Volume 5 - CH 4

Act 5-4: Arrangement For The Next Script

「Let’s talk about this town development project that I got from you.」

It seems she didn’t waste those thirty years. Well, I’m going to be troubled if she can’t think of a plan even after thirty years of training.

「…」

Felis didn’t even retort to my remark and just silently took out a few bundles of parchment from a tattered bag with a sullen face, and threw it on the table as if to vent her annoyance. I took one of the parchment which scribbed with rather messy letters and gave them to the person next to me.

The content of the perchments were the way to collect tax in accordance to the scale of the territory. Plans to effectively use the tax money for public facilities, new projects, or RnD. Few governmental plans, etcetera etcetera.

「Amazing… Big sis Felis, this plan is amazing!」

「…」

Felis didn’t react at all even when her niece, Rose was praising her plans with a flushed face, she just nonchalantly grabbed the last parchment, and spread it on the table for all to see.

Written in that perchment was――

『The most necessary thing for large scale development of 【Demonic Forest】 including East End’s Wasteland. Moreover, a vast amount of funds and ensuring the total number of citizens has to come before that. The one factor that gives birth to capital are citizens. in short――――――――』

Almost unreadable letters, which followed by worms like letters which read as――

『WE’RE SUFFERING FROM LABOR SHORTAGE!!!』

In huge, bold letters.

She finally reached the same conclusion as me huh. In short, no matter how splendid a plan and system seems to be, it was in the end nothing more than ideal form, the plan and system wouldn’t come to existence without a minimum number of citizens.

The strength of an organization was the number of their members. With enough numbers, money could circulate properly. That was an undeniable reality.

「It finally come to that huh…」

Rose propped her head on the table with her arms, chewing her lips as she pondered about our most difficult problem.

「I’ve a plan.」

「Rejected! We can’t recruit demon race in our current situation.」

「Then――」

「No monster either! Are you trying to make an enemy of the world?」

U~hm, rejected even before I told her the plan. But, this might be a good chance for Rose.

「Since you don’t want to adopt my plan. Rose, you’ll be responsible to secure the citizens.」

I’ll be troubled if I had to babysit her forever too. Whether she succeeded or failed, this job would become a good experience for Rose.

「That’s my intention from the very beginning.」

Rose declared so.

「Then, I’ll give you half a year, to be exact, until the entrance ceremony of Babel academy. If you can’t finish the job, I’ll intervene and finish the job, my style. Can you do that?」

「As you wish! I’ll definitely get enough citizens.」

When I asked her, Rose frowned, pondered for a moment before she nodded in agreement.

With this, the stage had been prepared. Naturally, I had already made my move long before she realized this problem, throwing baits that would reel in the number of citizens that we need.

「Asta, is THAT already picked up by those villagers?」

「Affirmative.」

Asta nodded, replying with a wide grin on her face. The plan went unexpectedly far too well, almost without hindrance.

If THAT manages to clear one of the conditions to break the seal, the plan will proceed really well. We have nothing to lose even if THAT failed to break the seal, the worst THAT can get is death. And that’s fine by me.

「The THAT that you’re talking about, is it another one of your sinister plot?」

Seeing Rose asked while squinting her eyes,

「Well, you guess.」

I replied with anything but confirmation.

It had nothing to do with the current Rose. For now, I wanted her to focus on working to realize her dream on her own.

By the way, I noticed right before the incident in Babel that I should’ve some restraint when acting in the future. In case something unexpected happened, I had already prepared the back up plan which would turn the situation around. Some of my plans have already started.

「By the way, Somni, Tetle, you won’t be able to receive my teaching without enough foundation. That’s why you’ve to undergo preparation stage under my subordinates’ guidance.」

Everyone in the room-except for Rose- showed a startled look on their face the moment I said so.

「Uhm? Is something the matter?」

「Shifu, are you serious?」

Zack asked with a twitched smile on his face.

「Of course. I’m not willing to give any compromise in this regard.」

Anyhow, these two youths were the main cast of the next plan after all. That’s why I would be troubled if they’re still as feeble as now. The first goal was to train them to the point of becoming as strong as C-rank hunters. In addition, I’ll personally train them and teach them the necessary skills for combat.

「Impossible… Do you know what that pervert going to do to them if you gave such order…」

Seeing Asta shake her head, looking at me as if I’m some sort of exotic creature,

「Subordinate of Supreme Ruler-sama, is it Girimekhala-sama?」

「Speaking of subordinates! There’s also Nemea-sama or Ladon-sama too!」

「Lies!? You normally die with that kind of training you know!」

The upper echelon of the wind cat raised a shocked voice one after another in shock.

All of them then started at Somni and Tetle as if they’re looking at the most pitiful creature in the world.

「But, I’ve some conditions when you train them.」

「C-Condition?」

Hearing Somni’s question,

「That’s unrelated to you two. Don’t worry, it won’t become your drawback either.」

I told them so with a reassuring voice.

Those conditions included the prohibition to give divine protection to Somni and Tetle. I had no intention to deny the power from outside. But, I would be troubled if something happened, they lost their divine protection, and couldn’t do anything with their own power. That’s why only minimal divine protection such as Norn’s realm shall be used. After that, whether they died or survive was entirely up to them.

I had no intention to teach them unless they reached the level in which they could withstand my training. Well, my sword art wasn’t something so simple that I could teach others.That’s why all I would teach them was skill necessary in combat just like the one I did to Zack. That… Should be enough to allow them to stand as the main cast in the next stage.

「I understand. Let me to do it!」

「M-Me too!」

The two youths nodded vigorously with extreme passion their eyes.

「Nice answer. I’ll introduce my subordinates later. Now you’ve to run till our place first!」

After that, I looked at Rose.

「Rose, you’ve to think for your own solution too.」

Rather, this problem was a really big deal for the current Rose. That’s why she shouldn’t be able to think of a solution pretty quickly. I would’ve been satisfied even if she arrived at the incomplete answer. Maybe the key to the solution that she was looking for was a place far away from the Glitnir Empire or Amelia kingdom.

「Yes, I’ll definitely find enough residents for this town.」

Rose replied with a serious look on her face, she finally looked like a ruler in the making.