Chapter 57: A Chaotic Welcome

A crossroads heading to the imperial capital.

Across the wide plains, processions bearing different banners were gradually converging in one place.

Baldur, the representative of the Dwarven Kingdom’s reconstruction delegation at the very front, waved his hand at the splendid procession approaching from the opposite direction and shouted in a booming voice.

“Oi! Elara, you pointy-ear, you came too!”

“Be quiet, dwarf.”

Elara, leading the delegation from the Elven Kingdom, frowned and curtly dismissed his greeting.

At this, Baldur laughed heartily, seeming even more amused.

“Khahahahat! Still as prickly as ever. But you don’t look well at all!”

“What’s wrong with my expression?”

“Don’t you ever look in a mirror? You’re all pouty. It’s probably because Logan and the Crown Princess…”

“Shut up! Why are you bringing up Logan’s name out of nowhere…!?”

As soon as his name was mentioned, Elara’s face turned red, and she snapped.

At that sight, Baldur looked utterly entertained and began to needle her further.

“Are you really asking because you don’t know? Khahahahat! That’s why I advised you to stay in the empire instead of going back to the Elven Kingdom!”

“…You bastard, are you trying to pick a fight for real?”

Just as Elara’s body was trembling with rage from Baldur’s relentless teasing.

“Elara, please calm down. It’s just a greeting out of pleasure to see you, isn’t it?”

A woman with a gentle voice intervened, calming Elara down.

At her words, Elara barely managed to swallow her anger.

“Kugh…! I understand, Your Highness the Princess…”

And then.

She also had a word for Baldur.

“Lord Baldur, you’re being too playful, seeing each other for the first time in a while.”

“Oh, dear… I am truly sorry. Elara’s reaction was just so amusing that I got carried away and teased her too much. More importantly…”

Baldur, shedding his playful demeanor from just a moment ago.

He bowed politely to her with a serious expression.

“It has truly been a long time, Princess Sylphia. Have you been well?”

Princess Sylphia of the Elven Kingdom nodded and smiled gently.

“Yes, thanks to all of you. The World Tree is also very pleased to hear the news of the Demon Lord’s defeat.”

“That is truly an honor. I was planning to send a special nutrient soil for the World Tree soon, I must hurry.”

“Oh my, thank you so much. The World Tree will be very pleased. However…”

“However…?”

“I believe it is important to resolve the empire’s affairs first…”

“…Could it be that the World Tree itself mentioned the human empire?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Due to constraints, it was difficult to speak precisely, but I was told that if things go wrong, a crisis even greater than the war with the Demon Lord’s army could befall us…”

“Goodness, I had not expected something so serious to occur. This is truly troublesome.”

Baldur’s expression hardened severely at Sylphia’s words.

During the subjugation of the Demon Lord’s army.

The Dwarven Kingdom had decided to help the empire’s reconstruction project, trusting in the impressive figures Logan and Anastasia had cut.

Because they believed that the two of them could normalize the corrupt empire that had oppressed other races with arrogance and contribute greatly to the peace of the continent.

And.

He had been thinking about what kind of chaos might erupt on the day the empire fell into the hands of the opposing forces…

‘To think the situation was so serious that even the World Tree mentioned it…’

‘With Logan there.’

He had thought that no matter the hardships and trials, they could overcome them well.

But the situation seemed very difficult and truly serious.

‘Well, that’s why I had a big fight with the stubborn king and brought these people along! Don’t you worry, Logan! You are not alone!’

He smiled with confidence.

Because in the distance, he could see not only the groups from the Dwarven and Elven Kingdoms but also support from other nations.

If the various races of the continent joined forces as they did when they defeated the Demon Lord, they could easily dispel the darkness of the empire.

---

Meanwhile, in the audience chamber prepared to welcome them.

Crown Princess Anastasia, sitting on the throne in place of Emperor Valerius, gripped her brow and let out a deep sigh.

“Haa…”

The reason she was so troubled was the state council meeting that had taken place in the morning.

It had been an incredibly exhausting time.

The news that many people were coming from the allied nations to offer support had made her enemies freak out, and they had started spouting all sorts of nonsense.

• “What does our empire lack that we must borrow the strength of others?”

• “To think you would borrow the power of foreign forces! And aren’t most of them lowly other-race bastards!?”

• “At this rate, I believe it is right to halt the reconstruction project, Your Highness!”

• “Your Highness, do you still not understand? Not only our noble faction and the Church but also the Magic Tower opposes this!”

• “Please, stop this tyranny!”

Even though the meeting had just barely finished.

Unconsciously, once again.

Recalling the faces of those who, centered around Kardo, shamelessly spouted such remarks.

Even for Anastasia, it was impossible not to get annoyed.

But, it was okay.

“You endured it well, Anya…”

“Ah, Logan… thank you…”

Because he was by her side.

She could endure any hardship, no matter how difficult.

Just then.

Renate cleared her throat, giving her a look.

“Ahem! Your Highness, I hope you will exercise some restraint. The delegations are scheduled to enter soon.”

“Hey, what did I do, Renate?”

Anastasia pouted her cheeks.

However.

“Haa…”

Renate just sighed in response and shook her head.

“Ooh… Aren’t you being too mean, Renate?”

Just as she was about to pout even more.

“The delegations have arrived, Your Highness.”

The royal guard at the door reported.

At that, Anastasia nodded and bid them enter.

“Yes, open the doors at once.”

As soon as the doors opened at Anastasia’s command.

Her expression couldn’t help but be colored with horror.

Because.

“Logan! Long time no see, nyan—!”

Without any warning, a cat-like beastwoman rushed at Logan and threw herself into his arms.

At that sight.

“Aaaah!!!!”

Anastasia’s resolve to greet the delegations with a somewhat solemn and serious expression was completely shattered.

Logan, too, couldn’t help but be flustered.

He had just embraced another woman in front of Anastasia.

And he was even more flustered when he saw the face of the woman in his arms.

Because it was a face he remembered.

“Luna!?”

“That’s right, nyan! It’s me, Luna, nyan! Long time no see, nyan!”

Luna, even more delighted that Logan recognized her, rubbed her face against his cheek.

She had received great help from Logan back when he was active as a Gold-rank adventurer.

“I’m so sorry for not joining the Demon Lord subjugation force and sending others instead, nyan! If I had known Logan was a member of the Hero’s party, I would have gone right away, nyan!”

“Ah, I get it, so Luna? Could you let go for a…”

“No way, nyan! Logan can’t even imagine how much I’ve missed him, nyan!”

Even when Logan tried to push her away.

At the sight of Luna clinging even tighter to his embrace, as if she would never let go.

‘How dare she! How dare she! My Logan!! This outrageous…!!!’

Anastasia was on the verge of losing her reason.

Just then.

“Stop it, Your Highness the Princess!!! Haven’t I told you time and again! We are here representing our country!”

An elderly rabbit-folk woman shouted in alarm.

And, following that.

The familiar voice of a man laughing heartily at the sight was heard.

“Khahahaha!!!! What are we going to do, Elara? You’ve been beaten to the punch!”

“Shut up, dwarf! Are you really asking for a duel!?”

At Baldur’s words, Elara snapped angrily, but her gaze was fixed on Logan.

And Luna had no intention of letting go of Logan.

“Ah..! Ah..! Logan..! Cheating on me already…!?”

“No, this is…!”

“Your Highness the Princess, please let go!! We did not come to the empire to wage war!!”

“No, nyan! Torena! Don’t stop me, nyan!”

…And so.

The important and solemn first meeting between the empire and the various nations devolved into utter chaos.

---

After somehow managing to sort out the tumultuous situation.

Anastasia, having barely composed her expression, slowly opened her mouth.

“My greetings were delayed due to a rather unexpected mishap. As you know, I am Anastasia von Sterngart. I welcome you all and sincerely thank you for making the precious journey to this distant place.”

At Anastasia’s dignified and graceful appearance, the members of the delegations were inwardly impressed and greeted her with equal courtesy.

“We thank you for the welcome. It is only natural that we help, for if the empire, the heart of the continent, is stable, we too can be at peace. I am Sylphia Arseril, here as the representative of the Elven Kingdom.”

Starting with Sylphia, the representatives introduced themselves one by one.

“Mmm! It’s been a long time, Your Highness the Crown Princess. As you know, I am Baldur Ironfist, here as the representative of the Dwarven Kingdom.”

“Nice to meet you, nyan~ I’m Luna Terkain, here as the representative of the Beastman Kingdom, nyan! Oh, and for your information, I’m fine with being a concubine, nyan!”

Shshshk-!

“….”

A rather strange introduction was mixed in, causing a small crack in Anastasia’s expression.

But in any case, everyone smoothly had their turn for introductions.

However.

The moment the last person introduced himself.

“!!”

This time, for real.

Anastasia’s expression couldn’t help but harden.

Because an old man with white hair, draped in a black robe, had bowed respectfully.

“…Greetings. I am Graham, here as the representative of the Belgaros Kingdom.”

She had never expected him to come.

Even Orlea’s home country.

To think they would send a delegation.