#911 The Turmoil Continues

I wonder.

What would happen if Dragon Ramen became a global phenomenon?

To begin with, gonkotsu broth is nothing short of a potent elixir. Brewn from the essence of dragons, it promises an extraordinary boost in strength to those who consume it.

The effectiveness of this concoction is so unparalleled that it borders on being considered a narcotic, or perhaps more accurately, hazardous waste.

After all, in its undiluted form, this broth can instantly transform an ordinary person into an invincible berserker, earning it a notorious reputation.

Imagine diluting it to a level suitable for the average Joe and distributing it worldwide. What comes next?

You can easily picture people everywhere suddenly finding themselves significantly more powerful.

And we’re not talking small numbers here.

Given the mass production of Dragon Ramen, the scale is immense.

If everyone on the planet receives this power boost simultaneously, the relative differences in individual strength will remain unchanged.

After all, everyone is equally empowered.

In essence, humanity has unknowingly leveled up.

Yet, the realization of this shift will likely elude many.

The true significance of this enhancement remains a mystery for now...

But for Veil personally, this venture has allowed her to wipe out her debts in one fell swoop.

“Yes! My debts have vanished like magic! Only a bit more to go!!!”

It’s somewhat terrifying that there’s still more to pay off even after such a grand use.

However, continuously consuming dragon essence poses health risks, so further distribution becomes challenging.

Out of concern for consumer health, the second batch of ramen will forego dragon essence, opting instead for a safer soup base made from pork and chicken bones, albeit secretly transitioning.

...Is it just me, or does this shift feel a bit like we’re up to no good?

“Switching the soup base won’t mean we compromise! I’ll use my experience and knowledge to craft a superior broth that maintains its richness and aroma!” declares Veil, now a passionate ramen artisan.

...But here’s the thing: haven’t we already exposed humanity to the potent gonkotsu broth?

And yet, there’s more left.

How do we proceed from here?

Are there still individuals out there who can safely consume it?

...Such concerns momentarily evoke anxieties reminiscent of global environmental issues, but dampening Veil’s spirits seems petty... so I remain silent.

If this current success brings her relief, then so be it.

Let’s deal with any issues that arise later.

Dragon Ramen will continue to be in demand as long as the market exists for it.

For now, I’ll wrap up this summary and move on to the next topic.

And it all begins with a visit from the current human president, Ritheseus...

***

“Lord Saint! Please help me!”

Since becoming president, Ritheseus has increasingly embraced the mundane world.

Gone is the brilliant, light novel protagonist-like Ritheseus from his farm days, replaced by someone resembling a young businessman from a manga.

He remains the protagonist... albeit one covered in mud.

Is this what being seasoned by the rough seas of society looks like...?!

“So, what brings you here this time?”

Turning away a former pupil in need is out of the question.

Like many others, he finds solace in seeking advice at the farm.

“You just came the other day to announce your marriage, didn’t you?”

“That very marriage has caused a huge problem!”

Ascension to the presidency necessitated that Ritheseus quickly settle down, adhering to the notion that a man isn’t complete without a family.

Ritheseus chose (or was chosen by?) Eryngear, a demoness from his days on the farm, as his life partner.

Though Eryngear’s love for Ritheseus was far more fervent than his for her, aligning with a neighboring country through matrimony might just be the cleverest move for the humans as they advance toward an independent nation.

It serves as a clear and effective means to promote peace with the Demon Kingdom.

This marriage should have been celebrated, but...

“But the authorities of the Human Republic are all against it.”

“I feel like we’ve been over this before.”

And we have.

Ritheseus’ marriage proposal sparked quite the controversy.

With Ritheseus at the helm, the shift to a republic rendered traditional concepts of vassalage obsolete.

So, what should we call these officials?

High-ranking officers? Ministers?... Maybe just “authorities” is fine.

“Anyway, marrying from the Demon King’s Army that once dominated the Human Kingdom is strictly off-limits due to the perception of ‘looking down on us.’ Even from a political aspect, there was a stubborn insistence that it was best to marry someone of the same kind from within the country.”

“At the end of the day, the real motive is to marry within one’s own circle to consolidate power, isn’t it?”

“Yes! Exactly that!”

Ritheseus heartily agrees with this.

Was there ever a time during our student days when he was this fired up?

“They never try to understand no matter how many times they’re taught! The president is different from a king! Not an absolute monarch, and his power only lasts for the duration of his term! Passing power to one’s children is out of the question! So, marrying off one’s daughter to have a grandson become the next king...such dreamy developments are impossible! Get it?”

“There, there...!”

Who would have thought the day would come when I’d need to calm Ritheseus down...?!

“...But because the president’s power doesn’t extend as far as a king’s, the opinion of the dignitaries prevailed in the end. Even Lord Dalkish, who sided with us and argued in our favor, couldn’t overcome them...”

Lord Dalkish, one of the Human Kingdom’s feudal lords and well acquainted with us, was the first in an interracial marriage, having married Lady Varlina of the demon race.

Because of this, it seems there are rumors suggesting that he’s plotting to sanction marriages of reason.

Fearing this outdated mindset of the Human Kingdom’s leaders, Ritheseus, recalling his classmates from his farm days, plots to overhaul the leadership of the Human Republic with a completely new structure.

However, such an establishment requires preparation and time.

It’s hardly likely to coincide with settling this marriage debacle.

So, this time, Ritheseus had no choice but to handle it alone and, as expected, couldn’t manage.

“Still, we managed to avoid being completely reverted to a blank slate or being forced to marry a bride prepared by the dignitaries... But in exchange, we were presented with another troublesome development...!”

“Troublesome development?”

What could it be?

Just hearing about it already feels tiresome.

“Who truly deserves to be the queen? Is the one who became queen genuinely fitting for the role? We need to make it widely known, both domestically and internationally... or so they say. But no, it’s not about being a queen. I’ve said it time and again...!!!”

Seriously, my condolences.

To have Rihteseus this disheartened is something.

“When I asked them what they wanted to publicize, those lot happily gave me an answer...!”

Ritheseus, are you okay?

Your language is becoming quite harsh.

“‘Make them compete,’ they said...!”

“Compete?”

It’s going in an even more bewildering direction.

The idea is to find a true genius who embodies the perfect blend of beauty, wisdom, and agility to handle sudden situations without causing offense by having many young ladies undergo scrutiny and selection.

Is that what they mean by competing?

“Confident young ladies are gathered from all over the Human Kingdom to check for qualities befitting a queen, with the most outstanding one to be chosen. I resisted as much as I could, but this was the best compromise I could manage...!!!”

If he’d messed up, he could’ve ended up scrapping the whole marriage deal with Eryngear and getting hitched to some convenient choice bride picked out by the big shots instead.

Given that, picking up the gauntlet thrown down with a, “Ha! Sure, why not? Let’s have a showdown. My Eryngear is bound to win anyway” seemed like the cleverest way to dodge the bullet.

Ritheseus really shouldn’t have to deal with such nonsense.

With his combat abilities honed on the farm, it would be easy for him to reduce any complaints to blood and gore.

He could establish his dominion that way.

But he refrains because the democratic nation he envisions should be governed by law and good sense, not by force.

No issue should ever be solved through violence.

That’s why, no matter how nefarious the opponent, he never forgets to seek a solution through dialogue.

A true ruler is the one who must be most bound by power.

It’s tough, isn’t it?

“So, a sudden event to decide my bride will be held at the old Human Kingdom’s castle. The name of this event is...”

The name is?

“...Tenkaichi Butoukai!!!”

Oh boy.

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i believe tenkaichi butoukai is a reference to tenkaichi budoukai from dragon ball(may its creator, akira toriyama, rest in peace ;; )

literally, it means "the number one ball under heaven"/ "world ball"