episode_0009

# Episode 9. In fact, archers should focus on strength, not agility.

Lily hasn’t been feeling very well lately.

I didn’t like the fact that I had come to the cold north just before my long-held dream of becoming the lord of the magic tower, but I especially didn’t like the recent change in the attitude of my party member, Seira, and her favorite hero, Ronan. .

Since going on a date with the duke to the city in the name of reducing the distance between them before having children, Seira has been spending more time taking walks and enjoying refreshments with him.

Ronan, who secretly wants to narrow down to a close relationship with the female group, including himself, by talking about his brother’s accomplishments, things he respects, and memories of the past.

Lily felt anxious for some reason as her acquaintances slowly changed.

furthermore.

“Pfft! What are those eyes?”

Although she was a great wizard who appeared once every 100 years and one of the most beautiful women in the empire, she had noticed it.

Rather than thanking me, the duke would often pass by with a look of ridicule.

“In the capital, there were many young people who were fawning over this person because they wanted to get a glance! A beauty like this says she’s interested, but I can’t be kind to her! Isn’t that right, Bloom?!”

At Lily’s call, Fine, who had been reading ancient documents in the library with her, turned his head toward the sound.

“Hmm? Did you treat me kindly? I also asked him what his hobbies were and if there was anything he was uncomfortable with. He also came to seek advice on trading northern minerals and the elf tribe’s specialty products.”

Fine wasn’t very concerned about this proposal due to his elf-specific ‘constitution’, but he felt that the duke wasn’t that bad when compared to humans.

The face was a bit cold and scary, but it wasn’t a big problem for elves who expressed little emotion.

“What, then is he only doing that to me? What did I do wrong?”

“Well. I don’t think I would want to become friends with a woman who doesn’t say hello when we first meet, has a consistent rude attitude, and throws soup plates in people’s faces?”

“Ugh! that… … that… … .”

Lily was well aware of her personality, which was eccentric in many ways, but the harsh attitude she used to show in order to avoid showing her weakness had become a habit for her, so there was nothing she could do about it.

“And before that, aren’t we in a position where we have to show a good image to the duke? If you maintain a friendly relationship with the duke like Seira, he will be more willing to keep secrets to the end. To put it simply, sucking the duke’s back hole isn’t enough.”

“That… … but… … .”

Lily, who was unable to refute Fine’s correct opinion and cringed, said to Lily, stroking her head as if she thought it was cute.

“Lily, I know that despite how you act on the outside, you are very soft on the inside. I understand that you feel great fear about having a child with a man you have never met. But that’s just a moment. If you endure just one day, you can live the rest of your life in peace.”

Sweep swoosh-

“There is no way our feelings for Ronan will waver, right? I saw something even worse during the Demon Lord’s expedition, so I wonder if something like this could happen.”

“That… … right. This isn’t a big deal, huh.”

“Hehe… … Yes, that confident look is the look that suits you best. There is no need to worry about your attractiveness. Even the peacock, the guardian of mankind, would fall in love with Lily’s true beauty. So there is no need to be angry at his attitude now.”

“Huh… … radish… … of course! I’m not really angry about that. It’s just a whim! An understanding child should be considerate even if he behaves a little rudely towards me!”

Watching Lily perk up quickly after giving her a little praise, Fine felt like she was taking care of her younger sister who was much older than her.

“Thank you, Fine. Perhaps it’s because he’s lived so long, but I think Fine is the smartest person I know! Also, Fine smells like my grandmother, so I feel comfortable when I’m with her!”

“… … .”

Stand tall.

People who have read fantasy novels or games often think that swordsmen need strength (STR) and archers need dexterity (DEX), but this is a completely wrong common sense.

The tension (pulling or drawing force) of the bowstring is so strong that ordinary people cannot even imagine it, and in order to freely handle such a bow, the muscles in the hands, arms, back, and shoulders must be strongly developed.

So why are we talking about this now?

“Pine, why are you holding my head? excuse me… … Fine? Does it seem like your hands are getting stronger? Fine? Fine?! buy… … help me! Something… … I think something is coming! The knowledge in my head… … Just come out! Fineee!”

Curiosity kills a cat, and innocence kills a person.

Don’t mention your age to women.

* * *

“Documents related to previous illegal human trafficking groups. As expected, it was one of the branch organizations to avoid surveillance.”

“All bugs are like that.”

“I heard that kidnapping incidents occurred in nearby territories recently, but I didn’t know that they would reach out to our territory.”

“With all eyes focused on the capital as the hero defeated the Demon King, he probably decided that now was a good time to be active. That’s probably why I haven’t shown my face lately.”

While I was working in my office, Sebas came to me with a pile of documents.

It appears that information was obtained through friendly conversation(?) from people involved in the previous kidnapping incident.

Don’t ask about the blood stains on your sleeve because it’s scary.

“They may have just arrived at our territory, but it looks like there are no victims other than the saint and Miss Rachel. They said they were caught just as they were about to begin full-fledged activities.”

“No luck… … .”

“However, since it is a point organization and they are completely low-level people, it seems difficult to trace their superiors. From the beginning, they must have judged that there was little possibility in the vicinity of our territory, so when the communication was delayed, they immediately cut off the connection.”

“If that happens, wouldn’t it be difficult and burdensome for us to conduct a separate investigation?”

“Yes.”

I also hate people who sell children to make ends meet. If I could, I’d want to make a big fuss about everyone, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make a sunflower-like threat telling them to stay out if they don’t want to run into someone else’s territory and catch bugs.

Now that I think about it, there was someone who was upset about human trafficking, right?

“Then let’s give this matter to the emperor.”

“To His Majesty the Emperor… … What do you mean?”

“If we send you a rough summary of the situation in the surrounding territory and the information we have gathered, we will take care of it. Even if we step forward, the process only becomes more complicated. What the emperor hates the most is capturing children and selling them, so you don’t have to worry about handling the matter. Even the capital guys have had enough fun, so now I have to pay for food.”

A guy who has eaten meat knows what it tastes like, and whether he has PTSD due to his past of being treated as an illegitimate child and being trafficked, the Emperor is more active than anyone else in these matters.

“In that case, we have to tell people that the saintess was kidnapped, but if we don’t do that, wouldn’t it be possible for the contract with the warrior party members to become known?”

“It’s okay. They said that when they first came here, they told me they were going to say hello and relax. Our territory has a good tourism industry, and it’s not unusual for couples to have children while traveling, right?”

“Hmm… … If you say so… … .”

Of course, if the emperor were to visit here in person. The dog has a strange sense of humor and is as quick as a ghost.

Still, there’s no need for that person of great stature to visit this far north in person, so you don’t have to worry about it.

“Now that I think about it, your relationship with the saint has not been bad recently.”

“I’m glad it looks like that.”

As the human traffickers’ disposition was roughly completed, Sebas turned the conversation to the saint.

“Even I was a little surprised when they called each other father and daughter, but such a loving relationship does exist.”

“I just decided that such a relationship would be the most efficient for my plan.”

“It is not a tree. I would have respected whatever choice the Duke made. I was the one who advised the duke to act according to his desires in the first place.”

“So… … .”

“And… … .”

Sebas trailed off and looked outside the door with strange eyes.

“On the contrary, it might not lead to bad results for both parties.”

“Huh?”

“Haha, no. For your information, only a very small number of my closest associates, including myself, know about the contractual relationship. For the general users, information is controlled only to say that they are indebted to their brother, the Duke, for the purpose of recreation. They secretly decorate the bedroom for tomorrow’s wedding and adjust the users’ work hours and locations to ensure that no one enters the floor. It is planned.”

“Thank you. Thank you for your hard work as always.”

okay. It’s finally tomorrow.

The day has already arrived.

The day to capture the first heroine has arrived.