The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 493

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

Chapter 493   King’s response

The king’s eyes that looked at us weren’t those of a puppet. Those eyes held ambition. Karakas was filled with people with such eyes. They weren’t the type to end up as mere puppets. They were determined to rise someday. That’s the spirit.

This king had the same kind of eyes as those individuals.

Even his apology now was likely driven by that ambition. He understood that things would be bad for this country if he provoked me, so he easily apologized to a brat like me. This was supposed to be different from the church’s intentions. After all, the church looked down on us.

Even on the church’s side, they should realize that it would be troublesome if we were gone. Even if they did something to stop us, they wouldn’t have apologized. At most, they would try to smooth things over or settle the matter with a gift. It would have been something along those lines.

But this king promptly acknowledged his fault and apologized without hesitation. All for the sake of bringing down the church.

To have something you want to obtain even if you have to discard your pride—it’s the way this person, the king of the Holy Kingdom, conducts himself.

Despite losing real power to the church, he strives to climb higher somehow. It’s not bad.

Rather than saying it’s not bad, I actually liked it.

Considering our relationship, there’s no denying that he’s an enemy. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t cooperate at all.

Isn’t it said that the enemy of my enemy is my friend? If we manage to create a hole in the church, he might move to widen that gap.

Even if we end up defeating him in the end, if we can cooperate until a certain point, there’s no immediate need to become hostile.

Of course, this is just my speculation, and reality may be entirely different, but if that time comes, we can just take him down all at once.

However, despite that. The fact remains that these guys have been disrespectful to me, and since we’re not allies, they need to pay for that.

I also have my pride. If they act disrespectfully and apologize, accepting that apology without consequences won’t satisfy me. It would make me look like an easy target to the others present here.

“An apology, huh? Even though you’re a king of a country. Regardless of how you’re evaluated from your side, you think you can get away with just apologizing after treating someone like me with such disrespect? Is that what you truly believe?”

So, I provocatively question the king’s apology.

In reality, if someone had shouted something as disrespectful as “kneel” at a king from another country, it wouldn’t end with just an apology. If it were disrespect from a superior to an inferior, the inferior might reluctantly forgive. However, we are equals. In fact, we consider ourselves superior.

“…Then, what do you desire?”

“Give us valuable items—”

As soon as I said, “Give us valuable items,” the people from the Holy Kingdom present there wore mocking smiles, as if saying, “Just as we thought, they are bandits,” but… that’s not the case.

In this situation, we can collect as much money as we want. After all, these guys would die without food, right? So, there’s no need to demand money here.

“Well, I won’t say something thuggish like asking for money. We may be a bunch of criminals, but we still consider time and place. Instead…”

That’s why what I’m seeking is something different.

“I propose settling it with that guy’s head.”

I wore a smile that couldn’t be more genuine as I pointed at the noble who had fallen on his backside.

“Huh?”

Who let out such a foolish voice? One of them was undoubtedly the person I had pointed at, but there were others who expressed similar surprise.

Well, if someone suddenly told you to “hand over your head,” you’d be shocked. But, I think it’s a fairly sensible judgment.

“…But is it really necessary to go that far?”

“The one to judge that isn’t you; it’s us who received the disrespect. You made a disrespectful remark towards a king, so wouldn’t beheading be an appropriate response? Put yourself in our shoes. If we invited you and then someone told you to kneel, wouldn’t you find it disrespectful? Especially if it were directed at a king, wouldn’t it be reasonable to expect a war even? Given that, being able to settle it with a beheading is quite a bargain, isn’t it? You wouldn’t want a war either, right?”

That’s right. Normally, if someone behaves in such a disrespectful manner, it wouldn’t be strange to give them the death penalty – in fact, it’s common. After all, this is a conversation between kings. If instead of just interfering with the conversation, you utter such abusive words, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume you desire war. Ruining negotiations, creating an awkward atmosphere, and, in the worst-case scenario, leading to war.

That’s the behavior of “rebels.”

If you don’t want that to happen, you need to show that it was this guy’s unilateral decision and that you’re not involved. The most straightforward and understandable way to do that is to deal with the “rebel.”

Cut off his head, and this guy becomes a traitor. If you say, “We don’t have any intention of going to war,” then that’s the end of it. Well, even in that case, we’d receive something as compensation for bringing a traitor into this situation. But still, it’s much cheaper than being considered to have made abusive remarks as part of your country’s policy.

I don’t have any reason to show mercy to this guy, and it’s no problem if he dies. It’s easier if he collapses and, by doing so, he won’t be able to underestimate us. I want to make it clear to the guys here that there’s no reason to be lenient with us.

“…So be it. Certainly, what you say has merit.”

“Wha… Your Majesty!? Why would you! I—”

Those words were cut off before they could be completed, silenced by the blade thrust through the throat.

The noble who had his throat stabbed looked surprised, widening his eyes as he tried to confirm his throat. However, since the sword was pierced through his neck, he couldn’t move his face well.

This time, he seemed to be reaching out for help, extending his hand towards the platform. But in the middle of that, he spat out a gurgling sound of blood and collapsed.

I thought it was surprisingly easy to kill him, but there was something strange about the atmosphere. It wasn’t a fear of witnessing someone being killed in front of you; rather, it felt like disturbance. Was it the unexpected result, like, “Is he really going to kill him?” There was a sense of surprise towards the unforeseen outcome.

Moreover, the place where that noble reached out a moment ago. At first glance, it seemed like it was directed at the king, but was it really?

On the platform, there were not only the king but also guards and advisers like ministers, and another person…

“Is this acceptable?”

Just as I was thinking about it, the king spoke, so I shifted my focus back to him.

“He was about to say something, but well, it doesn’t matter. There’s no problem even if I didn’t hear it. After all, he’s just a criminal. It’s not something a king would listen to what a criminal says.”

It was sarcasm towards the king, who had to kill his subordinate based on the words of us (criminals), but he seemed to understand it properly. That’s a relief.

However, I have a little doubt. The king didn’t show any signs of anger when he heard my words, but some of the other nobles did. That, in itself, is fine; it’s a common reaction.

However, “some did” is the point. Some didn’t show any signs of anger.

Normally, if a king of their own country is mocked, they should be angry, but do they lack loyalty? Here, the king’s power isn’t overwhelming, and for the nobles, he isn’t an opponent with absolute power. Maybe they don’t need loyalty to understand that — I see.

The noble who fell earlier wasn’t part of the king’s faction… Let’s call it the “King’s Faction,” shall we? So, to which faction did he belong? Probably the “Church Faction.”

The last time that man reached out, it wasn’t towards the king but towards the church person standing

After the killing, the atmosphere became strange, probably because no one expected the king to kill a member of the “Church Faction.”

The king is still a king, and he might feel lucky to be able to kill someone from the “Church Faction.”

“So? Are you still willing to speak and ask for forgiveness after killing someone?”

“Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have invited people like you all the way here.”

“I see. Then, regarding the details of providing food, talk to my subordinates. I won’t entertain ridiculous requests like giving it for free from the church, but I can sell it cheaper than usual, and I can also get it to you as quickly as possible. We can prepare a considerable amount. At least, we have secured enough to sustain the entire country for a year, so you can rest assured. For now, we brought enough food on dozens of carts, so there’s no need to worry about immediate starvation.”

Honestly, I don’t think I can handle negotiations well, and that’s why I brought Granny along.

As I pointed to Granny while speaking, the nobles in the room focused their gaze on the negotiation team, led by Granny.

Although they had cast dubious glances before, now they were openly staring at the negotiation team—no, they were gazing.

Well, it couldn’t be helped. The negotiation team members are dressed up and adorned because they’re appearing in front of the king. Moreover, all of them, being former courtesans, exude a seductive allure distinct from regular noble daughters.

If the negotiation team had walked without guards, wouldn’t men approach them like moths to a flame? Perhaps, independent of the current negotiations or the Demon King, they might attract attention simply because someone liked a woman among them. Well, everyone who came here is at least ranked fifth or higher, so even if someone foolish attempts an assault, they’ll be easily repelled.