominent in my area. I, who have the absolute authority in my area, sometimes accept the opinions of the nobles.
The position I am taking attracts many nobles to my area. Some of them are even nobles from other factions.
It is not known if that is the right move for the next King of Code. But I have gained a certain amount of reputation within Code as a result.
Following the charismatic older brother and the fierce older sister who stands up against him head-on, is the aloof prince who handles everything with ease. Unlike my older brother and sister, I have not allocated resources to battle-oriented research, so I am far from being the next king, but some nobles say that I am the one most suitable to take the throne.
Code, the highly mobile fortress city. The eastern area bordered by the center area with the Royal Tower.
I, who have established a special place for myself in Code, twist my lips in a smile as I see the message my sister has sent me for the first time in a long time.
"Oi, oi, that Nora, she just sent me a message. Apparently she wants me to show Alisha's Royal Guard my area. This is getting interesting." (Tony)
"…… If you are talking about Alisha-ojou's Royal Guards, then you mean the one the king personally spoke of――" (Noble)
I, *niyaniya* grin as I sit with one knee raised on my throne in response to the words of one of the nobles running my area, who has come to consult about the area he is in charge of.
"Yeah, that's right. He's the man with a name similar to the 《Lightning Emperor (Raitei)》 whom Nora is obsessed. He's quite an interesting man, but………… I never thought that Nora would go to the trouble to pull this off. In return, she'll let me off the hook for the interference I caused the other day." (Tony)
"!? For that Nora-ojou to go to that length. What on earth could have happened with that man……" (Noble)
By interference, she probably meant when Angus asked me to deliver Cry to the prison. Strictly speaking, I did not obstruct Nora's actions and my actions were ultimately meaningless, but I did interfere with her obtaining the 《Lightning Emperor (Raitei)》.
I helped Angus because he is the closest one to being king right now. Angus and Nora come from different backgrounds. A cautious older brother and an impulsive older sister. In addition, the amount of time they have to prepare is also different. Nora's enhanced human technology may be more impressive than Angus' weapon development, but it is still not enough.
That is why I gave Angus a hand, and I am sure Angus would return the favor. One reason I did that was because it looked interesting, although there were other reasons as well――
I am not that interested in the throne. I just want to continue living the way I am right now. And he hoped that those I helped would not oppress me even under the reign of the next King of Code.
"What would you like to do?" (Noble)
"Kuku…… Of course, I am going to lend a hand. It has been a while since I have received a request from Aneki1. And in the first place, it is not like I have any classified information to spy on in my area――None. I am sure Aniki2 won't complain either." (Tony)
After all, the other party is Alisha's Royal Guard. In the first place, Angus probably wouldn't even notice that Nora had asked me for such a thing. Nora is not normally the type of person who would act for the Royal Guards of another member of the Royal Family.
I *perori* lick my lips and give a somewhat ferocious smile.
"There's no benefit in lending a hand, but it wouldn't be much of a hassle either. And more than anything――It's interesting. Let's find out what it is about Cry Andrich that has the power to move Nora and even the king." (Tony)
""Your Highness Tony (Tony-denka)", wait! That's a dangerous idea!" (?)
"Hmm……? Aaah, it's you guys." (Tony)
I frown and look at the people who have entered the room without permission. They are mercenaries who have fled to my area just the other day. The men who call themselves the Dontan Family may at first glance appear to be just thugs, but in reality, they are a fighting group with a fairly high overall rating.
Although I have recruited some mercenaries from the outside as my Royal Guards, their fighting power is far less than that of Angus and Nora. That is why I also took under me the Dontan family, who suddenly showed up――.
The Team Leader. A short man with a thug-like appearance appeals to me in a loud voice.
"That man is the Leader of the infamous 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 in the outside world! He's a vicious guy who doesn't care and will bite you even if you're a wanted high-level Hunter who turned into a bandit or a large organization with a thousand members. It's outrageous to let him sightsee the area." (Dontan) ʀ
The Leader's complexion is pale, and cold sweat is dripping from his dark, tanned face.
The mercenaries who got in this time are basically members of criminal organizations that Code has been doing business with, and they are all people who cared about their reputations. The Dontan family must be the same, but what kind of existence is 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei
)》 that makes these men fear it so shamelessly that they will complain about it to their employers? They are probably a militant group that surpasses the Dontan family, but――Indeed, even their name is frightening.
But even so, his reaction seems a bit excessive. I lower my crossed legs and frown.
"It doesn't seem so. You guys have a much higher rating. Moreover, you are infamous too. Aren't you?" (Tony)
"Y-Yeah, that's true. We've even taken down a Party of Level 6 Hunters before!" (Dontan)
I, who have never been outside the city, do not know the extent of the power of a Level 6 Hunter. However, the other mercenaries who have gathered around me also seem to respect the Dontan family. Which means that they must be quite strong. But the Leader clenches his fists and continues loudly.
"B-But that man――Is on a different level. I hate to say it――But that man, just by laughing, he crushed us!" (Dontan)
"Just by laughing……? Fuh. You guys look like you've seen a monster. Maybe you've got the wrong person? That man is the one who got the lowest score on the evaluation system. To doubt it is to doubt Code's city system, which means all our beliefs will fall apart. No one has ever managed to cheat the evaluation system before. There are people who haven't been affected by the evaluation system, though." (Tony)
For example, the woman from the organization called "Fox (Kitsune)" that Angus is working with. That woman, who called herself Kenbi, has negotiated with Angus to not be evaluated by the system. And then there is the male Magi that Kenbi had brought in, who is incarcerated in the lowest level of the prison. That one has a different kind of power that repels all interference from the outside world.
However, Cry Andrich was put through the evaluation system without any resistance. Aside from the extremely low score he received, there is nothing suspicious about it.
The Leader and the men following behind him flinch as they hear what I say.
"Hh………… Damn it. Nobody believes us!" (Dontan Family 1)
"It looks like we've seen a monster, you say!? That man, is a monster! We've actually fought him, that's why we're telling you that! You can't measure that with a city system!" (Dontan Family 2)
I know that the Dontan family has been spreading similar rumors to the other mercenaries. Well, maybe only about half of the people took them seriously. But on the other hand, the other half did take them seriously. This is not a number that can be completely ignored. At the very least, regardless of whether Cry is the Leader of 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》, the evaluation of 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 as a whole is probably as the man in front of me had said.
The noble listening to the conversation looks at the Dontan family with contempt. That is because I hired them as mercenaries. Although I don't expect much from them, their role also includes escorting. They are useless if they are afraid of a strong opponent.
However, even a criminal gang that values their reputation can be so afraid of him. That Cry Andrich guy is really interesting.
Thanks for reading! And thanks Viktor Karabut for the Ko-fi! The return of Dontan Family. Their only purpose is really to do a Cry exposition to Code's citizens as they don't understand Cry's true powa. What will happen to them this time!?
And here is my impression of the 12th episode of Strange Grief:
Following Chloe's interview on Cry, we start the episode with Chloe recapitulating how Cry totally dissed Arnold. Chloe yelling Arnold Hail loves big boobs killed me!
No way the intro changed to replace Strange Grief to Fallen Mist and they even insert some big boobs lovers here and there. You can even feel the narrator being embarrassed to say big boobs lover every time XD As mid opening we have Eclair visiting the Clan House with Ark.
Wait is Arnold naked? Are we going to have Arnold Fan service!? Haha Iron Cross feels sorry for Fallen Mist and bought a drink, Starlight flat out refused and Ark Brave just insult them. None of them want to clean Cry's mess. Dafuq why do we have a Arnold bathing scene? Did the animator think that they gave too many Tino's ass shot and now they want to compensate with Arnold? XD
So Cry asking Tino to go to a random Treasure Shrine payed off, she brought back a Relic even tho' those think are normally very rare. Sasuga Master~, he is even able to predict where Relics appears! By the way, in the web novel, Tino find this Relic at the end of the 2nd arc when the Akasha's Tower was running away from the Hunters.
Cry's happy face right before making a serious face is so funny.
Martis being a nice dude and gives Tino some life advice (don't worry his grand daughter is not dead). And lol at Tino falling into a downward spiral with her eyes becoming more and more dead.
I did not expect a Cry crossdressing with the Reverse Face… But yeah the flesh mask is disgusting. Props for Cry to not be disgusted by that and still wanting to buy it so he can put it on
Tino eating the crepe is really cute. She really is the mascot of the show. Haha Kruz is going to be traumatised by this recharge relics, drink potion loop.
Lol Liz just extorting money like the mafia.
As always, Ark is *kirakira* sparkling. Eclair tries to provoke Cry but he is just ignoring her. And the fact that she believed Cry and panic shows that she is still a child. Now I can only see her a kid trying to act like a grown up for Ark, her hero.
Even a 10-digit debt is not enough for Cry, now he is asking Ark's money. And everyone is just casually listening to the conversation. Now the rumors spread to the whole Imperial Capital that Cry is asking for money to buy a relic, did he make a mistake or is it part of his plan…
Love how Sytry really emphasize on the fact that he really want the Relic and Cry just not being able to look at her in the eyes. And who would have thought the owner of the Relic is Arnold! Both side are so shrewd in the negotiation, saying the complete reverse of what they said earlier for the negotiation. Lol Arnold overthinking everything and thinking that he has discovered Cry true plan is hilarious.
Sasuga Cry, he can make a creepy relic become the strongest relic in the world just by asking people if he can borrow some money. What kind of wedding was Sytry planning to have for her to save 800 millions!? And if Cry accept does that mean that Cry and Sytry's wedding is set? No wonder Eva's glasses broke. Haha Eva's soul coming out like Tino on the previous episode.
Everything that Cry say can be taken as a provocation. I have a higher level than Ark, my level of strength is so different than Ark that comparing us just stupid, I don't even consider him as a rival. Wah Sytry has the eyes of I don't care if you are a child I will crush you if you are in the way.
TL;DR
A very good episode, the animation was also very on point every time!
A lot of misunderstanding in this episode, Arnold and his love for big boobs, him deducing Cry's trap, we also have the flesh mask that is the "strongest Relic" and also Eclair's misunderstanding that Cry think that Ark is bellow him and not worth his notice.
Eclair is you typical noblewoman you can see in anime but it makes it hard to hate her when you see her panic or depress so easily. But well she is still a child so she is immature.
Also Sytry is totally trying to trap Cry to wed her. Now that she took out her wedding fund he cannot avoid it anymore! Run Cry, it's a trap!
Nooo next episode is the last one! I need moar!