Inside the Cave of Obscenity-Vol 6 Chapter 2: Harbinger of Disaster

One year had passed since the Black Ooze was defeated.

On that day, as a holiday for the recapture of Fonteau, there was a festive atmosphere in the royal capital, which was still in the process of reconstruction, and people were cheerfully singing, drinking, and shouting words of congratulations to the hero Mariabelle.

Young and old, men and women, and even monsters who have been recognized as fellow citizens by the humans over the past year.

The huge rocks needed to build the houses and walls which had been carried by mages using wind magic, but now multiple lizardmen were rolling the rocks and carrying them away.

Goblins handed out medicinal herbs to those who had been injured during the reconstruction of the capital, and harpies served lunch to those who were working at high altitudes.

At night, succubus and incubus help those who were tired from their work and enchant them with happy "dreams".

A wide variety of monsters that could communicate with human language helped the reconstruction of Fonteau with humans, and thanks to them, the royal capital of the elves―― the land of the hero and the elves were being transformed into a new country.

Hero, elves and monsters...... humans and demi-humans, and into the land of new companions who had been enemies until now.

"This country has changed a lot, hasn't it?"

Queen Leticia muttered to no one in particular as she sank deeper into the throne.

There was no sign of people around, just a cold throne room with a newly made stone floor and walls.

There were not so many gorgeous ornaments decorating the room as before, only the remembrances of the previous hero―― Leticia's husband, Mariabelle and Meltia's father.

Most of the ornaments had been sold to rebuild the royal capital, even the contents of the treasury.

In such a simple throne room, there was Leticia and one other person. Tiana, the former assassin maid who also served as her bodyguard.

When she heard the words, a slight smile appeared on her face in her normally expressionless face.

As a former adventurer who was on the field, killing monsters, she couldn't honestly welcome the presence of monsters in the country, but she understood that thanks to the monsters, the reconstruction of Fonteau had progressed faster than planned, and the number of needless killings between humans and monsters was far less than before the Black Ooze attacked.

It was a good thing that people who didn't have the power to fight were less likely to be killed by monsters, but from the standpoint of having killed the demon king, they also owe a debt to him... she could feel such human-like emotions in Leticia's words, so she smiled a little.

"Mariabelle may well change this country...... and this world forever."

"Yes."

She must have mixed feelings as a mother, an elf, and a hero's companion.

However, the royal capital of Fonteau had changed from the year before when Leticia ruled, and monsters have come to sell herbs, animal meat and leather that they have obtained in the forest to earn money.

With the money, they ate, bought things, and interacted with humans.

Not many of them could speak, but Leticia and the others learned that they could express themselves with their hands and facial expressions and communicate with each other.

They hadn't tried to learn about it until now.

They thought that it was just unnecessary to know much about the enemy because it was an enemy to be defeated.

However, monsters also have a life, and now that there was no demon king...... they would not increase.

It was because of it that Leticia welcomed them into Fonteau without rejecting them because she knew and deeply knew that she pitied their existence.

"What about the adventurers? If the work of defeating monsters disappeared, their work would also decrease...... Are there any complaints about that?"

"I've heard from Mariabelle and the others who were looking around the capital that there were no major problems at the moment. At best, drunken people and monsters were fighting."

"We need to prepare for their next job."

Although the interaction with monsters was friendly at the moment, it was easy to imagine that if the work became scarce, their anger would turn to the monsters that have been their enemies up until now.

In order to protect the current "daily life without battles," they need to prepare alternative jobs for the adventurers who would be losing their jobs.

"So, the people I'm planning to meet today..."

When Leticia was about to check with Tiana about today's visitors...

"Excuse me. Leticia-sama, Mariabelle-sama and the others have returned."

When another maid visited the throne room, she reported that Mariabelle and Meltia, who had been patrolling the royal capital, had returned, Leticia slowly sighed and allowed her daughters to enter.

The two beautiful princesses immediately entered the room.

The two of them have grown up over the past year, and not only Leticia but also Tiana, who had been watching their growth, relaxed slightly.

Meltia, the older sister princess who had inherited her mother's silver hair, which reached halfway up to her waist, braided and decorated with rose barrettes and silk ribbons.

She was dressed in a pale pure white dress and her arms were covered with pure white gloves.

Her short stature, which had been a concern of hers, had grown slightly, but her shortness was still a concern when placed next to the taller Mariabelle. However, her ample breasts, which she must have inherited from her mother, seem to have swollen even more than they did a year ago, and the deep cleavage created by the dress and corset draws the eyes of all who saw it.

Her ample breasts swayed with such boldness that they almost made a sound when she took a step, and they seemed to be about to fall out of the fabric of her dress.

Her pure white skin emphasized the depth of her cleavage, but it was clear if one lowered their gaze a little that it was not a bulge from obesity.

Her waist was surprisingly deep, even though it was bound by a corset, but if one looked further down, one could see her ample buttocks, which push up the skirt of her dress boldly, swaying from side to side as she walked.

Her skirt was long enough to reach her ankles, but there was a bold slit on the right side for ease of movement, through which the stockings that were suspended by the pure white garter belt and the skin on her thigh slightly peeked out.

It had also a luxurious design for a dress and could be said to be suitable for a princess of a country.

Next to her.

In contrast to Meltia, the beautiful black-haired princess in the black dress was also beautiful.

She was tall and slender, with few ample limbs.

However, it was a kind of beauty that was well-trained.

The skin peeking out from her black dress seemed to be free of any unnecessary flab, but it still retained feminine plumpness.

She had long limbs and an abdomen that was tight without the use of a corset.

Some men may feel that her small breasts and hips were inferior to her sister's, but her tall stature and dignified atmosphere make her a figure that was more favored by women than men.

Her dress, which was made for easy movement, emphasized the beauty of her healthy limbs, and the slit on the left side of her dress revealed a black garter belt and stockings, in contrast to her sister.

The most striking difference between the two was not their appearance or the color of their clothes, but the weapon at their waists.

Mariabelle, despite being the princess of a country, had a single sword hanging from her waist.

The sword was in a blue scabbard that looked good on her dress.

It was the holy sword with which her father, a hero from another world, had defeated the Demon King, and her daughter, Mariabelle, had destroyed the Black Ooze that had occupied Fonteau.

The two beautiful princesses quietly walked up to the throne and kneeled down under Queen Leticia.

"We are back, my queen."

"Yes, report."

"Yes."

Even though they were family, here in the throne room, they were in the position of a queen and a princess of a country.

They were well aware of their position and reported today.

Leticia, who had been held captive by the Black Ooze for a long time, violated, and had her mana stolen from her, had recovered enough strength to perform her duties, but her physical condition was still far from perfect.

――She had already recovered her mana and was in a perfect state, but her position as a queen and her surroundings did not allow her to do so.

To make up for that, the two princesses patrol the royal capital, helping people in need, and sometimes fighting off the slimes and monsters that were still hostile to people...... Nowadays, their popularity was no less than that of the hero who defeated the demon king along with the heroes.

"Today was no different―― although we have received reports of some strange monsters being seen recently."

"Is it a slime in the shape of a beast...?"

The report had reached Leticia's ears as well.

If the oval-shaped slime of the past was normal, then it was a completely new kind of slime that took the form of wild beasts such as dogs and boars.

They began to appear after the Black Ooze was defeated, and it was reported that the number of wild animals was decreasing.

In fact, there were reports that vegetables cultivated in the villages were not getting damaged, but the number of prey that adventurers could get when they go hunting was decreasing.

Adventurers and mages have been sent to investigate, and a rumor had been circulating around the capital.

――According to the rumor, the slimes that occupied the capital are still alive and continue to create new slimes.

However, the slime that occupied the capital...... the Black Ooze, could only create oval-shaped creatures or similarly shaped slime through human women.

But now, around the royal capital of Fonteau, four-legged slimes like beasts have been confirmed, and their mobility is incomparable to the previous oval-shaped.

They were walking on the ground, ran, and attacked people.

There weren't many of them at the moment, but if there were more, what would happen......

"I'm leaving that investigation to the others, but perhaps we should think of some countermeasures."

"Yes."

"I'll see what I can do about that. Is there anything else to report?"

"No, nothing else. It's been a peaceful day in the capital."

"I see."

Leticia let out a warm sigh at Mariabelle's report.

The city had changed, but it was still an important city that her husband created and Leticia had protected.

The report that the city was at peace was the best healing for Leticia.

"I understand. You two, get back and rest. I heard you two haven't had much rest lately."

"No, we'll be fine, my queen―― okaa-sama."

"Fufu... Then, take a look around the place and talk to everyone. I'm sure they'll be glad to see you."

"Yes, I understand."

The way the two of them have grown in the past year was the main topic of conversation among the soldiers and knights in the castle.

Meltia, who had been wearing a feminine and mature atmosphere since her school days, was now exuding a mature glow, and Mariabelle, who had been quietly hiding behind her older sister and mother, was now walking with a dignified aura and head high.

The change in Mariabelle in particular was a topic of conversation not only among the soldiers and knights but also among the maids, perhaps because her lustrous black hair and tall stature gave her an artistic impression.

As they were about to leave the throne room, the maid from earlier entered the room again.

"Excuse me. Fiana-sama and Kara-sama have returned."

"Kara and Fiana-sama?"

The first person to react to the maid's words was Mariabelle.

The name of her best friend, a companion she hadn't seen in several months, immediately made Mariabelle, standing next to Meltia, feel her tense atmosphere as the princess of a country relaxed and smiled slightly.

"Maria?"

"Ah, nhh―― cough*. Okaa-sama, may we hear what the two have to say?"

"Fufu, of course. Maria, I think you might need to hear this."

Leticia said and allowed them to enter the room, with Mariabelle and Meltia standing by.

The person who entered was a chestnut-haired woman with striking dark glasses who was slightly older than Mariabelle and Meltia, but not much taller than Meltia, who was concerned about her short stature.

Then, a female knight with beautiful silver hair and entered the throne room.

"We're back, Leticia-sama."

"Good work, both of you. Have you made any progress in your search for the "Hero's Shield"?"

One year ago.

The loss of an important treasure was discovered when the royal capital of Fonteau was retaken from the Black Ooze.

Hero's shield.

The shield that the hero from the other world used to defeat the Demon King, the shield given to him by the goddess Fasalina, which was said to protect against all attacks, had yet to be found.

It was hard to imagine that bandits could have gotten into that hell, so they assumed that monsters took it, but monsters couldn't touch the shield protected by the power of the goddess.

How did they take it away? For what purpose――.

The two of them, Kara, who was curious about the reason, and Fiana, who excelled in swordsmanship and magic, were tasked with searching for the "hero's shield".

It was a very important matter that would normally concern not only a country's reputation but also the world created by the goddess, but now that the reconstruction of the royal capital had not yet been completed, the number of people who could search was limited.

In addition, with the recent appearance of oddly shaped slimes, they had to devote personnel to the defense of the royal capital as well.

"I came back because I got some interesting information from a village in the countryside."

"......Interesting information?"

Perhaps because there had been no such information for the past year, Leticia leaned forward a little and raised her voice in surprise at Fiana's report.

Mariabelle and Meltia also looked at Fiana with a slightly surprised look.

"It was over a year ago, so I can't say for sure, but there was a woman who said she saw a robed person walking towards Grabalt with a shield that matched the description."

"To Grabalt?"

"Yes. The land was covered with a deep, dark forest. It may be a bandit lurking there."

Fiana's words made Leticia and the others tilt their heads inwardly.

They wondered if there were any thieves who could sneak into a slime-infested castle and steal it.

However, it was natural to think that way when it came to a person wearing a robe.......

However, Fiana, who had reported it, was also uncertain about the idea and avoided making a definite statement.

"What do you think, Kara-sama?"

"Me?"

She was interested in the bandit theory, but her voice sounded unusually flustered, as though she hadn't expected to be asked to speak.

Feeling it, Mariabelle loosened her mouth slightly... and Meltia noticed it and pecked her sister's side with her elbow.

"I agree with you, Fiana-dono, though there were many suspicious aspects, such as how the bandit managed to break into the treasury without being attacked by the slimes."

"I think so too."

However.

Kara cut in after a pause.

"A year ago, we witnessed a human-shaped slime. If that slime is born again......."

"The humanoid slime that Mariabelle said she defeated――"

"Yes. Recently, a large number of beast-shaped slimes have been seen around the royal capital...... I've heard that their variety was increasing every day. Perhaps the humanoid was involved in this."

"Therefore, I came back to the castle to report to Leticia-sama and to consult with you."

"Consultation?"

"Yes. I would like your permission to go to Grabalt......"

At those words, Leticia looked at Tiana who was standing by her side.

Then Tiana told something to the maid who was waiting outside the throne room and came right back.

"I issued a pass to Grabalt. Are you sure only the two of you would go?"

"Yes―― Kara-dono, I heard you're good with the sword."

"Even if you praise me that way... ah, don't worry about it."

She felt it was too much trouble to speak in front of the queen.

Kara swallowed the words of denial that were about to come out, and her mouth broke into a smile.

"Mariabelle-sama, you've been travelling with a good companion, haven't you?"

"Yes."

".......That's, may I leave the room now that I have finished my report?"

"Fufu―― If you don't have a place to stay in mind, stay here tonight and get some rest. Mariabelle, Meltia, please show her to her room."

"Yes."

Mariabelle and Meltia were in a good mood as they were reunited with their friend after a long time.

In particular, Mariabelle, who was one of the few people who were close enough to call her by her name, was delighted to see Kara visit the castle, and her steps were so light that it was hard to believe that she had been patrolling around the royal capital all day.

Kara smiled at Mariabelle with a troubled look on her face.

"I'm a big enough person to be shown around by the princess of a country......"

"Is that so? You have a laboratory on the outskirts of the royal capital, and you are one of the people who saved the country, so it is only natural that you should be entertained. And now you are the one who knows the most about the slime. You're much better than I am, Kara."

That was the first thing Mariabelle said as they got out of the throne room.

It had been about two months.

She was filled with joy and relief at their safe reunion.

They've started to interact with the monsters, but there were still dangers lurking all over the continent.

The fear that they may never see them again was something that everyone had. It was the same for Mariabelle, who was wearing the hero's armor, and Kara, who traveled with Mariabelle.

"Kara-sama has a unique way of thinking...... Was Fiana-sama all right?"

"Fufu, Meltia-sama. Her way of thinking is interesting and makes me realize that I have learned a lot every day."

Having fought monsters with swords and magic, Fiana had never had the idea of using drugs to neutralize them.

In the last battle, she developed a poison that was effective against the slime, and it had been increasing in number over the past year.

Kara's method of fighting with monster-specific poisons was recognized by Fiana as an efficient, tireless, and effective means.

The other knights, however, were not so accepting of Kara's somewhat reluctant attempt to create a situation in which she would not be defeated through advance preparations, rather than opposing it head-on with brute force.

In addition to being a fighting force, Leticia paired Fiana and Kara for their interpersonal relationship, and as she thought, the relationship between the two seemed to be a good one.

"We have to make our rounds in the castle now, so we'll talk when we're done, Kara."

"No, I'm tired and I want to sleep......"

"...Oh, of course."

"Well, maybe after dinner. Just for a little while."

When Mariabelle's expression clouded at Kara's words, Kara quickly changed her previous statement.

The situation was so obvious that even Meltia and Fiana let out a small sigh.

"Haa... I'm still not comfortable at this hero-sama."

"E-eh...?"

At Kara's muttering, Mariabelle's shoulders slumped down.

(She's not very good at conversing with people, but she'd talk to me a lot......)

The four of them walked through the place, with Mariabelle, who was supposed to have a keen intuition, paying no attention to Kara's inner muttering.

In peace. A peaceful time.

Without realizing that the problem has already begun to move beneath the surface――