Ch.517517. Intensifying Flow (1)

Count Benner, the administrator from the noble family, and Sione. I don’t know what conversation led them to exchange information about breweries and beer. But ever since a special oak barrel arrived at the lord’s castle at Sione’s request, a new wind began to blow through our Karpel Barony.

“There are quite a few people in that alley again today? I wonder if they’re just wasting money…”

“Well, at least since the lord started keeping an eye on things, we don’t see those rampaging lunatics anymore. I used to worry whenever my children went out to play. It’s a good thing.”

Starting with subduing the troublemakers in the slums, the very bottom of civilian life, he had begun working to stabilize the territory.

However, since perceptions of the slums and evaluations of their residents were nearly at their worst, many predicted that the slum improvement project would soon end with a large deficit due to non-cooperation and unresponsiveness from the vagrants.

But the one-armed mercenary who had come to live in the back alleys of the territory could observe and personally experience the benefits of this project from the closest vantage point. So he expressed no complaints about the lord’s choice.

“Sister Tasha, you’re out again today.”

“Please, ‘Sister’? People from the Order might misunderstand if they heard.”

“Isn’t it difficult for you to come out every day? After all, this is a smelly, dirty back alley.”

“Didn’t I tell you that I was once a vagrant from the slums? Places like this are actually more familiar and comfortable to me. And… since the Baron took me in, I need to repay his kindness. Besides, my siblings are proud that I’m helping others.”

The young child before him certainly seemed like someone who had lived in the slums.

She was carefully extending a warm hand without intruding on the territory of the wary vagrants.

“How is Oscar doing these days?”

“…He couldn’t overcome it right away. But thanks to you and your colleagues looking after him, he’s much better now.”

“That’s good to hear. The Baron has been wondering how Oscar is doing.”

“Please tell him that Oscar is deeply grateful for his kindness.”

“Of course! And please feel free to come to me if you need counseling or help with anything difficult.”

She was personally visiting and caring for those in situations similar to her own.

She was offering deeper and more genuine empathy for free than the paid confessions required by the Order.

With food distribution and this gentle approach, the slum dwellers who had been living day to day began to find some room in their hearts.

As the slum residents started showing familiarity and goodwill rather than suspicion and wariness:

“…Sister Tasha, I wanted to talk to you about the other day.”

“Ah, you said you wanted to find work, right? We’re about to start an environmental beautification project, so we need people to clean the streets. How does that sound?”

“Sister, lately at night I keep thinking about my lost family…”

“That must be so difficult for you. You said you got separated from your family while coming to Karpel Barony, right? Since the lord has agreed to cooperate with the Mercenary Guild… if you tell me what your family members look like and their names, I can put in a request.”

“…Is that really true? But I don’t have money to post a request—”

“Don’t worry about the money, we’ll take care of that. We’ll be here with you until we find your family, so don’t lose hope.”

“Oscar! Did you come to help again today?”

“Haven’t I received kindness from the lord and Sister Tasha? Even with one arm, I can still subdue most common thugs.”

Even though she couldn’t use Divine Power and might appear easy to underestimate due to her youth,

Tasha had become a Sister whom the poor protected and cherished.

Watching the slums gather around Tasha, harmonizing and changing, Oscar thought:

“It’s changing.”

The slums that everyone had declared would never change were completely transforming.

* * *

Revitalizing the slums and planting the seeds of religion was inevitably difficult.

It involved allocating substantial budgets to repair the worst sanitation conditions and crumbling buildings. Turning people living in such labyrinthine back alleys into respectable citizens was naturally challenging. Moreover, they had even proposed cooperating with the Mercenary Guild.

As it was inevitably a task requiring enormous budget and effort, our barony’s vassals were working hard and wearing themselves out to overcome this situation.

If one had to pick the person whose complexion had become the most haggard:

“My lord, here is the performance report for the slum improvement project.”

It was none other than the extremely capable Lord Benner, who was fulfilling his responsibilities as the acting head of the family.

Perhaps due to his considerable age and lack of proper sleep, dark circles had settled under his eyes.

“Lord Benner, you don’t look well. Perhaps you should take some rest.”

“Haha, how could I rest when everyone is working so hard? Besides, this matter was something my vassals and I collectively proposed to you, my lord.”

Lord Benner is having a hard time in many ways.

Seeing how he manages to handle everything that happens makes me think the barony is truly blessed with talented people.

Since gaining the umbrella of the Count’s family, the atmosphere in the lord’s castle has become fixated on making the barony even greater, which seems to have fueled their passion.

In any case, just as I was thinking things were going well:

“Rather… since you’ve been continuously dealing with matters involving other families, my lord, perhaps you should take a brief rest.”

“How could I rest when all of you are working so diligently—”

“You must have expended considerable mental energy after reviewing the proposals from the Lephelia Duchy and the royal family. This old servant thinks it would be good to take a short break for even wiser judgment.”

“…”

“Also, if you promise to take a rest, my lord, I too will take some time to look after my health.”

“I can never win against you, Lord Benner. I’ll do as you suggest.”

I should put down what I’ve been constantly holding and looking at, as Lord Benner suggested.

“Then, as there is an upcoming meeting about the scope of cooperation with the Mercenary Guild, I shall take my leave first.”

“I’ll see you at the meeting later.”

Only then did Lord Benner smile and withdraw.

Before taking a short nap, I checked the letters that had arrived through magic with thorough security.

‘Leona Lephelia, Adelheid, and—’

Even a proposal from the Third Princess’s faction.

‘That means conflicts in central politics have intensified.’

I need to figure out how to resolve this situation, entangled with powerful figures, in a way that would be most advantageous to Adelheid.

And I can’t easily discuss such matters with just anyone.

‘I should talk with Sione later.’

Sione, who went to our family’s shooting range to relax for a while.

Starting with teasing her about why she’s not drinking the alcohol she bought, I also need to discuss royal matters with her.

Since she’s someone who reads books even when cooped up in her room, I think she might offer some sharp opinions.

So just as I was about to rest:

“…What now?”

I wonder how many more things I need to think about.

As a status window suddenly appeared in my vision, I frowned while reading the message.

“Huh.”

In the end, I couldn’t help but feel all the stress that had been building up instantly dissipate.

[The poor of Sianella County and Karpel Barony sympathize with Tasha’s sincerity and ideology.]

[A certain level of belief has blossomed in the world.]

[A faint seed of divinity takes root in Tasha.]

The little child from the slums, Tasha, has finally accomplished something significant.

And to add to that:

‘A seed of divinity.’

This can only be seen as a precursor to awakening Divine Power.

Currently, only Sione and Ainel can instinctively handle Divine Power like me. And they are all chosen ones who have inherited the special blood of the Count’s family.

The fact that Tasha might awaken such power means:

‘Divine Power that’s more effective at smiting demons than the Order.’

The possibility has opened up that we might be able to nurture those with such power not as individuals, but as a group.

[Make their sympathy form a faith, and their ideology recognized as doctrine.]

‘If we succeed.’

I may not know about the last demon, but for Deception and Corruption, these two demons could definitely have their heads smashed by a mob rushing at them.

“All the hard work of Tasha and our vassals has paid off.”

As I was humming happily, running circuits of joy:

As they say, time waits for no one.

“My lord, it’s time for the meeting.”

“…Already?”

In the end, I was dragged to the meeting without having properly rested.

* * *

“Your Imperial Majesty, the demon hiding in the far eastern lands has begun to move.”

“The far east… you mean that demon who used illusion magic.”

“Yes, we haven’t yet determined why they’ve suddenly begun a large-scale movement… but we’ve discovered the direction they’re heading.”

“Tell me.”

The knight kneeling on one knee before the Iron-Blooded Empress solemnly reported.

“Starting from the eastern part of the empire and moving southwest. If they continue on this path, the phantoms that devour humans will trample one county and five viscounties of the empire.”

“…”

“And then they will set foot on the territory of the Holy Nation.”

The dormant demon has finally begun to move, carrying the air of war.