Naofumi:” Wait a second!”

An outrageous statement was just dropped in the conversation.
Other countries can call heroes? There are turns?
Then that means this country did something crazy.

Naofumi: "Please explain it in further detail."
Queen: ”Sure.”

The queen’s story is like this.
Damages from the wave were reported all over the world, so a world conference was hosted, in which every country was represented either by their king or queen.

Of course there are countries that are on bad terms with each other; Melromarc and Silt Welt for example. However, there is a prophecy that the world is facing an imminent end, so their hostilities were put on hold, and the conference was complete.
During the conference, the country Melromarc was fourth in line to perform the summoning.

By the way, each summoning is only supposed to summon a single Hero. In many cases, they do not even appear at all.
Of course, which hero to be summoned is predetermined with official discussion involving multiple countries.

Naofumi: ”So, how did this country manage to summon us all?”
Queen: ”During the hero summoning ritual, it is customary to use a holy relic as the catalyst. Then, the date and type of ceremony are decided in accordance with the summoning……”

It seems that the Three Heroes Church took advantage of queen's absence to summon the four holy heroes.

Queen: ”The Three Heroes Church is a religion that has deep roots within this country, but from what I know they were very conservative. Therefore, I overlooked this unexpectedly big plan of theirs.”
Naofumi: ”That is quite a problem regarding foreign affairs, is it not?”

To have boldly gathered all of the world saviors one place.

Queen: ”Yes……That lead to a lot of international criticism. It was the affair I was taking care of during my absence.”
Naofumi:”What were you even thinking, to have left the country to a fellow who might have caused a war.”

There was a big problem. The person entrusted with responsibility is horrible.

Trash: ”What are you implying!”
Queen: ”Silence!”

The queen bellowed thunderously at Trash, shutting him up.

Queen: ”It was not a problem before. Before the waves even started I was involved in diplomacy, our domestic affairs were also excellent, and I delegated the affairs of the country to the one I trusted as my right-hand man but……”

Naofumi:”But?”

Queen:”He died during the wave……That person was respected by demi-humans too……”

Quite unlucky……So is that why all that was left trash and some other useless guys?
……As expected, that level of incompetency was unnatural.
Right now the posts within the country need new and talented personnel, otherwise things will remain the same.
Worst case was trash having all the power, and those around him never speaking up due to fear. This was such a place.

Trash: ”The truth is, it just came to me to perform the hero summons, and as a matter of fact all of the heroes appeared!”

The queen slaps trash.

Trash: ”Fuguu–“

Yeah, it would be weird if she wasn’t extremely angry after returning to her country and finding a mountain of problems.

Queen: ”Even though it was foolish, I had to depend on my successor because of a useless husband like you! When he died an unnatural death you didn’t even investigate. The culprit was the Three Heroes Church!”
Trash: ”Gufu!”
Queen: ”Furthermore, the day right after the heroes were summoned you framed the Hero of the Shield! At least doubt the conspiracy a bit!”
Trash: ”Guha!”
Queen: ”And yet, I had even told you not to discriminate against the Hero of the shield! Do you understand that those actions of yours could have kindled the flames of war!?”
Trash: ”Geho!”
Queen: ”And during the end of the second wave, you intentionally tried to take away Hero of the shield’s slave, whom I had to arrange through a lot of trouble!”

What!?
What did she just say?

Naofumi: ”Wait a minute, you set up my meeting with Raphtalia?”
Queen: ”I’ll explain later. Right now I’m dealing with this guy.”

Uwa…..she snapped.

Queen: ”While you were acting beyond your authority the nobles started planning behind your back to take power. A riot started in Silt Welt, and Shirudo Furiden even started preparing for war!”

Somehow……I sympathize with the queen.
The people you can rely on within the country are all dead and you are protecting the country alone against other countries that might attack.
Amazing. I wonder what she had to go through to talk like that.
This hysteria, I only thought it was possible for women in their early twenties hitting their husbands.
I mean…… She is the mother of Bitch and Melty. Yet seh still looks so young.

Queen: ”To cap it all off Melty wanted to selfishly meet you! I was at the limits of my patience. Therefore I set a trap!”
Trash: ”Wh-What did you say!?”
Queen: ”Did you even investigate the events happening around you? I let you dispatch a large amount of soldiers for emergencies! That was the start of this whole incident!”

The queen declares during her outburst.

Queen: ”The Three Heroes Church is a heretical religion! Melromarc’s sole religion is the Four Saint Faith!”
Trash: ”Wh-What did you say!? That tradition was abandoned since the start of this country!”
Queen: ”There are heretical religions that have no value and cause nothing but problems!”

Four Saints Faith?

Naofumi: ”What is that?”
Melty: ”A religion believing in the Four Saint Heroes equally.”

Melty explains.
Well, now that I think about it, there should be a lot of countries that believe in the legend of the Four Heroes who saved the world.

Melty: ”Even though originally the Three Heroes Church was an extremist faction that split from the Four Saints Faith……I would explain more but then I would need to start from the founding of this country.”
Naofumi: ”I see……”

If Silt Welt has a religion following the Shield, then it should be natural for other countries to believe in all four.
In other words, Melromarc’s dispute with Silt Welt is over the mistreatment of the Hero of the Shield.
The other country believes in the devil of the shield, and our religion is correct, did that lead to the Three Heroes Church’s creation?
Where was the royal family in all of this?

Queen:”Fu……”

After slapping and abusing trash for quite a while, the queen covers her lips with her fan and turns to me with a refreshed look.

Queen:”There are various things about Iwatani-sama’s actions….that I want to talk about it later.”
Naofumi:”I’ll pass…… I would rather not hear those heroic tales.”
Queen:” It is necessary to hear it. Because Iwatani-sama has also caused a lot of problems.”

Uh…… I wonder what they are. I would rather not hear it.
To be frank, ever since coming here I did a few bad things
Of course I am not going to reflect on it, and I do not intend to.

Queen:” For example, that incident at the demon dealer’s with your demon.”
Naofumi: ”Hmm……”
Queen:”That uproar at the bar.”

To know about so much.

Queen: ”I wonder who covered it up before my husband heard.”
Naofumi:”Do I get a sermon too? It’s regrettable, but I am not like this guy.”
Queen: ”No way…… I only want you to listen.”
Naofumi:” I do not think what I did was wrong either.”
Queen: ”I guess. Though I was able to relax a bit while staying in foreign countries thanks to your efforts. That isn’t the problem.”
Naofumi: ”Hrmm……”
Queen: ”For the time being, there a plenty of things before your punishment.”

Trash and Bitch turn very pale.
It’s the end of their road.

Queen: ”Are you dissatisfied?”
Trash: ”O-of course!”
Bitch: ”That’s right! Mama! I’m not to blame!”
Queen: ”……Wasn’t our parent and child relationship severed a little while ago? I literally disowned you. Go somewhere else……No, pay for your crimes in the country.”

The queen almost deported Bitch on impulse, but stopped halfway.
A sheet of paper with an amount of money written on it was handed to the bitch. The bitch turned even paler than she was a little while ago.
Bitch must have been spending money carelessly due to her social standing.

Bitch: ”This is not an amount of money I can pay!”
Queen: ”That is the price demanded from you from the guild. Trying to steal it from the treasury without permission…… Do you think I wouldn’t notice? you will serve this country as a slave from now on……”
Bitch: ”That’s unreasonable!”
Queen: ”If you hate the slave treatment then you should join the heroes in saving the world. I’ll consider absolving your debts if you play an active role in the waves.”

The bitch falls silent, and then looks at trash now.

Queen: ”Why are you looking at me like I’m a different person!? You changed too, Aultcray.”

Trash bends backwards.
Truthfully, there is no way this guy can go against the queen.
He should have acted more tactfully.

Queen: ”I fought as a commander with various countries against the wave, and I choose him over that.”
Trash: ”Ku……My wife, My queen. This one was swindled. Please have mercy.”
Bitch: ”That’s right. Mama, please postpone your judgement.”
Queen: ”Both mercy and postponement for your crimes are overdue already…… Oh, I have a good method.”

The queen beckons me over.
I stepped forwards and waited.


Queen:” Iwatani-sama, what kind of punishment do you want to give these two? You have the right to choose.”
Naofumi: ”I demand Death! Capital Punishment!”

I answered almost on reflex. My hatred for them may have been registered even in subconsciousness.
Honestly, other than termination with extreme prejudice, no other choice can possibly exist for me.
This grudge of mine can’t even be solved with death.

Trash:”Gunu! You Bastard–“
Bitch:” Stop joking around–“

The queen raises her hand and silences the two.

Queen: ”Really…… you will be satisfied with just killing them?”

The queen suspiciously wraps her magic of eloquence around me.
A chill runs up my spine. Annoying…… I instinctively realize just who I am dealing with.

Queen: ”Assuming you kill them. They would be released from whatever torment or fun you would have with them, for just a moment’s of satisfaction.”
Naofumi:”You…… No, keep talking.”
Queen: ”Killing them is too half-hearted. If a dog is useful, you stroke it affectionately, keeping them tamed till death.”

To not be so cold towards her own relatives…… The queen of this country is unfathomable.

Queen: ”Please think of this as my last feelings for them.”
Naofumi: ”Yeah…… So that’s how it is.”

Basically, besides condemning them to capital punishment or condone them with forgiveness, I will grant you anything else.

Queen: ”Originally the authority of the country is with the queen, but following the scandal of the Three Heroes Church, the royal family’s position is being questioned by foreign countries.”
Naofumi: ”Crucifying two incompetents would persuade the foreign countries wouldn’t it?”
Trash:”Shieeeeeld……You bastaaaard…….!”

The queen ignores trash’s howling.

Queen:” Normally that would be the case. But, that does not apply to Aultcray.”
Naofumi:”Why not?”
Queen:”He is a fool now, but he was amazing back in the day…… since his name is well-known outside the country, settling this by killing him is impossible……”

I don’t know what this trash did, but I understand the situation.
He is too well-known.
In the first place, I thought he had too much power for such an incompetent king.
Was it due to his past actions? It seems those concerned will not stay silent.

It would be extremely interesting to look down on such a man who has been deprived of all his past glory and dragged through the mud.

Naofumi: ” I understand. I’ll listen to your plan,”
Queen: ”I am grateful.”
Naofumi: ” However, I wish for these two to taste hell on earth. That is the minimum condition.”
Queen: ”Yes, of course…… Then what sort of punishment would you like to start with?”

It’s a good idea…… I shouldn’t kill them.

Naofumi:” I’d like to start by hacking off their hands and feet……”

I see the look in Raphtalia’s eyes and think about it again.
Although I have every right to do this, even I think that might be a little too far.
……What should I do? Something that would break them…..
Still, I don’t want to miss this chance that has finally appeared.

Raphtalia:”Naofumi-sama...”

The bitch clasped both hands together in front of Raphtalia and starts crying.
Wow, what a performance. If I didn’t know her true character, I would have been deceived.
I’m quite sure she approached Motoyasu with this face.
I mean, when I was summoned she was the first one to approach me.

Raphtalia: ”...please stop fooling around, and put an end to your revenge. Vengeance is but a vicious circle. Naofumi-sama, please endure it here and be more considerate for the queen.”

……
…………
………………
……………………Sigh……

“I guess so……”

That day, messengers on Philorials travels across the country of Melromarc, announcing to every village and every town.

Messengers: ”As punishment for incompetency displayed in recent events, the Queen decreed that the name of King Aultcray Melromarc and First Princess Malty, will be respectively changed to Trash and Bitch forever! Anybody caught speaking the wrong names will be severely punished!”

In every signboard in every city, every town, and every village, a similar notice was posted.
Everybody who saw or heard this message, regardless of social position all reacted the same.

“””What!?”””