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Chapter 80
Invigoration
Edited by EverydaySoCloudy
Queen:âKitamura-sama, do not get Bitchâs name wrong.â
Motoyasuâs mouth hangs open in astonishment.\n
What did he think would happen?\nQueen:âAs a princess her name is Bitch, and as an adventurer she is known as Whore.â\n
Motoyasu:âWhaâŠâŠYou! Are you even Meinâs parent?â\n
Queen:â Yes, thatâs correct. But that was her previous name, now she is Bitch.â
The queen instructs the soldiers with her eyes.\n
Bitch was peeled off Motoyasu.
Bitch:âWait! What are you doing! I amââ\n
Queen:â What is a mere adventurer saying? You have no authority here.â\n
Motoyasu:â What are you doing to her!â\n
Queen:âKitamura-samaâŠâŠ If you do not address her correctly, for every time that you call her incorrectly I will have to add another burden for her to shoulder.â
Motoyasu has an unbelievable face and glares at the queen.
Queen:âThere were many reasons to change her name. First of all, she falsely accused Iwatani-sama of rape, and then pettily took advantage of her younger sister (ED: Melty) life during the crisis, there are various other reasons but those are the main reasons. This is already a rather weak punishment.â\n
Motoyasu:â What are you saying!?â\n
Queen:âI believe you would want to thank Iwatani-sama for this lenient punishment.â
After not getting what he wanted, Motoyasu glared at me in displeasure.
Motoyasu:âThe brainwashing-â\n
Naofumi:âThere was no such power.â\n
Queen:âYes, Thatâs right. Do not be deceived by false rumours spread by the Three Heroes Church. Iwatani-sama has gained the trust of the people with his own strength.â\n
Naofumi:âThatâs right.â
It seems that the queen is becoming slightly irritated.\n
Since her daughterâs reckless behaviour is uncontrollable.\n
Did she not learn her lesson?\n
Though I still donât believe in her completely, the queen is really quite pitiful.\n
The queen raises her fan upwards.
Queen:âI declare that any allegations about raping adventures that have been placed on Hero of the Shield Iwatani Naofumi-sama to be nonsense!â
An applause breaks out.\n
When I glance at Motoyasu he is looking around the hall restlessly with an incredible irritated expression.
Motoyasu:â You, you think this is funny?â
What? You still think Iâm a sex offender?\n
Is your desire for a harem so strong that it doesnât matter what a woman does?
Queen:â Now then, Kitamura-samaâŠâŠ Please use her correct name. Keep in mind that every time the wrong name is used, her debt to the country will increase.â\n
Motoyasu:âStop joking around!â
Motoyasu glares at me for some reason.
Queen:â Iwatani-sama is not related to this. Now, call her name.â\n
Motoyasu:âWh-Who would call her that!?â\n
Queen:âThen I shall separate you and Bitch, and she will have no way to repay her debt. Isnât that right, Iwatani-sama?â\n
Naofumi:âMhmmâ\n
Queen:âThis childââ\n
Bitch:âNo, no way!âMotoyasu-sama!â
Bitch notices the situation deteriorating and begs Motoyasu for help.\n
However, everybody except for Motoyasu understands this is only for self-protection.\n
There is no way she could change so quickâŠâŠ
Motoyasu:âGuâŠâŠâ\n
Queen:âKitamura-sama should understand by now. Because she was born a coward, and grew up looking down on others.â\n
Motoyasu:âShe is not like that! This guy is the evil one!â
Motoyasu points at me and declares.\n
Do you even understand that the ground youâre standing on is gone? Are you still blindly believing the lies you were fed?\n
It would be fine to leave it to the queen. But, maybe I can solve this without violence.
Naofumi:â Very well. If you want a match so badly, Iâll keep you company.â\n
Queen:â Iwatani-samaâŠâŠIs this fine? It is fine to fight each other to prove who is correct, but killing is forbidden.â\n
Naofumi:â Yeah, I understand. But, please remember that this is one-on-one.â
I said that since I remember being struck in the back by magic.
Motoyasu:âThatâs a given!â\n
Naofumi:âWell, it canât be helped if you want to fight. But, stop and think for a second. Who was it that you could never land a finishing blow on?â
Motoyasu was a little startled and continues to stare at me.
Naofumi:â If you seriously fight me without your companions, can you win?â\n
Motoyasu:âKuâŠâŠâ\n
Naofumi:âBy the way, I can heal myselfâŠâŠ Iâm sure you can imagine the outcome in a war of attrition.â
Though at that time I couldnât attack, unlike now.\n
As expected, Motoyasuâs fighting spirit has been dampened thanks to that experience.
Naofumi:âHey, if youâve given up just say her name.â\n
Motoyasu:âShitâŠâŠâ\n
Queen:âIf you do not say her correct name then I will separate you two.â\n
Bitch:âMama!â\n
Motoyasu:âAhâŠâŠâ
Bitch shouts at the queen with a mortified expression. Motoyasu murmured inaudibly with an expression full of distress.
Motoyasu:âWhoreâŠâŠâ\n
Bitch: âShield! Iâll never forgive you!â\n
Naofumi:âSay what you want, Bitch!â
The queen gives instructions to release Bitch.
Queen:âThatâs enough, please understand that you cannot make absurd demands against Iwatani-sama by abusing your power any more. Because my policy is to treat all heroes equally.â\n
Motoyasu:âWhat about this is equal!?â\n
Queen:â Oh my. Did you think I would just overlook the misfortune that Iwatani-sama was forced to put up with while I was away? Did you ever treat all the other Heroes equally?â
Ren and Itsuki approach while this was happening.
Queen:âHero of the Sword-sama, Hero of the Bow-sama, please understand. My daughter, Bitch falsely accused Iwatani-sama. As her punishment her name has been changed to Bitch. This was the result of sympathy as well.â\n
Ren:âAhâŠâŠSureâ\n
Itsuki:âU-Understood.â\n
Queen:âPlease treat the current situation as repaying Iwatani-sama for his past troubles. Since the rest of you hero-samas have already received plenty of preferential treatment compared to Iwatani-sama.â
The queen said I would be receiving preferential treatment only for nowâŠâŠBut these fellows donât look convinced.\n
Motoyasu is standing worryingly beside Bitch while she looks at the queen with an unpleasant expression.\n
After Ren and Itsuki confirmed the situation and figured out it that everything is under control, they just stood there with unreadable expressions.\n
Rather, a feeling of âThatâs rightâŠâŠ.â could be felt from them as they look at Motoyasu and remember him being favored.
Queen:âBitch. Iâll be adding to your punishment seeing as the change of your name was not completed thoroughly, and that you have once again brought trouble to Iwatani-sama.â\n
Bitch:âShut up! Do not call me Bitch!â\n
Queen:âIt seems you have not reflected in the slightestâŠâŠIt cannot be helped.â
The queen claps her hands and a wizard brings a familiar ink bottle to her.
Motoyasu:âWh-What are you going to do!?â
Motoyasu notices the threatening atmosphere and raises his voice.\n
The soldiers hold Motoyasu back while the magician begins the ceremony on Bitch.\n
The queen pricks her finger with a needle and drips her blood on the ink.\n
That isâŠâŠahh I see, so thatâs what is going to happen.
Bitch:âN-No! Release me!â
As expected of Bitch, she understands the current event as well.\n
She violently struggles but the soldiers keep her steady.\n
Although Motoyasu doesnât understand what is happening, but he recovers and readies his spear.
Motoyasu:âStooooooooooop!â
As if they would.
Naofumi:âShield Prison!â
While controlling my anger I change to the Wrath Shield and trap Motoyasu.
Bitch:âN-No! Stay away! Who do you think I am!?â\n
Queen:â Arenât you just a plain adventurer? No wait worse, youâre a criminal. This is punishment for the failed assassination attempt of giving poison to Iwatani-sama.â
As the queen is reminding Bitch, she gives the signal.\n
Ink is dropped onto Bitchâs chest, and a pattern is carved there.
Bitch:âKyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!â
After Bitch screams for a while, then the pattern disappears as if it was never there.\n
Itâs different from Raphtaliaâs. Raphtalia has a tattoo, while nothing can be seen on Bitch.
Queen:â This is a high-class slave crest. It is not usually visible until certain conditions are met, and when it appears, punishment is dealt.â
Something like Firoâs demon crest?
Queen:âThe condition is attacking Iwatani-sama. Whether by direct attack with magic or indirect attack with poison, nothing is allowed!â
Bitch glares at the queen with watery eyes.
Motoyasu:â MeiâŠâŠWhore, are you all right?â
Motoyasu is released from the prison, runs up Bitch and holds her.\n
I wonder if that was a smart decision. After receiving a serious counterattack, Motoyasu and Bitch must be extremely frustrated.
Queen:âNow then, shall we get down to business?â\n
Ren:ââŠâŠWhat would that be?â
What a quick change of gears.\n
Is this the dignity of a queen?\n
Itâs quite nasty.\n
Ren and Itsukiâs expressions are also cramping up.
Queen:âYes, I think Hero-samas would enjoy this news very much.â
What the queen is going to say?\n
While holding some doubts I listen attentively to the queenâs story.
Queen:âA country that is off the coastâŠâŠCal Mira Island has become active. I request the participation of all Hero-samas.â
âŠâŠWhat island? How is it becoming active?
âââUoooooooooooo!?âââ
The three of them have gotten excited.\n
MotoyasuâŠâŠare you forgetting Bitch?\n
You were looking extremely mortified a little while ago.
Naofumi:â Whatâs that? Is there something there?â\n
Queen:âSince Iwatani-sama does not know Iâll explain. That island is only active once every 10 years. There is a phenomenon where experience earned in that area greatly increases during that time.â
The queenâs long story can be summed up like this.\n
The island, Cal Mira Island is famous as a holiday resort, and various demons inhabit the location.\n
Itâs also famous for adventurers who want to Level up quickly during its active period every 10 years.\n
It seems this event will greatly help the four Heroes who are a bit weak right now.
Queen:â Of course, we have already requested for the island. So everyone, please participate.â
In online gaming terms would this be considered an event dungeon?\n
Do the enemies have an extremely good Experience to strength ratio?\n
If you are a gamer then you would be extremely pleased with this event.\n
If anythingâŠâŠ
Queen:â Preparations have been completed already, and I would like the Hero-samas to participate in this big event.â\n
Naofumi:âEvent?â\n
Ren:âWhat will we be doing?â
The queen answers after hearing our questions.
Queen:âIt is just the Hero-samaâs will be having a staff and information exchange with each other at Cal Mira Island. Of course, only if all four of you agree.â
âŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠ
Heroes: ââââWhatâââ!?ââââ
The queen drops quite a ridiculous request.
The next day.
Trash:âNuoooooooooooo!â
The queen is torturing Trash by freezing him in front of me.\n
I feel refreshed while looking at Trashâs face in pain.
Queen:âSeriouslyâŠâŠIwatani-sama sure is resourceful.â
After hearing the story of Cal Mira Island, I agreed so that we could increase our levels.\n
According to my conversation with the queen, Cal Mira Island is also a great location for hot springs.\n
Moreover, it seems the hot springs have a healing effect on curses.\n
But there is a bad problem.\n
Even if I am good, Raphtalia and Firo still havenât Classed Up yet and cannot gain levels.\n
When I told the queen, she brought in Trash and thus such a situation happened.\n
Trash is being frozen and finally begins confessing after a while.
Queen:â It canât be helped. Please start your journey after receiving Class up at the Hourglass of the Dragonâs Era for your companions.â\n
Naofumi:âAre you not coming to the island?â\n
Queen:â I have some internal affairs. Instead, the shadows will be dispatched.â
Well, I figured.
Naofumi:âSpeaking of which, why are we doing an information and staff exchangeâŠâŠ?â
It seems the atmosphere has become unpleasant.
Queen:âDid you not like the idea?â\n
Naofumi:âNope, I hate those guys.â\n
Queen:âWell, you might be able to learn a different method to get stronger from the information exchange with the other Hero-samas.â\n
Naofumi:âWellâŠâŠâ
That is one possibility.\n
What can I sayâŠâŠThough it would be a problem to beat those guys without the Curse Series.\n
It should only be a matter of time before those guys obtain their own Curse Series, though by then they will be quite behind.\n
I donât like it, but it might be helpful.
Naofumi:âWhy do we have to exchange personnel?â\n
Queen:âSo that you can take into account how their companions fight while working together.â\n
Naofumi:â Is that it?â\n
Queen:â No, this also doubles for information exchange. If they are careless you might be able to learn how they get stronger.â
I should consider this very carefully. The reverse is also quite possible.\n
But with consideration of the wave, it s important for all of us to get stronger.\n
In the future when we will be fighting together, it would be helpful to know how these guys fight.
Queen:âFor Trash to have such a good idea.â\n
Naofumi:âThis was proposed by Trash!?â\n
Queen:âYes, though originally the plan was to give preferential treatment to Kitamura-sama.â
I see.\n
In order to steal information from the other heroes to help Motoyasu.\n
This Trash, what a cunning old man.\n
Though I donât think I would have been included in the trip to Cal Mira Island.
Queen:âWith that said, will you be going?â\n
Naofumi:âItâs a good idea. It may be beneficial.â\n
Queen:âI do not know how much aid money I can provide to Iwatani-sama yet since the treasury count is still incomplete. Please look forward to it after returning.â\n
Naofumi:âIâm assuming that living expenses there is already paid for.â\n
Queen:âOf course, those expenses have already been prepared. Now then, shall we go to the Hourglass of the Dragonâs Era? Since preparations have been completed, let us make haste and begin the magical contract there.â\n
Naofumi:â Understood. Letâs go.â\n
Raphtalia:â Okayâ\n
Firo:â Okay~!â
By the way, Firo slept with Melty last night.\n
Melty also wanted to sleep in Firoâs feathersâŠâŠ I remember the teacher who walked in on that in the morning and screamed.\n
Thus, with the queen and Melty, we head towards the Hourglass of the Dragonâs Era.\n