The Legendary Rebuilding of a World by a Realist Demon King Chapter 20

The Saint from From Another World

I had decided to go to the home of the dwarves, but met difficulty in choosing personnel.

We did not have enough commanders that I could leave to take charge of the Ashtaroth army.

As the head, the defense level of this castle would drop tremendously the moment I left.

Currently, the only enemy force I was aware of was Count Ismalia, and he was quite weakened now. And so I doubted he would risk attacking me, but there was always a possibility.

And perhaps other Demon Kings in the area were also waiting for this chance, when I left the castle.

And so it would be most preferable to have Eve, who is a strategist and established executive officer here, to remain in the castle. But she insisted that she would come with me.

She was the first to escape the position.

Well then, the only one left was Hijikata Toshizou.

Personality-wise, there was no problem–, no, there plenty of problems. This was the man who had publicly declared that he would stab me in the back if I did not meet the measure as his king.

It would not be wise to leave such a man here alone.

Or so my secretary maid Eve insisted.

I tried to defend him.

“He is indeed useless as an executive officer and a wild warrior who is difficult to control. However, he is not the kind of man to take over a castle while his master is away.”

I don’t know if she was persuaded, or if she was just afraid that an argument here would lead to me rescinding my decision to take her along, but she ultimately agreed.

I sighed with relief, but at the same time, another thought came to me.

“We really do lack good commanders. Look at how much trouble it is, to just find one person to hold the castle while I am away.”

“Indeed.”

“Furthermore, it is most unfortunate that I cannot bring someone with me on this journey who I can rely on in terms of combat.”

“Why not take the werewolves with you? One of them could easily take down five dwarves.”

“As I said, we are not going there to fight them. Well, we may have to, depending on the situation.”

Still, I could not take the werewolves with me. Traveling with monsters attracted too much attention. We were going to go to the dwarven homelands. I needed to show that I had no hostile intentions.

And so it would be best to bring a human general with me.

“Ah, if only I could use spirit summoning again like the last time.”

“It is necessary to have a drifted relic for spirit summoning. And those are hard to come by.”

“Of course.”

I muttered regretfully. Eve suggested an alternative.

“Master, if I may be so bold. The population here has grown sharply. There must be capable men among the humans. Why do you not search for a promising one and raise them to a commander?”

“That is a good idea. I would like to make a human unit in the near future as well. And a brilliant human commander will be necessary for that.”

“It is two birds with one stone.”

“Good deeds should be done quickly. You must make a notice board in the town square.”

“What should I write?”

“Indeed.”

I cup my chin.

“Searching for a brilliant commander. One to become my hands and feet. Those who are confident in their abilities should apply. Depending on your feats, you will be amply rewarded.”

Something like that, I say.

“Very good. I believe that many will wish for the position now.”

Eve quickly had the sign made and ordered the orcs to set it in the town square.

According to the report from the orcs, people immediately gathered, and it was seen by hundreds of people.

They said:

“I will try for it.”

“I wonder what rewards there will be.”

“This Demon King knows how to attract attention.”

I was looking forward to the results.

I was sure we would see a gathering of people with strong backbones.

And so after putting up the sign, many citizens came to apply.

There were quite a few of them now in the training room of the castle.

I had instructed the orcs that this was not about accomplishments and that even feeble-looking people should not be turned away. And so there were more people than I had expected.

“How can such a weakling like that be of use?”

Eve pointed at an old man who looked like a withered tree. She judged people too much based on appearances.

“That old man is a sorcerer. He has very impressive magic ability. Even if he cannot become a commander, I will hire him as a mercenary.”

“I see. I am humbled by your keen eye.”

But then she continued.

“Surely that girl over there is of no use. Let me drive her out before she hurts herself?”

I looked at the girl who had attracted Eve’s gaze.

She was wearing a hood and was short. Perhaps shorter than Eve.

I did not sense much magic, and since she had a sword strapped to her back, she was like a warrior. But it was true, she did not look very strong.

But you cannot judge a book by its cover. I could not drive her away after making such a declaration.

She can do her best without getting hurt, and when she understands her own limits, she can go home.

As I thought this, trouble erupted.

A giant man who had been standing behind the girl had dared to touch her buttocks.

She let it go with a blank expression and muttered ‘five’ as she stood there.

But a man who had witnessed it from the side berated the big man, and the fight began.

The girl watched this as if she were not involved and whispered, ‘four.’

“Trouble, I see.”

I took a step forward, but Hijikata Toshizou stopped me.

“The king cannot act as peacemaker in such a foolish brawl. It will lower you in their eyes.”

And so Toshizo walked out and admonished the large man.

From under the hood, the girl whispered, ‘three.’

I wondered what she was doing, but more importantly, the big man seemed to have not taken the warning well. He pulled a battleax from off his back.

Toshizou looked at it with a cool expression.

The moment that the ax was swung, the big man’s head would leave his body.

It wouldn’t be the prettiest sight. Eve said:

“Showing them blood here may have an advantage. Besides, keeping that large man in your ranks would only disturb your armies order.”

“That is quite true… Still, you sound very demonic.”

“I am a demon.”

As we talked, the girl in the hood said, ‘two.’

“Eve, why do you think she is counting?”

“Most likely a countdown.”

“Yes, but a countdown to what?”

“That, I do not know.”

Eve said, and then the countdown came to ‘one.’

The concept of zero existed here, so something would happen very soon.

It was just then, that the large man swung his battleax.

At the same time, Toshizou’s right hand went to the sword on his belt, but he did not unsheath it.

This was because the girl had said ‘zero’ first.

The moment the word was said, she pulled out her sword and struck at the large man in a clean arc.

Before he knew what was happening, his battleax had been severed in two.

His expression upon seeing it was one of confusion.

But he seemed to have known that she had done something, and so he moved to attack her.

How foolish could a man be?

How could he not understand at this point, the tremendous gap in their abilities?

If she cared to, she could have his head rolling on the floor in a second.

But it seemed that it was only I, Toshizou and Eve who understood it.

The big man would die if he didn’t realize it soon.

I was considering giving him a hint, but the girl’s sword danced, drawing lines in the air.

After the flurry of silver streaks faded, a carved out cross appeared on the man’s cheek, and the strings of his trousers fell away.

He looked rather stupid there, with his undergarments showing, but it seemed to have at least showed the reality of the situation to him.

That he had dared touch an incredibly dangerous person.

His face turned pale as he pulled up his trousers and fled from the hall.

The other spectators laughed at the sight, but I and Toshizou did not.

The big man had been laughable indeed, but we were in awe of the ability of the hooded girl.

If I had someone like her among my ranks, she would be worth a hundred men.

But, was she an enemy or an ally?

With such tremendous power to consider, I should not make any rash decisions, I thought. But it turned out to be a groundless fear.

The girl in the hood turned to look at me and took a knee. She said in prayer:

“I am a lamb whose virtue belongs to God. A maid who lives by the sword.

God’s will has sent me to this place.

As foretold, a boorish man touched my buttocks, and I waited for five seconds.

And then, a master who I must serve will appear.

God’s will came to pass.

He would have immense magic within him, and a heart full of benevolence.

Yes, that is you, my lord.

-Demon King Ashtaroth.”

There was something dignified and mystifying of this girl who shouted my name.

She looked like she had stepped out a church painting.

That is what I thought.

And so I asked her what her name was.

She then pulled off her hood, unleashing beautiful blonde hair.

“My name is Jeanne. Jeanne d’Arc. A warrior from the country of France, in another world.”

She said, with the purity of a Saint.