Everyone gathered in the office as soon as the morning sun rose. Raguel, Ilea, Zal’karin, and Hakain sat at the table, waiting for Yohan.

Shaperia and Gaf were nowhere to be seen. They had left for the outskirts of the Miyatro domain and were patrolling its vast territory on Yohan's orders. They probably would not return to the castle for quite some time.

Raguel's shoulders slumped.

“He could at least have left the captain of the guard here.”

Soon, Yohan and Ilea would leave the castle too. One by one, the people Raguel trusted and relied on were disappearing. He felt utterly dejected. He had no confidence he could manage the domain alone.

Zal’karin spoke with a rather pompous air.

“Don't worry, brat. You still have me, don't you? I'll be here to guide you.”

Raguel heaved a sigh.

“You can't even do basic arithmetic. What help would you be? I'll count myself lucky if you don't get in the way.”

Raguel's principal duties included those of a treasurer. Running a domain required a good head for numbers. Fortunately, he had quite a talent for mathematics. He had no need of help from the likes of Zal’karin.

Zal’karin shouted in a fury.

“A-arithmetic?! Give me a single day to learn that trifling business and I'll be far better at it than you! Care to make a wager?!”

Raguel looked at him wearily.

“Forget arithmetic. How about learning some administration? No, never mind. How could a Demon possibly manage a domain?”

Most official posts in the domain were currently vacant. A treasurer to handle the accounts, an administrator to manage the populace and oversee festivals and ceremonies, a scribe to keep records of every kind... They had none of these officials. They did not even have a storekeeper.

Until now, all those duties had fallen to Ilea and Gaf. Now they were leaving. Raguel would have to stay behind and run the domain on his own. In truth, he could see no way forward.

Zal’karin sprang to his feet and declared loudly,

“Leave it all to me! I'll take you down a peg!”

Raguel did not find him particularly dependable. Having a Demon's body imposed far too many limitations. For a start, Zal’karin could not show himself to the residents. An administrator naturally had to deal with the village chiefs, but that was impossible for him.

'He's no help at all.'

Raguel's shoulders drooped even further. He spoke listlessly.

“Don't go making more work by sticking your nose in. Just stay put. Please.”

Zal’karin's already red face flushed an even deeper crimson. Just as he was about to shout something, Ilea spoke.

“It certainly would be difficult for you to handle everything alone, young master.”

Raguel's face brightened a little. He was grateful simply to have someone understand his predicament.

“I knew you'd understand what I'm going through, Ilea.”

“Yohan's done it to me plenty of times too. Sometimes he really is... unreasonable.”

Raguel nodded vigorously.

“Exactly. He dumped every last thing on me.”

“While telling you he trusted you. Right?”

“That's exactly it! He said that to me too.”

Ilea chuckled.

“He must have a great deal of faith in you, young master.”

Raguel's expression darkened again.

“... Honestly, I'm scared. What if I let him down?”

Ilea shook her head.

“Don't put so much pressure on yourself. Even if you make a mistake, Yohan won't scold you. He's... how should I put it? He always looks to himself for the cause of a problem. He never blames anyone else.”

Raguel agreed with her. He had never once seen Yohan blame someone else. He nodded without realizing it.

“He certainly is that kind of person.”

Ilea gave him a gentle smile.

“So relax. If you're too tense, you're bound to make mistakes even with easy tasks.”

Hakain tapped out his short pipe and spoke.

“Sounds like you're a bit short-handed around here.”

Raguel answered,

“We are, Mr. Hakain. It's because of the castle's unusual circumstances. Finding people is terribly difficult.”

The Miyatro domain was ruled by a Demon. Anyone who became an official here would inevitably discover that secret. Most would surely be horrified and rush straight to the Church. That would spell the end for Yohan.

He could not hire just anyone. He needed trusted associates whose loyalty had been proven, and he still had far too few of them.

Hakain spoke.

“Perhaps I could lend a hand for now? I can read and write, and I'm reasonably good with numbers.”

Ilea gave him a curious look.

“Why the sudden interest? You find everything a bother.”

Hakain was always puffing away at his pipe with a languid expression. Unless he was training with Yohan, he was perpetually listless. Yet here he was, volunteering for tedious work. Ilea found it hard to understand.

Hakain replied,

“Oh, no particular reason. I'm a little bored...”

Ilea's gaze sharpened a little.

“Tell me the real reason.”

Hakain gulped. He was a little afraid of Ilea. A sheepish smile spread across his face.

“Ha ha. Actually, I have a favor to ask of my lord.”

Ilea gave him an unsurprised look. That idler would never willingly take on troublesome work unless there was something he wanted.

“What sort of favor?”

“Well...”

Hakain broke off. Yohan had entered the office. Everyone rose from their seats.

“The great End has arrived! Show your respects!”

“You're a little late, Yohan.”

“Oh, you're here?”

“Ha ha, good morning.”

Yohan swept his gaze over them.

“You seem to have been having quite a lively conversation. What were you all discussing without me?”

Zal’karin cried out as though he had been waiting for this moment.

“O great End! They were speaking ill of you! This wicked servant heard it all!”

Yohan chuckled.

“Now I'm rather curious what they said.”

Raguel scratched his head.

“W-well...”

Zal’karin cut him off.

“Unreasonable! The witch and the High Elf disparaged the great End as unreasonable!”

Yohan folded his arms.

“Unreasonable, am I? Well, they're not wrong.”

He was, in fact, aware of his own temperament.

Ilea spoke.

“You've left the young master far too much work. Frankly, we're terribly short-handed.”

Yohan looked at Raguel.

“You mean running the domain?”

Raguel answered, looking a little intimidated.

“I-I'm still learning, and I'm not used to it yet... But I can do a good job!”

Yohan considered it for a moment, then spoke.

“Do what you can. It's difficult to recruit more people right now. You know very well why.”

He could probably find a way if he looked, but he had no time to concern himself with minor matters right now. More pressing problems were piled high before him.

Raguel answered with a resigned expression.

“... All right. I'll do my best.”

Yohan felt a little sorry for him. For the time being, he could offer no solution.

Hakain spoke cautiously.

“My lord, I believe I could be of some help.”

Ilea chimed in.

“He says he can read and write. Do sums too. I thought he was an idiot who knew nothing but the sword, so that was quite a surprise.”

Yohan looked at Hakain.

“Excellent. Then you can assist Raguel.”

Hakain scratched his cheek.

“Gladly, but I do have one request.”

He stole a glance at Yohan's face, gauging his reaction. Yohan did not seem particularly displeased.

“Speak freely. I'm listening.”

He was more generous than one might expect. He always had been. Hakain had spent over two months at the lord's castle, yet he still could not quite figure Yohan out.

'... Is he really a Demon? An Apostle, no less?'

Yohan was remarkably humane. He cared for his subjects and always looked after those around him. There was hardly any evil in him. In Hakain's eyes, Count Staviana seemed far more of a Demon than Yohan did.

Hakain spoke.

“I'd like to move my family to the barony.”

The Count was holding Hakain's family hostage. For their sake, he dared not defy the Count. With his family used as leverage, he had even entered into a contract of subjugation with him. He was a slave of sorts.

Yohan answered at once.

“Very well. I'll get your family back from the Count.”

Hakain's languid eyes widened.

“R-really?”

It was a simple matter for Yohan. As things stood, the Count could hardly refuse his requests.

“I'll speak to him. You'll see your family within a month at the latest.”

Hakain bowed his head deeply.

“... I will serve you with all my loyalty.”

He was a little dazed. Escaping the Count's grasp had become possible so easily. He would no longer have to see those loathsome mages or Deathshadow.

The price was placing himself in a Demon's embrace, but he did not care. Yohan was far more human than the Count, and the barony was a paradise compared to Deathshadow.

Yohan chuckled.

“If you're offering your loyalty, I won't refuse it.”

Hakain said,

“I'll prove myself through results. Ask the young master later. You'll find I'm a fairly useful fellow.”

He smiled and winked at Raguel, who replied with an awkward look.

“Ha ha. Well, at least I have another pair of hands now.”

Yohan spoke.

“I'll fill the remaining positions later. Until then, you'll have to shoulder the burden, Raguel.”

“Leave it to me. I'll work hard.”

Yohan nodded once, then looked around at everyone.

“I'm counting on all of you to look after the domain while I'm gone.”

Zal’karin cried out loudly,

“This wicked servant shall defend the domain with his life!”

Ignoring him, Yohan addressed Hakain.

“Hakain, helping Raguel is all well and good, but Gawain is your highest priority. Report to me immediately if anything unusual happens.”

There was no telling when Gawain might become a Demon. Someone needed to watch him, and Hakain would be well suited to the task. He was capable of handling all sorts of unexpected developments.

“Go with an easy mind, my lord.”

Yohan found that rather reassuring.

“Good. We'd best be on our way, then.”

His gaze shifted to Ilea.

“We're going to the Count's residence first, correct?” she asked.

Their first destination was the city of Veldana. Yohan intended to see the Count briefly before heading to the royal capital.

He nodded.

“That's right. Let's go.”

Yohan and Ilea left the office at once. Grian stood awkwardly outside the door. The moment he saw Yohan, he gave an uncomfortable smile.

“M-Master, have a safe journey.”

Yohan scowled.

“I don't need you seeing me off. Spend that time thinking about how to help Raguel. If anything goes wrong in the domain, you'll answer for all of it.”

They were so short-handed that Yohan had no choice but to make use of even this incompetent man.

'I really do need to find some people.'

He would start considering ways to do that now. It was quite a headache.

As Yohan's scowl deepened, Grian prostrated himself on the floor.

“I-I shall devote my heart and soul to tilling your farm, Master.”

Yohan had no faith in him whatsoever. Clicking his tongue, he walked straight past Grian. Even the time it took to speak to that vermin was a waste. He headed directly for the Count's residence.