Unfortunately, I’m Not A Hero 68

Unfortunately, I’m Not A Hero 68

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Commissioned by shaderic

Wordcount: 2500

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Naturally, my transportation system became a very interesting idea for the rest of the Kindred, once the story of my trip to the Kurama valley started to escalate. While most the peasantry and normal people just heard about things that expanded on reputation, those in power naturally gathered intelligence and looked for things that could make themselves stronger. Thus, while all my peers began to look into how to take advantage of my ideas, they outright asked to buy the services that they couldn’t establish themselves.

While many Kindred can fly, Harpies and Wyverns are both better suited for the task than others. They were used to working together, had migratory patterns, and found value in the work. Dragons and Gryphons could do the same work, but they were territorial, isolationist, and preferred to hold ground and lord over it.

So, while the designs of the transports were simple, thanks to Kurama’s diplomatic overtures to the Harpies and Wyverns… I was the only one who could offer the skills and talents to facilitate their use.

What?

I’m drooling over the possibility of controlling an entire industry that the wealthy want?

Who wouldn’t be?

Unfortunately, Roseanne had other plans.

After confirming that the system I had planned was for the sake of regional or priority deliveries, while the new rails were for bulk transport across the Kindred half of the Continent, she gave me a Royal Charter.

Ylstu’s purpose from the crown itself was to develop the facilities, systems, and personnel necessary to become the core of the Kindred’s Air Service. Harpies and Wyverns were informed that they could join the service instead of joining the military during times of war, and their contributions during peacetime would be seen as part of the tribe’s tithe towards the Demon Lord.

Then, she threw a large amount of money my way, told me to make it cheap enough for even merchants to pay for and use, and went on her merry way.

The perks of being a dictator with lots of money, weaker subordinates, and a lot of influence are immense.

Anyway, back to me, Ylstu, and my near-complete economic, social, and cultural domination within my own territory.

Kurama’s contact with the various tribes with A’Bel’s assistance ensured that we weren’t getting a huge surge that we couldn’t deal with. We expanded our training facilities, put in suitable teachers, and revamped the transports with everything we learned from their use. In order to meet Roseanne’s goals, I had to clear out a section of forest to build an actual flight academy at, but with the money she threw my way it wasn’t an issue.

I had an issue with the fact that I couldn’t train the ones who were leaving Ylstu to work for all the Kindred in warfare, but since Roseanne can’t complain about me investing more money into my own Air Service… well… having a larger pool of trained Harpies and Wyverns wasn’t a bad thing in the long run.

And, of course, I didn’t at all mind the fact that all the money she sent paid for the better, newer designs of the transports too.

…

Henri tilted her head at the sight before her.

“You’ve redesigned it completely.” The white-haired Lich mused, while she watched supplies being dragged into the newest, largest transport. The first series of transports were only conveniently able to transport goods. Their first purpose was to insert well-armed shock troops into enemy territory, be hidden away, and then recover the troops and fly away. “How quaint. It’s no longer a construct meant completely for war being used as to not waste resources.”

The new transport had space and ergonomics in mind for the crew, passengers, and even the cargo. With a bit of training, the Harpies were trained to not just be the eyes and ears of the craft, but also the ones who could set up a quick, dirt runway for the landing. That made it possible for me to have the craft become larger for more passengers, cargo, and give it a space for spare Wyverns to stay in during flight.

The number of Wyverns and Harpies involved in the flight doubled, as did the construction cost of the transport, but instead of a combat glider I now had a medium sized cargo plane.

Two of whom could transport me and my current force across the continent, with all the supplies necessary for an expedition to function, in less than a week.

The Wyverns say they could do it in three days, if one “nest” transport” was dedicated towards just keeping Wyverns and Harpies who’d switch shifts during the night. Since most Kindred could see in the night, continuous travel was more a bladder issue… and that could be handled with a little room and some applied magic.

I was tempted to try it out, but given my responsibilities and plans, I decided that I’d rather see a test or two done before attempting it.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s fatter, uglier, and more expensive, but it’ll get the job done better.” Anyway, the new transport wasn’t going to win any awards. It had a large wingspan, fat fuselage, and wheels on struts that looked almost too small for the rest of it. It didn’t look tough, its insides weren’t insulated, and by all means anyone traveling in them was in for a rough time eating cold rations and maybe pissing and shitting into a magical bucket in a closet. “You’re looking at the future. It’s rough, ugly, and boring, but it’ll get things and people where they’re needed faster than most Kindred can think.”

Henri gave a little snort and crossed her arms.

Once against she was wearing little more than golden string, jewels, and paraphernalia of the sexual nature that was worse than being naked. However, this time, the Lich apparently cracked the code in regards to what she could do to look even lewder. That’s right… now she went as far as to cover herself in lewd, glowing, and pink tattoos in very suggesting designs all over her body. Swirls pointed guided the eyes towards certain places, and certain locations were outlined in very suggestive symbols.

Honestly, I regretted giving her a dress code to follow while she worked for me, because she was just getting even lewder in private now.

I really, really hoped that all the new symbols weren’t permanent… and I didn’t want to ask why certain places on her body had zeroes on them.

“Well said. It matters not the look of the thing, especially when it can change the world. Should others wish for it to change, then they ought to rise to the challenge themselves.” Man, you’d really be cool, if we weren’t dressed up like a Ryona heroine who’s been Bad Ended several times over. “This transport will have its naysayers, but they shall be silenced as they experience the same service enjoyed by all those who live in Ylstu.”

“It’s too bad I can’t profit from it though. It would’ve been ice.” I grumbled and Henri nodded along. Her fetishes are beyond my willingness to understand, but I learned long ago that she was as much as a fan of profit and wealth as me. We’d probably get along, if she wasn’t interested in dressing up wearing the uniform of a free-use noble... and that’s the nicest way I could describe her current outfit, too. “But you can’t win at everything. Compromise is necessary… if you can’t get what you want through force.”

“And, the Demon Lord Roseanne is not one to be opposed.” Henri nodded. Why wouldn’t she when I was just reciting her own words back to her? The Lich was my teacher in regards to noble society, since my past two lives were literally “high school student” and “desperate commander of slaves.” I’ve avoided more than a few incidents with her teachings, even though I wished those classes involved less exhibitionism, I had to admit that they were useful. “So… who is the local lord we must oppose now, Lord Hachiman? Whose influence are you putting into question merely by stepping foot in their lands?”

The coastline of the Kindred wasn’t very well developed. The largest port city was the one closest to the capital, and it rarely had any foreign trade. As far as nations went, the Kindred were fortunate, as it was immense, had all the resources they needed, and there was no need for them to venture into the rest of the world. Their trade was mostly internal, along the coastline or the rivers, and they didn’t need an international, merchant fleet.

On one hand, that meant the pirates we were facing weren’t going to be that big of a deal, but that also meant that our local support from my peer wasn’t going to be impressive either.

On the other hand, going to another Noble’s territory with more power at my disposal than them would ruin their reputation.  While I normally wouldn’t be worried about some province with a noble line that barely mattered, I had a lot of people in the Kindred who wanted me to stop messing with the current state of society. A lot of them would be more than happy to add another voice to their ranks, and if I didn’t keep on my toes, Roseanne will have to do something about me, regardless of everything that I offered.

Therefore, I should know who the local lord is, what they have at their disposal, and be ready to respect them so that I don’t given them any reason to complain about what I do.

“…”

Man, my silence sure is loud, huh?

“Lord Hikigaya.”

Yep, it sure is loud.

“Hikigaya… after all our lessons…”

Despite wearing “clothes” that most sluts would blush at, Henri’s glare made me feel more than a little ashamed.

“Look, I’ve been busy, so I’ve just packed a few gifts in a crate and we’re going to give it to whoever’s in charge when we’re there!”

“A person of your distinction should go nowhere without announcement, so your lesser can properly receive you! This was your chance to exert your influence in a gentle manner, and gain a contact that could become an ally, Lord Hikigaya!”

“Well.... I’m not good at making friends, so it would’ve probably failed anyway! So I just had Kurama send a letter about what we’re doing!”

“You’re intruding on another sovereign’s soil with only a “good day,” if that’s all you did! The disrespect is immense!”

Henri groaned and palmed her face, while I did my best to come up with excuses.

This was going to be a long trip.

…

Ur raised an eyebrow at the change in the itinerary.

“We’re going to pay a visit to the Nobility, before we go hunt for Henri’s ancestral treasure.” I clarified the new route with just a few words, and Ur gave a single nod. I looked her over, while checking on the map and making sure our route wasn’t going over any areas who weren’t our friends through Roseanne’s efforts. The route was somewhat the same as going to Kurama Valley, there weren’t many issues. “I wanted to just get in and get out, but apparently we have to attend a party… or something.”

Ur sighed and shook her head. She’d been letting her hair grow out, and now it reaches her shoulder while tied in a small ponytail. . Her second in command’s silvery-hair was growing faster and reached her shoulder blades. Most of the other Amazons were growing their hair out now too, as they did in times of piece. They usually cut it short, so that it wouldn’t be grabbed in battle

“Do you intend to seduce the Nobility there as well, my chieftain? I’m unsure if these new transports can take flight as quickly as the last.” Ur smiled as she made the little joke, as did her second in command, but I took that joke very seriously. I vaguely remember that Vampire who tried to jump me in my last trip, and avoiding her and her forces was only possible since the old craft could take flight quickly. These new planes are very large and somewhat thin… yeah, they probably won’t be able to do it regularly. Maybe once or twice, then it’ll break in half. “I meant for that to be a joke, but now I am worried.”

“I’m not planning on letting a shitshow like that happen again, but you’re right… I should make these sturdier for emergencies.” These new transports should be mostly for cargo, and I intended that to remain the case for the foreseeable future. However, in the event of an emergency, they should be available to rapidly transfer people around, or at least take off quickly. The new design limited that possibility immensely. It sacrificed a lot more than I anticipated the more I looked at it, even though it was very, very good at what I planned to make it do. “Remind me when we get back… and maybe have one of the old ones sent after us a week after we leave.”

Ur sighed and glanced at her lieutenant. The young woman was already gone by the time she looked at her, and Ur’s focus returned to me.

She sighed again.

“You seem far too worried for this venture than you should be. Henri said that this was to be a fast, easy mission in which we fight a few foes and recover an artifact of her family.”

“I prefer worrying, being prepared, and being alive, instead of being calm, careless, and dead.” I did my best to think of a solution to the issue of one of my peers going after me, despite my reputation, firepower, and Roseanne’s favor. Kurama was a good solution, but I wanted her working with A’Bel and Tanis to keep things going while I was away. Thankfully, after a moment of thought, an idea struck me. “Ur, do you still have that suit that you wore?”

“Yes, I do. Why?”

“You’ll be wearing it, and sitting next to me, while we meet with my local Nobility.” That solved a lot of problems. Ur wasn’t just going to be of the Amazons, so more eyes would be on her and her reputation. She’ll come off as someone who can’t be bribed, and be a powerful deterrent towards anyone who had any funny ideas—and she was blushing for some reason. “Why are you blushing?”

“N-nothing. I will be more than happy to take Kurama’s place, while she stays here.” Ur coughed into her hand, before turning away from me. “I’ll fetch my clothes now. Do not leave without me.”

And, with those words, she blasted off and left a dust trail in her wake, while startling a few of Harpies.

What the hell was that about?