31 – The Queen’s Compensation

Early in the morning, the Queen's Shadow appeared to escort us back to the Royal Palace in a carriage.

Along the way, Sylvia and Lia were tense.

Sylvia put on a frosty smile, her left hand never straying from her sword, hung from her right side.

Meanwhile, Lia 'looked' like she had her hands crossed over her chest. But she was really hiding her right hand resting on her sword.

As for me...

Well. Fragarach continued to orbit me as we rode the carriage. Laevatein was hidden in my inventory, but could be drawn with an empty hand. And Harpe was resting in my shadow.

Not to mention my various other trump cards in the form of my shields and spells.

And even if I didn't have those...

Well.

<Shattered Veil> might not be an indestructible shield anymore since it wasn't a Legendary Shield.

But it WAS a damned sturdy hunk of metal.

And since this world didn't think a person could fight with a shield, maybe it was time I showed them exactly how you could.

...It would also trip people up later in thinking I only knew how to swing Fragarach around like a baseball bat instead of ACTUALLY knowing sword stances and how to fight with it.

Either way, the carriage ride from Riyute Village back to Melromarc didn't take too long.

Since we had Filorials... which really looked more like chocobos in real life...

But anyway, since the Queen's Shadow had Filorials pulling the carriage, we arrived back in Melromarc and in turn the Royal Palace within a few hours.

...Which made me realize that I had ABSOLUTELY been turned the wrong direction when I first went out with Lia and Sylvia because the map I was given was incorrect.

Of course.

Well.

Since the Queen was back, things would be different.

Because if they weren't, then I might as well seize the country for myself to run it better at this point. The people were CLEARLY on my side anyway.

I always DID want to try implementing a few government systems...

Either way, after those hours were up, we were quickly ushered to the throne room...

And to where exactly three people were.

The first was a beautiful mature woman with purple hair, a fan, and a violet royal gown with a sapphire crown. Clearly Mirellia Q Melromarc, the Queen and true sovereign.

The second was a cute young girl with dark blue hair fashioned in twin-tails. Melty Q Melromarc. She was wearing a fluffy light blue dress that made her look like a proper princess.

And the third was that Bitch, Malty Melromarc, A.K.A. Mein Sophia. Stripped naked, gagged, bound in rope, and with a slave crest on her chest, along with the supplies to bind said slave crest resting in front of her.

I slowly blinked.

There was a lot I wanted to say. And a lot I had to comment on the sight before me.

But I decided to ignore the elephant in the room for now and addressed Mirellia directly.

Putting a smile on my face, I nodded and said, "It's nice to finally meet you, Queen of Melromarc."

Mirellia let out a strained smile and said, "Yes. I wish we could have met under better circumstances, Sir Naofumi. But... Well. Wishes are just that."

Sylvia glanced at Malty, her left hand resting on her sword. "...Master. Is this the harlot that defamed your name?"

"MMPH! MM! MMMMM!" Malty squirmed, glaring daggers at all of us. But especially me.

Still, I ignored her and said, "Don't worry about her, Sylvia. Rubbish like that comes later."

"MMM!?!!?!" Malty let out an indignant muffled scream.

But again, I ignored her.

Seeing my reaction, Mirellia relaxed. "...I take it that you find my gift suitable?"

"Well." I glanced at Malty, a few ideas crossing my mind. "...I do have some things to test. It'll be good to have a test subject."

Lia pursed her lips, looking uncomfortable.

I paused. Then I sighed. "Lia. I am not going to do whatever you're thinking I'm doing."

Lia blushed. "I-I-I wasn't thinking that Goshujin-sama was going to devour her or anything! P-P-Promise!"

Sylvia gasped. "LIA!"

"N-No! I wasn't...!" Lia's face turned an even darker shade of red and she lowered her gaze, hiding behind her bangs.

Mirellia let out a laugh, hiding her smile with her fan. "...I see. Even though these beauties are your slaves, they're still blushing maidens, are they? It seems that my husband and eldest daughter have done you quite a grave wrong."

"Mm, that's them, you're you. But I wanted to ask you something."

Mirellia tensed. "...Yes?"

"First, I suppose we should do proper introductions. My name is- No, you can call me Naofumi Iwatani." I nodded towards Sylvia and said, "This is Sylvia."

Sylvia did a small curtsy. "Greetings, your majesty."

I nodded towards Lia. "This is Raphtalia."

Lia quickly bowed. "G-Greetings, your majesty!"

Mirellia was still tense. But she nodded and said, "I suppose we should begin with proper greetings, yes. I am Mirellia Q Melromarc, the sovereign ruler of the erstwhile country of Melromarc." She paused. "...Regrettably, also the wife of that UTTER TRASH who recently put all our necks on the line due to his reckless actions."

Oh. So it WAS that bad.

Well then...

Mirellia sighed. "...This is Melty Q Melromarc, the proper heir to the throne and my youngest daughter."

Melty flinched at suddenly being addressed, still staring at her sister until now. But she quickly curtsied and said, "Greetings, Sir Naofumi. Miss Raphtalia, Miss Sylvia."

Mirellia continued, glaring at Malty. "...And that fat sow is Malty S. Melromarc, my eldest daughter. Apparently, she likes traipsing about as a commoner under the alias Mein Sophia."

"MMMPH!"

"...And that is it for me. Now." Mirellia let out a deliberately calm smile. "...Please, what do you wish to know, Sir Naofumi? I would very much like to make amends. If it is a reasonable request, I am very amenable towards it."

They were polite words. But they were also a clear ask. Especially with how she deliberately traced her collarbone with her fan.

It seemed Melromarc was in just as bad a spot as I thought it might be from that trashy king's actions.

...I also had the vague sensation that even asking for Mirellia herself might not be off the table, judging from the resolve in her eyes and how she was subtly shifting her legs on the throne.

I wasn't that type of guy though.

Still, we DID need to talk about things. "Hm... Well. I'd like to have a proper discussion about it in a better setting." I glanced at Malty and said, "...But there is still this issue to resolve."

Mirellia visibly relaxed after hearing my words. It seemed she sensed the fact that I was open to discussion and didn't have anything against her.

Which was true.

I had many issues with the nobles in this country and the king, as well as Malty.

But nothing against Mirellia. She was just put in a poor position.

...A VERY poor position considering the not so subtle suggestion she had been showing.

But seeing my lack of reaction to what she did must have calmed her down a lot.

Mirellia completely gave up on the subtle seduction and took on a more formal demeanor again. "Yes. I'd like that as well." Her eyes glanced towards Malty, still naked and squirming on the floor. Then she looked back at me and said, "We will discuss more in depth later then. For now, shall we cover the main points?"

I nodded. "I'm guessing you must have rushed here, so you haven't had time to rest, right? Let's both run through the main points and then reconvene later. Say tomorrow?"

I had a few people I wanted to meet too, like Oyaji at the weapon shop and the Slave Trader.

...Especially the Slave Trader.

The guy himself was simply a businessman. Definitely morally bankrupt, but not morally irreprehensible.

But BECAUSE he was a businessman, and one who knew where to draw the line too, I could buy things from him.

Like information.

...Information about certain nobles.

Mirellia let out a relieved smile and relaxed her demeanor a bit. As if sensing it was fine to show a bit of weakness around me instead of pretending. "Of course. Then... I will keep it to three main points. First, it was never our intention to summon all four heroes at once. Melromarc had intended to summon the Shield Hero alone. But during the discussions with the other countries, that Utter Trash of a king went ahead and used the summoning catalyst to summon all the heroes at once."

I rubbed my chin. "Understandable. I suppose it could be framed as a self-defense move considering Melromarc's relative size in comparison to the other countries."

If I remembered right, Melromarc was surrounded by superpower countries... or at least comparative superpower countries.

The summoning ritual was a means to equalize it somewhat.

But now this had happened, so they were S.O.L.

In fact, if those messages that showed up when the knights tried to kill me were seen outside of this country...

Welp.

"Yes." Mirellia sighed. "...That is how I have framed it as well. But it will only buy time, not resolve the core issue... but that can be discussed in detail later since it will be a lengthy conversation. The second main point." She snapped her fan shut and pointed at Malty. "*That* is yours. She was originally going to be sent off to the lecherous swine of a king in Four Bray regardless, so whatever fate you decide would be better."

I paused. "...Originally? Did you change your mind, or...?"

Mirellia clicked her tongue. "That lecher is asking for Melty now as well to form an alliance. Needless to say-"

"Got it. Go commit regicide in Four Bray ASAP."

Mirellia paused. Then her eyes locked onto me, sharp, but also filled with clear glee. "...Oh?"

Melty gasped. "M-Mother! I-If we declare war-"

"This would not be war, Melty." Mirellia smiled. "In fact, we never had this conversation. Isn't that right, Sir Naofumi?"

"Oh, did I say regicide? Freudian slip. I meant research inside. Four Bray seems like SUCH an interesting kingdom..."

Malty rolled her eyes HARD at my statement.

Sylvia giggled, but hid her mouth with her hand.

Lia... interestingly enough looked somewhat eager.

Huh.

...Seems like the cinnamon roll has a hidden grudge and dark side.

I decided to set that aside for now though and said, "But I understand, Queen of Melromarc. Then... should I finalize it?" I nodded towards the slave crest materials in front of Malty.

Mirellia waved her fan. "By all means."

Sylvia tugged my sleeve. "...Master. Are you really going to keep her?" She looked at Malty and said, "Would it not be better to just kill her?"

"Oh, no." I chuckled. "Killing her would be a waste... and unfair to everyone she's ever harmed. But I'm not going to keep 'her.' If she wants to be Mein Sophia so bad, I'll make her just that."

I took the slave crest ink. Then I used Fragarach to cut my finger to put a drop of blood in the inkpot to bind the ink to me, and in turn, bind Malty to me when I applied it on her.

Malty realized what I was doing and started squirming in panic.

But I just smiled and dipped my finger into the ink before drawing a shield over her heart. "Well then. Be 'Mein', oh Princess."

Magic crackled.

Malty let out a muffled scream.

And then a familiar terms of conditions window appeared in front of me.

I ignored that though and focused on the party window.

===

[Party]

Naofumi Iwatani(?) {SABER ✫ = Ascension 0} - Lv. 1/20

Lia - Lv. 35

Sylvia - Lv. 35

Malty S. Melromarc - Lv. 1

===

"Oh? You reset her level?"

Mirellia smiled and fanned her face. "Well. Beloukas said you sought slaves at level one last time so that you could guide their growth. I figured that you would want the same for a new slave."

"Mm. Well, this definitely speeds up my plans."

I was going to experiment and try to forcibly reset her level anyway, but since it was done ahead of time, that saved a step.

Mirellia chuckled. "I am glad we are on the same page then. And that I could ameliorate the process."

Melty pursed her lips and glanced at Mirellia. "Mother. Are we... really giving Sister to him?"

Mirellia let out a cold smile. "Some prices can only be paid in blood, Melty. Remember this clearly so you do not have to do the same when you take the throne."

Melty swallowed and nodded. "U-Understood, Mother..."

"Relax." I let out a bright smile. "This won't hurt her a bit. Physically, that is. Mentally and spiritually though..."

I knelt down in front of Malty and removed her gag.

Malty immediately spat at me and said, "Go die in a ditch, you fucking pig! Just because I'm your slave, don't think that I'll-"

The sound of drawn steel.

Sylvia, pointing her blade at Malty.

Lia, smiling with her blade casually resting at her side.

Malty froze, sweat dripping down her forehead.

I chuckled. "Don't worry, Malty. You'll be singing a different tune soon enough."

I didn't know if my suspicions were true.

After all, whether this was the light novel, a modified version of the web novel, or something altogether, I didn't know.

But I could confirm some information with an experiment.

I placed my hand over Malty's forehead. And then I glanced at one of my spells in my loadout.

===

Restoration III: Through parsing the record of existence within a target, reject all negative status effects and damage and restore the body to an optimal state. Mana can be infused to increase restoration speed. 250 capacity.

===

Not only that, I glanced at a certain shield too.

===

Potential Amplification Shield Mk III: A shield that focuses on improving the abilities of the user’s allies. Latent growth is increased by twenty fold. Each stat increases by 10% of current max each level. 2000 capacity.

===

I smiled. "Yeah. This should work. I'll take a page out of a certain healer's book then. Malty- No. 'Mein.' Be healed. <Restoration III>."

Malty's emerald eyes widened.

Azure light bloomed around my hand, flooding into her body.

For a split second, it looked like her entire body was being scanned by an invisible scanner, a thin blue line sliding down her body like she was being analyzed.

And then it happened.

A flurry of messages popped up in front of me...

===

> The optimal state of user's ally [Malty S. Melromarc] has been determined to be [Mein Sophia].

> The negative status effect [Thrall of the Goddess of Betrayal] has been detected and purged.

> The negative status effect [Soulbound to the Army of the Waves] has been detected and purged.

> Various negative status effects due to distorted self-image and malignant beliefs are purged [Narcissism, Sadism, Egomania, etc.]

> Latent potential that has been ignored due to the various negative status effects are amplified due to [Potential Amplification Shield Mk III]

> Restoration is complete.

> [Malty S. Melromarc] has been restored as [Mein Sophia]

===

...And then Malty- No, Mein let out an anguished scream.

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