Symphonia Kingdom, in the Audience Room.
This was originally a place where one would receive the audience of the King of Symphonia Kingdom, but the current situation was very different from usual.
The king stepped down from his throne and bowed to his guest, while the prime minister and other important figures in the country followed suit, creating a scene rarely witnessed by the public.
This was only because the person who had come to visit held far more authority than the king.
“I apologize for my unexpected visit.”
[No, it is always my honor and delight to see your face, “World King, Lillywood Yggdrasil-sama.”]
That’s right, the one currently visiting the royal palace… is one of the Six Kings, the pinnacles of the Demon Realm, and the one who has held deep connections with the Symphonia Kingdom for a thousand years: the World King, Lillywood Yggdrasil.
For the Symphonia Kingdom, rich in nature, she is the being who brings about their bountiful harvests and is truly the most important guest they could ever receive. She is someone they must never show any disrespect toward.
“I will be quick, Symphonia’s King Ryze Lia Symphonia XVIII.”
[Y-Yes!]
Hearing her quiet voice echo, Symphonia’s King… Ryze’s shoulders twitched.
The voice that had just spoken was cold and intimidating, which was unusual for the usually mild-mannered Lillywood.
“I heard that you treated the otherworlder Miyama Kaito poorly by deliberately not inviting him to the evening party.”
[!? T-That is……]
At Lillywood’s words, Ryze’s face turned pale, and he broke out in a cold sweat.
That was a matter that had been troubling Ryze a lot lately… No, it was a mistake from the past.
He doted on his younger sister, Lilia, very much, and the idea of a man staying in her house bothered him greatly… However, the other party was an otherworlder, and he couldn’t just recklessly threaten him.
So, he decided not to send an invitation as a form of subtle harassment, but it led to an unexpected situation.
After that one incident, the Underworld King Kuromueina had clearly become hostile towards the royal palace, and as if someone had told them something, the followers of the Underworld King—who were also numerous in the royal palace—began to dislike Ryze.
They sent emissaries to the Underworld King several times, hoping to somehow plead his case, but they were all sent back by a maid, half-dead.
Because of this, Ryze’s position in the royal palace had become quite bad, but he didn’t expect to be pursued further by Lillywood here.
Ryze wanted to explain himself, but Lillywood stopped him from speaking further and addressed him, colder than before.
“Don’t get me wrong… I didn’t come here to ask you a question. I’ve already heard everything I need from my followers and know that what they’re telling me is the truth. Or perhaps, do you think my people have been lying to me?”
[…N-No, they didn’t make any mistake.]
“…I’m not here to ask whether that act was done by you personally, or if it was the will of the country itself.”
No sound could be heard at all. The King’s retainers were also silent. To speak out to her was, in itself, an act of opposition to the World King, and if they did, they would lose their positions.
That’s how important the existence of the World King was to the Symphonia Kingdom, and if they touched her anger, there was no other path for the Symphonia King but destruction.
“Let me tell you the real issue here. There’s only one thing I’m telling you to do. To make a ‘clear and sincere apology to the otherworlder, Miyama Kaito, in a public venue,’ do you understand what I mean?”
[Y-Yes… H-However, that is…]
The demand from Lillywood—essentially for the King to bow down in public—was a tremendous blow to Ryze’s image in the eyes of the public.
While Ryze hesitated in his response, Lillywood merely looked at him coldly before continuing.
“If this isn’t done as soon as possible… I will cut off all ties with the Symphonia Kingdom from now on.”
[ ! ? ! ? ]
At those words, not only Ryze, but everyone who heard them had their eyes wide open.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Lillywood controls the fertility of the Symphonia Kingdom, and not just the Elves—many of the farmers also worship Lillywood as if she were a God.
If Lillywood were to sever ties with the Symphonia Kingdom, many of the Elves, Fairies, Spirits, and farmers would turn their weapons on the royal palace in an instant.
In that sense, these words were so heavy they could almost be considered a declaration of destruction for the Symphonia Kingdom.
“Is that clear? Symphonia’s King.”
[Y-Yes. I will do it as soon as possible.]
“Good… However, I don’t think this is a good way to end our conversation. So, I’d like to share some information that might be beneficial to you.”
[Beneficial information?]
With no other choice but to comply, Ryze weakly responded, saying that he would obey Lillywood’s words.
At that, the sharpness Lillywood had before softened, and with a smile, she offered him additional information.
“What I want to say is that it would be beneficial for you to interact with the otherworlder Miyama Kaito. That’s because he has a very friendly relationship with the Underworld King and even the Death King.”
[Wha!? Not only Underworld King-sama, but also Death King-sama!?]
“Yes, so if you’re against him, you’ll be against them as well. However, if he holds a favorable impression of the country, it means the value of this country will also rise in the eyes of the Underworld King and the Death King. It wouldn’t hurt to be friendly with him.”
After explaining the benefits of being friendly with Kaito, Lillywood fell silent for a few moments.
The shocking revelation she had shared stirred up the audience room, and once the noise died down, she spoke again.
“……I’ve finished telling you what you need to know. I will be leaving for Rigforeshia after this, so I will take my leave. Symphonia’s King… I would like to see a prompt response regarding the matter I just mentioned.”
[Yes. I assure you, I will give him my sincere apology.]
“Good. Well then, if you’ll excuse me.”
With those words, Lillywood’s figure disappeared from the Audience Room.
After leaving the royal palace, while Lillywood thought about her plans, she recalled the conversation she had earlier.
“……(That should do it. Just forcing an apology from him will cause some people to hold a vile grudge against Miyama Kaito-san. It’s best to make them realize that he’s someone they should treat with friendship, even if he has to bow down to him.)”
For the time being, Lillywood is relieved that it won’t turn into a situation where Kuromueina and Isis would attack the royal palace, but that’s when one of her followers approached.
[World King-sama, there’s something you need to hear……]
“What is it?”
[Actually, I just received word from one of World King-sama’s followers living in Rigforeshia…… That the Black Bears that were living in the Elven Forest…… have become extinct.]
“……Huh?”
Lillywood stiffened at the unbelievable words that were quietly said by her follower.
“W-Why? Were there even peerage-ranked High-ranking Demons among the participants in the Sacred Tree Festival?”
[No, that is…… they were wiped out by Death King-sama.]
“Isis did!?”
[Yes. We don’t have all the details yet, but apparently, an otherworlder participating in the Sacred Tree Festival was attacked by a Black Bear. Then, Death King-sama appeared and wiped out all the Black Bears in an instant…]
“……………………”
Hearing the report, Lillywood held her head in her hands.
Black Bears exterminated by Isis, the otherworlder who had been attacked… She could somehow picture the situation, but just thinking about it made her dizzy.
“…It may be a little earlier than planned, but I’ll be heading to Rigforeshia soon. Before that, I’ll investigate whether it’s just the forest affected by the magic power of death. Go convey that to them.”
[Yes!]
If things had gone the way Lillywood had feared, Isis would have undoubtedly unleashed her magic power of death, fueled by her immense rage, and Lillywood could easily imagine the aftermath—destruction spreading through the trees of the Elven Forest.
Just when she thought she’d resolved one problem, an even bigger one landed on her.
With her shoulders heavily slumped, Lillywood cast her Teleportation Magic and headed toward Rigforeshia.
<Author’s Notes>
After the rampage of the Death King, the World King has come to deal with the aftermath…… The World King really had it rough.
T/N: 4/10