A/N: Don't forget to check out my original novel: Can I Magic Please. It's like really good. 😉
ANYWHOOO. ENJOY THE CHAPTER
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The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the Prime Minister's office.
Unlike Loki's personal chambers, which somehow balanced royal dignity with complete disorder, this room was immaculate.
Documents were arranged in precise stacks.
Ink bottles sat perfectly aligned.
Maps of Coleus covered one wall.
Trade routes, taxation records, and population reports occupied nearly every available surface.
It was the nerve center of the kingdom.
And naturally—
Testarossa looked completely at home.
She sat behind her desk with perfect posture, eyes already focused on a growing mountain of paperwork.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
"Enter."
The door opened.
Cien stepped inside carrying several thick folders.
The Primordial's trusted subordinate moved with his usual elegant composure.
Though the weight of the documents in his arms suggested the contents were anything but pleasant.
Cien bowed respectfully.
"Lady Testarossa."
"Cien."
He approached the desk and placed the files before her.
"I have completed the preliminary financial audit of the kingdom."
Testarossa set down her pen.
Her expression sharpened immediately.
"And?"
Cien adjusted his glasses.
"The results are… concerning."
Testarossa opened the first folder.
Several pages of figures and annotations filled the document.
Her eyes moved rapidly.
And then—
Her expression darkened.
"…I see."
Cien began explaining in his calm, precise tone.
"As per your instructions, I compared treasury allocations, provincial budgets, and tax revenues from the previous administration."
He placed a second folder before her.
"Significant discrepancies were discovered."
"How significant?"
Cien did not hesitate.
"Catastrophic."
Testarossa looked up.
Cien continued.
"Large portions of state funds were diverted through falsified infrastructure projects, inflated military procurement, and fabricated maintenance contracts."
He opened one report.
"Road repairs that were never performed."
Another.
"Defense appropriations assigned to nonexistent personnel."
Another.
"Subsidies directed toward shell businesses owned by noble families."
Testarossa's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"How much?"
Cien named the figure.
For the first time that morning—
Testarossa's expression cracked.
"…That much?"
"Yes."
Even by the standards of corrupt human nobility—
The scale was astonishing.
Cien continued.
"Most of the funds were transferred into private estates, hidden vaults, and foreign accounts."
He slid forward a summary.
"I have identified the principal beneficiaries and the routes by which the money was extracted."
Testarossa turned page after page.
Each name deepened the chill in the room.
Barons.
Counts.
Former ministers.
Men who had presented themselves as loyal servants of the crown while bleeding the kingdom dry.
She closed the folder slowly.
"The level of corruption is greater than I anticipated."
Cien inclined his head.
"The previous administration appears to have treated the treasury as a personal inheritance."
Testarossa rested one hand against her cheek.
The implications were enormous.
Infrastructure had been neglected.
Public services underfunded.
Military resources siphoned away.
All while the nobility enriched themselves.
No wonder the kingdom had stagnated.
Then—
A slow smile appeared on her face.
One that caused the room temperature to drop noticeably.
"How fortunate."
Cien raised an eyebrow.
"Fortunate, Lady Testarossa?"
Testarossa's smile widened.
"We were in need of additional revenue."
Cien immediately understood.
"…I see."
And quietly pitied the nobles involved.
Testarossa rang a small silver bell on her desk.
Moments later, the office door opened.
A named Greater Demon stepped inside.
Her appearance was refined and professional, with silver-gray hair and sharp violet eyes.
She bowed deeply.
"You called, Lady Testarossa?"
Testarossa looked up.
"Liora."
"Yes, my lady?"
"Schedule a meeting with the principal nobles named in these reports."
Liora accepted the list and scanned it quickly.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then she smiled.
A smile far too pleased for the circumstances.
"Understood."
Testarossa folded her hands elegantly.
"Tomorrow."
"In the castle."
"Ensure they understand the importance of attending."
Liora bowed once more.
"They will not refuse."
"I know."
Liora departed immediately.
Testarossa turned back toward the documents.
Her crimson eyes gleamed with dangerous satisfaction.
By this time tomorrow—
Coleus would begin recovering a substantial amount of stolen wealth.
Elsewhere in the capital—
Several former high-ranking nobles sat within a lavish private salon.
Crystal glasses clinked.
Wine flowed freely.
The atmosphere was thick with resentment.
"These demons have no understanding of governance."
One count slammed his glass down.
"I served as Minister of Finance for fifteen years."
"And now that white-haired woman replaces me with one of her own monsters."
Another noble scoffed.
"Monsters pretending to be statesmen."
A third snorted bitterly.
"At least the previous king understood his place."
"Unlike this so-called Supreme Leader."
The title was spoken with obvious disdain.
A heavyset baron swirled his wine.
"The entire kingdom now grovels before a child playing king."
The others murmured in agreement.
One noble laughed darkly.
"Perhaps we should simply assassinate the Supreme Leader."
The room erupted in nervous laughter.
Then—
A cold voice spoke from behind them.
"Should I interpret that as a declaration of treason?"
Every noble froze.
Several nearly spilled their drinks.
Standing near the doorway was Liora.
No one had heard her enter.
The named Greater Demon regarded them with a pleasant smile.
Which somehow made her even more terrifying.
Every noble in the room recognized her instantly.
She had already become the primary liaison between the Prime Minister's office and the aristocracy.
And in the span of only a few days, she had cultivated a reputation for terrifying efficiency.
The baron who made the joke turned deathly pale.
"N-No!"
"Merely a poor attempt at humor."
Liora's smile remained unchanged.
"How unfortunate."
No one dared speak.
Liora stepped forward gracefully.
"Lady Testarossa requests your presence at the royal castle tomorrow."
She placed a sealed notice upon the table.
"All individuals named herein are expected to attend."
Her violet eyes swept over the room.
"I trust you will make yourselves available."
The statement was phrased as a courtesy.
No one mistook it for one.
The count swallowed hard.
"O-Of course."
"Certainly."
"We would not dream of refusing."
Liora nodded once.
"Excellent."
She turned and walked toward the door.
Then paused.
Without looking back, she added:
"I recommend honesty."
And with that—
She vanished.
The silence she left behind was far more oppressive than any threat.
The nobles sat frozen.
The wine in their glasses suddenly tasted bitter.
For the first time since losing their positions—
They understood that tomorrow would not be a political discussion.
It would be a reckoning.
---
Morning had already settled comfortably over Arashi.
Within the central government building, the key leaders of the nation were gathered around the breakfast table.
Shuna moved gracefully between them, placing freshly prepared dishes with practiced ease.
Rice.
Miso soup.
Grilled fish.
Eggs.
And several side dishes arranged with almost artistic precision.
As always, the atmosphere was warm and peaceful.
At least—
It had been.
Until space tore open directly in the middle of the dining room.
CRACK.
A black fracture split the air.
Benimaru was on his feet instantly.
Shion drew her massive sword.
Hakuro's blade flashed halfway from its sheath.
Souei appeared from the shadows without making a sound.
Even Gobta nearly fell out of his chair.
Then two figures stepped through the distortion.
Loki.
And Shizue.
The weapons disappeared almost as quickly as they had appeared.
Benimaru exhaled.
"…Loki-sama."
Shion lowered her sword.
"Please do not do that."
Hakuro calmly returned his blade to its sheath.
"One of these days, my heart may fail."
Loki waved lazily.
"Morning."
Without another word, he walked straight toward the table.
Then sat down.
Then immediately began eating.
No hesitation.
No explanation.
As though teleporting into another nation's breakfast was entirely normal behavior.
"This is excellent."
Loki took another bite and nodded approvingly.
"Shuna, your cooking just keeps getting better."
Shuna froze.
Then her entire face lit up.
"Thank you very much, Loki-sama!"
She looked so delighted one might think she had been personally blessed by the heavens.
Meanwhile, a small golden blur jumped onto Loki's lap.
Kumara looked up with sparkling eyes.
"Lord Loki, please feed me-arinsu."
Loki visibly melted.
"Of course."
He carefully lifted a small piece of food and held it to her mouth.
Kumara ate happily while wagging all nine tails.
Rimuru, seated nearby, turned slowly.
And froze.
His eyes widened.
'What is that?'
No.
More importantly—
'Why is that so unbelievably adorable?'
Rimuru stood up.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like a starving man approaching his final meal.
His hands trembled.
"C-Come here…"
Kumara glanced at him.
Then turned away completely.
"Not interested-arinsu."
Rimuru's soul shattered.
He collapsed to his knees.
"Why…"
A moment later, Ranga padded over.
The massive black wolf rubbed affectionately against Rimuru.
"Master, I am here."
Rimuru instantly latched onto him.
"Ranga…"
He buried his face into the wolf's fur and began petting him furiously.
"You're the only one who understands me."
Ranga wagged his tail proudly.
Across the room, Shizue stood somewhat awkwardly.
She looked around the dining hall curiously.
At the monsters.
At the food.
At the lively atmosphere.
And at Rimuru.
Her eyes lingered there for a moment.
Rimuru, now recovering, finally turned to look at her properly.
His thoughts halted.
Black hair.
Japanese features.
A familiar atmosphere.
Then suddenly—
His memories flashed back to Dwargon.
The vision shown by the Elven fortune teller.
The woman he had seen there.
The one he was supposedly destined to meet.
Rimuru's eyes widened.
'Wait.'
'Isn't that…?'
His thoughts came to a complete stop.
Shizue, meanwhile, glanced toward Loki.
"Loki-san."
Her voice carried a hint of nervous curiosity.
"What exactly did you bring me here for again?"
Rimuru's mind snagged on one specific detail.
'…San?'
She was calling Loki 'Loki-san?'
Loki continued eating for another few seconds.
Then casually replied.
"Yeah."
"About that."
He turned toward Rimuru.
"You remember that mission we talked about."
Rimuru blinked.
Then nodded.
"Oh."
"Really?"
Loki pointed at Shizue with his chopsticks.
"This is the person you're going with."
Shizue tilted her head.
"What mission?"
Loki swallowed his food and answered calmly.
"You remember how I said I'd help the children at the Freedom Academy."
Shizue's expression sharpened immediately.
"Yes."
"Well."
Loki smiled faintly.
"I found a way."
Her eyes widened.
"The children can survive if they receive spirit hosts."
"The spirits will stabilize the excess magicules in their bodies."
"Once that happens, they'll no longer be dying."
For a moment—
Shizue simply stared at him.
Then emotion rushed into her eyes.
Hope.
Relief.
Disbelief.
"…Really?"
Loki nodded.
"Really."
Shizue's hands rose to her mouth.
For years, she had carried the burden of those children.
Children suffering the same fate she once faced.
Children who deserved a future.
And now—
There was a way to save them.
"Thank you," she whispered.
The gratitude in her voice was unmistakable.
Loki scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"It's fine."
Then he added casually:
"You and Rimuru will visit a certain Demon Lord who agreed to help."
Shizue twitched slightly.
"D-Demon Lord?"
Then she paused.
Her gaze moved to Loki.
Then to Kumara.
Then to the monsters filling the room.
She considered how normal this had all become.
And simply nodded.
"…Right."
At this point, another Demon Lord barely registered as unusual.
Loki seemed satisfied.
Then, entirely on a whim, he spoke again.
"Oh."
"By the way."
Both Rimuru and Shizue looked at him.
Loki smiled while feeding Kumara another bite.
"You're both from Japan."
"Pretty cool, right?"
Shizue blinked.
"Oh."
She smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"Pretty cool indeed."
Rimuru nodded automatically.
"Yeah."
"Who would've guessed."
Then—
Their brains caught up.
Both froze.
Their eyes widened.
They turned toward each other.
And in perfect unison—
"HUH?!"
---
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