Dealing With the Postwar Period

It's common sense that wars are busier before and after they happen than while they're ongoing.

Ria worked diligently at her governmental duties every day to rule the vast former Cordova territory that had become her new domain.

"We have no money."

The man who said it so bluntly was Count Cornada.

Originally a financial bureaucrat, he had complete understanding of the national finances.

"… Why?"

"Because Your Majesty generously distributed it to the soldiers."

"Ah, that…"

Of course she remembered permitting them to plunder the treasury.

That had been necessary to win over the Cordovan soldiers. Besides, Ria thought that something like money could easily be produced as long as they had people.

"That may be true, but right now, immediately, we have no money to pay the soldiers."

"… Serge! Serge-emon! Come up with some ideas!"

At times like this, Ria was quick to rely on others.

And when summoned, Serge actually came up with a solution rather easily.

"How about military scrip or government bonds?"

Indeed. Military scrip wouldn't work since the war had ended, but government bonds were viable. Moreover, these would only need to be temporary bonds.

Because Ria had no intention of keeping the bloated bureaucracy of former Cordova.

She wouldn't waste money on the elderly like a certain country either. In that regard, a country without basic human rights was wonderful.

"For now, we should have the wealthy merchants buy them. At around twenty percent annual interest… think that'll work?"

The financial bureaucrat was calculating. The results came immediately. He nodded.

"Also, I'll provide the truly urgent portion from my personal funds, so wait until tomorrow."

She could just create it with genesis magic. While inflation was a concern if she made too much, getting through the immediate crisis was the priority.

However, the cabinet ministers didn't seem to see it that way. They were moved by Ria's stance of using her own private wealth to prevent salary delays.

With this, finances should somehow work out. Since there was cash in Manesh, she could have that transported here.

Next was the matter of law.

Cordova was known as a country ruled by law. Moreover, it was famous for taking rule of law to excess.

What new legal order would they introduce to this Cordova? Also, how would they maintain consistency with the Kingdom of Ogress?

Ria's immediate policy was already decided.

"Major crimes get the death penalty. Minor crimes get the whip. That's all."

The assembled cabinet ministers gaped with their mouths hanging open.

"This isn't permanent, of course. But Cordova had been bound by laws for many years, with a huge number of political prisoners. We need to change the people's thinking from the ground up."

One year. Ria set a deadline.

By then, she needed to unify this vast territory, including Manesh, under a consistent legal system.

Of course, they also needed to establish separate residential areas for ogres and beastkin, which was another challenge.

"For now, grant amnesty to all former political prisoners."

"B-but that's limited to those who targeted Count Cordova, isn't it?"

"Amnesty. In exchange, if anyone tries the same thing against me, or if anyone targets Count Cordova again, there will be no mercy this time."

The judges' faces went pale, but that wasn't her concern. Cordova had far too many trials to begin with.

"Criminal offenses aside, how should we handle matters like territorial disputes?"

"Ah, right, there's that."

Territorial disputes between nobles were things that absolutely required the monarch's ruling to resolve.

Land was a noble's asset, something they must defend, something they stood upon.

"New nobles should probably be robe nobility without land whenever possible."

Guaranteeing their positions with money might actually cause fewer problems.

However, everything had its pros and cons, so no conclusion could be reached in the end.

"For now, since land reclamation is progressing in Manesh's new territories, if too many territorial disputes arise, we'll relocate one of the parties there."

This was something that could only be done while the monarch's power was strong.

Even so, civil matters couldn't be decided as easily as criminal law.

(Liu Bang did an impressive job unifying Guanzhong…)

Ria found herself admiring the great figures from her previous life.

"The temples? I don't know anything about that."

Another problem had arrived.

Ria honestly couldn't understand why such problems kept arising.

But when she listened, it certainly was something relevant to her.

"Carla-sama has been treating the sick and injured completely free of charge, so donations to the temples have decreased."

"Ah, so that's what this is about."

In this world, religious power was weak. After all, the gods themselves had been almost entirely wiped out by the dragons.

Then did faith in dragons become strong instead? Well, because they were real entities, that actually made them harder to worship.

Plus, if you worshipped them carelessly, they might destroy you instead.

That aside, back to the temples.

For the aforementioned reasons, temples held almost no power over secular affairs.

However, they did admirable work as institutions for helping the weak in society.

As monarch, she should make donations to them and have other nobles follow her example.

"Even so, it costs so much money…"

She had known it would, but money kept draining away. A certain merchant came to visit Ria as she lamented this.

"Thank you for your continued patronage. Always smiling, safe and secure, I am Ferna from Black Cat Transport."

"Hey, good to see you."

Black Cat had accepted the difficult task of transporting valuable cash without hesitation. Moreover, they had succeeded quickly.

"Now I can finally breathe."

"Well then, we look forward to working with you again."

"Ah, wait a moment. Would any of Black Cat's leadership be interested in becoming nobility?"

That was actually why she had called for her today.

Black Cat's transportation capabilities were very attractive from both military and commercial perspectives.

Leaving them as a private entity would become a problem in the current situation.

"That's a generous offer, but as we travel between various countries, we can't tie ourselves to any specific nation…"

"I see, I won't force you. But do consider the current situation. The Millennium won't care about national borders."

After finishing her audience with the queen, Ferna let out a deep sigh.

As always, or perhaps even more than usual, she was a person who gave off an oppressive presence.

"Ah, Ferna-san, good work."

Seeing Haruto waiting right by the castle gate, she felt relieved.

Though he would probably object if told so, Haruto was a healing presence. Being with him was calming.

He was probably the person most unconnected to royalty and nobility.

"How did it go? Any unreasonable demands?"

The way he showed concern was different from the people on the executive board. They certainly trusted Ferna, but sometimes she wished they would speak to her more gently.

"No, it was appreciation for our work so far and another recruitment attempt. Haruto-san, I think you could serve as a royal purveyor though."

Haruto couldn't help but smile wryly. That wasn't something he could do.

"Now that this job is done, where will you go next, Ferna-san?"

"Let's see… probably Casalia."

Casalia had lost Cordova as a potential enemy. And Ogress was now a perfectly friendly nation.

This meant a considerable portion of the forces they had stationed at the borders could now be allocated elsewhere.

"I also think it's looking suspicious there. Rather, if Casalia doesn't annex it quickly, small states will start popping up everywhere."

The former empire's territories still didn't belong to any nation. Medium and small lords each maintained defenses over their own territories.

Lemdria was making moves to annex the empire's southeastern regions, but the exact opposite direction would have to be left to Casalia.

"Then we'll be together for a while longer?"

"Ah, yes, that's right."

She could get there instantly with teleportation magic, but Ferna was reluctant to use it.

She thought it wouldn't be bad to actually see the route to Casalia with her own eyes.

"Well then, I look forward to working with you, Ferna-san."

"Yes, likewise."

And so the two of them walked together toward the inn where the wagon was kept.

Northeast of Cordova. Deep in the remote mountains, far from any village.

The group that had finished their sabotage operations against the Cordovan army was preparing to return home.

"Well then, we'll take our leave."

"Yeah, good work. Glad we didn't lose anyone."

Sent off with a rugged smile, the beastkin teleported away. Only Ordo and Pino remained.

"You could have gone back too, you know? You should show your face to your family."

Ordo said. Surprisingly, this man was considerate about such things.

Though his direct superior Asuka despised him, Pino didn't dislike this side of Ordo.

"No, contact with beastkin really should be handled by another beastkin. More importantly, Ordo-sama, is it alright for you to not meet with your wives?"

Yes, that. In other words, the fact that he had built a harem. That was probably why the man-hating Asuka detested him.

Though she herself seemed to be building a harem of girls.

Basically, she hated all men except His Majesty the Demon King.

"Well, something came up that I need to take care of."

The business Ordo spoke of was nothing more than his personal matter.

Carla the dragon slayer. His feelings toward her could only be called love.

"Please be careful not to reduce our fighting strength."

"I know. I'm not interested in dead women."

He would take women he liked by force. He had angered His Majesty the Demon King over this more than twice or thrice, and this time would probably become another such instance.

As a man, Pino could understand it. The way Ordo didn't abuse his power or make flimsy excuses actually felt rather manly.

But this time, his target was who she was.

Recalling the image of that woman with beautiful silver hair, Pino let out a soft sigh.