【The Old Man of the Expelled Inn Unwittingly Dominates Today Too】Although I Want to Lead a Slow Life, for Some Reason the Strongest Beauties Who Hold Important Positions in the Country, and Were Once My Disciples, Gather Around Me Asking to Be Hired – Even Though I Only Taught Them a Little～ - Chapter 35: Prelude to the Stampede (Massive Monster Outbreak)

―――Brrrr Brrrr Brrrr

My pocket vibrated with the call from the communication stone.

“Lord Baldo~ Are you well? It’s your Mariessia~”

The voice of the First Princess of the Fridania Kingdom came through the stone.

Whoa… she sounds cheerful. What’s going on?

“I’ve been to a famous fortune teller in the capital~ and she told me something wonderful~.”

“Eh…”

“She said the person I’m destined to be with is in a neighboring country, waiting for me devotedly. Isn’t that exciting~♡”

“Ah…”

“What do you think, Lord Baldo~?”

Uh oh!

“Come on! What do you think!”

I’m at a loss. The information given to me needs to be more specific.

“Come on! Come on!”

This is bad… I need to say something, or she won’t let it go. It’s about meeting some charming prince at a neighboring royal party. Alright, let’s go with that!

“Uh, that person (someone royal from the neighboring country) is probably waiting for you too, Mariessia-sama.”

“Oh! Really!! Is that person (the innkeeper from the neighboring country) admiring me? Tell me! Tell me!!”

“Ah… yes. Probably…”

Just the sound of her voice is overwhelming… Her mood seems to have skyrocketed.

After some time of Mariessia-sama’s cheerful chatter, she suddenly exclaimed, “That’s right!” and clapped her hands.

“Lord Baldo, I have a report for you! Saintess Milene has been dismissed!”

“Ah…”

“My brother brought a new saintess and behaved rudely, and when things didn’t go his way, he dismissed her! The capital flourished because she cast ‘Barriers’ to keep us safe! He doesn’t understand that – what an awful prince!”

“Ah…”

“Ah, that’s right!”

“Lord Baldo, you must be shocked. You’ve only been saying ‘ah.’ Oh, where has Milene gone?”

Well, it’s not like that…

“Mariessia-sama, it’s good to hear you’re well.”

“Eh!? That voice, is it Milene?”

“Yes, Mariessia-sama. I’m fine.”

“Milene, you must be forcing yourself for my sake. My foolish brother has caused you trouble… I’m ashamed to face you…”

“Hehe, not at all~ Because now I can live with Baldo teacher again~ Ufu♡”

“―――!? Living together! Lord Baldo!!”

Uh oh, her mood just dropped…

“What! You’ve been gathering beautiful girls and pretty dolls while I’ve been away! How unfair!”

Uh… I don’t know what to say. I’m not some evil slave trader! I haven’t forced anyone. They all chose to live here of their own free will.

I just can’t understand women’s feelings.

After that, I received a lecture from Mariessia-sama, and before I knew it, I was sitting in seiza, Japanese style. Have I developed a weird habit?

“That’s right!”

Mariessia-sama abruptly switched topics again.

“I’ve heard from the intelligence department that something unusual is happening in the Great Forest.”

“Pardon me for interrupting, Mariessia-sama. What exactly is happening?”

Liena joined the conversation.

“Princess Liena, we don’t have the details yet. Our informants near the forest have gone silent.”

“Thank you for the valuable information, Mariessia-sama. The recent monster activity might be related…”

“We just told you what happened, Mariessia-sama. It seems the massive swarm of Forest Bees might be related.”

“I see, that does sound unusual… Perhaps it’s a precursor to a massive monster outbreak, a Stampede.”

“―――! A monster Stampede!”

Liena’s voice, unusually raised, drew closer to the communication stone.

“Our informants reported ‘increased monster activity’ before going silent… Considering the Forest Bees’ swarming, the monsters in the Great Forest may have started moving.”

“Baldo-sama…”

Liena, anxiety in her eyes, clutched my hand. If a Stampede were to occur, it would be a significant event, given Natol’s proximity to the Great Forest.

While Stampede events of varying scales happen every few years, the smaller to mid-sized ones can be managed with Natol’s current capabilities.

―――But

That’s only if the scale is normal.

The true extent of a Stampede can only be known if it happens.

“Don’t worry, Liena. We can handle it if we’re prepared.”

“Yes, I’ll help as much as I can!”

“Liena, I’ll lend my strength too, if needed!”

Milene and Alesia’s words brightened Liena’s gloomy expression. They’ve all grown into such admirable adults. Would having a daughter feel like this?

“Princess Liena is blessed with good friends. I will continue gathering information. If a Stampede occurs, it won’t just concern Fridania.”

Mariessia-sama said and ended the call.

Well, I’ll do what I can. That means caring for them and keeping this inn running smoothly.

◇ Imperial Perspective ◇

In a meeting room within the capital of the Tomekia Empire, the largest nation on the continent:

“Hmm, Fridania managed to fend off Northmanea’s large-scale invasion thanks to Natol’s efforts. But it seems they are weakening.”

“It appears so. Reports suggest that some of the Three Divinities have disappeared. Rumors say Prince Genas dismissed them. There are reports of a Sword Saint defeating a large golem in Natol.”

“Dismissed the Three Divinities? Is Prince Genas an idiot, or is he plotting something?”

“It’s hard to say. Genas suffered a major defeat in the war against Northmanea shortly after becoming regent. In any case, the Three Divinities are likely not functioning in Fridania. If they were, such a defeat would not have occurred.”

“Hmm, we need to continue gathering information. Now, let’s discuss our most important matter.”

“Ah, the matter of the demon, old man. Our intelligence department still hasn’t identified him, even five years after the ‘Blood Battle.'”

“What is the intelligence department doing? It’s been five years since that terrifying old man appeared…”

“There are voices within the military suggesting he may have retired or moved to another country. Some are even prematurely discussing a second invasion of Fridania.”

“Foolish. It’s too early for that. Have they already forgotten the ‘Blood Battle’ disaster five years ago?”

“We must avoid entanglement with that old man at all costs. We need to proceed cautiously.”

“And now, we’re probing with this plan?”

“Yes, we’re igniting the kindling. The massive monster outbreak, the Mega Stampede, is about to happen.”

“Good, this will show if Fridania is truly weakened. But such a plan takes a long time to execute.”

“Yes, it’s a Mega Stampede of enormous scale monsters. It requires appropriate preparations.”

“A Mega Stampede of enormous scale monsters… Fridania will suffer greatly if unaddressed, and Natol might be wiped off the map.”