Chapter 258 (1/2)

「……Fuu. Is today’s work done with this?」

「Yes, good work.」

In the Demon King’s office that was in the Zadark Kingdom’s Demon King Castle, Vermudol made a large stretch.

With the documents he handed to Ichika just now, he had completed the support duties that were made with Altejio and the others being gone.

Since they would be coming back today, things would finally return to their normal structure.

「……Now that I think about it, I’ve done nothing but burden Altejio with work. It might be my obligation to do work on his behalf for another two or three days and give him a good amount of rest.」

While listening to Vermudol’s muttering, Ichika quickly checked through the documents she was handed.

She thought that he didn’t need to worry about that since the Northern Army had its own rhythm of doing things, but that spirit of his was something wonderful as an administrator.

That is why Ichika decided to not make a statement until he sought her opinion……but.

「……Wait. Don’t joke with me. If you’re going to talk about obligation or whatever, wouldn’t it be fine if you just increase the Northern Army’s personnel. Or could it be that you have no intention of considering the burden placed on me?」

Receiving a protest, Vermudol turned his gaze to the desk that was temporarily placed in his office.

What was there was Ykslaas’s figure as she fell prostrate onto the desk, and she was glaring at Vermudol with upturned eyes.

「No, you do have my gratitude. You do work better than I expected.」

In response to Vermudol’s honest answer, Ykslaas replied with an unconcealed tongue click.

「What. I’m. Saying. Is. Increase the Northern Army’s manpower. You can do that, right?」

「Fumu.」

Understanding that what Ykslaas was saying wasn’t about hiring but about Mazoku Creation, Vermudol made a vague nod.

「I can’t do that thoughtlessly either though. I also think that that sort of time has passed.」

「What do you mean. Shouldn’t you face the lack of personnel as a realistic problem?」

「And that is the reason why. Right now, rather than creating the necessary personnel, I am thinking that we should be transitioning to raising them.」

Vermudol’s Mazoku Creation ability was certainly convenient. The power to create necessary people when they were needed could even be said to be what supported the Zadark Kingdom’s foundation.

「In reality, what makes the current Zadark Kingdom move is the Four Cardinal Generals and the Four Cardinal Armies……In other words, the power of the Mazoku that were originally in this country is a large part of it. A majority of the Central Army are Mazoku that I created but, well……A lot of the work that the Central Army does is supervisory stuff rather than practical stuff after all.」

「Hーn. And so?」

「In short, it’s like this. Even if I don’t create the necessary personnel and supplement them with that, there is the possibility that each army will find the necessary personnel and raise them, and that is why I am thinking that now is the time where that should be done.」

Of course, in cases where there is an urgent need for personnel when there is no time to raise them and there is an ability that is needed but there was no one with the know-how to do it──like the diplomat Nanalus for example, Vermudol would need to create them from now on as well.

However, if that wasn’t the case, each army would be able to resolve it. He was thinking that as long as they were in the shape of a country, they should shift into that direction before long.

「……Well, I can understand what you’re saying, you know?」

When Ykslaas raised her body up, she cracked her shoulders.

「But look. Realistically, right now, at this moment, isn’t there a lack of people. Considering the importance of the Northern Army’s work, this situation where it turned out like this just by taking Altejio out is extremely unstable. Yes, even if it’s now where the work amount has temporarily increased with the connection of the tourism, see.」

「Mu……」

「If you say that you’re going to go in the direction of raising them no matter what, at the very least, you should take this chance to re-examine the Northern Army’s work structure. You should do either that or form a budget and drastically increase the personnel.」

In response to Ykslaas pointing that out, Vermudol sank into silence and pondered.

Ichika silently watched over him as he was like that……then said “I will make some tea” and left the room.

And then, switching with Ichika, Rokuna came barging into the room.

「Ver-cchi, I just got back! Tte, ara, if it isn’t Ykslaas. What’re you doing?」

「That sure is a sudden greeting. I was doing support on the work around here.」

「Ara, is that so. Thanks for the hard work, I’ll treat you to something next time.」

After saying that, Rokuna turned back around to Vermudol.

「Yeah, welcome back, Rokuna. Have Altejio and the others returned already?」

「Yes. You said that it would be fine if I made the report alone, right?」

「Pretty much.」

Hearing that, Ykslaas breathed a sigh.