>>5960989Oh yeah, your cellphone was in the zipped pocket of the jacket you wore. The servants bring the waterlogged piece of electronic equipment and lay it out before you. The damn thing must be dead; you fell into the sea, and the salt water must have infiltrated the delicate circuitry. You push the button on the cellphone and discover that you were wrong. It boots up like nothing happened to it.
Wait, where's your tea bowl? It must still be Yatagarasu; you should ask him to bring it up.
"Where is Yatagarasu? He forgot to hand over something I left in his safekeeping." You can't wait to get some rest.
"Yatagarasu is outside, regaling the others with his time in the World and boasting of his rewards. Is it true you gave him all of it and told him he could do whatever he wished with it?" Hanbei sounds very skeptical.
"I did indeed. I gave him the first harvest."
"MEEP!? A name and an entire harvest? I would recommend taking back a portion of the Mana for your own use. It's a complete waste on such a lowly servant. If you summon him here, you still have time to order him to give up the Mana," Hanbei protests and shakes his horned head.
"Bushi ni nigon nashi... In other words, a King doesn't go back on their word. No vassal will ever trust me again if I casually betray my word and steal something I gifted to them. There will be other Quests and opportunities to reap Mana." You reprimand your Seneschal's shortsightedness and lack of sense. If this is the extent of Hanbei's political acumen, then you're better off never allowing him the opportunity to make important decisions on his own.
You hear the yees, meeps, and hubbub of many Baphomets in the castle grounds. An idea occurs to you that you should show yourself to your vassals and let them see you. Those Royals from England are pretty savvy with the smile and wave; it might be to your advantage to do the same. Getting up from your chair, you open the doors leading out to the balcony. The night air is warm and gentle; below are hundreds of Baphomets milling about and gossiping. Upon seeing you on the balcony above, the Baphomets below begin cheering.
"Your Majesty!" Yatagarasu calls out happily and waves to you. He is in the middle of a crowd of Baphomets who have been hanging on every word of his. The lanterns and open fires barely illuminate the masses looking upwards at you.