WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 100: Journey to the Capital
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As soon as the morning sun rose, everyone gathered in the office.
Raguel, Ilea, Zalkarin, and Hakain sat at the table, waiting for Johan.
Shaperia and Gaf were nowhere to be seen.
The two had left for the outskirts of the Myatro territory.
Following Johan's orders, they were patrolling the vast domain.
They likely would not return to the castle for quite some time.
Raguel's shoulders slumped.
“You could've at least left the captain of the guard behind.”
Johan and Ilea would soon be leaving the castle as well.
The people Raguel trusted and relied on were disappearing one by one.
He felt deeply depressed.
He did not feel confident about looking after the territory alone.
Zalkarin spoke in a rather arrogant tone.
“Don't worry, brat. Isn't this great one still here? I'll stay by your side and guide you well.”
Raguel let out a deep sigh.
“You can't even do basic arithmetic. What help could you possibly be? It'll be a relief if you don't get in the way.”
One of Raguel's main responsibilities was serving as Treasurer.
To manage the territory, one needed to be good with numbers.
Fortunately, Raguel had quite a talent for mathematics.
He had no need for Zalkarin's help.
Zalkarin shouted furiously.
“Arithmetic?! I could learn something like that in a day and become far better than you! Want to make a bet?!”
Raguel looked at Zalkarin with a weary expression.
“Forget arithmetic. Why don't you at least learn administration? No, how could a demon possibly run a territory?”
Most official positions within the territory were currently vacant.
There was no Treasurer to handle accounting, no administrator to oversee the residents and preside over festivals and ceremonies, no scribe to handle every kind of record, and so on.
There was not even a warehouse keeper.
Until now, Ilea and Gaf had handled all of those duties.
Now they were leaving.
Raguel would have to run the territory alone.
Honestly, the future looked bleak.
Zalkarin sprang to his feet and shouted.
“Leave everything to me! I'll wipe that smug look off your face!”
Raguel did not find Zalkarin particularly reliable.
His demonic body came with far too many limitations.
For one thing, Zalkarin could not reveal his appearance to the residents.
An administrator was supposed to interact with village chiefs, but that was impossible for Zalkarin.
‘He's no help at all.’
Raguel's shoulders drooped even further.
He spoke weakly.
“Don't go making more work for me. Just stay still, please.”
Zalkarin's already red face flushed even brighter.
Just as he was about to shout something, Ilea spoke.
“It will certainly be difficult for Young Master Raguel to do everything alone.”
Raguel's expression brightened a little.
He was grateful that someone at least understood his situation.
“As expected, Ilea. You understand my troubles.”
“I've been through a lot because of Johan too. Sometimes, Johan really is... impossible to reason with.”
Raguel nodded repeatedly.
“That's right. He dumped everything on me from beginning to end.”
“While saying he trusts you, right?”
“Exactly! He told me the same thing.”
Ilea gave a quiet laugh.
“It seems Johan trusts Young Master Raguel quite a lot.”
Raguel's expression darkened again.
“...Honestly, I'm afraid. Afraid I'll betray that trust.”
Ilea shook her head.
“You don't need to put so much pressure on yourself. Even if you make a mistake, Johan will not scold you. How should I put it... He always looks for the problem in himself. He never blames others.”
Raguel agreed with Ilea.
He had never once seen Johan blame someone else.
Raguel nodded without realizing it.
“Johan really is that kind of person.”
Ilea smiled gently.
“So please relax. If you're too tense, you'll make mistakes even with easy tasks.”
Hakain tapped out his pipe with a tap.
“From what I hear, it sounds like the territory is short-handed.”
Raguel replied.
“Yes, Mr. Hakain. It's because of the special nature of the lord's castle. It's very difficult to find people.”
Myatro was a territory ruled by a demon.
The moment someone became an official of the territory, they would have no choice but to learn that secret.
Most would be utterly shocked and run to the Great Saint Church.
That would spell the end for Johan.
He could not simply employ anyone.
He needed trusted people whose loyalty had been proven.
There were still far too few of them.
Hakain said, “I could help out for now. Well, I can read and write, and I'm fairly good at arithmetic too.”
Ilea gave him a strange look.
“Why all of a sudden? You find everything bothersome.”
Hakain always had a lazy expression as he puffed away at his pipe. Other than when he trained with Johan, he always seemed listless.
Yet he was volunteering for troublesome work. Ilea could not understand it.
Hakain opened his mouth.
“It's just that I'm bored, and...”
Ilea's eyes sharpened slightly.
“Tell us the real reason.”
Hakain swallowed with a gulp. He was a little afraid of Ilea.
An awkward smile formed on his face.
“Ha ha, the truth is, I have a favor to ask the Baron.”
Ilea looked at Hakain as if she had expected as much.
That loafer would never voluntarily take on bothersome work.
Not unless he wanted something.
“What favor?”
“Well...”
Hakain's words abruptly stopped.
Johan entered the office.
Everyone rose from their seats.
“The Great End has arrived! Show proper respect, everyone!”
“You're a little late, Johan.”
“You're here?”
“Ha ha, good morning.”
Johan glanced over them and spoke.
“You were having quite a lively conversation. What were you talking about without me?”
Zalkarin shouted as though he had been waiting for it.
“Great End! They were badmouthing you! This evil creature heard it all clearly!”
Johan gave a faint laugh.
“Now I'm quite curious about the details.”
Raguel scratched his head.
“W-Well...”
Zalkarin cut him off.
“Impossible to reason with! The Witch and the High Elf insulted the Great End by calling you impossible to reason with!”
Johan crossed his arms.
“Impossible to reason with, huh. Well, it isn't wrong.”
He was aware of his own personality.
Ilea said, “You've assigned too much work to Young Master Raguel. Honestly, we're severely short-handed.”
Johan looked at Raguel.
“You mean the problem of managing the territory?”
Raguel answered with a somewhat intimidated expression.
“W-Well, I'm still learning and I'm not used to it yet... But I can do it!”
Johan fell into thought for a moment.
Then he opened his mouth.
“Do only what you can. It is difficult to recruit more people right now. You know the reason well.”
There were ways if he looked for them, but Johan had no time to concern himself with minor matters.
He had a mountain of more urgent problems.
Raguel spoke with a resigned expression.
“...All right. I'll do my best.”
Johan felt a little sorry for him. He could not offer a solution for the time being.
Hakain spoke cautiously.
“Baron, I think I can be of some help.”
Ilea added, “He says he can read and write. He can do some arithmetic too. I thought he was an idiot who only knew the sword, so it was quite surprising.”
Johan looked at Hakain.
“Good. Then assist Raguel.”
Hakain scratched his cheek.
“Gladly, but I have one request.”
He cautiously watched Johan's expression.
Johan did not appear displeased.
“Speak freely. I'll hear you out.”
He was more generous than Hakain had expected. He had always been that way.
Hakain had spent over two months in the lord's castle, but he still could not clearly understand Johan.
‘...Is he really a demon, no, an Apostle?’
Johan was quite human.
He cared for the residents and always looked after those around him.
There was almost no evil in him.
To Hakain, the Count of Staviana seemed more like a demon than Johan did.
Hakain spoke.
“I want to relocate my family to the Baron's territory.”
Hakain's family was being held hostage by the Count.
Because of them, he could not defy the Count. The Count had even used his family to force him into a Contract of Subordination.
He was a kind of slave.
Johan immediately replied.
“Good. I will get your family back from the Count.”
Hakain's sleepy eyes widened.
“R-Really?”
It was a simple matter for Johan.
At present, the Count could not easily refuse Johan's demands.
“I will speak to the Count. You will see your family within a month at the latest.”
Hakain bowed his head deeply.
“...I will serve you with all my loyalty.”
He was a little dazed. He was going to escape the Count's grasp so easily.
He would no longer have to see the tiresome Shadow Realm and Mages.
The price was joining a demon's side, but Hakain did not mind.
Johan was far more human than the Count, and compared to the Shadow Realm, the Baron's territory was practically paradise.
Johan gave a faint laugh.
“If you offer loyalty, I have no reason to refuse it.”
Hakain said, “I will prove it through my work. Ask Young Master Raguel later. I think you'll find that I'm quite useful.”
He winked at Raguel.
Raguel spoke with an awkward expression.
“Ha ha, at least I've gained another pair of hands.”
Johan opened his mouth.
“I will fill the remaining positions later. Until then, Raguel, you will have to work hard.”
“Leave it to me. I'll do my best.”
Johan nodded once and looked at everyone.
“While I am gone, take good care of the territory.”
Zalkarin shouted loudly.
“This evil creature shall protect the territory with his life!”
Ignoring him, Johan spoke to Hakain.
“Hakain in particular, assisting Raguel is good, but Gawain is the most important matter. Report to me immediately if anything unusual happens.”
No one knew when Gawain might turn into a demon.
Someone needed to watch him.
Hakain would be suited for the task.
He had the ability to deal with various unexpected situations.
“Go without worry.”
That was reassuring in its own way.
“Good. Then it is about time to leave.”
Johan's gaze shifted to Ilea.
Ilea said, “We are going to the Count's house first, correct?”
Their first destination was the city of Beldana.
Before heading to the Royal Capital, Johan planned to meet the Count briefly.
He nodded.
“Correct. Let's go.”
Johan and Ilea immediately left the office.
Gryan stood outside the door with an awkward expression.
The moment he saw Johan, he gave an uncomfortable smile.
“M-Master, have a safe journey.”
Johan frowned.
“I do not need you to see me off. Instead of wasting time here, think about how you will assist Raguel. If a problem arises in the territory, you will bear all responsibility.”
The territory was so short-handed that Johan had no choice but to make use of even this incompetent human.
‘We really do need to find more people.’
He intended to think of a solution from now on.
It was giving him quite a headache.
As Johan's expression continued to sour, Gryan threw himself flat onto the floor.
“I-I will devote my heart and soul to reclaiming Master's farmland!”
Johan did not believe him in the slightest.
Clicking his tongue, Johan simply walked past Gryan.
Even the time spent speaking with vermin was too precious to waste.
Johan headed straight for the Count's house.
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