Chapter 67: The Guardian Deity’s Ritual and Labor Standards

The reason Delia caused the floods was simple.

It was because the annual rituals that had continued for generations had suddenly stopped at some point.

“If it was that important, why did they stop?”

“Well…”

At my casual question, Kuro Allegan trailed off.

In that moment, I realized one fact.

‘Ah, it’s because of the Empire.’

The country had fallen into ruin after defeat in war, leading to the rituals being discontinued.

They couldn’t offer sacrifices because the nation had no money.

“And that justifies turning half the city into a sea of water?”

—From what I heard, it sounds like it held back for quite a while.

Delriat had been absorbed into the Empire about ten years ago.

If the rituals had stopped ever since, that was a pretty long time.

But was that really something to call good patience?

“Even so, it should handle its anger on its own. How can it take it out on innocent people?”

—Ask it yourself. Why are you taking it out on me?

“Half-demons and half-gods are all the same…”

—What kind of outrageous nonsense is that? Hyaap! Ramjwi Thunder!

Shugl leaped out of my inner pocket and drop-kicked me in the face.

But at barely over a hundred grams, it didn’t hurt at all.

I casually swatted him away and approached Delia.

It was time to settle this.

‘We can’t go through this mess every rainy season, can we?’

It would probably be fine for a while.

Because I had this rotten half-god tied up.

But what if I left for the Empire?

‘No one would be left to control it.’

Then there was only one option.

I had to turn its heart through negotiation.

“Delia.”

—Hmph.

“No, let’s talk. We can’t keep living uncomfortably like this, can we?”

—To appease my anger, words alone won’t suffice.

“Of course. Rituals? I can hold them as much as you want. Just understand that the war left things in ruins.”

—Really?

“As governor of this land, I promise. As long as nothing extraordinary happens, the rituals will continue from now on.”

—That’s an intriguing offer. But that won’t fill the gap from all these years.

“I’ll make up for ten years’ worth all at once. How’s that?”

Hmmmm.

Delia wore a sulky expression, but I was certain.

‘This guy’s already hooked.’

Its heart had completely leaned my way, but it didn’t want to accept immediately.

Probably because of pride.

Since it was a legendary being here, I needed to play along appropriately.

“Let’s make the story a bit more solid while we’re at it.”

—What do you mean?

“That this flood wasn’t caused by you, but by some evil entity?”

—Oh ho?

“The guardian deity has returned and stopped the flood. Something like that as the conclusion.”

……!

Delia’s expression crumpled for a moment.

It seemed deeply moved.

I smiled faintly and extended my right hand.

“Deal?”

—Fine. I accept.

“That’s the spirit!”

—But who’s playing the evil entity?

“Ah, that? There’s a perfect candidate.”

I pulled Shugl out of my inner pocket.

An explosive reaction followed immediately.

—Put me down right now! How dare you touch the noble body of a demon!

“Ah, you’re not mad because the role sucks?”

—I’m originally evil, you know?

So straightforward.

I might have overestimated these guys.

‘There really isn’t a single normal person in this world.’

***

Delia never ended up standing trial.

Instead, rumors about it swept through all of Delriat.

“The guardian deity has finally returned!”

“They say it worked with His Excellency the Governor to deal with the demon causing the river to overflow!”

“Aha! That’s why it could race across the water!”

“As expected, when His Excellency steps in, everything gets resolved. Look—the guardian deity came back too.”

“Uwaaa! Your Excellency the Governor! Take me!”

Something weird seemed mixed in there, but overall, the reaction was incredibly positive.

Delia itself appeared very satisfied, going to the riverbank every day to eavesdrop on people’s conversations.

Oddly enough, when it entered the water, its form became almost invisible.

That was why, during our approach through the rapids, I had to rely solely on Shugl’s detection ability.

In any case, the great city flooding incident wrapped up very positively.

‘This is about the best possible ending.’

At least the citizens affected by the flood weren’t deeply unhappy.

The belief that the guardian deity would protect the city seemed to serve as a solid pillar of support.

Still, recovery work wasn’t easy.

Because Delia had wrecked the city so thoroughly.

“Wait, could this actually be a good thing?”

—Why?

“These were buildings that needed to be torn down anyway.”

Most citizens of Delriat were in extreme poverty.

They lived in rundown houses or makeshift tents illegally pitched along the streets.

The economy had improved somewhat lately, but not everyone could live in proper homes.

‘Let’s tear it all down and build communal housing.’

Like the employee dormitories in the Carius duchy.

Rent them out cheaply on long-term leases and let people pay gradually.

Isn’t that giving away too much?

The Empire bore much responsibility for Delriat’s current state.

The former king had acted arrogantly, but the destruction had been excessive.

Of course, our side wasn’t entirely blameless.

He’d barricaded himself in the inner castle and held out to the end—what else could we do?

The imperial army had to take extreme measures.

‘In any case, this is a project that needs government support.’

I immediately summoned Kuro Allegan and relayed the instructions I’d just thought up.

He wasn’t even officially a governor’s office employee, so I wondered if I was overworking him, but it seemed fine.

Surprisingly, this man…

“As expected, a wise decision. I’ll see to its immediate implementation!”

He loved work too much.

Not just any task, though.

He had preferences.

‘When Delriat’s development is visibly progressing.’

Despite appearing like a carefree idler, Kuro Allegan was a true patriot.

He worked far harder at this than at his trading business.

Even though it paid far less.

Thanks to the new administrator, the governor’s office was running smoothly.

That allowed me to focus solely on supplementing the legal code.

I had successfully promulgated it, but there were still shortcomings.

In particular, the sections on the rights and duties of Delriat’s citizens needed fresh establishment.

Working conditions remained abysmal, and the nobility’s abuses continued unabated.

“But why do I feel so reluctant to do this?”

Writing a massive volume relying only on memory—how could it be easy?

Moreover, it required extreme caution.

Everything would greatly impact the citizens.

Doing it alone didn’t seem like the best choice.

‘Should I gather some smart people and hold discussions?’

There’s that saying—when a modern person falls into the Middle Ages, they can dominate with knowledge.

In reality, an average person would find it far from easy.

This place had countless experts too.

Think about it.

Socrates was born around 470 BC, and Pythagoras as early as 570 BC.

Could an ordinary modern person claim to surpass them?

‘Even just looking at me proves it.’

Without Abel Carius’s overwhelming status and personal transcendent strength.

Positive societal change as the system desired?

I absolutely could not have achieved it.

I’d have just lived and died as some peculiar medieval commoner.

That’s why I planned to gather Delriat’s intellectuals and hold marathon discussions.

“If the state even provides support, they’ll dive into knowledge like mad.”

That’s one of human nature’s traits, after all.

I was about to call Kuro Allegan again…

But held back for a moment.

‘Leave the busy guy alone and use some others.’

The current Administrator Allegan was working day and night.

I couldn’t pile more on someone like that.

I immediately summoned the officials.

“We greet Your Excellency the Governor.”

“Alright, is everyone here?”

“All personnel except those in the field are present.”

“Good. Then gather these kinds of people for me.”

While they waited, I passed around the memo I’d scribbled.

I’d written “intellectuals from all walks of life,” listing professions like scribes, artists, and so on beside it.

That should be clear enough.

Then, an elderly official suddenly raised his hand.

Hosen Mirta, I think.

A local notable, but seemingly progressive-minded, which was why I’d appointed him.

I nodded right away.

It was good when people spoke up freely.

“Hosen Mirta, isn’t it? Speak comfortably.”

“I am deeply moved that Your Excellency remembers the name of someone as humble as I.”

“No need for that.”

“It’s just… You mentioned all walks of life, but most intellectuals come from noble backgrounds.”

“That makes sense. They’d have more time to study than commoners.”

“I wonder if they would accept the governor’s office request. The atmosphere among the nobles lately hasn’t been good.”

“Why?”

“Because of the taxes…”

“Aha!”

Delriat’s nobles hadn’t paid taxes.

That was human nature.

Even in the modern era, with firm tax laws and strict oversight, tax evaders were countless.

In the relatively lax Middle Ages, those using loopholes were everywhere.

Delriat’s nobles had avoided taxes with all sorts of bizarre pretexts.

Naturally, I’d cut that off cleanly.

“They want to act like citizens without paying taxes?”

“Most of Delriat’s native nobles are complying.”

“Then who’s complaining the most?”

“Well…”

Hosen Mirta subtly glanced out the eastern window.

In that instant, I understood.

Which ones were voicing discontent.

“The ones who came over from the Empire.”

“Ahem!”

Imperials were unmistakably Delriat’s ruling class.

Even a quasi-noble from the mainland could live lavishly here.

Class discrimination was that severe.

Securing a decent business privilege was probably easier than eating cold soup.

And now they had to hand over profits earned here?

That was their grievance?

‘Absolute lunatics.’

But so what if they grumbled?

Here, I was the law.

I advocated rule of law, but that just meant crushing them through proper procedure.

“I’ll handle those myself. You all just worry about how to gather the intellectuals.”

“Besides nobles?”

“Yes, call every sharp mind in the neighborhood.”

“But they won’t easily abandon their livelihoods. They have to make a living too.”

At Hosen Mirta’s reply, I clutched my forehead.

No, what era is this—thinking of using people for free…

‘Ah, that was the norm here.’

Exerting authority to make people work, then washing one’s hands of payment.

Wage theft was endless even in the Empire.

It would happen far more often in backward Delriat.

To block that at the root, the first system to introduce was obvious.

What was it?

‘Labor Standards Act.’