Ch.54Chapter 54. How to Manage a Barbarian City (1)

# Chapter 54. How to Manage a Barbarian City (1)

‘True’ Malak said he chose me because I was the only one who cared about the barbarians.

Honestly, I don’t quite understand.

All I did was send a proposal to the production company suggesting that barbarians living well in a remote area should be the villains for the next content.

Is that really considered caring?

Making barbarians and the Roa they serve into enemies for Paladins to defeat?

I don’t know if it’s because he’s a god, or if he’s just a bit stupid but kind.

Is bad attention still attention? I don’t know.

How could I possibly understand what a god thinks?

But what’s certain is that barbarians truly…

“No~shit! That’s not it!”

…truly have no talent for anything other than combat.

Harry, his face flushed, unleashed his anger once again.

“L-look here, man! When did I ever tell you to put meat in the grain storage?! They’re completely different categories!”

“The old man speaks harshly. Aren’t they both food? Once they go in your stomach, they’re the same.”

“You, you! Ah! Damn fools!”

“Calm down, grandfather…!”

Unable to endure anymore, Harry grabbed the back of his head.

I understand. I would’ve lost it too.

In this tribal federation, only Harry and Luna could handle ‘civilized’ matters.

Since Luna was still young, Harry took charge of the city reconstruction mission, but the results weren’t exactly good.

‘If you don’t understand, I’ll explain again. Come here.’

At first, Harry explained calmly and logically.

The barbarians also tried their best to listen carefully.

But frequent mistakes and failures occurred one after another, leading to this situation.

I wanted desperately to help Harry, but I’m a 21st century Earthling.

This is the medieval era—strictly speaking, not even medieval. These are fantasy world inhabitants, aren’t they?

My understanding of civilization was as limited as the barbarians’.

Still, since people live similarly everywhere, I understood a few things, but that was it.

How much could an entry-level office worker know about facilities in a ‘medieval fantasy’ city or the daily items of its citizens?

“Meat and grain have very different storage methods. Simply put, one comes from plants and the other from animals.”

Eventually, Luna stepped in to replace Harry, who was on the verge of coughing up blood.

“…?”

But the ‘combat brains’ of the barbarians, whose ranks consisted almost entirely of warrior classes, were stubborn.

“So, um…”

In a few days, Luna would probably end up like Harry.

We’re screwed.

We conquered the city and made it our headquarters, but we can’t even use it properly.

“Malak! Almost every village in Symphonia has knelt before the tribal federation! Soon, all the land will be ours!”

Kanto and his warriors, who had gone out on a subjugation mission earlier, entered the city.

The highlight of this farce is that we’re earning points better than before, even in the midst of this chaos.

I used the earned points to fully upgrade the Healing Totem.

[Healing Totem (Superior): Heals followers within its radius. Greatly increases natural recovery. Neutralizes all types of status ailments. Range is greatly increased.]

Nothing special.

Of course, the greatly increased radius and improved healing and neutralization abilities were simple yet powerful effects, but… it’s still the final upgrade.

It’s human nature to wish for at least one more special option.

Like enhancing the physical abilities of warriors who enter its radius—that kind of good option.

Am I being too greedy?

Anyway, this path leads only to ruin. We need another plan.

“Malak! A group of civilized people is heading toward the tribal federation headquarters!”

The opportunity came sooner than expected.

Paya, who went scouting with Muscle-head, brought good news.

Paya had taken on the role of scout in addition to being a priestess.

It would be a waste to let a medieval stealth fighter go unused.

– I want to check.

After switching to Totem #3, I flew through the sky in Paya’s hands.

In the middle of the road leading to the tribal federation, over a hundred people were approaching with bundles in their hands.

They appeared to be the last survivors of Symphonia.

Some were armed, but their attitude wasn’t hostile. It seemed more like minimal protection.

Above all, they were carrying white flags.

As a bonus, they had a placard with “We are not enemies. We came to surrender” written in barbarian language, albeit crookedly.

They prepared thoroughly.

“They don’t seem to be worshippers.”

– That’s right.

I agreed with Paya. Demon worshippers wouldn’t have the intelligence to disguise themselves as refugees.

All the demons and worshippers had died, and people had entered the city.

Naturally, they would see this as an opportunity and come here.

Among those many civilized people, there must be farmers. I want to welcome them with open arms.

Age of barbarism, please go away!

– Prepare to welcome them.

“Yes!”

I gave orders to the tribal federation.

New followers are always welcome.

***

“Great being, Malak. This lowly creature greets you.”

The leader of the civilized group who entered the altar knelt before Totem #1.

A woman in her late twenties wearing a monocle. She looked quite knowledgeable.

She spoke the barbarian language well.

“I am Rachel. It’s not much, but before the destruction, I was a scribe of Symphonia City.”

A scribe—that is, an administrator who oversaw administrative affairs in medieval times.

Such an excellent talent.

– Rachel. I’ll remember that.

“It’s an honor.”

Rachel bowed her head once more.

Rachel, you’re mine.

I exchanged brief small talk with her.

Though it was closer to Rachel one-sidedly praising “my sacrifice and greatness as the only god who descended to earth.”

After receiving Rachel’s pledge to make all the civilized people who came to Symphonia sincerely worship me:

“…While heading to the temple, or rather the altar, I briefly looked around the city. It seems the tribal federation is having some difficulties with city management.”

– That’s accurate.

Yes. This is the key point. Quickly, say what I want to hear.

“If it’s not disrespectful to Malak, I can help.”

That’s right.

As expected of someone who’s been in politics, she moves quickly.

Ah, if it’s administrative work, is it not politics? A civil servant then?

Anyway, someone who has led a large group for years will know what to do.

– Rachel, from today you are the interim administrator of Symphonia. Consult with Harry, who has been in charge of administration until now, and rebuild Symphonia.

“I will do my best.”

I gave her the authority to sit at the round table in the center of the altar.

This means I’ve included her in the leadership of the tribal federation.

Though the leadership is still just Lakye, Paya, Kanto, Muri, and Harry, same as before.

– When you resolve the situation, your position will no longer be temporary.

I’m not a bad boss.

If someone does a good job, I’ll make them a permanent employee even if they’re just part-time.

Sigh, reminds me of that convenience store manager.

He gave nothing but worked us to death.

This great Malak is different from such an evil employer.

I was about to tell Rachel to rest well today and start administrative work tomorrow.

She slowly stood up and adjusted her monocle.

This scene looks familiar from comics.

“Given the importance of the matter, I’ll start right away. Harry? I heard you’ve been handling administrative duties until now.”

“Hmm? That’s right.”

Harry, who had been watching Rachel along with the leadership, nodded.

“I’d like to hear exactly what the situation is. I noticed many concerning things… First…”

“The damaged city walls were filled with rocks instead of bricks. If rocks get between the bricks…”

“Rather than abandoning the now unnecessary church, it could be converted into a new space…”

“I saw that a well was covered up because it was slightly damaged, but there’s no need to…”

An incredible barrage of feedback. Rachel fired a verbal machine gun.

“W-we can discuss the details outside in a bit.”

Harry was sweating profusely.

Good. This woman seems capable. Let’s leave city management to the civilized people who lived in the city.

– You may sit at the round table to talk.

“…As a mage, I don’t know much about these things.”

Harry sat in the chair with a resigned expression.

***

It was a week after Rachel had taken on the role of administrator.

[You’ve acquired a domain! There’s a blessing you can learn!]

What’s this?

I checked the blessing.

[Power of the Wind and Rain God: Roa Malak is a being who controls the weather. Nothing affects plants more than weather. When used, it can rapidly grow crops.]

Wait, I had this ability too?

It’s an ability optimized for territory management. A skill that Paladins could never obtain.

But why is this appearing now?

It’s been quite a while since we designated Symphonia as the tribal federation’s headquarters.

What’s going on?

Ah.

I think I get it.

It’s nothing special, just a simple and obvious answer.

“It seems the basic maintenance is now complete.”

Rachel’s words just now were decisive.

It means Symphonia was such a mess that it couldn’t even be considered a domain?

Ha.

These crazy barbarians.