“So, Instructor, after organizing the documents, I’ve identified some issues.”
“The fact that you finished that amount in one night is what’s strange. It would take us four days.”
“I understand what the Oni King means, but Jiro-san’s department is arguably one of the busiest in the Demon Lord’s Army. That’s why we were able to finish so quickly, because we’re used to it. People say that if you put someone in Jiro-san’s department, they’ll become an elite civil servant.”
“…Jiro, wanna take some of my people for a while?”
It generally takes about one night to go through the documents and finish one section.
I’m being looked at by the instructor with a mixture of bewilderment and fear, but to me, this is just everyday life, so I don’t feel like I’ve done anything particularly strange.
However, as Suella says, our department is probably one of the busiest, aside from the President’s.
Since it’s a newly established department that hasn’t quite hit its stride yet, there’s a lot to do, and we’re also short on personnel.
“I’ll take them after the war is over. It might take about three years to return them, though.”
“Oni King, they might cry and ask to return, but could you show them leniency and welcome them warmly?”
“You think the people in my department will give up?”
“It’s not physical fatigue, but rather mental fatigue. Those who are more accustomed to physically demanding work will get stuck in a rut and see hell. Of course, if they overcome it, they’ll become magnificent corporate slave warriors and become invaluable assets.”
So, the instructor’s offer is genuinely appreciated.
Even if they’re not immediately useful, if they can be trained to become effective and work to some extent, I can always welcome reliable talent.
I’ll seriously consider it.
“Well, I’ll consider that offer positively, so for now, let’s confirm the issues with the current operational status.”
“Did I jump the gun?”
“I’ll just say there’s a possibility that it could be beneficial to both sides.”
Seeing me ponder earnestly, the instructor looks a bit troubled and checks with Suella, but she just smiles cheerfully and evades the question.
If they can keep up with our usual work, I’ll turn them into talent that would make most other workplaces seem leisurely.
Ideally, I’d like to distribute some of the workload, so I should seriously look for good talent during this business trip.
“Oh well, whatever. It’ll work out somehow.”
“Yes, let’s talk about that later over drinks. Now, regarding the issues, the consumption of food and building materials are much higher than anticipated. Fortunately, personnel consumption in battles is low, but I’ve been informed that this is due to investment in the development of our defense line. You’re building this without letting other countries know, but are you perhaps anticipating the acceptance of refugees?”
“Ah, I checked when I traveled around this world, and the effects of the war are showing up everywhere. Places that are managing their territories properly are fine, but in territories that aren’t managed properly, the people are starving to death.”
“…Does this mean that your own strategies are working better than you imagined?”
“It means that things are tilting too far in a good direction, and there are negative consequences. You should expedite the procurement of supplies. Based on current estimates, you’ll probably run out.”
“That much? I thought I ordered more than enough.”
“No, your estimate would allow us to hold out until the second wave, but we won’t be able to withstand the flow that comes after that.”
After reviewing the documents, the first issue pointed out is the significantly high consumption of consumables, which is almost as much as can be estimated.
I know that you’ve been distributing them generously to the rural villages to improve the Demon Lord’s Army’s image.
It can be counted as necessary expenses for the strategy.
The reports on how they were used are also thorough, and the public accounts are in order, with some exceptions.
I have a feeling that more problems will surface if we scrutinize them further, but for now, it’s within tolerable limits.
If that’s the case, we need to identify and address other issues before we find ourselves in dire straits.
“The third wave… are refugees already on the move?”
“There’s a strong possibility. Unlike on Earth, rumors here spread slowly, but once they do, activity becomes intense.”
Looking at the documents, we are certain, not as a joke or anything, that a union of nations friendly to the Demon Lord’s Army is secretly being established, a rumor among the common folk.
Instructor Fushio intuitively grasps things and acts.
Therefore, he is adept at reacting immediately when something unusual happens, but he struggles to imagine based on numerical data like this.
Instructor Fushio probably would have predicted this.
No, rather, it’s evident that he has an incredible intuition, imagining refugees arriving soon and preparing to meet them and establish a system to receive them.
“Tch, my prediction was off. Well, given such a dismal situation, it’s natural they’d want to flee.”
“Thanks to your preparations, instructor, we have some leeway. With a few adjustments, we can manage.”
“Keirii will likely have to work overtime, though.”
From my perspective, I’m unsettled by the instructor’s endeavors leaning too far in a positive direction.
Our plan was to cause some confusion and gain a certain number of allies, which we thought would be sufficient.
However, this strategy was too potent for the current Isal. It was too effective.
How weak are the citizens of Isal, to the point where they can’t hold a grudge against the Demon Lord’s Army mentally? They’re wary, they don’t approach, but they don’t resist. If someone reaches out to help, they’ll tentatively extend their hand and ask for salvation if even an enemy seems willing to help. What else could this be called if not abnormal?
Seeking help from your enemy, a villain spoken of in fairy tales no less. No, in fact, with several countries, albeit small ones, offering cooperation, the world’s balance is quite unstable. The great powers are fine, but small countries are just waiting for their demise. That’s the kind of environment it is.
“It doesn’t look like we have much time until the refugees start streaming in, or even start moving. At the same time, it’s only a matter of time before our information is leaked to them. For a while, the ostensible nation will accept refugees and maintain the appearance of handling the situation, but spies will undoubtedly be sent in early on. Whether we deal with them or not, it will become clear that the Demon Lord’s Army is involved.”
“…What’s our leeway?”
“Two months. That’s the crucial period.”
“Do you understand what it means to give me two months of leeway? I’ll have the preparations done in one month.”
This Oni, without showing any displeasure at unforeseen events, rather reveals his magnanimity to those in trouble.
“Well, I expected as much, so I’ll also list the current areas for improvement. Doing these should help things run a bit more smoothly.”
“In that case, I’ll manage the supply logistics. The Oni King will oversee construction and defense, and Jiro-san, you’ll negotiate with the surrounding countries. We can never have too much time for preparation. We should minimize information leakage as much as possible.”
“Alright, then I’ll be going immediately. I’ll leave the various arrangements to you.”
“I’m the leader of a separate organization, you know.”
“I know you won’t do anything strange. I trust you.”
“I don’t want to be on the receiving end of a vengeful punch later, so I’ll take this seriously.”
“Gahahaha! You know what’s up!”
Even enemies, the weak are helped. That’s the amazing thing about this Great Oni.
With a wry smile at the instructor’s departing figure, sporting a wicked grin, I’ll get back to my own tasks.
“Now Suella, I’ll confirm the current state of this base, but we have countries on three sides, with this Dungeon in the center. What are the characteristics of those countries?”
“Yes, each country has a different level of importance. First, the northern country, where the royal family was all overthrown by a popular rebellion, and none of their bloodline remains. It’s in a state of anarchy, but the Oni King intervened and brought the nobles together, unifying them under the guise of a council system, and we hold the discretionary power. What makes this country important is that it’s undoubtedly the front line, the very beginning of the defense line. No matter which route of invasion is used, this country will be the Isal front.”
“So that’s why influence and control over them were necessary.”
Our current position is merely standing on a ground that the instructor forcibly leveled.
Therefore, it must be said that it’s quite unstable.
Numerous problems exist.
“Fortunately, the royal family was a typical corrupt regime, so the backlash from the power grab wasn’t too severe. We also purged the nobles surrounding the royal family, so government control itself is functioning without issue. However, there are lingering problems, such as personnel shortages caused by wartime conscription. Furthermore, some of the nobles who escaped the purge are on the battlefield, and if they return, they’ll provide the opposing side with a legitimate cause.”
“You can’t possibly reach the enemy’s stronghold, can you? On the contrary, it’s amazing enough that you’ve managed to act without them noticing. If I were in your shoes and found that my country had fallen and a new government was established, I’d be terrified.”
“Yes, we continue to send regular supply shipments, and we’ve entrusted the nobles who belonged to the country with acting as liaisons, so they probably haven’t gotten suspicious.”
“Or perhaps they’re not the type of people who would think that far ahead… In any case, it’s convenient for us. We’ll aim to expand our military strength in the northern region. Discussions regarding that will likely be primary. We’ll postpone securing soldiers and instead create the foundation for the instructor’s army to be deployed.”
“Yes, it’s currently difficult to secure defense forces for this country to protect itself. Considering the people’s livelihoods, conscription is impossible. If we’re to take a conciliatory approach, we need to make the first move.”
“We should also consider agricultural support. Just continuously providing food won’t be enough.”
“That applies to the other countries as well.”
One is the rebuilding of the defense line. Expanding the military in the shield region is an urgent necessity. They were originally a functioning country, and there are forts, but their facilities are inadequate compared to the great powers. Frankly, they’re unreliable. I want to prioritize their maintenance, but I can’t afford to focus on that alone. To solidify the foundation, we need to win over the hearts of the people. Especially regarding food. Without food, people’s hearts easily waver. I’ll write down information in my notepad to determine how to structure the presentation materials to explain and persuade the nobles. It would be easier if I had a PC, but I don’t have time to wish for what I don’t have.
“Based on the data, things are really not looking good. We’re simply short on manpower. Should we introduce a large number of tractors… or perhaps a large contingent of Goblin troops?”
“Ideally, a mixed unit with strong individuals like Orcs and Minotaurs, along with some magicians, would be desirable.”
In a situation where I’m asked to make decisions quickly on many matters, pondering is a waste of time.
“If we concentrate here and postpone other countries, it will cause friction, but on the other hand, we don’t have enough manpower to give equal attention to all of them. Well, this is where the skill of presentation comes into play.”
We have our priorities set internally. Now, it’s a matter of how well we can convince the other party.
Today’s word: Subtle differences are exquisitely troublesome.
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I’m currently serializing another work: Pandora Pandemic Panic. Pandora’s Box has been opened again, but we’re fighting back with various things in secret bases!! Please check that out as well!!
