Read Novel Full Vol 12 Chapter 16
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(12/18)
Chapter 16 – Pardon?
The parade made me a kind of hero, and I was granted an audience with the offer of treasures and permission to develop the undeveloped lands in the eastern part of the Aquamarine Kingdom. I had no problem in terms of profit, but mentally, it was a painful audience with a significant negative impact. But I would like to console myself with the fact that it will be a chance for me to fulfill my promise to the God of Commerce-sama, so it is an overall positive outcome.
“I’m free!”
I shouted from my soul to the sky above the endless clear blue sea.
When I was in Japan, I was not very interested in the sea, but my deep involvement with the sea in this world may have made me a great man of the sea. Looking at the sea from the Lutto, I feel very much at home.
“Fufu. You must have been through a lot.”
Ines, who listened to the cries of my soul next to me, gave me a sympathetic look and laughed.
“Yes. It was hard. I’m going to be away from the Aquamarine Kingdom for a while, so be prepared for that.”
After the audience, I met with the Viscount and explained about the luxury liner in the Kingdom of Brescia, even though I complained a lot. I also gave him a beauty set of the luxury liner.
After the meeting with the Viscount, the nobles of the Aquamarine Kingdom inundated me with requests to meet with me. I managed to avoid the meeting by pretending to be so nervous at the audience that I fell asleep.
At the dinner, the Queen and Princess complimented me on the beauty set I had given them. They liked the cosmetics, but the bath set was a shock to them.
It is an honor for a man to be praised by a queen or a princess. I had to write a letter of introduction to the Castle… which was very tiring.
The food at the dinner was, well, okay. I’m sure the ingredients and the cooks were top-notch, but the variety of condiments gave the luxury liner the upper hand.
“But you’re still going to pick up my family and Flora, right? Well, as far as I’m concerned, I don’t mind leaving them alone…”
Ines still doesn’t like the idea of seeing Bella-san more often. The Chris thing should have mended the relationship a lot, but she still seems to be more bitter about it. She deserves it, though.
“I will pick them up because I promised. By then, the royal capital should have calmed down, so it should be fine… right?”
They say it takes 75 days for rumors to die down. When I went to the Adventurer’s Guild the day after the audience, there was a big fuss, but six months later, it should be fine.
I don’t want to be praised as a hero anymore or have people try to trick me into giving them the treasures by praising me in some way.
It was easy to reject those who tried to trick me, but it was hard to be looked at with pure respect because I felt sorry for them. When I was in Japan, I was so ordinary that it was the first time I learned the hard way that respect was difficult for me.
“Hmm… even if it calms down for now, won’t it flare up again when Master returns? …Speaking of which, how are you going to develop the undeveloped areas? It sounds like you’re asking Flora to do a lot of things, but didn’t you say you needed permission from the God of Commerce-sama?”
…I hope you refrain from rekindling it. When we go to the Aquamarine Kingdom in six months, let’s plan it so that we can sneak in and leave quickly.
“It’s okay; it’s just a preliminary investigation to get permission from the God of Commerce-sama. Even if it doesn’t work out, I’ll pay for it out of my own pocket, so there’s no need for him to be offended.”
I hired the Adventurers’ Guild to survey an undeveloped area. Since I asked them to do everything from assessing the terrain to thinning out the monsters, I doubt it qualifies as a survey, but I think it will probably be okay.
I’ve set the survey fee at a premium and deposited a large amount of platinum coins, so if it’s approved as an expense, I’ll be one step ahead of my promise to the God of Commerce-sama.
At that time, I asked Flora-san if she was willing to be in charge of development, and she refused with a straight face, which scared me.
How to handle the development of undeveloped land is the question for the future. I could ask Carlo-san or Dario-kun to do it, but I am afraid of the possibility of making an enemy of Bella-san because it would tear the family apart.
It’s not that they did anything to me, but seeing how scared Ines was, it’s engraved in my mind that I can’t make enemies with that person.
If I can find someone I can push around, I’ll have to put him in charge. Let’s hope I can find someone like the village chief on Dark Elf Island.
“If he is not offended, then there is no problem. Master may not know it because you can meet God so casually, but if God gets angry with you, he can be a frightening presence, so be very careful.”
Ines, who is usually so matter-of-fact, gave me this advice with a straight face. Even Ines is afraid of God, I guess.
“Don’t worry. I know how scary gods can be because I’ve actually met them.”
I pay close attention to the situation, but still, they get angry and fight about other things on their own, dragging me into their quarrels. I don’t have the slightest desire to get on top of things.
I may be a little out of control in the ecchi area, but otherwise, I act with the utmost care and respect. I definitely don’t go against the God of Light-sama. The God of Light-sama is my lifeline because I can’t possibly trust the Creator God-sama.
“Master. Isn’t that Princess Annemarie over there?”
As I strengthened my faith in the God of Light-sama, Felicia, who had been listening to me with a gentle smile, informed me of Princess Annemarie’s presence.
“Yes, we are near the rendezvous point, but I don’t see her.”
When I looked in the direction Felicia was pointing, I couldn’t see anything. Felicia and I seem to have very different eyesight.
I followed Felicia’s directions and let the Lutto go on, and after a while, I could see Princess Annemarie as well. The Dark Elf’s eyesight is truly amazing.
After I spotted Princess Annemarie and drew the ship closer, I hastily gave permission for Princess Annemarie and the beautiful mermaid, Lea-san, to board the ship as we approached.
After a while, the two, who had been transformed into humans by a sacred treasure, came up to the boat.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
There was still time for the appointment, but I bowed my head to keep the princess waiting. I had heard that it was a bad act for a man to keep a woman waiting, and it would be even worse to keep the princess waiting. This isn’t going to be a diplomatic problem, is it?
“No, there is still plenty of time for our appointment. We just came early, so don’t worry about it. Kyaaa!”
Princess Annemarie laughed and forgave me. The loli mermaid princess is a very well-behaved person. And my familiars jumped on her.
Rimu, who was on top of my head, jumped into Princess Annemarie’s chest, and Pent slipped close to Princess Annemarie and wrapped herself around her.
“Um… I’m really sorry.”
I apologize to Lea-san, whose eyes meet mine. Hmm, I thought Rimu and the others were just carefree, but should I teach them some etiquette?
Rimu and Pent have become good friends, but they have also become very good friends with Princess Annemarie, who has been a great mediator between them. That in itself is wonderful.
But it’s not really nice to jump on the princess in public, is it?
“No, the princess is happy to see her friend, so don’t worry about it.”
“Thank you very much.”
It is true that Princess Annemarie is playing with Rimu and the others. It didn’t become a problem this time, but I will teach Rimu and the others the difference between public and private time.
“Wataru-sama. I apologize for the delay in greeting you.”
While I was thinking about the education of Rimu and the others, Princess Annemarie, who was holding Rimu in her arms and had Pent wrapped around her, came to talk to me.
“No, I am sorry that Rimu and Pento have caused you so much trouble.”
“No, it’s not like that. I am also happy to see Rimu-sama and Pent-sama. They are no trouble to me!”
She strongly disagreed. It seems that Rimu and Pent have become an important part of Princess Annemarie’s life.
Even Lea-san seems to have acknowledged this, although she is smiling bitterly, and it seems that it was the right thing to do to let the situation slide.
“Is that so? Thank you for being friends with Rimu and Pent.”
Princess Annemarie smiled as she hugged Rimu and Pent happily when I thanked her.
The combination of Slime, Sea Serpent, and loli mermaid… is very perverse when put into words, but the scene before me is very charming. It’s kind of soothing.
“Oh, that’s right. Wataru-sama, thank you for coming to our Mermaid Kingdom today.”
While I was watching the soothing scene, a startled Princess Annemarie thanked me with a straight face.
She probably wanted to fulfill her duties as a princess, but she was probably disturbed by Rimu and Pent’s pace. I felt very sorry for her.
Even with a serious face, Pent is wrapped around her with Rimu in her arms, so I feel even more sorry that she doesn’t look like a princess at all.
I want to take it easy, but I don’t want to take it easy on Princess Annemarie, who is trying her best to be serious. Let’s take it seriously.
“…So, I hear you have a sacred treasure that will help us get to the Mermaid Kingdom?”
I manage to finish my greeting seriously and invite Princess Annemarie and Lea-san aboard and listen to them over tea.
Alessia-san, who is sitting next to me, is also curious about the Mermaid Kingdom and the sacred treasure, so she is a bit nervous.
“Ah, yes. That was right. Lea.”
“Understood.”
Princess Annemarie, who was drinking tea, called out to Lea-san in a bit of a panic, and Lea-san took out a tightly sealed box and put it on the table. It seems that the box contains the sacred treasure.
When Princess Annemarie presses the ring she is wearing against the box, the box opens by itself. So the ring is the key. That’s kind of cool.
“This accessory is the sacred treasure given to us by Sea God-sama. There are two types: one that turns you into a mermaid, and the other that allows you to move in the sea in your human form.”
“…Pardon?”
“Uh, what is it?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
…I didn’t hear anything about turning into a mermaid, did I? What does that mean? Huh? Does that mean I can see Ines and Alessia-san, and the others as mermaids? Maybe I should turn into a mermaid, too?
No, I’m a little confused. As expected, my mermaid form is scary. Let’s see, I should somehow get everyone to choose a mermaid-transforming sacred treasure, and I should choose a normal one.
Anyway, I understood that Sea God-sama’s pampering of the mermaids is extraordinary.