I was accidentally injured by God and I just want to be an ordinary person

"Demon-Lord, I wish to discuss your decree regarding the construction of stone roads between key cities. Although Lady Camisia has allocated funds, the reforms currently underway in the various territories mean we simply cannot spare the manpower—particularly the lack of laborers capable of carrying stone over long distances. Given the current situation, the project may have to be postponed for over a year..."

"You're actually postponing it for a year? Aethus, are you planning to let the Demon King's plan go to waste?!"

Extremely angry, Adlan slammed his cane on the luxurious carpet with a bang, and his trembling body even gave people the illusion that he was about to swing the cane at Athers.

The middle-aged man named Aysers took a half step back with fear on his face.

"But, Lord Adelan, we are really short of manpower!"

"Didn't I send you three thousand laborers? Lady Camisia and Captain Lingran also sent a thousand each. Adding the nobles from other territories, that's at least over seven thousand, right? Not to mention that the ones sent by Lady Camisia and Lord Lingran are all regular soldiers."

Although the remaining four people remained silent, everyone, including Camisia, gave off an air of agreement.

"Yes, that's true, but if we want to pave roads in four hub cities at the same time, the excavation and transportation of stone materials will be too difficult to carry out."

"Then hire—"

"Quiet."

Ella's words immediately shut up the two people who were arguing. Of course, this was the tone that Iris gave to Ella.

"My apologies, Demon Lord, for your insolence."

"It's alright, Sir Adram, don't worry about it. I just thought of a solution."

"Are you planning to hire outsiders, Demon Lord?"

Aysers said with some concern that he had certainly thought of the method of hiring, which was exactly what Adrien had just mentioned, but hiring outsiders would cost a lot of extra gold coins, and the wages would be two to three times more than that of ordinary demon workers. At least the current funds could not support the completion of the project.

Chapter 8: Wise Leaders (Part 2)

With a snap, Ella closed the file, took out several blueprints from the storage and handed them to Luty, who then distributed them to everyone.

Seeing the puzzled looks in everyone's eyes, Ella added.

"This is the blueprint for the artificial puppet."

"Artificial puppet?"

"Well, Lord Adrane, you can think of them as non-living monsters. Although they are not capable of delicate work based on their current capabilities, simple heavy labor like moving stone can be left to them."

After carefully looking through the drawings Ella handed over, Camisia spoke hesitantly.

"Princess, the technology to create puppets is only possessed by the God-man race. It's said to require a large number of crimson-grade magic cores as the power source, and other minerals are also needed for auxiliary activities. The cost is too high to mass-produce them, so they can only be used as a war reserve..."

"That's no problem. As for the Crimson Gold grade magic core, is this quality okay?"

Ella took out a red sphere the size of a human head from the storage and placed it on the table.

This is the magic core in "F.Wing". Although it is produced from a monster of about level 100 and sounds very precious, it is actually the same as the "Angel Crystal". It is a cabbage-level item that players disdain to pick up. The reason why Ella picked it up is simply out of a hamster mentality. Even if one can only be sold for less than 5000 gold coins in the game, it will be quite valuable after accumulating a lot. As far as Ella's warehouse is concerned, the reserves of magic cores in it are second only to angel crystals and other types of ores.

“What, what is this…?”

Adlan spoke hesitantly.

"No need to ask about its origins. Just know that this is a magic core produced by a high-level monster."

"You actually said it was a magic core, Lady Camisia. I remember that even the magic core produced by a level 50 monster is only the size of a fist at most, right?"

In response to Adrián's question, Camisia nodded in affirmation.

"So, this must be a magic core beyond the heroic realm? Above level 60?"

At the end of his words, Adelan's old voice was filled with undisguised shock, and his eyes kept wandering between Camisia and the second-placed young woman named Lingran.

With a bitter look on her face, Linglan lowered her eyes.

"I...I don't know either. Perhaps only Lady Camisia knows."

"Even Lord Lingran, the captain of the Royal Guards, doesn't know?"

"Yes, Marquis Adelan, transcending the realm of heroes is a level I cannot reach."

Seeing Lingelan's ashamed look, Adlan came back to his senses immediately. His words just now undoubtedly touched Lingelan's self-esteem. Making the captain of the Royal Guard, who had a lofty status and powerful strength, admit his own lack of strength on his own initiative was probably more uncomfortable for her than slapping Lingelan directly, especially with Ella, the Demon King, right in front of her.

"Uh, excuse me."

"Don't worry, Marquis Adelan. If I could be stronger..."

Noticing that the atmosphere had become somewhat heavy, Ella immediately changed the subject.

"Ahem, anyway, this is a magic core high enough to serve as the core of an artificial puppet. I've also prepared some minerals to assist in its operation. With enough materials, I should be able to complete fifty pieces within six months. As for the previous Ai..."

Ella forgot Aysir's name for a moment and couldn't help feeling a little anxious, but Aysir himself continued Ella's words.

"No, Demon Lord, I will deploy more personnel and shorten the time to four months. I will not allow your plan to be delayed by the incompetence of my subordinates."

"Ayes, you're not planning to take the labor away from the farm, are you?"

"this……"

Having been hit on the point by Camisia, Athers looked embarrassed.

Thanks to this, Ella knew Ays's name, clapped her hands, and signaled the two to stop.

"No, Aethus."

"I am here."

"I'm not trying to tell you to hurry up. There's no need to rush the road construction."

"However, this will reduce transportation efficiency between hub cities and affect the implementation of subsequent plans. If your plan cannot be completed as expected due to my negligence, I would rather let someone more capable take my place!"

Aysers's resolute expression made Ella stunned for a moment. If she hadn't remembered to show the majesty of the Demon King, Ella would have even wanted to cover her eyes with her hands - now Aysers was radiating a dazzling light like the sun.

"Ah... no, no, I'm the one who needs to apologize first. I arbitrarily decided to implement the entire bill within ten years without considering the actual situation. It's my fault for being inconsiderate."

If I had been more patient and let Ruthie help me interpret things, things might not have turned out the way they are now. I bear absolute responsibility and an apology is only natural.

"Please don't say that, Demon King. Everything you do is for the revival of the demon race. Compared to us, your subordinates, you must be so anxious that you can't sleep. We are deeply ashamed that we can't understand your feelings."

Aethus knelt on the ground and began to sob softly, while the others also looked like they were wiping away tears, especially Aadlan, who was already making low whimpering sounds.

【In the end what happened? 】

Ella really wanted them to stop, but she was afraid that doing so would hurt their feelings. For a moment, she could only think of changing the subject.

"...I've decided to postpone the current bill for a few years, so you don't have to worry about lack of time. Um—this is to allow for a more complete plan."

"I, I understand. Aethus, please get up."

"Thank you, Lord Aadlan."

"Well, let's move on to the next topic."

"Demon King, regarding sea transportation and the expansion of the royal capital..."

So, by the time Ella came out of the audience hall, it was already two o'clock in the afternoon.

◇

After watching Ella, Lotte, and Camisia leave, the five nobles who remained in the audience hall looked at each other, feeling as if they wanted to say something but had no idea how to start.

After a moment, Adlan, the most senior, lifted his robe and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

“This is truly terrifying…”

It was like opening a conversation box, and others also joined in.

"Ahh, it's the Demon King as expected. Every move he makes makes me tremble with fear."

"That kind of atmosphere, as if someone is about to be executed at any moment, I have only felt it once from Camisia-sama, and that was when she was arguing with other Camisia-samas."

"I couldn't breathe at all. I couldn't even speak."

Only Lingran, the captain of the Royal Guard, did not respond. Adelan could not help but look up at Lingran in confusion. Due to his old age, Adelan looked like an old man and was naturally shorter than Lingran, who was born a knight.

"Linglan, aren't you afraid?"

"Hmm? Of course I find the Demon King's aura terrifying. He looks like he's been king for a long time. Only someone born to rule has that kind of aura. Cruel yet wise."

"But why are you feeling a bit down?"

Linglan habitually prepared to hit the sword at her waist, but missed. Then she remembered that she had already left her beloved sword in the house because she could not bring any weapons when meeting the Demon King.

She lowered her head in distress and fiddled with her spotless knight's armor.

"That's because... after seeing the Demon Lord's expression, I can't help but doubt the necessity of our personal guards. That kind of aura can only be radiated by a strong person. I'm certain that the Demon Lord has reached the realm of heroes, perhaps even on par with Camisia-sama. In that case, will the Demon Lord still recognize the value of our personal guards?"

As a member of the demon clan, Linglan has been strictly educated by her parents, who are soldiers, since she was able to recognize the things around her. The Demon King is everything to the demon clan, and she must obey the Demon King and protect the Demon King. These things have been deeply engraved in her mind, and she has been working hard to improve her rank in order to become the Demon King's personal guard.

Due to the good environment she was born in and the natural maze within the demon clan, she was quickly appreciated by Camisia. Finally, on the day she reached the quasi-hero realm, she was appointed by Camisia as the leader of the Demon King's Guard.

You should know that this position is second only to Camisia in the status of the demon clan. Although the power can only command the Demon King's personal guard corps of tens of thousands of people, it has a status that other nobles cannot match. The demon clan has always determined the status according to the distance from the Demon King. The leader of the personal guard corps not only controls the most powerful legion in the demon clan, but can also work for the Demon King at close range. Naturally, it is a job that countless people envy.

Of course, Linglan was not proud of this. Instead, she worked harder to improve herself and refine her martial arts, fantasizing about the day when she could fight for the Demon King. However, with the discovery just now, Linglan couldn't help but feel unprecedented panic.

The Demon King was already powerful enough, even surpassing himself as the head of his personal guard. So was there really any need for people like me to exist? If I were to encounter real danger, would I be a drag on the Demon King? Would I make him bother protecting me?

Whenever she thought of this, Linglan trembled with fear. As a race born for the king, not only was she unable to help, but she even needed the king to push her forward. Nothing could make her feel more shameful, ashamed, and terrified than this.

While thinking about these things, Linglan suddenly felt someone patting her shoulder gently. She raised her eyes, still with a hint of fear in them - it was Marquis Adelan.

Adlan was looking at her with the kind expression that only an old man could have. This was the first time Linglan saw Adlan so gentle.

"Don't worry, Captain Linglan. Although the Demon King may appear stern, he is actually a ruler who understands the feelings of his subjects. He will definitely not abandon you."

"but……"

"Ah, Captain Linglan must think I'm lying, right? Captain Linglan may not have noticed it just now, but I sensed the Demon King's intention."

Adlan took back his hand from Linglan's shoulder and looked up at the other three nobles who had puzzled expressions on their faces.

"Although the Demon King claims to be delaying the plan to allow for more completeness, the decree currently in force has in fact reached a point where it can no longer be improved. Are you all aware of this?"

"Yes, I have already confirmed this with the counselors within the territory."

Aethus nodded in agreement.

Adlan stroked his beard with satisfaction.

"The Demon King would rather take the blame himself than force Aethus to exhaust all the labor within his territory. This is all out of consideration for us, his subjects. He's willing to postpone his long-planned plan to save us the trouble of manpower redeployment, even claiming it's his fault. Isn't there another king like him on the continent?"

"N-I didn't expect the Demon King to do this specifically for me..."

After hearing what Adlan said, Athers' tears began to well up in his eyes again.

"Aithus, you've lost your temper enough today. From now on, you must fulfill your duty as a subject to the Demon King—no, you must offer your all."

"Yes! I, Aethus Vansel, will do my best!"

"Well, besides that, I wonder if you've noticed the Demon King's other intention."

"Sir Adelan, what is your other intention?"

The person who spoke was the fourth-ranked thin noble named Purun. He was the last lord of the fortress city of Kepa. Since Kepa has been transformed into the new royal capital, he no longer serves as the lord of the city. However, despite this, Purun's status is higher than before. He has changed from a lord of the border city to the manager of the royal capital. All matters of Kepa, big or small, need to go through his hands.

Coupled with the title of the new capital, his status naturally rose. Of course, if it were only for this, he would not be standing here. The reason why he was chosen by Camisia from several nobles was that he was now the foreign minister of the Western Demon Territory and the Kingdom of Baris, the Bruzea Empire, and the Dwarf Territory.

Adlan's explanation was deliberately roundabout.

"Sir Prun, please recall the current season."

"Could it be that Lord Adraan is referring to the upcoming autumn harvest?"

"Well, the Demon King probably didn't allow us to send laborers at this time because he was considering the busy autumn harvest season. If we follow the original plan and only leave a small number of farmers in the territory, some of the grain this year might rot in the fields."

"I didn't expect the Demon King to even think of this..."

"Ah, but this is the true Demon King. What we should do is to do our best to help the Demon King with all the big and small matters, so that he won't have to worry about us."

"Well, this is what we should do."

"As the ruler, the Demon King only needs to give us the general direction. The rest should be detailed by us, the ministers. Leaving the Demon King to come up with detailed plans is not what a ruler should do. It would lower the Demon King's status and would be a dereliction of duty on our part. Do you understand?"

"""learn."""

After receiving the unanimous agreement from the other three nobles, Adraan turned his attention to Linglan, whose eyes were filled with emotion.

"So, Captain Lingran, there's no need to dwell on things that won't happen. Furthermore, rather than attacking the Demon Lord when he's in danger, nipping it in the bud before it happens is the proper role of the personal guards. Captain Lingran wouldn't let the Demon Lord be harassed by sneak attackers every day, would he?"

"I, I'm so grateful for this. Marquis Adelan, I, Lingran, will destroy all threats to the Demon King."

"Well, with such momentum, I believe that in the near future, the Demon King will be able to realize her wish."