Once my trip to Village Five was finalized, the Civil Official Girls began deliberating on exactly what I would be doing there. After all, simply traveling to Village Five didn't qualify as much of a punishment. I participated in the discussions as well, expressing my own wishes. Specifically, I wanted to apologize to the parents of the Village Five Children who had been inconvenienced by the incident.
Every one of the Civil Official Girls looked at me with horrific expressions.
Is it really such a bad thing?
The girls huddled together to consult, and then they performed a puppet show for me.
"Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a Kindhearted Demon King."
I wonder if those puppets were made while Zabuton was actually awake? And I really wish they would stop using a puppet that looks exactly like me for the role of the Demon King.
"...And they lived happily ever after."
Applause.
It was actually quite an interesting show, even if the Kindhearted Demon King played by my look-alike puppet ended up destitute and wandering the streets.
If I were to fully grasp the message the Civil Official Girls were trying to convey by going to such lengths as a puppet show... if a CEO’s child and a low-ranking employee’s child get into a fight, the CEO going to the employee to apologize is perceived as "pressure."
That’s what it boils down to, but is that really true? I don’t think there would be anything wrong with a CEO apologizing to an employee. In fact, he’d probably be praised for it.
No, if I look at it through the lens of this world and its kings... if a Prince and the child of a vassal get into a fight, the King going to the vassal's house to apologize is an act of intimidation.
I see. I think I can understand that to some degree.
"So, me apologizing would actually be a nuisance?"
Since the Civil Official Girls were looking at me expectantly for a reaction, I voiced my thoughts.
Good, it seems I hit the mark. They were even high-fiving each other in celebration. I hate to interrupt their joy, but if that was the case, they could have just told me directly without the whole puppet show. Or do they think I’m the type who won’t listen to reason unless it's dramatized?
I have no intention of forcing the common sense of my Previous World onto this one. I may have come to Another World, but in my mind, it feels like I’ve simply moved to a foreign country. If you go to a foreign country, you don’t make a scene about how things are different from Japanese common sense, and you certainly don't try to forcibly change the local systems. I’m not that arrogant.
Foreign countries have their own unique circumstances and histories; their common sense and systems were forged by those factors over time. One should show respect for that. And it has been over a decade since I arrived in this world. I’ve married and even had children. I’ve long since resolved to spend the rest of my life here.
Perhaps I really should learn more about the common sense of this world. It would be one thing if I only lived in the Village of the Great Tree, but Village Five is home to all sorts of people. Leaving my schedule for Village Five in the hands of the Civil Official Girls, I began to think about who could serve as a Teacher of Common Sense for me.
Actually, I’ve been making an effort to learn for a while now. However, through that effort, I realized that the residents of this village have very unique perspectives.
Take Lu, for example. She’s lived a long time, she’s incredibly strong, and she’s wealthy. She holds back because dealing with kings and nobles is a hassle, but her fundamental belief is that if a conflict arises, she can just flee or blow them to smithereens. That isn’t exactly what most people would call common sense. Even I can tell that much.
Tia, Ann, and Daga are all similar.
Then there’s Ria. She spent so long as a wanderer in the forest that she’s developed her own unique culture rather than just common sense. However, she’s highly adaptable and makes fewer social blunders than I do. Donovan is much the same.
And then there’s Frau. She’s the daughter of Beezel, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Kingdom, and she’s a top-tier student in both academics and martial arts. I thought she would be a safe bet, but her common sense is strictly that of the high nobility. Because of that, she occasionally makes unbelievable mistakes in everyday life. The Civil Official Girls are the same.
And Hakuren? She’s a Dragon. Yeah, she's out.
It’s always something like that. The ones who possess the kind of common sense I’m actually looking for are the members of the Beastman Race, like Galf and Gatto. But even they come from a remote place like Howlin Village, so their local customs are quite strong. Because of that, I’ve only ever learned the basics from them.
Is there no one who can teach me common sense as a leader, or even just general societal norms? For the time being, I decided to ask the person standing nearest to me.
"Could you teach me the common sense of the world?"
The person I spoke to was Ruincia, the Assistant Chief of the Angel Race. She’s Tia's Mother.
"...I see. I understand that you wish to learn common sense. However, it is unnecessary."
"Eh?"
"The Village Head may act exactly as he pleases. The common sense of the general public? Common sense as a leader? They are unneeded."
"E-Err..."
"Does the strong study how to behave like the strong? No. To behave as one naturally is—that is the behavior of the strong."
Even if you tell me that...
"Regarding this matter, it is those around you who must learn."
Ruincia gathered the Civil Official Girls and began to lecture them.
"Your efforts to thoroughly establish the hierarchy in Village Five have been negligent."
"Ah, no, that was because I said I didn't want to be at the forefront—"
"Even if that were the case, what hindrance is there in teaching them who the Master of Village Five truly is? It is only because Lady Yoko is so excellent that no problems have arisen until now. Not knowing the faces or names of the Village Head's children? That is a sin, but it is not the sin of failing to teach them. It is the sin of failing to try and know them! The people of Village Five know of Lady Yoko's Child, do they not? In other words, the interest of the people in Village Five stops at Lady Yoko. You have allowed them to become so conceited that they believe they can survive as long as they do not lose Lady Yoko's favor! Was it bad to take your eyes off the Children of the Village of the Great Tree? It was not! He simply let his children be free in his own territory. Normally, it is the people of the territory who should have been keeping watch. It is the people of the territory who should have protected them! Yet a conflict occurred? One could raze such a territory to the ground and no one would complain! Because they have failed to fulfill their duties as subjects! I hear that you all are related to the nobility of the Demon Kingdom. You understand what those duties are, do you not? If you say something as trivial as 'paying taxes,' I will tear out your tongues. Now, you on the far right. What is the duty of a subject?"
"It is to ensure that the Lord can act as selfishly as he pleases."
"Exactly. And in exchange, the Lord bears the duty to protect the territory, his vassals, and the livelihoods of his subjects. To know this and still impose a burden on the Village Head is the height of folly!"
Ruincia's lecture continued until Yoko and the others returned from Village Five. Yoko took one look at the scene and spoke up.
"Village Head. Why are you standing there being scolded right along with them?"
"Well, her words just really resonated with me..."
Come to think of it, was I wrong to scold Lu and the others for simply letting the children play freely in our own village?
"No, the Village Head should act exactly as he sees fit," Ruincia declared, before chasing away Lu and the others, who were clearly hoping I would rescind their punishment.
Wait, it's almost time for dinner, so please don't chase them too far away.