54
Chapter 54
'Jin' Mallak said he chose me because I was the only one who cared about the Barbarians.
Honestly, I don't really get it.
All I did was send a suggestion to the production company to cast the Barbarians, who were living peacefully in a remote area, as the villains for the next content update.
Does that actually count as "caring" for them?
Making the Barbarians and the Loa they serve into enemies for the Holy Knights to defeat?
I can't tell if it's because he's a god, or if he's just some kind of dim-witted but kind-hearted friend.
Maybe negative attention is still attention? I don't know.
How could I possibly know what a god is thinking?
One thing is for sure, though—the Barbarians really are...
"No—dammit! That's not what I meant!"
...completely devoid of talent in anything other than combat.
With a flushed face, Harry let out another burst of rage.
"Look here! When did I ever tell you to put the meat inside the Grain Storehouse?! There's a clear distinction between the two!"
"The old man is being too harsh. Aren't they both just food? It's all the same once it hits the stomach."
"You... you! Agh! You pieces of trash!"
"Please calm down, Grandfather...!"
Unable to take it anymore, Harry clutched the back of his head.
I understand. I'd be losing my mind too.
Within this Tribe Alliance, Harry and Luna were the only ones capable of handling "civilized" matters.
Since Luna was still young, Harry took charge of the city reconstruction mission, but the results were far from ideal.
'If you don't understand, I will explain it again. Come over here.'
At first, Harry had explained everything calmly and logically.
The Barbarians had also listened quite intently in their own way.
However, frequent mistakes and failures occurred one after another, and it eventually led to this.
I wanted to help Harry more than anything, but I'm a 21st-century human from Earth.
The Middle Ages—well, strictly speaking, it's not even the Middle Ages. They're residents of a fantasy world.
My understanding of their civilization was just as low as the Barbarians'.
Still, since people are the same everywhere, I knew a few things, but that was it.
How much could a rookie Convenience Store Worker possibly know about the facilities or daily items of a "medieval fantasy" city?
"The storage methods for meat and grain are very different. I mean, simply put, one is plant and the other is animal."
Eventually, Luna stepped in on behalf of Harry, who looked like he was about to cough up blood.
"...?"
However, the "combat brains" of the Barbarians, whose almost every class consisted of warriors, were incredibly stubborn.
"So, I mean..."
In a few days, Luna will probably end up just like Harry.
I'm screwed.
To think I captured a city and made it my headquarters, only to be unable to use it properly.
"Lord Mallak! Almost every village in Symphonia has knelt before the Tribe Alliance! Soon, it will all be our land!"
Kanto and the warriors who had gone on the subjugation mission returned to the city.
The highlight of this farce is that, despite everything, I'm earning points faster than before.
I spent the points I earned on the final enhancement for the Totem of Healing.
[Totem of Healing (Highest): Heals believers within range. Greatly increases natural recovery. Neutralizes all types of status ailments. Range is significantly increased.]
It wasn't all that impressive.
Of course, the increased range and the boosted healing and neutralization were powerful in their simplicity... but still, it was the final upgrade.
It's only human to wish for at least one more special option.
Something useful, like boosting the physical abilities of warriors within the range.
Am I being too greedy?
Either way, if things continue like this, we're headed for ruin. I need a new plan.
"Lord Mallak! A group of civilized people is heading toward the Tribe Alliance headquarters!"
The opportunity arrived sooner than I expected.
Paya, who had gone scouting with Tuntun-i, brought the good news.
After serving as a High Priest, Paya had now taken on the role of a scout.
It would be a waste to let a medieval stealth fighter go unused, after all.
- I want to check it out.
I switched to Totem No. 3 and took to the skies, carried by Paya.
In the middle of the road leading to the Tribe Alliance, over a hundred people were approaching with their belongings packed.
They appeared to be the last survivors of Symphonia.
A few of them were armed, but they didn't seem hostile. It felt more like a minimal means of protection.
Most importantly, they were holding a white flag.
As a bonus, they had a banner with 'We are not enemies. We have come to surrender' written in crooked Barbarian script.
They certainly came prepared.
"I don't think they're worshippers."
- I agree.
I agreed with Paya. Demon Worshippers aren't smart enough to infiltrate as refugees in the first place.
With the demons and their worshippers all dead, humans had reclaimed the city.
Naturally, they would see this as an opportunity and head this way.
Among those civilized people, there must be some farmers. I want to welcome them with open arms.
Age of Barbarism, please just end already!
- Prepare to receive them.
"Yes!"
I gave the orders to the Tribe Alliance.
New believers are always welcome.
***
"Great Being Mallak. A humble creature offers its greetings."
The leader of the civilized group stepped into the altar and knelt before Totem No. 1.
She was a woman in her late twenties wearing a monocle. She looked quite learned.
She also spoke the Barbarian language well.
"I am Rachel. It is nothing special, but I was a Scribe for the city of Symphonia before its fall."
A Scribe... if I remember, they were officials who managed administrative work in the Middle Ages.
She is a perfect talent.
- Rachel. I have noted your name.
"It is an honor."
Rachel bowed her head once more.
Rachel, you're mine.
I exchanged a short bit of small talk with her.
Though it was more like Rachel unilaterally praising "the sacrifice and greatness of me, the only god to descend to earth."
This happened after I received Rachel's oath to make every civilized person who came to Symphonia serve me sincerely.
"...While heading toward the temple, or rather the altar, I took a brief look around the city. It seems the Tribe Alliance is struggling somewhat with city management."
- Exactly.
Right. This is the core of it. Hurry up and say what I want to hear.
"If it would not be an offense to Lord Mallak, I could be of assistance."
There it is.
As expected of someone who dealt in politics, she moves quickly.
Wait, if it's administrative work, then it's not politics? So, a civil servant?
Regardless, she's led a large group for several years, so she'll know what she's doing.
- Rachel, from today onward, you are the Provisional Administrator of Symphonia. Consult with Harry, who has been handling the administration, and rebuild the city.
"I will do my absolute best."
I gave her the power to sit at the Round Table in the center of the altar.
This meant I had admitted her into the leadership of the Tribe Alliance.
Although the leadership still consisted of only Rake, Paya, Kanto, Muri, and Harry.
- Once you've resolved the situation, you will no longer be provisional.
I'm not an evil boss.
If someone does their job well, I'll turn even a part-timer into a full-time employee.
God, this reminds me of my convenience store manager.
That guy did absolutely nothing for me but worked me to the bone.
The great Lord Mallak is nothing like that kind of evil owner.
I was just about to tell Rachel to get some rest for the day and start her administrative duties tomorrow.
She rose slowly and pushed up her monocle.
This feels like a scene I've seen in a manga many times.
"Since this is a matter of great importance, I shall begin immediately. Mr. Harry? I heard you've been handling the administration until now."
"Hmm? I have, yes?"
Harry, who had been watching Rachel along with the leadership, nodded.
"I would like to hear exactly what the situation is. There were many concerning things... First of all..."
"The damaged walls were filled with rocks instead of bricks. If rocks are jammed between the bricks..."
"Rather than leaving the churches, which are no longer needed, abandoned, we should remodel them into new spaces..."
"The wells were covered up just because they were slightly damaged, but there was really no need to..."
A feast of feedback. Rachel was firing a submachine gun with her words.
"L-let's go outside and discuss the details in a bit."
Harry was breaking into a cold sweat.
Good. I think she'll do great. Maybe I should leave the city management to the civilized people who actually lived in a city.
- You may move to the Round Table and speak there.
"...I'm a mage, so I don't know much about these things."
With a look of resignation, Harry sat down in the chair.
***
A week had already passed since Rachel took over the role of administrator.
[You have acquired a territory! There is a blessing available for you to learn!]
What is this?
I checked the blessing.
[Authority of the God of Wind and Rain: Loa Mallak is a being who governs the weather. Nothing affects plants as much as the weather does. When used, it can make crops grow rapidly.]
Wait, I had a power like this?
This is a skill perfectly suited for a territory-management novel. A skill a Holy Knight could never obtain.
But why is this popping up now?
It's been quite a while since I designated Symphonia as the Tribe Alliance headquarters.
What on earth is going on?
Ah.
I think I get it.
It wasn't anything grand; it was a simple and obvious answer.
"I believe the basic maintenance is now complete."
What Rachel just said was the deciding factor.
Basically, it means Symphonia was such a mess that it couldn't even be judged as a territory?
Ha.
You crazy Barbarians.