Conflicts Of Interest Often Begin From Trivial Matters (6)

The situation of the Ishtain Domain and the Ingrad Domain stirred the Empire in an instant.

The main content was that since the size of the two domains combined was about the size of an ordinary kingdom, independence might truly be successful, and this was even flowing out in the audience chamber where national affairs were discussed.

“That is why I am saying we must send a million-man army to subjugate them!”

An absurd situation was occurring where the Noble Faction was actually opposing the words of the hardline Imperial Faction noble.

“Rather than going to war with them, I believe we should accept them as a Duchy through negotiations!”

“What kind of nonsense is that! A Duchy! Are you saying we should guarantee the status of a Grand Duke?”

The Imperial Faction noble flared up, but the Noble Faction responded calmly to this.

“I heard the Demon King has reappeared. It is our Noble Faction’s position that accepting them as a Duchy is a better conclusion.”

“Hmph… Where is such nonsensical stubbornness!”

The Empress, who had been quietly listening to the debate between the two flaring noble factions, asked a question.

“The main content of your debate is subjugation versus recognizing and accepting them as a Duchy, is it not?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

The Empress, nodding her head, first asked the Noble Faction a question.

“If we accept them as a Duchy, what conditions would be good to impose on them?”

“I consider it best to only receive the tribute that a Duchy generally offers.”

“And if they do not accept?”

“I believe it would not be too late to subjugate them then, as I think there would be no other choice.”

The Empress thought it was already far too late. She was an Empress who had frequently conversed with Branne de Ishtain.

They were not close enough to open their hearts to each other, but she still did not think her heart for the Empire was that small, so it was an incomprehensible case.

Furthermore, the Empress could not understand why she acted this way even though she had helped her seek revenge when she suffered a foul situation recently, but she thought the matter of the Ishtain Domain was not urgent.

What was truly urgent was the Ingrad Domain. The Ingrad Domain, which had suppressed two Masters capable of facing the Sword Saint; she knew the beastkin were a very powerful force, but since there were effectively no humans capable of commanding them, she was an Empress worried about what kind of idea the person who achieved unification within less than a year in a place she thought of as non-combat power would surprise the world with next.

Moreover, unlike her expectation that he would accept a proposal at a reasonable level, the news the Chancellor brought back—that it was ‘independence’ just like the Ishtain Domain—weighed on her mind.

Furthermore, the information the Chancellor found out was a report that the beastkin had been armed and that a long wall appeared to have been installed after fortifying several locations.

The fact that humans could achieve that much in such a short time was also surprising, but it was a situation where she was worried about Viscount Ingrad’s ability, which far exceeded her expectations.

“Even if we do so in the case of the Ishtain Domain, what do you plan to do about the Ingrad Domain? Even if we isolate them, they will not experience difficulty because they have a harbor.”

“How about sending a fleet to the open sea to contain them?”

It was an Imperial Faction noble who immediately offered an answer to the Empress’s words, and while she had not ignored that method, there was one part that weighed on her mind.

“If the whale beastkin have flowed into the Ingrad Domain, the fleet will not be able to exert its full power. Have you taken that into account?”

“….They are a wandering people. Are they not people who would not place their affection somewhere?”

“How were the beastkin of the Ingrad Domain?”

Looking at the noble who could not answer as if his mouth were stopped, the Empress spoke to the assembly.

“I am saying to create a practical alternative, not a desk theory. And the problem of these two domains… will go as planned. Prepare a million-man army to subjugate them.”

The number of the subjugation force increased drastically, but no noble spoke up against it. Just like that, as each noble began to weigh their own thoughts and interests, the giant that divided the continent began to prepare to move.

The joy of facing an ordinary daily life is quite great.

I was feeling that recently. Even though I was facing war, people greeted me brightly as I woke up normally in the morning and set out for a walk as part of my routine, and some offered me vegetables or fruits picked in the morning to try, and I particularly noticed various people, including some merchants, busily starting their day.

It was to the point where it felt as if they had a ‘future,’ even though it was literally a domain where it wouldn’t be strange to collapse at any moment.

‘A future exists for everyone. But whether it will be bright or dark… depends on what I do. I don’t want to lose this.’

It was a sentiment I often felt, and I came to want to lead these perfectly ordinary days. Watching me, Demina tilted her head and asked.

“You look like you’re in a good mood today?”

“Did I look that way?”

“Yes. Because you are someone who rarely wears a smile.”

“Hmm, I suppose I don’t smile much?”

Demina suddenly expressed various facial expressions, and I wondered why, but she chuckled and said.

“The expression I’m making right now is your usual expression, Lord.”

“….Do I stay with such an ugly expression?”

At my words, Demina began to giggle and laugh, and I thought that if those words were true, it was a serious matter. A person’s thoughts are often revealed on their face unconsciously. This is because it is natural for things one feels proud of, or joy and sorrow, to be reflected in one’s expression.

But if such an expression is my usual one, then just what kind of life am I living?

“It’s not to the point where you need to think so seriously. It’s a subtle change, but you are close to being expressionless, Lord.”

“….Then didn’t you exaggerate too much?”

“It was for fun. I hoped you would laugh, but I feel like I’m the only one who laughed plenty.”

“….Ha, I wonder how I should take revenge to receive praise for generations for doing a good job.”

“Hmm…. well?”

“Ha.”

I was dumbfounded. Demina, who has recently started to joke often as the time she spends with me has lengthened; the change is good, but this kind of change is a bit unfamiliar. Not that I was saying I hated it.

Anyway, it was just that one point had been added to my ordinary daily life. Just then, I saw Linda and Matilda coming to work.

The time is roughly 7:30. It is an early start. I was a lord who encouraged starting at 9:00 and leaving at 5:00.

“It’s a good morning, but isn’t this too early to come to work?”

“There was work left over from yesterday…”

“Me too…”

Because I didn’t let them work overtime, they come to work early. Is this a new concept of operating a black company?!

I thought of all sorts of things, but first I had to say what needed to be said to the two.

“I believe you know that I like to observe working hours?”

“But we cannot handle all the work in that time alone.”

“That’s right. It’s not like the circumstances of the domain are good, and we don’t know when or what might happen, so leaving on time leisurely is…”

The fact that there were vassals who voluntarily worked overtime and came to work early was very satisfying, but I couldn’t give pointless permission after hearing this.

Even when I said, ‘Observe working hours!’, they are two people who work overtime as if it were a meal. It was to the point where there were cases where they surprised me by bringing what they called reports even past 8:00 at night.

“I was able to overlook it generously until now, but from now on, I should do things a bit differently. Let’s have you share the work with Ms. Lucia and Ms. Bella.”

“The two of them still do not have a grasp on the overall affairs of the domain.”

At Matilda’s words, I spoke after thinking for a moment.

“I am not saying to hand over the work itself entirely. I am saying to work together. For example, rather than struggling alone with a single issue, I am saying to consult with Ms. Lucia or Ms. Bella and share various opinions. How difficult would it be if you struggled alone and wasted both time and mental power?”

“….It is easier said than done, but…”

In the end, looking at the dejected Matilda and Linda, I had to give them a bit of encouragement.

“You are doing well even now. But I am saying this because I want you to take better care of yourselves… so don’t misinterpret it too much. Because I do not want to become an unscrupulous lord.”

Looking at the two women who said they understood and walked following me, I felt like I was making them work for no reason, so I turned back to them and spoke.

“How about you go back to the office, have a cup of coffee, eat some chocolate, rest, and then work? Sugar is like fuel that makes the brain move, so even if eating a lot causes problems, your brain will rotate well.”

“We’ll gain weight too, right?”

“…Hmm, a little?”

“What if we eat thiiiiiis much?”

I gave an answer to Linda’s words.

“You’ll gain thaaaaat much weight. Dismissed!”

Then, leaving behind the two who were looking at me with blank expressions, I continued my walk with Demina. And looking at the buildings packed densely around the Lord’s residence, I asked.

“It seems like there are more humans than beastkin now, doesn’t it?”

At my question, Demina nodded her head.

“It is good to see. Everyone living together; honestly, if only we could look at each other as ‘people,’ it could have become like this anytime.”

“But you know the reason why humans have no choice but to see beastkin as ‘monsters,’ don’t you?”

It was because of the Berserk state. To put it bluntly, even the beastkin had lived lives where they couldn’t handle each other’s Berserk state and isolated only the children, and among the adults who wandered, only those who survived were maintained.

Thinking it must have been a horrific history, I looked at Demina and spoke.

“It must have been very difficult for everyone, right?”

“….That’s right.”

“I plan to make sure it is no longer difficult. Because I hope that at least the ones related to me will be happy.”

I thought that perhaps it was a truly difficult task. To use a vulgar expression, there were too many variables, and now war was right in front of us.

Although I am preparing sufficiently, I did not think it was perfect if I were to say so.

At the very least, although we are armed with items made by imitating the convenience of an advanced civilization called ‘firearms,’ it remained to be seen how valuable they would be in the face of sheer quantity, and I was also feeling frustrated because I couldn’t produce a satisfying quantity despite working Hare and Richard excessively recently.

Honestly, at first, I thought I could manage somehow with a reasonable quantity, but because of the criticism that the defensive line was too long, I was eventually increasing the quantity of firearms and the troops deployed to the fortress.

Furthermore, because everyone was serious about the ‘Arena’ they went through every day, they were gradually proposing various types of duels, and I remember that the beastkin with the most badges currently has four.

“Shall we go watch the Arena after we finish our walk?”

At my words, Demina answered that it would be good. In the firearms training, which had begun to establish itself like a sports match, there was a pledge I had made.

I pledged that to those who achieved 10 badges, I would grant the status of ‘Gun Knight,’ literally appointing them as a ‘Knight’ who handles a gun.

And if they became a ‘Knight,’ I planned to allow them to operate a significant salary and direct troops. That number was 100, which could be considered a quite large number, but since I planned to divide each of them in a Century style, there were many who were enticed by my proposal, and news was flowing in that ‘humans’ are also occasionally knocking on the military gate now.

Since there could be spies among them, for now, I am refusing as I am only organizing the army with beastkin, but I intended to think differently if the numbers became large.