novelraw Chapter 254: Epilogue (2)
Chapter 254: Epilogue (2)
Episode 254. Epilogue (2)
Allied Military Government, Abyss Archipelago, Capital City Pandemonium.
"Oh my~ Welcome, Governor-General! It is truly an honor to meet the 'Master of Defense,' whose renown echoes across the entire continent!"
As the business owner rushed out to greet him with an almost burdensome, exaggerated welcome, the Allied Military Government's Governor-General, Damien De Millbeau, felt his mood improve.
It was praise he had heard to the point of being sick of it, but far from tiresome, it was thrilling.
It felt new every single time.
Indeed, he was an incredible talent who deserved such praise!
"Your Excellency. You're failing to manage your expression."
But Damien's brief moment of joy was shattered by the cold, sharp voice of a woman.
Ah, right. I shouldn't be feeling good about this.Because he was here on unpleasant business.
"Ahem, ahem. Thank you for the welcome. Let us go inside."
"Yes, yes, of course! I'll escort you!"
Striding into the building, Damien was guided into a reception room that was ostentatiously luxurious at a glance.
"Please, make yourself comfortable, Your Excellency the Governor-General. Shall I prepare some black tea for you?"
In the past, as a nobleman from the poor southern region of Francia, and a second son at that, he might have felt a little intimidated, but...
Damien propped his feet up on the ridiculously expensive-looking table with a thud and crossed his arms.
"No, I don't need anything like that. More importantly, business owner. Do you not know why I'm here?"
"Hm, hm. We-well. I can't imagine what business Your Excellency the Governor-General would have at our model workplace..."
Seeing the man feign ignorance, Damien clicked his tongue with a 'tsk.'
"I've received a report that this 'model workplace' has exceeded the Demonic Labor Hours designated by the Allied Military Government."
Thanks to that, this renowned!
Master of Defense has ended up wasting his time like this!
As Damien thought this and snorted, the owner rubbed his hands together obsequiously and replied.
"Oh my, what! There must have been some kind of misunderstanding!"
He then gestured to an employee, who brought over a box and opened it in front of Damien.
At the sight of the box packed to the brim with gleaming gold coins, Damien let out a gasp, took his feet off the table, and straightened his posture.
"Our workplace is such a model establishment, there must have been a mistake somewhere, Your Excellency the Governor-General. Still, I have prepared this small gift of friendship to express my joy at seeing the busy 'Master of Defense'! What an honor it is that you visited in person!"
"Well, how did you know I happen to like..."
Damien was practically drooling, but...
When Giselle Davi cleared her throat behind him, he instantly changed his stance.
"...You dare tempt me with this large bribe, you unscrupulous business owner!"
"Uh, no, that is... That's..."
The owner couldn't hide his bewilderment.
He had diligently investigated and prepared before coming from his homeland, and the information that Damien De Millbeau was weak to bribes should have been solid.
The information was indeed solid. His misfortune was in overlooking the fact that the Abyss Archipelago was too remote to receive updated information about recent changes.
"Violation of the Demonic Labor Law! Attempted bribery of a public official and obstruction of official duties! What's the punishment for all of this, Davi?"
To Damien's question, Giselle Davi answered sharply.
"A one-month business suspension, Your Excellency the Governor-General."
"Gasp, n-no! Mercy, please show me mercy! Your Excellency the Governor-General!"
"Ah, don't worry about it~ There are plenty of others who want to come, even if it's not you~!"
"Oh no, it was so hard to get this position! Oh nooo!"
Damien made his cool declaration and walked straight out, leaving the corrupt businessman wailing behind him.
"Ugh, what a pain in the ass. Does the Governor-General have to do this sort of thing himself?"
"I apologize, Your Excellency the Governor-General, but the homeland appointed you to this position precisely to handle such matters."
At Giselle Davi's razor-sharp reply, Damien heaved a deep sigh.
The demons who survived the last war were performing forced labor under the management of the Allied Military Government. It was a form of war reparations paid through labor.
Honestly, it was close to slavery, but considering what the demons had done, they weren't in a position to complain.
Damien himself would have drawn his sword if the demon bastards had refused to accept even this.
The Allied Forces, in the name of maintaining a minimum standard, had prohibited excessively harsh labor, but it was still a source of free, high-quality labor.
Thanks to this, over the past few years, the right to operate a business in the former Abyss Corporation territory, the Abyss Archipelago, had become a position that money couldn't easily buy among the nations that had participated in the Allied Forces.
With the exception of the Aquitaine Merchant Guild, which held an unparalleled share due to having exclusively handled the Allied Forces' supply and support, every country was fiercely competing to claim a spot.
As a result, acquiring or managing a business required enduring considerable financial loss, and many who did manage to get a foot in the door were the types to work the demons to the bone to quickly recoup their investment costs.
"Tsk, tsk. Still, this happens way too often. Ugh, if they would just operate in an exemplary way like the Aquitaine Merchant Guild, huh? It's less work for me, they get to keep the positions they worked so hard for, it's a win-win! A win-win! But what the—"
The Allied Forces had prohibited excessively harsh labor conditions and agreed on a proper working environment and minimum wages, but since the other party was demons, and humans tended to think 'what's good is good,' there were many who frequently crossed the line and tried to smooth things over with bribes.
"...Your. Excellency. The. Governor-General."
Damien's lament was cut short by Giselle Davi's call, sharp as a blade.
"Huh, yes?"
"...I trust you have not already forgotten why I am here."
"That... Ahem, ahem."
Damien cleared his throat.
He was here because he'd been caught taking money and turning a blind eye to the business owners.
In truth, if he had taken a bit more, his head would have rolled from the Governor-General's post, but Marquis Lafayette had stormed in right after he'd accepted a few bribes, and he had to cry and beg for mercy before he had the chance.
Marquis Lafayette, considering the reputation of the 'Master of Defense' and the prestige of Francia, decided to let the matter go unpunished for now, confiscating only the bribes he'd taken. However, he had left Giselle Davi behind as an overseer.
It was obvious how he'd been caught so quickly. That damned Black Witch of Aquitaine...
Damien shuddered and replied reluctantly.
"Th-that, umm, I'm sorry about that."
"As long as you are aware, Your Excellency the Governor-General."
At her frosty reply, Damien looked at the Major General rank insignia on Giselle Davi's epaulette and let out a deep sigh.
"Sigh, now that you're a general, you're not holding back at all. And after all the trenches we went through together..."
Was it already two years ago that they fought a desperate struggle together on this island?
Damien wore a wistful expression, and Giselle chuckled in reply.
"I am a direct inspector from the General Headquarters, Your Excellency the Governor-General. I am merely being faithful to my position; there are no personal feelings involved."
"Right, right. Ugh, let's just go inside. It's cold. I've been on this island for two years, but I still can't get used to this damn island's weather."
*
A short while later, in the Governor-General's office.
Damien De Millbeau sat at his desk, diligently signing documents to reduce the mountain of papers, and glanced sideways.
Giselle Davi was leisurely sipping cocoa while reading a report.
Come to think of it, for someone so damn fussy, she had the palate of a child, always drinking sweet cocoa even on the battlefield.
From her behavior, you'd think she'd only drink coffee with no sugar.
Feeling the corners of his mouth gently turning up, Damien continued to work through the documents before speaking.
"Your inspection duty ends today, right?"
Giselle Davi blew on her cocoa, whoosh-whoosh, took a sip, and replied.
"Yes, Your Excellency the Governor-General. It's time for me to return to the homeland."
If you looked closely, her actions were surprisingly cute.
Damien thought so as he bantered playfully.
"Wow, so today's the last day I get to see these neatly organized reports, huh? I don't know how I'll get any work done without our Major General Davi."
Giselle looked at Damien with a slightly strange expression and let out a small sigh.
"Honestly, you aren't even that busy. I know that when I'm not here, you dump half your work on your subordinates and just slack off. In the first place, didn't you take the Governor-General position because it's prestigious but leisurely?"
"Just how much does that Black Witch of Aquitaine know...?!"
As Damien cried out in despair, Giselle replied with a look that said he was pathetic.
"I'm not Countess Aquitaine's minion. And even if it wasn't the Countess, I can get a rough estimate just by looking, Your Excellency the Governor-General."
"Ugh, there's no way I'm that easy to read..."
Giselle watched Damien spout nonsense for a moment, then averted her gaze slightly and added.
"Still, I appreciate you working diligently, at least while I was here. I will report it properly to His Excellency Marquis Lafayette. Honestly, it was a little unexpected."
Well, that's because I was trying to look good for you!
As Damien thought this and cleared his throat, Giselle placed her cocoa cup on the table, stood up, and approached him.
"This is my final report, Your Excellency the Governor-General. I would be grateful if you ensured nothing like this happens again in the future."
Damien stared at the report, then stood up, faced Giselle, and spoke with a slight smile.
"Still, it was nice seeing you after so long, Major General Davi. Ahem, ahem. Th-that Major General rank insignia you're wearing, you know my strong recommendation played a part, right? We went through a lot together and you accomplished a lot. Our relationship wasn't that bad, was it? Right?"
Giselle looked at Damien with a slightly complicated expression, but soon smiled as if she couldn't help it and replied.
"Yes, that's right. It wasn't as bad as I thought, Your Excellency the Governor-General."
Damien, emboldened by Giselle's reaction—
Pulled out the bouquet he had hidden under his desk and presented it to Giselle.
"Giselle Davi! Marry me!"
Damien held out the bouquet, squeezed his eyes shut, and spoke in a rapid-fire burst.
"Your passion to rise to the rank of general as a woman! Your flawless ability that covers all my weaknesses, and your diligence! If there is a woman who can make this Master of Defense perfect, it is without a doubt you!"
Silence fell.
Thud—the sound of documents being placed on the desk.
Even after that, only silence flowed, so Damien cautiously opened one eye to look at Giselle—
Giselle wore an expression of utter disbelief.
"Pardon my impertinence, Your Excellency the Governor-General. But what is the meaning of this?"
"Wh-what do you mean, what's the meaning..."
"A superior I've been exchanging documents with suddenly pulls out a bouquet and proposes. Even I cannot comprehend what this could possibly mean."
"N-no, it's... I mean it literally. Th-that is. We've been through our share of hardships. You're my subordinate, but, uh, we can talk. You're wise, and pretty. You're going back to the homeland after today, so, that's... Um..."
As Damien's voice trailed off, Giselle let out a sigh that could have split the earth.
"Your Excellency the Governor-General... May I speak frankly, without regard for our ranks?"
Damien shuddered, but he soon nodded—
And Giselle Davi began her verbal onslaught.
"It is highly presumptuous of me, but I for one cannot understand from where, in the relationship between Your Excellency and myself, romantic feelings could have possibly blossomed."
"W-what? But we've gotten along well for a long time! I-I even have gynophobia, but I never felt uncomfortable around you..."
"That's because I'm your subordinate and had to accommodate you in every way. If you, my superior, felt uncomfortable while working me to the bone, would that even make you human?"
"Ugh..."
"From our very first meeting, you looked down on me for being a woman. You're arrogant, self-centered, and a coward to boot."
"Kaaargh..."
"You even abandoned me and my subordinates and ran away in Iberica."
"B-but I saved you then!"
"If you hadn't abandoned us and run away in the first place, I wouldn't have been on the verge of death."
"Kaaaargh, I-I thought I looked cool saving you back then and scored some points..."
"And then there's your personality, slandering and badmouthing His Excellency Marquis Lafayette who trusted you with a high position, and Her Excellency Countess Aquitaine who supported you in every way possible."
"Aaaaargh, o-okay! Stop, stop!"
The nearly groggy Damien cried out, but Giselle Davi mercilessly landed the decisive blow.
"As for a 30-something-year-old bachelor... an old man five years my senior, who has a high position but is too lazy to do anything and dumps it all on his subordinates... I, in my foolishness, cannot even begin to imagine how I could possibly feel any romantic attraction, so I would be most grateful if Your Excellency could explain it to me."
"Kuh..."
The bouquet fell limply to the floor.
As Damien De Millbeau, 33 years old (who had never been in a relationship), lay draped over his desk, tears streaming down his face, Giselle Davi felt a slight sense of self-reproach at how refreshed she felt.
"As a commander who holds out in disadvantageous situations, I do respect your abilities, Your Excellency. I am also grateful that you valued me as a superior, but as a romantic partner, it is simply impossible—"
"Stop, please stop... Just kill me instead..."
Giselle wondered if she had been too harsh and considered comforting him, but then she shook her head.
"I apologize, Your Excellency the Governor-General. I will take my leave now."
Giselle walked out of the room—
And her eyes met with a blonde woman who was blinking right in front of her.
The woman, the succubus Leah, smiled brightly.
"Ah, Inspector! Thank you so much! The owner who just got his business suspended was a real piece of work! Everyone's been saying things have gotten noticeably better since you arrived!"
Giselle nodded with a calm tone.
"I was only carrying out my duties. The Allied Military Government has indeed imposed labor upon you, but it is strictly based on the standards specified in the treaty. We must be different from the former Abyss Corporation."
Leah smiled lightly, bowed her head once more to Giselle, and then spoke.
"But... the delicious scent of despair has been wafting out for a while now. Did something happen to His Excellency the Governor-General?"
Giselle turned her gaze toward the inside of the room—
"Sob, sob, women are so scary..."
She glanced at the pathetically sniffling Damien and said one thing.
"...He was just rejected, apparently."
"Oh, dear."