Chapter 819: The One Who Does Thankless Task
Chapter 819: The One Who Does Thankless Task
My name is Eric.
Eric Otter Zegeria.
I am the third child of Baron Zegeria.
I am a demon studying at the Gullgald Noble Academy.
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I belonged to the biggest faction in the academy led by Alfred-sama and I’m even working as an aide to both Alfred-sama and Ursa-sama.
Though this comes from me, I think the way I do things is not bad.
However, I wouldn’t describe my level as excellent.
And yet, I was asked by Alfred-sama to help Tiselle-sama in her nation building task.
…….
Why me?
「You were the only one who scolded both Ursa and Tiselle for being insane.」
……you’re telling me no one else told them that?
「Because others either turn blind eyes or even played along.」
Ah, right, it was like that.
But that doesn’t mean I’m happy about being chosen.
「Dissatisfied?」
Honestly, yes.
「Then, let me offer you a reward to resolve that dissatisfaction. This reward has nothing to do with you helping with the building of that country. Right, it might be better to say that it’s Tiselle’s caretaking fee.」
You’re talking as if I’m easily driven by money……
「I’m talking about “this” much money per year.」
Eh?
A thousand?
Eh?
Are you saying that you’re going to pay me 1000 medium copper coins?
「No, not medium copper coins.」
No, that can’t be, a thousand big copper coins?
「One thousand silver coins.」
………
Your wish is my command.
Thus, I’m now helping Tiselle-sama build her country.
Yeah, I know it’s my own weakness for being blinded by money.
But what can I do? I’ve never even seen 1000 silver coins in our family’s account book. Ever.
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Tiselle-sama’s nation building.
Its main objective is to create a buffer zone between the Demon King’s Kingdom and the human kingdoms. It will also be the venue for all negotiations with human kingdoms.
Since the human kingdoms can’t negotiate with the Demon King’s Kingdom publicly, it will be the 3rd party that will take care of it.
Incidentally, since Tiselle-sama will not work as the queen, it can be said that she’s not “founding” a country.
Therefore, it is called nation building.
The main focus is on the framework of the country and the creation of the city that will serve as the royal capital.
The nation building process is in the stages of demonpower gathering and preliminary investigation.
Negotiations are underway to get excellent staff members from various parts of the kingdom.
The four heavenly kings have even dispatched their executive candidates and the idea is that the nation building would be done mainly by those demons…….
But for some reason, those ten executive candidates have become my subordinates.
They were supposed to have a higher rank than me.
They were all older than me.
But my resistance was futile.
After all, some of them had titles.
I couldn’t go against them.
I had no choice but to take the role of conveying Tiselle-sama’s instructions to them.
As long as I give them instructions, they handle them without a hitch which is a great help.
There is no doubt that they are all excellent.
However, why do they want to be my subordinate?
No way, could it be because of that? They don’t want to take direct orders from Tiselle-sama?
……
That can’t be, right?
Yeah, no way that’s the case.
Then, why?
Let’s discuss it thoroughly next time.
Hmm?
Why don’t we talk about it right now?
Isn’t it obvious?
Because they’re not here.
They are now working to get a group called the Parade Organizing Committee to participate in Tiselle-sama’s nation building project.
Parade Organizing Committee.
It is a group formed by excellent civil servants who prepared and executed the large-scale parade of the kingdom that was held shortly a while ago.
When I heard the details of their actual job, it sounded to me that they are a group that can make the “impossible” possible.
As expected of the elite unit of civil servants dispatched by various related departments.
It would be reassuring if they joined us in our nation building project.
Unfortunately, however, the parade organizing committee was disbanded after the parade.
And they all returned to their original departments.
Of course they would.
However, the executive staffs, who became my subordinates, are negotiating with the departments they belong to, as they are deemed necessary.
Because of that, they’re not here.
It’s night already and they’re not even back yet.
That’s how much they are negotiating.
…..
I’m sorry.
Let me tell you honestly what’s happening.
Negotiations have yet to start.
For some reason, the members of the parade organizing committee disappeared instantly the moment they got word that we were looking for them.
Currently, my executive staffs are chasing after them with all their might, determined to not let them escape.
Once we catch them, negotiations should begin.
Though there is no report that they have caught them yet.
W-well, several of my staff who were chasing them have invested a considerable amount of their personal money to form a pursuit team so I guess it’s just a matter of time.
I await their good report.
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By the way, the ten executive candidates are not the only ones who are gathering demonpower.
Others are also working on it.
Even I asked for cooperation from the students of the Gullgald Noble Academy.
About 30 students, mainly those who belong to Alfred-sama’s faction, have pledged to participate.
Thank you very much.
And Tiselle-sama is also making her move.
Tiselle-sama brought two groups.
One is a group of humans from the human kingdoms who came here with a duke’s daughter.
The other one is a group of anti-demon king forces.
Both were apparently found during the parade.
……
The duke daughter’s subordinates are, well, acceptable.
Considering the purpose of the country that’s going to be built, it would be helpful to get the cooperations of humans.
However, why the anti-demon king forces?
Is it even safe to let them participate in nation building?
They’re anti demon king no more?
You accepted Tiselle-sama’s invitation in order to get a new career?
They even bowed to me saying, “Please take care of me from now on”.
Incidentally, both groups were also somehow assigned as my subordinates.
I wonder.
I thought I was supposed to aid Tiselle-sama. Why am I being asked to act like a field general?
Aren’t I still a student?
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Preliminary investigation is being conducted in parallel with the demonpower gathering.
The main thing we are looking into is the geographical information of the territory we claim as the new country.
If we don’t know what’s in that land, we won’t even know where we should build the royal capital.
These are being investigated using the wyverns that are following Tiselle-sama.
Technically, these wyverns are not Tiselle-sama’s but her father’s but since they are following Tiselle-sama’s orders, it is safe to say that they are under Tiselle-sama’s command.
The information that comes from the wyverns is compiled by me.
You read it right, me.
Honestly speaking, the gigantic wyverns scare me.
For demons, when you hear the term wyvern, you’ll immediately think of the violent wyvern of the iron forest.
However, it’s my job.
I can’t say I’m scared.
Fortunately, the wyverns who did the preliminary investigation were gentle.
On the contrary, they even apologized to me for the wyvern of the iron forest.
It seems that the wyvern of the iron forest was difficult to deal with even among the wyverns.
There are problem children everywhere.
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While I was working like that, I was introduced by Tiselle-sama to a new staff candidate.
He is an old demon called Bareback.
……
Eh?
Bareback-sama?
The one who was said to be more of a demon king than the demon king?
During his active years, he was always in charge of the front lines of the kingdom.
He is said to have the largest network of contacts in the kingdom.
It can’t be him, right?
However, it’s him.
There’s no way it’s not him given this magic power.
Well, let’s untie him for now.
Leaving him like this is bad in a lot of ways.
Eh? I shouldn’t because he’s going to run away?
But, isn’t he a new staff?
Ah, you haven’t persuaded him yet?
Well, it can’t be helped then.
However, won’t you be scolded if Alfred-sama or Ursa-sama find out?
How about taking him to Torain-sama’s house?
That’s the plan?
It’s good that we’re on the same page.
Also, Tiselle-sama.
「What is it?」
Don’t let him get away.
「Of course」
It’s better to have a lot of comrades.
Especially reliable ones.
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I heard that Tiselle-sama was going to gather delicious food from all over the country as a condition for making Bareback-sama to join her.
I thought it was a bad idea.
The staff of the nation building project are all well paid.
However, there were no other conditions or even contracts for their participation.
That unwritten rule broke with Bareback-sama.
Those who are already participating might make a fuss.
I think this information should be covered up but I know it can’t be suppressed.
It will definitely spread.
And that’s exactly what happened……
「We also wanted to eat delicious food!」
I received a lot of petitions.
A mountain of them.
This problem can’t be left alone.
We must not.
If we want the nation building to succeed, this must be resolved.
That’s what I thought.
No, I shouldn’t try to fix it.
I want to eat delicious food too!
But, what should I do?
For the time being, I informed Tiselle-sama that I have a petition myself.
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A little later, Torain-sama came over.
It seems like we’re going to have a festival.
Ah, I see!
If we treat everyone with hospitality, there will be no problem.
That’s a wonderful idea!
Ursa-sama’s idea?
As expected!
Since it’s already decided, let’s start to act!
Torain-sama, please send your festival proposal to…..
You’ve done well.
However, your time estimate isn’t that good.
No, given your age, doing something this much is already remarkable.
Just reflect on it later.
We have no time after all.
Fix it as soon as possible.
There are some parts that will take time no matter……
I think Tiselle-sama can just order both the Dalfon Company and the Goroun Company for that.
Even so, there will be problems with those but fear not, don’t hesitate to hit them with silver coins.
Yes, gracefully like a noble.
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Torain: Hit them with silver coins gracefully……let me put silver coins in my sock and sway it like this! Did I do it right?
Eric:……I mean figuratively. Don’t literally hit anyone.