国王に呼び出されて、謁見の間にやってきた。
「おお、来たか余の千呪公よ」
おれを見た国王はいつも通りテンションが上がった――かと思いきや。
「おおおおお、余の千呪公よ、行かないでおくれー」
なんといきなり泣き出した。
......え? 泣き出した? ちょっとちょっと、いきなりなんなんだこれは?
玉座に座ってて直前まで威厳たっぷりだった国王がいきなりめそめそし出した。
これがデレデレだったらいつものことだから慣れてるけど、泣かれるのは初めてだ。
「陛下、どうかお気をしっかり持って」
横にいる大臣が国王を宥めた。
「卿は余の千呪公が離れてもいいというのか」
「しかし公爵様でなければどうにもならないのも確か」
「それは分かっておる! 余の千呪公を舐めるでないわ」
国王が逆ギレした。
......なんなんだ、一体。
「王様、ぼくにもわかる様に説明してほしいな」
「ううう......」
「わたくしから説明いたしましょう」
国王が使い物にならないと判断したのか、大臣が代わりに切り出した。
表情が若干呆れ気味だ。
「先だって、南方の小国ゲルニカが王国に臣従を申し出ました」
「しんじゅー?」
「毎年の朝貢に、王子を王都ラ・リネアに人質として差し出し、いわば属国になったと思っていただければ結構でございます」
知らない所で国同士で大きな話があったんだな。
「そのゲルニカは様々な問題を抱えてる国。属国にしても最低限の安定を維持してもらわねば話になりません。そのため王国から人間を送って、問題を解決するという話になりまして」
あまり興味のない話だから聞き流しかけた。
「ぼくにいけって事?」
「えええええ、無理だよそんなの。ぼく国の運営なんて何も知らないよ?」
大臣はきっぱり言い切った。
「公爵様は千の魔法を自在に操る大魔道士」
そろそろ一万超えるけど。
「内外に知られる陛下の秘蔵っ子でもあり」
なんかやたら気に入られてるのは確かだな。
「かわいい奥方をおもちですし。しかもお二人」
思わず突っ込んだ。
「いいえ、ございます」
大臣ははっきり言い切った。
あるのか? なんで?
「そういうわけで、ゲルニカ再建のため、能力的にも王国の本気度を示すためにも、公爵様こそが最適の人選でございます」
なるほど。話はわかった。
「余はいやじゃ。余の千呪公をあの様な僻地にいかせとうない」
「うおおおお、千呪公が......余の千呪公がいってしまう......」
めそめそ泣く国王。どうしたらいいんだこれ。
「陛下。考えようによっては、これは千載一遇のチャンスでございますぞ」
「むっ? どういう事だ」
「属国で小国とはいえ、ゲルニカはれっきとした国。そしてわが王国から送り込む人間は陛下の名代、あそこでは必然的にトップ。つまり......」
国王は目をカッ! と見開いた。
「左様でございます。ゲルニカに赴いた公爵様は実質一国の王。千の魔法の公爵ではなく、千の魔法の国王となるのです」
「おお、おおおおお」
「さらに!」
大臣が力説する――かなりわざとらしく芝居がかってる。
「公爵様のお力ならば無事立て直すことは必然。であればこの一件で、その勇名が世界中に轟く事は必然」
「世界!」
「陛下が公爵様を思う気持ちは痛いほどわかります。しかし、これは公爵様の名を世界にとどろかす千載一遇の好機」
「うむ、卿のいうとおりだ」
あっ、なんか洗脳が完了した。
「余が間違っておったわ。余の千呪公は世界に羽ばたくべき存在。余の手元につなぎ止めておくなど言語道断。余は決めたぞ」
「陛下のご英断、感服いたします」
大臣は頭を下げた。
下を向くその顔は疲れ果てて、ため息を吐いてる。
......結構苦労してるんだな、この人。
「話は聞いての通りだ余の千呪公よ。どうかゲルニカに赴いてくれぬか」
おれは考えた、現状を頭の中でまとめた。
つまり、買収した子会社の経営状態が良くないから、本社から新しい社長を送り込んで経営再建をしろってことか。
国王はキラキラ目でおれを見つめている。
大臣は「なにとぞ」とすがる目でおれを見つめている。
しょうがないな。
こうして、おれはゲルニカを立て直すため、国王代理として行くことになった。
Being called by the King, I came to the audience hall.
[Ohh, you have come, my Senjukou] 
The King that saw me raised his tension as usual--but when I thought of that.
[Ohhhhhhh, m Senjukou, please don't go?] 
He started crying.
......eh? Crying? Wait, wait, what is this so suddenly?
The King that was sitting on the throne full with majesty started to get whimpering.
If this was *DereDere*, it would be the same as usual and I'm used to it, but it's the first time he cried to me.
[Your Majesty, please regain yourself] 
The minister on the side of the King made him calm down.
[Do you Sir say that Senjukou should go away from me] 
[But, if it is not the Duke-sama, nothing can be done] 
[I know that! Do not look down on my Senjukou] 
The King got angry instead.
......what in the world, is this.
[Ou-sama, can you explain that I can understand] 
[Uuu......] 
[Let me explain instead] 
Did he judge that the King was unusable, the minister said that instead.
His expression was a little bit dumbfounded.
[Just recently, a small country in the south, Guernica requested to become a vassal to the Kingdom] 
[Vassal??] 
[As a tribute every year, they will submit their Prince to the royal capital La Linea as a hostage, it is fine if you think of it as a colony] 
There's a talk between countries without my knowing huh.
[And that Guernica is a country that has many problems.]  It would be out of the question if we would not maintain their stability as our colony for the least amount. For that, a person from the Kingdom will be sent, and solve the problem] 
It's something that I'm not interested in so I just pretended to listen.
[I'm the one who would go?] 
[Ehhhhhh, that's impossible. I don't know anything about making a country run you know?] 
The minister said clearly.
[Duke-sama is a great magician that can freely control a thousand magic] 
It's almost exceeding ten thousand though.
[You are being told internally and externally as His Majesty's favorite child] 
Even he's like that, it's true that he'd taken a liking to me.
[You have a lovely wife too. Two, on top of that] 
I couldn't help but point that out.
[No, it is] 
The minister clearly said.
Is it? Why?
[And with that, for the reconstruction of Guernica, and also in terms of ability, to show the seriousness of the Kingdom, Duke-sama is the most suitable person] 
I see. I got the story.
[I don't want that.]  Don't make my Senjukou go to a remote place] 
[Ohhhhhh, Senjukou......my Senjukou will go......] 
The King whimpering. What should I do with this.
[Your Majesty. Changing the way you think, this is a golden opportunity] 
[Mu?! What do you mean] 
[Even though it is a small country and a colony, Guernica is a proper country. And the one that our Kingdom will send is Your Majesty's proxy, in there, he is inevitably going to be the top. Meaning......] 
The King had his eyes wide open.
[It is as you say. Duke-sama who had gone to Guernica is essentially a King of a country. He is not a Duke of a thousand magic, but a King of a thousand magic] 
[Ohh, ohhhhhh] 
[On top of that!] 
The minister emphasized--it was quite obvious that there's acting on it.
[If it is with Duke-sama's powers, it is inevitable for it to be reconstructed without fail. If that is so, with this case, it is inevitable for his brave name roar in the whole world] 
[World!] 
[I painfully know how His Majesty thinks of Duke-sama. However, this is the golden opportunity to make Duke-sama's name famous in the whole world] 
[Umu, it is as Sir had said] 
Ah! It looks like the brainwash is finished.
[I have been wrong. My Senjukou is one that should spread his wings to the whole world. It is outrageous for me to chain him in my place. I have decided] 
[Your Majesty's wise decision, I have been moved] 
The minister bowed his head.
His face that was facing down was very tired, and was letting out a sigh.
......he's, really having a hard time huh.
[It is as you have heard, my Senjukou. Can you go to Guernica for me] 
I thought, and organized the situation in my head.
It means, the management status of the subsidiary company that was bought wasn't good, so a new managing head will be sent from the main company and reorganize the management huh.
The King stared at me with sparkling eyes.
The minister stared at me with eyes begging "Please".
It can't be helped.
Just like that, to reconstruct Guernica, it is decided that I will go as the King's proxy.
Manga wo Yomeru Ore ga Sekai Saikyou ~Yometachi to Sugosu Ki mama na Seikatsu~
マンガを読めるおれが世界最強～嫁達と過ごす気ままな生活
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/manga-wo-yomeru-ore-ga-sekai-saikyou-yometachi-to-sugosu-ki-mama-na-seikatsu/
Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Age Progression Arranged Marriage Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Calm Protagonist Caring Protagonist Child Protagonist Clever Protagonist Demons Devoted Love Interests Doting Love Interests Early Romance Easy Going Life Genius Protagonist Kind Love Interests Loli Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Male Protagonist Marriage of Convenience Nobles Overpowered Protagonist Playful Protagonist Polygamy Protagonist Strong from the Start Reincarnated in Another World Shota Skill Assimilation S*aves
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9488db/
三木なずな