Otherworld TRPG Game Master - Chapter 347



347 – The Throne Succession War : Provincial Nobility United -3

Baron Port, with his senses heightened to the max, began to treat the mad mage with extreme deference. This was due to the revelation that he was a mage capable of single-handedly overwhelming an entire army.

The stories of superhuman figures, of myth and legend, I’d only ever heard. Never seen with my own eyes. That scene, a hundred soldiers bowing with a flick of the wrist—that’d be etched in my mind for life.

He claimed he wasn’t a myth, but if he could drop a knight straight out of legend to his knees, wouldn’t that make *him* something like it?

So, I’d have to take damn good care of this crazy mage. If he got even a little upset, the whole damn fiefdom could go up in smoke.

Of course, Baron Port felt justified. Had his treatment been lacking? Not at all, he thought. He’d even slaughtered a cow to cook a proper meal for the man, in his meagre circumstances. He’d done his duty.

Even so, dangerous materials need to be handled carefully. Baron Port adopted an almost servile demeanor, offering proper courtesies.

“If I have been impolite in any way, I wish to take this opportunity to beg for your forgiveness…”

“Ah, come on now. There’s no need to be so nervous. It’s not about *how much* power someone has, but *who* wields it. And I’m a perfectly safe person to be around, in that respect.”

*Flick.*

With a snap of his fingers, the crazy mage had the Stomp Baron’s army walking, single file, into the narrow dungeons of Sun Port Baronry.

The Stomp Baron looked like he’d seen a ghost. I suppose if a war could end with a mage’s click, I’d look like that too.

“So, what do you want to do with these fellows? I could have them working for you for about a year or so.”

“…Is that even possible?”

“Yep. There are so many ways to enforce obedience, make them feel pain if they don’t obey an order. Illusion magic is great for those kinds of things.”

“Hmm… if that’s the case, please just send them home. Sun Port’s tax revenues can’t support that many soldiers.”

The crazy mage’s eyes narrowed.

Baron Port racked his brain to understand his intentions but could not figure out what emotion was reflected in his gaze. Was that amusement? Displeasure?

“These are the ones who came to invade your fiefdom, no? If you asked, I could have them as unpaid slaves. Do you have some sympathy for them?”

“No, of course, I am angry. Even though I know that they are hired mercenaries. If I could, I would want them to pay the price for invading my fiefdom, but… before my feelings, I was taught that I should uphold my principles.”

“Principles, you say?”

“You cannot try to get people to work for free. If I get used to that, someday, I might start demanding ‘voluntary dedication’ from my own people. I can’t allow that to happen.”

People are fickle and cunning, prone to easy habituation, so you must uphold your humanity with firm principles. That’s what Baron Port’s father taught him.

His father would make him run all sorts of errands, then withhold the promised pay, teaching him firsthand just how dirty it feels to get swindled out of money.

So, even with the chance to absorb a whole 100-man army. He wanted to refuse, if possible. Especially if it meant resorting to that shady method of hypnotic brainwashing.

“And… the Second Prince’s proxy has accepted my oath of loyalty, so if Baron Stump has any sense, he won’t be encroaching on our lands.”

“Hmm.”

“Furthermore—if, as the mage plans, Sun Port territory develops, it will become a bulwark in itself, making an army unnecessary, wouldn’t you say?”

The crazy mage nodded at Baron Port’s response.

“You speak correctly. In times of chaos, such a mindset would get you stabbed and killed, but in peaceful times, there’s no finer mindset to have. You are a good lord.”

“…An overstatement, or, was that a compliment?”

The succession struggle is about to start, and when the three imperial heirs start tearing at each other for the throne, a chaotic age where nothing can be foreseen will befall this empire.

So, that means, if you don’t want to get stabbed and go to the underworld, you better get your head straight…?

“No, the chaotic age won’t come. The succession struggle will proceed without any trouble, very smoothly. It was a compliment.”

“……..”

“Ideals are very difficult to uphold, you see. Those who govern justly don’t exploit and are therefore weak, while those who seek their own advantage exploit and are strong, so, in this world, the kind-hearted are generally defeated.”

*Thump.*

*Whoosh-!*

The crazy mage lightly grasped Baron Port’s wrist. A complex magic circle, beyond comprehension for an ordinary person, swirled around, and an eye-shaped tattoo instantly appeared on his skin.

“So, I shall bestow upon you the power you lack. Consider this a free service.”

“…What’s this?”

“A status window. It will be helpful in many ways. May you continue to be a good lord. I shall take my leave now.”

“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

So, what the hell is this ‘status window’ thing? What kind of magic is this?

From noble mtl dot com

I asked for an explanation, but that crazy mage just brushed me off in his own language and was done with it. He stretched like a cat and asked Baron Port,

“One last question before I go. Do you know any territories with bad security, where human trafficking is likely to occur? Even better if it’s a place with an active slave trade.”

“Huh?”

“I have something I need to buy there…”

“HUH?!”

–

I finished my business in the territory and set out on another journey. My destination was the Earldom of Hollow, recommended by the Baron. They say that place is hot for human-merchandise transactions.

The Earl of Hollow apparently runs a loan shark operation; if you can’t pay back your debt, you get sold into slavery, so I heard.

Summarizing my journey so far, it’s been a power-flexing sideshow. I’d give the smack-down to bad guys with my Mima-Punch, boost people’s quality of life, and it turned out getting loyalty oaths from local nobles was a piece of cake.

It’s hitting me all over again, I’m seriously strong.

But that’s not the only reason I’m bouncing around these provincial backwaters.

Faceless escaped. According to what I heard from Rodelus after that, she’s moving to gather dark magic forces on the orders of the Red-Flavored Duke.

We’ve been so relentless in stamping out dark magic users in the capital with me and Irid, we pretty much eradicated them. I break plans when I’m bored, and blow up dungeons whenever I feel like it, so things got pretty clean. Except for Red-Flavor.

Because of that, dark magic forces are mostly concentrated on the fringes of the empire, and I’m on a trip to crush them all.

To cut down on Red-Flavor’s forces, to crush dark magic users, and to capture Faceless. It’s a three-birds-with-one-stone journey, wouldn’t you say?

The reason I installed an emotion-amplifying magic circle in Sunport territory was for the same reason. To make a compass pointing to the guys with really dark and sinister schemes.

It’s not exactly a compass that only senses dark magic users, but if I wipe out all the guys with bad intentions, wouldn’t the dark magic users disappear along with them?

“Limit release, and 『Optical Camouflage』.”

Guuuoooh──.

I switch my legs to a petite-kaiju mode. Then, I cast a full-body camouflage spell, ensuring I’m invisible to others, and take off, tearing through forests and plains alike.

Whoosh. The sound of the wind whistling past is sharp.

These legs were originally meant to move a 150-meter body. Using them to carry a less than two-meter tall adult male makes for some naturally ridiculous speed.

After a half-day’s sprint, I reach a village near the Hollow Earldom. I slip right through the guards, still invisible.

The local economy seems thriving, as trade is bustling. It’s a village that’s too big to be a village, but too small to be a city. A very prosperous place.

I drop my optical camouflage in an alleyway and blend into the crowd. I’ll spend the night here, gather some intel, and then head into the city.

“Beef stew sounds good tonight. Right?”

Wiggle wiggle.

Slap.

In response to my question, the shadow rippled. Then, a human hand popped out and lightly smacked my ankle before vanishing back inside. No point hiding it, this is my daughter, Aisha. She’s currently hiding in the shadows.

So much for a solo trip.

“Beef stew can’t be beat, why are you complaining? It’s hearty and warm, just perfect.”

Slap slap.

“If you’re so unhappy, then you pick tonight’s menu. Let’s see how well you do.”

Wiggle wiggle.

If you’re wondering why I’m hiding her instead of keeping her by my side, it’s because I’m wary of the Red Earl’s ability to weave fables. The power and influence that stem from the earldom are nothing to scoff at.

Up until now, it seems the Earl has been moving cautiously, trying not to reveal that he’s a black magician, but now that the Second Prince has decided to draw his sword.

There’s no telling what will happen when the Earl starts using his full power.

The Red Earl also has a territory. He leaves the day-to-day management to a proxy while he resides in his mansion in the capital, Crownhold, but there’s definitely something going on there too. And his army is definitely a problem.

If, by chance, they were to use a myth by sacrificing all the people of the entire territory… the sheer power would be unfathomable. It might be a more challenging battle than any we’ve faced so far.

That’s why we’re moving to cut off the Red Flavor Duke’s limbs.

First Princess Elaine is coming from the Eastern Front to the capital, blocking the Duke’s power in the heart of it all.

Yuna, Yuri, and Selvier are infiltrating the Red Flavor Territory to stop the large-scale blood sacrifice.

Irid is traveling through the provinces, reducing the Duke’s political allies.

Aisha and I are cleaning up the black mages hidden in the provinces.

And – Roderus and Envers are poised to plunge a dagger into the Duke himself.

It’s a perfect cooperation formation. Just thinking about beating the Red Flavor Duke to a pulp with our numbers has my heart racing and a smile creeping up my lips. I haven’t forgotten the grudge from when he sent assassins after me.

But, first things first, a full belly comes before Mount Geumgang.

“Alright then… shall we scout out today’s best restaurant? If we don’t see a noodle place after looking around a bit, we’re eating beef stew again. No matter how hard you pinch my shin, I won’t change my mind then.”

*Smack smack.*

“Huh? You’re telling me to look beside me?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want beef stew, then. I followed Aisha’s signal and turned my head. A crowd had gathered in one spot, murmuring to themselves. I’d seen it while walking past, but hadn’t paid much attention.

I figured it was just a decent street performance drawing a crowd, but if Aisha was pointing it out like this, there must be something up.

Blinking, I took my time to observe and noticed something strange.

A guy with a hood pulled low, waiting at the corner.

Another guy pretending to read a book on a bench.

And another guy concealing himself on a rooftop.

Judging by the physique and outlines visible beneath their clothes, I could tell they had undergone some serious training. They looked like knights disguised as civilians to me.

They were positioned in a triangle, and their target seemed to be something in the center of the crowd. Let’s go have a look.

“Excuse me, just excusing myself.”

“Aish, don’t push!”

“Keep your place, keep your place!”

I nudged my way through the crowd with my shoulders, pushing deeper in.

And in the midst of those people, what I witnessed was…

“Holy Maiden, please heal my leg! I broke it hauling bricks, and the bone just won’t set, so I can’t go to work!”

“Mooong.”

Squirm, squirm, squirm!

“I, I’m healed! It healed in an instant! Long live the Holy Maiden!”

“Me, me next. I’ve been sick since birth, so I haven’t grown much. I wish I were at least two heads taller, and I think there’s something wrong with my face too. I wish my nose were sharper and my eyes were bigger!”

“That not sick moong.”

It was Faceless… no, Hayangi, healing people with a tired expression.

What the hell is going on? Wasn’t Faceless supposed to have resurrected?

She mechanically healed people, but then she spotted me standing in the crowd and, her expression still blank, her face lit up. Her eyes sparkled like crazy. It was like finding a rope dropped from the heavens.

Hayangi threw her arms up in the air and shouted at me.

“Uncle.”

“Uncle?”

“Help meee.”

“Alright, alright, this uncle will save you. Now, everyone get out of the way! The Holy Maiden’s free service is over for today! Unless you want to catch more diseases, move it!”

I pushed through the crowd and pulled Hayangi out.

–

Shrouding the mob’s cries for our saintess with silence magic, I slipped away, and first thing, I fed her. Because little Hayang’s stomach was letting out a thunderous rumble.

“Grrrruuul.”

It even escaped her mouth.

I went into an inn and ordered a hearty bowl of beef stew. I gave the innkeeper extra to pack it full of meat. Those gruesome celery and carrots? They don’t exist.

Hayang looked at the hefty bowl and swallowed hard, saying,

“Papa-Mama said we have to eat lots of vegetables too.”

“Do you like vegetables?”

“Nope.”

Roderus is doing a damn good job with her upbringing. In that case, as her “Uncle,” I have to respect his will. I extended my pinky finger.

“Then let’s make today a secret between Uncle and Hayang.”

“……..!!”

That’s right, if you don’t get caught, there’s no scolding.

Hayang and I relished our rebellion of eating only meat.