Chapter 19 – The Most Powerful Demon King in History. Walks Around the Town
Lumiel led me on a walk through the town.
Jorm sat on my shoulder and looked around with great interest.
“Elf-ruled towns are also quite beautiful.”
“This area… seems to be. It’s a district where nobles and the wealthy live…”
Lumiel was a bit evasive.
However, the roads were well-paved with cobblestones. The houses along the roads are also beautiful and magnificent.
The children who walked the streets were all fair and well-dressed.
It seemed that the people of this country lived in prosperity and peace.
“Perhaps it is the good work of the ruler of the Kingdom of Ortoville, which is credited with uniting the continent.”
“…… I would hope so, but…… it doesn’t always work out the way I would like it to.”
This town is the place I might rule after defeating the Demon God.
And the inhabitants of the town are the ones who could become my people.
The more prosperous and peaceful they are, the better.
“Lumi, I also want to see the area where the common people live.”
“Yes.”
I wanted to know the size and population density of the town by walking from one end to the other.
As we walked for a while, the scenery of the city gradually began to change.
The inhabitants also changed from elves to dwarves to beastmen, and then to humans.
“…… Ah, princess.”
“Shhh. She’s dressed like that because she’s trying to hide who she really is.”
“Oh, I see. Just pretend not to notice!”
A small human girl who was walking a short distance away noticed Lumiel.
However, her mother immediately rebukes her.
After all, she is still recognizable.
Even though she was wearing animal ears, her face was still visible and her hair was too conspicuous.
“……”
Jorm looked at Lumiel with idiot eyes.
“Master, the sweets sold in that shop are delicious.”
『Oh, do buy them! Your Majesty. You should buy some to learn about the lives of the common people.』
“Buying some sweets might be nice.”
Jorm telepathically insisted, so I decided to buy some sweets.
“Lumi, are you on a date today?”
“No, erm, it’s not a date!”
She has such a conversation with the shopkeeper.
Apparently, Lumiel is a regular customer. Of course, the shopkeeper must have realized who Lumiel really is.
But he feigns ignorance.
And the only one who thinks she hasn’t been noticed is Lumiel.
『She is so obvious!』
Jorm holds a large bag of sweets in both hands and eats them deliciously.
He looked very cute.
Lumiel seemed to think so too, and stroked Jorm.
Jorm had a complicated expression on his face, but he was stroked gently.
After we bought some sweets, we continued our walk through the town, guided by Lumiel.
The human inhabitants spoke to Lumiel in a friendly manner.
“Miss Lumi, thank you for the other day.”
“Not at all, how is your husband since then?”
“He’s much better now. Thank you, sincerely.”
Apparently, “Lumi” also arranges medicine for the sick.
“Miss Lumi, if you could kindly listen for a moment.”
“What’s wrong?”
“To tell the truth…”
The people of the town seemed to come to talk to “Lumi” about their worries.
After parting with the people of the town, I asked.
“Lumi. They depend on you a lot, don’t they? “
“They understand that I have an acquaintance in the Knight Order. So I help out behind the scenes to the extent that my true identity isn’t revealed.”
“She is obvious, but …… oh well.’
Jorm abandoned his quip.
“It’s good to help people, isn’t it?”
“Thank you. But there’s only so much I can do…”
As we walked on, the road became rougher and the houses more shabby.
“When it comes to a big town, this is inevitable to a certain extent…”
No matter how good a ruler is, it is difficult for his prestige to reach every corner of the town.
Inevitably, there will be a district on the outskirts of the town where the poor gather.
How to take care of them is a test of a ruler’s ability.
『Is this side of the town untouched? Perhaps the Lord is neglecting it?』
『You can tell what kind of ruler this city has by how he deals with the favelas.』
So I ask Lumiel.
“Lumi. What kind of person is the Lord of this town?”
“The Lord, His Excellency the Earl, is a man of great merit as an administrator.”
“Hmm. Was he granted this town for his merits? That’s amazing.”
“Yes.”
“A former administrator, I see.”
If he is an excellent ruler, he can be taken as a vassal, not as a citizen.
With this in mind, I walked farther and farther toward the slums.
Eventually, the road became bare dirt and the houses were nothing more than hovels.
The stench of feces and urine wafted from everywhere.
I saw skinny human children walking around with rags wrapped around their bodies.
“Ah, Big Sister Lumi.”
“Have you been well?”
“Yes!”
Lumiel gives sweets to the children. Her eyes look very sad.
She seems to be lamenting her own inability to do anything more than give them sweets.
The image of the emaciated children inevitably overlaps with my adopted daughter, Phylfi.
I wonder if she went hungry after my death, like these children.
That was a long time ago, five hundred years ago. It wouldn’t even be recorded.
Anxiously, as I stare at the children, Jorm flies to Lumiel.
“Kyuru…”
Then he offers Lumiel the bag of sweets in his hands.
Seeing the starving children, Jorm may have felt sorry for them.
『Jorm, are you all right?』
『No worries, I shall have Lord Hyrum buy more for me later.』
He says such selfish things. But I also thought I’d buy some.
“Lumi, it looks like Jorm wants to give the sweets to the children.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jorm.”
“…… Kyuru”
Jorm’s sweets are also shared with the children.
“Cute!” “The lizard can fly!” “Awesome.”
Jorm seemed to be popular with the children.
Sads Translates 