Chapter 817: Good Negotiator Bareback
Chapter 817: Good Negotiator Bareback
My name is Bareback.
Bareback Lu Choice.
I am an old demon who’s living in the Demon King’s Kingdom.
And I’m currently in a pinch.
Someone, help me!
-0-
I must reflect on this one thing.
I should have just reported that I’m going back to my territory normally like any sane demon would do but I hid my true identity and snuck into the castle to surprise the demon king.
I acted suspiciously.
However, I want you to understand my purpose.
This is my way of expressing my affection.
According to my calculation, the following is what should have happened.
-0-
I sneak into the Demon King’s Castle, hide my true identity, and tap the demon king on the shoulder from behind while he is working.
The demon king is surprised.
However, the demon king will not attack me given that the one who tapped him on his shoulder has no hostile intention.
He’ll probably say “Who is it?”.
Then, I’ll reveal my true identity and say a few words of wisdom.
「You are still a bit na?ve……」
「……ah, it’s you, Bareback-sama. You startled me.」
「No, sorry sorry. However, even though you’re in the royal castle, you must never let your guard down.」
「I-I agree. I might have been slack.」
「You are. Also, no one even bothered with me, who hid his identity, until I came to this room.」
「……I will review the security.」
「You should. I will return to my estate. Take care.」
With that, I will quickly disappear from the room without waiting for the demon king’s reply.
-0-
From what I could tell, there was slackness in the royal castle.
No one’s vigilant.
They should be prepared for an attack at any moment but they are not.
There are two reasons for this.
One is that we are too far from the battlefield.
We had a mock battle at the parade but that’s more of a show off of the demon king.
It didn’t play much of a role in keeping the vigilance high in the royal castle.
The other reason is because the demon king is powerful.
Everyone thinks that since the demon king is powerful, they should just follow his orders.
That isn’t good.
Someone has to point this out.
However, not many people would have the guts to tell that to the demon king, the highest authority in the kingdom, that “Everyone’s letting their guard down because of you.”.
Especially given how strong the demon king is.
The demon in question and those who are around him, who know they are following such a powerful demon king, are not the type who’ll say anything to the demon king.
If they were, the royal castle’s security shouldn’t have been this slack.
Therefore, I, as the elder, will point this out.
This is what my affection is all about.
-0-
However, reality was not so sweet.
The moment I snuck into the castle, a godkin girl found me and chased me around.
The godkin girl was young.
If we fight, I will win.
However, I can’t say the same about her parents.
Therefore, I ran away.
I escaped from the royal castle and went to the streets of the royal capital.
I was unfamiliar with the city but I had time and had prepared several escape routes.
I could escape.
Or so I thought.
But I wasn’t.
The royal capital was the territory of the godkin girl.
She used the people of the royal capital to hunt me down.
Even the kingdom’s army cooperated with the godkin girl.
Isn’t using siege net too much?
I’m not even a criminal.
No, well, perhaps I am given that I tried to sneak into the royal castle.
And the soldiers who are chasing me.
Why are they more motivated than the soldiers in the castle?
From the academy?
Military strategist of the Britoa family……directly under General Glatts?
I heard rumors about him.
If he’s the one giving orders, the tactics will be very impressive.
I see. So, if they are directly under him, they should be commanders and soldiers who have been in the front line.
In other words, the youngsters Gol, Sil, and Bron, who are commanding the army that are pursuing me, are excellent experienced commanders.
They are still young but they are very good.
Ah, don’t try to use siege net on me.
I remember something traumatic.
-0-
In the end, I was caught.
Damn, goat-head goat herder is good, isn’t he?
TN: He’s referring to Menek, the guy from chapter 474.
He manipulated the goats so skillfully to catch me.
He also brilliantly mimicked the goats.
I was so surprised that I jumped out instinctively.
Nuu……
That’s one magnificent goat-head.
Is he related to Daseki the Baphomet by any chance?
Daseki.
I miss that guy.
He loves to roast meat outdoors.
He roasts meat every day.
He often caused fires because of it so he was not wanted not only by the Demon King’s Kingdom but also by human kingdoms……
How is he doing?
……
Well, I was at his funeral.
Silly me.
-0-
Let’s not escape reality.
I was being persuaded by the godkin girl in a room at a house in the noble academy.
The demon king is leading a national revitalization campaign.
This girl wanted me to be part of it.
「It’s not about revitalizing the kingdom, it’s about founding a country or perhaps better call it a city.」
The godkin girl seems to be the leader of the project but she won’t be a queen so it’s not a nation building project.
Her saying that the creation of the city and make it look like a country is an accurate description.
And she wants me to participate in building that city.
Of course, she’s not asking me to do physical labor.
What she’s asking from me is wisdom and connections.
And I will be paid.
And it is certain that she’s not telling a bit of a lie.
After all, the demon king is just right over there when she’s persuading me.
……..
Demon King, aren’t you going to help me?
「Please give up. It’s already too late.」
I heard that the godkin girl is a daughter of that man.
Is that the reason?
「No, if Bareback-sama is willing to cooperate, I would be happy too.」
Gununu
「However, I will not force you. If you can make Lady Tiselle give up, I will help you return to your territory.」
You said it.
It’s true that I’m not very good at dealing with godkins.
However, this girl in front of me is still a little girl.
She lacks cunning.
She lacks magic power.
And most of all, she lacks military prowess.
I was reluctant to make a big deal out of it but since the Demon King won’t dare touch her, I’ll handle her myself.
And after that, I will ask him to help me return to my territory.
「By the way, don’t even think of using violence. Please just negotiate.」
The Demon King looked up at the ceiling as he said that.
I followed suit and looked at the ceiling.
………
Little demon spider.
And there are a number of them.
「Though it didn’t participate in the parade, Lady Tiselle’s parents have an illegal demon spider.」
Isn’t that a legendary creature?
「The clothes Lady Tiselle is wearing were made by that illegal demon spider.」
……
Yes, violence was never a good thing to do to begin with.
Let’s talk.
W-what?
I have not lived my life in vain.
I’m sure I can easily play with a godkin girl.
Listen to me, little girl.
「Do you feel like helping now?」
Yes, I am.
However, only if you complete a trial I will give you!
「Trial?」
Yes, trial.
This is the godkins’ specialty.
My mouth relaxes into a grin.
The godkins usually make unreasonable demands but will give false hope to the other party in the guise of impossible to complete “trials”.
They dare call themselves good negotiators using such underhanded tactics.
However, it is true that when they offer a trial, the other party almost always never refuses.
Now, I’ll do the same for you!
This is the right way to deal with godkins!
「I don’t mind undergoing a trial but don’t give something impossible. Also, don’t demand making you young again or make me wait a thousand years.」
Of course.
I’m not a godkin.
Only your kind will demand such a trial.
「The scope……can you squeeze it to some extent? Going to the opposite side of the world or something is too much.」
I agree.
Then, let’s narrow it down to the places you can go using the teleportation gates connected to the royal capital.
「Also, decide the number of trials. There’s no point if you increase it later.」
Fuh.
I will give you five trials! 𝓯𝑟𝓮ℯ𝘸ℯ𝘣𝑛ℴ𝘷ℯ𝓵.𝘤𝑜𝑚
You must bring five items I require to this place!
「They shouldn’t be too heavy for me to carry.」
Only godkins would ask something like that!
I don’t plan to demand something like that from the start!
Any person can carry them!
「Alright. Let’s hear it.」
Hmmm.
I hadn’t thought of a trial for a long time.
Let’s improvise.
Since I came to the royal capital, there were some things I wasn’t able to get.
There are five of them.
Thus, five trials!
Now, listen with all your heart!
First, the noodles from the phantom food stall that appeared in Village Five, which I couldn’t find no matter how much I searched for it!
Second, sweets from the sweets store called Kuro and Yui that is so popular that you have to wait in line from morning to even get in!
Third, manju from the store called Korin’s Sweet Temple, a store that will just make their products regardless of anyone’s demand.
Fourth, curry from a restaurant called Marla, which offers delivery but will never allow a take out!
I want a big order of dry curry!
Fifth, a drink called coffee from a café where maids serve, I wasn’t even able to enter as it is always full of female customers!
Bring them all to this place within fifteen days.
As smart as I am, I, of course, set a deadline.
If there is no deadline, there is a possibility of her accomplishing it.
However, there’s no way it can be done in fifteen days.
The phantom food stall alone will probably not appear in fifteen days.
Furthermore, Korin’s Sweet Temple’s products are made irregularly so you will never know when they’ll make manjus.
When they don’t, they don’t.
In addition, I asked her to bring them here.
No matter how much she’ll ask Kuro and Yuki and Marla, they will not allow their products to be taken home.
The same goes for the café where maids are serving.
They would not allow her to take the food out of the store.
However, it’s not impossible.
From what I saw, Kuro and Yuki allows their regular customers to take their food home.
Marla’s food can also be taken out as long as you’ll eat it in Big Roof Shashaato or the nearby school or inn.
However, their basic recommendation is to eat it on the spot.
This is because it would be a problem if the food is brought back to somewhere without proper food handling, it might upset the stomach of the person who’ll eat it.
Therefore, only those who are trustworthy are allowed to bring the food out.
For the café where maids serve……
If you take the food out, it loses the charm of being served by maids.
I’ve heard rumors that they deliver to noble residences so maybe they’ll let you take their products out if you have your own maid.
Whatever the case it is, I’m not sure about the phantom food stall, but the other four stores will not give you an exception no matter how much money you pay.
We tried paying them tons of money but it didn’t work.
In other words, you have to persuade them to cooperate with you but the trial period is only 15 days……
「Ano, Bareback-sama……」
Ah, Demon King.
You’re not allowed to help.
You can get them if you use your power as the demon king.
Otherwise, it is impossible!
Impossible!
Fuhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
-0-
Ten days later.
The five items were arranged in front of me.
The godkin girl’s parents are also there.
-0-
Glossary.
Daseki the Baphomet – an ancient demon with goat head.
Phantom food stall – a stall run by Hiraku as a hobby.
Kuro and Yuki – a store in Village Five, Hiraku is the manager.
Korin’s Sweet Hall – a store in Village Five, Hiraku is the manager.
Marla – a store in Shashaato City, Hiraku is the manager.
Café where maids serve – a café run by Earth(Ursa’s clay doll) in the royal capital.