The Demon King Seems to Conquer the World

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Without resting from Suomi, after sweeping the enemy up to the industrial area upstream, I finally stopped expanding our war results and had the leeway to confirm the current situation. From here on, we still had to drive out the remnants from the surrounding territories and contact Karakumo, but for the time being, we had to let the army rest for at least a day. After all, ever since we decided to retreat right in the middle of enemy territory until today, we had been constantly on the move. The soldiers, who had finally returned to their homeland, also needed a few days of rest.

After arranging a banquet to celebrate our temporary victory, I entered Hou-sha’s office. There, at just the right moment, was the company president, Cuff Ornette.

“Cuff. So, you were here.” (Yuri)

I had thought he had escaped from the royal capital and entered Karakumo.

“Yeah. I was hiding in Suomi. Looks like you had a tough time too.” (Cuff)

“Well, yeah.” (Yuri)

I casually pulled out a chair and sat down.

“Were you alright? Good thing that idiot didn’t find you.” (Yuri)

Needless to say, I was referring to Jano Ek. Cuff had clashed with him many times since the time he was entrusted with governance. If he had been found, there was a high possibility he would have suffered terribly.

“Suomi is already our city. No matter if some guys like that suddenly come, I have no trouble finding places to hide.” (Cuff)

“I caused trouble for you. I did something bad to your company members too.” (Yuri)

“It’s not like the city was occupied because you were the chairman. If someone else had been the chairman, would they have ignored the city and left it in peace?” (Cuff)

Well, that wouldn’t be the case.

“But it was my failure that caused the civil war. At least let me apologize.” (Yuri)

“More than that, hurry up and take down that deranged heir of the Rube Household.” (Cuff)

So that’s how he sees it. Well, from the perspective of the general public, that might be the natural way of thinking.

“By the way, what happened to that scumbag? Did he tuck his tail and run?” (Cuff)

He must be referring to Jano Ek. As expected, the fate of a dying man seemed to interest him.

“I made sure he would die soon and sent him over there as an example. Don’t worry. He’s going to suffer and die.” (Yuri)

“What the hell is that? Did you poison him or something? If a doctor by some chance cures him…” (Cuff)

“There’s no way to cure him. I pulled out his organs. Before long, his whole body will swell up, and he’ll die as his urine turns bloody. Right now, he probably doesn’t have any symptoms yet, but that will certainly happen, so don’t worry.” (Yuri)

With extremely strict dietary restrictions and proper bloodletting, he might last about a month, but no matter what, he couldn’t escape death.

“…So, you let him go to make an example of him?” (Cuff)

“Yeah. From Liao’s perspective, he’s a comrade who shares the same ideals. He can’t just kill him for failing. By exiling him, everyone on their side will witness his death. If they feel fear and their morale drops, that’s good for us.” (Yuri)

No matter how it turned out, it would only be troublesome for Liao. The most convenient outcome for us was if he had been executed quietly on our side.

“The way you handle things at times like these… Seriously, I almost feel sorry for the enemy.” (Cuff)

“War is about doing what the enemy hates. There are too many fools in this world who get some grand misunderstanding and want to fight fair and square.” (Yuri)

The fools in this world seem to care more about fighting honorably and satisfying their egos than about the lives of their soldiers. I can’t understand that kind of hobby, and I don’t want such lunatics in my army or among my subordinates. Those kinds of people, whom I had driven away, must be in large numbers among the enemy ranks now.

“More importantly, how is the company doing? Report the damage you’re aware of.” (Yuri)

“Let’s talk over there.” (Cuff)

Cuff gestured with his eyes toward the back room. There were many employees here. He must have something he couldn’t let them hear.

“Alright.” (Yuri)

I nodded. I had a bad feeling.

—

“Huuh.” (Cuff)

Cuff plopped down on the sofa. His expression was grim.

What kind of damage had occurred? From what I could see, it didn’t seem like a major disaster had happened.

“Good news, bad news, and news that’ll make you want to pass out, which one do you want to hear first?” (Cuff)

“There’s good news?” (Yuri)

“It’s just relatively better. That scumbag planned to make the employees work under him, so, well, some were killed in the chaos, but most are safe. The difficult-to-move equipment is also intact. Restarting the company won’t be too hard. That’s all.” (Cuff)

He had already gone ahead and told me the good news.

“Alright, let’s hear the bad news next.” (Yuri)

“The military factory’s warehouse was completely wiped out. The cannons, the dropped bombs, all the existing weapons—they were all taken to Sibyaku.” (Cuff)

“That bastard Liao sure is thorough.” (Yuri)

If everything was taken, that meant they would now be used against us. Of course, we didn’t have a single cannon. As far as I knew, there weren’t any left in Karakumo either, so it wasn’t like we could just find one before the battle. I had expected this, but it was still a serious problem. The technological advantage we had over the enemy was now reversed.

“That’s all for the bad news?” (Yuri)

“Yeah.” (Cuff)

Haa… Then what’s the news that’ll make me want to pass out? This is going to be bad.

“And the last report?” (Yuri)

“The senior-most navigator is missing. The man who was responsible for training navigators in Suomi.” (Cuff)

“Huh?” (Yuri)

“His name is Gora Hanyamu. He’s still young. I think he’s the same age as you. He was our company’s first navigator, and he was brought in when Haroru joined the company.” (Cuff)

“I remember him.” (Yuri)

I hadn’t seen him in a long time, but he was the first person to be taught celestial navigation theory by Sham and Lily-san. When we decided to allocate one ship as a training vessel for navigator development, I believe he became its captain or person in charge. I remember signing off on his personnel document.

“If I recall correctly, didn’t he have a wife and children?” (Yuri)

Uh, rather, at the first time we met, when I was sixteen years old, he already had a household and also had a wife and child. I remember being surprised by that.

“You know well. They are still in Suomi.” (Cuff)

“Then, why did he run away? I don’t understand. He’s a high salary earner, right?” (Yuri)

His family is in Suomi, he is a high salary earner, his position is also the highest rank, and moreover, being in a position to teach work should also make it easy. There is not a single reason to run away.

“It seems he was dissatisfied with the treatment.” (Cuff)

“Huh?” (Yuri)

Why? I have never heard of such a foolish story. To put it clearly, the treatment of veteran employees of Hou Company is considerably privileged.

“He seemed to think it was strange that he was not treated the same as me, Harold, you, and also Lady Lily, who are millionaires. Needless to say, we have enormous wealth because we invested in the early days of the company and own stocks. At that time, an investment of a single gold coin has now. Well, if you lose, everything will be for nothing—but it has easily increased more than a thousandfold. He, needing money to support his family, had not a single stock. That’s what he was dissatisfied with, according to Harold.” (Cuff)

That kind of thing, I don’t care. For example, if he had developed celestial navigation by himself, then I would consider his treatment, but he only learned something that was already established. There is no reason to give him special treatment.

“Even if he is not a millionaire, he is still an extremely wealthy man, right? From society’s perspective, he is a super winner.” (Yuri)

“If you try to melt money, there are unlimited ways to do so. No matter how extravagantly you eat and drink, it is insignificant, but gambling and women can melt money infinitely. You know that too, right?” (Cuff)

“Well, that’s true, but…” (Yuri)

“At this point, celestial navigation navigators are not irreplaceable personnel anymore. Even without being a drunkard playboy, there are plenty of people in the company more suited to teaching. Harold also thought it would be better to reinstate him to the field and rehabilitate him… Well, and then this happened. By the way, he has already divorced his wife. The cause was a woman.” (Cuff)

He is hopeless.

“Running away means, he ran away and sold himself to the Catholic faction? That is not necessarily the case, right?” (Yuri)

“I think that possibility is quite high. Celestial navigation navigators are a technology that cannot be monetized anywhere other than Hou Company. On top of that, those people have been trying to probe into celestial navigation, right? There have already been three spies caught trying to learn the reasoning from sailors and getting reported. He seems to be the most targeted. Since he is rich, money would be necessary to make him betray, though.” (Cuff)

“Then, even the New Continent…” (Yuri)

“Most likely, yes.” (Cuff)

Of course, Gora knows about the existence of the New Continent. If he has truly defected, the method of celestial navigation, including the shape of the tools and the method itself, will be completely exposed to the other side.

“This is bad…” (Yuri)

Either way, the principle of celestial navigation itself is not a particularly unique idea for astronomers. Also, knowing the concept does not mean it can be immediately put into practical use. Chronometers and other complex machinery are necessary. Furthermore, even if celestial navigation is known, it does not mean an advantage can be gained in naval battles.

However, the development of the New Continent beyond the sea is still immature. The population increase in ten or twenty years is limited. If we lose the battle on this continent, it will be difficult to hold back immigrants from the Old Continent with such a small population. Now, losing to Liao is absolutely not an option.

And, there is one more problem.

“Keep this matter confidential. I will have the Queen’s Sword take care of Gora. If he can be assassinated before crossing over, that will settle the matter.” (Yuri)

The problem is with Eisa-sensei. There is the issue of the Oath Sacrament Harold performed. This matter can be said to be Harold’s failure in management. Since he is the head of the trade department, at the very least, Eisa-sensei will consider Harold to be responsible.

If so, the sacrificial person in charge, Eisa-sensei, will automatically have to take responsibility. The Oath Sacrament is a kind of joint responsibility system that makes the master a co-responsible party for the disciple. Sensei’s faith is firm and uncompromising. The vow to strive to prevent the leakage of celestial navigation technology was made a long time ago, but there is no statute of limitations in faith. Eisa-sensei might choose death.

That Eisa-sensei, according to the report, has not been able to escape from Sibyaku. Other than the usual guards, one Queen’s Sword was assigned, so it is possible he escaped independently through a separate route or is in hiding, but at the very least, he has not come to Karakumo. In case Eisa-sensei is still safe, I need to think of a way to avoid making Harold responsible.

“Well, I will just follow you. But can we win? The other side is going to use cannons. Do you have countermeasures?” (Cuff)

“I’ll manage somehow.” (Yuri)

I said as a mere reassurance.

“But certainly, if it’s like this, charging into Sibyaku recklessly is a bad move. They are not an opponent that can be beaten by brute force.” (Yuri)

After all, the enemy is the Rube Household. The Rube Household has a unique mindset, with a tendency to consider thinking itself as an evil. Those under the Rube Household use a dialect toward their subordinates that means “Don’t talk logic”, but if taken literally, it means “Don’t argue”. It is quite a powerful phrase, but in short, they have the perception that thinking is the job of the higher-ups, and the lower ones should follow.

This has a negative side, in that it does not nurture leadership-type commanders who think and decide by themselves, but the fact that they will charge into a deadly situation without questioning orders, even if they are unreasonable, is a threat to us.

The gathered trash led by Jano Ek was scattered away, but these people are not the kind that can be defeated just by riding the momentum and charging in.

“Well, I will try to think of something. There should be a way to make it work. The Hou Household is not to be underestimated either.” (Yuri)

Cuff had an exasperated look, and said, “Well, of course”.

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