Chapter 113: Official Duties
The next day.
Having survived last night’s feast, the morning sun rose. What the morning sun illuminated was truly a plaza strewn with bodies.
We had cut out early, but it seemed most of the townsfolk had continued the feast as is. Many of them were passed out drunk.
Come to think of it, aside from me, Cassandra-san and the others also seemed to be suffering badly from hangovers. That sweet alcohol must have been quite potent.
Amidst all that, my mind was clear. I showed no signs of a hangover either. Perhaps this body of mine is strong against alcohol.
“Old Man, bring me a frying pan and a ladle.”
“Certainly. What do you intend to do with such things?”
“I’m thinking of waking those guys up.”
“That is…”
The Old Man looked at the sprawled-out townsfolk with an expression of pity.
◇
CLANG!!! CLANG!!! CLANG!!! CLANG!!! CLANG!!!
As I repeatedly struck the frying pan with the ladle, a deafening metallic sound echoed all around.
“Hey, wake up!”
“Guaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?”
“Kuoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!?”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?”
“Gonna die!? I’m gonna diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie!?”
It seemed to be super effective against hangovers. The townsfolk who had been fast asleep slowly rose, just like zombies.
“Alright, let’s clean up. A feast isn’t over until the cleanup is done.”
“Can’t it wait until later?”
“Yeah, yeah, maybe after the sun is directly overhead…”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I silently brandished the frying pan and ladle.
“That’s cruel…”
“The Princesses are watching too. Don’t keep showing such a pathetic sight.”
Well, those very Princesses were also down for the count in their own beds with hangovers.
And so, like that, I commanded the horde of zombies and cleaned up the feast grounds.
◇
“Old Man, what’s the status of the Adventurer’s Guild?”
“They’ve sent only the staff ahead for now. It seems the building will be constructed later.”
“If the staff are here, does that mean there won’t be any hindrance to operations?”
“Their funds must also have a limit. Won’t full-scale operations begin only after the building is constructed?”
“Hmm. Please confirm that. I especially want to know the start date for their operations. And tell them that if they need money, Baumgarten can advance it to them.”
“Understood. What about the adventurers?”
“We need to give them work too. Will that also require coordination with the Adventurer’s Guild? Should I summon the person in charge of the Adventurer’s Guild once?”
“Understood. I will arrange a schedule.”
“I’m counting on you.”
A spacious, brand-new office. Inside, I was clearing up the accumulated work. There were still many parts I wasn’t used to, but my job was to make decisions and take responsibility. The actual administrative work was entrusted to others.
“Are the houses for those who will become new townsfolk complete?”
“Yes. However, voices of envy are rising from those who have seen the new houses.”
“I see…”
Well, what we provided to the new townsfolk were simple wooden apartment-style dwellings, like school dormitories. I could understand why the long-time townsfolk living in houses made of mud bricks would be envious.
For the townsfolk of the monster-infested Baumgarten Territory, lumber, which could not be obtained without braving the danger of entering the forest, was a valuable commodity. In other words, a wooden house itself was an object of envy.
“I intend to clear the forest. Adventurers have come too. From now on, we can assign adventurers as escorts and fell trees. Lumber will be supplied stably. I’ll put an end to any envy over lumber.”
“One would hope so. Next, regarding the technology transfer by the craftsmen Danna-sama brought back…”
“Was there some kind of problem?”
“Since many are hungover today, it seems the full-scale start will be from tomorrow.”
“Well… I guess it can’t be helped…”
These were people who didn’t usually get to drink alcohol. It couldn’t be helped if they didn’t know their own limits and got overwhelmed by it.
“Let’s see, what else. It seems some of the adventurers have entered the forest.”
“They’re probably investigating monster trends or something. Let them be.”
“Understood. And then, regarding the Church’s movements…”
“The Church, huh…”
Hearing about the Church put me in a slightly bad mood. It’s because I dislike those Church folks.
“Please don’t make such a face. If Danna-sama looks displeased, it’s possible that the reporter might hold back their report. One who is a lord must never lose their composed demeanor.”
“Understood…”
Not even being able to make one displeased face… being a lord is quite restrictive, huh. But what the Old Man was saying was also quite right. From now on, I’d have to learn to control my expressions too, huh.
“So, what about those Church folks?”
“Well, there’s been a significant increase in their personnel, and they are requesting permission to build a new church.”
“A significant increase in personnel… Old Man, what’s your take on it?”
“Most likely, they wish to benefit from Danna-sama’s abnormally fast Gift growth speed.”
“Benefit from it? Not to uncover its secrets?”
“Of course, their true intention is likely to uncover the secrets, but it seems there are many within the Church who think that training in Baumgarten, a remote frontier lacking in everything, might be good…”
Having said that much, the Old Man gave a wry smile.
That’s right. That’s quite a reputation we have.
“We’ll have to develop Baumgarten to the point where those Church folks think it’s unsuitable for training.”
“That’s the spirit.”