Combatants Will Be Dispatched - Volume 7 - Chapter 5.5

5

After hearing Lydia’s explanation, Alice says:

“So this kingdom has used an artifact generation after generation to protect it from monsters, but it needs sorcery stones as fuel. A single stone can only run the artifact for a hundred years. It’s almost tune to replace the stone, but only the ruler can switch out the stone. So Princess Lydia was throwing a tantrum because she wanted to replace the stone herself.”

“I mean, when summarized, that’s what it boils down to, but the way you phrased it makes me sound kind of stupid. Can’t you make it a little more...”

Alice summarizes Lydia’s ten-minute story in less than twenty seconds.

“If you want to be the one to swap the stone so much, then you should just say that. Then at least your brother might listen to you.”

I say this wondering why she couldn't have done such a simple thing, to which Lydia smiles sadly.

“The artifact is one of those mixed blessings where the person who swaps the sorcery stone usually ends up dead. That’s why, typically, an old king will do the exchange as his final duty to his kingdom.”

“Killing you for switching batteries? That sounds like the mother of all lemons. Is it just leaking out current?”

“N-nn, I already explained the reason for it earlier in quite a bit of detail..."

......Wait.

“So basically, you want to take the throne because you don't want your brother or sister to die, and you intend to swap the stone and die for them?”

“I thought I’d been saying that the whole time...”

At that, all of the Kisaragi personnel in the room smirk.

“Aha, so you’re a tsundere, eh? Well, hate to break it to you, but the tsundere boom’s over.”

"I have no clue what it is you’re talking about, but I understand that you’re mocking me!”

Still, if that’s the case, it changes the calculus.

“So what’ll it be, Tiger Man? Do you really want to keep Nyowdia on the throne?”

“Of course nyeot! If you wanna replace the stone, then I'm leaving that up to you, Llllydia.”

He really is harsh to everyone but lolis.

It’s then that Belial notices the throne at the far end of the throne room.

Her eyes shine like a kid in a candy store’s, and she heads over to the throne, practically skipping on the way.

She had given up quickly on understanding Lydia’s explanation, and, I suppose in an effort to listen to it later to get the gist of it, had placed a digital voice recorder down to record the explanation.

Belial sits without hesitation in the chair that only the country's ruler is supposed to sit in.

“W-wait! Where do you think you’re sitting?!”

Lydia looks shocked and confused as Belial engages in an act of lese-majeste that would have resulted in instant execution were there a living king.

Sometimes even I’m taken aback the things she gets up to.

“Lady Belial, you can’t sit there. That’s a spot for really important people to sit.”

“I’m a really important person in Kisaragi, aren’t I? If you don’t like it, then you can try to force me to get up.”

Well, yeah, she had mentioned wanting to become the queen, but this is maybe taking this whole acting- on-a-whim thing too far.

“Tiger Man, can I get your help? I’ll take the right, and you can approach from the left.”

“Mrrrkay. Lady Belial, you’re being farrrr too irresponsible given the circumstances. Mrrrm.”

As we approach to drag her off the throne, Belial sits regally upon the throne and issues her edicts.

“You there, the rank-and-file lackey with an uppity face. If you don’t offer us tribute of a pork bao within three seconds, you'll be executed.”

“You really can be a menace... C’mon, Lady Belial, we'll be in a lot of trouble if one of those uptight soldiers sees you like this.”

“Big women are awwwfurrrl. Yep, lolis are better, mrrrm!”

Having started her little playacting as queen, she points her finger at Tiger Man.

“The beast that made a risqué statement. You creep us out and thus are sentenced to death.”

“Oh yeah? Well, with Six by mrrry side, we can put up a decent frrright!”

As Belial does as she pleases, even Alice looks a bit exasperated.

“Hey, you sure about that, Lady Belial? I can’t just let it go.”

“Oh, c’mon, tell her, Alice. If I’m being honest, I wanna sit on that chair, too. You can’t be the only one to get your way, Lady Belial.”

“Meowlice, use your logic to shoot down Lady Belial’s arguments until she breaks down crying!”

Yet, for some reason, Alice also looks exasperated with us as we try to egg her on.

“Lady Belial isn’t playing around. She’s saying she’s going to take the throne and do the sorcery stone swap herself. I can’t allow our irreplaceable Supreme Leader, who we’re borrowing from HQ, to do something that dangerous.”

“What?”

Everyone present lets out an exclamation of surprise at Alice’s statement.

“...Didn’t Lady Belial just sound surprised, too?”

“Nope... W-well, yeah, I was surprised. Y-y-know, because Alice understood what I was trying to do.”

Oh, that’s the face she makes when things go in an unexpected direction and she doesn’t know how to deal with it.

I suppose I have no choice, I’ll step in and...

“Lady Belial, are you sure about this? You’re large, unreasonable, and a troublesome boss, but we can’t let you do this.”

“Th-that’s right. I don’t know you very well, Lady Belial, but you're one of the most important people in Kisaragi, right? Something this dangerous should just be left to this country’s people.”

Tiger Man and Russell follow up with statements of concern over Belial’s safety before I can say anything, but these are the sorts of words that are really effective, given how dedicated she is to taking responsibility.

Lydia, who has been quiet up to this point, forces a sad smile to her lips.

“This is a responsibility for a member of the royal family to bear. I very much appreciate your sentiment, and I thank you for the kind offer, but that’s all it can be. I do have one thing to ask of you instead... Please keep the truth of all of this from my brother and sister.”

She says the words most likely to hit Belial right between the eyes.