I Didn't Want to Become the Emperor of This World

Chapter 87

According to the <Future Diary>, when I go to the Wasteland of Ruin to meet the Giants, the officials become lazy. It says that the already incompetent officials also become lazy.

‘They’re so versatile with their bullshit…… is this when you use that expression.’

I stroked my warming forehead and thought calmly.

‘First, let's think of a way to keep the officials from becoming lazy.’

A way to keep the officials from becoming lazy.

There was an easy method that immediately came to mind. The method of implementing a much stronger reign of terror, incomparable to before.

‘An extreme reign of terror, like capturing and torturing or executing officials who fail to produce results, will surely have some effect. But that's not a fundamental solution.’

The officials' problem isn't just ‘laziness’. There's also ‘incompetence’.

However, ‘incompetence’ is not something that can be solved by a reign of terror.

‘The current officials of this kingdom have the ability to do exactly what they're told. But they lack the ability or the will to solve new problems when they arise. You could say they are typical low-level civil servants of a backward country. I feel sorry for Heinshtangl, who follows me diligently, but…… honestly, he's not much different.’

If I were to compare Heinshtangl to a student, he's exactly the type where you'd say, 「“He’s a really nice kid. He studies hard too. He’s just a little slow.”」. He is certainly a decent talent, but he lacks the ability to lead the kingdom's officials and create policies.

I was even more convinced of this after seeing the officials prepare the banquet.

Anyway.

In the end, there seemed to be only one way to solve the officials' laziness and incompetence.

‘I need talent. Talent with the ability to give instructions to the officials in the royal capital and solve any problems that arise while I'm away. They must not have close ties with the officials so they can regulate them strongly, and they must have a charisma that the officials find difficult to defy.’

But is there such a person?

‘……There's only Jereuth.’

That's right. If I leave it to Jereuth, everything will be solved.

The problem is that Jereuth must also go with me when I go to the Wasteland of Ruin.

Because the <Future Diary> said that without Jereuth, I can't find the Giant settlement. So Jereuth cannot remain in the royal capital.

‘In the end, I have to find another talent besides Jereuth…… but there's no one like that.’

Round and round, it comes back to Jereuth.

The problem and the solution are intertwined, going in circles.

Along with that thought, I felt like I was going crazy too.

Haa—.

It's a headache.

‘Should I just focus on cultivating talent for the next few years? But what if there's no good talent even after investing several years? And above all…… if I miss the timing and the future changes to a negative one where I can't recruit the Giants, damn it.’

Then it's a total bust. If I can't recruit the Giants, I won't be able to conquer the Minotaur's dungeon, and then the unsealed Minotaur will lead an army of monsters and attack the kingdom.

That is a future that must be avoided. Absolutely.

‘Should I ask Jereuth or Heinshtangl to recommend some talent? There might be someone among the knights—.’

As I was continuing my troublesome thoughts.

—Knock, knock.

—Your Highness, Lady Olivia has come to see you.

Elly's voice came from outside the door. Usually, Elly waits inside the room, but I had sent her out to read the <Future Diary>.

‘But why has Olivia come to see me? If it's to report on the work done while I was away, Heinshtangl should be the one to come.’

Creak-.

I put the <Future Diary> in the desk drawer and replied.

“Yes, come in.”

At my answer, the door opened and Olivia entered. Olivia looked exactly the same as when I saw her before leaving the royal capital about a month ago.

Her skin, so white it looked somewhat pale, was still noticeable. And since I'm a man too, my gaze inevitably went to her beauty. The unique atmosphere contained in Olivia's expressionless face exuded a strange charm.

When Olivia entered the room, Elly also came in. She didn't take her eyes off Olivia, as if monitoring her.

I don't know why Elly is so wary when Olivia is not the type to harm me.

“What brings you here?”

At my question, Olivia approached me and handed over a thick file.

“I have come to deliver the report on the duties you instructed while Your Highness was absent.”

So she did come to report.

‘But don't you usually start hastily preparing a report when your superior asks for it?’

To bring a report without being asked. Olivia seemed very diligent.

That aside.

“Where has Sir Heinshtangl gone, for you to come, Lady Olivia?”

“My father has gone to inspect the construction site of the Royal Capital's 2nd Market.”

A site inspection. Considering Heinshtangl's position, it would have been better for him to leave trivial things like site inspections to others and work in his office.

While I was thinking, Olivia opened the documents on my desk. Then she separated one bundle and handed it to me, her movements very swift and neat.

It felt professional.

“And this is a report on the work I proceeded with because I thought it was necessary.”

“Work you thought was necessary? Not what I ordered?”

“Yes. As I was carrying out Your Highness's instructions, some minor problems arose, so this contains the details of how I handled them, and also details about additional projects I carried out with the remaining budget and manpower.”

To put it simply, she had found work for herself.

“In line with Your Highness's policy of rebuilding the kingdom based on military strength, I have prepared and carried out several projects. The projects currently underway are the repair of the soldiers' barracks, warehouse repairs, and road redevelopment so that soldiers can quickly move outside the royal capital.”

Barracks and warehouse repairs, and road redevelopment?

‘It may sound easy, but even just planning it is not easy.’

“You planned and are carrying out all of this, Lady Olivia?”

“Yes.”

“By yourself?”

“Yes. However, I borrowed my father's name for the drafting process. As I did not have official authority.”

Olivia replied in her characteristically dry yet cold voice.

Just listening to Olivia's voice might make her sound impolite, but for some reason, I felt Olivia's cold voice was like that of a competent career woman.

Olivia's appearance made it feel even more so.

“Just a moment. I'll read the report first.” Latest content publıshed on N0velFire.ɴet

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I had Olivia stand there and quickly scanned the report.

And the moment I checked the report, I couldn't hide my admiration.

‘……This is no joke.’

I only scanned it quickly, so I couldn't look at the details, but even at a glance, it was a perfect report.

It was clearly handwritten, but it was as neat and organized as if it had been typed on a computer.

Above all, the report itself was easy to read.

It felt like a report made by a typical ‘good worker’.

‘Heinshtangl said it before. That Olivia is his daughter, but she's a talent he can confidently present.’

And Olivia had indeed proven it herself. Of course, I would have to examine this report piece by piece and review whether it was actually carried out well, but given this woman's personality, it seemed she would have definitely completed the work she carried out satisfactorily.

A smile unknowingly formed on my face at the excellent work of a subordinate. With that smile, I looked at Olivia and said.

“At a glance, it's truly excellent. You've worked hard.”

“…………!”

At my words, Olivia stared blankly at me for a moment. Then she slightly averted her gaze.

Her expressionless face seemed to have crumbled a little in the brief glimpse I caught.

That was only for a moment; Olivia cleared her throat faintly and spoke again with a blank expression.

Ahem, ahem.

“Th-thank you. However, there were some points that I personally found disappointing.”

“Disappointing points?”

“Yes. The fact that my father treated the other officials too leniently. Since Your Highness entrusted him with full authority, he could have kept them in line.”

“Well……. Sir Heinshtangl is a very nice person. It's both a strength and a weakness.”

“It is simply a weakness.”

“……”

“My father let the officials' minds wander while Your Highness was absent. That is why the officials wasted the already tight budget to prepare something like a banquet. With that money…… Your Highness trusted my father and left him as your representative, but strictly speaking, my father did not successfully carry out that mission.”

Olivia was criticizing Heinshtangl very scathingly, even though he was her own father.

“Then would it have been different if you had been in charge, Lady Olivia?”

“Of course. If I had been in charge, it would have been completely different. I would never have let the idiotic officials prepare something as useless as a banquet.”

Seeing her repeatedly emphasize the banquet, it seemed Olivia was quite annoyed that the officials had prepared it. I understood since I felt the same way.

The time and money spent on that……. Let's not even talk about it.

While talking with Olivia.

I was suddenly reminded of what I was thinking about earlier.

‘The talent to manage the kingdom in my stead when I'm away from the royal capital…… might have been closer than I thought?’

I don't know the extent of Olivia's abilities, but she seemed more capable than any other administrator I currently know. So, first, she passes on ability.

Second, as far as I know, Olivia doesn't seem to have any close official friends. As Olivia herself said, she describes the officials as ‘idiotic officials’.

So if I give her power, she won't overlook the officials' laziness.

In other words, she fits the conditions to be my representative perfectly.

‘I can't completely trust Olivia yet, but……. looking at her abilities alone, it seems I could entrust her with carrying out general policies in my place. Should I try entrusting her as a test?’

If giving power to Olivia was the wrong choice, the <Future Diary> would warn me in some way. So I didn't need to worry about the side effects of giving Olivia power.

‘If it says in the <Future Diary> that giving power to Olivia is a problem, then I'll have to demote her at that time.’

As I was deep in thought, Olivia spoke.

“Your Highness. I hear that you have punished all the officials who prepared the banquet.”

“Yes. As you said, Lady Olivia, they wasted budget and time. I believe it is the way of the world for people to be punished when they do wrong.”

“For people to be punished when they do wrong is the way of the world……. A fine sentiment. I have learned another thing as soon as Your Highness has returned.”

Olivia nodded calmly and continued.

“Your Highness. Then, conversely, is it also the way of the world for a person to receive a reward when they have done their work excellently?”

“Hmm…… you could say that.”

I nodded without much thought. It was a natural thing to say.

Then, as if she had caught me, Olivia immediately said.

“Then please give me a reward as well.”

“……Yes?”

“I said, please give me a reward. Your Highness said just now that the work I did was excellent. Therefore, I wish for a reward for my excellent work.”

Olivia, asking for a reward with a blank expression and a nonchalant attitude.

She was a truly bold young lady.

“I understand. If it is something I can do for you—.”

I was about to say, 「“I'll do it if it's something I can do.”」 but then I tried to change my words.

Because that was too big of a blank check.

But Olivia, as if she had heard the words she needed, cut me off and presented what she wanted.

“You said you would do what you can for me, so I will gratefully accept.”

……She cut me off.

I felt it again. Olivia is a truly bold young lady.

“I want the full authority over internal affairs that Your Highness entrusted to my father.”

“……?”

“I will never disappoint you.”

The very thing I was debating whether to entrust to her or not.

Olivia had proposed it first, asking for it herself.