NOVEL WEB Ch22 - The Greedy Royals / Heading to the Small City of Toiria
Chapter 22: The Greedy Royals / Heading to the Small City of Toiria
“Father, Mother… Are you still searching for my brother-in-law? At this point, isn’t it hopeless? You couldn’t even find the Jewel Slime at first because it was attacked by a man-eating bear, right? Couldn’t the same have happened to him?”
“Silence! Keep searching, Sheratonica. Be serious about it. Lucatius still has a lot of use. His Special Gift, the Magic Eye, is a power we cannot afford to lose. We can’t give up.”
“Exactly… Besides, Luca is very handsome. Even the most noble princesses from other countries would want him. We’ve already received tons of marriage proposals! We can’t let him slip away. With the [Beautiful One] title, he can charm princesses and manipulate other nations to our advantage.”
Several days had passed since Prince Lucatius escaped the palace of the Galalarje Kingdom. In the grand hall, the royal family argued, each for their selfish reasons.
Although his stepsister, Shera, was searching diligently, the lack of results made her parents suspect she was slacking. In reality, Shera wanted to confirm his death, not save him, which was why she kept searching so earnestly. She was visibly annoyed at being doubted.
Neither Lucatius’ body nor any sign of him had been found, which only increased the royals’ anxiety.
Though Lucatius had excellent skills and gifts, they had only allowed him to level up to 10, to prevent rebellion. With most of the army deployed for the search, he shouldn’t have escaped. However, there’s a high chance he was killed by a monster… But until his death is confirmed, they cannot give up!
Sheratonica, the legitimate daughter of the queen, and Lucatius, the son of a former concubine, were siblings. The concubine had been killed shortly after giving birth for opposing her son’s subjugation.
Looking sulky, Shera muttered as she glanced up at her parents.
“…I’m beautiful too. Father, Mother, I also have the Charm skill and Magic Eye! I’m here in this country. Isn’t that enough without my brother?”
Shera’s long, blonde hair and violet eyes closely resembled Lucatius’. At fifteen, she was already a beautiful young woman, but her eyes were filled with hatred, completely at odds with her lovely appearance. She despised her brother, who continued to steal their parents’ attention even after disappearing, and she couldn’t forgive her parents for their obsession with him.
“What are you talking about…? You are indeed talented, but that’s a completely different matter!”
Her father frowned, responding with displeasure at her unreasonable remark. He was the kind of man who saw his children only for their abilities and usefulness.
Only the mother, sensing something of her daughter’s feelings as a fellow woman, smiled faintly.
“Hehe, Shera is still as adorable and lovely as ever. And very beautiful, just as expected of our daughter! But you must make proper judgments. If it’s about appearance alone, the concubine’s son is more well-formed.”
“Grrrr…!!!”
“Oh my, did I make you mad? But you can make use of Luca’s looks, can’t you? You’re the future ruler of this kingdom. Use everything you can, without letting emotions sway you.”
“No doubt! Now, Sheratonica, get back to the search!”
“…’Just like that,’ you say? No, I won’t.”
“!”
“…I won’t search anymore. Because… my brother-in-law is already dead.”
“What are you talking about? He hasn’t been gone long enough to abandon hope! I won’t allow it! Use Far Sight right now!”
“That’s right. Please, Shera! Bringing Luca back would be for the good of the kingdom—and for us. Search for him!”
“I said no!! Shadow Bind!”
“!?!!?”
At that moment, Shera’s pent-up rage exploded. As she screamed, she unleashed Shadow Bind, a dark magic that sent shadows writhing up from the ground, strangling her parents’ necks. Despite her emotions, she coolly chose magic over skills, which allowed more freedom in controlling the strangling.
Her level was higher than her parents’, having constantly cast spells on the slave collar she placed on others. Once caught in her Shadow Bind, not even her royal parents could break free.
“I won’t let you speak another word…!”
Her eyes filled with hatred, Shera glared at her parents as they writhed, their faces turning red and black from the lack of air. Her lips curled into a smirk as she watched their suffering. In her mind, this was rightful punishment.
“I was the one who helped my brother escape… because I didn’t need him anymore.”
“What…!”
“You… monster…”
“I won’t allow someone prettier than me to exist. I’m the most beautiful in the world, and everyone loves me the most! Father, Mother, you lied. Saying Luca was more beautiful than me is unacceptable.”
This was a complete delusion. There were undoubtedly others more beautiful than both Shera and Lucatius. But unable to face reality, Shera had freed her brother to maintain her fantasy, now eliminating anyone who threatened her ideals. She only wanted people around her who would praise her beauty. Her parents, who dared to lie about that, were nothing but a nuisance.
Having been raised by ruthless, manipulative parents, Shera grew into an incredibly dangerous person.
That day, with no servants allowed in the hall for the royal conference, the king and queen of the Galalarje Kingdom lost their lives at the hands of their daughter.
In Sheratonica’s mind, the sound of a bell rang loudly in celebration. But was it truly a “blessing”…?
New suitable job confirmed
Job: Dark Princess
Please apply for the job change at the guild
“Dark Princess? …Heh, not bad.”
Thus, the birth of a new evil kingdom had begun.
At the border checkpoint of the Kingdom of Anes, the area was bustling with people. Rena and her group stood in line, though the presence of her familiars made those around her keep a cautious distance. Still, since some merchants use monsters to pull their carts, people generally accepted it as a sign of a capable tamer, especially since her familiars were calm.
Beyond this gate was their destination—the small city of Toiria, known for its pleasant lifestyle, according to Aisha.
While Rena didn’t plan to stay there permanently, given its proximity to Galalarje, she was considering buying a house in the royal capital if it was a country where tamers could live without drawing attention. Surely, being far enough away, the Galalarje Kingdom wouldn’t pursue her again.
To avoid suspicion, Rena decided to enter the country without altering her guild card, keeping her identity as a tamer visible. She didn’t want to risk getting caught for using a fake card, especially since Lucatius, who could appraise people’s skills, wasn’t there to check if the gatekeepers had the Insight skill. Drawing unnecessary attention was something to be avoided at all costs.
She kept the lower portion of her guild card information “closed,” so the type of familiars she controlled wouldn’t be revealed. To further help, she had Lily cast a light illusion to make Hamar look like a “sleepy sheep” and the slime appear as a “mini slime.” Even though these illusions might be detected, she didn’t want to blatantly parade rare familiars.
Lily herself took on the appearance of a butterfly instead of her usual fairy form. If asked about her species, Rena was ready to answer, “Mothra.”
I’ve hunted various creatures and gathered items on the plains, and now my Magic Bag is fully stocked. Here’s what I currently have:
Sheep Meat × 5
Rabbit Meat × 5
Chicken Meat × 13
Mixed Herbs
Pukupuku Bones × 4
Salt × 6 jars
Sugar × 2 jars
Chure Honey × 1 jar
Wild Berries Mix
Shelled Walnuts × 30
Peach Apples × 10
A full set of spare clothes
Ordinary pot
Ordinary knife × 1
Jewels made from Jewel Slime
As you can see, there’s no problem at all when it comes to making meals. In fact, I could probably whip up something quite luxurious. As someone from a rice-eating country, Rena is hoping to find some rice in Toiria if possible. Also, she’d love to get a better-quality pot and maybe a frying pan! When she tried making berry jam with Flame’s fire, it was too strong, and she ended up scorching the bottom of the pot.
Inside her school bag were high-quality items from Lanashu, like a thermos and smartphone, so she tossed those into the Magic Bag as well. Instead, she packed her bag with spare clothes she might need soon.
“…Phew, this is nerve-racking…”
Finally, it’s Rena’s turn for the checkpoint inspection. The gatekeeper is a friendly-looking middle-aged man of average build, but Rena, who has a few secrets she wants to keep hidden, can’t stop her heart from pounding.
“Rena, go for it!” “Master, relax, relax~!” “Fwaa… there’s no point in rushing, right, Lady Rena?”
“You’re right. Alright! Time to cheer up! Rena’s up first!”
“Woohoo!” “…Lady Rena’s behavior is drawing more attention than we are…”
“Huh?”
Since she can communicate with monsters thanks to her Familiar contract, to everyone around her, Rena just looks like a girl who talks to herself… a lot. And when that girl suddenly starts doing victory poses, it’s no surprise people get a little weirded out.
After scanning her surroundings, she notices people awkwardly looking away from her. “Gahh…!” she sulks and reluctantly heads toward the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper gives her a wry smile as the peculiar girl trudges toward him.
“Welcome to the Kingdom of Anace. Quite a lively young lady, huh? I see you’re traveling with monsters, are you in that line of work? May I see your Guild Card?”
“…Yes! Sorry for all the commotion. Thank you for your time.”
“Of course, I’ll take a look.”
The gatekeeper smiled warmly, trying not to scare her, and squinted as he checked her Guild Card. It reminded her of the way Teacher Ruka acts when using a magic eye. Maybe he has the [Insight] skill too.
Since there was nothing out of the ordinary on her card, he returned it without issue.
“Just need to confirm your familiars: a sheep, a butterfly, and two slimes. So, four in total, correct?”
“Yes!”
“Good. You’re not lying, and you seem like a pure-hearted soul. Sorry for the trouble. Once again, welcome to the Kingdom of Anace! Our country is known as the ‘White City where the Maiden of Water Sings,’ so please enjoy your time here. The scenery, the people, and the safety are all excellent, so it’s a great place to live, too.”
“Wow, I’m looking forward to it!”
From the gatekeeper’s description, Rena imagined a stunningly beautiful city, raising her excitement even more.
“For now, just keep walking straight from here, and you’ll reach Toiria. I recommend stopping by the tourist information center there to grab a map. The sun’s setting soon, so if you don’t have a place in mind, I suggest asking them about inns and securing a base early.”
“Thank you for your kindness!”
“Ahaha! It’s just part of my job to share this info. Inns that accept monsters are rare, so you should hurry before the rooms fill up.”
“Thank you very much!”
With light steps, Rena and her companions passed through the gate.
The information about inns that allowed monsters was valuable since Rena had been considering whether to have her familiars take on human forms at the reception desk. She definitely didn’t want to leave her precious familiars in a stable.
After walking a bit further, the entrance to Toiria came into view. The first thing that caught her eye was the wide white stone-paved road that stretched straight from the gate. On both sides flowed clear water channels, giving a clean impression. The buildings were made of light brown brick, with fairy-tale-like red roofs. It seemed the government regulated building styles to maintain the town’s aesthetic. Colorful flowers adorned the balconies, adding a touch of vibrancy to the scene. It was a very beautiful and charming town.
The city was bathed in the orange glow of the sunset. Nightfall was approaching fast. Hurrying, Rena and her party rushed into the tourist information center by the gate. They asked for a recommendation for an inn with availability that allowed monsters.
“There is one room available at the ‘Succubus Lulu’s Inn♡’…”
What an awfully suspicious-sounding name… The staff member seemed to share some reservations about the inn’s name, judging by their expression.
Though the name was a bit out there, it turned out to be a high-ranking inn with solid interior decor and services. However, because of its flashy exterior and bizarre name, new customers were few, with mostly regulars who were acquaintances of the owner staying there. The owner was a succubus with the Demon title.
The price was reasonable, and with the owner being a demon, Rena thought they might feel more at ease. They decided to stay at this inn. The information center made a reservation for them using a communication magic tool.
“Now that the inn’s booked, how about we stop by the Adventurer’s Guild real quick to check out what kind of quests they have? We might take on some easy requests starting tomorrow.”
“Yeesss!”
Although she had some trauma from the Danaecella Guild, she figured that wasn’t the norm for guilds in this world. However, if she postponed the visit until tomorrow, she feared she’d chicken out, so Rena decided to stop by today.
▽Entered the small city of Toiria in the Kingdom of Anace!
▽Next, let’s visit the Adventurer’s Guild and the inn!