The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 257

The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I’m a “Farmer”, Not a Demon King! ~

Chapter 257   Appointment of king

“So, there’s no other candidate for king but you. Considering you could be seen as the cause of this commotion, just accept the penalty game straightforwardly.”

Choosing a king through a penalty game? Is that really okay for this city? Well, if it’s father, no one would probably complain.

“In addition, it’s just right, isn’t it? Your son is a prince, so it wouldn’t be strange for him to claim the title of king, would it?”

Just when I thought that, Edward voiced such a suggestion.

“Huh? …What?”

The moment I heard those words, I involuntarily let out a surprised sound. Even upon reconsidering the meaning of those words, I ended up making the same dumbfounded sound.

But, it couldn’t be helped, right? After all, the fact that I have royal blood is something known only to my close family. Apart from father who picked me up initially and the comrades who were with us at that time, even those within our organization wouldn’t know. To have it mentioned so boldly, as if it were common knowledge, is surprising in itself.

“…You knew?”

“Did you think I didn’t? I’ve been investigating since the time you arrived. Back then, it wasn’t that serious, but since the commotion of that duel, I’ve looked into it more seriously.”

Father narrowed his eyes, changing the atmosphere and subtly intimidating Edward. However, Edward’s attitude remained unchanged, likely because he understood that father’s intimidation was just a bluff, and he had no intention of actually taking action.

“Well, I see. …But what’s the deal? Don’t you want to be king? I can handle the military aspect if needed.”

The pressure the father was exerting on Edward stemmed from having the ‘power’ to keep the residents of Karakas in check. However, the flip side was that anyone with sufficient power could become king. So, if father cooperated, Edward could become king by taking on the ‘power’ responsibility.

Thus, father made a somewhat imposing suggestion, pushing the idea that he would handle the ‘power,’ so Edward should take on the role of king.

However, Edward’s response to father’s proposition was:

“No, in my case, I’d prefer to be the Minister of Finance. It sounds splendid, doesn’t it? Financial Minister is just an exquisite title.”

So, he declined for a seemingly trivial reason. Is the position of king so lightly dismissed for such reasons?

“A minister… Well, then, what about me? Foreign Minister, perhaps. I’m good at entertaining. With my kids helping out, there shouldn’t be any failures.”

The old woman promptly decided on her position.

“And I’m supposed to be the king… Am I really going to be the king?”

Hearing their words, father wore an indescribable expression. Well, it’s understandable. Even though he’s the only option, father himself is not exactly king material.

“Isn’t it obvious? If you don’t like it, that’s fine, but we’ll go ahead with it on our own.”

“It’s already decided, so just accept it. Besides, there’s no need to do anything like that, right? If we try to impose restrictions on this city, it’ll lead to riots. It’s fine the way it’s been. As long as we maintain the appearance of a country, that’s sufficient.”

“Sigh… what a hassle—”

Father sighed grandly, making a displeased face, but our eyes met at that moment. I have a bad feeling about this, but is it just my imagination? I hope it’s just my imagination.

However, my wish seemed to vanish into thin air. Because he, with an annoying grin, looked at me.

“Hey, Dad—”

“Wait. Regarding the king, why not this guy instead of me?”

And just as if to prove that my thoughts were correct, father turned his face back to the front, cutting off my call, and pointed at me while saying:

“Oh, using your son as a substitute? You’re a terrible parent.”

“We did consider your situation and chose you instead of him.”

“I don’t need your consideration. He’s not a kid anymore as long as he’s here, right?”

As long as I’m here? But you’re the one who brought me. It wasn’t as if I was formally invited to the meeting or voluntarily joined in because of an explanation of the current situation or future considerations.

“Furthermore, having a genuine prince as the king gives a certain legitimacy or something. Doesn’t it sound good?”

While father’s words were quite vague, it’s true that using my lineage could help maneuver the conversation more effectively than using an ordinary person. Not that I wanted to do it, though.

“Well, that’s true. A prince who was unjustly abandoned for unreasonable reasons survived. And surviving, he gathered criminals and restored public order. Citizens might be conflicted about the legitimacy.”

“We’ve shown our strength. He’s young, so there’s potential for the future, and a smooth transition of generations may calm the turbulence… Isn’t that good?”

Somehow, it feels like Edward and the old lady have come to an agreement, but I certainly did not agree to being the king.

“No, I don’t want to—”

“So, with that said, this guy will be the king! I, um, will be in charge of military affairs or something. …No? How about a knight? My previous job was a knight, so maybe I’ll go back and become the captain of the knights.”

“Hey, wait! Damn it! What are you pushing onto me? Don’t mess around!”

However, my words were ignored, fading away into emptiness.

These guys are progressing so smoothly that it feels like they’ve made a secret deal. Is this really happening?

Certainly, father might be more suited for the military than being a king, but does that mean they have to force me into being the king!?

“Well then, Your Majesty, I look forward to working with you. Leave the management of finances to me.”

Edward had a smile on his face as if he was contemplating a money-making plan I had seen before.

“I hope for your cooperation too, Your Majesty. Oops, talking like this might get me beheaded, huh?”

The old woman laughed in a cheerful manner.

“Good luck, Your Majesty.”

Then, father, with a teasing yet somewhat satisfied smile, chuckled.

Everyone might be laughing, but the thoughts behind those smiles were probably all different.

“Wait a minute! Isn’t this no good? Shouldn’t we discuss and decide the leader among the bosses more carefully, rather than having the flow predetermined from the beginning?”

To my complaints, father pointed out.

“It’s fine. No issues with the bloodline, you’ve got the education, and in some circles, you’re already called the Demon King, right?”

Certainly, those words weren’t wrong.

Being called the Demon King wasn’t entirely inaccurate, and in terms of bloodline, I did belong to the royal family. While my education was forcefully instilled by this damn old man, it was enough to not be criticized for manners if I were to go to the royal palace now.

However, whether I actually wanted to be a king or not was a different story.

“Demon King, huh? Sounds good. Quite an exciting name. Well, well, encountering such a heartwarming situation at my age, life is truly unpredictable.”

“Well then, Demon King-sama. Nice to meet you. Ah, it’s okay if you refuse, but we’ll forcibly make it happen on our end, so it might just become more troublesome for you.”

Forcibly making it happen? Certainly, these guys could do it without any issues! Do I not have the right to refuse or something?!

“No, damn it…!”

Glancing at the faces of the three bosses present, each of them had a different smile. It seems like I had no choice but to reluctantly accept that this was already a settled matter.

“You damn old man! Let me borrow your face for a moment. Let me punch you!”

Understanding that it was a done deal, this overwhelming sense of being plotted against and the helplessness that came with it were indescribable. In an attempt to alleviate that feeling, or more precisely, to vent my frustration, I clenched my fist. Unfortunately, the people around me were the Five Emperors and their subordinates. I couldn’t punch Edward or the old lady. Besides, even if I did, it wouldn’t provide much satisfaction. Honestly, I felt a resistance to hitting people. Well, you know, I’m overflowing with common sense and decency. Punching someone I don’t have much to do with feels a bit off.

However, my father is an exception. We usually have this kind of violence-mixed camaraderie, so hitting him doesn’t feel wrong. Also, among the three who are currently smiling, my father’s smirking face annoys me the most. It feels like he’s unusually enjoying this situation.

So, I’m planning to send a fist filled with frustration and rejection to my father. It’s a gift from son to father. He better be delighted to receive it.

“Whoa, an abrupt order? Come on, I hope you’re not turning into a tyrant?”

As father spoke with my fist poised, my father raised both hands in a playful manner, wearing a feigned look of fear. However, there’s no way he would be genuinely afraid of me.

“Relax. This is just for you. It’s a special treatment from the king. Lucky you.”

If my father doesn’t want a gift from his son, then let’s change it to a gift from the king to his subordinate. If I’m the king, he can’t refuse, right?

Well, who knows? In my father’s case, he might casually refuse and go against the flow.

“I won’t treat you like a king until the official inauguration ceremony. You should be grateful.”

“Grateful? No way!”

I don’t need this temporary normal treatment! If anything, just don’t treat me like a king at all!