79 – The Sea
Since his appointment as Minister, Ascal had been spending the busiest days of his life.
There were two reasons for that.
Firstly, the crown prince was giving Ascal much more work than usual.
Given the importance, these are second-class tasks that could impact the state quite a bit, he couldn’t deal with them carelessly.
“Isn’t this outside of our Office of Assessment’s jurisdiction?”
“Think of it as a practice for the imperial chancellor.”
He was already marked as the next chancellor.
If it weren’t for the work experience gained from reincarnation and the support of Ria, Ascal would have already made a bold leap out the window by now.
The second reason was the preparations for the dragon raid.
In game terms, Ascal took the role of the raid leader who had to handle everything including recruiting members, formulating strategies, arranging and coordinating personnel.
Ascal resumed his previously quitted pipe.
He took a puff, and his mind cleared.
“Wow, this is life.”
“Smoking is not good for your health, Ascal.”
Ria opened the window, waving her hand.
A cold wind came in.
“Look at this, Ria. Isn’t it cool?”
After shaping his mouth into a circle, Askal exhaled smoke.
An ‘O’ shaped smoke was floating in the air.
Then he blew out four successive rings.
He had once earned an officer’s admiration with this skill.
‘All that is a memory now,’
Lia furrowed her eyebrows.
“There’s nothing cool about that. Please refrain from smoking indoors.”
She reprimanded Askal.
Askal smirked cheekily.
“This is a trick I don’t show just anyone.”
He took a deep puff of smoke, then expelled it both from his nose and mouth like a steam engine.
“Isn’t it something? This is my ultimate trick—the Smoke Breath.”
“Askal.”
Feeling an ominous vibe, Askal turned his head.
…Lia’s hairband had come undone.
Her platinum blonde hair billowed in the wind.
“I told you to stop, didn’t I.”
“I’ve learned my lesson.”
In the end, Askal had his pipe confiscated.
He finally understood how the emperor must’ve felt risking his pudding being confiscated.
“If you’re feeling stressed, it may be a good idea to take a short trip. Here is a list of tasks that you, Askal, might be interested in.”
Lia spoke as if she were a non-playable character marking a map.
Askal looked at the documents Lia had brought.
It must have been due to stress, but strangely, the contents of the documents started to get automatically translated like in a game…
———————————–
＜Tears of the Emerald Coast＞
The Emerald Coast, one of the famous areas in the kingdom, is about to undergo an important change.
It’s about to become a tourist spot. The sea is beautiful, and there’s romance abounding around it.
But there’s a minor problem here.
The saltwater minority, who were illegally occupying the area, has objected.
“They absolutely refuse to pollute their own territory, the Emerald Coast. They insist it must remain untouched. Isn’t that a terrible and horrifying thought?
Undoubtedly, we offered them a huge compensation, trying to appease them. But they remained stubborn.
However, suddenly the leader of the Saltwater tribe spoke up.
“If the wise and refined scholar Ascal Erindale is involved, he would be able to resolve this conflict wisely.”
What he means is, if the Minister of Evaluation were to say they should leave, they would accept it.
Minister, I beg you.
Just like when you created the hot springs tourist spot in the empire, I ask you to create another beautiful tourist destination this time as well.
——————————
A. Taking the side of the Coastal Development Union.
Compensation: Huge bribes, increased favor with the Development Union.
B. Taking the side of the Saltwater Tribe.
Compensation: ?
C. ?
——————————
“Isn’t this strictly speaking not our job?”
“… You are pointing out the obvious.”
Ascal agreed.
With the empire’s condition lately getting better, complacency had set in.
Except for a few departments, most were still not working properly.
Tasks from one department would end up in another, and the other way around. This was a common occurrence in the administrative society of the empire.
Thanks to this, Ascal sometimes heard the Crown Prince, who visited the Evaluation Department for fun, mumbling about ‘reforming the departments first when I become the Emperor’.
“It’s a good opportunity to take a break and enjoy the sea breeze.”
“But isn’t this still work? There will be a lot of trouble in managing the conflict.”
“Eh? Trouble, you say?”
“….?”
Ria seemed puzzled.
“It’s common for natives to illegally occupy land. We just have to forcibly evict them.”
I see.
Ascal nodded.
I sometimes forget this place is like a medieval period.
And it was said that she possessed the traits of a tyrant.
“Are you going to the sea? I want to go too!”
“Su Shia. This is for work. It’s not a trip for fun.”
“I, the temporary count of Senestia, will accompany the minister of the Evaluation Department on this journey as an advisor. Consider it an honor!”
“…Do whatever you want.”
Su Shia joined in.
“Excuse me, minister.”
“Isn’t this Arin, the head of the second department? What’s up?”
“I’d like to join you on this task, too…”
Arin fiddled with her fingers.
“I really enjoy and find happiness in working for the Evaluation Department, but it feels like I’m not being of much help… I want to be of help this time, at least.”
Impressive.
Impressive indeed, but also someone I wanted to discourage.
From Ascal’s perspective, Arin is the type who works hard but whose abilities don’t match up, the type that could bravely be voted the worst boss.
“Oh, Arin is going to the sea too? Let’s go buy clothes to wear at the sea together! Apparently, the new arrivals these days are no joke!”
In the midst of Ascal’s contemplation, Su Shia came up and linked arms with Arin.
“Can I join in on the shopping?”
Even the trustworthy Leia joined the women’s group
Ascal gave up.
In the end, he recognized that this task was tantamount to “going to the sea – !!” under the guise of work.
“We finally lured him into the trap.”
The conductor of the saltwater shortage, the song of the waves, released a sly smile.
How many attempts had he made up to this point?
-This matter is not under the jurisdiction of the Evaluation Department. Please contact another department.
-The minister is currently absent. Please contact us at another time.
-The signature field is damaged. Please fill out the document again.
-You have been added to the blacklist as a malicious complainant.
Each time the petition was returned, the singer of the waves felt as though he had aged ten years. Why were the procedures so complicated?
It wasn’t like this in his youth, but the modern age was horribly wrong in many ways.
Ultimately, the song of the waves adopted a different strategy instead of sending petitions himself.
Using the power of the youth precisely.
“You’ve done well, Veld. I never expected success on your first attempt… Youth is truly enviable.”
“Just as you instructed me. Now, it’s time to untie me.”
The representative of the Coastal Development Coalition, Veld, glared at the Songstress of the Waves, his hands and feet bound.
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“Of course, I’ll fulfill the promise.”
The Songstress of the Waves laughed wryly.
She slowly approached Veld. The light glinted off her sharp short blade.
Veld’s eyes widened.
Whish!
“See. You’re free.”
“…”
Veld stood up. There was nothing wrong with his body.
“What, did you think I wouldn’t keep my promise? Unlike your business-minded lot, we always keep our words.”
“That’s true.”
“But for now, you will remain under surveillance. Once we’re done, you’re free to leave.”
The tribesmen took Veld away.
The Songstress of the Waves, alone, looked at the vacant place.
“Leader… where on earth have you gone, leaving us behind.”
He was one of the spider’s legs.
Do you know what the best tourism spot is?
A place with many sights and an excellent natural landscape?
No.
A place rich with history and origin that you can learn a lot from?
No.
The correct answer is a place without people.
“It’s the sea!”
Shushia let out a scream as soon as she stepped off the wagon.
Startled, the crab in the sand fled.
Shushia changed into her sandals and walked on the beach. The soft golden sand tickled between her toes.
“Everyone, just look at this! Those clear waves! The cute seashells! I’m so glad we decided to visit the sea!”
“I’m not here to play.”
Ascal stepped down from the carriage.
A white shirt, comfortable pants for activity, and a straw hat to avoid the sun.
A perfect set of active wear.
“It’s been a while. The sea.”
Lia followed out in a light white dress and sandals. Behind her was Arin, who seemed out of place for some reason.
“Shall we start by grilling? Or maybe play with the ball first? Or make a sand castle?”
Excited Sushia chatted away.
Instead, Ascal looked in another direction.
‘The promised place was here…’
Where the big rock is visible.
The place agreed to meet the representative of the Development Union.
Some time passed.
Someone was coming this way. But it wasn’t the representative who appeared.
“Oh, finally, you’ve arrived. Honored one.”
“You are…?”
A wrinkled face, a native with strange feather decorations on his head greeted Ascal.
“I am the chieftain of the Saltwater tribe, the Singer of Waves. We have been awaiting you.”
Then the native behind the chief brought a wooden tray and offered it.
“This is water blessed by our tribe. Please accept it as a welcome greeting.”
The liquid in the wooden cup looked dodgy at a glance.
‘It’s not a good idea to drink this…’
“I’ll gratefully drink it!”
At that moment, Arin came running.
But her running form looked unsteady, as though she would fall at any moment. It was due to her high-heeled shoes.
“Eek!”
Arin, who had tripped, had spilled the tray.
The liquid hit the ground and seeped into the sandy shore.
“I’m, I’m sorry! I can eat sand if I need to!”
“Calm down, Arin.”
Ascal stopped Arin who was about to lick the sand.
“Oh, it’s a pity, our tribe members really made it with great effort… but it can’t be helped.”
The songster of the waves spoke as though truly regretful.
The man got used to doing business.
At first, he grilled steaks, and then he opened a small ice cream stand. Then he started a new business with the money he earned.
＜Enjoy fresh fruits with honey at an affordable price!＞
The man laughed.
Sweet plus sweet equals invincibility.
He couldn’t believe he didn’t know such a simple thing till now.
Business was a big success.
Honey-covered fruit, easy to eat for all ages and genders, gained tremendous popularity in the allied nations.
Thanks to this, the man was quickly able to open a store in his own name. The bleeding was quite significant as he had to bribe the union of merchants and also pay substantial management fees.
“Welcome. This is the original honey fruit store. What are you looking for? Grapes, strawberries, apples?”
“……What I am looking for is a man.”
“Excuse me?”
The man squinted his eyes. Sometimes customers were like this.
“If you’re not buying……”
“The man I am looking for had ambitions. He went through tens of times more pain than others, but he never broke.”
“……You?”
The customer took off the mask.
A burnt face showed.
“A chaser.”
“Is the man standing in front of me now, the man I’ve been looking for? Or the coward who ran away?”
“I am…….”
The man, the leader of the spiders, bit his lips and then soon laughed confidently.
“I’m the leader of the spiders, a doppelganger. Chaser. You finally found me. I’ve been waiting.”
“Leader.”
The chaser had a complicated expression, then he kneeled.
“The only person I pledge my loyalty to is you, whatever happens.”
And the next day.
The honey fruit store gained a hardworking employee, meticulous in peeling fruit.
He always wore a mask, arousing the curiosity of many customers about his features.