Isekai Nonbiri Nouka Chapter 1077: Unifying King and Paperwork

Hello.

I am the Unifying King of the United Kingdom of Careland Region.

I hold an important position.

I should be someone who is respected.

I certainly shouldn’t be someone who has to do paperwork while civil servants constantly hound me.

Just approve it with a signature?

You fool!

You shouldn’t approve anything until you’ve understood what it says!

Otherwise, before you know it, you’ll find yourself saddled with an enormous debt!

There might be a document mixed in there requesting a raise for one of your subordinates!

Not only that, there could even be a document asking for approval of a subordinate’s long vacation!

Those are terrifying.

If the civil servants of the Demon King’s Kingdom hadn’t taught me that trick, I would have been in trouble too.

I’ve already checked more than fifty documents.

-0-

Now then.

I enjoy some relaxing time in my office for the first time in a while.

The tea tastes good.

I ignore the resentful looks from the civil servants.

I pretend not to see the documents on my desk.

If I tried to deal with all those documents, I’d die.

I’d like to put a limit on how much work I do in a day.

No, I will put a limit on it.

For the sake of my own health.

Because my arm, the one holding the pen, won’t move anymore.

I can’t even feel it.

I’ve never ended up like this no matter how many times I’ve practiced swinging a sword.

Even now, the hand holding my cup of tea is trembling.

And this is my arm that’s still more functional.

In a sense, this isn’t relaxing time. It’s treatment time.

I’m allowed to lounge around in a sloppy outfit.

That said, since I’ve invited Lady Tiselle and the others, I’ll dress properly.

I’ll check my clothes too.

Lady Tiselle and Lady E3 don’t care, but Ekaterise-sensei is strict.

She says that if I’m a king, I should dress and carry myself like one.

All right, my clothes are fine.

Right then, Lady Tiselle and the others arrive.

To the civil servants stationed at the entrance, please make way.

You can keep watch from there if you want.

-0-

I called Lady Tiselle and the others here so we could share what happened while I was away.

Of course, I’ll also tell them about what happened during my journey.

We have both submitted reports to each other, but there are things we can’t put in writing and details that can only be explained verbally.

Especially when it comes to the Demon King’s Kingdom, Lady Tiselle seems to know a lot about it.

There are many things I want to ask her about.

But first, let’s talk about what happened in our own country.

From the documents I’ve approved, I understand that development is underway throughout the United Kingdom of Careland Region.

There are mineral veins that couldn’t be mined before, as well as the development and management of rivers. Those things wouldn’t have been possible without unification.

Because there would have been disputes over ownership.

In the case of mineral veins, you don’t know how far they extend underground. If you keep digging for minerals, you might end up crossing into another territory and cause a dispute.

Rivers are also often used as territorial boundaries, so sometimes only one side can carry out construction work. And if you only work on one side, the river might flood on the opposite side where no work was done.

Then the other side might see it as an attack and cause a dispute.

What a hassle.

I’m glad we unified the country.

However, because we unified the country, the Unifying King’s approval is now required.

The documents pile up in front of me.

I sigh.

-0-

「For now, we’re encouraging people to concentrate in order to increase the country’s strength. In the royal capital, the larger towns, and the villages.」

Lady Tiselle says this as she spreads out a map.

You’re not forcing them to move, are you?

「We’re not doing that except for villages that would collapse if we left them alone. Also, we’ve created patrol units to maintain public order.」

That’s the idea that was proposed before I left on my journey.

Any problems?

「Plenty. I think the related documents are… somewhere in that pile of documents on your desk.」

Of course they are.

Lady Tiselle even went out herself to help maintain public order.

…….Should I hurry up with the paperwork?

「I’d like you to, but it would be even more troublesome if you ruined your health, so don’t overdo it.」

Oh, you’re actually worried about me.

「I’m arranging for some very effective medicine, so until it arrives…」

…….

It’s not some dangerous medicine, is it?

………….Why aren’t you answering?

I’m not asking whether it has side effects.

I don’t want to work while being drugged up!

Please tell me you’re joking.

「I’m joking.」

Say it louder!

-0-

Calm down.

I’ve heard that the number of immigrants is increasing. Is that true?

「It is. It seems there’s a rumor spreading throughout the surrounding countries that our country has become safer since unification and that there are jobs available.」

I see.

Well, there really have been fewer wars.

Life must be easier for the people.

And as for jobs, we’re developing various regions, so there are almost too few workers to fill them.

Wouldn’t it be better to concentrate the development efforts?

Since we’re developing in various regions, I think we’re probably competing for workers and resources.

「I’d like to, but we’re getting requests from each territory. I can’t turn them all down.」

Even you, Lady Tiselle?

「If I were the king of this country, I’d do whatever I wanted, but you’re the king, aren’t you?」

I see.

So that’s another reason we have all this paperwork, to coordinate things like that.

-0-

What about Ekaterise-sensei’s agricultural work?

It will still be a long time before we see results.

Well, farming doesn’t produce results immediately.

We have to think in terms of five or ten years.

For now, we’re mainly expanding the cultivation of wheat that can be harvested in spring, but eventually, I’d like the people to grow crops suited to each region’s land.

As for food for the people for the time being… we’ll still have to rely on imports.

Our debt will increase.

Someday, we’ll have to become self-sufficient.

And ideally, we’d eventually be able to export food instead…

Ah, I understand that we’ve invited agricultural scientists.

I also approve the construction of a new experimental farm for new crops near the royal capital.

That should already be included in the paperwork.

-0-

What about Lady E3?

I heard she took control of the underworld.

There weren’t any major organizations to begin with, were there?

In a sense, the largest armed organization in the country is the national army.

Until recently, they were fighting each other throughout the country, so there wasn’t any room for smaller organizations to grow.

No, they wouldn’t even have been allowed to exist.

If an underworld organization became too noticeable, the national army would crush it.

And yet an underworld was formed?

Did people who couldn’t adapt to peace gather together after unification?

Or were they people who were pushed out when the national army was reorganized during the unification process?

…So most of them were people who were pushed out.

Did you bring them together and turn them into an organization?

Is that really necessary?

Couldn’t we just crush them?

Ah, I see. If no one controls the underworld, we won’t be able to find spies and agents sent from other countries.

And we wouldn’t be able to crack down on smuggling or detect corruption within the country either.

I see.

All right.

So, in order to manage the underworld, we need a budget for the 「Society for Praising the Unifying King」.

I understand that it’s a cover.

We certainly can’t write 「Underworld Management Expenses」 on the budget.

Who knows about this?

So most of the civil servants know.

Which means ninety percent of the budget is for managing the underworld, while ten percent is for the civil servants’ entertainment expenses.

…….

Even if it’s a cover, it’s still the 「Society for Praising the Unifying King」, so shouldn’t the entertainment expenses be mine instead?

If I have a complaint, I should take it up with the civil servants?

Don’t.

Don’t say things that are impossible like that!

-0-

Hmm?

You want to hear about my side too?

The journey was mostly about ramen.

As for the Demon King’s Kingdom…

I told you that I properly met Lady Tiselle’s father.

Yes.

We didn’t have any particular disagreements, and the conversation went quite well.

It was a meaningful meeting.

As her father, he was naturally quite worried about Lady Tiselle.

Yes.

However…….

Was it really necessary for me to go meet him?

The paperwork piled up this much because of that, didn’t it?

N-No, it’s true that my late return was also part of the reason, but…

I’m sorry.

I already apologized for that, didn’t I?

You think meeting him was important for the future of the country?

They told me that before I left, but I still don’t really understand it even after going.

Well, when I told the Demon King and his subordinates that I was going to meet Lady Tiselle’s father, they made me practice greetings like crazy.

Ah, and by greetings, I don’t mean how to bow or how to walk.

Ekaterise-sensei already taught me those things.

How to avoid being rude without becoming too stiff.

Lady Tiselle’s father may look like an ordinary person, but you mustn’t assume he’s ordinary.

Count Chrome and Count Pugyaru, both subordinates of the Demon King, taught me those things very, very carefully.

They said that even if I made a few mistakes, Lady Tiselle’s father would forgive me, but it would be a huge hassle if the people around him started glaring at me.

Oh, that’s right. I also met Lady Tiselle’s older and younger brothers.

Gol-dono, Sil-dono, Bron-dono, and Torain-dono.

They were all very capable people.

As expected of Lady Tiselle’s brothers.

And then… oh, I almost forgot.

The Third Princess of the Kingdom of Gozlan.

I met her in Village Five.

Neither the Third Princess nor I knew what the other looked like, but one of her subordinates recognized my face.

Man, that surprised me.

After all, the Third Princess was selling something called cake at a street stall.

No, no, it’s not that I look down on people who run businesses at street stalls.

They’re fine businesspeople.

It’s just that the Third Princess isn’t even ten years old yet, right?

And yet she was working as a proper salesperson.

That’s what surprised me.

Well, her subordinates were helping her, but she handled the calculations herself.

She’s very capable.

Ah, right, right.

There was a letter from the Third Princess among the souvenirs I sent, wasn’t there?

I’d forgotten because I heard it had arrived ahead of me.

Did you give the letter to a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Gozlan?

I believe I attached instructions to that effect.

…So you did give it to them.

Good.

Ah, it was a letter letting them know she was safe, so there was no problem.

Well, I think she also wrote something about burying her bones in Village Five and taking over the world with cake.

But she seemed to be doing well.

-0-

Civil Servant「Your dominant hand is no good?」

Unifying King「Yeah. So I’d like to take a little break…」

Civil Servant「What are you talking about? You still have your other hand.」

Unifying King「Whaaaat… S-Surely I can’t change my signature?」

Civil Servant「It’s better than not signing at all. Here, some more documents.」

-0-

Third Princess「We’re selling cake!」

Unifying King「Could I have one?」

Third Princess「Will you eat it here, or take it home?」

Unifying King「I’ll eat it here.」

Third Princess「Certainly. Please wait a moment. We sell drinks at the stall next to us.」

Unifying King「I see. Then, owner of that stall, I’ll have a drink as well.」

Drink Stall「Sure thing!」

Third Princess「Sorry to keep you waiting. Here’s your cake. Please use the table over there.」

Drink Stall「Here you go. Tea that goes well with cake.」

Unifying King「Hmm. …This is quite delicious.」

Third Princess「Not just quite delicious. It’s the most delicious.」

Unifying King「Hahaha, my apologies. Yes, it is delicious.」

Drink Stall「Brother? What about this?」

Unifying King「The drink too… is delicious. No, really. It goes well with the cake.」

Drink Stall「Told you.」

Third Princess「We’re around here every day, so come again.」

Unifying King「Of course. I’ll come again.」

Drink Stall「Us too.」

Unifying King「I know.」

-0-

Third Princess’s Subordinate「That face looks familiar… N-No way…」

Drink Stall「That’s the Conquering King. He’s calling himself the Unifying King now. He’s waiting for an audience with the village chief.」

Third Princess’s Subordinate「Huh? Who are you?」

Drink Stall「A bodyguard sent by Village Five. Even with you guys here, we can’t exactly leave him unattended.」