Breakthrough with the Forbidden Master
Chapter 399: Unnatural

We looked up at the sky and waited for Umashika to make his important announcement.

And then……

〔HARK! WE SHALL ELEVATE OUR CONCUBINE MAKURA… TO THE STATUS OF ROYAL CONSORT, VERILY!〕

“”Huh!?!””

It felt… unexpectedly anticlimactic. Like swinging at air and stumbling.

With Koujiro and Mikado, two of Japone’s leading figures, out of the picture, this was a critical time to determine the future of the country.

In addition, there was the matter of the Shiznautmy investigation team. And this is what they choose to focus on now?

“What? It’s just about the consort……?”

Making a concubine a legal wife would certainly be a big deal for the royal family, the people, and the country.

But isn’t there something more important right now?

At least it didn’t matter to me, since I wasn’t a citizen of Japone.

But……

“No way… Makura… as the legal wife……?”

It seemed to be surprising news for the people of Japone, especially Shinobu, who was wide-eyed and trembling.

“Shinobu? What’s wrong? Why are you so surprised… ah, I see. Being the legal wife means she’s your aunt in a way….”

“She’s my friend……”

“Eh?”

“Makura has been my classmate, my friend since I was little!”

I had never seen Shinobu cry so sadly before.

“Her maiden name is Makura Hanitora. She was an honors student, but with the recent difficulties in finding employment, she didn’t become a ninja warrior…… and so…… she used her body…… to curry favor with the daimyo…… and then… to this… thing… happened….” 1[SM1] 

I remembered.

Now that I thought about it, yesterday’s conversation mentioned a woman favored by Umashika who was welcomed into his chambers. Mr. Outei said that she was a friend of his daughter.

So that was……

“Seriously?! On top of that, Umashika is Mr. Outei’s older brother…… and his legal wife is Shinobu’s classmate… there’s an age difference between them like that of a father and daughter… that’s a crime! Geez, that’s gross!”

I didn’t say anything yesterday, but when things turn out like this, I can’t help but speak up.

And Umashika’s story doesn’t end there.

〔MAKURA, BORN IN THE AFTERMATH OF WAR, IS, AS IT WERE, A DAUGHTER OF THIS NEW AGE, VERILY! AND THIS NEW-AGE MAIDEN SHALL BEAR NEW HEIRS, THEREBY FORGING THE ETERNAL PROSPERITY OF JAPONE, VERILY! TO RAISE A FITTING EDIFICE FOR THIS NEW EPOCH, WE SHALL DEMOLISH OUR STALE, ANTIQUATED HAREM AND CONSTRUCT A NEW ONE—TWICE AS GRAND, VERILY! THEREIN SHALL WE GATHER THE FINEST MAIDENS FROM ACROSS THE REALM, VERILY!〕

The harem was definitely… the palace where the consorts live, right? He’s going to build a new one? Well, that’s up to him……

〔YET IN THE MATTER OF ACQUIRING THE FUNDS FOR THIS VISION, WE HAVE NOTICED A GRAVE TRAVESTY—THE TRIBUTE FROM OUR SUBJECTS DOTH PROVE MEAGER, VERILY! THEY SHALL PAY DOUBLE, VERILY! THUS SHALL WE FUND NOT ONLY THE HAREM BUT ALSO GRAND NATIONAL PROJECTS, VERILY! JAPONE OVERFLOWS WITH UNTAPPED LANDS LEFT TO ROT, VERILY! SUCH WASTE OFFENDS US, VERILY! ALL LANDS IN JAPONE ARE OUR LANDS, VERILY!〕

This seemed to be the main topic.

I mean, what are you thinking raising taxes under these circumstances?

〔AND, ER… WHAT WAS IT WE MEANT TO SAY…? AH, YES, VERILY!〕

At this point, Umashika seemed to have forgotten what he was talking about, but he quickly nodded……

〔HOWEVER, THE COLLECTION OF THESE TAXES WITH OUR PRESENTLY DWINDLED HOST OF WARRIORS SHALL PROVE ARDUOUS, VERILY! THEREFORE, WE SHALL COMMISSION PRIVATE ENTITIES TO UNDERTAKE THE COLLECTION OF THESE TRIBUTES… NAY, ASSET SEIZURE WHEN NECESSARY, VERILY! THUS, WE ESTABLISH A CIVIL TAX ENFORCEMENT UNIT! PERCHANCE, SOME FROM FOREIGN LANDS MAY FIND THEIR PLACE WITHIN THIS TROOP… BUT THAT, LOYAL SUBJECT, IS NOUGHT BUT GLOBALIZATION, VERILY!〕

The declaration was nothing short of a forced decree.

An ironclad tax collection that tolerated no resistance.

“…… Ani-ja!!”

Hearing such a story, Mr. Outei held his head in anger and dismay.

Well, if someone like that were a blood relative, it would be understandable to feel disgusted.

And……

“Truly, the king’s decree did catch us most unawares…… Yet, with the unrest now gripping the realm of Japone, I had long foreseen the day draw near when matters such as land-holdings and declarations of private dominion, to say none may enter… would no longer hold weight nor warrant…”

“Chieftain ……”

“And should it come to pass, before we speak of taxes, the truth shall be laid bare—that we Elves dwell upon this land. Once that truth is known… once more must we choose, do we flee into shadow, as we did a dozen winters past… or take up arms and resist…… mark this well however, our foe this time is no mere band of marauders… but an entire kingdom.”

Although surprised, Mr. Chieftain seemed to have anticipated it in a way.

It seemed that he had invited Mr. Outei and the others, who were originally being chased by the Japone side, with such an expectation.

“Wow, that’s a pretty bold announcement. I thought the Japone warriors would collapse as an organization without Koujiro or grandpa Mikado…… but outsourcing to the private sector? That’s shocking. And …….”

“That’s where Shitnei’s organization comes in….. is that how it’s going to be?”

Espie and Slayer were also stunned, but they seemed to be seriously thinking about the future.

Yes, given yesterday’s events, that does seem likely.

But……

“But didn’t he say that his request was only to keep Koujiro and the others from leaving the country, and that he wouldn’t be involved anymore?”

“That’s true, but it’s a bit much to seriously take someone like that at his words…….”

Espie and Slayer expect that yesterday’s Shitnei will be involved.

I feel the same way.

But……

――I understand. Our company will not be involved in that area from now on. I do not lie in my deals. Besides, this request ends here. We will not interfere in Japone’s internal affairs any further. We will do nothing.

He was untrustworthy, but he didn’t seem dishonest either.

“Hm~hmm……”

No good. Besides, there’s no way someone like me could figure it out.

「What do you think, Tre’ainar?」

『Hm~m….. at this point…… tis as you say, he did not seem to utter falsehood…… Well, there may have been some deceptive wordplay involved. For example, instead of Shitnei’s organization doing the work, they may just act as an intermediary and outsource it to some other group.』

「Oh, I see……」

『It would be interesting if they were from another country… or even a different race. Perhaps some horned demons…….』

「…… Th, that’s no joke……」

As expected, even Tre’ainar can’t say anything definitive based on the current situation.

Simply……

『However, more than that… as it was done through projection magic, I cannot say anything for certain…』

「Hmm?」

『What I find concerning is… that man called Umashika…….』

That wasn’t all. Tre’ainar seemed to be interested in something different from the rest of us.

The point is that:

『Honestly, he is much too foolish…… to the point, tis so extreme, tis quite unnatural…… Well, I suppose there are those who find it convenient that way…』

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[SM1]Hanitora, as in Hanitorapu (Honey Trap)

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