Ch.55Chapter 55. How to Manage a Barbarian City (2)

Chapter 55. How to Manage a Barbarian City (2)

Let’s think positively.

Barbarians are a warrior race. With their high proportion of warrior classes and superior combat skills, they were able to conquer Symphonia quickly.

So what if they can’t manage territory? We’ve finally received territory status, and that’s what matters.

Now that the civilized people have grown to match the barbarian population, things should only get better.

The barbarians can handle combat, and the civilized people can rebuild civilization. It’s a division of labor.

– Good work, Administrator Rachel.

I commended Rachel for her efforts to make the territory function properly over the past week.

She should notice the change just from how I addressed her. I dropped the “temporary” title.

Rachel raised the corners of her mouth slightly with dignity and bowed her head.

“It’s an honor. As a follower of Roa and as Symphonia’s administrator, I will carry out my duties with dedication.”

– Excellent.

Rachel left the altar. She’s someone with many responsibilities, so I shouldn’t keep her too long.

“It feels a bit strange to mention this now, but haven’t you given the civilized people too much authority?”

Harry asked cautiously. What’s he saying? He’s a civilized person himself.

– It doesn’t matter. They are all my followers.

I understand Harry’s concern.

It’s essentially like giving strong power to a representative of refugees whose numbers match the population of one’s own country.

If this were 21st century Earth, there would be major divisions, and rebellion might even break out if things went wrong.

But this isn’t the 21st century, nor is it Earth.

This is a world where gods exist, facing a demonic apocalypse.

I am a being that transcends laws, ethics, and political interests in this world, and the only savior who can end this apocalypse.

Could a “civilized” authority figure with the capacity and followers to oppose the only god who has descended to earth ever emerge?

It would be difficult, but let’s assume it happened.

What if Rachel, who became an “ultimate authority” with the support of both civilized people and barbarians, came after me?

What could she possibly do? Destroy the totem?

It would end with a “Lakye punch” before it even began.

Still, preparing for unlikely scenarios is a wise choice.

– However, barbarians cannot just engage in subjugation forever. Select talented barbarians to serve as assistants to the administrator.

Barbarians.

I initially didn’t want to use the term because it contains the word “barbaric,” but the barbarians themselves didn’t seem to mind the designation much.

Just as Native Americans don’t strongly object to the incorrect term “Indians,” perhaps they’ve heard it so often that they’ve naturally come to accept it.

So I decided to just use the term “barbarians.”

Originally, they referred to themselves by their “ethnic” or tribal names, so there wasn’t really another word to collectively call them besides barbarians.

“Understood.”

Paya, Kanto, and Muri, who could be considered representatives of the barbarians, nodded.

Lakye just stood next to me (Totem #1), looking down at them. This woman doesn’t seem to realize she’s a barbarian representative.

Strictly speaking, Lakye is a mix of Roa and civilized person.

She probably took the chieftain position not out of responsibility or sense of belonging, but because she was the strongest during a crisis.

From the beginning, she cared more about her position as “Malak’s guardian” than “chieftain of the Brown Rock tribe.”

“Guardian of Roa Malak, Lakye.”

That’s how she introduces herself now.

Strictly speaking, she’s actually the “totem guardian.”

Sigh.

Let’s move on.

Anyway, appointing a smart barbarian as Rachel’s assistant should prevent the worst-case scenario that might occur.

For barbarians to avoid being overwhelmed by the civilized people who ruled the pre-apocalyptic world, they must eventually learn civilization.

I hope they mix well without divisions.

– Any other business?

“We will subjugate all villages in Symphonia by the end of today!”

Kanto declared confidently.

Just one more subjugation mission and all of Symphonia’s land will be ours.

– That’s all for today.

I dismissed the leadership gathered before the altar.

– Lakye.

“Understood.”

Using the binding totem, I transferred to Totem #3 that Lakye was carrying.

“Shall we go to a nearby village?”

– Yes.

I’m going to help with farming now.

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

I should test this newly acquired blessing.

***

Lakye and I arrived at a village near the city. It’s “Wheat Field Village.”

Since farming is difficult within the city, this is newly expanded territory based on Rachel’s suggestion to secure nearby villages.

It was a village managed by the lord’s soldiers before the apocalypse, and as the name suggests, it has a very large wheat field.

Though it was in terrible condition due to poor management by demons and their worshippers, the land itself wasn’t dead, so it could be used again with proper care.

“Guardian! Please come in!”

A young civilized man guarding the fence surrounding the village guided us.

He’s our interpreter for today.

“This way!”

Before me stretched the first wheat field I’ve seen since coming to this world.

I didn’t feel anything special about it. A field is just a field.

“First pull out all the weeds! Look here! Don’t you see the weeds? They’re hiding!”

“Young man! That’s not how you sow seeds!”

“Oh my, planting it that way is useless!”

“Mind the spacing! There’s enough room for a person to fit in the middle!”

Civilized people with over 20 years of farming experience were in charge, busily directing everyone.

“When I say one, civilized people create! When I say two, barbarians protect! Begin!”

“One!”

“Civilized people create!”

“Two!”

“Barbarians protect!”

That chant they just shouted is a propaganda slogan devised by Rachel.

She said that to make civilized people work harder, they need a sense of duty, mission, and pride, which can be easily instilled through slogans.

I think it’s an innovative idea.

The civilized people are working hard as if it’s their own land.

Someone once said that ‘the way to make people work passionately’ is ‘to give them a sense of ownership.’

It’s something often said by companies that make employees work overtime while paying peanuts, but I don’t think it’s entirely wrong.

I waited until they finished sowing all the seeds.

“Guardian, we’re all done! Now if you’ll come this way…”

“Get out of the way.”

Lakye pushed away the young civilized man who approached with a smile.

As if she disliked even physical contact, she lightly tapped his shoulder with her fingertip.

“Aaah!”

The young man flew back as if hit by some kind of force wave.

The difference in strength is noticeable.

“What are you all doing! Get back to work!”

The civilized people glance at Lakye occasionally despite the farmer’s scolding.

She does have a striking appearance. If Lakye didn’t have the eyes of a predator and a well-trained body, she might have received proposals all day.

With the title of the god’s guardian attached to her, she must appear as a very high and sacred being to them.

“…”

Lakye glared at the men who were staring at her absentmindedly.

“Gasp!”

They immediately lowered their heads. How intimidating was that glare?

“Lord Malak has personally come to assist your trivial work.”

Having established dominance, Lakye raised Totem #3.

The young civilized man who followed us began interpreting.

“Is that… Lord Malak?”

“Isn’t it just an ordinary wooden statue? That emits light?”

“You fool, how can it be ordinary if it emits light?”

“That’s what they call a totem, and through that statue, the god is watching us.”

Unlike the fanatical, passionate reactions of the barbarians I’ve met so far, the civilized people’s reactions were generally lukewarm.

Well, I haven’t shown them much yet.

“Oh Malak…”

The civilized people, having grasped the situation, knelt before Totem #3 and clasped their hands.

At least they pray well.

The prayer time of about five minutes ended.

“Is everything going well?”

“We’ve finished the clearing. The sowing is done too. It’s just a matter of time now.”

A middle-aged man who appeared to be the farmers’ leader answered Lakye’s question.

He looks like someone who could manage workers well at a construction site. A real foreman type.

“Lord Malak will take care of that.”

“Guardian, you may not know this, but farming isn’t easy. It’s not as difficult as war, of course, but it has its own challenges…”

I used the “Power of the Storm God” on the wheat field.

A blue energy surrounded the wheat field, then sprinkled white powder from the air.

…The wheat is growing rapidly.

What kind of magic makes it grow so fast?

“W-whoa! What is this?!”

The eyes of the farmer foreman, who had been answering with a chuckle, bulged out.

This blessing has a good effect!

“The s-seeds?!”

“What in tarnation…”

While I was enjoying the farmers’ shocked reactions:

[Kanto’s blessing ‘Berserker’s Energy’ has evolved into ‘Berserker’s Soul’!]

What’s this?