Party Swapping with Rin: Chapter 10 (Finale)

The flight back to Byrndle was much more sedate, with Faitfore safely bearing them home to the castle. 

Home. It was a bit odd, but Kazuma realized that he’d likely spend most of the rest of his life at that castle. That was…well, it was odd. He’d finally gotten the magical isekai adventure he’d always dreamed of, but he’d gone at it in such a bass ackwards way he’d never even seen it coming. 

“What are we gonna do, anyway?” Kazuma said, looking down at the Bryndle countryside as it flew past below them. “I mean, I always wanted a cushy retirement, but this isn’t exactly what I had planned.”

“If you think being Prince Consort of a kingdom is a cushy retirement, you don’t know much about being a noble,” Darkness informed him. 

“Well, and here I thought you got to galavant off on top of a dragon and fly your freak flag in the back end of beyond,” Kazuma shot back, making Darkness wince.

“My time of adventuring…is over. I will still fight monsters for the kingdom, of course, but…it is time I took up my duties and responsibilities,” Darkness admitted. She looked fondly up at Dust, who was stroking Faitfore’s neck as they flew. “I have a family now, and another child on the way. My youth is at an end.”

“Guess mine is too,” Kazuma admitted, glancing at his lap, where Rin was snoring. She looked pretty cute like that, and he had to admit, if he had to stay with someone, he was glad it was her. Though he still wished it could have been a little girl. 

Chris had vanished, saying she had duties to attend to back in heaven. Dust still seemed oblivious, but Darkness had gotten over the shock of her best friend being a goddess remarkably quickly. Of course, the same could be said of Kazuma and Aqua, so perhaps he shouldn’t judge too harshly. 

They landed at the capital amidst a great deal of pomp and ceremony, with all the various nobles and officials who hadn’t joined the expeditionary force in attendance. Rin fussed with her hair and had Darkness help her straighten out her windblown clothes as much as possible before they landed, and gave Kazuma a look of irritation when he told her she looked great. 

“I can’t afford to just be great; this has to be perfect!” Rin informed him, and Kazuma shrugged and let it go. 

He had to admit, she did look slightly bedraggled when she hopped off of Faitfore before the assembled court, but no one seemed to notice, with quite a few lusty cheers and applause for the returning heroes. Rin waved and smiled, stepping up to a prepared podium to make her remarks. 

“Thank you all. I would like to say that our mission was a success, and that my father and brothers were rescued from the vile barbarians without cost. However, that is not the case. It seems that King Leo and my brothers made asses of themselves, blackening the name of Bryndle and racking up a massive 50 billion eris debt to the Kingdom of Elroad with their reckless partying and gambling.”

A hush fell over the crowd, and Kazuma could see that Damien very nearly fainted. 

“However, it turned out that there was a General of the Devil King who had poisoned the Eldroadian Sultan and egged on the naive young prince to imprison my father and demand ransom. Fortunately, with the help of Lady Dustiness and her consort, General Ragecraft was killed by myself and Sir Kazuma. I successfully negotiated a treaty with Elroad, which will see our debt to them settled and normal relations restored.”

Minister Damien took a deep breath, looking as though a death sentence had just been lifted from him, hand to his heart. 

“Because of this, I have deposed my father and brothers, and placed them in the care of the Adventurer’s Guild. They will be doing what proper noblemen should do, and work to rid this kingdom of all manner of monsters that threaten us as Adventurers. Their wages will be garnished until they have paid back their debt. Which, considering the average bounty is around 50,000 eris for a day's work, will be sometime in the next million years,” Rin said grimly. “In this, I have the backing of the Dragon Knights and the High Dragons, so anyone who has any complaints  should see Lord Chantliclaire and Lady Hoyin.”

Hoyim growled and cracked her knuckles, displaying a mouthful of fangs, while Chanticlaire put a hand on his sword hilt and looked stern. For a moment, no one said anything, and Kazuma felt his mouth dry up and sweat bead on his forehead. 

Then to his shock, Tiana and Marie let out loud cheers, followed by Minister Damien applauding loudly. Chanticlaire drew his sword, as did the rest of the knights, who saluted, then knelt along with their dragons. “ALL HAIL QUEEN RIN!” 

The crowd took up the cheer, and Kazuma felt his heart return to beating again. It seemed there would be a bloodless coup after all, at least for now. 

There was more pomp and ceremony after that, with a victory feast declared along with a holiday at the new queen’s ascension. Rin grimaced at the expense, but Minister Damien pointed out the people would expect it, so she approved the measure. 

After that, Marie and Tiana followed Rin and Kazuma back to their chambers, where they set about getting Rin ready for the evening.

“So, uh, do we still have to pretend?” Tiana asked when they were stripping Rin down. Marie elbowed her hard, and Kazuma and Rin both froze, glancing at the ladies in waiting. 

“Uh, what do you mean?” Rin asked somewhat breathily. 

“That you’re Leonore. Since we’re going to call you Queen Rin and all,” Tiana said, glaring at Marie. “What? You noticed too!”

“Yes, but I wasn’t going to say anything, Tia. Seriously, you and your big tongue,” Marie groaned, shaking her head. 

“If you’re threatening me,” Rin began, but both women hastily shook their heads. 

“Perish the thought, your majesty. Both of us were extremely glad to have a break from that insufferable bitch,” Tiana said bluntly.

Marie sighed, and nodded. “Honestly, if Leonore had become queen, I would have considered rebelling. That woman was so selfish and spoiled. But you! You’ve actually shown you have the ability. Plus, this finally isn’t a waste of my time! I was sent here to learn how to be a proper lady and gain some insight into rulership, but with Leonore it was just beauty treatments, parties, and horseback rides. Not that those aren’t fun, but I never saw her do a single bit of work in her entire life, and she made us do any that did come her way.”

“You’ll still set us up with good husbands, right?” Tiana asked hopefully. “Seriously, we won’t tell a soul.”

Kazuma and Rin exchanged a look, and Rin nodded slowly. “Does…anyone else know?”

“Only all the guards, servants, and ministers,” Marie said with a roll of her eyes, which made Kazuma let out a yip of shock and Rin to groan in misery. 

“I did that bad a job?” Rin moaned, putting her head in her hands. 

“No, you did that good a job. Leonore was always incredibly rude to everyone around her. I don't think she knew a single guard or servant’s name. She didn’t even learn mine for about six months, just called me ‘girl’ or ‘you there,’” Tiana said bitterly. “I wanted to slap her most days, the useless lump.”

“Well…she was mistreated by her family for a crime she didn’t commit,” Rin said hesitantly. 

Marie snorted. “What, the thing with Sir Cheruka? Sure, maybe she was still technically a virgin, but she lied to that poor man and put him and her in incredibly compromising positions. The old king might have been a boorish bastard, but he was mad he lost such a good knight and the consequences Leonore got for ruining Rein’s life weren’t nearly bad enough if you ask me.”

“He seems so happy with Lady Dustiness, I’m happy for him,” Tiana sighed. “Even if she is far above his station. A mere landed knight marrying a duchess? The Belzergians are a strange lot…”

“Well, I’m not even a noble. Or wasn’t,” Rin said, making a face. 

The two women paused. “You’re not? But then…how could you inherit the throne? I thought you were a bastard at least, to look so much like Leonore.”

“She’s not, but one of the goddesses came down and said she’d had it with the previous royal line and blessed the succession,” Kazuma put in. The hand maidens eyed him dubiously. “It’s true. Check her Adventurer’s Card.”

Tiana already had Rin’s effects and pulled it out, glancing at the card. “Yeah, there’s no way you aren’t a bastard. Um, pardon the terminology. Though I guess by this the gods legitimized you. You’ve got Royal Blood and Rightful Ruler right here.”

“Man, I bet that makes dynastic succession in this world a lot easier,” Kazuma mused. 

Marie shrugged. “Things still get bloody sometimes. Though you’re an otherworlder so you’re automatically blessed by the gods. It’s pretty normal for royals to marry Divine Champions. Especially since we know you killed at least three generals of the Devil King.”

“Four now, actually,” Rin said with a shake of her head. 

“Eh, five and a half,” Kazuma said, waving his hand back and forth. “I don’t normally count Wiz and Vanir.”

The women goggled at Kazuma for a moment, then Rin burst out, “Wait, you mean, Wiz, our Wiz, is really-”

Running his hand through his hair, Kazuma grimaced. “Yeah just, look. Don’t spread it around. She’s a nice lady who just wants to run her item store. Really, her being a general is more of an accident than anything, and Vanir’s harmless. Mostly. Well, as long as you don’t go into his dungeon, but even then you’ll just end up incredibly disappointed.”

“You two really will have to tell us more of your story later,” Tiana tittered. 

“Or don’t, because as far as we’re concerned, she’s definitely the legitimate heir to the throne, and nothing will change that,” Marie said firmly. Then she winked. “Plus, if you can hook me up with a hunky Belzergian Noble husband, I won’t complain! I hear Belzerg men are…well equipped.”

Rin flushed, but grinned. “Don’t worry. You girls take care of me, and I’ll take care of you.”

The party that night was loud and long, with plenty of drinking, dancing, and singing. Kazuma and Rin danced together until he felt like his feet were going to fall off, then danced some more, until both of them nearly collapsed. The dragons all came out in their finery and performed some rather incredible dances that involved shapeshifting as well, which was certainly a sight to behold. 

The next day, Darkness, Dust, and Faitfore bid them all farewell, as it was time for them to travel back to Belzerg. “Uncle Melark will certainly have a laugh to learn a Belzerger sits on the throne of Bryndle,” Darkness said quietly to Rin.

She stiffened, then stuck her nose in the air. “However fond I may be of you and your people, Darkness, Bryndle is my kingdom, and I it’s monarch. Their needs must come first in all things.”

“That’s good to hear. You’ll make a fine queen. We’ll return for the coronation,” Darkness promised, and departed on dragonback with her new family. 

As for the coronation and wedding ceremony, Rin insisted that they be held simultaneously. Both would be tremendous expenditures that the Kingdom could ill afford at the moment, and combining them would be a good way to save some much needed eris. 

“A wise decision, your majesty. I had worried about this kingdom’s future for some time, but with you on the throne, my worries have been assuaged,” Minister Damien told Rin as they wrapped up their private meeting.

Rin glanced at Kazuma, swallowed, then looked back at Damien. “So, ah…you know. Don’t you?”

“Did from the very first day,” Damien said with a grandfatherly smile. “I’ve known Leonore her entire life. You do look remarkably like her, but your mannerisms are completely different. Combine that with your, ah, general competence in rulership, well…it wasn’t hard to notice.”

“She really must have been something else if everyone is so glad to see the back of her. The former king and princes too,” Rin sighed, shaking her head. 

Damien grimaced. “Poor Leo missed his calling. I’ve been checking up on him and his sons, and aside from their complaining about their accommodations and rations, they’re having the time of their lives fighting harpies in the foothills. He’s remarkably incompetent as a ruler and a general bore, but the Line of Leonid always excelled in combat.”

“Good, because he’s going to be doing that for the rest of his natural life,” Rin growled. “I swear, if he or those two idiots cause more trouble…”

“Leopold and Leonard are both too venal and incompetent to be much threat on their own. I’d worry more about someone trying to prop them up as a rival to you, but honestly, with how much the dragons and their knights love you, no one has much of a chance at that,” Damien said with a shrug. “No, the real worry is that Leonore will come back some day. I half suspect she shan’t, but, well, if the money she stole from the treasury when she departed runs out, and with the way she spends even that considerable sum will eventually, she could cause a major headache.”

“We could just ice her,” Kazuma pointed out, earning him a horrified look from Rin and a grimace and nod from Damien. 

“Kazuma! I’m not just going to order an innocent girl murdered!” Rin cried.

“Oh, Leonore is far from innocent, though her crimes do not generally constitute a capital offense. But monarchs have had people killed for less. Still, as of now, we have no idea where she is, so that’s a matter for another time. For now, I simply look forward to serving at your pleasure, Queen Rin,” Damien said with a bow, and departed with Rin’s permission.

After that, Kazuma came to find that being Prince Consort was, in fact, a lot of work. He could have tried to sleep away the day in bed or goof off with the courtiers, but with Rin working herself to the bone for long hours every day managing the Kingdom, Kazuma felt compelled to at least try and make things easier for her. He ended up taking control of much of the kingdom’s finances, along with manufacturing and trade. 

It was an endless amount of work, but Kazuma was able to come up with several clever inventions that improved the financial situation, as they were still paying ruinous reparations to Elroad, and would be for what sometimes felt like the next hundred years. Still, it was several billion eris a year, even with the competitive interest rates they had been granted. It wasn’t the legacy Kazuma would have wanted to pass on to his children, but there didn’t seem to be much choice in the matter. 

Four months passed by in a flash. By now, Rin was noticeably pregnant, though not hugely so. The clerics all said she was healthy and progressing well, even if she was growing increasingly miserable with the changes her body was undergoing. Her wedding dress had thankfully been tailored to accommodate her situation, so it wouldn’t be too much of a problem. 

The night before their wedding and coronation, Kazuma and Rin took dinner in the garden together, chatting about the next day and making plans. They dismissed their servants for the night and had the space to themselves, eating a simple meal of bread, cheeses, and smoked meat with a bottle of grape juice. It would have been wine, but Rin hadn’t touched a drop since they’d found out, and Kazuma was abstaining in her honor. Mostly because she’d threatened to deny him his nightly privileges otherwise. 

“Here’s to you, the most beautiful woman in the world, and my queen,” Kazuma said, clinking glasses with Rin. 

“And to my prince, long may he balance the budgets,” Rin said, returning his toast. They were both taking generous sips when they heard heavy footfalls on the garden path.

Rin instantly stood, a look of worry on her face. “I told them not to disturb us, but-”

Kazuma was on his feet as well. If their private time was being interrupted, it was dire. Or it had damn well better be. 

To his and Rin’s mutual astonishment, a barefoot and pregnant woman with a bedraggled, travel stained dress and tangled hair stepped into the candlelight. She put her hands on her hips and grinned broadly. “Ta-da! Kept you waiting, didn’t it?”

Kazuma had to blink a couple of times, but Rin’s lips thinned into a line immediately. “You’re late, Leonore. About three months late, in fact.”

“Eh, it’s fine, you seemed to do alright in my absence,” Leonore laughed, coming over and sitting down at the table without being invited to do so. “I must say, exiling father and my boorish brothers? A master stroke! Though honestly, did you really have to? Ruling is going to be such a bother.”

Rin glared at Leonore, but the other woman seemed to ignore her, stuffing her face with bread. “I’m famished! We’ve been traveling for three days, just barely got here in time. When I heard about the coronation, well, I decided it had been long enough after all. Can’t have someone else crowned in my name, can I?”

“I took the regnal name Rin, so no, it’s my name. Not yours,” Rin ground out, slowly taking a seat.

Leonore shrugged. “Well I’ll just have them change it back. I’m sure someone will throw a hissy fit but I can’t have everyone calling me Rin, now can I?”

Kazuma was still on high alert, hand on Chunchumaru as he heard others coming. A moment later, Keith popped out, along with the last person in the world Kazuma ever wanted to see again. Except for maybe Claire. 

“Cecily!?” Kazuma groaned, as a sweat stained Cecily panted into the light, one hand on her back, the other on her swollen belly. “And Keith. Have fun?”

“Uh, mostly. Where’d Lady Aqua go?” Keith said, looking around.

“KAZUMAAAAAAAA!” Aqua wailed, rushing out of the garden with twigs in her hair. She flung herself into Kazuma’s arms, bawling her eyes out. “I-I’m so, so sorry! N-never make me leave you again! Kazuma, I will be your maid if you please please please let me live in your fancy house and promise to take care of me! Leonore is such a BITCH!” 

“You’re no peach yourself, you lazy drunk,” Leonore grumbled, glaring at Aqua as Kazuma rubbed her back and tried to console her. 

“Don’t talk to Lady Aqua like that, dear,” Cecily sighed, slumping into a chair and kicking off her shoes. “Oof. Keith, rub my feet, they hurt so bad.”

“Only after he rubs mine,” Leonore sniffed. 

Keith winced, but quickly knelt and started rubbing both women’s feet with one hand. “Yes, dears…”

Kazuma gave Keith a sympathetic look, then gently kissed Aqua on the forehead. “It’s OK, you're back now. How bad was it?”

“Awful! S-she stole all my wine, was rude to me, and Kazuma,” A look of horror crossed Aqua’s face. “She made me CHARGE for my ART. Can you even imagine!? She tried to make charge for my healing too, but I wouldn’t do it! Can you imagine, a goddess like me, forcing her faithful to PAY for her gifts!? I…I wanted to DIE! It was humiliating!” 

“We were going to starve otherwise, you ungrateful bimbo. You kept wasting our money on handouts and fancy food,” Leonore snorted. 

Aqua spun about, enraged. “I was happy eating cheaply! YOU were the one who kept spending money like it was going out of style!”

“Ladies, please. I’m sure you’re both financial disasters waiting to happen,” Kazuma said, causing Leonore to glare at him and Aqua to stick her tongue out at Leonore. “Aqua, we’ll give you an allowance. But, I do have an important question.”

“Don’t worry, I’m still an amazing goddess and your faithful companion, Kazuma! I did hear about you defeating another general, so good job!” Aqua said, giving him a thumbs up.

“Uh, thanks, but I’m more worried about Megumin and Taylor. Heaven help me, but they were the sensible ones in your group. Why weren’t they keeping you out of trouble?” Kazuma asked.

“They’re in the Crimson Demon Village still, for all I know. Megumin found out she was pregnant shortly before I did, and Taylor left with her to go ask for her parents permission,” Leonore said with a shrug.

“No, they’re in Axel now! They got married and moved back there, Taylor started a demolition business and Megumin is using Explosion Magic to help  him,” Aqua explained. “They, uh, aren’t making very much money, but they’re happy. Megumin will be here tomorrow, don’t worry, Yunyun’s teleporting them in. I’m surprised they didn’t write you.”

“Huh,” Kazuma glanced at Rin, who was groaning. “Well, I’m not too terribly surprised I guess. Seems like the party swap worked out for everyone. He glanced down at Keith, who looked absolutely miserable as he continued to massage the two pregnant women’s feet. “Well, almost everyone.”

“Yes, well, you can stay for the coronation, though obviously, I’ll be marrying Keith instead of Kazuma. Unless you’re up for that, he’s getting boring,” Leonore commented, which made Keith wince and look even more miserable.

“No, you won’t. You’ll be leaving tonight, and never returning,” Rin said flatly. “At least you, Leonore. You can stay if you want, Keith. I wouldn’t even blame you for abandoning the pregnant bitch, even if that is your child.”

“What?!” Keith let out a yip as Leonore kicked him and then jerked to her feet, her face flushed and outraged. “What do you mean, I’m leaving? This is my castle, and my kingdom!”

“The hell it is,” Rin said calmly, meeting Leonore’s gaze evenly. “You’ve spent your entire life partying and ruining other people’s lives. I thought perhaps you were a bit of a victim, but honestly, any trials you suffered, you thoroughly earned. Marie and Tiana have told me everything.”

“Who?” Leonore asked, looking puzzled. 

“My ladies in waiting. Your former ladies in waiting. You were together for nearly a decade. And you can’t even remember their names, can you?” Rin said, her face slowly flushing with outrage. 

“Oh, those two. Well, they’re hardly important,” Leonore sniffed. “I can always replace them.”

“I think not. I’ve finally started to turn this kingdom around from the mess you left it in, Leonore. I am hardly going to hand it back to you so you can run the whole thing into the ground,” Rin snarled, her tail bristling behind her. 

“As if you could stop me! You’re just a commoner!” Leonore sneered. “One word from me, and your whole charade falls down around you!”

“Really. What do you think, Minister Damien?” Rin said, looking pointedly behind Leonore. 

Leonore whirled, a look of triumph on her face. “Ah, there you are, Damien! Now tell this common trollop who she really is, and throw her out on her ear!”

“Your Majesty, I do apologize for the disturbance. That one over there,” Damien nodded to Aqua. “Drew a painting so incredible with some chalk on the pavement that it had all the guards mesmerized and they snuck in.”

“She’s a goddess of the arts, so you’re forgiven,” Rin said. 

“He’s not talking to you, commoner! Damien! Summon my guards,” Leonore ordered. 

Damien regarded her flatly, then turned to Rin. “Shall I have these miscreants thrown out? Or executed?”

“DAMIEN!” Leonore shrieked, but Rin shook her head. 

“Neither. They’re Axis Cultists. It’s to be expected. Give them some stale bread and cheese and then escort them to the border. If they’re found crossing back into Bryndle, imprison them until these two give birth. Then beat them soundly and throw them out again.”

“KAZUMAAAAAAA! You can’t let them beat me, I’m a GODDESS!” Aqua wailed, clutching at him and kneeling before Kazuma.

“Hey, it’s fine, she doesn’t mean you,” Kazuma said, patting Aqua on the head. “Sorry, Minister. Uh, this is the Goddess Aqua, come to bless our wedding. Though Lady Eris will still be performing the ceremony.”

“WHAT!?” Aqua lept up, outraged. “My junior is NOT beating me out at my best buddies wedding! She may have gotten to perform the ceremony for Darkness, but that’s one thing! I’m totally doing this one! I did Megumin’s, and she said it was the best wedding ceremony ever!”

“Sorry, talk to Eris, I’m sure she’ll let you help out,” Kazuma said.

“You can’t do this to me!” Leonore cried as guards, led by Captain Chanticlaire and Hoyin, arrived. “Chanticlaire! Hoyin! It’s me, Leonore! You, you recognize me, don’t you!?”

“Silence, peasant,” Hoyin snarled, backhanding Leonore hard enough to draw blood and send her reeling to her knees. “Further lies out of you and I will thrash you myself!”

“Hoyin, she’s one of Aqua’s chosen, and pregnant. Be gentle, for the child’s sake if no other,” Rin said firmly.

“Yes, your Majesty, I apologize,” Hoyin said, bowing deeply as Leonore began to weep. 

Keith and Cecily didn’t seem overly bothered by it, with Cecily seeming positively delighted. “Cheer up, Leonore! This place would get too stuffy anyway. We can go back to Alcanrettia and serve Lady Aqua there! We’ll get loads of recruits with two cute babies in our arms!” 

“Oh boy,” Keith sighed. He glanced at Kazuma, and shrugged. “I mean, at least the sex is good? Later, Kazuma.”

“Uh, bye,” Kazuma said, waving lamely as the guards led the former Princess and her two lovers away. He glanced at Rin. “I changed my mind. A harem is a fate worse than death.”

“Well I’m glad, because if anyone was going to get a harem around here, it would be me,” Rin said dryly. Then she smiled at Aqua. “Oh get up. We’ll have some wine brought for you. I’m glad you could make it in time, even if I’m not a big fan of the company you brought with you.”

Aqua sprang up, her tears forgotten and eagerly sat down in a chair Damien had brought for you. “Thanks! I promise, I can be super amazing and helpful! Trust me, my wedding ceremonies are WAY better then stuffy old Eris’.”

“Was it really that bad being away from me?” Kazuma asked in amusement as Aqua began to tell a very disjointed tale of her misadventures.

“Kazuma, I would rather sleep in a barn with you for a thousand years then spend another second with Leonore. You might be a perverted NEET, but at least you don’t treat me like your personal slave,” Aqua said with a shudder.

“Didn’t you ever think of just, you know, running away?” Kazuma asked. 

Aqua blinked at him. “But you said to stay with Leonore and keep an eye on her. I figured you knew what you were talking about, so I just did that.”

“Bless you, Aqua,” Kazuma chuckled. A servant brought Aqua some wine, which she eagerly grabbed from him. 

Aqua raised the bottle on high. “A toast! To my bestest buddy Kazuma, and the amazing Queen Rin, long may they reign!”

“‘CHEERS!’” Kazuma and Rin said together, raising their juice in salute.

“Though you guys are totally naming your next kid after me, right? Especially if I promise to give you an adorable little girl?” Aqua begged. 

Rin laughed. “We’ll see, goddess.”

“Ugh, just call me Aqua. I don’t wanna have to call you Queen Rin all the time. That would be super weird,” Aqua said, making a face. 

“I could make you call me Prince Kazuma,” he teased, grinning at Aqua. In response, she stuck her tongue out at him, and they all laughed together.

FIN

Author’s Note:

Believe it or not, this was originally meant to be a couple chapters at most of a sexy and fun romance between Kazuma and Rin with them hooking their party members up. Then I realized I needed someone for Keith, decided to write a little bit more for Bryndle…and it ballooned into 10 chapters and about 60k words. Oh well. 

Next up…I think it’s Darkness’ turn to shine.