Another Day at the Office

The Demon Lord and Aku were stretching on the side of the pool, nestled in a corner of Rabbi. He had already deactivated his Fallen Angel mode and reverted back to his usual appearance, except he was wearing knee-length lifeguard shorts. Aku wore a swimsuit that resembled the uniform swimwear issued at Japanese elementary schools.

“We have to properly stretch before getting in.”

“O-Okay!” Aku stared at the pool, which was filled to the brim with water, as she mimicked the Demon Lord’s movements as he stretched his limbs and joints.

“Master Demon Lord... Are we r-really going in there?”

“It might take time getting used to it, but it’s just like a big bath. You have to start these things young. You never know when you might be lost at sea,” the Demon Lord remarked, as tone deaf as ever.

Aku, of course, had never been concerned about her swimming ability. “It feels like...such a waste.”

Water was precious to the inhabitants of this world. The idea of doing nothing with so much of it—not cooking, cleaning, or even watering crops—was almost blasphemous.

“There’s nothing better on a hot day than a dip in the pool.”

“Ar-Are you sure I should take part in such...luxury?”

Luxury indeed. There was no productivity to be had in using water for fleeting leisure. At its core, luxury was wasteful.

“M-Master Demon Lord! Why don’t we use this to water the farms or—”

“Cannonball!”

“Wait!”

The Demon Lord hoisted Aku up and dove straight into the pool, plunging below the surface.

“Pfft! Y-You scared me, Master Demon Lord!”

“Ha ha ha! Doesn’t it feel great?!”

Below the scorching sun stood this oasis of rocking water and cool breeze. The place imparted a bizarre elation onto its guests, urging swimmers of all ages to play and scream like children.

“I’ll hold your hands. Slowly lift your legs.”

“L-Like this...? Pft!”

“Ha ha ha! Relax. Just let them float to the surface.” The Demon Lord led Aku by her hands and slowly walked back through the pool.

Aku obeyed, letting herself float as if she was gliding across the surface. “I-I’m floating...!”

“You’re about ten times lighter in water. I used to swim in public baths like this too,” the Demon Lord laughed. As soon as he reached the edge of the pool, he quickly turned Aku around. “Let’s start with kicks. Move your legs up and down. Smack the water.”

“Like th-this?”

“Mhm. Use the tops of your feet to push water behind you.”

“Push...water...behind me...!”

“Oh? You’re getting the hang of it! You’ll learn to swim in no time.”

“Really?!”

Continuing to lead her by the hands, praising her more than needed at times, the Demon Lord taught her how to swim. Aku was a quick learner, thanks to her receptive demeanor.

“Let’s put floaties on you just in case and move on to using a kickboard.”

The Demon Lord sat Aku at the side of the pool and ventured into the shed, returning with all sorts of swimming gear: floaties, a kickboard, swim goggles, snorkel fins, inflatables, etc.

“We can play all day with these,” the Demon Lord beamed, equipping Aku with the floaties and himself with goggles.

The pool had been modeled after a typical public school’s, with a hint of yesteryear in the eye washing stations, a shaded bench area, and changing rooms. So meticulous was his design that cicadas could even be heard from the trees surrounding the pool.

“All day...? What about your work, Master Demon Lord?”

Since the Demon Lord’s return, the village of Rabbi had become even more flooded with people and goods, making every day a chaotic mess of logistics. There might have been a riot if those hard at work had heard the Demon Lord (who was supposed to be at the center of the operation) planning to play the day away.

“Aku. A good boss trusts their people and their decisions. Micromanaging is the telltale sign of ineptitude.”

“O-Okay...”

“At the end of the day, all a boss has to do is take responsibility when things go south.” The Demon Lord proudly declared that he was skipping work for the day. Of course, if anything happened that was beyond Tahara’s scope of abilities, there was nothing the Demon Lord could even do about it. No work and no responsibility... In short, he was a bum.

“Even when we’re playing, you think about so many things!” Aku said.

“Mm... Indeed...”

“Even all the drinking you’ve been doing since coming back—”

“Let’s get back into the pool! There’s still much to learn!” The Demon Lord dashed from Aku into the pool, and she followed, swinging her floatie-equipped arms. “Now, we’ll start with flutter kicks, breaststroke, then move to front crawl and butterfly.”

“Butterfly... Does it have something to do with the Madam?”

“No, no, no. That’d be freaky.”

Then, Aku began copying the Demon Lord’s moves, and after nearly an hour, she could float without the aid of his tools and propel herself with a swimming style of her own discovery: doggy paddle.

“Look, Master Demon Lord! Swimming like this keeps your head dry!”

“Ha ha ha! That’s called the doggy paddle.”

“What?! Doggy— Can Spot swim too?!”

As noon approached, food stands throughout the village were hard at work preparing for the lunch rush, but the area remained distinctly peaceful.

“Shall we rest for a while?” the Demon Lord asked, pulling an inflatable couch into the pool; it featured a full back, armrests, and even a drink holder. The Demon Lord jumped onto the couch and produced a can of beer from the Item Folder, something he had procured from the casino’s walk-in fridge. “There’s another one there, Aku. Why don’t you relax?”

“I want to share with you, Master Demon Lord!”

“Wha... Well, it’s large enough for both of us...”

As the Demon Lord continued talking, Aku monkeyed onto the float and reclined against him, completing the picture of a father and daughter’s Sunday outing.

“It’s so strange that we’re sitting on top of water!”

To escape the incriminating thought of the registry as he shared a pool float with a little girl wearing a school-issued swimsuit, the Demon Lord rushed to take out a juice box from the Item Folder.

“Here, have some...orange juice, Aku.”

“Thank you!”

The casino’s juice repertoire (of which the Demon Lord had nabbed several of each variety) was overly extensive, many of them foreign in this world where sweetness, too, was a luxury.

“Let’s drink.”

“Okay... Master Demon Lord! This is so sweet!”

“Good.” The Demon Lord couldn’t help but reminisce of his past at the light of Aku’s brimming smile.

A thirteen-year-old girl smiling, drinking juice, and playing at a pool was nothing out of the ordinary. He was sure he had lived similarly carefree days when he was her age.

But she never had. She lived all her life alone, without any family...

Aku had worked herself to the bone only to become the pariah of her village, ultimately being offered up as a sacrifice. Her upbringing had been marred by unspeakable cruelty, having lost her parents and been left with no one to so much as show her pity. She could have very well chosen death over that life devoid of hope.

I don’t know what kind of person she’ll grow up to be... But I have to protect her until then. With a can of beer in one hand, the Demon Lord reached for Aku’s head with the other. A certain resolve hardened within his heart.

“Master Demon Lord...?”

“***”

“Wha— What are you saying...?” Aku asked, confused.

The Demon Lord just wanted to use that line, apparently. “Beautiful weather today.”

The sky above was spotless, the sun claiming a monopoly on the heavens. The dry air, the warm breeze, and even the mirage in the distance seemed insistent on creating the scene of a blazing summer.

Lounging in a pool, huh...? How long has it been...?

The Demon Lord tried to recall his grade school days, but a memory from a different time sprung to his mind: his adult self in the pool, his suit, shirt, and tie sprawled on the poolside.

Wait, wait, wait! What is this memory...? I never went into the school pool at night!

Another figure was sharing the pool with him: a woman of small stature who still wore a white blouse and seemed to be fully clothed soaking in the pool.

Who is that...? She doesn’t look Japanese...

Her blonde hair was tied into pigtails, but her face was scribbled out as if by a black marker, preventing the Demon Lord from recognizing her.

Who the hell... I was at my school at night? That’s trespassing...!

The Demon Lord hurried to scrub the image from his mind and gazed up at the sky. The same, cloudless blue now evoked an inexplicable sadness within him. He squeezed his eyes shut.

“I-It’s nice... That it doesn’t rain in this country,” the Demon Lord said, trying to force the memory out of his mind.

Aku asked, “Do you not like rain, Master Demon Lord?”

“I don’t. If I had my way, it would never rain again.”

“P-People need some rain, I think...”

“No. We can set up wells all around the country. No rain, no problem. I’ll have work cut out for that bandit too.” While the Demon Lord’s sentiment was extreme, the fact remained that something which could generate infinite water was no small matter.

“Does the rain make you think of something sad, Master Demon Lord?”

“No, there’s no special reason. I just don’t like it.”

Aku could tell the Demon Lord was lying but wisely decided not to pursue the matter any further.

As if to change the subject, the Demon Lord produced a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne (although there was no drinking age in this world) and poured Aku a glass.

“Some faux champagne. Let’s enjoy our day off.”

Aku also picked up on the Demon Lord brazenly calling this a ‘day off,’ but decided not to mention it. She was probably thinking more maturely than the Demon Lord at this point.

The two were alone in the pool, where the cicadas’ chorus evoked a distant summer memory. At times, a gentle breeze came, rocking the pool float slightly. The Demon Lord reminisced on his days in this world and threw back his can of beer.

“There’s something...I want to ask you, Master Demon Lord.”

“Hm?”

Aku really wanted to ask more about what the Demon Lord thought of rain, but decided to go with a different question, trying to ask him as much as she could before he left again. “Master Demon Lord... Are you going to become the king of this country?”

“Nothing like that. I’m not interested.”

“B-But, there are so many rumors—”

“Rumors are rumors. My advisors might have their own ideas...”

The Demon Lord considered once again how his advisors thought and acted of their own accord. While their conduct was largely in accordance with the backstories he had given them, some of them were already deviating, making it difficult for the Demon Lord to predict their actions.

“I feel like you’re going to go far away, Master Demon Lord... You’re becoming more and more important to all these people.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Aku turned around and met the Demon Lord’s eyes. “Then...tell me you’ll always be with me.” Her red and blue eyes stared at him above the shimmering water.

Always? I can’t make an empty promise when I don’t even know what I’m doing tomorrow...

Defeated by the mystical shine of her eyes, the Demon Lord turned to the sky. What else could he have done after a girl in a school-issued swimsuit asked him that in their own pool with no sounds around but the cicadas?

“I’ll think about it...”

“No! Think about it now.”

“After consideration, I have no reservations telling you I’ll think about it, but I think I’ll consider it further upon further consideration and thought...”

“Master Demon Lord, don’t try to confuse me!”

The Demon Lord continued to verbally weasel around like a politician to try and get through this discussion without making a promise; he wouldn’t dare make a promise lightly when he was basically stumbling through the dark day to day.

Try as the Demon Lord did to escape his day’s work, the issue would not resolve itself. He had purposefully avoided a meeting with delegates from foreign countries. After the Invasion in Rookie and the catastrophic battle in the capital of Suneo, messengers from both countries had come to Rabbi while dealing with their respective aftermaths.

If it had been unimpeded, the Invasion would have wrought havoc through other regions of Edogawa, and Suneo’s capital would have collapsed if it wasn’t for the Demon Lord. Despite saving each country from said danger, he hadn’t made any contact with them whatsoever, let alone demanded a reward. The representatives of Edogawa and Suneo found the Demon Lord’s attitude and eerie silence unnerving. They felt pressured into finally paying a visit.

If one could call this diplomacy, both countries were already at a severe disadvantage. The messengers happened to run into each other on their way to the village of Rabbi and jumped at the opportunity to discuss what the infamous Demon Lord could possibly ask from them.

“Minister of Suneo... What do you expect him to demand of us?”

“If nothing else... An appropriate amount of cash, I’m sure.”

“An appropriate amount...? There’s never been a precedent for this sort of thing.”

Leaving without saying a word after saving entire nations from devastation might have been a heroic trait in movies, but in reality, it was only natural that politics came into play.

“Worst case scenario, he may demand the entire estimated cost of restoration had he not been there,” the Minister suggested.

The messenger of Edogawa nearly leapt at this. It wasn’t realistic (or, frankly, possible at all) to pay for the restoration of the entire capital.

“Minister. Perhaps we need to have a heart to heart...”

“I concur. Ours are neighboring countries, bonded with many years of friendship. Let us join forces to mitigate his demands as much as possible.”

Fortunately for both of them, the delegates were businessmen in their own right. Suneo’s went without saying, but the Edogawa delegate was a leader of a grand trading company, the president of which currently ruled the country. They were much better fit to join forces in this kind of situation than nobles who might have been hung up on status and titles.

“First and foremost, we never requested his help in the matter...”

“Yes, that we cannot stress enough.”

“He acted solely of his own accord on both accounts... If we can establish that...”

“We must, if we want to keep his demands anywhere near reasonable.”

The delegates continued to discuss strategy, ready to be as opportunistic as their tricky situations allowed. However, their strategies and spirits would be blown to the wind when they beheld the Golden Temple materializing beyond the sandstorm.

——Hot Springs Resort, Office.

The minister of Suneo stood in the office, feeling like his head was under a guillotine. His hands quivered and his face was pale, betraying his title.

This village is nothing like the reports... What’s happened here?!

Suneo, by nature, was a nation privy to more international intel than most. They had even kept tabs on the village of Rabbi, which no one else would have bothered to do, given it was a desolate village full of demi-humans. However, the spies of Suneo had only been gathering intel on the village (and Holylight at large) after noticing the Madam’s movements and her new relationship with the Holy Maiden Luna, assuming that the Madam was attempting to seize more power.

Our assessments were accurate... Otherwise, Suneo would not have snagged an enormous profit off of their foresight of the Madam’s caravan’s northern expedition. Even now, they were preparing for a large-scale civil conflict within Holylight after seeing the central and military nobles join hands.

In Suneo, information was at times more valuable than gold. Their proud web of espionage, however, had been rendered useless in the face of the Demon Lord’s ambitious terraforming of the village. Now there was a forest and spring that never existed before, even a bizarre temple. No mortal could have explained all of this.

What is that giant temple for...? How is there a spring in a land such as this...? The minister’s head was spinning, overwhelmed with impossible information, only worsened by the masterpiece paintings and famous art pieces that lined the office.

“Sorry for the late arrival,” Tahara greeted through the cigarette in his mouth as he entered. “Name’s Tahara. Nice to meet ya.”

Tahara’s tone, physique, and perfect movement had the minister totally on guard again. As a seasoned trader, his instincts told him that he could not afford a single mistake when dealing with this man.

“Go ahead and take a seat,” Tahara carried on. “Let’s toast before we get into the boring stuff, yeah?”

“I-I appreciate the gesture, but...”

“Oh? I brought a couple of bottles because I’d heard you know your stuff.” Tahara produced numerous drink bottles from the Backup Backpack, in addition to glassware and a bucket full of ice. “None of these were easy to procure, mind you. Guess you do know your stuff if you’re hesitant to partake.” He smiled at the minister and began filling a glass with ice cubes from the bucket using a pair of tongs.

The bottles on the table were among the minister’s favorites, and there was even one that he didn’t dare treat himself to more than once a year.

He’s researched me... How much does he know?!

Still smiling, Tahara reached for that very bottle, passing over the rest. The minister felt like Tahara had grabbed hold of his heart rather than the bottleneck.

Tahara waved to the seat once more. “Take a seat, won’t you? Let’s toast to our aid now that we’ve made it through that battle. What do you say?” Somehow, the questions seemed like threats to the minister.

During said battle, the ones that moved to quell the disaster were from Holylight: the Demon Lord, Tahara, Luna, Harts... Meanwhile, those from Suneo, the minister chief among them, had run off to the castle and never so much as took a step outside. The minister could barely meet Tahara’s gaze after being reminded that they had both been involved that day.

“Wh-What a terrible inconvenience we’ve caused. Our army, well, it needed time to prepare...”

“Don’t sweat it. The world’s full of the unexpected. My boss is wicked smart too, so lots of headaches on my end.” Tahara’s friendly grin almost made the minister relax. At this point, it would have been insulting for the minister not to accept. Sitting on the edge of the extravagant sofa, the minister took the glass and hardened his resolve.

“Mister Tahara, if we could discuss—”

“Gotta toast before that stuff. I’m getting some booze in before sundown, thanks to you.” With a hearty chuckle, Tahara lifted his glass and the minister followed suit, pouring a small amount into his mouth, but it didn’t taste like much. The minister could hardly see straight, overwhelmed with worry over what he feared was bound to be an unreasonable demand.

“Now, Mister Tahara. Let’s discuss—”

“Hey, Minister. You interested in branching into our village?”

“Huh?”

“Y’know, build a branch of your shop here? Some nobles’ wives would love your stuff. We just want to stock the shelves with what the customers want, y’know?”

“Wh— One moment... I was ready to discuss the aftermath—”

“Forget that. This is the important topic at hand. What do you say?”

The minister looked nonplussed. At face value, it was an attractive offer to extend their business into the village when major trading companies all over the nation were in cutthroat competition to expand their business into any foreign territory. Exorbitant bribes and donations, if not terrible bloodshed, lurked behind the scenes of these foreign expansions. Inviting a foreign trader into one’s nation without a deal under the table was unthinkable.

“I don’t understand your meaning at all... What would your country have to gain from doing so? With enough of our luxury items in circulation, high-end traders of Holylight will be put out of business,” the minister pressed.

Traders of Suneo handled a great variety of merchandise. In addition to the basics like textiles and jewelry, they offered perfume, lip rouge, silverware, furniture, mirrors, horse riding gear, and more. Nobles and wealthy traders would clamor to boost their status by covering themselves in Suneo imports from head to toe, even serving their party guests using Suneo dishware.

“What do we have to gain...? If you’re in our village, we can easily buy your stuff without having to make dangerous, long trips. That’s pretty big, don’t you think?”

“I mean to say, traders of your own country will push back... Their territory...” The minister trailed off, feeling ridiculous. Why did he have to concern himself about this man’s business? Tahara would be the one on the end of said pushback, not the minister.

“It’s dog-eat-dog in the business world. The best products survive and the crappy ones die out. If they can’t compete with your brands, that’s their problem.”

“Such high praise,” the minister managed to say, despite the urge to roll his eyes. Survival of the fittest was fine and dandy, but he couldn’t fathom hurting domestic businesses over that philosophy.

“With your branch in the village, customer satisfaction is only going to go up.”

Customer satisfaction...? The minister shook at the phrase Tahara had dropped. Customer satisfaction was the very core of Suneo. In pursuit of the highest-quality goods, brands of Suneo spent an astonishing amount of money and effort on each and every product, only putting the best of the best onto the market; naturally, each product that earned their seal of approval was both rare and highly sought after. This business philosophy did suffer from cheap, abundant competition as well as the inability to capitalize on trends early.

Customer satisfaction above all. Never stop progressing... Mantras repeated by the kings of Suneo reverberated in the minister’s mind, making him consider the matter. Perhaps Tahara had a reason to back up his survival-of-the-fittest business policy.

Unbeknownst to the minister, Tahara had already begun putting this philosophy in action on a smaller scale with the intention of applying it throughout the continent. The world was rife with sleazy contractors, corner-cutting carpenters, grocers that sold damaged produce, and the like. Tahara wanted to eliminate those businesses one at a time while constructing a system where they couldn’t survive.

“A branch may not be viable, depending on the tax rates...” the minister said after some thought. International commerce was taxed in this world too, at a rather high rate. The exact tax rate varied by country, but imports from Suneo were often taxed at exorbitant rates due to high demand.

“None of that crap, commerce taxes and whatnot. Just give us a tenth of your revenue. You folks have your own bracket.”

“Tenth...? Do you jest?”

“No point in setting a high rate if it makes you hold back your best stuff.”

“Well, we... I suppose...”

Ten percent was an unbelievably generous tax rate for a shop in a foreign country. The minister nearly let slip a grin at the prospect of the wealth that would be coming his way, assuming this too-good-to-be-true deal was, indeed, a real deal.

“That’s what I would say, if someone wasn’t looking to start a fight with us soon.”

The minister’s urge to smile had vanished entirely. He knew full well who that someone was: the central nobles, ready to start a civil clash that would split Holylight in two.

“If we win, the deal goes through, but if we don’t, we’re just counting unhatched chickens.”

“Indeed...”

“The nobles will never approve of your branch, will they? They’ve got their own friends.”

“I’m sure... They have long-standing relationships with traders and merchants.”

Naturally, the nobles would protect the traders that made major donations and the perks that came with those relationships. There was no reason for them to allow any new business to emerge, let alone a foreign one moving in.

“We, on the other hand, aren’t tied up. We wouldn’t mind seeing a branch of yours in central, southern, or, heck, smack-dab in the middle of noble territory.”

“That would be a bold decision, indeed...” the minister carefully answered, fearing the demand that was surely to come next. What could Tahara possibly ask in exchange for such an attractive offer, especially when Suneo already owed them for the preservation of their capital?

“Can’t give you all of that for free, though... I want you guys to come up with a million gold medallions.”

“M-Million?! That’s far too...”

One gold medallion equated to about 20,000 USD. Tahara’s demand was for an astronomical 20 billion dollars.

“Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to fork over the million. We’re not short on cash, if you haven’t guessed from the room.”

“Y-You want us to prepare money for show?”

“Glad you’re catching on. Bet you know why too.”

“To spread the word that...you have our financial backing,” the minister squeezed out as he began to feel faint. Before he knew it, he was neck-deep in Holylight’s civil conflict.

“I won’t take a single bronze coin from you in reality. You just have to flash that cash to the right people at the right time. Piece of cake, right?”

The minister gulped loudly and nodded, terrified that, if he refused, Tahara might have just demanded the million gold medallions.

“It should prove a useful card to cut down opposition.” The minister gave an inquisitive look, but Tahara simply grinned and held out a cigarette to him.

The minister activated Angel’s Spoon but saw no sign of poison or added drugs. In a fluid motion, Tahara lit it with a cheap, plastic lighter.

“If you don’t mind...”

“I like to make friends with rich folks. Especially rich, capable folks.”

“I see... What a strange cigar...”

The minister seemed drawn to its fragrance until it finally overcame his wariness for the unknown substance. As soon as he took the plunge and inhaled, he felt his exhausted mind clear and even the weight melt off of his shoulders.

“Ooh... This...is just...”

“Can’t have a drink without one.” Tahara tilted his glass again, relishing the combination.

More relaxed now, the minister swirled his drink in his mouth, thoroughly elated.

“What did you do with the thing the Tzardom left behind?”

Tahara’s question made the minister snap up like he had been splashed with ice water. He now realized that Tahara, as much as he came across as a businessman, was also a politician.

“We contacted the Tzardom,” the minister answered, “but have only received the template answer that the man in question was bedeviled and had nothing to do with the Tzardom.”

“Thrown under one big bus, wasn’t he? Poor little bishop,” Tahara chuckled as the minister remained silent, uneasy to nod along. “Who do you think has the right to claim that little lost and found?”

“Th-That would belong to you... Given how the Tzardom has relinquished the right...”

“Oh yeah? And what happened to the goods?”

The goods, of course, were the copious amounts of Trance and the highly dangerous Krack, imported from Hellion territory.

“I must...apologize once more...!”

“Yeah? What for?”

“Members of the Jack of All Trades company from Euritheis have stormed the site, taking with them all of the uh, goods, despite our protests...” The minister would have preferred this topic to have not come up; it was another blunder on Suneo’s part.

“I see... The Secretary saw this coming too.”

“Pardon?”

“Nah, don’t worry about it.”

Blowing out smoke, Tahara recalled the incident. The bishop’s pilgrimage took him all through the continent, hoarding all donations and raking in profits from trades along the way. Still, the Demon Lord had walked away without so much as a glance at the pile of wealth. Tahara couldn’t help but think: The music box all over again. He’s got a real knack for dangling juicy bait. What’s more, his prey did not expect the bait to be hooked with such a catastrophic trap. Tahara saw his boss as a masterfully sinister fisherman, scheming with every breath, reeling in the net at exactly the right time. The catch, of course, was destined for the chopping block. Our next prey is the Jack of All Trades...or Euritheis itself. I get it. The Secretary’s looking to make that place a bridgehead. I’d better get a move on, then.

In this moment, Tahara’s misunderstanding escalated further, so much so that the Demon Lord might have keeled over if he had been privy to Tahara’s conjecture.

Seeing Tahara fall silent, the minister rushed to explain, “Th-Those scoundrels have burned us repeatedly, from delay of payment, strong-arming negotiations, to even paying for goods with Trance. We deeply condemn...” The minister continued to mumble some weak excuses. Long story short, all Suneo could do against a foreign company practically invading them by force was protest loudly.

“A bunch of Trance and this rare Krack, huh...? How much do you think those went for?”

He knows of Krack too...?!

Unlike his lazy boss, Tahara had made sure to thoroughly investigate the forgotten cargo after sending off those involved in the incident to the village of Rabbi.

This is bad... The minister thought. I have to talk my way out of this...! He couldn’t afford for Tahara to demand restitution for the stolen drugs, just when they were about to reach an agreement.

Watching the color drain from the minister’s face, Tahara went on. “I know you deal with teas as well. You picky about the quality of those?”

“Huh? Well, yes...” The minister thinned his eyes warily.

Nobles and merchants on the continent preferred tea above all other drinks, leading to increased production of the plant.

“Heard you toss all the tea leaves that don’t meet your strict standards.”

“Our strict standards are why our products are so enjoyed and trusted.”

“What do you say? If you’re going to toss them anyway, you mind throwing them our way?”

“What...?” Puffing on his cigarette, the minister thought hard. What’s happening...? What is he getting to...? The cost to restore Suneo’s capital could have been astronomical. The last thing on his mind was tea leaves.

Putting out his cigarette, Tahara spoke in a sing-song way, “There are a bunch of different teas: white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black.”

“So you’re familiar...”

“High-quality red tea’s all the rage on this continent, but I want to provide the working folk with a cheaper alternative.”

His eyes wandering from art piece to art piece, the minister turned the cogs in his brain. If mere tea was going to settle this deal, he wanted to shake hands and be done with it. Dismayed by the rapidly shifting conversation, his face now resembled a shriveled tea leaf.

Tahara continued, “You sell your top-quality, brand-name tea to the nobles, and we sell cheap tea to the working class. We’ll have separate clientele, so no competition.”

“Th-That’s true...”

“If demand spreads to the working class, you’ll have a bigger customer base. When one door closes, another one opens, huh? Ha ha ha!”

The minister managed to fake a smile, which failed to mask his confusion. He understood Tahara’s points, but he was tired of discussing tea leaves and other items, wanting to move on with negotiating the exact amount of restitution.

“Glad we’ve settled things, now—”

“What?!”

“What’s the matter? Anything else you want to talk about?”

“N-No, not all... Not a single thing!”

Tahara nearly laughed at the minister’s desperation, but he didn’t forget to throw him a little bone. “You’ve been staring at the pieces in the room. Why don’t you pick one and take it with you?”

“I wouldn’t dare...”

“You came all this way in the heat. If I let you go without a little something, my boss will chew me out.”

“I-In that case...”

It was relatively commonplace for diplomats to leave meetings with some sort of personal souvenir: one of the perks of the job. The minister stood before one of the paintings he had been eyeing and let out a grunt. Every piece in the room was an undisputed masterpiece, each hidden from the public by dynasties of Holylight nobles for centuries. As such, most of them were priceless.

“The famous Waves of the Dead Sea... It really exists...!”

“You like that one? Take it.”

“Ar-Are you sure? I won’t let my hands off of it!” The minister took the painting, holding it like he was protecting a child. As ridiculous as he looked, valuable art was worth their own lives for art-loving nobles. Safe to say, the minister would not let go of the painting unless his hands were chopped off.

“Our boss ain’t the stingy type. Once you follow through with your end of the deal, you can shop at McBonald’s in the village. Bet you’ll like some pieces there.”

“I-I’m looking forward to it...”

Tahara and the minister shook hands, agreeing to draft up an official contract for building a branch location, preparing the one million gold medallions for show, and for giving over the tea leaves that would have been discarded.

The minister left, filled with relief after dreading what astronomical price was going to be demanded of him. I never thought things would be settled with tea leaves... To top it off, he was walking away with a priceless masterpiece as a souvenir. The only hiccup was the one million gold medallions, but if it was just for show, the process would be time-consuming, but not unprofitable.

He plans to sell art pieces hidden away from the world to our country... Holylight had ruled a vast territory for over two thousand years with an ample noble population. According to rumors, the nation held countless art pieces.

After the talk of the branch and tea leaves, it seems he intends to build a lasting business relationship with us rather than extort us for a one-time payment. It’s mutually beneficial in the long run... The minister couldn’t help but wonder how things would have gone down if he had been dealing with the Jack of All Trades or any other nation. They would have demanded something extreme, using their work in the battle as a bargaining chip, which, naturally, would have created an enduring divide between them.

Such a generous demeanor... He seems well versed in business as well. The meeting with Tahara had brought a breath of fresh air to the minister after dealing with the war-happy savagery of the Northern Nations. As he was relieved by the surprisingly pleasant result of the meeting, the minister was eager to seriously do business with this newborn force in Holylight... A force that would soon be struggling against the central nobles.

A conflict will soon sweep the nation of Holylight... I must caution His Majesty to keep a close eye on the tide. From what I’ve seen in that Tahara, even the central nobles will not have an easy time with them. The minister was certain now that Tahara’s boss was none other than the man who called himself the Demon Lord, the very same monster who blew the Tzardom’s mock angel to smithereens. While the minister had not witnessed the carnage in action, he recalled the deep chill in his spine at seeing the wreckage of the mock angel. We have a considerable relationship with the nobles too, but if I were to choose who would be standing longer...

With the incoming conflict on his mind, the minister returned to the lobby of the resort, where the other messenger awaited him with visible fear. He ran over to the minister.

“M-Minister... How did the meeting transpire?”

As the minister felt pity for the messenger, he couldn’t help but feel superior, knowing that his matter had already been settled. “I met a man named Tahara who seemed to have an important role here... A very reasonable gentleman indeed.”

“You mean... There were no outrageous demands?”

“Not only that, but I received a wonderful souvenir. I must return to my homeland.”

Seeing the minister relieved had only worsened the Republic messenger’s uneasiness, as he feared the minister had forgotten their promise of camaraderie.

“Minister, lest you forget that we have—”

“We have nothing as of this point in time.”

“Wha—?! How could you—”

“Our negotiations have concluded... That is all.” The minister gave the messenger an icy glare.

He had just made it through a storm with his ship miraculously intact. Who in their right mind would have changed course back into the same storm for a complete stranger? The minister of Suneo was no martyr, only a clever man who knew how to do business. The last thing he wanted now was to ruin an opportunity by sticking his nose in another man’s business.

“That being said, I can afford neighborly advice.”

“Ad-Advice...?”

“Said gentleman is a man with reason, but I expect his fury to fall swiftly on those without.” The minister continued on to say that there was no need for negotiations on their part to begin with. “They had enough strength to eliminate the Satanists, take out the giant devil that toyed with even the Elemental Knights, then defeat a mock angel, albeit a greatly damaged one. They could threaten violence to solve most of their problems. The fact that he doesn’t,” the minister concluded, “indicates foresight immeasurably far and wide.”

“Far and wide...”

The minister walked away without a second glance, clearly eager to return home and make preparations for what was to come, a bounce in his step.

With an envious glare at the minister, the Republic messenger ventured forth to the room where Tahara was waiting. I-It’ll be fine... Suneo got off scot-free... His step faltering as he walked the halls of a building that seemed to belong in another dimension, the messenger managed to work up a bit of courage. If they’re looking to do business, we have unparalleled locations when it comes to recreation... The Republic of Edogawa served as a sandbag against Animania, where the wealthy and nobility spent war season vacationing in the seaside tropical paradise. Nobles even had a sort of competition in hosting the most lavish boat parties.

He may demand a claim to the best spots or some other perk... As war raged on, more and more people flocked to the Republic. Hotel rooms in premium locations were fought over, the opulent struggle now an annual tradition of sorts. Naturally, many deals were struck in the process, with plenty of potential kickbacks for ambassadors of the Republic.

I have to expect some loss, but I must play my cards carefully... The messenger knocked on the office door and shakily opened it. Inside, Tahara awaited him with an expression that completely contrasted the friendly behavior he had shown the minister. Naturally, the table was empty, lacking any bottles or other display of hospitality.

“Name’s Tahara. You’re the messenger from the Republic? Sit down. I don’t have all day.”

“Y-Yes...”

“Blows my mind that no one came to see me sooner, considering we saved your entire damn country. Is everyone taking a nap up there?”

“N-No, we never intended to... With sincere apologies, we—”

“Not to mention, we took in refugees from Animania just the other day. Glad to see you’re up and about now.”

You did that of your own accord! The messenger nearly protested but was silenced by the air in the room. That was a project that the Republic had only funded, having promptly shoved all responsibility onto the paladin. They had no right to complain about any of Weeb’s decisions.

“The paladin was lamenting your lack of humanity. Guess the Secretary’s lost all faith in your country as well. Hasn’t mentioned you guys since.”

“Th-There were delays in reaching a consensus for... We never meant any...”

“If the Invasion kept on, you wouldn’t have even been able to reach consensus. Wars aren’t fought in boardrooms, you know.” Tahara lit a cigarette, staring down the messenger with an icy stare devoid of any semblance of compromise or cooperation—the polar opposite of the demeanor he had shown the minister of Suneo.

“So, I’ve got a proposal for you. Take it or leave it; it’s up to you.”

“A p-proposal...?” The messenger swallowed, waiting for Tahara to continue with bated breath.

But what happened next was completely unexpected to him.

“I want the city of Rookie, the Bastille Dungeon and all.”

“What...?!”

“Call it a ‘joint crimewatch’ or whatever to keep things simple.”

“No matter what we call it, you demand an entire city from us?!” The messenger could no longer stay in his seat. This was too much, no matter how much the Republic owed the Demon Lord.

“Already told you. Take it or leave it. Ball’s in your court.”

“Outrageous! We have gratitude for your aid in the Invasion, but this is far too...!”

Tahara maintained his cold expression, not even looking at him but at the tropical fish in an aquarium. “Just so you know, we won’t lift a finger for the next Invasion. Don’t know if the paladin’ll be too grateful either. The Tzardom could send you some troops, but by the time they get to you, your whole country will be burnt to ash.”

“All we have to do is ask our neighboring nations for aid...” The messenger trailed off, realizing that Edogawa would also be demanded exorbitant restitution by them, possibly even land grants. Of course, their neighboring nations would demand their lucrative resort spots in that case, instead of the danger-ridden borderlands or a city that had just experienced an Invasion.

But he wants the city of Rookie? What for...? Calming himself, the messenger sat back down on the sofa. He searched Tahara’s expression for any tells but found nothing. Currently in Rookie, the Bastille Dungeon was unstable, crime was up, and the city was so heavily damaged that restoration would cost a fortune. The more the minister thought about it, the more Rookie felt like a burden on the Republic. Worst case scenario, those jobless bums may even start rioting... The paladin had taken charge of the city to attempt to mitigate the panic somewhat, but he was bound to leave sooner or later. No one could predict what was going to happen after he was gone and the dungeon was unsealed.

“This proposal... Is that your only demand?”

“We’re not asking for anything else.”

The messenger felt even more confused. What did they want with the city with all of its inherent risks? In a way...this may not be such a bad deal. The Republic mostly cared about their northern resort lands and their eastern coast. In fact, the Four Pillars that ruled the Republic had even suggested cutting off the fortress on the border and the city of Rookie from the rest of the Republic, abandoning them altogether. With Holylight offering to take on that liability, they could very possibly jump onto the opportunity.

“I almost forgot,” Tahara added, “The Secretary’s dealings with the Anima. You saw what happened the other day.”

“I... Well...!” The messenger was at a loss for words; why was he mentioning the Anima now? “Is that...a threat?”

“Not my intention. Just saying that if we take on the city of Rookie, we would basically border Animania. The Secretary can talk to them.”

“Talk...? They see us as inferior. There is no conversation to be had with them...”

“You think so? The Secretary thinks they’re fun to be around,” Tahara chuckled, puffing smoke from his cigarette.

This was true, as the Demon Lord had made connections with the Anima, and not just with any Anima either—he had met with the Grand Priestess revered by all of Animania and with an Animadmiral feared by most of the continent. After the Dragon, who watched over the nation, had declared that all Anima should let the Demon Lord be, he had become untouchable in the nation.

Considering all of this, Tahara’s follow-up seemed believable: “We don’t mind if you leave the deal. It just means we’ll sit back and watch no matter what Animania does next. Makes sense, right?” The blatant threat made the messenger grit his teeth, but Tahara decided to flash more bait. “Think about it this way. It’s only going to cost you a city to buy your security.”

“Security...?”

“If you pawn Rookie off to us, you’ll be safe from the Anima and from the risk of Invasion inherent to the Bastille Dungeon. Peace and security are your bread and butter, aren’t they? We’re offering to take that burden off your shoulders for the low price of a single city. Is that really a complete loss for you guys?”

“N-No...” The messenger had gradually lowered his chin as Tahara went on. The Republic attracted the richest of the rich only because their resorts were completely detached from war. Ever since the Invasion, tourism had been dropping. If the Anima were to make any threatening moves, tourism would plummet, costing the Republic their most valuable income, and soon their entire economy. A single city in exchange for safety...

The messenger considered the pros and cons: Giving away Rookie would damage their reputation in some way, and they would lose out on loot from the dungeon as well as the tax income from adventurers and merchants. Those cons, however, paled in comparison to the threat of Animania and Invasion. Upon further consideration, is this not an opportunity for us to rid that long-standing tumor once and for all...? Freed from the threat of Animania and the responsibility of the Bastille Dungeon that was keeping resort guests away, the Republic could focus on their lucrative vacation business.

“A few things I would like to discuss, Mister Tahara...”

“You have a brand new look in your eyes. Made up your mind?”

“We do have our reputation to consider... Relinquishing the city without so much as a battle would paint us in too bad of a light. No matter the deal under the surface, we request as much consideration as you can afford when it comes to explanations.”

“Yeah, we’ll play it cool. Like I said, let’s call it a ‘joint crimewatch’ or something for a while,” Tahara offered, snubbing out his cigarette. He was only after control of the city and couldn’t care less what excuse the Republic wanted to use.

“Our wish list is pretty long right now. But we don’t mind throwing you a bone or two.”

“Which means...?”

“We’ll go through the goods, but we can toss you the overstock. At a friends and family discount, of course.” Tahara cracked a grin and winked, proposing some form of mutually beneficial relationship, which the messenger seemed to pick up on. The tension in the room seemed to lift somewhat. “Like I said, we’ve got a long wish list. This is a good opportunity for us to start doing good business with your company. Must be boring when your only clients are those... What were they, the Four Pillars?”

“Holylight will import our merchandise...from the Kid Company?”

“Business has to go both ways. Can’t have one side getting all the perks.” Tahara lit another cigarette before dropping a bomb. “You know that Holylight has plenty of rich nobles. In fact, I just spoke to a minister from Suneo about setting up a shop for them here.”

“What...?!” After the initial shock, the messenger finally understood why the minister, who had entered the meeting doom and gloom, had emerged with a smirk and a skip in his step.

“You’ve done business with the top one percent for a long time, right? If you’ve got the confidence and knowledge, we’d consider setting up a shop for you as well.”

H-He’s trying to start a competition between Suneo and our Republic...! Tahara was so cunning with his execution that the minister was more impressed than outraged; he seemed to be ready to use anything in his reach to turn a profit. “A branch for Suneo and a branch for the Republic... I doubt the nobles of Holylight will be happy with such an arrangement...” the messenger said probingly, but Tahara simply exhaled a puff of smoke, unbothered. In actuality, he was eager for the nobles to catch wind of this offer.

“There’ll be steam coming out of their ears to protect their bottom line. That’ll be a sight.”

He’s using this opportunity as a trigger for them... How far ahead is he thinking?! The messenger looked at Tahara with awe. After seeing that he had been lured here as part of his plan, the messenger wanted to avoid his bad graces at any cost. I need to strike a deal with him before leaving today... The messenger immediately shifted over to talk business. The meeting went swimmingly, proceeding until the terms were acceptable to both sides and they shook hands. With the promise of signing an official contract at a later date, the Republic messenger left the office.

Now that I’ve paved the path that the Secretary opened up... Tahara humbly considered his day’s work, despite him single-handedly cleaning up the massive messes that the Demon Lord had left behind. For all Tahara was concerned, he was barely keeping up with his boss. We got the city he was after, but judging by its geography... Looking at the map on the desk, a certain hypothesis (that was rapidly approaching conclusion) sprung to Tahara’s mind. The Republic shared a border with Animania, and Suneo was situated across the Brackish Pond from Animania. Following the Demon Lord’s track on the map, an interesting fact illuminated itself.

The Secretary’s trying to blast an opening... The Republic and Suneo each stood like a gate blocking the advancement of the Anima. After this, however, Tahara considered the gates broken off their hinges. Whether the Demon Lord was trying to flood the Anima in or vice versa, Tahara saw an immense movement in the near future. And now Euritheis to the north... Like he’s bulldozing a straight path. With a smirk, Tahara continued scheming, reminded once again of the capabilities of the man he followed.

Considering how the Demon Lord feared Tahara’s misunderstandings more than anything, their particular relationship would always be a comedy skit. This concluded the day, both for the Demon Lord and his henchman. One played the day away in the pool, while the other made moves with a thundering crack across the continent. The Demon Lord’s impromptu shenanigans seemed destined to be elevated to masterful schemes with the help of Tahara’s mind. For better or worse, having an overqualified employee had created a fascinating juxtaposition for all to see.

You Unlocked Some Information!!

Republic of Edogawa

A republic ruled by the Four Pillars, a quartet of powerful nobles, and the Kid Company, which is tied to the Pillars. Their head of state rotates every two years to prevent a single Pillar from monopolizing the nation’s power. It is seen as a buffer between Animania and the rest of the continent, as well as the resort destination during war season.

Kingdom of Suneo

Their entire nation operates as a trading company that produces various luxury items. The majority of the richest people on the continent swear by Suneo products, which has made Suneo the enemy of the other major trading companies around the continent. Suneo is a lender to nations and forces in turmoil, something they exploit to get others to solve their dirty work; any movement that threatens the status quo is eliminated while the nobles’ hands stay clean.

Island Legion

Island nations of various sizes formed an alliance that thrives on fishing. Despite its collective title, each island nation retains their sovereignty and culture. The legion as a whole faces invasion from the Tzardom, which calls them heretics.