#912 Tenkaichi Butoukai

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Always slapping on titles as you please, huh?

What’s with the “Tenkaichi Butoukai”?

It smells like a rip-off through and through!

How do you even make it adapt to isekai themes so smoothly?!

What, are you saying the strongest in the world will be decided at a dance-off?!

“According to the dignitaries, the dance-off is the perfect place for men and women to meet. Hence, it is deemed the most suitable event for finding the ideal partner...!”

Thus, the Tenkaichi Butoukai.

A stage to determine the best wife in the world.

And the one who emerges victorious, fighting through to the end, will marry the world’s greatest man.

“What does Eryngear say about all this?”

The lady who’s won the spot beside you.

Isn’t she going to flip the table on this one?

“No... She’s actually quite positive about it, saying it’s the perfect opportunity to prove she’s the right match for me. Even saying she’ll tear apart anyone who interferes with a flick of her finger...!”

That’s classic Eryngear for you.

However, from the way she speaks, it’s questionable if she truly grasps the essence of the event.

More like the harbinger of conflict and chaos. It makes you wonder if she is really suitable to be the next first lady.

“I’d love to believe in the woman I love... But the opponents are the sernior dignitaries of the Human Kingdom, akin to demons who’ve manipulated history from the shadows. Whether Eryngear can outsmart such experienced individuals in a battle of wits... is a bit...”

I get Riteseus’s concerns.

In this world, not all threats come stomping in with brute force and raw power... Some dangers creep up on you silently from where you least expect them.

Imagine a sly, insidious force that quietly entangles itself around your feet when you’re not looking, and before you know it, you’re firmly wrapped up from head to toe.

Especially those who remain at the core of the Human Kingdom, survivors of the old Human Kingdom’s downfall and the Demon King’s Army’s occupation era.

It’s definitely not going to be straightforward.

“Eryngear, being naive, is highly likely to be deceived by them. I can’t casually intervene from my presidential position without compromising fairness.”

True that.

“So, I was hoping Lord Saint could lend us a hand in secret! You’re unbound by worldly shackles and capable of intervening without anyone being the wiser if so desired, right?! Could you, with your omnipotent power, possibly punish the old evils of the Human Kingdom for us?!”

Aren’t you overestimating me a bit?

If you’re asking an omnipotent being for help, shouldn’t you aim higher than such a modest request? Why not transform the Human Kingdom into an unmatched kingdom for a thousand years?

...No good, huh?

It’s essential for the efforts of all those living there to gradually move in a positive direction.

It’s not right for a god-like power to decide everything.

...Okay, got it.

If you’re okay with my help, I’ll see what I can do.

Especially since I feel a bit guilty for leaving Ritheseus to handle all the trouble...

***

Time passed.

The day of Tenkaichi Butoukai arrived.

A ball held to determine the undisputed number one debutante in all the land.

The parody-rich scent wafting from its name suggests it’s not entirely a joke, leaving you feeling rather bemused.

The venue is the old royal castle, where the kings of the Human Kingdom once lived.

Now serving as the government office of the new Human Republic, today, it shines as brightly as it did in its days as a royal castle, if only for this event.

“No, this castle will continue to shine daily from now on. The glory of old is finally returning...” mutters an old man walking down the castle’s corridors.

Judging from his demeanor, he’s probably one of the leading figures of the Human Republic.

“It was a long wait. Overrun by demons, we thought the Human Kingdom would never return, but here we are, witnessing a miraculous revival.”

Beside the old man, a younger man, seemingly his aide, nods in agreement.

The clear master-servant dynamic between them is unmistakable.

“We must pass this torch to the next generation without letting it extinguish. Hence, it is crucial for the new king to welcome a suitable queen. To bring a demoness as the queen would be as good as wrapping ourselves in the influence of the Demon Kingdom we’ve finally cut ties with.”

“The new king, young as he is, seems unaware of these subtleties. It’s up to us to guide him properly.”

They sure have their own agenda.

“Our heartfelt pleas finally paid off, and it’s nothing short of miraculous that we’ve been granted the chance to organize a selection process. Let’s make the most of this opportunity and pick a lady truly worthy of becoming the new human king’s queen.”

“Of course, you’re referring to your granddaughter, aren’t you?”

“Let’s not state the obvious. Ho ho ho ho ho...”

They’e having a conversation that sounds straight out of a play, with the theatrics of a certain merchant and a corrupt official.

“Whoever is chosen must be a pure-blooded human lady of noble descent. We cannot have anyone tainted with vile magic... You understand, right?”

“Of course. We’ve already prepared a way to weed out any unsuitable candidates.”

The younger man, looking like a sycophant, smirks.

“As a preliminary test for the Tenkaichi Butoukai, we’ve set a challenge: Recite the names of all the past kings of the Human Kingdom.“

“Excellent! It’s basic knowledge for human ladies but an impossible feat for demon folk!”

The dignitary laughs heartily.

But seriously, aren’t those kings from the old Human Kingdom?

That has nothing to do with the new democratic Human Kingdom; it’s merely history now.

Why treat it like essential knowledge?

That’s what I think.

“Anyway, this should eliminate any troublesome demon ladies. After that, it’ll just be our daughters in a pure selection for the queen...!”

“Regardless of who’s chosen, the future of the new Human Kingdom is bright. And if your granddaughter is selected, the future will be even brighter...”

“Let’s not say more. Ho ho ho ho ho...!”

...

It’s amazing that there really are people in the world who talk like they’re characters from a period drama.

After they left, the hallway emptied, and Sensei and I revealed ourselves, dissolving our invisibility.

As if a mirage faded, the once-empty space twisted, and in its place stood a thin figure and an older man.

Yes, we were hiding.

Yes, we were eavesdropping.

“...It seems that in every era, in every place, the cunning ones do indeed make their presence known,” says Sensei the Lifeless King.

Since receiving a secret distress call from Ritheseus, we stealthily infiltrated the royal castle, watching everything from the shadows.

I asked for Sensei’s help, thinking it would make things smoother.

And sure enough, with his mastery over a thousand spells, becoming invisible or blocking our presence was a breeze. This allowed us to listen in on the schemers’ conversation up close.

Sensei, more dismayed than ever, says, “This royal castle remains a den of scheming both in the past and now. There’s never a moment without conspiracy. Well, that’s central to politics, but still...”

But you know, a conspiracy is almost acceptable if it’s well-crafted. This time, however, it’s complete and utter nonsense.

The people at the heart of the Human Republic haven’t got the faintest clue about democracy, and here they are, trying to carry on with the old-fashioned monarchy...

...So it was all true.

I was informed of the details, but to see such adherence to the past firsthand...

“Even I, who lived a thousand years ago, am more open to new ideas. The youth these days lack flexible thinking,” says Sensei, frustrated.

Had the senior dignitaries heard this, they would never have expected to be called young by a Lifeless King, but his words leave no room for argument.

“There’s no doubt about it. We must intervene. After overhearing this, any hesitation has vanished!”

For the future of the Human Republic, let’s teach them what true democracy is.

With the knowledge from my original world and Sensei’s vast experience, we’re perfectly equipped.

“Let’s do it.”

“Shall we?”

Our resolve is one.

Time to crash the party!