The Strongest in the World Doesn’t Want To Do Anything

52 – Episode 52: Tailor

“Boss.”

The orc, who appeared disproportionately small due to his hunched posture, cautiously spoke up.

“…The Ratvi region has fallen into the hands of the sect. Orders have been given for those dealing drugs in that area to evacuate immediately…”

The orc paused for a moment before continuing the report.

“Once again, we couldn’t find Wolfgang’s hideout…”

“Ha!”

Tendrial, with an incredulous expression, rose from her seat. Perplexed, the orc knelt as she approached.

“Oh, I know! How frustrating it must be not to find even a clue after five years! I can feel your frustration keenly! I’m truly sorry to keep saying this, but if you’d just wait a little longer…”

“Alright. Get up.”

“Yes?”

“Is your ear blocked? I said, get lost.”

“Yes! Understood! Thank you!”

The orc promptly stood up and greeted Tendrial before swiftly disappearing. Tendrial regarded him with a disdainful look.

“That idiot.”

Tendrial, who had released Cyclops into Tessa’s territory and led her followers to escape, had been operating for nearly five years. With the drug business she had prepared, she successfully distributed narcotics within Terosa’s territory. Under the increasingly unstable security of Terosa following the Cyclops incident that caused numerous casualties, the number of addicts had exponentially increased.

With these achievements, the forest led by Tendrial was regaining its former ruthless reputation. The days of being tattered, running away, and even starving were now tales of the past.

Thus, they seemed to sail toward their ultimate goal of human genocide, but in reality, the biggest source of anxiety remained.

“Wolfgang.”

The person who could dismantle everything Tendrial had painstakingly rebuilt from scratch.

And yet, also the person harboring Haganess, their public enemy.

Tendrial desperately wanted to resolve this source of anxiety by any means necessary. Of course, eliminating him would be the most certain and aftermath-free option, but it was practically impossible. So, he had to somehow capture Wolfgang.

To do that, he first needed to find out where Wolfgang was hiding. Despite deploying extensive search operations for the past five years, not even a slight clue could be found.

Frustrated, Tendrial rolled a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it. Inhaling the bitter tobacco smoke deeply, he then exhaled through his nose.

“Where on earth are you and what are you up to?”

Tendrial recalled Wolfgang’s figure. The days they spent together as comrades were filled with respect and awe, but the days they faced each other as enemies after his betrayal were marked by extreme fear.

Immersed in memories traversing heaven and hell, she finished the remaining cigarette.

***

The epicenter of Nostesa turned into chaos due to a sudden explosion.

Jans, leading his battered body, endlessly walked through the transformed streets that had become a hellish scene.

“Hey!”

Someone spotted Jans and shouted.

“Hey, soldier!”

Jans thought someone was calling him, but he paid no attention and continued to walk silently.

-Ta-dada

“Hey, you bastard! Can’t you get your mind straight?”

A Terosa officer rushed towards Jans, grabbing him by the collar.

“Don’t you see the situation? Even if one more person joins the fray, it won’t be enough. Where are you running off to?”

Jans looked at the officer’s face with unfocused eyes, without any resistance.

“I…”

“This bastard!”

-Smack

The officer’s palm struck Jans’ cheek. Jans’s face swelled, but his expression remained unchanged, vacant.

“Is this guy completely out of his mind?”

-Smack

Once again, the officer’s hand struck Jans’ cheek. Even with a bleeding nose, Jans still looked at the officer with the same expression.

“I…”

“Damn it!”

The officer felt a strange discomfort hitting Jans, who seemed to have become a soulless being with an expression devoid of any emotion.

In an attempt to erase that feeling, the officer once again slapped Jans across the face.

-Chin.

This time, Jens didn’t comply willingly. Holding the officer’s arm, Jens gazed at his gradually terrified expression with vacant eyes, soaked in fear.

“Wh- Why won’t you let go of this?”

“I am… Jens.”

“Wh- Who asked about a declaration of loyalty? You’re even resisting military disobedience now!”

The officer shook the captured arm forcefully, attempting to detach Jens, but he remained motionless, maintaining the same posture. The officer gripped a sheath at his waist with his other hand.

“Jens.”

“What’s the matter! Let go of this arm quickly!”

The officer, reaching the limits of patience, drew his sword and pointed it at Jens’ throat. Still, Jens blinked without showing any signs of concern.

“Jens Taylor.”

“What? What did you say..?”

“I am Jens Taylor.”

Upon Jens’ words, the officer dropped the held sword to the ground. In complete bewilderment, Jens released the arm he held.

The officer kneeled and bowed his head to Jens.

“I-I’m sorry. P-Please spare my life!”

Ignoring the apologetic officer, Jens continued walking towards his destination.

***

4

“You’ve come back again.”

Rosalia, as if accustomed to such experiences by now, headed to the study as soon as she got up from her room.

She quickly sorted through the scattered documents on the desk, then called for a court official and inquired about the date.

“… It is.”

Having confirmed the date through the official, Rosalia let out a relieved sigh.

“Whew. It seems I won’t have to go through the most troublesome tasks again.”

It was a time when the war with Latvia had ended, and they were gradually occupying territories one by one.

“Ha, Handro…”

Calling Handro’s name, Rosalia’s memory flashed back to the moment just before her throat was slit by him. The queen cleared her throat and gave orders to the court official.

“Summon General Handro.”

A while later, Handro visited the study. He was wearing armor covered in dust, as if returning from a journey.

“Your Majesty. I apologize. I came straight to the palace upon arrival, so I’m in a messy state.”

“It’s alright.”

Rosalia recalled the image of Handro buried in the sand, but she shook it off, tilting her head sideways. Handro looked at her strangely, but decided not to inquire, letting it pass.

“Handro, how much of the territory has been occupied?”

“It’s almost done. I can say about 80% is completed.”

Rosalia nodded in response.

“I see. Handro, there was a village… no, it was a desert located at the southernmost tip of Latvia.”

“Do you mean Gota?”

“Ah, yes. By any chance, is there an expedition force leaving there as well?”

“It was included in the personnel deployment for that mission.”

“Hmm. Let’s not send a separate expedition there.”

Handro was puzzled by the sudden remark but obediently agreed to her command.

“Yes, understood.”

In this war against Latvia, Rosalia felt a mysterious power within her. She successfully predicted all attacks from the Latvian army and even identified internal enemies in advance.

It was a special ability that couldn’t be attributed solely to human intuition.

But Handro didn’t bother to inquire about it. As long as it served the national interest, that was sufficient.

“Alright, good job. Go inside and rest.”

Rosalia completed the first task she had to do in this life without encountering Dominic, the enchantment mage who introduced himself as such.

Terosa smoothly merged the territories of Latvia (excluding Gota), and millions of Latvian residents were incorporated into Terosa’s citizens.

Having expanded its size, Terosa immediately set out for the next target.

Gerba, a small neighboring country to the northeast of Terosa.

In fact, it was an unremarkable country with neither significant resources nor a large population, but for Terosa, it was land that must be conquered for a justifiable reason.

“Now is the time to fulfill my father’s unfinished business, Handro.”

“Are you referring to Gerba?”

“We can no longer leave those traitors alive.”

“Your words are justified, but…”

Handro felt a sudden headache and rubbed his temples.

“To capture Gerba, we cannot avoid a conflict with the Taylor family.”