CH 249

Managers' evening party

***---***

During this time of year, the Calvine Territory was covered in deep snow.

The wind from the southwest carried moist air from the sea, hitting the mountains and turning into snow.

The roads connecting the neighboring countries on the plains were also covered in snow, and the pass roads could only be passed by sleds pulled by large dogs or large deer that lived in snowy areas called Varka.

Even with a sled, there were many difficult spots along the way, and those who were unfamiliar with it would fall to the bottom of the valley, and they wouldn't even be able to be found until spring.

Surrounded by mountains and covered in snow, the Calvine Territory continued to be mined during the winter.

The roads to the tunnels and waterways that used spring water had been built throughout the city, and people threw accumulated snow into them to secure passage.

However, it snowed almost every day, so the area around the city was a silvery white world.

Overlooking the snow-covered city, Havre Calvine's castle served as a gathering place for the city's rulers while the Lord was away.

Five men and women were sunk in the luxurious sofas set in the drawing room.

Overlooking the five of them, a chubby man sat in a seat with his back to the fireplace, and an elderly man sat behind the young female participant.

[ Kent-sama, that stout man is the housekeeper Hegel, and the man standing there is Magnifica's butler Lore. ]

After the attendant finished placing the tea and snacks, Hegel stood up with his arms outstretched in a theatrical gesture.

"Everyone, I would like to thank you all for coming here despite the bad weather. Well then, let's start the meeting. First of all, from this week's yield ..."

Hegel was a small man, about 160 centimeters, and paled in comparison to the giant Havre.

I felt that his theatrical gestures and tone of voice were meant to put up a front so as not to be underestimated by the five managers.

The regular meeting started with a report on the quantity and quality of ore produced from each mine.

Which mountain, which depth, which direction was dug, and what kind of results were obtained ... For an amateur like me, I couldn't understand it at all, but some of the managers took notes and repeated calculations.

[ Hey, Basten, are those reported numbers correct? ]

[ I wonder about that, perhaps when Havre was there, they would have reported the correct numbers because they couldn't attempt an unskilled deception. ]

[ Now that Havre is absent, is there anyone who could falsify the numbers? ]

[ I don't know. For these meetings, there may be an unwritten rule to not report false numbers to each other. Here in the Calvine Territory, the situation is that they are at odds with the country, and the five share the same fate. Considering that, it seems likely that the numbers are accurate. ]

Even Hegel, who was in charge of the meeting, seemed to be accustomed to handling such numbers, as he was in charge of the Calvine Family.

There were occasional questions about the difference from past figures.

The amount of output from each mine and the amount of iron contained in them seemed to be roughly within the expected range, so the conversation proceeded in a matter-of-fact manner.

"This week's mining volume, there doesn't seem to be any problem with the amount of production going forward. Now, let's talk about the future ... I would like to say that, but unfortunately I have not been able to obtain any new information."

"What are you doing. Are you still unable to rescue Havre-sama!"

The man who raised his voice was a man in his forties, macho like Havre.

"I'm sorry, Lacroix-sama. During the New Year's raid, we used the knights we recruited as companions, so the discipline and surveillance within the castle have become stricter. On top of that, it's difficult to get close to the dungeon where Havre-sama is confined."

"Isn't it your job to do something about that!"

"That's true, but ... Every since that Camilla seized control, we're in a situation where traditional methods such as bribery and threats could reveal our existence."

"Tch, that disgusting woman ..."

"Hegel, were the knights who took part in the raid executed?"

From the side of Lacroix who clicked his tongue, the man who seemed to be the oldest asked with a hoarse voice.

He was a lot fatter, and his gray hair was thinning.

"Yes, Benoit-sama. The knights who participated in the attacks have already been executed, and their houses have been demolished."

"Hegel, wouldn't it be better for you to think about how you're going to act?"

"That's right. Maa, I'm nothing more than a servant to the Calvines. If the Lord were to change, I would stay if I thought I needed to, and leave if I thought I didn't."

"You! Do you think that Havre-sama will be removed from the position of Lord! You unfaithful person!"

"That's just an example, Lacroix-sama."

Hegel's forehead glistened with sweat even as he smiled convulsively as Lacroix called him an unfaithful person as he pretended to be calm in response to Benoit's sarcasm.

"Maa, dno't get so worked up, Lacroix, I dno't think they think an outsider can rule this Calvine Territory. If they want to lead us, they must show us a suitable vessel. Isn't that right?"

"I know that much. But ... I don't like the season when we're closed in this damned snow."

Even after being soothed by Benoit, Lacroix had a disgusted expression on his face.

"When the snow melts, those fools of the royal capital will realize. Calvine's Territory itself is an impregnable fortress and the linchpin of Resenburg's industry."

"That's right. This Lacroix-sama will show them things, guhahahaha."

"Such a small man ..."

"What! Donie, you!"

"That's what I'm saying, blood rushes to your head and you lose your composure. Learn a little from Havre-sama."

Donie, who talked Lacroix down, was a fat woman who looked like a Youkai and was said to be in her late fifties.(TN:A Youkai is a monster or demon from Japanese lore.)

"Havre-sama didn't cling to this Calvine Territory, and he was trying to take over all of Resenburg. Don't be satisfied with just driving away those fools from the royal capital. Show your mettle enough to crush them."

"Fuun, I know. However, Kilia's dead soldiers and the explosives were also suppressed. What can be done."

"It's true that our methods of attacking are decreasing, but look at the royal capital. The King died, the Princes died, and a little girl like Camilla calls herself the King. Do you think the exhausted, dissatisfied nobles will obey?"

"That would be impossible. Most of all, the Calvine Territory won't obey. There's no way the kingdom can exist without Calvine's iron and copper."

Benoit's words, which seemed to complement Donie's assertion, made Lacroix smile like a Hannya.

"I don't like to do it in such a tediously slow way, but I know that sometimes it's necessary to get great results. If you're going to show that much confidence, then you should do something, Donie."

"This conflict is like a quarrel. If we stop eating, we will immediately raise a ruckus, I guess the people in the royal capital are thinking such. By the time they realize they've failed, they will have been driven to a point of no return."

"Hou, what are you planning to do. Are you going to go around killing even the brats in the royal capital?"

"Kesran, please explain ..."

The thin man next to Donie nodded back and quietly began to speak.

"We will not rely on illegal means as much as possible, just in case they get to this point."

"Don't be foolish! There's no way I'll tolerate the foolishness of the royal capital!"

"It's just in case. Addressing all concerns is the normal course of business."

In response to Lacroix's outrage, Kesran remained expressionless and didn't even move an eyebrow.

"Simply put, we collect iron products in Resenburg and export them to Barshania. Weapons such as swords, spears, and armor cannot cross the border, but there is no problem with tools such as pots and cauldrons. Buy them, sell them, make a profit ... And if there is no iron or copper left in Resenburg ..."

"So, they're going to have to rely on the Calvine Territory?"

Kesran nodded back expressionlessly at Lacroix's Hannya-like smile.

"Do you really think it will go that well?"

Kesran frowned slightly at the words of the young woman who was sitting to the side of him.

"Magnifica, are you saying there's something wrong?"

"It's a good idea, but how long are you going to keep doing it? If there's a shortage of iron in the country, exports will be stopped, and food stockpiles are limited."

"Grain is densely packed in tunnel number seven which has become an abandoned mine. If you eat normally, it will last for four years, and if you economize, it will last for five years. Meat can be obtained by hunting mountain beasts. Before the deadline comes, I will take as many measures as I can. If we still can't win, it will only prove us incompetent."

"I wonder if the management of tunnel number seven is okay. If it collapses or is flooded, won't that alone derail the plan?"

"It goes without saying that we have strict security. After all, it's our lifeline."

"I see, that's fine ..."

Magnifica lowered her reclining body into the sofa and looked away as if she had lost interest.

Her petite body was wrapped in an over-decorated Gothic-Lolita dress, and at first glance she looked young, but if I looked closely, she wore makeup as thick as Donie.

I felt like the Youkai degree was higher with this one.

[ Even so, to prepare a large amount of food and besiege. And in the meantime, do regular business to cause an iron insufficiency ... ]

[ Even though they were cornered to this extent, they still haven't given up on taking over the country. ]

[ Nevertheless, if the secret is revealed, there is nothing they can do. ]

[ Buhahaha, only Kent-sama can say that. The people of Resenburg would not be able to dive into the mine shafts and carry out the food, nor would they be able to negotiate with Barshania. ]

[ Is that so ... ]

As Reinhardt said, if the grain stockpiled in the mine shaft was carried out via the shadow space, their plan would fall apart.

[ But you know, in the country I used to live in, people used to besiege people long ago, but I heard that when they ran out of food, people would starve to death, and it was terribly miserable. ]

[ That's right. The only way to ruin the plan is to carry out all the food before it is noticed, and make it so they have no choice but to surrender without even the slightest hope. ]

[ That's right ... Fred, about the materials that Hegel has, investigate where they are stored, including the past ones. ]

[ Roger ... I'll keep it ready to take them away at any time ... ]

As expected of my genus, they seem to understand my intentions.

[ Are you going to show the production volume and other data to Orlean-tono of the Dukas Company? ]

[ Yeah, I don't understand what's going on, but if it's a professional in that field, they should be able to grasp the situation by looking at the materials. ]

[ That's right. Given their attitude, if you look at the numbers going back in time, you can see how Calvine's mines have developed and how much prospects they have left. ]

[ If you can understand the current situation from the origin of the mine, wouldn't it be possible to proceed with the operation from now on without any problems? ]

[ In that case, none of the people here are needed. ]

[ After that ... If we secure the safety of the engineers, will everything work out if we work together? ]

Orlean-san of the Dukas Company told me that the people who actually operate the mines are the people on the field.

It was the same here in the Calvine Territory.

Even if you eliminated the five managers, there should be no problem if you create a situation where they can work on site.

[ Most of the engineers are under house arrest in collective housing, aren't they. If I suppress that place, will that settle things? ]

[ That's right, the miners of the Calvine Territory seem to be forced to work day and night. ]

According to Basten's research, mining continued day and night in a so-called three-shift system.

[ They say that once you go underground, it doesn't matter if it's day or night. ]

On top of the three-shift system of work, it seemed that it was good if they got one day off per month, so Basten looked at the five of them with a bitter expression.

He was just bones, but I could tell the difference in his facial expressions.

[ Check the people who are monitoring the engineers in the housing complexes and tunnels, and check the number. ]

[ Are you going to incapacitate them with sleeping pills again? ]

[ Right, right, that's the easiest way, and it seems that these people still don't know about it. ]

[ Roger that, I will split up with Fred and make a list. ]

Basten and Fred began to act after nodding to each other.

[ Buhahaha, it looks like Kent-sama will clean it up. ]

[ Ahh, I see, is it no good if I don't let Camilla do it ... ]

[ If Kent-sama becomes King, there will be no problem. ]

[ That's no good, no good, the people won't accept it. ]

[ It can't be helped. Then, you should devote yourself to being the Maou who manipulates Camilla-jou from behind as before. ]

[ I can't deny it's like that, but how can I say it ... ]

I couldn't help but feel that things were going according to the grinning Reinhardt's plan, but as long as the work of my genus was the main thing, such as carrying out food and disabling the guards, we should come up with a strategy, and it looked like it would be better to move Resenburg's personnel under Camilla.

[ Kent-sama, if you want to take control of the Calvine Territory, I recommend doing it before the snow melts. ]

[ Ehh, why is that? If there's still snow, the knights of Resenburg won't be able to move. ]

[ That's okay. There will be no problem if Kent-sama repatriates them. [

[ I see, we're going to suppress these guys while they're off guard. ]

[ That's right. It's a normal course of tactics to target the enemy's unpreparedness. ]

[ Okay, let me talk to Camilla for a bit. ]

The meeting of the five managers had already derailed from the main topic and had become a mere feast.

Since I had no obligation to go along with the boasting of the elderly, I moved to the royal castle of Aldaros.

Moving with Hart as a landmark, Camilla had already finished her bath and was about to enjoy a nightcap before bed.

"Even though I was scouting the Calvine Territory for Resenburg, it's outrageous."

"M, Maou-sama, I'm terribly sorry."

Hart, who was being carried, rushed over to me, and at the same time, Camilla got down on her knees and lowered her head.

"I'd like to have a drink too ... But, I know what the managers are aiming for, so let's finish the conversation first."

"What are they up to?"

"While continuing a siege, they intend to disturb the steps of the Royal Family."

"Are they still being ambitious instead of protecting themselves?"

When I told her about the plan to stockpile a large amount of food, stay in the castle for a long time, and export the iron from Resenburg to Barshania during that time, Camilla showed an astonished expression.

"Such a plan would fall apart if we closed the border with Barshania ..."

"Can you do that?"

"Are you talking about blockading the border?"

"Yup, can you do it?"

"Of course, it is possible. Until now, if relations with Barshania deteriorated ..."

Camilla, who cut off her words, opened her eyes wide and stared at me.

"Resenburg and Barshania will repair their relationship from now on, right?"

"Yes, that's right. We can't blockade the border."

Camilla must have been thinking of Seraphima, the Princess of Barshania, whom she had yet to see.

Countries that had been at odds for many years could not become friends overnight.

However, it was also my hope that Resenburg and Barshania would build a friendly relationship.

"Since we can't blockade the border with Barshania, I'm thinking of putting an end to the Calvine situation before iron starts being taken out of Resenburg."

"However, we will become completely dependent on Maou-sama again."

"Since I and my genus will move in the unseen parts, I will have Camilla and the knights in the visible parts."

In other words, we prepare the ingredients and leave the finishing touches to Camilla.

When I told her that that I could decide the match all at once while the opponent was off guard when I was ready, Camilla's expression stiffened.

"I will order the knights to select the best personnel."

"Yup, that's fine, but Calvine's men are still in the castle. Don't let them know what we're doing."

"Haa ... Are such people still coming in and out. After the New Year commotion, I had a thorough background check done."

"Havre-tachi's methods are cunning. Even the knights who helped the rebellion weren't originally incompetent people, were they?"

"Yes, in order to join the royal knights, it is necessary to overcome a tough selection. All of them should have been competent, but ..."

"Even such knights were forced into a situation where they could not resist, so it would be difficult to completely eliminate them from the royal castle where many people work."

"Rather than that, you are going to take control of the original Calvine Territory ..."

"That's what I intend to do. Yup, that's the end of this story. I'll come back to talk to you when the situation is a little more detailed, so just proceed with the selection of personnel."

"As you wish. Umm, Maou-sama, why don't you take a bath before drinking?"

"A bath, is it ..."

Certainly, returning to the boarding house and taking a bath now made me feel uncomfortable, and a bath that looks like the royal castle's pool was attractive.

I felt an irresistible charm in a large bath, and this was probably part of my Japanese nature.

"If you can keep people away so that the caretaker doesn't come in ..."

"As you wish. So that you can relax slowly, I will clear everyone out."

When I asked Camilla to clear everyone away and stepped into the large bathroom, Mart, Mirt, Murt, as well as Hart were already waiting.

"Goshujin-sama, we will also enter."

"Wash me, wash me."

"Me too, wash my stomach."

"Yes, yes, everyone in turn."

As I soaked in the hot tub, Zeta-tachi peeked their faces out.

"Nushi-dono, are we alright?"

"U, umm, the hot water will overflow if you all enter at once, so Zeta-tachi take turns."

First, I poured hot water over Zeta and put her in the bathtub, and Eta and Theta waited in the washing area, but the hot water still overflowed.

"Aaaahhhh, it feels good ..."

"Hot water is a very good thing, isn't it, Nushi-dono."

When I stretched my body while leaning against Zeta, my body melted in the hot water.

Mart and the others squinted in pleasure as they soaked in the hot water, and in the washing area, Eta and Theta were covered with soap.

Flamme also showed his face there.

"Aniki, can I come in too?"

"Maou-sama, wash your back ... Hiiii ..."

Camilla opened the bathroom door, collided with Flamme, and sat down hard and was unable to stand up out of fear.

"Ma, ma, ma, Maou-sama, th, th, th ..."

"Yup, it's my new genus, Flamme the Salamander. Or rather, we can't go in together, so please wait obediently."

"Hiyaa, I, I'm sorry ..."

You really wanted to enter with me, right? It goes without saying.