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Chapter 11: Rebuilding
ROUGHLY two weeks had passed since Dragontan officially joined Mynoghra. Although there was still some lingering confusion over the change, the town officials were finally starting to get the hang of things, and business was mostly back on track.
Antelise Antik, the town mayor, continued to be the most influential and powerful political figure even after all the changes. After a lot of back and forth, she ended up joining Mynoghra and was appointed to continue serving as mayor.
At first, she was very leery about becoming evil, but her motivation and loyalty skyrocketed when she received direct permission from the king to drink on the job, because that’s what evil does. If that wasn’t wonderful enough, His Majesty even prepared her a treasure trove worth of Heavenly Nectar. Now she could openly chug high-class liquor during work. She felt invincible and unstoppable now.
Antelise was currently grappling with her endless workload at her much tidier desk.
“Mayor Antik, I brought the documents you asked for. It’s the draft of a standard education plan for the townspeople.”
Еnú m̃ а̂.і d
“Thanks. Leave it on that pile there, please.”
The civil official trainee, who’d entered the mayor’s office without knocking on the already open door, left a stack of white paper on Antelise’s desk. Antelise stopped what she was doing to briefly flip through those documents, and once she confirmed it wasn’t urgent, she tossed them into the bottom rack of the file organizer sitting on the corner of her desk marked “Unprocessed.” The trainee sympathized with the drafters of the plan that got immediately put on the back burner.
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“Is it okay to toss it aside like that?” he asked, curious.
“Hm? Yeah, this is just a draft on how to best educate the townspeople. Now that we’ve decided to build a Learning Institute, we’re planning to create a system to raise the basic education level of our people. Anyway, it’s nothing I need to tend to right now, so it’s on hold till later. Oh, if you give me a second, I’ll get together some documents I want you to deliver to another department for me,” Antelise said, pulling stacks of paper out of her desk drawers and the filing cabinets behind her. Her office had gone from chaotic mess to organized chaos, so she knew exactly where to find what she was looking for.
The civil trainee was actually one of the guards she’d spoken to on the watchtower and personally selected to work for her at Town Hall. It was an unusual appointment but relatively common in Dragontan right now. Major personnel reorganization was currently underway since the town’s defenses had been completely entrusted to Mynoghra’s creepy crawlies.
What they needed more than anything right now was educated people to keep the government running. For that reason, anyone who could read and write was reappointed to work for Town Hall.
Е n ù m̄ a. і d́
The former guard was one such person whose life was shifted by this major reform. He seemed to dislike this position that required him to use his brain, but working for any government means you have to go along with reassignments, regardless of how crazy and high-handed they are. This was why his Wolfman partner remained a guard to this day because he’d failed the test given for reassignment. It was hard to say who was the luckier one.
The Human former guard was in for a massive salary increase, but he had to learn and remember a lot for his new position. He partially resented his former coworker for escaping this job that required him to put his half-dormant, barely used brain to work twenty-four-seven.
Pushing back the trivial dissatisfaction in his heart with his loyalty to his new empire, the guard-turned-civil-trainee was doing his best to help with the reforms that Mynoghra was strongly promoting. However, since this new post involved work of an entirely different nature from his former job, every day consisted of failure, confusion, and fumbling to grasp what he needed to do. Even now, he couldn’t fathom the degree of priority and importance belonging to the draft Antelise had put on hold, and he scrunched up his face trying to figure it out.
“So…that’s a draft on how to raise the basic education level? From what I gathered, it’s a proposal covering the various things to be taught to commoners, too, right? I thought only nobility and the powerful get taught stuff…?”
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“Even commoners need a basic education. It looks terrible and is inefficient if the king’s people can’t read. Make sure to get yourself enough knowledge, so you don’t ruin His Majesty’s image either, all right?”
“I-I’ll try not to…”
Е́ ǹ u m̈а̄ . і̆d
The trainee couldn’t really argue against that, but something about it still didn’t sit well with him.
Antelise watched the man’s expression waver with his desire to be loyal to the king’s decree and his dislike of studying. Her mind filled with thoughts about how things were rapidly changing for their town.
Basic education will be required for almost any job in the future. It’s hard to even obtain the skills for an occupation without the ability to read and write.
Anyone working in the town government knew Mynoghra was investing a lot to rebuild and prop up Dragontan. Their wide range of recovery measures used a lot of money, human resources, and materials. Some of those measures made a lot of sense, but what really took the government officials by surprise was Mynoghra’s strong push to educate the townspeople, even if it took time. Their efforts extended to the commoner class, considered not worth educating before now, and many people adverse to change were grumbling about it.
Increasing basic knowledge across a whole population tends to lead to the acquisition of new concepts and breakthroughs. This push showed how much importance Mynoghra placed on researching new technologies and, at the same time, proved they were wealthy and powerful enough to devote national power to education.
With what she knew of the size and scale of Mynoghra as an empire, Antelise thought it was a bit reckless to carry out such a drastic measure. What made that recklessness plausible?
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The answer lay with but one person—the great King of Ruin, Takuto Ira.
Everything was only possible due to the profound wisdom and power of their new leader and king.
I mean, after being taught a ton of stuff from Mynoghra, I’ve really come to see the importance of education. It makes a lot of sense why His Majesty pushes to educate the masses when you realize how inferior Phon’kaven’s technology is compared to the countries up north.
The harsh environment of the Dark Continent was the main reason Phon’kaven lagged so far behind the countries on the Lawful Continent. The barren land made it difficult to grow crops, and savage Barbarians ran so rampant that they constantly threatened life and property. Making your home on this continent meant living side by side with danger and little reward.
Educating the masses costs money, time, and manpower.
Even children were considered a valuable source of labor within Phon’kaven. Once a child could speak, they were expected to help with their parents’ work, and the apprentice-like guidance they received in that endeavor created the next generation of craftsmen and workers. With that system in place, most citizens considered receiving an education an indulgence permitted only to the rich and privileged classes. The harsh reality was that just struggling to survive was the most the majority of people could strive toward in this barren land.
Е̂ n̄ ù mа̂
However, that reality was completely upended the moment Dragontan came under Mynoghra’s rule and reaped the benevolent rewards bestowed upon them by the King of Ruin. In a sense, Dragontan’s inhabitants could be said to be living civilized lives for the first time.
As wonderful as that sounded, the townspeople were still put through a series of shocking changes at an alarming rate. One corner of the town could look completely different from one day to the next, and the familiar day-to-day procedures for work and daily life changed just as quickly.
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Dragontan was undergoing such drastic reforms it was basically being rebuilt from the ground up.
“Maybe it’s just me, but everything’s changing and moving ahead at such a rapid pace, I’m having a hard time keeping up with it,” the civil trainee groaned.
“We can move things along quickly because we’re getting a near-infinite supply of Food and Materials from Mynoghra’s capital. Not to mention we’re being protected from trouble inside and out by the Riflemen troops wielding those outrageously overpowered guns,” Antelise said, partially agreeing with the trainee. Her thoughts went to the Riflemen squad, who played a big part in making the policy reforms go through rapidly.
The town’s Riflemen, selected from the elite of the elite among their ranks, had already completed the minimum required training and were working toward exterminating the Barbarians in the area while also doubling as patrolling security. They were extremely effective at their jobs and had put a complete stop to the farmland being destroyed by invading Barbarians. If that wasn’t incredible enough, they were on course to completely eradicating all the Barbarian dens surrounding Dragontan.
Е́_n uṁа̄. і d̊
At this rate, they’d eventually be able to set up large-scale agricultural settlements outside of Dragontan too. Although it goes without saying that restructuring Dragontan and getting it back up and functioning as a proper town came first.
Antelise put sticky notes on the documents that had already been settled by the department in charge. As she worked, she suddenly remembered the important task she’d assigned the trainee the other day.
“By the way, how goes the intelligence gathering on other countries?” she asked.
Dragontan hadn’t closed its borders despite going through a chaotic upheaval. Trade with Phon’kaven was still going strong, and they continued to do business with peddlers from the Lawful Continent.
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Information is often worth more than money.
Even though Antelise’s office was understaffed, she redirected some of her budget and staff to gather information on other countries. Of course, this was on direct orders from Mynoghra and, by extension, King Takuto. Contrary to the casual manner in which she asked her question, she was actually on pins and needles, worried that doing anything less than perfect might incur her new king’s wrath.
Ѐnu̇m а́
“So far, we’ve just been collecting intel on rumors and the state of things in their cities, but it’s been going pretty smooth,” the trainee responded.
“Huh. That’s surprising. I thought you’d have a harder time of it. Is your primary source of information the peddlers and mercenaries?”
“Precisely. Those types will go the extra mile when money’s involved. And their prices are absurdly higher than usual. They’re completely taking advantage of the situation, that’s for sure.”
“Mynoghra is backing us in every way, but there are some things we’ll have to learn to handle on our own. Fortunately, they’ve given us plenty of money, so it’s my opinion that we pay the higher prices. It’ll prime the pump and make them sing like a songbird when we need them to.”
Relief spread through Antelise to learn information gathering was going smoother than she’d anticipated. She thought the merchants and mercenaries would stop doing business with them once they were associated with an evil empire, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
Dragontan was currently going through a sort of transitional state. The appearance and atmosphere of the town would supposedly grow more ominous as time went on, but for right now, aside from the large-scale reconstruction, it hadn’t changed much from before. This in-between state might’ve been what kept the merchants coming without thinking twice. It was anyone’s guess how people from other countries might feel about it in the future, given what Mynoghra was like.
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“Got it,” the trainee nodded. “Then I’ll tell the person in charge to bring the list and cost estimate of the items to be purchased from the merchants later, so please look over it when they do.”
In any event, they could collect information and purchase supplies without issue right now, which was critical to Mynoghra and Dragontan.
“Make it a top priority,” Antelise told him. “Still, I can’t believe we’re making lists and cost estimates now… I can’t believe how much these more tedious, smaller-scale tasks have increased.”
“Isn’t having a structure in place a lot less tedious than having to deal with he said, she said blame games?”
“You can say that again. It’s nice to work for a government with thorough checks and balances in place—it seriously cuts down on headache-inducing problems. I’m getting better at signing approval for matters every day, so I can’t complain.”
“Speaking of approvals, I’d like to deliver the ones you’ve already signed to our wonderful staff, who’ve been working around the clock. Can I yet?”
W ẽ b̃n̊ o̊vе̇ ľ E̊n ůṁ a
“Yes, yes. Here. Take it with you.”
It seemed like Antelise had taken her idle chatter a little too far. She handed over the papers she’d already prepared to the civil trainee, not minding that he was chiding her for talking too long. She watched as he withdrew from the room before swiping a bottle of ale off the floor under her desk and popping the cork.
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“M’kay, time for some good ol’ work. Nothing like downing a bottle of nectar while whiling away the hours with paperwork.”
◇◇◇
【Notes on the Dragontan Urban Development Plan and the Cursed Land】
Urban development is proceeding roughly as planned. Unoccupied houses with unknown owners, which have increased due to the exodus of townspeople, are to be collectively requisitioned by the government, and after appropriate repairs are made, they will be provided to residents looking for housing. In addition, dilapidated buildings, such as those in the former slums, should be knocked down.
Е ń.ümӑ
Buildings should be made sturdier to combat the eventual influence Mynoghra’s Cursed Terrain will have on the land. We are also continuing to construct specific facilities such as Magic Research Institute, Market, and Training Grounds.
As for the Dragon Vein Mine, since it will take time for both Phon’kaven and Mynoghra to inspect and make decisions on how they want to jointly manage it, the area is to be classified as a restricted zone.
【Food Production Plan】
Dragontan’s food production capacity is extremely poor in terms of supplying the town’s needs, and many residents have nutritional and developmental problems. Therefore, the main priority is to provide food with high nutritional value produced by His Majesty. At the same time, we plan to popularize the Flesh Tree fruit and actively seek cooperation in adopting dishes using it at bars and other food joints to help the townspeople become more familiar with this new ingredient.
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【Domestic Road Construction and Distribution Network Development Plan for Allied Countries】
A highway will be built connecting Mynoghra’s Imperial Capital to the town of Dragontan to facilitate a more manageable distribution of goods. The capital’s logistics team will handle developing the territory within the Accursed Lands, which is challenging to navigate due to the dense forest and uneven ground. Dragontan will also dispatch an official to help with planning, but the primary focus for Dragontan is rebuilding the town itself.
Wѐb̊ n̆ õ v̂е̂ l Enû ḿ â
At the same time, a distribution route to Crescent Moon, the capital of Phon’kaven, is also set to be developed and maintained.
【Information Gathering】
All taverns, canteens, and inns in the city are under the direct control of Mynoghra and operated as key locations for information gathering. In addition, we will provide specialized training for store owners and employees to nurture personnel who can collect higher-quality information. The primary objective is gathering information on the internal state and changes occurring within potential enemy empires, such as the Holy Kingdom of Qualia and El-Nah Alliance of Elementals. The secondary objective is gathering information on Phon’kaven and the other smaller nations on the Dark Continent.
Information gathering is under the direct control of Mynoghra’s capital, and Dragontan is responsible for gathering information as ordered.
◇◇◇
A myriad of projects were being carried out in tandem. All the information and directions given by Mynoghra’s capital were carefully looked over and processed in order. Almost everything involved new ventures that would reform the way the town was governed; none of these matters could be taken lightly.
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In addition to the above four plans, construction plans for recreational facilities and plans to strengthen the city’s defense facilities, such as the extension of the outer walls, were also on the agenda. However, those were a lower priority and were currently on hold, along with the establishment of educational institutions.
“I still have an endless workload, but it’s a lot easier to handle when I have hope for the future,” Antelise remarked to herself.
She felt fortunate to no longer have to worry about what tomorrow would bring. The power displayed by the king of Mynoghra gave the residents of Dragontan an indescribable sense of relief, even a kind of drug-like euphoria.
Is this what it means to become evil? Antelise wondered as she concentrated on getting her work done. She had a lot of busy days ahead of her. Dragontan was still in the process of being fully transferred over. Although it now belonged to Mynoghra on paper and by affiliation, it would take a while yet for it to come completely under their control.
“Uh, let’s see, where did that directive go? Ah, there it is.”
That day would come in the blink of an eye with how busy they were.
W̌ еb̄nо v ѐl̄ Е̄nũ m̀ã
Antelise scanned the most recent directive to come in from the capital.
【Dragontan Cession Completion Ceremony and…】
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“…One more month to go, huh? I’ve gotta work my butt off to ensure everything gets done in time.”
Antelise was being rewarded more than enough to be satisfied with her work. She’d make sure she pulled off the tasks assigned to her, even if it shortened her lifespan.
She lovingly stroked the ale bottle gifted to her by the king and chugged its contents. Then she braced herself and pushed forward in her duties, working toward the day she was certain would have vital significance to Mynoghra…and the rest of the world.
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