The King’s Wind

At Blagadariyu Station, Zahar and the townspeople stand in line before the train.

Sunset bathes the scene. Only me aboard the train—finished my business in this town, heading home now.

"Thank you so much today!"

Zahar says, and everyone else bows in unison.

"To have the King come all the way here... we’re truly grateful."

"Me or a slave, makes no difference."

"Now that’s not true at all! Everyone’s been waiting for the King’s arrival. And today, everyone worked harder than usual."

"...Just one thing."

"Yes?"

"Calling me 'King' all the time’s fine—but please stop bowing with your hands together."

"Why?"

Zahar blinks. The townspeople behind him blink too.

"Just... stop it."

Saying it’s just gratitude is fine. But when they add the hands together, it suddenly feels like something else entirely.

Sounded a bit like “Zieg Jyin” or something like that.

“Understood. If Your Majesty says so.”

“Then it’s settled. Let me know if anything comes up.”

“Yes!”

The train pulled away, waved off by the mayor and townsfolk.

“Bragadaryu Akito.”

“““Bragadaryu Akito”””

“Bragadaryu Akito.”

“““Bragadaryu Akito”””

The farewell chant felt like it had evolved somehow. Probably just my imagination.

The train quickly reached its designated speed and settled into steady motion.

At this pace, we’ll make it before full dark.

“Menu open.”

I pulled out DORECA and idly browsed.

Card type, country population, fluctuating magic reserves.

Just staring at the numbers was oddly satisfying.

Thanks to actually building things myself, I could already guess what was happening just by watching the numbers go up or down.

Three hundred mana dropped twice in quick succession.

“Three hundred? Miracle cure? Did Nina have a nosebleed again?”

I snorted, imagining the scene.

I’m used to it by now, but Mira probably still gets caught in the nosebleed shower every time.

“Should just get used to it already.”

Once you get used to Nina’s, you start thinking it’s kind of cute.

I kept watching the numbers rise and fall.

A house was built. Clothes were made. Food—(Pusini)—was produced in bulk.

Each drop in numbers felt like the nation growing larger. Kind of nice.

After going through it all, I tucked away DORECA and turned to look out the window.

Beyond the tracks, it was still wild terrain.

We’ll have to start developing this area too, eventually.

“Hmph.”

Suddenly, I spotted a figure far off on the ground.

I pulled the lever and stopped the train.

I jump off the train and rush toward the person lying on the ground.

Face-down, long hair spilling like a cloak over their whole body.

A woman?

"Hey, you alright?"

No reaction. Not even a twitch.

Collapsed? No way... dead?

"Hey, stay with me—what the—"

I reach out and lift them up—then freeze in shock.

It wasn't a person.

A doll made to look human, dressed in clothes and draped with black thread for hair, lying atop a log.

Not something that grew naturally. Clearly shaped to look like a person.

Why—something's wrong!

The moment I thought that, the ground trembled.

Me—magic circles spreading out from the doll.

A black-glowing circle, over ten meters wide.

Light wraps around my body—tight, like chains.

"A trap!"

"Hahahaha! Gotcha! You idiot, you fell right in!"

A voice echoed. The man emerged from behind the rock.

One in front. Dozens behind.

Clothing varied—yet all wore a familiar look.

"Scum left over from Malart and Maxim."

"Ah, here's Midrofan-sama."

The man who called himself Midrofan grinned, stepping closer.

He stopped just at the edge of the magic circle, grinning at me.

"Didn’t think I’d believe it when they said it. But you’re real. A single one, pretending to be a she—got me. King’s got taste, all right. Weak."

"Still… why this? Revenge?"

"Revenge? Nah. Not even close."

About Malart and Maxim.

"Wait—so not revenge?"

"Idiot. Who cares about them? The point is, losers lost. Looked like fools."

"Pathetic."

"Those two were the same kind—brainless, all muscle. That’s why they lost."

……this guy.

“Better make a deal, though.”

“A deal?”

“Yeah. About the lease.”

“……Ah.”

Only then did it click.

Right. That’s what they were talking about.

The gang from Magatan town, cornering entire production sites, jacking up prices.

Come to think of it, they said those were remnants of Malart and Maxim too.

“Your Majesty, we’re not after anything grand here—just a meal ticket.”

“Then stop squeezing us. We’ll leave you alone if you just trade normally.”

“No, no.”

Midrofan waved a dramatic hand.

“Can’t you see them, Your Majesty? They’re my little minions, following right behind me.”

He pointed behind him. The men there were all grinning.

"I’ve gotta feed those guys, you know? You’re the king—should understand, right? Huh?"

"...What do you want from me?"

"Relax. I’m not asking for much. Just stop the cultivation of Rees, like you started."

"What if I say no?"

"Gyahaha, oh, Your Majesty, you’ve got a brain but still don’t get it?"

"Think you can beat me with some basic magic circle?"

"Cut the act. This here? Developed during the Demon God War—anti-magic—"

"Noooooo!"

Touching the True Eternal Slave at his waist, drawing power from DORECA.

Pushing back against the light wrapping around his body.

"Gyahaha, wasted, wasted!"

"Uuuuuhhh!"

Pouring in power—more, more, more.

Ten... one hundred... a thousand... ten thousand...

"Hey, uh, boss, this ain’t getting a little too wild, is it?"

"The magic circle's crackling like crazy!"

"And—look, that thing's actually moving!"

The men under her spoke in unison.

"B-but that's impossible."

"Oooohhh!"

In an instant, the magic circle shattered with a shriek.

The power poured in—ten thousand units.

Enough to build a small town.

I had confidence in it. The circle was no ordinary thing.

I gripped my sword, turning toward Midrofan and his men.

"Then..."

"...Huh?"

"What if I say no?"

I said it like a threat.

"Y-you idiot! Even without the circle, we outnumber you. Get 'em!"

At Midrofan's command, the men charged all at once.

I counted again—thirty-eight, including the one.

This was nothing worth wasting magic on.

☆

"Welcome home, master... wait, what's with the blood all over you?!"

Mira greeted me at the Rebeck station, eyes wide with shock.

“Wait—what’s with all the blood on you?...Is that Nina?”

“Yes… again, the nosebleed…”

Mira flinches, still not used to it.

“Never mind me. What about you, master? What happened to you?”

“Nothing serious. Just attacked by some petty bandits.”

“Huh. That’s all?”

Mira instantly relaxes.

I know it’s a sign of trust. Still… it kind of feels lonely.

“Anyway, they’ve stacked the bodies along the tracks. All fatal wounds avoided.”

“Wait… you’re not seriously thinking of delivering the miracle cure, are you?”

“That’s right.”

I look at Mira, silently asking if she’ll do it.

“If it’s my master’s order, I’ll do it… really sure about this?”

“Yeah.”

“Got it. I’m going.”

Mira boarded the train.

I watched her back fade into the distance.

I thought, maybe now she’ll quit being so sneaky, and help us pioneer, rebuild the world—actually help, for once.