Hello.
I am the High King of the Keilland Region United Kingdom.
I hold an exalted position.
A position worthy of respect.
Certainly not one where I should be chained to paperwork while being constantly nagged by civil officials.
"Just sign it," they say?
Fools!
You should never go signing things without understanding the contents first!
Otherwise, before you know it, you'll find yourself saddled with an astronomical mountain of debt!
You have to check the details thoroughly.
Who knows—a document granting a subordinate a pay raise might be slipped in there!
Worse yet, a document approving extended paid leave for a subordinate could be lurking among the stack!
That stuff is terrifying.
If the Demon Kingdom civil officials hadn't taught me their tricks, I would have been in serious trouble too.
I've already caught over fifty of those so far.
Now then.
I was enjoying a rare moment of relaxation in my office.
The tea was delicious.
I ignored the resentful glares from the civil officials.
I also pretended not to see the paperwork piled high on my desk.
If I tried to process that entire volume of documents, I'd die.
I'd really like to cap my daily workload.
No, I will cap it.
For the sake of my own health.
After all, the arm I use to hold my pen won't even move.
I have no feeling left in it.
Even after swinging a sword endlessly, nothing like this has ever happened to me before.
Even now, the hand holding my teacup is trembling.
And this arm is supposed to be the one that still works.
In a sense, this wasn't relaxation time—it was recovery time.
Lazing around in an undignified posture was perfectly justified.
That said, I had summoned Lady Tiselle and the others, so I needed to present myself properly.
Time to check my attire.
While Lady Tiselle and Lady Isree wouldn't care, Instructor Erika-teze was strict.
She believed that if one is a king, one must maintain the posture and attire befitting a king.
Yup, my outfit was fine.
Right on cue, Lady Tiselle and her companions arrived.
To the civil officials camped out at the entrance: make way for them.
You can keep watching me from right over there.
I had summoned Lady Tiselle and the others to share what had happened during my absence.
Naturally, I would also share what took place during my journey.
While we had both submitted written reports, matters that couldn't be written down and intricate details had to be conveyed verbally.
In particular, Lady Tiselle seemed to be very knowledgeable about the Demon Kingdom.
There were many things I wanted to ask her.
First, however, let's address domestic affairs.
From approving the documents, I understood that development projects were underway across the entire Keilland Region United Kingdom.
Unmined mineral veins, river development and management—none of that could have been done without unification.
Because ownership rights would have caused endless disputes.
In the case of mineral veins, it was impossible to tell how far they extended underground; digging in pursuit of ore often led to crossing into another territory, sparking conflicts.
Rivers often served as territorial borders, meaning each side could only touch their own bank, and modifying one side often caused the unmodified opposite side to flood.
The other side would view that as an act of war, leading to fighting.
A massive hassle.
Unification was definitely the right choice.
However, precisely because of unification, the High King's approval was now required for everything.
Paperwork piled up before me.
I let out a heavy sigh.
"For now, we are advancing the concentration of the population to build up national strength. Into the royal capital and the larger cities and towns."
Lady Tiselle said as she spread out a map.
You aren't forcing anyone, right?
"Except for villages that would collapse if left alone, we aren't forcing anyone. Also, we've formed patrol units to maintain public order."
That was a proposal brought up before I left on my journey.
Are there any issues?
"A mountain of them. I believe the relevant documents... are somewhere in that mountain of paperwork on your desk."
Figures.
It was serious enough that Lady Tiselle had personally gone out to maintain order.
...Should I hurry up with the paperwork?
"I'd appreciate it if you did, but ruining your health would cause even more trouble, so don't push yourself too hard."
Oh, look at that—she's showing concern for me.
"I'm arranging for some highly effective medicine, so just hang on until it arrives."
...
It's not some dangerous drug, is it?
...Why the silence?
I'm not asking whether there are side effects.
I refuse to work while pumped full of drugs!
Please tell me you're joking.
"I'm joking."
Say it louder!
Calm down.
I heard rumors that immigrants are increasing?
"They are. Rumors seem to be spreading in neighboring countries that unification has made things safe and that there are plenty of jobs."
Hmm.
Well, conflicts really have decreased.
It must be easier for the residents to make a living.
As for employment, development is advancing everywhere, so we practically have a labor shortage.
How about concentrating the development efforts instead?
Since we're pushing ahead everywhere at once, aren't the regions fighting over manpower and resources?
"I'd like to do that, but it's by request of each territory. We can't simply turn them all down."
Even you can't, Lady Tiselle?
"If I were the king of this country, I'd manage somehow, but you're the king, aren't you?"
I see.
So that's why there's paperwork—to coordinate all of that.
How about Instructor Erika-teze's agricultural projects?
Will it still take a while to see results?
Well, agriculture doesn't yield immediate results.
We have to think in terms of five to ten years.
For now, we're having her expand the cultivation of wheat harvested in spring, but eventually, I'd like crops suited to each specific land to be grown.
As for food for the populace in the immediate future... we still have to rely on imports.
Our debt will increase.
Someday, we must achieve self-sufficiency.
And ideally, reach a point where we can export instead... but that's the dream.
Ah, I see that you've recruited an agronomist.
I also approve the establishment of an experimental farm for new crops on the outskirts of the royal capital.
That should already be in the paperwork.
What about Lady Isree?
I heard she took control of the underworld?
There wasn't really a major underworld syndicate to begin with, was there?
In a sense, the largest violent faction in this country was the royal army.
Until recently, they were fighting each other across the land, so smaller groups never had the room to grow.
In fact, their very existence wasn't tolerated.
If an underworld group stood out, the army would crush them.
And yet, an underworld has formed?
Did people who couldn't adapt to peace gather together after unification?
Or were they individuals purged during the post-unification army restructuring?
...The vast majority were the purged ones, I see.
And she united them into an organization?
Was that necessary?
Wouldn't it have been better to just crush them?
Ah, without people staking claims in the underworld, we wouldn't be able to spot foreign spies or covert operatives.
We also wouldn't be able to crack down on smuggling or detect internal corruption.
I see.
Understood.
And so, to manage this underworld, you need a budget allocated to the "Society for Praising the High King."
I understand it's a cover.
Granted, you can't exactly write "Underworld Management Expenses."
Who knows about this?
Most of the civil officials know, you say?
And that's why ninety percent of the budget goes to underworld management, while the remaining ten percent becomes entertainment funds for the civil officials.
...
Even if it's a cover, it's called the "Society for Praising the High King," so shouldn't it go toward my entertainment funds?
If I have a complaint, take it up with the civil officials?
Stop that.
Don't suggest things that are utterly impossible!
Hm?
You want to hear my side of the story too?
My journey was pretty much entirely about ramen.
As for the Demon Kingdom...
I mentioned that I properly met Lady Tiselle's father, right?
Yes.
We had a lively conversation without any friction.
It was a meaningful meeting.
As any father would, he was deeply worried about you, Lady Tiselle.
Yes.
However...
Was it really necessary for me to go meet him in person?
Isn't that why all this paperwork accumulated in the first place?
N-No, sure, my returning late was partly to blame, but...
My bad.
I already apologized for that, didn't I?
Meeting him was vital for the future of our country, you say?
I was told that before I left, but even after going, I still don't quite get it.
Well, when I told the Demon King and his subordinates that I was going to meet Lady Tiselle's father, they made me practice my greetings relentlessly.
Ah, by greetings, I don't mean bowing or how to walk.
I learned all that from Instructor Erika-teze.
It was about not being rude, but not being overly stiff either.
Lady Tiselle's father looks ordinary, but you must never treat him as ordinary.
The Demon King's subordinates, Count Beezel and Count Pugyal, taught me that with utmost care.
Even if you mess up a little, Lady Tiselle's father will forgive you, but getting glared at by the people around him would be a massive headache, they said.
Oh right, I also met Lady Tiselle's older and younger brothers.
Lord Gol, Lord Seel, Lord Bron, and Lord Torain.
Man, they were exceptional individuals.
As expected of Lady Tiselle's brothers.
Other than that... oh, I almost forgot.
The Gozran Kingdom's Third Princess.
I met her in Village Five.
The Third Princess and I didn't know each other's faces, but one of her subordinates recognized mine.
Man, that was a real shock.
After all, the Third Princess was selling something called "cake" at a food stall.
No, no, I'm not looking down on people who do business at food stalls.
They are respectable merchants.
It's just that the Third Princess isn't even ten years old yet, right?
And yet, there she was, doing a splendid job as a salesclerk.
That's what surprised me.
Well, her subordinates were helping out, but she handled the arithmetic and payments all by herself.
She's brilliant.
Ah, that reminds me.
Among the souvenirs I sent, there was a letter from the Third Princess, right?
Since it arrived ahead of me, it slipped my mind.
Did you deliver the letter to the members of the Gozran royal family?
I believe I attached written instructions to that effect.
...You delivered it?
Good.
Yes, it's just a letter letting them know she's safe, so there's no issue.
Well, I think the Third Princess wrote something about living out the rest of her days in Village Five and conquering the world with cakes.
She seemed to be in high spirits.
Civil Official: "Your dominant hand gave out?"
High King: "Yeah. So, I'd like to take a short break..."
Civil Official: "What are you talking about? You still have your other hand."
High King: "Whaaat... S-Signing with a different hand won't do, right?"
Civil Official: "It's better than not being signed at all. Here, additional documents."
Third Princess: "Cakes for sale!"
High King: "Could I get one?"
Third Princess: "Will you be eating it here? Or taking it to go?"
High King: "I'll have it here."
Third Princess: "Certainly, please wait a moment. Drinks are sold at the neighboring stall."
High King: "I see. In that case, stall owner over there. I'd like a drink."
Drink Stall Owner: "Comin' right up!"
Third Princess: "Thank you for waiting! Here is your cake. Please feel free to use the table seating over there."
Drink Stall Owner: "Here ya go, tea that pairs great with cake."
High King: "Hmm....This is quite delicious."
Third Princess: "It is not merely 'quite' delicious—it is of the absolute highest quality."
High King: "Hahaha, my apologies. Yes, it's truly delicious."
Drink Stall Owner: "Hey pal, what about mine?"
High King: "The drink is... delicious too. No, really. It pairs perfectly with the cake."
Drink Stall Owner: "Right?"
Third Princess: "I'm around here every day, so please come again!"
High King: "Ah, I'll definitely come by again."
Drink Stall Owner: "Come visit mine too!"
High King: "I know, I know."
Third Princess's Subordinate: "That face looks familiar... C-Could it be...?"
Drink Stall Owner: "That's the Conqueror King. Calls himself the High King nowadays. He's waiting for an audience with the Village Head."
Third Princess's Subordinate: "Huh? Who are you?"
Drink Stall Owner: "A guard, a guard. Even if you folks are around, we can't exactly leave him unattended, you know."