I had an arrangement for today with Aina again because of my withheld grudge against my failure to that detestable sword called Katana.

I know I could just pick another kind of sword but I’m really bitter about how that sword humiliated me. Supposedly, Aina is the only one who has the knowledge of making Katana so I guess I’m going to stick with her for a while.

And with that in mind, I also wanted to rehabilitate her and her common sense since her brain is only composed of steamed bamboo shoots.

Since she’s been living alone for quite a time now, her knowledge about the everyday progressing smithing may have fallen behind times.

I am no expert on the subject but I at least wanted to see if her creations are comparable to other smiths.

If hers are subpar, it only means her Katanas are utter shit.

As I am thinking that as I walk along the way, I immediately spotted Aina waiting in front of the bamboo thicket with a huge sack behind her back. Base on all those pointy things, it must be tons of weapons. Well, as expected of a blacksmith, her physical appearance doesn’t match with her strength.

“Oh, my dear friend Higanbana! Good morning!”

“Dear friend? I really don’t recall becoming one.”

“Let’s go, my dear friend! Please treat me well today!~”

“Well, it’s been three years for you.”

This girl ignored my comment but it’s not that I don’t plan on becoming her friend. She does remind me of some people.

One airhead and one idiot.

But considering that this one is only ignorant rather than naïve, she balances out Asagao and Alstroemeria. She also has a skill that can be relative to daily lives.

“I really love to ask this. No, I’m going to ask. Why are you carrying a lot of weapons in that sack?”

“This is the first time in a while that I’ll be going to the city so I at least wanted people to buy my weapons!”

“You’ll get arrested, you know?”

“…Huh?”

“First, you need a license from the Commerce Guild and Merchant’s Guild. Both licenses cost quite a sum and before you are even qualified to receive one, you need to pass certain qualifications. After that, you need to get a permit from the City’s official to get a letter of accommodation. You will use that letter of accommodation to get a place where you can sell your wares. After that, you need to set up your stall or store. Basically, there’s a rule to it.”

“…No way.”

Her rabbit ears droop so bad as she slumps her back with a saddened countenance.

I can feel a bit of sympathy for her but the overwhelming feeling of wanting to bully her erases any traces of guilt. It’s been a while since I get to see someone as reactive as her so I’ll try to enjoy this rotten sensation for a while.

I can’t wait for more.

Since we’ve been walking while talking about that subject, we arrived at the front of the gate of the capital. Of course, the guards are there and immediately stood attention.

“Good morning, Beast Queen Higanbana!”

“Yeah.”

“Is that girl with you an acquaintance? She’s carrying a lot…?”

“She is a friend of mine. About the inspection.”

“No, we would not dare something that would trouble the Beast Queen! Please pass through!”

And it would be too bothersome to inspect all of those weapons too.

Aina and I entered the gate with the guards waving from behind. Of course, the spectacle in front of us is the bustling city early in the morning and the towering Castle of the capital that can be easily noticed from here.

Aina’s eyes are all white with a blank stare as she followed me from behind.

“Graces upon you, Beast Queen Higanbana.”

“Beast Queen, may this morning be blessed.”

“Good morning, Beast Queen.”

People who immediately noticed me bowed down and greeted me. Because I am an upstanding Queen, of course, I greeted back with a slight nod.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Because I’ve been going around the city for a while now, it seems that the people got used to my presence and they treat me casually but of course, they never dared to disrespect me.

This continued for a while until a fork road where I suddenly meet with…

“Yo, Little Beast Queen! Out for some patrol?”

“Old man Folga, it’s rare to see you around here.”

“I’ve been going around teaching some nobles some manners, Gahahaha!”

“As always, I’m very thankful for your efforts. I was thinking of trying to do something even if I still have the incomplete authority of the throne.”

“I thought you are rather happy that you get to dump all the responsibilities on me for a while?”

“You read me right, huh? I’ll do my best when the time comes for me to step-up.”

“Yeah, I’ll see you around then.”

The towering figure of old man Folga left the scene with a few generals in tow. The said generals bowed towards me respectively.

It was not just outright respect but also fear and admiration, I like that.

THUD

CLANK

The sound coming from behind is Aina dropping her wares and procrastinating on the floor with her head deeply dug on it.

“Abababababa…I…I…I’m really sorry! I’m been r-r-r-r-really rude to you, Beast Queen Higanbana!”

“Ermmm…”

It’s more intense than I anticipated.

I should pacify her as fast as possible because people are now looking towards us. I’m getting a little anxious because bad rumors may drift inside the city regarding me.

……

But let’s drag this for a little bit.

“Yeah, I did tell you the first time, right? I am the Beast Queen. I was only tolerating your acts before. Now, you should know your place.”

“Yes! I’m mistaken and extremely and severely and dearly and clearly stupid!! I cannot atone for what I have done! It may not be enough but this is all I could think of to atone!”

She immediately pulled a sword out from her wares and directed it towards her throat.

I thought you said you cannot atone for what you have done but still do something to atone.

“Woah, there!! I’m just messing with you!!”

This girl is too extreme!

Before she could even move an inch, I immediately grabbed the handle of the sword to stop this from escalating.

“Ababababa…even if I said that, I don’t really think I can stab myself. I’m too scared.”

“You’re more troublesome than I thought.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Stand up. Before you even learned about it, we’ve become friends first so I’d like you to prioritize our friendship.”

“Uwaaahh! I will definitely be your friend!”

“Yes, yes. Don’t stick too close, you reek of coal.”

I peeled her away from me as she started crying and snot starts flowing down from her nose.

“So, I just want to tell you this, Aina.”

“Yes?”

“You can still sell your wares in a roundabout ways but of course, you have to prove that they are worth buying.”

“What…shall I do?”

“We will sell them directly to the adventurers.”

“Eh? But you said that there are procedures and rules that needed to be followed?!”

“Who am I?”

“Eh…the…the beast queen…”

“I shall hear no complaint above everything, you see. Well, your weapons better be worth it or else you’d be putting me in shame.”

“Y-Yes!”

If Aina’s creations are genuinely strong and if I can endorse her, we might as well hire her. The Kingdom needs more armanents since we’ve wasted a lot of resources from just the battle with the devils alone.

On top of that, we are cutting back on the resources because we sending it to the center continent.

If that’s the case, rather than relying on quantity, we might as well go for quality of the weapons and armors themselves.

Aina…

If your weapons and armors are the real deal, you’d be a big help. This is a blind faith coming from me.

To be honest, I’ve already spoken with mother about the Katanas and they are supposed that fragile than a normal sword, in exchange, their full potential is a deadly critical blow with swiftness accompanied with pure skills.

I’m frustrated that I can’t use it but it seems my mother is quite familiar with it.

With that in mind, we head towards the Adventurer’s Guild.

A few minutes of walk and we arrived at the place where I can endorse Aina’s wares as well as let her learn a thing or two.

Adventurer’s Guild is a place where people who dream of gathering fortune through request and commission gathers. As such, they are affiliated with the guild itself and it can be said that they are detached from their respective kingdom.

They have free reign and roams all over the world depending on their goals.

As such, barbarians are bound to be in the exact place, at the exact time, in the exact moment, we, Aina and I are.

“Oh, what’s this? Two young girls? Such pretty gems.”

A burly man with striking muscles stops us before we could reach the designated counter. It’s something that Asagao will probably cliché and annoying.

And on top of being a man, he is overly confident with his annoying face. His gaze falls upon me and Aina.

The other adventurers seem to know him and it seems like he is a famous womanizer as they began cheering and teasing.

“Nice to meet you gals. I’m *beep* I bet you heard of me before.”

I don’t want to bother remembering his name at this point.

Aina and I shook our heads in unison that broke his composure. Fools like this don’t even know that I’m the beast queen? And you call yourself an adventurer? Isn’t your head too deep in your ass?

“Oh, are you girls that shy? It can’t be helped if you don’t know about me. We can just get to know each other by some good time, right?”

This is too bothersome.

Of course, the guild receptionists and staffs know of me but they just stood there in silence with pale countenance.

Fucking useless.

The guy tried to reach out to our shoulders with a wide grin, especially on Aina’s shoulder in which his sight is fixated on her breasts. Though her breasts are medium in size, Aina still has this appeal that would make anyone head over heels.

SNAP

CRACKLE

“Eh…?!”

Before his brain can even comprehend what happened, he gawks at his bent arms that twisted in a wrong direction.

This is too troublesome so I’ll show him a sliver of my strength.

“Don’t touch me or my woman. You’ve been disrespectful outright but for now, that will be your first warning.”

“Who do you think you are?! I am a--!?”

“Pompous ass bastard, stand down and know your place.”

Of course, his face will be painted with fear as he saw the nine tails made up of divine flames behind me. Not only it exudes so much power, I also mixed my intimidation with Astlan’s Ira. A sure fire fear-inducing intimidation that will surely scar him for life.

“That’s the Beast Queen…”

The receptionist said in a low voice as she tried to hide her face in embarrassment.

There’s no room for doubt so everyone moves away from my presence quickly. I really don’t want this kind of result but it can’t be helped.

The only saving grace is that they didn’t run away from the place so that’s good for endorsing Aina’s wares as well as testing it.

The troublesome man immediately cleared himself away from my sight in desperation and I boldly walk towards the receptionist.

“Ummm…ummm…what would the Beast Queen wanted to do in our humble place?”

“You see here my companion, there’s a request I’d like to make?”

“What…is it?”

“Tell those thugs to test her weapons out. This is no mere commission, this is a direct request coming from me.”

“Y-Yes! I’m going to quickly gather willing adventurers!! Please wait here for a moment!”

See?

She immediately dashed off.

“Abababababa…”

“We are going to get your weapon tested now. Aren’t you glad that you could get your wares famous?”

“But this just too quick and sudden…like a dream…Higanbana…”

“That’s one of the lessons I’d like you to learn for today.”

“What is it…?”

Aina tilts her head in utter confusion and I just smiled in return.

One for say, a truly sincere smile.

I lied.

It’s a sinister smile that made everyone in the vicinity shiver.

“The power and influence of someone in a position play an important part in talks.”

I whispered to her.