Ivar Lodbrok crawled towards me.
I took off my shoe and pressed my right foot down against the old gentleman’s head. It was, of course, a ridiculing action. Ivar Lodbrok’s shoulders trembled.
“Chief.”
“……Yes, your highness.”
“Please conduct yourself with more caution while standing before me. I did not ridicule you the moment we met. Normally and softly. I treated you like an accomplice of equal standing, and yet, did you not look at me as if you were looking at trash?”
Press press.
I pushed his head down further.
Ivar Lodbrok’s nose touched the floor.
“This is why communication is impossible. How long do you plan to leave me in an unrequited love? If you desire for me to respect your dignity, then you must respect my dignity first. Do you understand?”
“This one will, most certainly keep that in mind……”
“Prepare the three thousand troops within 2 days.”
I withdrew my foot.
“It’d be troubling if you were to gather a bunch of random people, so I shall request for the best quality of soldiers. According to the message, the invasion will happen in 10 days, so do hurry.”
Ivar Lodbrok quickly brought his head back up.
“Your highness. Two days is much too short! At the very least, allow us a week…… no even if your highness were to give us half a month, it would be near impossible to hire three thousand soldiers of the best quality.”
“What are you talking about? There are plenty of troops nearby.”
“Pardon?”
“Are there not soldiers protecting Niflheim? I heard that the military force here was around 8,000 men. Lend me some from there.”
Ivar Lodbrok opened his mouth.
It was a face as if he had just heard an unbelievable suggestion.
“Your highness! Those are this city’s defenses!”
“And you are the actual ruler of Niflheim. You can move the forces around as much as you please.”
“Please understand! If the soldiers are gone then the method of defending Niflheim disappears with them. Niflheim is a free city that is responsible for all the economy in the demon world. If this place were to fall then a huge misfortune will fall over the entire demon world. If that were to happen while the Black Death is still running rampant……!”
“Whoa, whoa. Calm down.”
I stood from my chair.
I lifted Ivar Lodbrok back up on his feet and tidily brushed all the dust off of his clothes. Ivar Lodbrok, not sure how to react, was unable to say anything in response.
“Of course there are many things to worry about. The danger you’ll have to shoulder will also be large. I understand everything. I really do. But regardless of all that, chief. It is very unfortunate, but.”
Finally, dusted Ivar Lodbrok’s shoulder.
“That is your problem. Not mine.”
“……”
I smiled widely.
Ivar Lodbrok was at a loss for words.
“Ah. I should point out that this hair is not from your main body. How could I do such a thing when I respect you so much, chief? Do not worry.”
“Pardon? Then where……?”
“I plucked the hair off of a dog that was wandering around the governor’s palace after playing with him a bit. That dog’s color and charm was quite refined. As expected, if the owner is well off then even the pets live a life of luxury.”
Ivar Lodbrok’s expression quickly changed.
He must have realized that he had just ridiculed himself all because of some dog hair and was dumbfounded.
That’s why you shouldn’t have retaliated so uselessly. We could have happily gone off on our own ways without having to upset one another. I couldn’t understand the people who insisted on upholding their pride when they knew that they were obviously going to lose. Are you a masochist? Do you enjoy receiving pain on purpose? This is quite troubling that there are so many perverts in the world……
“Three thousand soldiers. Highest quality. I leave this within your hands, chief.”
“……Yes.”
“Oh, right. I would also like for you to acquire some information.”
I grinned.
“This as well isn’t a very difficult task so you have no need to be worried. It’s a task to find a single human. Ah, while you’re at it purchase the finest bottle of wine for me.”
“Whatever this one is ordered to……”
It seems he had finally given up on resisting. Ivar Lodbrok bowed his head. It was cute because his drooping hair resembled dog ears.
The fact that he had a lot of wrinkles was a flaw, but oh well. It’d be better if I just thought of it as raising a pet with a strong sense of pride. I’d feel sorry if I shoved him around too much, so I should give him a reward later on. Oh no. I shouldn’t have a hobby like raising a pet……