The headquarters of the Toman Chamber of Commerce was located in one of the most prestigious commercial areas of Wesara, and even more prestigious than that.

　Ulrich Toman, the head of the Toman Chamber of Commerce, was visited by Holger, an official of the Duke of Gerald's domain involved in commerce, just as Ulrich was taking a break and eating greasy baked goods in the reception area of his spacious office.

It's been a long time, Mr. Thoman. It's been about seventy hours, I think.
"Yes. I think I've been seeing your face more than my wife's lately.

　The two men smile at each other and shake hands.
　Both men are in their mid-forties. Holger, a skinny man in a black and blue official's uniform, the mark of a government official, and Ulrich, who wears bright red and opulent clothes and is called "pig" by any child he meets for the first time, have contrasting appearances. The two men, the nervous Holger and the boisterous Ulrich, seem to be a good match, and they hit it off through their professional connections.

So, did you get a good response?
Yes, he'd like to talk to you.
Well, thank you!　Thanks to the Duke, you, ......, and most of all, the new King!

　Ulrich tried to hit his knee and pulled at his stomach, which was sticking out by mistake.

　The Toman Trading Company is a trader that deals mainly in exports and to a lesser extent in imports. Among the goods they deal in is Ciel-Teira's pride and joy, glacelm.
　Up until now, we've only been buying gracelms from the mines at the price the government tells us to, and exporting them to the Federation at the price the government tells us to (that is, the Federation tells us to).
　How unfair those prices were!　We were supposed to be dealing with a very high-class product with the permission of the government, but our profits were sparse. The honor of being "a merchant who is allowed to deal in gracelms" is not enough to earn a living.

　But the days of such humiliation were finally coming to an end.
　With a new king in place, the treatment of Gracelm was about to change.

　Duke Gerald had connections in Noa Curio and Diretta, and he was coordinating with them as a lord to develop a sales channel for glacelms. Recently, Ulrich had been in frequent meetings with Holger about this matter.
　If this continues, Ulrich will be able to sell Gracelm outside the Federation.
　Well, look at that, I thought. He could see the panic on the faces of the Federation's sourpusses who had been buying up Gracelm. It was indisputable that the Federation, as a nation, looked down on Ciel-Teira, but even the Federation's official merchants who bought the glacelms looked at Ulrich as if he were some kind of servant. That was something Ulrich could not stand.

　Ulrich, of course, knew the true value of glacelm. What would happen if we sold glacelm to Noa Curio at the right price? Even with a little extra money in the mines, Ulrich's pockets would still be incomparably more profitable than ever before!
　I'm drooling just thinking about it. I'm drooling.

　...... Ulrich believed that tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that, he would be able to buy the same amount of gracelum from the mines as he could today, but he still didn't know that the four major powers were demanding control of the gracelum mines.

　But he still didn't know that the four major powers were demanding control of the Gracelm Mine, and he still didn't know that it was highly unlikely that he would make it to tomorrow morning alive.

I heard that the duke is gathering his troops.
"...... Yes.

　When Ulrich made small talk, Holger's eyes swam.
　I'm not sure what to make of that.
　Even a child knows that the Duke is gathering troops because the city is in such a state, but Ulrich knows the circumstances behind it.

Between you and me, is it true that the thing is still on the run?
That's .......
No, no, no, I won't tell anybody!　So tell me.

　Ulrich shook his head, and the flesh around his bulky neck throbbed and throbbed.

　If you are a merchant of Ulrich's caliber, you will hear information from somewhere that the average citizen would not know.
　He had also heard that the "Rose Princess of Hell," who was supposed to have been defeated by the First Knight Commander in King's Landing, had escaped. And he knows why the country wants to hide it.
　If a named monster that rampaged through King's Landing, even one that was the former king's daughter turned into an undead monster, were to escape, it would be a huge blunder for the Knights, whose job it is to protect the people, and the new government would be in trouble. It is not desirable for rumors to circulate in the city that could destabilize the reign of Hilbert II, whose government has just taken over and is not yet solid.

It's a good thing I know what happened to King's Landing that day. I don't think the Order screwed up if they let him go. In fact, I'd say they did well.
Ha. ......
The square was already overflowing with people, like a trolley full of rocks!　People were shouting, 'Kill him! "Death to the traitors! Death to traitors!
　The mother would be brought in and beheaded first. Then came the daughter. ...... When the guillotine fell apart, she floated up in the air with the severed head.
　I was so surprised!　But that's when he started using his strange magic to kill all the people in the crowd!
　All hell would break loose. Everyone would be running for their lives. It was like an avalanche.　I panicked, too. All the while, he's using magic. ......

　Ulrich has been telling this story to everyone he meets these days. He had come to King's Landing for work on the day of the execution.
　Ulrich was very good at telling this story because everyone listened to him. Even if his survival was simply a product of good fortune, there is no doubt that his coming back from that great incident is a saga that will catch the ears of anyone who hears it. After all, it is the story of the man himself, so it is more powerful and full of vivid reality than listening to a bard's narrative.

...... After the commotion died down, I walked around the city, and it was terrible. The streets of the beautiful royal city (Teiralare) were a mess. Buildings were broken all at once. People were piled up and collapsed. ......

　Holger had heard this story about five times now, but no matter how many times he heard it, he never showed any sign of dislike, whether it was because he found it amusing or because he was concerned about Ulrich.

The Knights had done their job," he said, "they had at least defeated that many monsters. The Knights did their job, I'd say.
　...... Hmm?　What was I talking about?


Uh, about the duke gathering his troops. ......
Oh, yeah, that's it!
It's not wrong to say it's against him. A village in the territory was attacked by a horde of undead, and the Duke seems to think that his shadow is flickering in the background.
"Hmmm, I guess so. If that's the case, maybe this is the end of him. Hahahahaha!

　"Ha-ha-ha! Ulrich thought he was laughing cheerfully, but the flesh on his face was blocking his laugh and it sounded like it was being crushed.

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's had it. The royal knights and adventurers will come out, and the duke's army is strong. This time you will rid Ciel-Teira of the shadow of the former king. The sooner we get rid of the pest, the better!
"Yes. I'm sure it will work.
"And there will be great prosperity.

　They both smiled at the thought of Ciel-Teira's glory days to come.

I can't thank you enough, Your Majesty and the Duke. I can't thank you enough.
　On the other hand, the Prior King is a fool!　...... Although the last one ended up like that, it was heartbreaking to see their heads cut off.
　Well, as far as I'm concerned, you've just given me a battle of atonement for the hundreds and thousands of gold coins killed by the Federation. Now my country and my trading company are safe.
　The First King and his family can enjoy their reunion under the grave with a cup of Federation's famous slime tea. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!

　By the way, slime tea is often cited in ethnic jokes related to the Federation, and it is a "something like a drink" that is treated as a ghetto by the locals (some people continue to drink it, claiming that it has medicinal properties, but many alchemists deny its medicinal properties).

Haha ......

　Holger laughed, but his laughter was cut short by a roar.

　A roar.
　The fortress-like masonry of the Toman Trading Company headquarters shook.

　Holger collapsed from the couch to the floor, a puddle of blood.
　It took about ten seconds for Ulrich to realize that the magic of the explosion had broken down the outer walls, corridors and rooms, and the debris that flew in its aftermath had hit Holger in the head, knocking him half a minute.

"............ I was right.
Hee?

　A girl's voice, cold and burning, came from behind a thick cloud of dust.

I'm not going to rest in ...... peace when there's still so many of them out there.

　The sound of shoes clicking on the stone floor echoed high in the air.

Ulrich leaned back against the couch.

　Ulrich let out an ugly scream as he clutched the back of the couch.

　A headless girl wearing a white dress with a fresh blood rose on the skirt entered the room.
　In her right hand was a red sword that looked like it had been carved from a jewel.
　In her left hand, her own head. Her silver hair was shining and beautiful, but her innocent face was expressionless with anger. His silver eyes glittered with a murderous intent as cold as a frozen lake.

　The monster of that day was there, as if he had just stepped out of Ulrich's story.

I'm a little bored right now. I'm a little bored right now because my subcontractor is working.
　So I thought of a good idea. Come play a game with me.