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In other words, the king, which is the demon king, has the greatest power.

If the land under the direct control of the demon king is rebellious, then it would be a good idea to replace the governors who are governing that land….

Is there a reason for the demon king not to do so?

「I can’t do that. Dealing with the governor alone will not solve anything.」

The demon king told me something about ruling.

It was a difficult topic so I did not understand everything but I managed to understand some parts that are involved in this case.

-0-

First of all, what is the role of a governor in the Demon King’s Kingdom?

They are local officials who manage the areas directly under the control of the demon king.

In other words, they are representatives of the demon king.

Their role, simply put, is to collect taxes, to prevent rebellion, to make new laws known, and so on.

Along with these, there is the additional task of arresting and judging those who do not obey the law but let’s leave that aside for a moment.

The most important thing is that the governor represents the demon king.

And how do these governors rule the land under their jurisdiction?

For example, if a village has 50 or a hundred residents, it would be difficult but manageable to get acquainted with all of them and govern them.

However, how about in a village with 500 or 1000 people?

In a city with 10000 residents, it is already impossible.

So, what should they do?

Use subordinates.

That’s obvious.

The more subordinates you have, the easier it will be to govern.

However, there’s a limit to how many subordinates you can have.

Demon resources and financial resources are finite.

Then, the next thing to look for are local collaborators.

In other words, they can connect with local prominent figures or bosses, who are called face officers, to govern.

A familiar example of a face officer is Michael-san of the Goroun Company.

He is one of the face officers of Shashaato City and he is often consulted by Governor Ifrus, the governor of Shashaato City.

But then, there’s this case.

You can probably already tell from my explanation.

The governor’s subordinates.

Or, even the face officers, are doing something behind the governor’s back.

-0-

「There’s no way it was the governor’s subordinates. If it was cause by the governor’s subordinates, the area under the governor’s control and the suspicious area would be the same.」

In the Demon King’s Kingdom, there is a limit to the number of people who can become governors so the governors are stationed in big cities and are allowed to manage the surrounding villages altogether.

If there is a problem with the governor’s subordinates, then the town or village under his control should be the problem but apparently, it’s not.

If that’s the case……

「The face officers are the ones who are suspicious. Hence, there’s no point in replacing the governors. No, there is indeed a point if we replace them with governors with higher competency but such people are limited and we cannot move them lightly because they are entrusted with important roles.」

I see.

So, what do you want me to do?

「Nothing difficult. You’ll have a spring parade in Big Tree Village, right? I want you to hold that parade from Village Five to the royal capital. Of course, it can be done once the parade here is over. The parade will take no more than half a day since you will use the teleportation gates. We would like to welcome you in the royal capital but we know you don’t like to be extravagant. You don’t have to attend to any other ceremony. You can leave as soon as the parade is over.」

That’s very thoughtful of you but….

How is a parade going to help?

「You can just think that the parade is a decoy. We’ll use it to attract attention while our investigation team works behind the scenes.」

?

If it’s just a decoy, does it need to be a parade?

「The reason we decided to have a just cause to call in all the governors and face officers all over the country. It will lower the risk of unrelated people being taken hostage.」

I see.

「And of course, we will reach out to the mayors and village chiefs in each area.」

Hnn?

Ah, I guess it will be a problem if only the village chief of Village Five participates.

「That’s right. In addition, it’s not easy to demand a parade. It requires a certain amount of preparation in advance. However, Big Tree Village doesn’t have that problem.」

True.

We are having our own parade before the event so we can just think of it as an increase of distance to be traveled.

「Right. And I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused to village chief and the residents.」

No, as I said before, I don’t want any trouble between the royal capital and Shashaato City.

I agree with this parade.

……

Is this going to be dangerous?

「It’s not dangerous! Absolutely not!」

R-really?

「Yeah. I’m also in the parade. If someone were to harm anyone, it would be me.」

That’s what I’m worried about……

「Thanks. Ah, I forgot to mention that Kuro-dono and his pack and Zabuton-dono’s spiderlings are welcome to join the parade.」

…………

Hnn?

Is that okay?

You keep telling me to make sure the kuros and the spiderlings must never get out of the forest of death, right?

「I did but keeping in touch with them for a long time, I thought it should be okay.」

Ah, thanks.

「Hahaha, also, it would be a pity if they don’t participate in the parade.」

……you’re right.

I’d feel sorry for the kuros and the spiderlings if they can’t join the parade.

「Right. However, it would be difficult to have everyone participate because of the village’s security. Thus, I’ll leave the scale of the parade to village chief. By the way, the royal army and people from all over the country will join the parade. 」

Understood.

Well, if the parade is outside the village, there might be some villagers who would prefer not to participate.

I’ll discuss it with them.

「Sorry about this but I can only count on you. To be honest, if the suspicious people are thinking of revolting, I hope they will consider it after seeing village chief’s parade. If there’s none, that would be the best……」

Yeah, it would be the best if nothing’s going on.

However, from the looks of Kierbit and Tiselle, it is almost certain that there’s something.

Still, thinking that the other party will reconsider after seeing the parade of us who live in peace.

Yeah.

The demon king is a respectable king.

-0-

Night.

In a room of a mansion in Big Tree Village were the demon king, Tiselle, and Kierbit in the form of a wealthy family’s daughter.

「Alright, he agreed to the parade. However, isn’t village chief going to be in danger? If anyone sees him, won’t he go for village chief rather than me?」

「Our mothers will line up near father so he won’t be in danger. In addition, even if they plan to rebel, they are still not fully prepared. They won’t use force.」

「However, we have to assume the worst-case scenario. Should we hide village chief and prepare a substitute?」

Kierbit casts a spell that turns him into village chief.

「I don’t think father would approve of that.」

「Yeah. Village chief would not want someone to be in danger in place of him.」

「However, I don’t think it’s a good idea to put him to danger.」

Village chief snapped his fingers and he turned into someone who looks like a wealthy family’s daughter.

「That’s why we won’t let village chief know that it’s dangerous. Any danger would be handled in secret.」

Kierbit said that to the demon king and Tiselle and the two agreed.

「And Tiselle, I understand what you’re thinking but it’s not good to get two or three benefits from one action. It’s fine if the result will be the one you are hoping for but if something unplanned happened, it will be you who’ll get hurt.」

「……I know」

「Demon king, don’t spoil Tiselle too much either. I know you wanted to give the throne to either Alfred or Ursa so Tiselle will work for the next king but….No, she’s not. She’s working on her own.」

「O-okay. I’ll be careful.」

「I won’t stand in your way of giving it away, but you’d better destroy all troubles first. Otherwise, they’ll resent you.」

「Y-yeah, of course.」

At the demon king’s reply, Kierbit let out a sigh. She took some cups, poured juice into them, and distributed them.

「Then, I hope Tiselle’s『Show off overwhelming difference in power to break the hearts of suspicious people』operation will succeed.」

「I hope that the operation will succeed too but please think of a better name.」

「The name of this operation doesn’t matter. Also, you must inform Loo-san and Tier about this.」

「Eh? I thought Kierbit-san would take care of them?」

「I already informed them but it’s important to keep them informed. Especially from the planners themselves. Got it?」

「Y-yeah」

「Well then, let’s have a toast! To our success, cheers!」

「「Cheers!」」

-0-

Tiselle: If you joined the toast, that means you’re already one of us Kierbit-oneechan!

Kierbit: If I leave you behind after getting involved this much, Tier will glare at me.

Demon King: So, Kierbit will also go to the royal castle this spring? That’s very helpful.

Kierbit: I’m Torain’s assistant so I won’t leave the academy.

Demon King: I can already see it. I see Torain working in the royal castle….

Tiselle: Our mothers will definitely be upset if you drag Torain to the royal castle.