Chapter 180
(Kyle
Calendar Year 509: Age 16)
The Third
Development of Teigoon ①
Translator : PolterGlast
As we galloped our
horses toward Teigoon, just as we reached a hill with a view of the New
Checkpoint in the distance, I was struck speechless by the sight that spread
out before my eyes.
"What... is this?
What is going on here?"
Surrounding the New
Checkpoint, construction was underway on several new settlements, and thousands
of people were working up a sweat.
A scene on a scale I
had never imagined was unfolding before me.
"Are those... all
people working on the new settlement construction?"
Beside me, Anne's eyes
were wide as well. As we stared at the construction in a daze from the top of
the hill, Elan, having heard of our arrival, came rushing over on horseback.
"Takuhir-sama,
welcome back! I heard you were to arrive a little later, so I am terribly sorry
for failing to greet you."
"Don't worry
about it. More importantly, Elan, please report on what's going on with this
large-scale construction. I thought there were only 500 to 600 construction
workers at most..."
"Ah, yes. On Miseri-san's
orders, we are making this settlement our top priority. We have about 800
laborers now, but everyone from the first through fifth pioneer districts of
Teigoon's pioneer villages, whose harvest is finished, is also helping.
Then there are the
townspeople, the Frontier Knights branch, the garrison, the mercenary company,
and the immigrants from the Hiyorimi domain, the Empire, and the Imperial
Kingdom. Claire-san would have the exact numbers, but I think... it's over
3,000 people."
Elan said with a
smile.
According to what I
heard later, after our meeting in the Royal Capital in the summer and her
return to Teigoon, Miseri had apparently had an awakening in domestic
administration.
At first, she had been
overwhelmed by the number of tasks that needed to be done, but she was roused
by the stern encouragement of her demon master (Raymond). By the time she
returned to the domain, she had drafted a general development plan and had
apparently consulted with the steward, who had accompanied her as far as Est,
on the details of the plan.
She incorporated the
steward's advice and suggestions into her own plan, and upon returning to
Teigoon, she announced a rapid succession of policies and was mobilizing all
the power at her disposal.
◆Response in the Former Hiyorimi Domain
The three Earth Mages,
Elan, Laila, and Masrur, along with two Earth Mages from Viscount Cornell's
domain who had been entrusted to the Frontier Knights, formed a five-person
team to build an earth wall at the exit on the demon territory side, sealing
off the area.
In parallel, they
mobilized the Frontier Knights and the longbowmen who had immigrated from the Istoria
Imperial Kingdom to carry out a simultaneous subjugation of the monsters that
had invaded the former Hiyorimi domain.
◆Development of New Settlements
She ordered the Water
Mage, Aira, to investigate the underground water veins around the New Checkpoint
and secure water sources such as wells in various locations. She ordered the
Space-Time Mages, Bart and Kaul, to gather large quantities of food and
building materials from within and outside the domain.
She entrusted the construction
workers recruited in the Royal Capital to Master Karl and adopted a unit
construction method for the housing to push forward with construction
preparations. While the preparations were underway, she recalled the Earth
Mages who had completed the work in the former Hiyorimi domain and arranged for
the foundation work.
After preparing all of
this efficiently and without waste, once the foundation work was finished, she
had apparently directed all personnel to the construction of these new
settlements.
Incidentally, she had
also appointed Master Karl as the administrator in charge of the industrial
development department, giving him funds and personnel to push forward the
expansion of the industrial goods manufacturing sector and new employment.
Furthermore, she had
apparently issued a proclamation from the administration to the town of Teigoon
and each of the pioneer villages, asking for their assistance in the
construction. Manpower was absolutely necessary to advance the construction
quickly, and she was also creating jobs for the refugees.
"The lord took
care of us with the settlement before. That's why it's only natural for us to
help."
"You saved my
daughter from the plague. If I don't do something like this, I won't be able to
face my daughter."
"I was useless during
the plague. If I don't make myself useful here, I won't be able to justify the
reward money I received."
"We may not be of
much use in the construction, but there are many tasks we can do, such as
preparing meals. We can't just do nothing while you're building a place for us
to live."
"Coming here, I
understood for the first time how grateful we should be to our lord. Please let
us help."
The citizens and
refugees had come forward one after another, and it seemed they were each
participating on their own initiative, bringing their own food, to help in any
way they could. For that reason, the personnel at the reception center led by
Claire, who was the point of contact for all of them, were said to be
dizzyingly busy.
※
Elan, who was leading
us, muttered as he stood before the construction site where so many people were
working.
"Being able to
mobilize like this is also thanks to the reception center system that you
devised, Takuhir-sama. It made me realize once again how amazing that system
and Claire-nee-san's skills are."
"That's right,
and not just her. Everyone, including you, Elan, is amazing! To be honest, even
I didn't think you would have progressed this far."
In fact, seeing
this... maybe I didn't need to rush back in such a hurry?
I quietly kept that
thought to myself.
『It's only natural for a domain to run smoothly even
without its lord. If the lord is at the head of the charge, running around in
domestic affairs, he's still a long way off. 』
Remembering what
Margrave Hastburg had once told me, we toured the construction site so as not
to get in the way and then headed for the administration building. Slowing down
our hurried pace to a leisurely one.
※
"What is
this?"
Upon entering the town
of Teigoon, my eyes went wide once again.
The third district of
the town, the rental housing area in the southern quarter, was in the midst of
a large-scale renovation.
Until now, most of the
rental housing had been single-family homes. Now, they were being rebuilt into
two-story apartment complexes.
Watching this from the
side, I entered the administration building.
"Takuhir-sama, I
am terribly sorry for not being able to greet you."
Miseri, who said this,
was buried in a mountain of documents in her office, along with many other
civil servants.
It goes without saying
that seeing her looking a little haggard pained me greatly.
"It's fine. I
told you beforehand that a reception was unnecessary, and I specifically told
Elan not to send a messenger to announce my arrival.
Everyone, please
prioritize your current work. But Miseri, I was honestly surprised by your
performance, which surpasses even your master's. Truly, thank you."
"No, not at all.
I apologize that, as a result of rushing ahead with various things, everything
has become an after-the-fact report. We would like to set up a place for the
respective persons in charge to report to you immediately, but may we have a
moment of your time?"
"It's alright,
when you have time. I want you to prioritize the work in front of you."
"No, our top
priority is to report to you, Takuhir-sama, and to seek your judgment. We have
already sent messengers to the various departments, so everyone should be
gathered shortly. Therefore, please, this way."
...I had made everyone
worry about me.
In the past, I was, at
best, a mid-level manager salaryman. I still haven't gotten used to this VIP
treatment.
Before long, all the
mages, administrative officials, and key members had gathered, and a general
report meeting was held.
※
"First, I want to
thank everyone for their hard work and apologize for leaving everything in your
hands. I am truly grateful that you have progressed so far with the
preparations and response in my absence. And I am sorry for making you work
without rest, even after your efforts in the plague response and the
subjugation of the rebel army."
"No, not at all.
For me, who was living in the slums and struggling with daily life, you showed
me a path forward, gave me a job, and now I can spend my days working so
enjoyably.
There's no way I could
have any complaints. I'm sure everyone feels the same."
This time, Elan,
unusually, was the first to speak, and the others who had gathered nodded in
the same way.
"Seeing the
refugees from the Hiyorimi domain this time made me realize something once
again. That we are living a very blessed life. And that we must be grateful for
it every day. And that no matter what happens from now on, we must continue to
protect the lives of the people who live here."
Christoph said with
deep feeling.
I had heard from Miseri
before that he had been quite angry with the former Viscount Hiyorimi. He was
originally from a village on the border, and that village was close to the Hiyorimi
domain, and there had apparently been interaction between the villagers for a
long time.
"It may not be my
place to say as a newcomer, but if anyone complained about being busy in my
workshop, they'd get punched or kicked.
Someone who doesn't
know the blessing of having work is someone who doesn't know the pain of not having
it. But this town is overflowing with work. There's no better town than
this."
Master Karl, who had
been newly appointed as the head of the industrial development department and
was participating for the first time, fired a shot by way of greeting. At his
words, the administrative officials under Miseri turned a little pale.
"Thank you,
everyone. This time, I want to make you all a promise. Once we get through the Joint
Supreme Tournament in the spring, I want to make it so that everyone can take
vacations in shifts.
To relax within the
domain, to return to your hometowns, or if there are those who wish to see the
Royal Capital, I want to invite them to our new residence there.
So, I need you to lend
me your strength just a little longer. Now, Miseri, I'd like you to proceed
with the agenda from here."
"Yes, understood.
First, regarding the overall policy for the future of the Demon Territory
Count's domain, I would like to convey the administration's proposal to you,
Takuhir-sama, and share it with everyone as well."
And so, the proposals
of Miseri, who had entered her "awakened mode," were to be announced.
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