Chapter 1: At Least Spread Some Jam

Eeek!!

Hey! I can hear the Queen's cries from over there!

I'd recognize that sound anywhere!

Oops, we are discovered!

Over there! Hide in that alley!

Track down the Queen!! Capture her alive!!!

They seem to have gone the other way.

Everyone has gone crazy! What now?!

Hey! Got any bright ideas?

.........

.........

Who else would I be talking to right now?

Think of something... anything!

Hmm... You don't remember anything at all?

Did the big boss do something when it brought you here...?

I asked you to think of something... and you're just mumbling to yourself?!

...Seems like they hit their head in the chaos...

Hello, are you listening? Don't you understand what's going on?

I'm Erpin! Erpin! How could you not recognize me, the Queen of Elias?

May the name 'Ner' ring any bells? Surely you must have attended mass on weekends?

Ner! This bonehead doesn't even know me! You think you'd be any different?!

.........

(You think we'll be okay with this one here?)

(This one is much taller than us... and with such abnormally long limbs...)

(Could at least serve as a protective shield, yes?)

Hu... man...?

Zip it! We'll get caught here! Can't you see we're hiding?!

Wait... Did you just hear that?

Look, crumbs...

Eeek!!

Gotcha! So this is where you've been hiding!!!

Now, spit it! Where's your secret snack pantry, Queen!

I told you! There's no such thing!!

We're surrounded... There's nothing we can do on our own right now.

Now, what?! Hey, hooman, human, or whatever you are, don't just stand there! Do something!

Who the hell are you?

Why are you so big?!

Five fingers... Are you some kind of monster that the Queen created?

Doesn't matter! You're still on the Queen's side! Get all of them!

.........

Wh-Who's this?

Wh-What are you doing, you fool!

Hu-Human?

HEY!! What are you doing?! Geez!

Is it some new type of magical golem?

Maybe we can get sugar if we take it apart?!

Golems run on sugar—most use it as melted fuel!

Let's take it apart!

Take it apart and make some candy!

You seem to be handling things well. Do you know what this is?

I can feel power coming from this object...!

Maybe the big boss dropped this as a special tool for you!

Let's give it a try!

What is that?

There was something strange on the ground just now.

Whatever! ATTACK!!

What was that? Some new magical weapon?

R-Run!

The Queen has invented a new weapon!!

Wh-What did you do with that...?

I've never seen that before.

W-Wait...!

I see you were not lying about being a human!

You are the Deliverer! There is no doubt that you will save us from this predicament!

That is why I had my doubts... but you are clearly Yggdrasil's gift to us!

There's a prophecy that tells of a human who will save us in the darkest hour!

A prophet wielding a weapon that shines with tremendous, dazzling light will lead us!

To lead the Yggdrasil Order, astray and in darkness, back into the light—this is your destiny!

Yes, that is correct. In fact, one might say that you are the Master.

Ner, you're kidding, right?

This one just seems like a fool who knows nothing.

You know I'm not one to make things up, Your Majesty.

No... You're always too honest for your own good.

But I'm the Queen and I've never even heard of such a prophecy before!

That's the thing about prophecies—they only matter once they come true.

If you remain dubious, please come with me to Order Headquarters. I have evidence there that should satisfy both of you.

Hmm... I can't help but think... It sounds strange...

Keep your eyes peeled! The Queen must be around here somewhere!

What a royal pain in the butt. Those insurgents are everywhere.

We just need to get past that... Oh well, I will go ahead and...

Ner?! What are you doing? You're not seriously planning on sacrificing yourself...?!

Oh look, candy!

C-Candy?! Where? Where?!

N-Now is our chance! Run while they're distracted by the candy!

Ner, you said that you didn't have anything to eat!

I was holding onto it just in case, Your Majesty.

Well, now that I know you have some, gimme one!

I cannot do that. We must keep these on hand just in case we need them again.

Also, we both know fully well that you will not stop at just one, Your Majesty. You will most definitely empty the entire bag into your mouth.

Hmph... Just you wait...

Now that the doors have been locked, we'll be able to breathe easier within Order Headquarters.

So, where is this book about the Deliverer or whatever they're called?

Ah, right. It's on this shelf...

Here... Read it for yourselves. It's easy to find since it's on the very first page.

Prologue: The Prophecy

Long ago, a human arrived in Elias, the land of Yggdrasil Edel.

This human quelled the chaos that had been plaguing Elias and then suddenly disappeared.

Should a similar calamity return to these lands, another human shall come to deliver Elias.

Chapter 1: Salvation

.........

The prologue is entitled "The Prophecy." Please take a look at the book cover.

It used to belong to the First Master of the Yggdrasil Order.

Yes. It needs to be written every day.

Unfortunately, that one...

Food...?

You want food? I don't think this is the appropriate time for that... I'm also so hungry, I'll even have some icky porridge.

What are you saying...? I don't get what you keep saying...

Immature?!! Just how old are YOU that makes you think you can be so rude to me? Huh?!

Unbelievable... That's it?!

I am over 200 years old, kiddo!

I do not remember exactly, but I am older than Her Majesty. You see, it becomes pointless to keep track of such things after a certain point in time.

Now that you mention it, you show signs of aging. It seems that human life expectancy is low. I'll make note of this.

It goes to the Weekend Farm.

It is said that elementals take smushed bugs to the Weekend Farm while we're not looking, where they live happily ever after.

Although the academic world is divided on whether it should be the Weekend Farm or Weekend Ranch...

Yes, only one day after taking the role.

Since then, everyone has been terrified of being the Master, so the position has remained vacant.

It became clear that the mantle of the Master could only be passed onto a human!

A collection of coincidences leads to an inevitability.

The prophecy of the past, the prophecy of the future, the calamity that threatens Sprite Kingdom, the arrival of a human, the power you displayed, and our paths crossing...

If you put all of this together, you definitely can't call it a coincidence, can you?

For starters...

Make it a habit to write at least three sentences in The Master's Diary every day. If you don't, I will spank you for dereliction of duty.

Also, you must gather Followers. You must prove your abilities as the Master!

Close friends and family are also accepted, so please get whoever you can.

As you improve in your role as the Master, I will raise your rank.

For now, you will start at rank: Rose. I'm being really generous here. Normally you'd start at Seed Leaf and work your way up.

What's an MLM scheme?

Well, it doesn't sound that difficult. It's pretty much what I do as Queen every day. Of course, I always get an earful from Ner since I'm not really good at this.

Well, I just get a little spanking and starve through one meal, and that's it. It's no big deal, really.

Your Majesty! Do you not realize that's exactly why the kingdom is up in flames right now?!

I didn't set it on fire, the d-denizens did that!

Sigh... Anyway, will you become the Master who will lead us, Deliverer?

You can take it one step at a time by referencing the bad example right here.

Ner! Are you calling me the bad example?!

You must be frazzled by all that has happened so far.

I will give you some time to think it over.

Ner looks really serious right now... Th-Think it over carefully...

It seems... you just do not understand how things work around here...

The doors have been locked... Surely you have figured out that you do not have a choice?

How about you reconsider before I get the cane from the warehouse...

How wonderful! Humans truly are valiant! Just as described in The Tome of Revelation!

Well, we should resolve this crisis first.

No matter how strong you may be, it will be impossible to defeat all the insurgents alone.

Let us gather companions. There must be some within Sprite Kingdom who are still receptive to us.

Companions you say... I think I may know a few.

You do, Your Majesty?

What's with that look? D-Don't look at me like you don't believe me!

I really do have close friends! Why don't you come and see for yourselves!

What are you looking at me like that?

It probably is just an empty notebook...

It looks exactly the same as the notebooks you can buy at the stationery store in front of my palace.

Please hold your tongue! You should not doubt the sacred book that has been passed down in the Order for several millennia, Your Majesty!!

Let's be honest. It's just an empty notebook with "The Master's Diary" on the cover!

Has it not occurred to you that the mass-produced notebooks at the stationery store have used the design of The Master's Diary?

Huh? R-Really?

However, just like we can't know whether the chicken or the egg came first...

What?! What in the world are you doing?! You can't rip a sacred relic...!

M-My word!

I will open a council and reduce your authori—

A slip of paper inside the cover...?

There was something hidden there? How did you know?

Oh my...! You truly are meant to be the Master!

What's written on the paper?

Those who receive the touch of Yggdrasil's branch will discern the truth.

Huh? It's like reading fortunes. It's rubbish!

It seems like this is just something from our scriptures.

Why are you suddenly standing there blankly?

Are you okay? You've been quiet for quite some time now...

You want some snacks? Sit!

S-Sorry?! I was not trying to tr-train you...!

Ner, I'm sitting! Snack! Gimme!

What a relief. You're definitely more intelligent than a puppy.

Hehe... One must be careful when reading the thoughts of others.

Anyway, this is great!

This note here... I hid it a long time ago, and you found it?

Yup. It was some kind of a test. I wanted to find someone who knew how to use their head a bit, you see.

Let's be honest. If we're not on the same IQ level, it will be really frustrating to talk to each other, right?

These boneheads haven't realized that yet. I've been waiting for so long that I don't even remember.

.........

Siiigh... Once you've lived here for a while, you'll come to understand.

It's no easy feat talking to these boneheads.

If they meet someone smarter than themselves, they ask for this and that... They're too dependent.

I cast magic on it so that whoever finds this note gains the ability to read minds!

Nothing's impossible since it's a power borrowed from an increeedibly powerful being. Their will has become the law here.

Since you've taken on this troublesome job anyway, I'm just giving you a little backup, so that you can give it a proper shot.

Well, don't you think the ability to read someone's mind could be really useful for you?

Ah, right! It will be better for you to keep me and your ability a secret.

If my existence or the fact that you can read minds gets revealed, you can expect a looooot of trouble coming your way.

Not to mention, mind-reading really tends to come in handy when others are not aware of it.

True colors are usually revealed when guards are down, wouldn't you agree?

Think about it. Am I wrong?

Don't worry! I've stopped time so we can talk.

Technically, it's not real time-stopping. We're talking at the speed of thought.

And besides, no one else can see me anyway.

Only someone worthy of being the Master can see me, I guess?

I'm just happy to have someone to talk to after so long.

Alright! Looks like we're all set now.

Now, let's focus on helping Erpin and Ner!

Explaining everything step by step would be a bit complicated...

Just stick with them, and you'll learn along the way.

If you encounter something for the first time, I'll pop out and explain it to you!

Yep! So let's work hard together, Master! I'll be cheering you on from the sideline!

You suddenly started to talk into thin air... Should we be worried?

Gum? Where? If I find gum in your pocket, I'm going to smack you for each piece I find!!

Ah, that's right! Hehe, follow me!

Well, this is actually a magic school.

Ah, that's true. But if you enter, you'll see that it's a magic school.

It's not a bakery!!

I am Ashur, Magic School Headmistress!

Ashur is the magic school headmistress as well as president of the Sprite Village Bakers Association.

Is it my fault that sprites can use magic from birth?!

Is it my fault that there's no need for a magic school in Elias Forest?!

Is it my fault that I'm more talented as a baker than using magic?!

Ashur is a sprite who founded a magic school in a kingdom where everyone is born a wizard.

She is running a bakery as a side gig to keep from ending up on the streets.

I didn't change my main business! It's still a magic school and a bakery on the side!

Anyway, Ashur. You're aware that there's chaos out there, right?

Of course I do! Don't tell me that Your Majesty came here to bum some baked goods off of me in the midst of all this?!

I'm not here for baked goods this time! I'm here because I need sprites who can help me!

To h-help you? Honestly, I think it would be better to just run...

We have the Master helping the Yggdrasil Order! We can turn this all around!

The Master? The position no one wanted to fill?

So humans really exist? Are you saying that the beanpole next to you is a human?

You already knew about humans?

Of course I do, I'm the magic school headmistress. I came across them while writing a research paper on Order literature related to magic.

Ah... that research paper. I remember it. The 150-page research paper that is definitely NOT rotting in some corner of the library, right?

However, Your Majesty. Doesn't it bother you?

What do you mean?

Even if this human is the Deliverer, the Master, and the one who can turn this all around...

Wouldn't it be a huge detriment to the kingdom if such an outside force was employed to put an end to all of this?

What are you blabbering about? Keep it simple. Are you showing off how smart you are?

Let's say that a private bakery such as mine were to become successful with the help of a bakery franchise. My bakery will inevitably be absorbed into said franchise.

Each bakery requires autonomy, and in order to obtain such autonomy, they must be able to overcome obstacles on their own.

O-Oh... I think I understand.

What do you plan on doing if the human were to demand the throne once all this is over?

Hand over... the throne...?

Get rid of all my duties and responsibilities... and live peacefully while eating baked goods, free from being reprimanded...?

Would you like the crown right away?

Ow! That was unnecessary...! That hurt!

Tch... Was worth a try.

Good job. You possess self-control and do not harbor greed. Nobody could have asked for a worthier vessel than the Master.

Ashur, we don't have the luxury of weighing the pros and cons right now.

We must resolve this crisis using whatever means necessary.

Still...

The kingdom is on the verge of collapse, and you would rather lecture others on its future?

No, that's not it... To be honest, the insurgents treat me well.

They don't burn the bakeries down and even go so far as to protect them... while the royals simply ordered baked goods in bulk and took them without paying before the insurgency.

.........

...Bulk orders of baked goods? Your Majesty? Have you been ordering baked goods behind my back?

WAAAHH!!! Ashur, help a sister out! I didn't take thaaat much!

I'm deep in the red because of you, Your Majesty!

Please, I'm begging you! Please, help me just this once!

Urgh...

Ashur...

Yes, Head Priestess?

Should you assist us, the Order will cover the rent for your bakery—magic school, rather, for the next year.

WHAT?!

You will be able to run the magic school without having to sell baked goods for a year. What do you say?

R-Really? But...

You do not plan on working at the bakery for the rest of your life, do you, Ashur?

The insurgents only protect this place because it is a bakery, but they wouldn't hesitate to burn it down if it were turned into a magic school, right?

I... I didn't think about that. My head wasn't on straight.

Good.

Then, what can I do to help?

Nice! We're in the same boat then, right? No jumping ship later, okay?

Let's go find more friends. The magic school has been out of business for quite some time, so Ashur's skills will be pretty shoddy.

Your Majesty!! That's going too far!!!

Do you have any more friends aside from Ashur?

Yup... There is one more... but...

But?

We'll only go if you promise not to get mad, Ner.

Me? Mad? When have I ever gotten mad?

Ner... You're always mad... There was the other day... Yesterday... Today... Tomorrow...

Okay. You have my word.

Hehe...

That's strange...

What is?

I haven't seen a single insurgent for a while now.

So why are you nervous then? Isn't that a good thing?

It is for now... Well, I hope that I'm just overthinking it.

By the way, where is that other friend of yours, Your Majesty?

Hmm... She should definitely be living around here somewhere... She's probably in hiding because of everything that's happened.

Hmm... You could say that she's Sprite Kingdom's greatest explorer.

.........

Your Majesty... No...!

Eeek!

Ner, you promised not to get mad! You're getting mad! That vein on your forehead is popping out!

I... am not mad... yet...

This 'self-proclaimed' Sprite Kingdom explorer is...

Her Majesty's... fellow runaway...

Ah, there she is!

Marie!!!

Hmmm...

Ah, hello, Your Majesty.

Whatcha doing there, Marie?

Did the insurgent scoundrels stick you up there?!

No... The thing is...

I was... exploring the attic.

What does exploring the attic have to do with you sticking out of the roof?

You see, a monster startled me.

A monster? What monster?!

A four-legged monster with gray, fluffy hair and a long tail.

So it's a rat again?

What can I say? I'm scared of rats... WAAAAH!

That's not nice...

Do you have any idea of how much treasure and how many relics Marie and I have recovered from the ruins?

Yes... You've definitely brought back many things from the ruins...

Whenever you returned from running away, you'd always bring back heaps of rocks that you had scribbled on.

Th-Those are real relics!

E-Excuse me...

Sorry, but can you help me out of here first? I have been stuck here since yesterday, and I've lost all feeling from the waist down...

The insurgents didn't pull you out?

They just took a look and left. I was just hanging around limply without moving, so I guess they thought I was some sort of roof decoration.

Ashur, help Marie!

Huh? Me?

I'm the Queen and you've agreed to join me, so do as I say! Just use your magic or something!

O-Okay. I'm already regretting this...

Aargh! What are you doing?!

All magic is based on... physical force...!

HIIIYAAAAHH!!!!

KYAAAH!!!!

It's Ashur. It must be magic.

Thank you. I thought you'd rip my head off, but it seems I made it out okay.

Marie, I'm glad to see that you're safe! You should come with us too!

Where are we going? The cave up north where we used to hole up and toast mallows?

Ah... Is that where you were always running off to?

N-No! It's not a simple cave, but one of the ruins!

Anyway, that's not important! Marie is trustworthy!

Even when you tortured her to give up my location, she always kept her mouth shut!

...Yes, yes, Your Majesty. You definitely have a creative imagination.

I'm not making it up! I saw it myself! You stopped Marie on the street and questioned her about my whereabouts!

Isn't that what torturing is?

Isn't torture something you do to get information?

Then let's just round up and say I'm right!

The Queen makes a scene quite often. Please understand.

Anyway, Marie, you're with us now!

Huh? What do you mean?

Oh, never mind the specifics! You just need to tag along with me!

Er... If we do... she might say no...

But Ashur is struggling financially... I figured she'd join us anyway if we just dangled money in front of her...

WHAT?! That's too much!

Your Majesty! You are the Queen! Please act with dignity!

.........

But none of you... think of me as being important, do you?

I feel like I haven't done anything properly after putting on this crown... I'm feeling insecure.

Urgh... The kingdom has been engulfed in flames, and didn't you say that it's all my fault?!

Why would anyone put their trust in me and follow my lead?

Th-Thanks...

But, who is nobody? I wasn't able to hear anything you said after that because I kept trying to figure it out...

Ow! What was that for?! I'm already feeling down as it is!

*Whisper Whisper* Oh, really? One more time? *Whisper Whisper*

*Whisper Whisper* Repeating something sincere you've said is awkward... *Whisper Whisper*

Bring peace to the kingdom and restore order.

With the help of the Deliverer here!

Deliverer?

Yes, the one who will become the Master of the Yggdrasil Order.

The Master...? Is that something that actually exists?

Um... Okay! Considering my close relationship with Her Majesty, I have no intention of betraying her now.

Of course! After all, I really am an explorer. Going on adventures is my job.

It's not a delusion!

When I run away with Her Majesty, we just take naps in remote caves, but normally, I do some actual exploring myself.

I search for relics within old ruins, blow up locked doors using dynamite...

Although the relics are usually half-destroyed when I recover them like that, it seems to actually increase their value.

They must have more of a vintage feel like that?

Wait, you have actually recovered some relics? Not just the useless rocks Her Majesty would return with?

Yes, of course. Like I said, it's what I do.

Then where are all of those relics?

I sold them as stolen goods. The royal museum won't pay me if I donate them.

Your Majesty!!!

I-I'm not the one who sold them, so why are you getting mad at me?! I always brought the relics I got my hands on to the palace, didn't I?!

That's probably because no one ever chooses to come here even on a normal day.

.........

.........

Urgh... I once handed over everything I had to a chocolate mugger here...

I go around by myself because I am the Queen! The Queen is supposed to be super strong, so I don't need security!

Keep quiet!

Let's stay on track! We didn't come here for fun, but for the relics sold as stolen goods!

Are relics that important? Do we need to recover them right now?

You never know if any of those relics could be useful. We're at a disadvantage when it comes to numbers, so magical stuff would come in handy.

Okay, okay...

Marie, is the stolen goods shop in this alley?

Yes...

Come along now, child. One foot in front of the other!

*Whine* Okay...

The fence lives in that house over there.

Who...?

Open this door immediately. We need to search this house.

And the goods...?

What goods?

L-Let me speak to her.

Mayo, it's me, Marie. Please open the door.

Marie... No goods... Don't come in.

No, you see... There's an emergency. You need to open the door quickly.

No goods... No entry...

Argh, we're wasting time like this when we have a kingdom to reclaim? Move!!

Your Majesty? That's my dynamite! What are you—!

Have you lost your royal mind, Your Majesty? That was dangerous!

Urgh...

Weekend Farm... Here I come...

My door... destroyed...

I heard that you have some relics stored here. Please return them all this instant.

Who...?

I am Head Priestess Ner of the Yggdrasil Order.

*Shrug*

You don't know me?!

Ahem!

Your Majesty?

She may not know about you, but she'll surely have heard of me...

*Shrug*

I'm the Queen! How do you not know the Sprite Queen?!

Collection value... Zero...

What??

Just a sprite with unusual clothes... Rarity: Zero...

The clothes might have some collection value...

If you keep this up, we will take them by force!

No.

Why you little...!

Eeek!

I-Insurgents? Here?!

Don't... Touch...

Insurgent? I don't know about it.

My collection.

Look. It's a mannequin.

You...

You... What are you?

The Divine...?

Please refrain from such nonsense. Even if you are the Deliverer, I cannot allow you to commit such sacrilege.

Wh-What...?!

You're really enjoying this, aren't you?

Why do I feel like throwing dynamite and shouting something right now?

C-Calm down, everyone...!

Master, what are you doing right now?

Hu... man...? Never heard of that...

A brief explanation might be in order.

Nah... Not interested.

What?!

Human... A new creature of Elias...? Gauging value... Unsuccessful...?

Shush. You... are mine.

Girl, what're you on about?! This human agreed to help me reclaim the kingdom!

Yes! That's the Master of our Yggdrasil Order. What makes you think that—

Shut it. The human is part of my collection from now on.

Mayo! Are you aware that the kingdom is in turmoil?

Turmoil? *Shrug*

Yup.

A deal...?

Oh?

An interesting... Collection... Hmm...

Oooooh...

An offer... Urgh... I can't refuse...

*Wink!* Message received!

What are you... doing...?!

Everybody, grab anything you can! This is a smash-and-grab!!

What are you all doing...?!

Wait, this is a portable magic oven that can make baked goods by itself?! With this, I can automate the mass production process!

Ner, look over here! This is the fabled silver necklace of the Yggdrasil Order!

You robbers... What... are you doing...?

Stop what you're... *Sob!*

Ha, how's that? Now we're holding these relics hostage. Submit to my commands!

Zip it! I have a plan.

You will now help me strike down the insurgents. When we are done, we will return these relics to you and I will bestow this human upon you!

*SOB* Governmental authority... Oppression... *SOB*

Oh well... Fine... I'll join for now...

What a baffling turn of events, but it looks like we've managed to get her on our side.

Now then, let us pack any relics that may be useful, and get moving.

*SNIFFLE*

Our numbers have grown quite significantly, and now we have some powerful relics. Our chances are good!

It's time to prove my true worth as the Sprite Queen! Haha!

Yes, it is.

We are not trying to deal with all of the insurgents.

The guards are trapped within the royal palace.

We have a shot at victory if we can vanquish the insurgents stationed at the palace gates and open the gates.

Among the relics we took, there's a pair of boots that can help you run as fast as the wind! Here, look!

Fast, huh? I'm so excited! With these, I'll be able to open the gates in the blink of an eye!

Those are... single-use boots...

...S-Sorry.

Sigh... Oh well... Looks like we'll just have to face them head-on...

Everybody, stay sharp. We'll be arriving at the palace soon, and security will be tight.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Ah, Marie has returned from scouting ahead.

This is bad!

What's wrong? Why do you look so serious, Marie?

W-Well...

No one's there! In front of the palace!

Sorry?

What's so bad about that? Isn't that a good thing?

Wait...!

It really is empty...!

That's great! Then we just need to walk to the gate and open it.

Your Majesty! No, stay right there!

I really don't get it. Why are you so serious?

Th-That's...

Guards, rally! Let's eliminate the insurgents!

We, the royal guards... Refuse to comply with orders from Your Majesty!

Uhh... Excuse me?!

Have they joined the insurgents?

No, we're on strike!

What?!

We're sick of eating nothing but the Bean Logs in the warehouse!

We want bread! We want jam!

Under normal circumstances, guards would be provided with regular food, such as cake, as part of their salary...

But since the entire kingdom is suffering a sugar shortage, Bean Logs are all that can be provided.

Yes. Why? Do you humans not eat sugar?

We eat cake, chocolate... and candy.

Blech... Meat? Humans are beings that eat barbaric food?!

Tell that to the insurgents, and they'll turn even more violent!

...Because of picky eaters?

You respect that it's a preference, right?

Bean Logs are kinda weird. They've also got a strange texture...

They're really sticky... And although they're sweet, there's a weird flavor like chestnut or bean paste that's hard to place...

Sprites tend to hate this food the most, so they usually don't eat it and end up donating it to the palace.

We used to cultivate it ourselves... But a few decades ago, we started to import it from somewhere else.

It was easier that way.

We would trade a few shiny stones for bundles of sugar... but the sellers recently started stopping due to shortages in stock.

I don't know what... "monopolize" means.

We do have such a concept. Her Majesty is pretending not to know because she's embarrassed.

Geez, let's just get on with it!

The Queen! She's over here!!

We finally found you! We figured you'd come back to the palace at some point, so we laid a trap!

Hehe, you walked straight into it, not knowing we made a deal with the guards.

What?!

The guards won't move an inch until the Queen resolves the sugar shortage.

That's right! We're on strike until we get paid normally!

Tch... GOSH! Are you all really going to be this petty?!

You're the royal guards and you're not going to do anything when your Queen is surrounded by insurgents?!

Whatever the case, we refuse to get paid in Bean Logs!

B-Bean Logs?

There are... Bean Logs?

Wh-What?!

We commoners are scooping flavorless avocadoes into our mouths, but the guards have Bean Logs stashed away?!

Uh... Looks like they're going to fight each other...

The guards take after their Queen! Get them all!!

You finally reveal your true colors, insurgent scum!

What is going on?!

Run! Nothing good will come of us getting caught between them!

Human... Must not get hurt...! Value will drop...!

We'll end up cut off if we head towards the palace, so that's no use. We must break through the insurgent forces and leave this area!

Does that even look possible, Ner?!

Oh, that's right! You still have that thing, don't you? The bung? Gung? Gum, was it?

Words? You really think that'll work?

Wh-Who...?

They must be ready to negotiate our demands.

.........

What a load of bull! Beat the stuffing out of that lunatic!

What are you doing?! Hurry and use the gun!

Th-They're planning on using that thing again!

Why? What? What's that?

You think I keep this human along for the laughs? It may not seem it, but the human has got some chops! Just watch!

Why are you just standing there with your arm up? You gonna fly away or something?

Huh?

It's over! It's the end for us all!

Our only remaining option is to go at them head-on! We will have to fight our way through...!

We can do this! Everybody follow the Master's orders!

Please show us the power of the Deliverer! You have answered Yggdrasil's call and descended!

Argh... Whatever, just do something—anything! I'll listen to whatever you say!

Those are your orders?!!!

We're in the forest on the outskirts of the kingdom.

The bakery owner... not here...

I saw her earlier.

.........

Ashur was pleading with the insurgents to let her go... saying that she was only a bakery owner... that she wasn't with the Queen...

What do you know?! You've only known Ashur for barely a day...!

I clearly saw her grab the insurgents and plead with them!

Ashur was always grumbling and glaring at me when I ate her baked goods...

Sh-Shut up!

Siiiigh...

S-Sorry?

Punishment? Like plowing a field without using magic...?

Ashur is already a professor. Professing is her daily job.

That's right! In that case... we can hit her with detention!

Anyway, I thought that Ashur was a close friend... But I suppose this is how things go...

I guess that's what I get for being a powerless Queen...

Keep your chin up, Your Majesty. Forget about such trivial matters and focus solely on reclaiming the kingdom.

But how...?

Not even the guards are on my side.

Now, it really is just the five of us... How exactly am I supposed to reclaim the kingdom?

The kingdom aside... We're just five homeless folks...

You still have priestesses such as myself!

Priestesses? What a joke!

Your Majesty!

All the priestesses do on the day of rest is sleep in the temple basement!

We're praying, not sleeping!

Six of one, half a dozen of the other! You pray while you sleep... Are you bears or something?

How are priestesses who sleep months at a time like hibernating bears going to be of any help?!

Master! Have you no dignity? How could someone who is to lead the Order make such a joke?

Anyway, I'm done with all of this. I tried my best!

Maybe the insurgents were right...

Don't feel so defeated, Your Majesty!

Maybe it's time for me to step down. Monarchies are so outdated. Perhaps it's time for denizens to directly take charge of things...

I'm going to step down as Queen and join the insurgents!

But the insurgents said that they would start sugar cultivation again should they succeed!

I also want to start eating baked goods again instead of the emergency Bean Logs!

That's... too long. I want to have some as soon as possible...

Then what should we do?

.........

You're smart!

*Whisper Whisper* Queen... doesn't think... *Whisper Whisper*

*Whisper Whisper* Isn't that common sense? I had my doubts, but it turned out to be true... *Whisper Whisper*

Sh-Shut it, all of you! I-I'd already thought of that, hmph!

I will help with that. First... the closest location from here is the Werebeast Commune.

The werebeasts and sprites have always been on good terms, so they may be willing to help...

And in terms of sugar imports, we get ours from Monatium.

A city-state founded by the elves. They are incredibly wary of outsiders, so it will be difficult to gain entry...

Oh, you know of them! Do humans live alongside elves?

But will the werebeasts help? They're all busy doing their own things.

The werebeasts may not be a unified kingdom... But maybe seeking out their eldest elder might do the trick?

Don't you always go there whenever you run away, Your Majesty? You must be quite familiar with them, right?

What?! Run away?!

I never run away! That's exploring!

Umm... Do we have to go too?

Ugh... That's true, but... Things are starting to get out of hand...

Mayo, are you okay with this?

I'll be following the human anyway...

Must protect my collection... Must not be damaged...

Seems the Queen has left the kingdom.

Hehe... Could everything be going to plan?

Elias will soon be in my grasp. Kyahahaha!