Chapter 60: Daniel: I Want It All! (clenching fist) (Patreon)

Only after the Hoshin Company's convoy had driven dozens of kilometers out of the royal capital did Anastasia, riding inside the dragon carriage, finally let out a breath of relief.

The little cat-tribe girl in her arms, who had come along from the company to serve as a guard, lifted her head and asked, "Sister Anna, what are you so nervous about? Your heart's been racing ever since we left the capital."

"Mm, I was a little worried the new king might try to stop us from leaving," Anastasia said. "But we've come this far without any trouble, so I think we're in the clear."

Mimi reached out a small hand and patted Anastasia's slender thigh, trying to comfort her. "It's fine, Sister Anna, you don't need to worry. Mimi's really strong, you know!"

"Even if bad guys really showed up, they'd be no match for Mimi and Papa Ricardo!"

Watching Mimi's adorable display, Anastasia's mood lifted considerably, the corners of her mouth curling up as she indulged the girl. "Then I'll leave it to you two."

"Mimi's gonna eat a whole bunch of burgers as payment!"

"No problem. I'll have them ready for you once we get back." Anastasia laughed and hugged Mimi close, but just then the fur on Mimi's ears suddenly bristled, and she shot upright.

"What's wrong, Mimi?!"

"Mimi senses something scary coming! Sister Anna, Mimi's gonna go take a look."

Wiggling her little bottom, Mimi squirmed free of Anastasia's arms and headed for the door of the carriage.

BOOM!

At the same instant, the sound of something heavy slamming into the ground erupted from outside.

"Who's there?!"

The Iron Fang mercenaries traveling with them drew their weapons at once, eyeing warily the handsome man who had dropped out of the sky to block their path — a man cradling a little girl in his arms.

"As a candidate for the throne, leaving the capital without so much as a word of notice — Little Anna, are you really so quick to disregard your new king?"

"N-new king?! You're that Daniel from the city, the one who used mind magic?!"

Hearing the man's words as they surrounded him, one of the beastman mercenaries blurted out in shock without thinking.

"Addressing the king by name directly — don't you think that's a bit disrespectful, you furry?"

Daniel shot him a glance, and in the next instant a terrifying weight crashed down onto the mercenary who had spoken.

THUD!

The beastman mercenary's knees slammed into the muddy ground, his whole body forced into a full prostration, his entire beastly head driven into the earth as his body twitched involuntarily and he passed out.

Cold sweat broke out on the hands of the other mercenaries nearby. A single glance had been enough to slam a man into the dirt — just what kind of technique was that?!

Mimi had stepped out of the carriage by then, and the moment she saw one of her own people knocked flat, the little cat hissed.

"What did you do to Mimi's crew?!"

The girl was never one to keep her temper in check. Ignoring the tension in the air entirely, she launched herself straight at Daniel from the carriage, mouth opening wide.

"Mimi, don't!" "Wait, Mimi!"

Anastasia had already heard Daniel introduce himself and hurried out of the carriage, desperate to stop the girl from doing something reckless.

Ricardo, the leader of the Iron Fang, shouted the same warning on instinct, but Mimi had already leapt.

Mid-air, Mimi let out a mighty shout: "Haaa!"

A visible Roaring Wave shot straight at Daniel — but he didn't so much as move. Instead, it was Betty, cradled in his arms, who lifted her head in annoyance and raised a small hand, her expression sour.

"Don't be so loud and bother Betty!"

A pitch-black void instantly formed in midair, swallowing the Roaring Wave whole.

The moment the void vanished, the mud on the ground writhed to life, surging up into a wave of muck several meters high that engulfed Mimi in midair.

The mud wrapped around most of her body, dragging her down to the ground before it hardened in an instant, trapping her with only her head left sticking out.

Having settled the little cat-tribe girl in a single exchange, Betty gave a soft huff and burrowed back into Daniel's arms.

"...?! Damn it! Let Mimi go!"

Mimi struggled, only to find she couldn't muster any strength at all. She opened her mouth to unleash another Roaring Wave, but Ricardo finally caught up and stepped directly in front of her.

"Haa— cough, cough!"

Seeing this, Mimi hastily stopped herself, only to choke on her own breath and fall into a fit of coughing.

Ricardo stood in front of Mimi, bowing his head as he explained quietly to Daniel, then turned and spoke sternly to her.

"My apologies, Your Majesty. Mimi is still young and doesn't know any better. Please don't hold her to the same standard as an adult."

"Mimi, aren't you going to apologize?"

Mimi felt a little wronged — the other side had attacked first, so why couldn't she fight back?

But since Ricardo had said so, she obediently said, "Sorry, Big Brother. Mimi was wrong."

Ricardo watched Daniel's expression closely, silently hoping the new king wouldn't hold this against them too much.

If the man really intended to do something to Mimi, resistance would be their only option left.

Even if they weren't likely to win, that is.

Daniel didn't take it to heart either, letting out a light chuckle. "It's fine. What kind of adult gets angry at a child?"

Everyone present let out a breath of relief at those words. The aura and power Daniel gave off were far too terrifying — if they could avoid a clash, they'd much rather do so.

Just as Anastasia began to relax, she heard Daniel continue speaking.

"All right, since Little Anna's out here now anyway, let's go. Bring your people and come back to the capital with me."

Anastasia froze for a moment, cold sweat beading on her smooth forehead. So he really had come for her.

Oh no — could it be he'd found out about the equipment she'd been supplying to Crusch? With that thought in mind, she probed carefully.

"Um, Your Majesty, is there some matter you need me back in the capital for?"

"Don't worry, it's good news. My Knights are short-handed, and I'd like your Iron Fang to join in and help maintain order in the capital."

Anastasia didn't relax at that, though. If all he wanted was for the Iron Fang to join the Knights, there was no need to chase her all this way to stop her.

She probed further. "Since Your Majesty has spoken, I'll have the Iron Fang head back to the capital at once. But Ricardo and Mimi will need to stay behind to escort me home to my own country."

But Daniel shook his head at that. "That's not quite enough. I'm not comfortable relying only on your people. How about this — you become my consort instead."

"That way we'll be one family, won't we? And then there'd be no more distinction between your people and mine."

"Oh, and once you're my consort, the Hoshin Company will be able to operate freely across all of Lugunica. Well? Not a bad deal, is it?"

Anastasia's mouth twitched. He was practically doing the math right in her face.

So he wanted her, the company, AND her people, all at once? What kind of greedy monster was this man?!

"Um... can I refuse?" Anastasia asked carefully.

"What do you think?" Daniel's smile didn't waver, but currents of air rose beneath his feet, and within moments the swirling air around him coalesced into a crushing pressure that bore down on every single Iron Fang mercenary present.

Anastasia wanted to cry but had no tears left. Seeing that Daniel meant to act, she glanced at Ricardo, who gave a slight nod in return.

I'm sorry, Ricardo. I really don't want to become the consort of the man who killed Julius.

Quietly, she undid the rope connecting the dragon carriage to the ground dragon.

Ricardo, straining against the crushing pressure, spun around, seized Mimi's head, and yanked her free of the ground, hurling her hard into Anastasia's arms.

"Iron Fang! Cover the young lady's retreat!"

"Yes, sir!"