What Makes A Good Lord? (4)

“If you’re thinking of dumping bothersome work on me, forget it.”

At the words that slipped out of my mouth, every beastkin around me jumped and darted glances at me. They couldn’t even lift their heads and, aside from the sound of breathing, the beastkin said nothing—so it really did seem to be a god.

[ What an amusing human. Yet, because you have drawn out fate, I have come. My child, thank you for caring for my children… ]

At the phrase “my children,” I figured as much. This was a world where a real “god” interfered. I didn’t care whether the god before my eyes was benevolent or the Demon God—if they were trying to foist troublesome work on me, I would decline.

“Thank you for thinking well of me, but if you’re about to tell me to take responsibility for the beastkin, please stop right there.”

[ Why do you try to refuse? ]

The amusement on their face was obvious. Moreover, the slight shift in expression—that was “mischief.” It was clear they meant to dump the dirty work on me.

Beastkin were a troublesome race. On top of that, they were entirely too rough for humans to get close to. I had received Ingrad Domain and, since what I had here were beastkin instead of humans, I intended to somehow make them my subjects and lead them along—but at this rate, I had a sudden thought they might try to foist all the beastkin on the continent onto me.

“Even the beastkin nearby are more than I can handle. So if you can read my thoughts, please be lenient, yes?”

An insolent tone kept popping out. If there were a priest nearby, they’d call me a blasphemous wretch condemned by heaven, but it seemed there wasn’t one around. Otherwise, maybe the pressure a god exuded had everyone too cowed to open their mouths.

[ Countless of my children on this continent still live in pain. Seeing that you have a generous heart and an unprejudiced gaze, I judged it good to entrust my children to you. ]

“I refuse. I’m already overburdened as it is.”

[ What should I do to make you heed my request? Shall I offer even my body? ]

“…That’s even worse.”

If even a god wanted me to take responsibility for them, it would be an even bigger headache. And from what they were saying now, I felt it clearly—the god before me was very mischievous indeed.

So I thought the timing of this appearance was the worst, and I resolved to refuse no matter what—when it happened.

[ I can grant you two blessings. With them, the beastkin would have no choice but to obey you unconditionally. Do you still refuse? ]

‘It’s a shackle… definitely a shackle!’

My head spun. And my conclusion was to refuse. If I accepted, it’d be crap.

“Uh—no, I refuse. I want to live in peace. Right now I strongly feel I’m getting dragged further away from that peace, and my head is a mess. Why are you doing this to me…?”

On the assumption they could read my thoughts, I glared at the god before me and thought.

‘To be blunt, dear god, I’m someone dragged here pitifully. I can’t even go home—must I shoulder the beastkin on top of that? Am I not pitiful to you at all?’

Just then, a voice rang in my head. I had spoken in thought, and the god replied in thought as well.

[ One of the two blessings is the “Seal of the Ruler,” whereby the beastkin will be unable to refuse your commands. And the second blessing will allow you, when you have faithfully lived out your life, to return to your original world—to the time you were in. Are you satisfied? ]

Ha… I’d been sniped. That’s what I thought.

It meant that if I lived this life faithfully, I would regain my youth and get to live once more in the other world. But the problem was whether a life over there would be possible after living my life here.

[ That will not be an issue. I shall arrange it so you may bring a portion of the life you enjoyed here with you. Well then, how about it? Even so, will you still not heed my request? ]

The temptation was tremendous. As a god, they instantly grasped what I wanted and offered it first. But my mind was immovable.

“I refuse. Decisively!”

Looking a little surprised, the god suddenly burst into peals of laughter. After laughing for quite a while, the goddess spoke to me.

[ In that case, I have no choice but to show the sincerity I can give you. This much you will not be able to refuse… ]

And then, at the instant a light was forcibly cast upon my body—!!

“Ta-hat!! Tcha!”

I tried to throw myself aside to dodge the incoming light, but I was already a beat too late. In the end, the light had already touched my body.

“What are you doing!!”

I shouted back, incensed, but when I lifted my head, the god had already vanished, and because of this, I came to be called “Divine Messenger” by the beastkin. Damn it.

“Why is it that the more I get entangled with gods, the more my life goes to hell?”

At my words, Seria, beside me, cautiously spoke up.

“May I say something?”

“Say whatever it is.”

“Pardon me, but I heard what the beastkin were saying. That their goddess blessed you, my lord—and that now you’re being called the goddess’s apostle, or a messenger of the gods.”

“…That topic is a headache, so could you not bring it up?”

“No, there’s something you need to face directly.”

“…Because of what?”

“There was a time when the beastkin’s goddess was called a ‘heresy’ or a ‘cult.’ She is the daughter of the Creator God, but her temperament is unpredictable, and she is a god who spares not a glance for anyone but beastkin, so most humans don’t believe in her. However, her power is mighty, and she is also the older sister of the one called the Demon God… so you must be careful.”

“…Blood-related to the Demon God? That woman… no, goddess?”

Seria nodded. My head felt like it would explode. Even if she wasn’t directly tied to the Demon God, for humans the Demon God was the worst god—an enemy. Yet the one who was the Demon God’s elder sister had appeared before me and blessed me.

Moreover, after that process, the beastkin treated me like some king—no, more than that—and raised me up.

Everyone who had once spoken to me casually now seemed careful lest they misspeak a single word.

“Phew… From the standpoint of having to run Ingrad Domain, it’s a very good situation… but this basically means I won’t be able to deal with humans at all… Do you think people will believe this?”

Hearing me, Seria shook her head and spoke.

“I don’t think anyone will believe it. But if religious enforcers like inquisitors or heretic hunters appear and notice the blessing placed upon you… troublesome things could happen.”

“Surely the Terakan Empire isn’t beneath religion… it’s not like that, right?”

“Of course not. Imperial authority is absolute.”

That was a good answer. I picked myself up a bit and said:

“I should work. It’s not like the blessing will go away just because I complain… ha, I really don’t like this… what a pain.”

There was no helping my displeasure.

When I stepped out into the courtyard of the lord’s manor, I saw the knights training hard again today. Their outfits were now downright freewheeling.

Every time they swung their swords, their bodies jiggled artistically, but just as I was carefully trying to slip through the yard, hoping they wouldn’t come near—

“My lord, I have something to say!”

I figured this was coming and turned my head; Aenia approached, drenched in sweat. Even with the smell of sweat and the rank stink of rotting meat wafting off her, Aenia was unashamed and forthright.

“What is it?”

I hoped she would hurry up and talk. It felt like my nose was rotting…

“Forgive my boldness, but could you give us a bit more of the bodily enhancement potion…?”

“…I remember giving you quite a lot, though…??”

“The thing is—when my comrades came the other day, we shared them, and we’ve nearly exhausted our supply. We’ll invoice the imperial house separately and pay the cost, so could you prepare a bit more?”

Honestly, at this point, the knights were an element the domain could do without. In a situation where a strong one like Debik—who could tear a knight apart—now looked ready to flop over obediently at my word.

What use were knights to guard me?

Maybe that’s why a rather cool tone slipped out.

“Look around you. Do I seem in need of currency that circulates in human society? Do I look like I’ll be going outside to spend any of it?”

“I… I’m sorry. We have nothing else to offer as compensation…”

Aenia flustered, at a loss. It seemed she had roughly grasped the situation too. Just from how all the beastkin treated me, they must have realized their role was over.

Since all they could do was wait for the formal procedures to recall them, I thought she was asking to train at least. But thinking Aenia might still be quite useful in various ways, I made her a deal.

“How about we try what we did last time? Training is important, but wouldn’t it be better to show me your worth? If you go on being treated as useless like this, won’t it hurt your pride?”

“…What would you have us do?”

“As I said before, I’m thinking of ordering the beastkin to hunt monsters.”

Since it had come to this, I resolved to make thorough use of the situation and set off. And I figured Aenia—who could do this and that—would surely be useful.

And I meant to find places to use the other four knights as well.

“I’ll pay you in potions. That way it’s good for both sides, no?”

“…V-very well. We’ll prove our value, at least that much.”

She could have refused, but as knights they had an overflowing desire to grow stronger—and it happened to fit just right.

I reached out to seal the deal with a handshake, then quickly ran a hand through my hair and spoke.

“I’ll prepare the potions this afternoon as an advance. But—if you take the goods and slack off on the work… you’d best be prepared.”

Leaving a light warning, I turned my steps and left the yard. Then I sniffed my body and could only sigh.

‘I’ve been poisoned… damn.’

I figured some strong component secreted by the human body must be creating that foul smell. Women who trained so hard they excreted such stuff…

Honestly, it was a bit of a turn-off, but still, seeing them practice so diligently was nice. From a distance!

Just then, the beastkin noticed my arrival and knelt, bowing their heads.

“Ahhhh… I told you not to do that!!”

At my urgent cry, the beastkin answered, “We cannot!” This was why I’d holed up in the lord’s manor for days, and having this happen today too was a problem.

What’s more, even Debik’s group in the distance approached this way, then stopped where they were and bowed their heads. Spotting the mass of Tiger’s Fang Grass piled on Debik’s back, I thought “Good!” and ran over to pull him up, when Debik spoke carefully.

“Please, only words. How could you lay noble hands upon my filthy body!”

“Ah… Debik, let’s not, okay? Your face right now is the picture of smug delight.”

Meeting his upward glance, Debik’s expression was hilariously pleased. It seemed that even among beastkin—some devoutly believed in the beastkin’s god, while others, like Debik, simply thought, “Oh, so that god is my lord’s god.”

He straightened up and said to me:

“Still, you should mind your words. I’ve brought a large quantity of the Tiger’s Fang Grass you asked for—how should we process it?”

“Whew… First, could you send it to the pressing workshop inside the lord’s manor?”

“If it’s there… very well. Is my wife there?”

“She’s working hard again today. Later, with the grass you brought, I’ll make a skincare remedy—so you can look forward to it.”

“What use does a man have for good skin?”

“It’s not for you, alright?”

It was a situation that made me grouse for no reason, but Debik chuckled and led the bear beastkin toward the lord’s manor.

Watching that with some displeasure for a while, I thought of the beastkin for whom I still had to build houses to catch up on backlogged work, and trudged off.

I had lost my small, ordinary days.