‘The Holy Country of Lilac is recognizing the former Tarminal Kingdom’s lands as the territories of the Grun Empire.
Your actions were not fickle, but rather justifiable. You rescued the people from discrimination among the races, without fighting a war.
Therefore, we will not oppose the Grun Empire. We will be neighbors from now on, so we expect some exchanges.’
These were its summarized contents.
The sender was Pope Garbera, the man leading the Holy Country of Lilac.
There isn’t much information to be found about this country, since it doesn’t really socialize. It was kind of hard to picture this person.
But, if I were to judge by his letter, he seemed a person capable of holding a proper conversation.
However……..There is a ‘however’ after all.
At the end of the letter, there was a terrible entry.
‘The dispatched sister will create a new church there and she’ll be appointed the new Priestess.
She’s fully knowledgeable about our doctrine, and she’s not a shady person. She’s an obedient and honest girl.
Thank you and I leave it in your care.’
It was clear to me that he didn’t mean those words exactly as stated.
‘I’ve sent a demoted sister to work as a Priestess there. There’s nothing in her head, but doctrines, so she’s a great chess piece that won’t ever betray us. What if you decide to dispose of her? That’ll be a great reason for us to start a war.’
It was more likely like this.
Since he couldn’t tear off the former Tarminal Kingdom, he sent in the bait…….Because not having a clear pretext to move and attack would be too disadvantageous.
When I thought about that, it felt pretty much consistent. This Pope is quite a sly person.
The sister was not really a disrespectful person.
All she does is talk about her mysterious doctrines.
If she were to be punished because of that reason, something like this might’ve happened:
‘We must pass judgment on the heretics who don’t even understand the doctrines!’……….
The Lilac Doctrine is very understanding of other religious beliefs, therefore it is friendly towards heretics.
However, they follow a fundamental rule: ‘If you kill us, we’ll kill you too. Since we are not seeking to convert people, you have no right to talk about our faith.’
They are definitely up to disputes.
Realizing the Pope’s unpleasant expectations, I sighed deeply and drank some tea.
I must consult the others about what’s to be done.
“I perfectly understood the Pope’s thinking. You are to become a Priestess, am I right, sister? Do you plan to use the already existing church?”
“To accept donations from my beloved brothers and sisters and use them as a means to study this transient world is disrespectful to our God. The drifting ship floating on the great ocean is relying on God’s hem; it’s like searching for flowers inside a forest.”
You do understand, right?
It was like her smile and her head inclined to the side in doubt, were asking me that.
I didn’t get it…….at all…..
“…….Indeed.”
“It’s like praying to God for his benevolence. As for your Excellency, Duke Zest, I pray for your peace and tranquility. Well then, I will excuse myself now.”
She stood up and made a praying pose, before she left the room.
I was left alone and drank up the tea that had already become cold.
“Send someone to tail that sister. And don’t be discovered.”
“Certainly!”
The black shadow that hid itself in a corner of the room disappeared.
He was one of the chosen former adventurers who enrolled my Intelligence Unit.
“For now, we should hold a meeting……..”
I muttered to myself without realizing.
The situation was darker than I previously expected………and I felt very tired……..
I gathered all the management staff inside the conference room.
Well, they were only Albert and my master for now.
Master just arrived yesterday.
He brought along 200 black knights.
It seems that the Empire doesn’t plan on selling this place, after all.
“According to the Intelligence Unit’s report, the sister is at the church’s site, working on some renovations. I believe she will use that place as a base for communicating with her own country.”
“I see. However, it’s really troublesome to use religion as your diplomatic relations.”
“Your Excellency, should we kill her?”
Albert………you should just shut up.
“For the time being, I want to inform the Emperor and wait for his acknowledgement. As one would expect, my words alone don’t have enough weight in this matter.”
“Indeed. You should probably take advantage of the imperial capital more, don’t restrain yourself too much.”
Master, you are so reliable.
“Then, we will wait-and-see for the time being……..Master, you will stay here for a while, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. And I really don’t mind you using me.”
Good…….I only had to work with muscle brains until now, so I was really happy when he said that.
I had an adviser now.
I really need a few other smart civil officials as my subordinates, otherwise things might get complicated.
The work that needs to be done is gradually increasing after all.
“By the way, Zest. I have something to talk to you about.”
His voice was so low that it felt like it belonged to some sort of creature, crawling at the bottom of the earth, and his eyes were darker than darkness itself.
I felt a burning sensation on my skin as I looked at his pretty much visible killing intent.
Huh? Why did he snap?
Albert! You must……..He’s gone…..
That rascal, he dared to run away!?
“I heard you have a magical tool that recorded a naked picture of Bea, am I right? I didn’t raise her to be an immoral person, you know? What did you do to her?”
Master was drawing near, his magical powers shamelessly enhanced to the max.
“Please wait, master. If we talk…….You’ll understand if we talk!”
You’ll understand if we talk.
Putting it differently, you’ll never understand unless we talk.
His magical power was like a whip, shaving the stone floor. As I watched him approaching me, I thought again for the first time in a very long period of time.
……………..I might actually die.
* * *
Translation: Nana
Proofreading: Carmina
DA BEST (among the worst): Mockii
Chapter 75: Duke Zest’s Territory Change
Hellow! First chap of the week is here!
Enjoy-kudasai ;D
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Chapter 75: Duke Zest’s Territory Change
“This is an Imperial Command! Duke Zest is to receive the former Tarminal Kingdom’s capital city and half of the kingdom’s northern region. The Duke is allowed to name his territory Zest-Gaiyus-Tarminal.”
“I comply to the Imperial Command.”
Haha, I am even allowed to rename the former kingdom as I wish.
‘Zest, let’s protect the Empire together! You are the wall!’
That Emperor, he definitely pushed this onto me.
After his Majesty’s messenger left, I discussed the matter with my master.
“Master, the Frontier Count is receiving the southern region, right? Let’s trade for food.”
“Well, we’ll probably have to do that. The north is……..”
Yes, the northern region was not suitable for grain-production.
If you go north from the capital city, you’ll only find wetlands and s
andy soil, then the sea, if you go further.
Normally, there shouldn’t be any wetlands near the coast, but……
Ah! It falls under the same category as Japan’s Kujukuri Beach, maybe. 1
Anyway, it’s a very unusual terrain that is extremely rare to find.
When it comes to crops that could be grown in wetlands, that would be rice, but, unfortunately, you can’t find it here.
This world’s residents aren’t stupid, after all.
If they had rice, they would’ve definitely used it.
“Then, the only thing left is fishing.”
“Son-in-law-dono, you’ll have to ask the kemonobito to do this job…….Look.”
“Aaah! The former kingdom used to discriminate them, so there are no fishermen…………”
In this world that hates discrimination to an extreme, there are no highs and lows when it comes to races.
However, some races do hold monopoly over some occupations.
And they are fishing and blacksmithing.
It’s not like other races can’t do those jobs or anything, but there’s such an overwhelming difference in ability that they don’t stand a chance.
I’ve seen some human blacksmiths around here, but there were no fishermen.
Since the sea if filled with all sorts of evil magical monsters, if you’re a fisherman who doesn’t use machines, and you’re not a physically blessed kemonobito, you won’t be able to survive.
“………..Should I use Herman and his people?”
“That’s all you’ve got left.”
Including Herman, the former leader of the Rebel Army, they were all kemonobito.
For the time being, Albert was looking after them as they worked as cleaners and repairmen in the capital city.
I told an otherwise pretty convenient maid soldier to tell Albert to select a few fishermen candidates.
The Maids Unit was formed mostly by nobles’ daughters, so they were really excellent.
…………Even though they had muscle brains.
“Then……..all I have left is to search for a civil official.”
Master didn’t answer anything this time, instead, he frowned.
Master………We’re doing overtime work today too. You should just give up.
It was already midnight when we finished our work eventually…………I already knew that once you get promoted, your office work is bound to increase, but at this rate, I will certainly die.
Civil official-san……..I’ll give you an ample salary, so please come to me!
The next day, Albert and I took Herman and his men and walked towards the coast line.
Out of 1500 people from the former Rebel Army, 300 volunteered for the job.
The rest of them wanted to become soldiers out of admiration for Albert.
………I pray that the mongrels won’t increase with this.
On the way, we encountered some thieves and former soldiers of the defeated army, however……
“Hahahaha, kill the thieves!”
“Don’t let any of them run away! Stab them to death!”
“It’s been a long time since I last exercised.”
“I’m pregnant, so don’t touch me!!”
Hm?
“Media, you’re not pregnant, you idiot!”
The Maids Unit formed a Death Women Party, apparently.
There was a man among them too, but because his outward appearance was that of a woman’s, it couldn’t be helped.
Media, don’t stare at me like that……..I already told you, I can’t give you a maternity leave.
“Your Excellency, you promised that you won’t treat me like a man……”
“Then, do you want Tasel to go back to work?”
“……..This is discrimination!”
“It’s called making distinctions, you absolute moron!!”
Media buried her face in her palms, and she collapsed on the ground, but no one was worried about it.
“There’s someone crying loudly over there! Kill them faster next time!”
After two days filled with similar events, we arrived at the coast line.
For some reason, we were greeted by other kemonobito……..Who are they?
“I am glad to meet you, your Excellency. I am acting as chief for these people.”
An old lady…….ahem, a woman kemonobito at a blooming age, prostrated herself in front of me as she spoke.
It seemed that there was a kemonobito village close to here, where people who ran away from the former Tarminal Kingdom’s oppression lived.
There were about 50 villagers, who went finishing and lived rather quiet lives, but when they heard that the kingdom has lost the war and the kemonobito got permission to work, they still couldn’t believe it.
They even sent a few people to check the situation, only to find that the kemonobito were living rather normal lives.
Therefore, they too decided to come out from hiding when they met with us.
Yeah, it does make some sense.
“In this case, why don’t you join us? We came here in order to build a fishermen village. If you don’t want to, we will guide you to the city and offer you other jobs, since they’re plenty. So, what will you do?”
She happily nodded to my proposal.
Many of the cat kemonobito women used to do fishing up until now, so they would rather stay in the village and continue with their lives. They were so grateful that all of them bowed their heads to me.
Obviously, this was great for me too.
I had no reason to refuse them, since all I wanted was a fishermen village that would bring me lots of fish.
I gave instructions to Herman and his men to finish with the village’s foundation and demarcation.
Once it had a rough shape, I would leave it to them.
I had so much work to do that I started to hate it.
Albert was in charge of collecting materials for the demarcation.
………I couldn’t ask him to do complicated things after all.
“Your Excellency, I’ve finished.”
“Albert, don’t bury everything! Take some out!”
‘Ah!’
…….Don’t make such an expression…….
I already told you this was a demarcation, damn it!?
Some similar happenings took place, but nothing I couldn’t tolerate.
I’d rather want it to end with this. That would be actually great.
It was already getting dark when we were about to finish.
I’ll leave the rest to Herman, who’s going to become the village chief.
I was thinking about that when I heard someone quarreling.
“You’re wrong-nya. 2 That’s not enough to enclose the village with a fence-nya.”
“Why? 10 logs should be more than enough to do the job.”
“We could only make about 50 planks from one log-nya. And we need about 800 of them for the fence-nya. We need at least 6 more logs-nya.”
“…………..I see. Your counting is correct. How did you do it? You have no tool, right?…….Did you write it on the ground or something?”
“That’s not too difficult for a mental arithmetic-nya. I’m good at counting-nya.”
The young girl cat kemonobito said then started to laugh…….
……………….I found her! I found my civil official!
“Hahaha, my dear young lady……..Why won’t you come talk to this old man for a second?”
It was dark and my words were sudden, suspicious and somewhat dangerous sounding, so much so that the girl freaked out and burst into tears.
………Albert, you’re laughing too hard.
* * *
Translation: Nana
Proofreading: Carmina
DA BEST (among the worst): Mockii
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuj%C5%ABkuri_Beach ↩
Japanese onomatopoeia for cat sounds; nya = meow ↩
Chapt
er 76: The Birth of a Cat-Eared Civil Official
What do you call an alligator that reads maps?
A navigator.
…. enjoy the chap
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Chapter 76: The Birth of a Cat-Eared Civil Official
“I’m Katalina-nya. I look forwards to working with you-nya.”
The little girl cat kemonobito lowered her head energetically in a greeting.
When a asked her if she wanted to work for me as a civil official, she said that she’ll do it with pleasure.
She didn’t have a family, she was all alone in the world it seems.
Because of the previous kemonobito hunting, seeing orphans was not an unusual thing.
I wanted to take her with me and return as quickly as possible, but…….
“Well, well, you are so good at greetings. Do you want some sweets?”
“Woaaa, they look so fluffy.”
“Katalina-chan, call me onee-sama (= older sister).”
“I want to give birth to a child as adorable as this one.”
…………..Media, you won’t give birth to anything.
On the way back to the capital city, the Maids Unit wanted to have a picnic so that they could play with Katalina.
These maids have excessive strength, so it’s actually good there are incidents like these from time to time.
Stranger's Handbook - WN Chapter 01-76 Page 36