Chapter 229 – A Great City!?

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“To think that such a place exists in this world…”

Mette gasped as she saw the giant, sprawling city in front of her…which was inside of the Demon King Castle.

First, we were overwhelmed by the gate, which was high like mountains. But things were even more grand inside.

As we passed through the gate, what came into view was a wide boulevard stretching to the horizon, lined with towering buildings that seemed to pierce the sky.

“It is truly astonishing…”

When I looked up at the sky, I felt just how huge the city was. Even the cyclops who walked down the street looked small in comparison.

“There are so many monsters and carriages.”

Said Melk. Indeed, there were numerous kinds of monsters and carriages along the great street that extended from the gate.

No human country had a city this big.

Asuha looked anxious as she said,

“With so many people, surely they are bound to notice that we are demihumans or human? Even if we have this charm from the Demon King.”

On our belts hung a small cloth bag. It was a magic tool that was supposed to make us look like monsters.

Iria’s eyes shone as she looked around.

“Apparently, she made it so that those waiting in the airship cannot be seen either, but we must all stay on our guard.”

Mette and Asuha nodded.

The reason that Iria was so cautious was because the Demon King had returned to the castle ahead of us, saying that she had to make preparations.

While all of the Summoning Stones in her land were being gathered to the castle, they had not had much time, and still needed a few more hours.

And so we decided to do some sightseeing as we made our way to the castle.

Celes talked with a smug expression.

“Baah! In that case, I will guide you to the castle! Just go straight down this main road, bah!”
“The Demon King already told us. It’s straight, so anyone would know.”

Melk muttered, but Celes shook her head.

“But you don’t know where the good stores are, do you? I know all of the best places to eat!”
“I hope you’re not talking about places that serve dead grass?”

Mette asked, and Celes ‘That’s right!’ with a carefree expression.

“So you just want to eat grass in the end… In the first place, the Demon King said that food would be prepared for us.”

Mette said with an exasperated voice.

“Well, well. In any case, since we’re here, we might as well look around.”
“Yes!”

And so we started to walk down the Demon King street.

All of the stores facing the street were filled with products. Clearly, business was good.

There was black bread, fruits that looked like eyeballs, and many ingredients that would be off-putting to humans. There were even flowers that laughed out loud.

So this was where all of the goods in the Demon King’s territory were gathered. I suppose it was most similar to the imperial capital for humans.

“Baah! The grass from that store is especially tasty! We always treat ourselves to it once a year! Ah! The wilted flowers served over there are also delicious!”
“You really only think about eating, Celes… Hey, Melk?”

Mette saw that Melk was starting at a certain store, and stopped.

It seemed that Melk was curious about a stall with a huge cauldron loaded on its back. In front of that stall, monster children had gathered.

Mette laughed with amusement.

“What, Melk? You sure are childish.”
“It is something unfamiliar, so Melk is just learning.”

Melk replied seriously.

I’d never seen anything like it either. It looked like a shallow pot, but there was something like a thick protruding spindle in the center. The overall worn-out appearance was also intriguing.

And then the orc, who was the master of the stall, put something like sugar inside and…

“It’s spinning!?”

Suddenly, the head in the center began to spin loudly. The orc then used a wooden stick to mix it around.

And then, something like cotton started to cover the wooden stick. And it grew bigger and bigger…

“Woah! It’s just like a cloud!”

Mette exclaimed in surprise, and then the surrounding monsters laughed as if they were looking at a country bumpkin.

And then Iria coughed, and Mette looked embarrassed.

And then Celes said,

“That is cotton candy! It is fluffy and delicious! Very popular with children!”

In fact, the children had accepted the cotton candy and were eating it ravenously.

Asuha laughed as she watched them.

“It is so cute, so it’s no wonder that it is popular.”
“The children of Fendel would like it as well. Should try making it.”

Muttered Melk, and Celes answered.

“That might be difficult. Apparently, those pots and the machine itself was made by an ancient Demon King. And the sugar itself is expensive.”
“Joshua and Melk could make it.”

Melk wagged her tail and stared at me.

“We-well, I could give it a try. I might ask Sophis about it later. But since we’re here, we might as well taste it.”

Mette was the first to agree with me, and then everyone but Iria said they wanted to eat it as well.

And so I took out a few pieces of gold I had prepared in magic workshop, and then I went over to the stall.

“Sorry, but can I have a few of these? Will this be enough?”
“Aye. Five of you, a Mope and a slime, eh?”

And the orc began to spin the sugar.

Melk was the first to bite into it.

“…It is sticky, but good.”

Melk’s tail wagged happily.

“Baah! It is my first time eating it too! Delicious!”

Celes held the stick with her front hooves and ate it delicately.

“Hmm…what a strange texture.”
“It really is like a cloud!”

As Mette and Asuha ate theirs, Iria, who had initially looked exasperated, tried some as well. And then her expression immediately brightened.

It was my first time eating it, and the texture was definitely new. I would very much like to make some in Fendel.

But as we stood there and ate the cotton candy, the orc started to move its snout.

“…Hmm? That smell. Is it human?”

Damn it. So the charms could not erase the smell.

That was what I thought, but I was wrong.

The orc was looking behind us.

“Ms. Villie, I’m hungry!”
“In-indeed.”

When I turned around, I saw a giant, big-bellied troll holding hands with a human man in a dress.

Mette gasped and Iria muttered.

“That is…the one who once tried to take Sir Joshua away.”
“Aye…Villian.”

Villian. A man who had once been in the Knights Order where I worked.

While he had been a favorite of Royg, he was later captured by Beyron of the Grank mercenaries, and was sold to the Demon King’s army as a prisoner.

I had heard that there were trolls who liked humans…

“I want to eat you, Ms. Villie…”

The troll said as he licked Villian.

And while he was now drenched in saliva, he actually looked rather healthy. At least, he was being fed, it seemed.

He also seemed to be used to the treatment now, as he chuckled.

“I’m not joking… I am just waiting for my beloved Ms. Villie to want me back.”

Villian shuddered as the slack-faced troll caressed his backside. But then the troll looked in our direction.

“Still, there is a cotton candy stall right here. I am very fond of cotton candy! Let us eat it together.”
“Ye-yes! I will go and buy it at once!”

Villian must have seen us as monsters, as he didn’t even glance at us as he called to the orc.

“Tw-two cotton candies!”
“Coming right up.”

The orc took the coppers from Villian and started to make the cotton candy.

However, the machine started to make a strange, loud noise. And then smoke rose into the air, and the head in the center broke.

“Ah!? …Are you serious!?”

The orc went pale.

Apparently, the machine was broken. Indeed, it looked very old already. According to Celes, it was made by an ancient Demon King. So it would be from hundreds of years ago.

“I was worried, because of the sounds recently, but…damn it. I’m sorry, but I cannot make any more today. Here is your money.”
“You-you have to make it somehow! Otherwise, I’m the one who will be eaten! My master’s appetite must be satisfied! Hurry!”

Villian was even more crest-fallen than the orc.

“You say that, but I’m not even sure that it can be repaired at all. Even the lord Demon King probably could not fix machines from this age. My business is likely finished…”

The orc’s shoulders slumped. It had been passed down for generations.

“…If it’s the centerpiece that is broken…”

As a production magician, I couldn’t help but blurt it out.

“Eh? What? Are you saying you can repair it?”
“Uh, ah. Perhaps I could. If the pieces could be put back together.”

I answered, and then the orc and Villian took my hands.

“Pl-please! I cannot work without it!”
“My innocence is at stake! Please!”

I nodded to the two desperate people.

“Ve-very well. But I am a Production Magician. That means I will have to take it away once. Is that fine?”
“Of course! I will pay whatever you want!”
“I don’t need payment… Well, then…”

And so I absorbed the machine into magic workshop.

First, I disaasembled it. And learned about the structure.

So there were parts that used lightning magic. And this device made wind?

I inspected each part. The structure itself was not too complicated. The problem was the materials were all incredibly rare. Still, I felt that I could make it if I used magic stones as substitutes.

In any case, I better hurry, as Villian and the orc were crying.

“Ahh… It really just is the center piece that is broken. And so if I meld it back together…”

I repaired it and then took it out of magic workshop and placed it back in the stall.

“I think it should be fixed now… How is it?”
“I-I’ll try to make it move… Ohh!”

It really was fixed.

“Amazing… And it is even quieter than before. Thank you so much… But, are you…”
“You don’t have to thank me. And I’ll answer no questions. However, I hope you continue to work hard for the children, and for the Demon King.”

It sounded like the right thing to say.

“The Demon King’s subordinates really are different… The Demon King really is a great person.”

The orc said with a sigh, and then he bowed his head.

Well, Sophis seemed to be loved by the people here.

As for Villian, with teary eyes, he took my hands.

“Thank you so much! I am safe for another day! Long live the Demon King!”

He was one to talk. How many times in the past had he mocked the Demon King and monsters…

In any case, judging by the state he was in, they did not seem to be so harsh on humans here. I suppose he was seen as valuable in some way. Or maybe there were laws.

We then left the orc and Villian, and continued down the street while eating our cotton candy.

The place really was overflowing with magic tools that I had never seen before.

Rare treats and toys. Carriages that didn’t need horses. It was very educational for me.

Not only that, but Iria and the others bought some clothing as well…

The clothes were one thing, but when it came to the magic tools, the production methods had mostly been lost. So it would be difficult to make them.

Furthermore, with the buildings, mostly only the first floors were used, and the higher floors, which were difficult to reach, were only occupied by monsters who could fly. This was because they used to have machines that carried you to the higher floors, but they could no longer be used.

When we were close to the castle, Mette muttered.

“While looks are not everything, this place feels like it could be so much more.”
“If Joshua lived here, everything would be fixed.”

Melk said, but I shook my head.

“No. This really showed me how big the world is. Well, perhaps I could make something like the cotton candy machine, with some magic stones, but… Ah, here we are.”

At the end of the street, there was a square so vast that it seemed like a field.
We entered and I turned to the side and…

There was a building that had a mountain-like dome.

And then Celes said with a proud expression,

“That is where the Demon King lives! It really is amazing!”
“It is huge… Oh.”

Several black armors came out and then knelt before us.

“We have been waiting for you. The Demon King is waiting near the entrance. Please follow us.”

Upon hearing this voice, Iria and Mette suddenly became serious.

If she was close by, then she should come to greet us… It may just be about appearances, but if she wanted us to feel less cautious, then coming out would have been better.

And while I felt a little worried as well, we could not turn back here. And so I nodded.

“Aye, we will go then.”

I answered, and the black armors bowed deeply and then led the way.

As we glanced at the colorful flowers blooming in the garden, alongside a fountain shooting water high up in the square, we made our way towards the gate of the castle.

And when we arrived, the giant iron gates opened with a groan.

And then we were able to see inside…

“…!?”

Suddenly, the sound of something exploding echoed.

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Seisan Mahoushi no Rakuraku Henkyou Kaitaku - Saikyou no Ajintachi to Howaito Kokka wo Kizukimasu!