Elf Tensei Kara no Cheat Kenkoku-ki - Book 4: Chapter 5-2

「Cyril, ever since Yukino-chan started wearing that clothing, she’s always dodged me whenever I try to embrace her. And I wanted to squeeze her so tightly, too……」

Lucy complained in a teary voice.

And then Lucy suddenly jumped at Yukino from behind, only for Yukino to dodge this dead angle embrace with minimum movement in a nonchalant manner.

Until now she had allowed these advances, but now I guess Yukino is doing her best to dodge Lucy and protect her clothes.

Even now, her silver-colored fox ears were wiggling around, paying close attention to her surroundings.

「Ei！」

I decided to try and embrace Yukino, just to see what would happen…and okay, I guess that she just let me do that. I thought she would dodge me too, so I was embracing her a little more boldly than I normally would. She feels soft and has a nice scent too.

「……I see you don’t try to dodge me, Yukino.」

「Cyril-nisama is an exception.」

Yukino actually was the one approaching me for a hug this time, nuzzling my chest with her nose and sniffing me while she wagged her tail.

「Ugh, Cyril, no fair!」

If Yukino really liked that clothing so much, I should get her more outfits as a present. It’s too sad to see her only using one outfit. I’m sure I won’t get found out if I can sneak out and buy something.

As all this was happening, finally everyone gathered and they set off.

◇

There wasn’t a need to use the magically modified carriage this time around. If anything, the members of Nettle were much faster on foot.

That’s why I let the team handle the carriages full of weapons and food provisions as I took the lead for the rest, pushing the objective and managing to reach Bell Erucy in half a day.

As we approached the security guards at the Erucy side of the castle wall gates, I spoke to one of them.

「Thanks for your hard work. Do you remember me？」

「Of course I do, sir. There’s no way I could forget the face of my benefactor. Cyril-sama.」

The man keeping watch laughed in a merry voice. He was a strong, reliable looking man in his early thirties, as well as the chief of the kobolds who had gotten their village messed up by the Empire’s remnant forces.

He had dark brown hair all over his ears and tail.

「Sorry for the sudden notice, but I’d like you to get the Five Great Generals.」

「Yes, right away. I’ll contact them, so please feel free to wait in the strategy room, Cyril-sama. Hey, Vianna, show Cyril-sama and his friends to the room and prepare the highest quality tea and snacks.」

「Understood. Johann-sama! Now, if the fine elves and foxes would make their way over here…」

The female kobold who had been working security under orders from the kobold chief led us to the strategy room. She was about the same age as Johann, with a relaxed attitude.

I hear that they’re a couple.

I thought couples would be a little more equal in their positions, but apparently this was the way the kobolds did it. The family structure had a clear hierarchy.

「How are you enjoying your new life？」

I figured I might as well make conversation as we walk.

「It’s actually been very hectic, what with all these people coming from all sorts of places, so everyone’s idea of common sense is completely different, every day is full of scuffles and arguments and fistfights, division of food and work always leads to conflict that blocks progression, and many of these villages were already at odds with one another before even coming here……」

Those discontent words fired out of her mouth like a machine gun.

I smiled wryly. It’s impressive how bold she was with her grievances in front of me, considering my position.

But I like this straightforward approach much better than if she would have tried to pretend like everything’s fine and there are no problems.

After some more complaints, Vianna said one final thing slowly.

「But despite all of that, we’re eating well, we have work, we have a warm place to sleep, and we don’t have to worry about the next day. So we’re extreeemely thankful.」

「I’m glad to hear that. I’ll do my best to make sure that lifestyle can continue, and I want all of you to give it your best as well.」

「Yes, that goes without saying. Bell Erucy has become our hometown now, after all.」

◇

We made it to the strategy room.

I kept Roleau with me and had the other members rest in the guestrooms. The only people who needed to think deeply today would be the two of us.

「Chief, talking is such a frickin’ drag. Why do we have to do this? All you have to do is give the order and it’ll be done, yeah?」

Roleau listlessly sipped his tea and ate today’s snack, which was dried chestnut.

「Bell Erucy is under Erucy’s control, but it does also have autonomy. Everyone has to have a say in this or it’s no good. No one would want to comply. And this time around we’re even dealing with other races. It won’t be the same as dealing with elves or fire foxes. Plus there are multiple leaders, not just one.」

Bell Erucy was originally a village of refugees.

As a matter of course, there was still a lack of proper unity. No matter what I try to decide from the top, no one will listen.

Currently, I’ve been barely maintaining the directive system by having the five biggest village populations send out representatives to absorb the smaller villages with whom they’ve had prior contact with and seeing that they take on the responsibility of supervising and governing.

As of right now, if these five people continue to work together, Bell Erucy will have a decent management.

Besides, even if I were to say “Okay, elect one leader!”, most people would just ignore that, and even if that one leader was elected, it could lead to civil unrest.

In addition, anyone who got into power could also start prioritizing their own race. No matter how troublesome it sounds, there was a need to split the number of leaders.