Chapter 70: Farewell to Delriat

Everyone stared at me with expressions of utter shock.

Of course—they would be. I had just abruptly told them to start a battle royale.

I quickly added an explanation.

“I meant for you to demonstrate your skills divided by field. Naturally, if something falls far below standards, support will be cut.”

“Ah, so that’s what you meant.”

“Please work hard for Delriat’s development. You are the future of this land.”

“Snff! Y-Your Excellency the Governor!”

Tears welled up in everyone’s eyes at once.

You might wonder why they were so moved, but it was inevitable.

Delriat had suffered damage so severe that recovery would take decades.

That was the fate of a defeated nation.

Yet here came some tall benefactor promising massive investment.

“Go back and bring your results. Request any needed materials from the governor’s office officials here.”

Glancing sideways, I saw the officials’ faces turn pale.

Of course—more work was piling up. How could their heads not ache?

With the new Labor Agency already draining staff, everyone was overburdened.

It seemed I’d need to hire more newcomers and create additional bureaus.

‘Time is short. Stubbornly refusing to leave forever isn’t feasible.’

If the Emperor kept pressing, I’d have to return no matter how much work remained.

He hadn’t said anything yet, but you never knew when our capricious cousin might flip.

I immediately returned to the governor’s office and summoned Kuro Allegan.

“Sorry to call you while you’re so busy.”

“It’s fine. It must be something very important.”

“It is, but I still feel bad.”

“So, what is it?”

“I’m planning to expand the bureaus.”

Delriat’s governor’s office consisted only of the Labor Agency, Tax Agency, Court, Security Force, and Prosecution Headquarters.

Truly minimal, with haphazard naming to boot.

“For starters, I’m thinking of creating an Education Agency. With vocational schools under it.”

“You plan to appoint the talents we met today as instructors.”

“Exactly. Additionally, the Security Force will be promoted to Police Agency, and the Prosecution Headquarters to Prosecution Agency. Both will fall under a new Ministry of Justice, along with the Court.”

“Is the Ministry of Justice a means to check the governor’s office?”

“For now, yes.”

To achieve separation of powers, I’d need to strip the governor’s legislative authority and hand it to a parliament.

But that was the Emperor’s prerogative, not mine.

So I settled for creating numerous oversight bodies between the governor’s office and the Ministry of Justice.

“It would be good to have an agency that reports corruption in Delriat’s governor’s office directly to the Empire. Let’s call it the Audit Office.”

Like the Sagwanwon of Joseon.

Of course, it would report to the Emperor rather than remonstrate with a king.

Still, it would definitely prevent the governor from acting recklessly.

“And from now on, the administrator position will cease to exist.”

“Then what happens to me?”

“Since it was always temporary, you’ll return to private life.”

“Ah… Somehow that feels regrettable. These past days have been truly enjoyable.”

Kuro Allegan had approached state affairs with genuine sincerity.

Of course, he might change like his brother Hozein someday.

But what he’d shown so far was close to the ideal of a true leader.

Who’d have thought a layabout lounging at home, only thinking of building a trading company, would grow like this?

People truly are unpredictable.

Watching Kuro Allegan’s bittersweet smile almost made me laugh.

‘You won’t get to rest.’

I planned to petition the Emperor immediately.

That Kuro Allegan was perfect for Delriat’s governor.

He’d be loyal now, but if he changed later?

Like Hozein Allegan.

‘The Audit Office, prosecution, police, and others would handle him.’

If he crossed the line far enough, the Empire would intervene.

Delriat was undergoing massive transformation.

Government finances grew sounder by the day, and quality jobs kept increasing.

The phrase “wage theft” had become impossible to find.

People constantly said things like:

“Is this really a country!”

It was by no means a complaint.

The joke only completed with the follow-up:

“It’s paradise!”

Delriat’s great success became an example to neighboring nations.

Especially the Crawford Principality’s reaction was fervent.

They even asked to send a governor to them too.

‘Somehow I feel Princess Eustia’s influence strongly behind that.’

For a moment, I pictured her swinging a massive warhammer with gleaming eyes.

Shuddering once, I prepared for my final days in Delriat.

It had already been half a year since I dealt with the Sierre family’s precious psychopath, Skyler.

The Emperor’s return order came after only four months, but I stubbornly stayed the full term.

To maximize the governor’s office transparency.

“Of course, this place will corrupt eventually too.”

“Probably. Once even a tiny bit of power falls into someone’s grasp, they want to wield it freely.”

“I’m counting on you. Work hard to keep this system going for a long time.”

“I certainly will.”

“Then, why don’t you take a seat.”

I rose from the office desk chair and extended my right hand sideways.

To hand the seat to Kuro Allegan.

It wasn’t strictly necessary, but it was symbolic.

From now on, you are the governor—something like that.

“Yes.”

Kuro Allegan wore a peculiar expression.

He probably never imagined rising to this position.

I immediately pulled up his character window.

<Character Information>

Name: Kuro Allegan

Status: Viscount (vassal state)

Position: Governor

Relationship: Strong bond

Condition: Chest filled with passion, endlessly burning patriotism, loyalty toward the Empire and Emperor.

Skill: Employee Exploitation

Overall Ability: A+

I wanted to check his current state of mind, and it was better than expected.

Even upon becoming governor, there was no trace of arrogance or haughtiness.

‘This time I picked the right person.’

Relief came with a faint lingering unease.

The character window didn’t show the future, after all.

Well, it wouldn’t concern me anymore.

I was leaving soon.

“It must be quite sentimental.”

“I feel proud, yet the weight of responsibility is heavy. I can’t afford to take anything lightly.”

“I hope you never lose that mindset.”

I didn’t mention names, but he’d know who I meant.

I bid farewell to Kuro Allegan.

It was truly time to part.

As I stepped out of the governor’s office building, I suddenly sensed unusual movement.

Turning the corner into the central hall, I found numerous officials gathered.

Every face flushed with emotion.

“Y-Your Excellency the Governor! Are you really leaving?”

“We’re not ready to stand on our own yet.”

“Please reconsider just once!”

I had been Delriat’s sturdy pillar.

A breakwater blocking imperial interference, a true ruler nurturing internal strength.

Saying so myself felt incredibly embarrassing.

‘But it’s the truth—what can I do?’

In any case, these people were patriots selected through rigorous filtering.

They must have felt pride watching Delriat grow.

With the architect of that great transformation departing, how could they not feel anxious?

I scanned the officials and spoke.

“I am an outsider. Merely someone dispatched from the Empire. This is a place where Delriat’s people live. Isn’t it more meaningful if you cultivate it with your own strength?”

“Your Excellency…”

“My role ends with laying the foundation. But I won’t withdraw my interest in this land. Let us look forward to meeting again.”

“Snffle!”

It was a short speech, but the governor’s office lobby became a sea of tears.

Quite different from when the Carius duchy staff saw me off.

These were tears of happiness.

Because hope had sprouted that Delriat would rise again.

Soon, several employees handed me bouquets.

Flowers blooming profusely in the desert.

They must have been incredibly hard to obtain—such heartfelt devotion.

“Thank you for everything, Your Excellency.”

“Stay healthy, everyone.”

The staff waved until the carriage completely vanished from sight.

But the send-off didn’t end there.

“Waaaaah!”

“Long live His Excellency the Governor!”

An enormous crowd poured into the streets, blocking the carriage.

Then deafening cheers and uproar began.

Opening the window, I grasped their hands one by one.

The fervent support almost brought tears to my eyes.

“Thank you. See you again someday.”

***

Having left Delriat, I set off on a quiet journey.

Once across the border, it was straight into the Empire, and surprisingly, security here was decent.

Of course, not for ordinary people.

An imperial knight escort had been dispatched for me, making it relatively safe.

“There’s really no need for all this.”

“It is His Majesty’s command. I heard you suffered hardship during travel.”

The knight captain referenced the Magreta volcanic region incident.

That happened because some rotten bastard caused a landslide.

I immediately glanced at Shugl.

He pretended to whistle, scratching his ear with a hind leg.

—Ah, nice weather.

Judging by the nonsense, he must have been pretty embarrassed.

After all, what half-demon gets caught in a landslide he caused himself?

“That did happen. But how far will you escort me?”

“Only to the Figeroa territory.”

“Not much farther. Sorry to put you through trouble because of me.”

“Not at all. We’re happy to do it. We even get to see the famous Communication Rod. Could we take a look just once?”

“Sure.”

Happy, my foot.

They were following the Emperor’s order, and since the escort target was me, they accepted gladly.

If I were some nouveau riche idler?

They wouldn’t have spared a glance.

‘Come to think of it, it’s awfully quiet.’

Even for a remote trade route, was it normal to hear absolutely nothing?

Usually natural sounds would echo here and there.

Not a single bird chirp deep in the forest like this…

“But, Your Grace.”

Just as suspicion arose, the knight captain suddenly spoke.

I answered with a puzzled look.

“What is it?”

“Aren’t you being a bit too flashy lately?”

Oh.

So the imperial escort itself was suspicious?

By then the carriage had stopped, perfectly surrounded on all sides.

I looked at the knights with an incredulous expression.

“What the hell is this?”

“A kind of retribution, shall we say?”

The knight captain twirled the Communication Rod between his fingers with a sinister grin.

Somehow a drawn sword now hovered at my throat.

‘Fast. He’s got skill.’

I didn’t know who sent them, but possibilities abounded.

I had plenty of enemies.

Yet it was odd.

Did they think I couldn’t resist without a weapon?

Their attitude was as if victory was already theirs.

‘I’ve never surrendered, though.’

The price of complacency is always bitter.

I smiled faintly and grabbed the knight captain’s head.

“Retribution sounds nice. I quite enjoy it myself.”

Soon a picture-perfect flying knee kick exploded precisely into his face.

Craaaack—!