Estimated reading time: 5–6 minutes
Chapter 31
I return to my house from Mirei’s mansion and take a breath. I don’t feel alive at all.
Even though such a beauty is treating me so well, I’m not happy at all because I’m so afraid of the destruction flags.
Just when I thought I’d gotten a breather, Claire summons me again.
She was saying something about making progress on defeating the Demon King.
And then Claire says something outrageous.
「Lord Eld, from now on you’ll be granted an audience with the King.」
「Wha- An audience with the King!?」
Me, granted an audience with the King? Am I going to be executed for deceiving his daughter?
Or is this like meeting her father?
Either way, I have a bad feeling about this…
「When I told Father about you being level 9999, he said he really wanted to meet you. He wants to ask you to defeat the Demon King. And also to thank you for helping me. Won’t you please meet with him?」
「O-Of course…」
I reply in a trembling voice. Well, it’s not like I can refuse an audience with the King.
◆
Claire takes me to the royal castle.
The King is a buff, gruff older man.
I remember in the game he was portrayed as someone who trained himself.
When the King sees me, he gives me a big welcome.
「Oh! You must be Eld, my daughter’s friend! I heard you helped her. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’ll give you a reward later. For now, relax.」
He’s unexpectedly frank.
「I heard that my daughter doubted your level 9999 and even challenged you to a duel. I sincerely apologize for that. She was rude. I’m very sorry she caused you trouble.」
「Oh, not at all.」
The King bows deeply as he says this.
The vassals around us start murmuring.
「Look… That stubborn king is bowing to a slave merchant…」
「Is he really level 9999…?」
「Well, if the King is bowing to him…」
I guess it is odd for a king of all people to bow like this. It’s a little embarrassing.
From the perspective of the vassals, I must seem super suspicious. Some random slave merchant the princess met at school and brought here.
The King continues speaking.
「Sorry. Many of my vassals still doubt your level. Well, level 9999 is unprecedented and unheard of. It’s not unreasonable for them to be skeptical. Please try to understand. So, won’t you demonstrate your power here and now?」
「Um…?」
Things are taking a strange turn.
「No, I really want to see your power too. If they witness your power, my vassals will be convinced. Knight Commander, come here.」
「Yes, sir!」
At the King’s summons, the Knight Commander steps in front of me. His face looks familiar.
Ah, this is Zeruon Schumann. He’s a character from the game.
He was portrayed as the protagonist’s mentor, and could become a party member depending on the route.
I think he was around level 600 at this point in the story.
「Eld, please, fight this Zeruon here and prove your level.」
「O-Okay…」
Well, it’s not like I can refuse the King’s request. I don’t want to trigger the destruction route.
I’ll just half-ass it.
I’m handed a sword and face off against Zeruon.
「Here I come!」
「Yes sir!」
But this is in front of the King. Is it really okay for me to fight back?
If I injure the King it’ll be a disaster. I’ve got to get through this somehow.
Zeruon tenses his body and unleashes a special move.
「Take this! Dragon Sword Style, Second Form – Rakshasa Mind!」
Instead of countering, I simply receive the attack.
Huh? For such a grandiose name, there’s no pain or anything.
「I-Incredible… To catch my full powered blow with just the tip of your sword… your level 9999 is doubtless.」
Looks like I’m acknowledged.
The vassals who were looking at me doubtfully start murmuring words of recognition.
「Damn, this guy’s crazy…」
「Level 9999 is real…」
「Sir Zeruon’s attack…」
The King claps and celebrates joyfully.
「Hahaha! Magnificent! Eld, you’re amazing! Such overwhelming strength! To coolly withstand a strike from Zeruon like that – I’ve never seen anything like it!」
「Oh, not at all.」
The King leans forward with great interest and asks me,
「Just how did you attain such tremendous power?」
「How, you ask… I just trained healing magic (because I wanted to avoid the destruction route)」
「Unusual for a slave merchant to use healing magic. You must have great talent. Splendid! So, I’d like to make a request, seeing as you’re so strong.」
Here it comes. He’s gonna tell me to defeat the Demon King, right? I knew it.
Well, if Alto didn’t awaken, someone’s gotta defeat the Demon King or humanity’s doomed.
If humanity gets wiped out, avoiding the destruction route will be the least of my worries.
I’ll take responsibility for making Alto a mob character and defeat the Demon King myself!
But the King’s next words are different—
「I want you to marry my daughter, Claire.」
「Come again…?」
Ah, I’m screwed.
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