Honey Trap! ~The Honey Trap Encirclement to Ensnare the Summoned Hero~ - Chapter 69 & 70

Chapter 69: Turmoil in the Royal Capital (5)

Before the threat of the Homōku, the Attra Kura assassins had grandly leaked information. The executive leading them identified himself as Zahel.

“So? I understand that you’re all operating under a grand misunderstanding, but who were you planning to target next?”

“…The truth is, we had no other prospects.”

“Hah? If you lie, I’ll teleport you to the Dark Continent.”

“To begin with, you people have far too few social connections! What do you do besides loiter at the Guild? Normally, there would be more associates to target!”

The four quietly averted their eyes. Come to think of it, the only people they spoke to regularly were that senpai adventurer boy and the former-jailer ossan.

Though they were often lectured by the Onee-san serving at the tavern.

“Originally, the next prospect was Lily Klein. It was you… but…”

“Oh! So I, too, was about to become a princess in distress!”

“Are you really human? Carrying a person, running at that speed, and shooting down arrows… We can only see you as a monster!”

“…Whew, whew-whew ♪ Oh dear, perhaps because I’m still recovering, my hearing is acting up…”

Lily looked away pointedly, attempting a whistle she couldn’t quite manage.

Everyone present knew her situation, so they could only stare off into the distance. It was agonizing that the next candidate after the receptionist was, of all things, a Vampire Lord.

“Well, that was merely my prospect. I am only one of the Attra Kura Four Heavenly Kings. What the other three executives were thinking, I do not know…”

“Hmph. Then the rest are related to the requests we’ve taken. First, we need to confirm Meia’s safety.”

“I am concerned about that boy’s orphanage. He is a senpai adventurer, after all.”

“I am worried about the girls we rescued from the Baron’s place.”

“…M-Meia, huh…”

Yuri’s eyes darted around, and the gazes of the other three focused on the perverted Hero. It was a look that said, He did it again.

The resigned Hero gathered his companions, formed a huddle, and began whispering.

“(…U-Um, about Meia. Sh-She’s probably at my place, so I think she’s safe…)”

“(Hah?)”

Everyone knew that Yuri had made a move on Meia. But they hadn’t heard they were living together.

“(Wait, what is going on! You devoured her and then took her home!?)”

“(Th-There were various circumstances… The detached palace is, you know, safe. Security is tight, and I even set it up so I’ll teleport there if any intruders appear!)”

“(…That’s a fine play, but you’re getting an iron claw later.)”

“(That’s completely unreasonable!)”

“(Haa… I think this is a bigger problem than the Attra Kura. I wonder if those girls we rescued are alright…)”

“(I am also quite concerned.)”

And so, with the exception of one individual, the discussion concluded without incident.

The Troublemakers turned back to face Zahel.

“Alright, let’s decide our policy. Attra Kura, right? You run the capital’s dark side, I hear.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“We’ll crush you.”

“Hah?”

Eremia crossed her arms, stating it plainly with a very serious expression.

“They picked a fight, so we’ll take it. ‘Do it before they do it to you’—that’s the motto of us Troublemakers!”

“So, Guildmaster, can you spare some people? We’re going to launch an assault! If you could just protect the orphanage and the kids we saved from the Baron…”

“Ah, but. If it comes to it, I can just send out my undead, so it’s fine.”

“Please make the undead the absolute last resort!”

Sonia was on the verge of tears, but the Guildmaster in question just crossed his arms, groaning thoughtfully.

“As for me, I’d like to join the assault.”

“Guildmaster!?”

“Listen. I’m pissed off too. If this is how it’s gonna be, let’s go all the way!”

At his spirited words, the people present erupted with a “Ooooh!” getting instantly fired up.

These were the very people who should not be getting fired up.

“Umu, if the Guildmaster says so, it is reassuring! With this, even if I slightly misjudge my power, it won’t count…!”

“Me too, even if I overdo it with my Breath, it won’t count…!”

“Hooray! All-you-can-fire magic!”

“And for me, the time has finally come to cast aside my convictions and swing a warhammer!”

“Guildmaster. You must participate. We need a chaperone.”

“…My bad. I got a little carried away…”

※

Now then, around the time the adventurers were preparing for their assault…

…At the detached palace, the Princess was unusually flustered.

‘Sorry, can you tell Meia and Regina to stay at the detached palace? An acquaintance is being targeted by some organization called Attra Kura? or something, so it’s dangerous outside.’

The Hero’s order came in suddenly. She nearly leaped out of her skin at its contents.

‘Yuri-sama!? An acquaintance was targeted!?’

‘Un, it was just an attempt, though. Yaa, even I was flustered. So, we’re all gonna go launch a raid!’

‘B-Be careful… If you need people, I have contacts. Please don’t overdo it.’

‘Thank you! No, actually, an acquaintance lives at an orphanage. Eremia was asking if she should summon undead to protect it.’

‘I’ll send the royal guard, so it’s fine, IT’S FINE!’

Lunaria panicked. She panicked a lot.

An army of undead, in the middle of the Royal Capital, surrounding an orphanage.

No matter how you looked at it, it was a critical incident.

The Prime Minister was summoned immediately.

“…Yuri-sama is going to launch an assault on the Attra Kura. Is that the situation?”

“Yes. We’ve been considering how to deal with them for a while, but now the Attra Kura will be annihilated. Yay.”

“Indeed… Why is it, I wonder, that I do not feel the least bit happy.”

“Yuri-sama mentioned he might summon some undead to protect his acquaintance. I stopped him in a panic. Please arrange for the royal guard.”

“I see… Ah, please convey this strongly to Her Majesty Eremia: ‘Please rest assured, we will handle the arrangements!’ I will summon the knightly orders. It may be peacetime, but we have no time to pick and choose our methods.”

“Haa… I’m counting on you.”

Even the Prime Minister looked exhausted before it had even begun.

The Prime Minister and Princess both had fragments of intel regarding the Attra Kura. They were the darkness that ran the capital’s underbelly. They employed many skilled former adventurers, and at their peak were powerful executives known as the ‘Four Heavenly Kings.’ Furthermore, their leader, who never showed himself, was rumored to possess frightening combat strength.

But, their opponents were the four people who shouldn’t be let out in public. It was unthinkable that a mere darkness festering in the capital could stand against them. Considering what might happen if they got carried away, he didn’t even want them to be opponents. But it was too late.

This was exactly like starting a forest fire to smoke out a single snake.

No matter what, he had to protect the Royal Capital from the collateral damage. The Prime Minister’s resolve was grim.

Chapter 70: Turmoil in the Royal Capital (6)

“You’ve done well to come. But this shall be your grave… gugeh.”

“Aargh! That was the classic line! You should have at least let him finish!”

“Like I care. He was just a small-fry.”

In a corner of the Royal Capital, the adventurers had brazenly raided the slums where one of the Attra Kura Four Heavenly Kings, Duke “the Rock,” was hiding. Sadly, the titled Duke was not even able to finish his grand speech. The Undead Queen Eremia’s motto was ‘preemptive strike.’ First, one punch. Then a second. If they weren’t down by three, one more. She did not, as a rule, listen to people talk.

“Fuhahaha! Behold the dark power sealed in my left hand, and receive it!”

“Ah! I just heard a pillar go boki!”

The Demon Lord Lucius was bad at holding back. When he was beating down a crowd of enemies, it was quite common for his hand to slip and for him to break a wall or a pillar. That said, it wasn’t as if the other members were any better at restraint.

“Mmm, the warhammer really resonates! What a sound!”

“Wahahaha! Magic has the advantage in urban warfare!”

Every time Lily struck with her warhammer, a tremor like an earthquake ran through the area, causing the thugs to lose their will to fight. A crater had opened in the road. The thugs who had lost their nerve surrendered one after another, and those who didn’t became fodder for magic. Argos and Sonia had been relegated to tying up prisoners, but the thugs who pleaded, “Tie me up, quick! I-I don’t wanna end up like that…!” were truly a pathetic sight.

Deep in the Royal Capital, in a slum that even the guards rarely visited, the long-festering Attra Kura was thusly “cleaned up” with ease. The building they had used as a base collapsed after the fact. As it turns out, when pillars get broken and earthquakes happen, some buildings just can’t take it. Somehow, it felt less like a battle and more like civil engineering.

“…This is too cruel…”

Zahel, who had been forced to act as their guide, covered his eyes at the all-too-pathetic defeat of his fellow Shitennō. Duke “the Rock.” A giant of a man who led the ruffians, his forged body was said to deflect arrows. But Eremia’s fist was not comparable to an arrow. To see him piled up with his underlings without even getting to announce his name, tears welled in the eyes of even the heartless assassin.

“Duke… I despised you, but this is… this is just too much…”

“Huh? That was one of the Four Heavenly Kings? You need to point them out properly. If I’d known, I would have made sure to hit him really hard.”

“He went down in one punch!”

Eremia cracked her knuckles, saying, “That wasn’t satisfying at all,” a truly terrifying thing to say. Yuri, watching her battle junkie behavior from the side, was comparatively calm.

“Huh, that was easier than I thought. I was expecting a more… heated battle development.”

“Indeed. I, too, was expecting something more like an Apostle of the Evil God.”

They really shouldn’t expect that from city thugs.

“Mmm, the warhammer is a more peaceful weapon than I thought! You just hit the ground and everyone surrenders!”

“That’s right. Because no one wants to become a crater.”

Agamemnon’s eyes went white at Lily’s completely unhinged observation. Of course, that was not how one used a warhammer.

“Oh well. On to the next one! Hey, Zahel, what kind of Heavenly King is waiting next?”

“D-Dominic the Golem User… I am reluctant to sell out my comrades, but at this point… just please, make it quick…”

※

Now, when you’re making “KA-BOOM” and “CRASH” sounds all over the city, and toppling buildings, someone is going to notice that “something is happening.” The Prime Minister, having summoned the knightly orders, spoke to them with a grim expression.

“You heard it. It has already begun…! Brave knights, the capital… the capital’s future rests on you…! You must, at all costs, contain the secondary damage from Yuri-sama!”

“H-Haa…”

The assembled knights tilted their heads, not understanding the speech. Prevent secondary damage? Not help the Hero? It was only natural to be confused.

Just then, with the clattering of armor, a man and a female knight approached.

“Hahaha! Too modest, Prime Minister! If Yuusha-dono is in trouble, I, Mikel, would not hesitate to give my life!”

“I will join my father as well, Prime Minister.”

The man was in his prime, with short-cropped red hair and a powerfully muscled physique. He was a veteran warrior in service to the kingdom, a general deeply trusted by his men. The female knight at his side was a red-haired beauty with a sharp, noble face.

“I cannot count the times Yūsha-dono has saved my life. Men! Now is the time to repay our debt! We will teach those scoundrels of the capital who were foolish enough to turn their blades on Yuusha-dono the taste of our steel!”

““““OOOOOOOH!””””

Unlike the Prime Minister’s plea, this was a fierce agi-tation. The knights, given a clear objective, drew their swords, raised them to the heavens, and let out a hot-blooded battle cry.

“M-Mikeru-shōgun…”

“Leave it to me, Prime Minister! I, Mikel, will risk my life to save Yuri-sama!”

No, I’d rather you held him back. Such was the Prime Minister’s wish, but it went unheard. Led by the brave general Mikel, the knightly order marched out, full of fighting spirit.

※

Meanwhile, as for The Troublemakers and their companions… They had arrived at an unused watchtower just outside the Royal Capital’s walls.

“This is a watchtower that was hastily built to protect the capital from the Evil God’s Apostles. It was never used in the end, so we… ‘borrowed’ it as our hideout.”

“Heh. Well, it’s good it was never needed.”

“It is. But for you to be the ones using it now… fate is a curious thing.”

“Umu. In other words, since it’s not in use, it’s okay to destroy it…”

The Dragon King’s (simplistic) wisdom made Argos scowl. Sonia looked up to the heavens, wondering what she could possibly say.

Just then, a loud laugh rained down from the top of the tower.

“Hoh-ho-ho! So you’ve come, Troublemakers! And you, traitorous Zahel! I, Dominic “the Golem User,” will be your opponent!”

“Ooh, a magic user! That’s my category!”

He was the first of the Shitennō to successfully announce his name. He had the appearance of an old man in black robes, the very picture of an evil mage. This means all-you-can-fire test-magic! Luwi was overjoyed.

“Kuku, a spirited little girl. If you can make it to the top of this tower, I shall face you myself. But be warned! This tower is filled with the golems I created, crawling…!”

“Yosh, then let’s just destroy the tower! Lily, hit the tower with your hammer and let’s shorten it, like a Daruma Otoshi!”

“Eh, eeeh… Is that really how you use a warhammer…?”

“It’s fine, with your strength, Lily, you’ll destroy the foundation, no problem. Besides, you won’t often get a chance to play Daruma Otoshi on this scale, you know?”

“That is true.”

It was a terrifying consultation. Sonia frantically tried to stop them, but Yuri grabbed her arm, holding her back.

“Eh, just a moment, Yuri-san!?”

“Mmm. Golems, you see. Some types go berserk when their master is defeated. Sorry, but I think it’s safer to destroy the whole tower. We’ll be fine, but it’s dangerous for you, Sonia-san.”

“I-Is that so…”

“Just stay behind me. I can block most attacks! This tower is… a necessary sacrifice!”

Yuri stepped right in front of Sonia-san, brimming with motivation. In truth, the Hero was convinced that the most dangerous thing here was a stray shot from Luwi. The Sage Luwi. Her power was on par with an Apostle of the Evil God.

“Alright, then I shall give Daruma Otoshi a try!”

“H-Hah? What is that girl saying?”

Dominic was confused, seeing Lily approach the tower with her hammer. He thought she would open the entrance, but instead, she just stood right next to the tower. And then, with an anticlimactic “Heave-ho…”

…An ear-splitting roar echoed across the entire area.

“Wh-What is that! What just happened!”

“Guuuuh! Th-That’s one hell of a vibration…!”

“Kyaa!”

The Daruma Otoshi had begun. With the first strike, the tower’s first floor was pulverized. The upper floors dropped… dosun… but of course, it wasn’t a clean landing. With a sickening zuzuzu sound, it began to collapse.

“M-My tower… My golems! My Attra Kura emergency fortress…!”

“Whoa, this looks dangerous!”

Dominic used a levitation spell to float in the air, staring blankly as the fortress he had poured his heart into crumbled to the ground. Meanwhile, Lily, the culprit, dashed out of the collapse, saying “That was close, that was close,” with utter shamelessness.

Guildmaster Argos’s jaw hung open at the exceedingly dynamic “strategy.” At first, he had been fired up to teach a lesson to the organization that had targeted his best friend’s daughter, but after seeing this, only one thought came to mind:

I… know nothing.

It was a complete abandonment of responsibility. Meanwhile, the Guild member who was supposed to be the “stopper,” Sonia, was…

“Y-Yuri-san…”

“Wow, she really wrecked it! Haha, it’s like an earthquake!”

She had almost fallen over from the shock of the tower’s collapse, only to be caught by Yuri. He held Sonia-san in a princess-carry, grinning like a punk as he watched the destruction. His technique was almost too smooth. It was a polished, master-level skill, honed by carrying girls around the detached palace every day.

Was it the suspension bridge effect? To Sonia, his arms felt like those of someone well-accustomed to protecting others.

“Alright, yarichin. How long are you going to hold her?”

“That’s right. The Old hag‘s magic battle is about to begin. Is this any time to be lovesick?”

“Oh, right. Then, Sonia-san, can you stay behind me?”

“Y-Yes…”

“Umu. We must be on our guard.”

The Troublemakers looked far more serious than they had when raiding the slums. The one who tensed them up, the Sage of the Dark Continent, Luwi, was practically vibrating with excitement, unable to wait to start firing her magic.