Civil Servant in a Romance Fantasy

969 – Your donation warms the world – 4

With the Emperor’s final approval, the donation craze spread beyond the Empire and across the continent.

The Kingdom of Armen, a neighboring country with a border and the second largest power on the continent, as well as the Magic Council (and the United Kingdom of Juven) who declared that they would actively cooperate with Trixie and Matap, and other countries that followed suit and showed their presence one after another. Thanks to this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is on fire as the year-end approaches.

In particular, the support of middle-sized countries such as Ryuton, Bazen, and Quoronos was particularly strong. This is because the heads of each country also know that three major countries will be designated when the treaty organization is launched.

And two of the three powerhouses are obviously Armenia and Juve, but the last powerhouse spot is still vacant. It seems that they are trying to appeal that they are the last powerhouse through more donations and cooperation.

‘It seems like Quoronos is after something other than a great power position.’

To be honest, Quaronos is more of a struggle to get rid of the accumulated stack of sins than a show of presence for a great power position.

It is unpleasant that they are trying to pay for the sin of daring to offend the empire with money, but at the same time, it is satisfying because it means that the diplomacy of Quoronos, who made the decision to save the country, has been normalized. If I had not come to my senses yet, I would have joined this great journey without much thought.

“I wonder if this is what Aphel felt in the past. At the time, it was said that the continent’s wealth was gathered into a system, and Jim is also receiving donations from all over the world while sitting, so isn’t it similar?”

The Emperor also smiled and poured vodka into a glass, as if he was pleased with this procession of donations.

He doesn’t drink from the bottle, but from a glass? This means that the emperor is in a calm and happy mood. When he’s feeling down, he doesn’t even have time to pour from a glass, but just gulps it down.

“Apels exploited the continent by force, but Your Majesty has risen above all others through the voluntary cooperation of the nations. How can you compare the reign of the likes of Apels with Your Majesty’s?”

That’s why I tried to make the emperor feel better by saying the most pleasant words possible.

The Emperor’s mood should rise and rise, and the probability of me being hit by a spark should decrease. Even if something bad happens, since the mood is already sky-high, it will take time for it to fall back to the ground. Just like how you won’t be shaken by moderate damage if your maximum health is high.

“Kuuu, that’s right. As the Count said, it can’t be compared to the likes of Aphel. Comparing this miracle to Aphel is disrespectful even to Michael X in heaven.”

The emperor chuckled at the flattery that filled his soul and drank his vodka.

Rather, it is a combination of monopoly, flattery, and drinking. This is why I feel like a traitor who is being manipulated by a real tyrant. I am afraid of what will be recorded in the history of the empire.

“But Count. It is a joyous thing that the nations are united and moving toward peace, but there is one thing that is bothering me.”

“There is something that disturbs Your Majesty’s mind. It is truly regrettable and heartbreaking. What is it?”

“I’m worried about how I should react to the Winter Three Kingdoms.”

‘ah.’

Those words made me laugh bitterly.

Literally ‘all’ nations are contributing to the glory of Stefan and the construction of Dong Danis. All nations, regardless of whether their national power is strong or weak, or their territory is large or small.

This means that the winter Three Kingdoms, which are in the extreme northeast of the continent, are also included. They expressed their intention to donate money to a good cause by saving up every penny they can from their already meager means.

How unfortunate this is. No matter how much we plan to compensate for donations from other countries, if it is at the level of the Three Kingdoms in Winter, the fact that a large sum of money is being withdrawn is a fatal blow. There is a high possibility that a dispute will occur while the compensation is being deposited.

“I would rather refuse and just accept the heart, but it would be embarrassing to accept donations from other countries while rejecting only the Three Kingdoms in Winter.”

“The Winter Three Kingdoms may misunderstand the Empire’s intentions.”

“Yeah, that’s a problem too.”

Even if the Empire refuses with a heavy heart, the Winter Three Kingdoms may be terrified and think, ‘The Empire is trying to exclude us from the new order!’

That’s a difficult thing. We have no regrets towards the Three Kingdoms of Winter. We just feel sorry for our loyal friends who are noisy even when we stay still.

“That’s what I’m saying. Instead of goods, I’m thinking of receiving something else as a donation from the Three Kingdoms in Winter.”

“What if it’s something else?”

“Due to the harsh environment in the Three Kingdoms during the winter, isn’t it common for the labor force to be unable to work and just sit idle? I think that instead of money, we can send people to work on the project.”

I silently nodded my head at the amazing idea of ​​accepting foreign workers instead of money.

Actually, it’s not a strange idea. Thanks to the flood of donations, Stefan’s Glory and Dong Danis will be built larger than originally planned, so it’s only natural that they’ll be investing a lot of manpower.

But what if you go beyond expanding or reorganizing a city and build a new one? This is a major project that requires a huge amount of manpower. If you try to handle it with just the empire’s manpower, it could cause problems for existing industries.

“However, this is a demand made by the needs of the Empire, so the Empire intends to support the laborers’ expenses for coming to the Empire, as well as their living and lodging expenses. Their wages should also be supported appropriately.”

“Your Majesty’s mercy is truly as warm as the spring breeze, so even the three kingdoms in winter will be moved by His grace.”

In response to the emperor’s subsequent words, he reflexively offered a second round of flattery.

But it is not an empty promise. The emperor’s measures are a great help to the economy of the Three Kingdoms in the winter, which is already suffering a fatal blow just from the loss of large sums of money. After all, the idle labor force is going overseas for free and earning money for the empire.

And if you look at what they say is appropriate support, it is obvious that they will pay more than the appropriate wage. Unlike other countries that pay donations and receive compensation, the Three Kingdoms of Winter cannot even pay donations, so they will try to comfort them with wages.

‘Is this the winter emperor?’

An emperor who is strangely kind and gentle to foreign countries. It feels like I am looking at an emperor from some other world. How great it would be if he could show just 10% of that kindness to his own subjects.

However, as a great power, it is important to be merciful to small countries and to foster allies behind the second-largest power. If you think that this is also for the national interest…

…

‘pup.’

I tried hard to calm my mind, but the anger and sadness that I couldn’t control welled up inside me.

You damn b*stard. You’re the kind of guy who spreads money to other countries on the other side of the continent for the sake of national interest, but you’re manipulating the subject right in front of you? Is it because it’s beneficial for you to do so?

It’s so vicious. Was I destined to be happy if I was born in a country other than the empire?

“Yes, Count.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please give your order.”

“The Holy See said that they would establish an archdiocese in Dong Danis.”

“yes?”

It was news that made the simmering anger subside in an instant.

“The Archdiocese, you mean?”

It was such unexpected news that I couldn’t help but ask a question.

The Archdiocese is a huge administrative unit and a core unit, one of only 11 within the Empire. Even its location is in the system, five duchies, and five royal territories, so its importance goes without saying.

But why would you establish such an archdiocese in a single city? Even though the Archdiocese of Tiraf is standing next to Danis?

“It seems that the Church also highly values ​​the ideals of the Treaty Organization. Promising to establish an archdiocese in a city where no shovel has been broken. More beautiful than any donation promise─”

“He said that he didn’t have money, so he asked to see it through to the establishment of an archdiocese.”

“ah.”

Those words made me cry with my heart.

Well, they don’t have any money right now, so they’re going to auction off my biography too. It’s going to be a bit tough to donate to a large-scale project.

“Well, in addition to establishing the archdiocese, they said they would bless construction sites and place priests for the workers. They said they would do that since they are not short on money.”

He quietly raised his glass to his sip at the Emperor’s words, “Why else would the kingdom have made such a suggestion first?”

It is truly regrettable to see the church struggling to avoid bankruptcy.

While donations and manpower for the construction of Stefan’s Glory were steadily piling up, the wizards, including Tricky, were busy designing Stefan’s Glory.

It is the first floating building on the continent and a great symbol that will become the headquarters of the Treaty Organization. It is a noble building with a solar theme, although it will undergo some modifications. It is natural that the wizards are rushing in with their eyes wide open, as they cannot tolerate even the slightest mistake in the process and the result.

Of course, what moves wizards is not the determination to make mistakes, but rather the desire to explore that they can only experience once in their lives.

“It may be more difficult to repeatedly float and land whenever necessary than to maintain constant floating. It is no easy task to suddenly float a castle that was on the ground into the air, let alone land it without any damage.”

Anyway, with Trixie at the helm, the Stefan’s Glorious Design Group was established, and the design group headquarters was moved from the Magic Tower to our mansion due to unavoidable circumstances (reason: the triplets were looking for their mother).

Thanks to this, the largest banquet hall in the mansion is now bustling with wizards. The wizards of the Magic Council will be arriving soon, so I’m wondering if I should tear down the wall for a moment.

“It would be a good idea to build a spire to maintain balance, and install a magic circle underground.”

“If you allow it, the number of spires will increase significantly compared to a normal building.”

“You have to accept that. Appearance is important, but if it becomes unstable, there’s no greater shame.”

With that thought in my mind, I absentmindedly eavesdropped on the conversation between Tricky and the wizards.

Actually, I wouldn’t say I overheard anything. I was just standing there at the entrance to the banquet hall, staring intently.

‘It’s a spire.’

By the way, build a lot of spires to maintain balance. If they are too messy, it will look ugly, but if built properly, won’t it look like a castle wall surrounding the headquarters?

The sight of the castle walls rising into the air is so magnificent that just imagining it makes my heart swell.

“I think 13 to 14 spires would be adequate.”

“excuse me.”

Maybe that’s why I committed the atrocity of interfering in a meeting on a non-expert topic.

“If we have to build a lot of spires anyway, wouldn’t 18 be better? If we build as many as there are countries on the continent, then the justification is good.”

But I just couldn’t hold back those words.

Although one of the 18 is an observer state and the rest are practically vassals of the Empire and Armenia, there are officially 18 countries on the continent.

Building a spire for each member state at the Continental Treaty Organization headquarters. Sounds romantic and nice.

“18?”

Trixie stroked her chin at my words,

“Not bad. It’s hard to reduce, but easy to increase.”

The answer was quite positive.

After all, my wife is the best.