55
Chapter 55
Let's look on the bright side.
Barbarians are a warrior race. Their high proportion of skilled warriors allowed them to conquer Symphonia quickly.
Who cares if they can't manage a territory? It's enough that the place is now officially recognized as one.
Now that the number of civilized people has grown to match the Barbarians, things should only get better.
The Barbarians handle the fighting, and the civilized people handle the reconstruction. It's a simple division of labor.
- Good work, Administrator Rachel.
I began by praising Rachel for her efforts over the past week to make the territory function properly.
She'll notice immediately. I left out the word 'temporary' from her title.
Rachel gave a graceful smile and bowed her head.
"It is an honor. As a Believer of Loa and the Administrator of Symphonia, I will carry out my mission with all my heart."
- Excellent.
Rachel left the altar. She still had plenty of work to do, so I couldn't keep her for long.
"It might feel a bit late to mention this, but haven't you given the civilized people too much authority?"
Harry asked cautiously. Whatever. He's a civilized person himself.
- It doesn't matter. They are all my Believers.
I understand Harry's concern.
It's essentially the same as giving immense power to the representative of a refugee population that rivals the native population in size.
If this were 21st-century Earth, it would have caused major divisions, and if things went wrong, it could have led to a rebellion.
But this is neither the 21st century nor Earth.
This is a world where gods truly exist and a demonic apocalypse has befallen the land.
In this world, I am a being who transcends laws, ethics, and political interests—the sole savior capable of ending this apocalypse.
Could a 'civilized' power ever emerge with the capability and followers necessary to oppose the only god on earth?
It's unlikely, but let's assume they did.
What if Rachel became a 'super-power' by gaining the support of both the civilized and the Barbarians and then turned against me?
And then what? What would she even do? Try to smash a Totem?
She'd be shut down by a 'Rake Punch' before she could even start.
Still, it's only wise to prepare for every possible contingency.
- However, the Barbarians cannot spend forever just subjugating others. Select some talented Barbarians to serve as the Administrator's assistants.
Barbarians.
I initially hesitated to use the term because of the word 'barbarian,' but they didn't seem to mind the name as much as I expected.
Much like how Native Americans may not feel a strong aversion to the incorrect term 'Indian,' perhaps they've simply grown used to it.
So, I decided to keep using the term Barbarian.
Besides, since they identify themselves by their own tribes or ethnicities, there was no other collective word to call them.
"Understood."
Paya, Kanto, and Muri, the representatives of the Barbarians, nodded in agreement.
Rake is simply standing beside me (Totem No. 1) and looking down at them. This woman has no sense that she is actually the Barbarian representative.
Strictly speaking, Rake is a half-breed of Loa and civilized people.
Didn't she take the Chief's position not out of responsibility or belonging, but simply because she was the strongest during a crisis?
In the first place, Rake cares more about the title 'Guardian of Lord Mallak' than 'Chief of the Brown Rock Tribe.'
'I am Rake, Guardian of Loa Mallak.'
That's how she introduces herself now.
Strictly speaking, she's a 'Totem Guardian.'
Sigh.
It's too tedious to correct, so I'll let it slide.
Anyway, by appointing clever Barbarians as Rachel's assistants, I can prevent the worst-case scenario from occurring.
To avoid being pushed around by the civilized people who ruled the world before the fall, the Barbarians must eventually learn civilization.
I hope they mix well without any divisions.
- Do you have any other business?
"I will subjugate all remaining villages in Symphonia by today!"
Kanto shouted with confidence.
Once more subjugation campaign is complete, all the lands of Symphonia will belong to us.
- Let's end it here for today.
I dismissed the leadership gathered before the altar.
- Rake.
"Understood."
Using the Binding Totem, I transferred myself to Totem No. 3, which Rake was carrying.
"Should we head to the nearby village?"
- Yes.
I'm going to help with the farming now.
[Authority of the Storm and Rain God: Loa Mallak is a being who controls the weather. Nothing affects plants as much as the weather does. Using this can make crops grow rapidly.]
I should test out this newly acquired blessing.
***
Rake and I arrived at a village near the city. It is 'Wheat Field Village.'
Since farming inside the city is difficult, we expanded into this nearby land following Rachel's suggestion to secure outlying villages.
I heard that before the fall, it was a village managed by a Lord who sent soldiers to oversee it, and as the name suggests, there is a massive wheat field.
It was a total mess because the demons and those wretched worshippers didn't manage it well, but since the land itself isn't dead, they say it can be restored.
"Guardian! Please come in!"
A civilized young man guarding the fence around the village guided us.
He was the one in charge of interpreting today.
"This way!"
A wheat field, the first I'd seen since arriving in this world, stretched out before me.
I wasn't particularly impressed. A field is just a field.
"Pull all the weeds first! Look here! Can't you see the weeds? They're hiding!"
"Young man! That's not how you sow seeds!"
"Good grief, you can't plant them like that!"
"Look at the spacing! You could fit a whole person in the middle!"
Civilized people with over twenty years of farming experience were in overall command, driving the others hard.
"One means the civilized build! Two means the barbarians protect! Start!"
"One! The civilized build!"
"Two!"
"The barbarians protect!"
Those words they just shouted were slogans devised by Rachel.
She said that to motivate the civilized people, they needed a sense of duty and pride.
She believed that could be easily instilled through simple slogans.
I thought it was a brilliant idea.
The civilized people were sweating as if they were working their own land.
'The way to make people work passionately' is 'to give them a sense of ownership.'
It's something companies that force overtime while paying peanuts often say.
Still, I don't think it's entirely wrong.
I waited until they had finished sowing all the seeds.
"Guardian, it's all finished! If you come this way..."
"Get out of the way and stop blocking the path."
Rake pushed the civilized young man who was approaching with a silly grin.
She seemed to dislike even touching him, so she lightly tapped his shoulder with her fingertips.
"Gah!"
The young man was sent flying as if he'd been hit by a blast of energy.
The difference in strength was palpable.
"What are you all doing! Get back to work!"
The workers glanced at Rake even as they were being yelled at by the farmer.
She has a striking appearance; without her predator's gaze and toned body, she might have been receiving proposals all day.
"..."
Rake glared at the men who were staring blankly at her.
"Gasp!"
They bowed their heads immediately. I wonder how scary her glare was.
"Lord Mallak has personally come to assist with your trivial tasks."
Having established her dominance, Rake lifted Totem No. 3.
The civilized young man following behind began to interpret.
"Is that... Lord Mallak?"
"Isn't it just an ordinary wooden statue? One that glows?"
"You idiot, how can it be ordinary if it's glowing?"
"That's what they call a totem; God is watching us through that statue."
Unlike the crazed, passionate reactions of the Barbarians, the civilized people's reactions were generally lukewarm.
Well, it's probably because I haven't shown them much yet.
"Oh, Lord Mallak..."
Having grasped the situation, the civilized people knelt before Totem No. 3 and joined their hands.
At least they know how to pray.
The prayer session, which lasted about five minutes, ended.
"Is everything going well?"
"We've finished tidying up and the sowing is complete. Now it's just a matter of time."
A middle-aged man, who seemed to be the leader of the farmers, answered Rake's question.
He looked like the kind of man who could manage workers at a construction site. He's a total Crew Chief.
"Lord Mallak will take care of that."
"Well, Guardian, you might not know, but farming is no easy task. It's not as hard as war, of course, but it has its own struggles..."
I used the Authority of the Storm and Rain God on the wheat field.
A blue aura enveloped the field, and white powder began to fall from the sky.
...The wheat is growing rapidly.
What kind of fertilizer did I use for it to grow this fast?
"W-what! What is this!"
The foreman farmer's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he was chuckling with his answer.
This blessing is really effective.
"The s-seeds?!"
"What in the world is happening..."
I was just enjoying the shocked reactions of the farmers when it happened.
[Kanto's blessing Berserker's Aura evolves into Soul of the Berserker!]
What is this?