Lusteria's Leisurely Afternoon (2)
Reconstruction work on the Demon Lord Castle was in full swing. Near the central plaza, in the area designated for the future government district, an orc woman stood with a stern posture, directing the workers.
“One act of diligence lasts a thousand years!”
“One act of diligence lasts a thousand years!”
“One moment of negligence invites collapse!”
“One moment of negligence invites collapse!”
At the orc commander’s thunderous command, every orc engineer echoed the slogans in perfect unison while they worked. Workers from other races, swept along by the atmosphere, shouted the slogans in a somewhat dazed manner, but those who had labored alongside the orc engineers for some time matched their fervor, their entire bodies demonstrating what it meant to be inspired.
The orc commander radiated intense charisma, uniting every worker under a single will. It was Nella, entrusted with full authority over the Demon Lord Castle’s reconstruction.
“Every brick carries the safety of the people!!!”
“Every brick carries the safety of the people!!!!!”
“The ground over there is still too soft!!! Pack it down more thoroughly!!! Do you want the building to collapse?!”
“Understood, Captain!”
“Whoa……”
The construction site was so intense it could only be described as militaristic. Nella, laboring alongside the workers while issuing booming orders, resembled a fierce general on the battlefield. Lusteria could do nothing but stare in awe at the stark contrast between Nella’s usual gentle demeanor and her current commanding presence.
“Rest time! Lie down right where you are and rest without hesitation!! Proper rest is what allows us to work even harder!!!”
After some time had passed, Nella issued the welcome order. Having carried three stone sacks the size of her own body, she announced the break at the precise moment, and every worker collapsed where they stood, panting heavily. Nella herself prepared to rest, wiping sweat from her brow as she moved to sit—when a familiar figure caught her eye.
“Over there……”
“Lady Lusteria! What brings you here?”
Nella had returned to her usual gentle expression, yet Lusteria remained slightly intimidated, recalling the terrifyingly battle-ready commander she had just witnessed. While Lusteria hesitated, unable to meet her gaze properly, Nella glanced down at her own attire and quickly excused herself.
“My apologies! I must look quite unseemly after sweating so much……. Please wait in the command tent over there. I will wash up and return shortly.”
Before Lusteria could respond, Nella strode away to clean herself. She had apparently assumed Lusteria was flustered by her disheveled appearance. Realizing this too late, Lusteria could only follow Nella’s suggestion and quietly head to the tent to wait.
The tent was small, modest, and made of humble materials. Inside, numerous blueprints were stacked, yet the space was immaculate—everything sorted neatly by type and date. It was a clear reflection of Nella’s personality: lively and approachable with those she knew well, yet meticulous and orderly when it came to official duties.
Lusteria sank weakly into a chair and recalled Nella’s valiant figure from moments earlier. Compared to herself, a ninth-rank mage who had lived for two thousand two hundred years, the eighty-five-year-old Nella was little more than a child. Yet the Nella who commanded the reconstruction site shone with a brilliance Lusteria could never match. Every precise order revealed deep knowledge of construction, and in those moments, Nella seemed truly magnificent. The fierce intensity with which she carried materials and swung hammers while directing the site had been enough to intimidate Lusteria and make her feel small.
Lusteria found herself admiring Nella, and the feeling was identical to what she had once felt toward Beatrice. She wanted to distinguish herself as well, to become a capable subordinate the Demon Lord could be proud of. Neromeltia had told her she accepted everything about Lusteria and that she should simply relax, but that was not what Lusteria desired. Remembering her own days of eating delicious meals, sucking on lollipops, and taking leisurely walks filled her with an inexplicable guilt and restlessness.
Before discovering Crimson Castle and Caboni Forest, when she had worked tirelessly without even time to sleep, she had felt far more at ease.
“So that is what has been troubling you.”
A cup of tea releasing the refreshing scent of peppermint was placed before her. The two women sat inside the humble command tent, its entrance draped with cloth, sharing a conversation. Lusteria had poured out all her worries to Nella. She had sought Nella out because Nella was the commander overseeing the Demon Lord Castle’s reconstruction plans. Nella was also responsible for the castle’s future geographical design, so Lusteria hoped she might know what the castle still lacked and could offer advice on any gaps in personnel.
Her reasoning was that someone familiar with what was being built and designed would easily understand which important fields still needed staff.
“There are simply too many capable people around Master! It is a good thing, of course, but……”
“Even so, Lady Lusteria, you are the secretary. Simply remaining by Her Majesty’s side and assisting her should already constitute important work, should it not?”
“I wish she would assign me even a small portion of her duties……. Master handles all official matters alone and tells me it is enough for me to simply stay beside her. Whenever I think of brewing tea, Lady Beatrice, who manages the kitchen, arrives with it exactly on time. When I try to help with paperwork, Master says it is unnecessary and discusses matters only with Sir Crawford and Lord Artis……”
Though she had only realized it today, it seemed discontent had been quietly accumulating within her. Nella felt that Lusteria’s situation resembled her own. Lusteria was sulking—wanting to be useful, yet displeased because no one relied on her. It reminded Nella of herself and her older brother.
Beriberi had shouldered the heavy burdens of a lord, often staying up through the night. Yet he had never imposed any duties on Nella. She had studied and trained in martial arts so she could share his workload, but it had all been in vain. That was why she had chosen the path of Engineer Captain. A lord’s duties centered on paperwork and managing the territory’s overall affairs, which inevitably left field operations neglected. She had believed that a position involving direct on-site management was one even Beriberi could not refuse to delegate.
In the end, her prediction had proven correct. Unable to ignore the achievements Nella had made by personally commanding the field, Beriberi had finally granted her the title of Engineer Captain and partially acknowledged her role in governing the territory.
“Your tea will grow cold. There is no need to rush. Please take your time and speak at your leisure.”
“But are you not busy, Lady Nella?”
“I have already given all necessary instructions. The rest will proceed smoothly once I relay orders to the section chiefs. Right now, my only intention is to listen to your concerns, so please feel free to speak slowly and comfortably.”
Lusteria, worried that the busy Nella might leave once time ran out, had been speaking so hurriedly that she had not even touched her tea. Nella decided that reassuring her was the first priority. Nella’s own experiences with her brother made Lusteria’s situation feel personal, and she could not simply leave her alone. She resolved to dedicate this entire day to her.
The problem Lusteria faced ultimately stemmed from excessive consideration on the other party’s part—just as it had with Nella herself. Though she did not voice the thought aloud, Nella understood quite well why Neromeltia was leaving Lusteria, who wished to be helpful, to her own devices, and she could not help but smile inwardly. In the end, like her brother Beriberi, Neromeltia was simply being considerate because she wanted Lusteria to be happy.
Having heard that Lusteria had also worked tirelessly without sleep before Caboni Forest joined them, it seemed Neromeltia’s stance was not to avoid giving her difficult duties altogether. Nella felt this point needed to be addressed gently, so she carefully offered her opinion.
“Perhaps Her Majesty is leaving you be because she hopes you might enjoy a bit of rest after all the hard work you have done as secretary?”
“I cannot simply play around while everyone else is working hard! I want to work too!”
Lusteria’s tone was resolute. She wanted to be of use to the master she loved so dearly, and if Neromeltia would not assign her tasks, she would find them herself.
The worries Lusteria carried were familiar to Nella. That was why she empathized deeply and could not leave her alone.
“Then shall we go out and look right away? I have a few ideas in mind.”