[21st Round] You’re Fired!
“I thought you hated the world of Fantasy because you always said you wanted to go home. For me, though, this is where my mother and I were born and raised, so I used to feel enraged by that attitude of yours.”
“I see.”
Living standards here had slightly improved when I introduced flush toilets, but this planet still had a long way to go.
However, Ssosiel, who rested her head on my shoulder, interpreted it in her own way.
“But now I’ve come to realize that despite all the words you’ve thrown, you actually love this world. You instantly found a common language with the locals, and they immediately fell in love with you. This would be impossible if you didn’t understand their life and did not empathize with them.”
“All I’ve been doing is skillfully use those stupid savages with the help of Fabrication and Incitement.”
“There are reasons for everything in this world, but it doesn’t matter what they are. What matters is that you fit into their community and get along well with them.”
“Everyone can do that.”
“Not really. I know I can’t. I can only stand by and watch.”
“Is that so…”
There was nothing more I could say in rebuttal.
The reason I could easily get along with the people of Fantasy was because of my first companions.
It wasn’t because they helped.
To confront my companions who disagreed with me at every opportunity, I needed people to support me.
Hence, I made sure I could get close to anyone if I wanted.
As a result, reputation manipulation became as natural to me as breathing.
“I’m really happy my husband loves my home planet.”
“Seriously, how did you come to that conclusion?”
It seemed like Rice Cake influenced her a lot.
“My father is amazing!”
Green Cake, who had remained silent until now, looked at me with respect.
“Well … it’s really nothing. Watch and learn. Here’s what you can do in a short amount of time with just a few beers.”
“What? Cruise ship of the gods?!”
“Flying Ship Laurita!”
“The legendary ship has been rediscovered!”
“Everyone to the tavern!”
The story I told quickly spread throughout the port.
The mass production of even larger airships was organized on the Western Continent, but the Eastern Continent, a developing country, hadn’t yet reached this level.
For them, it was like a star in the night sky.
“You will need a skilled sailor!”
“And someone who will take the helm for you!”
“What about a mate with extensive experience?”
“I’m a good sailor too!”
“Ah! Don’t you need a cook?”
“I can heal the wounded!”
A lot of people immediately started asking me to join my team.
Since they were born on the Eastern Continent, they grew up listening to their parents and other adults speak of legends.
The most popular of them was the story of the Flying Ship Laurita.
Paying no heed to stormy waves and typhoons tearing through endless waters, it could travel from the Eastern to the Western Continent in a single day.
For sailors, it served as the epitome of dreams.
Of course…
“How sure are you he isn’t just some liar?”
“I don’t think you should just blindly trust random passers-by.”
“Liar? Throw him out to the mermaids in the water.”
“Is it even worth it?”
Some didn’t believe me or hesitated.
But those whose attention I wanted to attract quickly took the bait.
The time had come for them to appear.
“Look! It’s her ship! The Pirate Queen has returned!
“My God! The Bandit King has also appeared!”
“Oh! This is insane! Even the Merchant King is here too!”
Unlike Merchant King, who wasn’t a criminal, Pirate Queen and Bandit King couldn’t freely visit this area.
But these rules, set by the authorities, could be skillfully circumvented.
If they didn’t cause a disturbance, one could easily turn a blind eye to their existence. After all, battles occurring in the city weren’t good for anybody. If, on the contrary, they engaged in common consumerism, they would actually bring benefits to its economy.
Still, criminals were criminals.
“Hey, earthworms. Get out of my way!”
“Water fleas! Begone from my sight!”
Pirates and bandits weren’t on the best terms.
They had no conflicts over territories, but that was the problem.
It was a matter of honor.
Pirates ruled the sea, and bandits ruled the land. Both factions saw themselves to be the stronger faction.
“An important individual is coming, you criminals! If you don’t disperse, I’ll send every last one of you to jail!”
“Why is the road blocked, chancellor?”
“Sorry, sir. We’ve now cleared the way.”
“Very well.”
A long procession deliberately wedged itself between the pirates and the bandits, pushing them aside.
Merchant King made his entrance.
His pale skin and blond hair suggested he was a thoroughbred nobleman, but he was a real hard worker who rose from the bottom at a young age.
“Wild boar, we’ll settle our differences next time,” growled the female wearing a black cocked hat with a white skull depicted on it.
Under her admiral’s uniform, which gave her a noble appearance, she wore only a swimsuit so tight it fettered her prominent parts.
She was sometimes mistaken for a mermaid because of her blue hair, but looking at her pointed ears, one could immediately tell that she was an elf with mixed blood.
I was certain she wasn’t a pureblood.
Elves could only dream of such huge breasts.
Pirate Queen had ruled all pirates for a long time now, and she also served as the main rival of mermaids.
A swarthy man with a bare upper body answered her, “Bwahahaha! That’s my line, seal!”
Bandit King was also an elf with mixed blood, but I wasn’t certain about his other race.
Merchant King, Pirate Queen, Bandit King.
The strongest representatives of the Eastern Continent entered the tavern one by one.
To meet me.
They all wanted to get their hands on the legendary treasure known as the Flying Ship Laurita.
Merchant King, reaching me ahead of the two, greeted me first.
“It’s not unprecedented at all that people call you a liar. I am called the Merchant King. For more information…”
“No need.”
“… Then let’s get straight to the point. Disregarding the possibility that this is a bluff, then you know the location of Flying Ship Laurita. Where did you get that information?”
“I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Is that so?”
Merchant King raised his right hand slightly.
Click! Click! Click!
The people accompanying him pulled out weapons.
But the bandits and pirates weren’t stupid.
“How could you start without me, Merchant King?”
“Bloody seal! Don’t get ahead of me! If you want to continue trading on land, Merchant King, you better lay down your arms.”
Bang, Bang, Bang…
Pirate Queen and Bandit King quickly disarmed Merchant King’s escort.
The difference in their skills was so great that they didn’t even have to kill anyone.
Although, if a firefight had begun, Merchant King would have pulled out his weapon too.
Although they all carried royal titles, they acted like gangsters.
Pirate Queen raised a question.
“Does the lord of the seas who told you about the ship’s location have the same blue hair like mine?”
“He was born in the Magic Kingdom of the Northern Continent and is also a disciple of Sage. He still loves his daughter, to whom he gave his precious ring.”
“… Escort me to him. Or sell me a map of his location. Even though I am a pirate, I swear, on my precious ring, that I will pay for it fairly.
Pirate Queen wasn’t like this in the beginning.
After several years of wandering in search of her father, who disappeared at sea, she was caught by pirates and became their queen only after she rose from the bottom, having gone through the most severe trials.
That was also the case in my first round.
Her target wasn’t the vessel itself, as rumored to be, but the whereabouts of her father that went on an adventure in search of it.
Bandit King intervened in our conversation.
“They say the flying ship is filled with the angels’ treasures. Is this true?”
“No.”
“What’s in it?”
“It was empty.”
The Flying Ship Laurita was seized and repaired by the guardians of the Northern Continent, but before that, it was used by the First Hero.
Fugitive Senior, who spent money on family entertainment, couldn’t leave expensive treasures in it.
Eventually, after handling it poorly, Laurita crashed.
“… Haha! Really! My grandfather had been in that crashed flying ship! I planned on killing you if you lied to me, but I’m now ready to negotiate. I am that treasure’s true owner! Tell me where it is, and I swear on my grandfather’s name that I’ll definitely repay you!”
That was complete nonsense.
If he were to get it, he would immediately plunder on land, water, and sky.
Of course, he wouldn’t be able to do it for a long time.
An airship was amazing from humanity’s perspective, but it was just a simple paper airplane against the might of dragons.
Ssosiel poked my side.
“What’s the matter?”
“What are you going to do with them? If you don’t tell them where the ship is, they’ll start a fight with you.”
That was a very good question.
I patted Green Cake’s hair with my right hand.
“This is my son Green Cake. Tsk tsk! Oh, these people! There doesn’t seem to be any reaction. Oh?! A mug of beer for the daredevil applauding my son! No, two mugs!”
The people who became nervous because of these powerful leaders’ presence, who served as the Eastern Continent’s representatives, instantly cheered up.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
“Uh… Father?” He sounded embarrassed.
It was really frustrating.
He should already know how to assess the situation and react accordingly by now.
Was it because he didn’t really have my blood flowing in his veins? Unfortunately, my adopted child didn’t know how to use Fabrication and Incitement.
Well, it shouldn’t be a problem.
“The Lord of the Seas and the Flying Ship Laurita are in the endless waters separating the Eastern and Western continents. It is a place so dangerous only a few managed to return alive from its waves.”
Endless waters.
It was more than twice the total area of all the Earth’s oceans in size, and its depth was five times their average.
In the middle of it was a whirlpool so huge not even the most outstanding ships could pass through it.
I patted Green Cake on his shoulder. “My son will escort you to the island where the legend rests. Haha! Don’t underestimate him. Although my child looks young and innocent, he is very intelligent. All you have to do is follow him. Pretty simple, right?”
“Father, I… Kh!”
I stepped on Green Cake’s foot before he could say he didn’t know the island’s location, and he immediately shut his mouth.
I was worried about his future.
He should take this opportunity to have a good social experience.
Merchant King looked at me intently.
“Why didn’t you take it for yourself?”
“I couldn’t move it since I don’t have the right to control it.”
“I see… I’ll have to reset its steering rights somehow… Ahem-hmm! I apologize for such a stupid question.”
Pirate Queen asked afterward, “Who will you give it to?”
“You can figure that out among yourselves since I don’t care who it belongs to. Whoever emerges the strongest will gain full ownership of it.”
“… You’re a demon.”
Pirate Queen was pretty shrewd.
But I wasn’t just an ordinary demon. I was the Demon Lord.
It didn’t take long for Bandit King to express his displeasure.
“And we’re supposed to follow him?”
“Haha! I don’t even have time to take care of my wife’s pelvis. Hence, I thought, ‘why not send my son?'”
“He doesn’t look like you at all… Kh?!”
Bang!
Bandit King fell to the ground, crying out like a wounded boar.
I wasn’t the one who did it.
It was Green Cake.
“Appearance is not everything! If you piss me off one more time, I will… punish you… again!”
“… My son.”
The way he ended his words wasn’t the best, but I was happy.
If he could conduct business even with such people, then he would definitely become a great dragon.
My wife poked me my side again.
“What is it this time?”
“What are you trying to achieve by sending your son to that place?”
Green Cake followed me across all the continents.
All that remained was to add to his resume that he was a ‘great explorer of legends.’
Afterward…
“I’m going to fire Lanuvel.”
