The Lazy Grand Strategy of Asora: Lord Mito and His Retainers' Guild Boom
Misumi Makoto just wanted a quiet life. Instead, he got summoned to another world, called ugly to his face, and thrown into a wasteland by a goddess who decided he wasn't hero material. Rude, honestly.
But Makoto isn't the type to grovel. Armed with five mysterious rings, a pocket dimension called Asora, and a crew of loyal (if eccentric) retainers who insist on calling him "Lord Mito," he's decided to do the one thing no one expects from a discarded hero candidate: open a shop.
Between sellin
The Lazy Grand Strategy of Asora: Lord Mito and His Retainers' Guild Boom - Lord Mito Returns to the Plaza — The Power of Tamaki and the Shadow of the Apostle
The sound of hammering metal echoed through the workshop in Asora.
Clang, clang, clang—a steady, rhythmic beat. The forge fire blazed red-hot, and the air was thick with heat. Every breath scraped dry against the back of the throat.
Misumi Makoto stood in the workshop doorway. Black cloth mask. Deep brown eyes. Short black hair swaying in the hot wind.
"Young master."
A man with long silver-white hair flowing down his back stepped forward. Eyes harboring a pale blue light. Skin so white it was almost translucent. The third retainer, Misumi Shiki. A lich possessed of vast knowledge, and Makoto's advisor.
In Shiki's hands was a small box.
"I have completely removed the fragments of the red draupnir."
Shiki wore a gentle smile.
"This newly formulated bandage does not absorb magical power. I tested it again and again—the result was the same every time."
Makoto took the box.
Inside, white bandages were neatly arranged.
"...I see."
Makoto's voice was quiet.
"Shiki. Run the final safety check one more time. We cannot afford to repeat the last failure."
"Understood, young master. There are no longer any dangerous elements in this bandage. I stake the entirety of my knowledge as a lich on that guarantee."
Shiki's voice was quiet and firm.
Makoto closed the box.
"Um..."
A faint voice came.
Water-blue, soft, fluffy long hair. The tips dyed a pale pink. Heterochromatic eyes, each a different color. The fourth retainer, Tamaki.
Tamaki stood hesitantly before Makoto.
"Can I help too?"
Tamaki's voice was small and trembling.
"Tamaki."
Makoto looked at her face.
"You are forbidden from leaving Asora."
"Yes. But if there's anything I can do to help here—"
Tamaki's mismatched eyes gazed straight at Makoto.
Makoto was a little surprised. It was rare for Tamaki to show her will this strongly.
"...Understood. If something comes up, I'll rely on you."
Makoto nodded quietly.
Tamaki smiled a small, happy smile.
"Thank you, Lord Makoto."
That smile was fleeting, somehow detached from reality.
Makoto looked away from Tamaki and toward the back of the workshop.
The dwarves were pouring sweat as they mass-produced the bandages. A race barely four feet tall, with deft and nimble hands.
"Call Tomoe and Mio. We're going to the town of Tsige."
Makoto spoke quietly.
"As you command."
Shiki bowed deeply.
---
The town of Tsige was as lively as ever.
The Mirage Plaza was lined with countless stalls, and the merchants' booming voices filled the air. The smell of the sea reached all the way to the center of town.
But in the middle of the plaza, a crowd had gathered.
Makoto approached the crowd with Tomoe and Mio.
Tomoe had her long silver hair tied back, a Japanese sword at her hip. Her golden eyes glinted sharply.
Mio followed three paces behind Makoto, her long, jet-black straight hair swaying. Her crimson eyes stared coldly at the crowd.
"Lord Mito, look at that."
Tomoe pointed to the center of the crowd.
Three men in white robes. They stood on a platform, shouting something at the top of their lungs.
"Listen, people of Tsige!"
One of the men spread both arms wide.
"The products of the Kuzunoha Company have incurred the goddess's wrath! Those bandages are cursed items!"
Makoto's feet stopped.
"Anyone who uses those bandages will lose the goddess's protection! Their magical power will be drained, and eventually they will die!"
The townspeople murmured.
"Is that true?"
"So the Kuzunoha Company really was a crooked shop after all."
"Didn't they shut down after that explosion?"
Anxious voices rose from all around.
"Everyone, calm yourselves! The goddess has not abandoned us! We, her apostles, shall purify these cursed items for you!"
The man drew a glowing staff from the breast of his white robe.
"That's an apostle of the Purification Church."
Makoto murmured quietly.
The Purification Church. A religious organization that worshipped the goddess Aurelia.
"Lord Mito, those men are spouting whatever they please."
Tomoe's voice dropped low.
"Yeah. But there's no point in making a scene here. Let's go."
Makoto stepped forward into the crowd.
"Lord Makoto, please be careful."
Mio gently caught Makoto's sleeve.
"It's fine. I have you two."
Makoto said it without turning around.
Pushing through the crowd, Makoto stepped out into the center of the plaza.
The apostles' speech cut off dead.
"So you're the owner of the Kuzunoha Company."
One of the apostles glared at Makoto.
"That's right."
Makoto answered quietly.
"I came today to prove the safety of this product."
Makoto held up the box he'd received from Shiki.
"An improved, new bandage. It no longer absorbs magical power."
" Ha! There's no reason to believe a word of that!"
The apostle sneered.
"It's a fact that people collapsed from your shop's products! They're cursed, no doubt about it!"
"Then say that after you've tested it."
Makoto spoke quietly.
Then he drew a small knife from his robe.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing!"
One of the apostles braced himself.
Makoto rolled up the sleeve of his left arm.
And with the knife, he cut his own arm.
Shhk.
A sharp pain. Red blood ran down his arm.
"Lord Mito!"
Tomoe let out something like a scream.
"Lord Makoto, what are you—!"
Mio's face went pale.
"It's fine. Watch."
Makoto took a single bandage from the box and pressed it to the wound.
In that instant.
The wound began to close.
Before their eyes, the red blood stopped, and the skin regenerated.
Seconds later.
Not even a scar remained.
"...What?!"
The composure vanished from the apostle's face.
The townspeople stirred.
"The wound's gone!"
"Incredible! It really healed!"
"And that shopkeeper's completely calm about it!"
Makoto raised his arm.
"As you can see. This bandage heals wounds. And it does not absorb magical power. I guarantee its safety."
Makoto's voice rang out across the plaza.
"Don't be ridiculous! It's a trick!"
The apostle shouted, his face bright red.
"Such magic doesn't exist in this world! You're using a demon's power!"
The apostle pointed his glowing staff at Makoto.
"In the name of the goddess, I shall purify you!"
The tip of the staff blazed with dazzling light.
"Look out!"
One of the townspeople screamed.
The light shot straight toward Makoto.
Then.
"I will protect Lord Makoto!"
Water-blue hair danced in the wind.
Tamaki leapt out in front of Makoto.
"Tamaki?!"
Makoto's eyes went wide.
Tamaki thrust both hands forward.
Pale light spilled from her palms.
The instant the apostle's light touched Tamaki's—
It was snuffed out.
Without a sound, the light vanished.
"Wha—what?!"
The apostle staggered back.
"You—what are you?!"
Tamaki slowly lowered her hands.
"I am Lord Makoto's retainer. Anyone who would harm Lord Makoto—I will not forgive them, no matter who they are."
Tamaki's voice was quiet.
But in those mismatched eyes burned a fierce light.
"Tamaki... you..."
Makoto stared at Tamaki's back.
Tamaki, who was forbidden from leaving Asora, was here.
And she had snuffed out an apostle's light magic.
(Tamaki has this kind of power...?)
Something stirred deep in Makoto's chest.
"Villain, this is as far as you go!"
Tomoe drew her blade.
The silver edge caught the sunlight.
"To lay a hand on Lord Mito—you've got nerve. This Tomoe shall deliver your punishment!"
Tomoe's golden eyes flashed sharply.
"Lay a hand on Lord Makoto, and I'll devour you along with the space around you."
Mio took her place beside Makoto.
Her crimson eyes fixed coldly on the apostles.
"Eep...!"
One of the apostles let out a short shriek.
"D-damn it! You'll regret this! The goddess will not abandon us! Divine punishment will fall upon you in time!"
The apostle spat his parting words, then fled with his comrades.
The white robes disappeared into the crowd.
Silence fell over the plaza.
Makoto slowly turned back to face the townspeople.
And he bowed deeply.
"...Please, believe in me once more."
Makoto's voice was trembling.
"Last time, my poor management caused all of you trouble. I am truly sorry."
Makoto kept his head bowed.
"This bandage is absolutely safe. I want to do business in this town once more."
The plaza had gone completely still.
No one said anything.
"I'll be a monitor again!"
A cheerful voice rang out.
Short dark-brown hair, and a spirited, upward-slanting gaze. An adventurer in light leather armor—Toa.
"That bandage is seriously amazing! My wound healed without a trace! This time I want my little sister to use it too!"
Toa came running up beside Makoto.
"Me too!"
Toa's little sister, Rinon, raised her small hand too.
"My sister's magical power still hasn't come back, but... but I'm sure that bandage will fix it somehow! I believe in it!"
Rinon's eyes were brimming with tears, but her voice was strong.
"...Toa, Rinon."
Makoto looked at the two of them.
"Thank you."
Makoto's voice was small and hoarse.
Then, one of the townspeople began to clap.
Clap, clap, clap.
The applause spread—to two people, to three.
Before long, the whole plaza was wrapped in loud applause.
"Hang in there, Kuzunoha Company!"
"This time we believe in you!"
"Let us use your bandages again!"
The townspeople's voices rained down on Makoto.
Beneath his mask, Makoto let out a small breath.
(...Thank goodness.)
Deep in his chest, something slowly came undone.
"Lord Mito."
Tomoe leaned close to Makoto's ear and whispered softly.
"Behind those apostles, I catch a glimpse of the villain... no, of the goddess's shadow."
Makoto raised his head.
He stared hard in the direction the apostles had fled.
"...Yeah. I know."
Makoto's eyes glinted coldly.
"The goddess said she would destroy everything precious to me. Those words were serious."
Makoto clenched his fist.
"But I don't intend to lose, either. I'll make the Kuzunoha Company big in this town, no matter what. And I'll make it clear to her—that we can never see eye to eye."
Makoto's voice was quiet.
But in his eyes burned a fierce determination.
"As you command. This Tomoe shall accompany Lord Mito wherever you go."
Tomoe sheathed her blade.
"I too will do anything for Lord Makoto's sake."
Mio gently laid her hand on Makoto's arm.
"Lord Makoto, I'm so happy. That I could be of use to you."
Tamaki smiled faintly behind Makoto.
Makoto turned back to look at her.
"Tamaki. How were you able to leave Asora?"
"...I'm sorry. I wanted to protect you, Lord Makoto, and before I knew it, I was here."
Tamaki hung her head apologetically.
"...I see."
Makoto gently placed his hand on Tamaki's head.
"You saved me. Thank you."
Tamaki lifted her face and smiled happily.
That smile, lit by the setting sun, was very beautiful.
Makoto looked out over the plaza.
The townspeople were watching them with smiles.
(It's only just begun.)
(This is where it starts.)
Makoto looked up at the sky where the sun was sinking.
The sky was dyed red.
That red seemed almost like the goddess's wrath—and almost like Makoto's own resolve.
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