#1152 The Bean Kingdom’s Counterattack

The trade fair is still in full swing.

Not only are the Big Three Nations participating, but smaller races and independent autonomous regions have joined in as well, making it an even bigger success than expected.

Since this event has been heavily promoted worldwide, visitors have come from far and wide, resulting in an overwhelming turnout.

In short, both general attendees and exhibitors are having an absolute blast.

“Hmm…! I came all this way for the limited-edition God Figure, but these elf-made ceramics… they’ve got a certain charm…!”
“They’d probably look amazing displayed alongside the figures…!”

Their interests are starting to expand into new areas.

And the exhibitors are feeling it, too...

“This God Figure or whatever it’s called! It’s really firing up our dwarven craftsmanship! Would you let us take on a project to develop a new product based on it?!”
“Oh! In that case, how about the 1/60 scale, Perfect-Style Hades God we abandoned due to technical issues?!”

New connections spark fresh inspiration, paving the way for an exciting new era.
This is it.
This is exactly the kind of meaningful exchange that make events like these worthwhile.

“…My Lord, it’s almost closing time.”

The goblins report in.

All right then, time to notify the exhibitors to start packing up.
Also, make sure the carriages are ready to take the attendees home.

At this rate, we should be able to wrap things up smoothly.
It looks like the trade fair is going to conclude as a solid success.

…But I had no idea.
I didn’t realize that the moment I let my guard down would be the most dangerous one of all.

“Kukukuku… Foolish commoners… you still don’t understand, do you…?!”

…What the?!
Where is that voice coming from? Above?!

“What is the single most superior product in this world…?! The finest, the most magnificent product worthy of being presented to the world?! That’s right, it is...!!!”

It is...?!

“…BEANS!!!”

LETASREIT!!!

I already know! I don’t even need to look!
There’s only one person in existence who would burst in out of nowhere and start preaching about beans like this—Letasreit!!!

And sure enough, it is her.

Standing triumphantly at the peak of some massive floating structure, an enormous airborne fortress towering above us, is none other than Letasreit!

…
…Wait, what is that?!

What’s going on?! What is she even standing on?!
Sure, this is a fantasy world, but that doesn’t mean I’m just going to accept the existence of a giant floating fortress without question! Some things make sense in a fantasy setting, and some things absolutely do not!

And this is definitely in the latter category!!!
I mean, there was no precedent for this! I’m the kind of person who needs precedent before acknowledging anything new.

“Letasreit! Letasreit!!! It’s been a while!!!”

The moment I saw her face, I was hit by a strange realization.
It really had been some time since I last saw her.
Actually, yeah…

When was the last time?
I haven’t seen her since...talk of founding the Farm Kingdom started.

“Hmhmhmhm… I’ve been preparing in secret, away from your watchful eyes…!”

Preparing?
For what?

“Obviously, for the founding of my own independent nation!!!”

An independent nation?!
Wait, does she mean… our Farm Kingdom?

“No! Why would I help with your independent nation?!”
“Why not? I mean, we’re farm buddies, right?”
“That may be true! But at the end of the day, people should put themselves first before worrying about others! You can’t help anyone else if you don’t have your own life sorted first! Don’t you agree?!”

Ugh…!
I mean… I can’t exactly argue with that…!

I like to think I’m a reasonable person who cares about others, but when it comes down to it, you have to put yourself first. That’s just common sense.

“In other words, the new nation I’m establishing is my own nation, for myself! I mean, come on! If someone like you, who had zero involvement in the world until recently, can establish a country, then why shouldn’t I, someone from a prestigious royal lineage, be allowed to do the same?! That’s ridiculous!”

Well...Sure, she was a former princess, but her kingdom was destroyed ages ago!
She has no political power left, so shouldn’t she just accept being a regular citizen at this point?

“No way! I refuse to accept that! I will exercise my rightful authority! And thus, I declare the foundation of my new nation!!!”

Darn you, Letasreit…!
I thought you had turned over a new leaf after settling on the farm, but now, you pull something like this at the last second?!

Did the talk of founding a new nation awaken something in her…?!

“…L-Leaving all that aside, what the heck is that thing you’re riding?”
“Hm? What? I can’t hear you!”
“I’M ASKING ABOUT THAT MASSIVE FLOATING ANCIENT-CIVILIZATION-LOOKING WAR MACHINE YOU’RE STANDING ON!”

Don’t suddenly pretend to be too far away to hear me now!!!

There may be quite a bit of distance between me on the ground and her on top of that floating fortress, but it feels like trying to shout at someone standing on the top floor of a skyscraper.

“Oh, my bad, my bad! The wind shifted all of a sudden. Anyway, to answer your question… This is my ultimate doomsday strategic weapon, prepared specifically for nation-building!!!”

Doomssday strategic weapon?!

“My dream and ambition, materialized into the ultimate war machine! A mobile nation that will traverse the world, crushing all who oppose it with its overwhelming firepower! I name it… the Bean Star!!!”

The Bean Star?!

Now that she mentions it, I haven’t actually taken a good look at the overall shape of the floating fortress. It’s a massive sphere, like some kind of celestial body!

No, wait... it’s slightly elongated like a bean! A soybean!

Are you telling me Letasreit is floating on a giant soybean?!

“But how exactly did you build this thing?! This isn’t some ordinary crop from the fields, you know?!”

This thing is bigger and more technologically advanced than anything I’ve ever created, even with the usual otherworldly modern-knowledge cheats.
I-I lost…!

This kind of ancient-tech monstrosity could only be resurrected with an insane amount of funding and effort! There’s no way something like this is easy to maintain!

“This is the result of Letasreit’s sheer determination and willpower.”

Descending gracefully on white wings, Holkosfon appeared.
So she has chosen to side with Letasreit, after all?!

“Letasreit’s overwhelming love for beans took physical form and manifested as this structure. The Bean Star’s sheer size is a reflection of her immense love for beans.”

So, this is some kind of manifestation ability?!

A colossal floating bean fortress, created with zero cost through pure mental and spiritual energy?!
Is this what they meant when they say, ‘mind over matter’?!

“The trade fair has gathered world leaders from across the globe… This is the perfect opportunity. Now, I shall have my new nation officially recognized!!!”

What?!

Letasreit is really going all-in on this?!
Showing up in a giant floating fortress and making demands in front of the world’s rulers!
She’s acting like a total villain!

Is this what it means to be a villainous noble?!

Does she really want to restore the old Human Kingdom that badly?!

“…Restore the Human Kingdom? What are you talking about?”
“Who said anything about that?”

Wait, huh?
That’s not it?

“Digging up the past won’t change anything. You do realize that, right?”
“Moreover, the Human Kingdom is already functioning fine under its new system. There’s no point in switching out their leadership now. What we’re doing is establishing a new frontier.”

Letasreit and Holkosfon stand together as they proudly declare that...

“…We are founding the Bean Kingdom!”
“The Bean Kingdom.”