Chapter 335
(Kyle Calendar Year 514: Age 21)
Yuka's Resolve
Translator : PolterGlast
Having accomplished not only the tournament in the Royal
Capital but also my other objectives almost exactly as planned, and after receiving reports from various quarters, I felt relieved and
set off on the return journey to Kusanagi. From horseback, I looked back
at Kylar with satisfaction. The
well-maintained highway extending in a straight line through the grasslands,
and the chalk-white city walls towering at its end. Kylar, which I had only visited once in my previous history; how
many times have I traveled back and forth to the Royal Capital on this road in
my current life? It had become a road I was so accustomed to, and a scenery so
familiar, that it was no longer a matter of just 10 or 20 times.
「Takuhir-sama, are you reluctant to part?」
Yuka called
out to me with a smile. We were currently riding our horses side-by-side,
proceeding slowly at the very rear of the military procession.
「I guess things have finally settled
down. We've accomplished our objectives in the Royal Capital for the time
being, and for a while, I'm in the mood to refrain from paying attention to
politics, as well as extravagant meals and banquets.」
「That is true. Given your position,
this wasn't exactly a place where you could truly relax. Are you not exhausted?」
「Haha, I suppose I'm mentally fatigued
to some extent. Every single night at the banquets, I was surrounded by various
people and bombarded with questions constantly. However, I believe the fruits
of this trip are quite remarkable. I certainly feel a sense of
accomplishment.」
Yes, not only at the banquets, but I was chased around at
every opportunity, and the most persistent... no, enthusiastic, were Knight
Commander Gouras and the various legion commanders of the Royal Capital
Knights. Following their disastrous defeat in the tournament, they recognized
anew the gap in level with the Demon Territory Dukedom, and with changed
expressions, they were trying to tackle the strengthening and training of their
archer units. In the end, I was forced into a situation where I had to
regularly accept personnel under the pretext of 『training』...
Besides that, at the banquets, dealing with the various
noble houses who heard about the 'training' and desired to participate, dealing
with new mass orders of crossbows, dealing with individual orders of miko
clothes, and so on... I was constantly surrounded by people. During the day,
merchants seeking audiences asking me to wholesale the products from the
antenna shop, and those coming to form ties taking this opportunity, visited
incessantly for greetings... Even during the 5 days after the tournament ended,
there was absolutely no time to relax.
「That's right. Just as Takuhir-sama
says, this became a very meaningful trip that will serve as a stepping stone
for the future.」
「Yeah, that's probably also thanks to
Yuka running around doing various things for me. You managed the antenna
shop and the consultation counter, and did individual recruitment and various
other things running around. Truly, thank you again.」
Yes, besides accepting trainees and business negotiations,
there were 5 major notable achievements in the Royal Capital.
◆ Recruiting Settlers
I think this was a success. Although it is necessary to see
how things progress from here on for the final result, long lines formed every
day at the immigration reception set up in the antenna shop, to the point where
we had to allocate personnel to manage the line. Well, it's not like there are no
elements of anxiety, though...
◆ Securing Excellent Women
I can proudly call this a huge success. Yuka solidly
recruited the two players from Her Highness Clarice's Royal Guard who
participated in the individual matches and remained until the finals! In
addition to that, tens of women from the Royal Guard who heard it decided to come with them. It seems the effect of the active
performance of Carleen and the others was also extremely significant.
Besides that, the rumors I intentionally spread called forth
more rumors, and many people visited the consultation counter every day.
「Um... I am a commoner. And a woman,
but I have always studied wanting to become a government official. I heard
there is a path to appointment even for women...」
「I heard that in the Demon
Territory Dukedom, regardless of status, and even women can play an active
role. Is it true?」
「I heard that you can raise children
while working... Can even I, who lost my husband in the war, work?」
「Um... I heard a rumor that you will
look after our children for free and even let them go to school... is such a story, which sounds too good to be true, actually
real?」
「Hey! Why do I have to line up like this!
Hurry up and listen to what I have to say!」
To put it bluntly, the initiatives I've consistently
undertaken in Teigoon are all unconventional in this country and this
world. Therefore, for women with aspirations, they were both a hope and
something suspicious. As a result, so many women—along with a few uninvited
guests—flooded the consultation counter, and we ended up hastily holding joint briefing sessions, but...
「It's good that it ended safely, but
it was unexpected that that many men gathered at the briefing session.」
Yuka was also
smiling wryly. Yes, it's a rude way to say it, but where women gather, men
naturally spring up too. Despite advertising it as a briefing session for
female immigrants, men also descended upon it in droves.
Therefore, for prospective immigrants who had women in their
couples or families, we accepted them into the venue after emphasizing that 『the content is geared toward women』. We asked single men to leave for
the time being, saying 『we will hold a briefing session at a later date』.
「Well... because those beautiful
women played such an active role. Rumors even spread that the Demon
Territory Dukedom is a country of beautiful women...」
「Hahaha, as a fellow man I understand
the feeling, but even if they come for that purpose...」
「Eh! Is Takuhir-sama like that
too?」
Crap! Was a landmine hidden in such a place? To my wife (Yuka)
looking at me with sad eyes, I hurriedly supplemented.
「No, I mean strictly as a general terms.」
「I see. I felt a little anxious.
Because you were fixated on women this time too...」
『No... that's to solve the problem of
the gender ratio...』
I smiled silently and shook my head so as not to stir up a hornet's nest any
further.
In this
recruitment round, we gave the cold shoulder to almost all men, with the
exception of those with practical experience, civil official candidates with
specialized education, technicians such as craftsmen, or those with prior
military service seeking to enlist. Aside from those specific groups, anyone
wishing to immigrate was told they would be required to work as laborers on
development projects for the time being. If their work performance proved
satisfactory later on, they would either be recruited as soldiers or granted
land as pioneer farmers. That was the message conveyed during the orientation
for men. Anyone who raised their voice or grumbled upon hearing those terms was
asked to leave on the spot. The environment surrounding the new territories
remains unpredictable. We can't exactly have people coming along just expecting
a free ride...
◆ Attracting Educational Institutions to Teigoon
This seemed likely to proceed surprisingly smoothly.
Originally, I had a plan to eventually turn Teigoon into a city of
politics and academies. As a foundation for that, I am operating on the premise
of accepting the training requested by various quarters this time and linking
it to that future goal.
Even at the academy in the Royal Capital, the curriculum for
training Mages had already passed its temporary peak. In the first
place, the number of Mages among the commoners is not large. Therefore, that side has hit a ceiling, and in
the case of nobles who exercise bloodline magic, there were somewhat problems
in 『making
them usable on the battlefield』. The only ones who can face intense training despite being
nobles are lower-ranking nobles or a very small portion of those with
aspirations. Because the majority of others only accept low-level training.
Now that the
great crisis has passed and the situation is becoming stable, it was predicted
that the academy's magic combat training curriculum would become a mere
formality in the future. Given this current circumstances,
even the Old Raccoon seemed to view this as a godsend. The
discussion is coming together around a plan where, in the future, a portion of
the academy's curriculum will be outsourced to the Dukedom and conducted in Teigoon.
◆ Negotiations with the Central Church
believe this also proceeded exceptionally well. Setting
aside the personal agendas of the General Archbishop and the Archbishop, it was
significant that I could form a connection with Cardinal Crevaras, who
will be responsible for practical matters. And I think we also succeeded in
giving them a warning. The cultivation of medicinal herbs in the candidate site
for the Demon Territory revival, ensuring the independence of the
churches within the Dukedom; those also came together within my acceptable
range. Well, it's not like there is no homework, but... I think that's a matter
I can consider at that point when it happens.
◆ Lastly...
Yuka's active performance in internal affairs. Her growth
was to the extent that it astounded me. Compared to my other wives, the time Yuka
stayed within the territory was extremely short. Before we got married, when
she stayed long-term in Teigoon, she learned various things from my
wives, but that was already 8 years ago. After that, she had no choice but to
stay in Kylar, attending the academy
in the Royal Capital, and even after graduating, for the establishment of the
Magic Knights and as Her Highness Clarice's close attendant. Even after
the war with the four neighboring countries ended, it dragged on...
But after the harvest festival in Kusanagi, including
her sister, she completely resigned from that position and finally settled
down. As soon as she did, she began to desperately ask the other wives for guidance. After that, Yuka first studied under Claire
and began to learn reception desk-related duties with top priority. Partly
because of that, she accompanied me to Kylar
this time representing my wives, and actively worked for my objectives. She
managed the delivery of new products to the antenna shop, handled the immigrant
application counter and the female immigrant consultation counter, oversaw the
hastily held briefing sessions for immigrants, and directed the 10 reception
desk staff we brought along this time. And through women she was close with at the
academy, she also maneuvered behind the scenes regarding politics. Because of
that, not only during the tournament
but even after it ended, Yuka was
almost entirely preoccupied with handling those matters.
「I'm truly grateful for your help
this time, thank you. But please, don't overdo it—just take things in
moderation, alright?」
To me saying so, she returned words with an admirable,
smiling face.
「I must learn many, many more things.
Not just Claire-san's duties, but enough to serve as a substitute for Anne-san's,
Yoltia-san's, and Miseri-san's
jobs too...」
No, that's an incredibly high hurdle! Everyone is a
professional in their path, and outstandingly excellent to boot... I thought
so, but her determination seemed unchanging. Why go that far...? It was a
mystery to me.
「Why are you trying so hard? It's
strange for someone like me to say this, but Yuka is in the position of
the First Queen of the Demon Territory Dukedom, you can leave the
practical work to others...」
「Oh my? When His Majesty the Archduke
himself works the hardest of anyone, I can't do that.」
「...」
「Because everyone is a person 『with no substitute』, even if I lack the power, I think
a 『substitute
who can support them for at least a short time』 is necessary. Otherwise, Claire-san and the others
wouldn't be able to peacefully...」
「Hmm? Claire peacefully? What
is that?」
「Ah! N-No... it's nothing!」
I wonder what it is? Yuka was strangely agitated and panicked, though. At that time, I still didn't know the reason for her determination at all.
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