#1208 Privitizing Orkubo’s Castle? 

Turn over the running of Orkubo's Castle to you and your people? 

Lord Dalkish continues in his usual solemn tone. 

“You must be astonished by my sudden proposal. After all, I’m effectively asking you to hand over an event you’ve painstakingly built from the ground up." 

Yeah…  
I mean, it’s not like I’ve been that emotionally invested in it.  
It’s just an excuse for one big annual blowout, really. 

“To be honest, even if you entrust Orkubo's Castle to us, we lack the magic, the skill, and sheer ability to shape it into the kind of magnificent tournament Lord Saint has overseen. Under our banner, the castle’s festivities will likely seem downright shabby compared to what you’ve delivered.” 

That kind of brand-damage to the territory’s reputation could undermine everything we’ve built here. 

Suddenly, it feels like we’re on the brink of a life-or-death gamble. 

“As a result, the scale of Orkubo's Castle might shrink, and the domain’s tax revenue could suffer a serious downturn. But I believe this is unavoidable, as our previous prosperity has been nothing short of abnormal.” 

He clearly intends to use this opportunity to ease the territory’s overheated economy back down to earth.  
Maybe he could have delayed it, but sooner or later, it had to be done. 

Right now, Dalkish’s situation reminds me of a classic exile story: a hero rises alone to S-rank glory, only for the party to fall apart if the hero is banished. T 
The remaining members, drunk on past successes, would be devastated. 

But Dalkish, fully aware of his position, is doing everything he can, grateful to those who’s supported him, yet determined to stabilize the shaky status quo. 

He’s far calmer and more far-sighted than any typical villain in an exile tale. 

That’s why he’d maintained such a strong relationship with us, turning it into wealth, day after day. 

His plan isn’t reckless by any means.  
While I wish the fun could last forever, anyone in his shoes has to think about what comes next. 

“…All right. I accept your proposal, Lord Dalkish.” 
“Thank you.”  

Even though his wish has been granted, there’s no joy or relief on Lord Dalkish’s face. 
And that’s only natural. 
The path ahead of him is bound to be a thorny one. 

“So, from this year on, we’ll take the lead in preparing Orkubo's Castle…” he begins, his voice hollow. “It will be a far cry from the events Lord Saint used to host, it will be more like a farcical sideshow. The participants will likely be furious, but I’ll take full responsibility as their feudal lord.” 

He speaks as if the Grim Reaper himself is standing beside him. 

“Lord Saint, I ask that you now shift the time and effort you devoted to Orkubo's Castle toward the Farm Kingdom. It’s better for the world at large, and we will support you in any way we can.” 
“But first… there’s a task that needs doing.” 

Yes, right here and now. 
 

I admire Dalkish’s sense of duty, but I’m not about to just wave goodbye once I heard his resolve. 
After all, we’ve come this far together.  
We could stand to help each other out a bit more. 

So, what does a proper outsourcing need?  
That’s right. A thorough “handover.” 
…And that’s exactly what we’re going to do! 

*** 

“Wh-What’s about to happen?” 

We stand in an open field within Lord Dalkish’s territory. 
Nothing but flat, unbroken land, perfect for large-scale training. 

Hundreds of knights and mages under Dalkish’s employ has been gathered here. 
All of them are his handpicked elites.  

I even heard that the mages were invited all the way from the Demon Kingdom, thanks to connections through Dalkish’s wife, who’s a demoness.  
In that respect, his territory is impressively forward-thinking and cosmopolitan. We can’t afford to squander such an environment. 

“Um… Lord Saint? As you instructed, I’ve gathered the cream of my territory, but what do we do next?” 
“Of course...we’re entrusting these people with the future of Orkubo's Castle!” 

We need trained staff for… 

Facility management! 
Event coordination! 
Troubleshooting! 
Handling complaints! 
Planning new attractions! 

And now, we’re starting a program to develop exactly those talents! 

All the knowledge and know-how we’ve built up at Orkubo's Castle! 
We’re passing it on to Lord Dalkish’s inner circle today!!! 

“S-So, in other words, you mean we’re to maintain the same level of quality Orkubo's Castle has always had?!” 

Exactly. 
 
“And to do that, you’ll train us up to the necessary standards?!” 

Right again.  
That’s why I’ve invited special guests for today. 

“I call them... Ta-da! Jean Pierre Polnareff!” I announce, and three people step forward. 

Veil the Dragon (in human form). 
Horkosfon the Angel. 
And Sensei the Lifeless King. 

The three strongest champions of the Farm Kingdom, all in one place. 

“I, Grinzel Dragon Veil, am here to train you personally! Under my guidance, even weak humans like you can become as fierce as a tiger with wings, so brace yourselves!!!” 
“You could’ve said dragon instead of a tiger, considering you’re one.” 
“Gahaha! Even if you strapped wings on a tiger, gave it a sword, and mounted a particle cannon on it, it’d never beat a dragon! But humans… maybe you could get close!”  

Listening to Veil and Horkosfon banter, the assembled crowd trembles.  

“Are we seriously going to be brutalized by a dragon?” “Will any of us survive?” “Who’s that winged woman?” they wonder. 

Horkosfon shoots them a cold glare.  

“Rest assured, everyone. I’m here to keep this reckless dragon in check. I’m Horkosfon the angel, and I match that dragon in power.” 

Unsurprisingly, they’re utterly bewildered.  
Legend says only a Lifeless King could rival a dragon, after all. 

And right on cue, a Lifeless King stands before them. 

“I’ll train your bodies and impart the knowledge you need...” 
“As will I.” 
“And me! We will whip you into true professionals! Behold, the Ultimate Species Bootcamp! Gahahahaha!!!” 

With that, the training groundwork is laid.  
We’ll churn out Orkubo's Castle staff by the dozens! 

“First, you will eat my special gonkotsu ramen! The dragon essence in the broth will act on every cell in your body, unlocking your latent power to the max!!!” 
“That alone puts extreme strain on the body, so you will also consume this natto. It enhances your body’s self-preservation functions, supporting safe power growth.” 
“Eat ramen!” 
“Eat natto!” 
“Eat ramen!” 
“Eat natto!” 
“By repeating this, you will become stronger still! This is the Ramen-Natto Repetition Fortification Method! If you want to empower humans, this is the very best method!” 

I can’t help but think that this is the same diet regimen the Demon King once used.  
Sure enough, it made him rival even Ashura. 

“Um...Lord Saint, can we really handle everything after this...?” Lord Dalkish anxiously interrupts. 

Don’t worry. Strength is the ultimate capital.  
After Veil and Horkosfon steel their bodies, they’ll be more than capable of running Orkubo's Castle in our stead. 

“And afterward, I’ll personally ensure they receive all the necessary instruction.” 

Despite appearances, Sensei is brimming with enthusiasm. 

Forge their bodies with a dragon and an angel, then endow them with the knowledge of a Lifeless King. 
With this, the Orkubo's Castle staff training is foolproof!!!