Volume 4 Chapter 11 The Great Villain Of The World, Improves The Work Environment
──A few days later, in Toukaku of Eastern Town──
"Excuse me. I have come to discuss the renovation of the 'Six-Person Unit' office."
"Excuse me. Where should I deliver the swords, spears, and armor?"
"Excuse me. I brought a horse. Where is the stable?"
People were gathering at the office early in the morning.
Workers, merchants with carts, and those leading horses.
They all rushed towards Heki Nei.
"You are Heki Nei-sama, the Leader of the Six-Person Unit from Toukaku, right?"
"You have been ordered to renovate your office by His Royal Highness the King's younger brother."
"I would like to explain the work procedures, if that's okay?"
"...Wait, hold on. Can you wait a moment!?"
Heki Nei waved his hands in a panic.
This was unexpected.
He had heard about the office renovation from Kou Tenhou.
It was just a casual conversation about, "The building is damaged. Can I fix it?"
Heki Nei thought, "Kou Tenhou is good at carpentry."
So he replied, "Feel free to do so."
Heki Nei thought it was just small talk.
He never imagined that a large number of workers and merchants would show up.
"Ah, it seems the workers have arrived."
Suddenly, a voice called out.
When he turned around, a young man was standing there.
He was the man who came to Toukaku as the vice captain of Kou Tenhou. His name was Tanshi.
He looked at the workers and nodded in satisfaction.
"As expected of His Royal Highness the King's younger brother. He read Kou Tenhou-dono's letter and quickly arranged for the workers, didn't he?"
"Tanshi-dono..."
Heki Nei clasped his hands towards Tanshi.
"I would like to ask you. Why has this happened?"
"Kou Tenhou-dono asked His Royal Highness the King's younger brother for help with your living conditions."
"To His Royal Highness the King's younger brother!?"
"'Toukaku is the key to protecting Hokurin. The soldiers must be well-equipped. However, the unit I was assigned to has old swords and armor, and there are holes in the barracks' walls. For the sake of protecting the country, could you please help with the repairs?'"
"...He asked His Royal Highness the King's younger brother for repairs to the barracks?"
Heki Nei made a bitter face.
"Kou Tenhou-dono is said to be the favorite of His Royal Highness the King's younger brother, but this is too much. To trouble His Royal Highness with such matters is unacceptable."
"I believe we have permission from Heki Nei-dono regarding the repairs."
"That's because I thought Kou Tenhou-dono would handle the repairs himself. Yet, to not pay anything and make His Royal Highness the King's younger brother do it..."
"No, Kou Tenhou-dono is indeed paying for it."
Tanshi spoke in a tone that seemed to scold Heki Nei.
"Kou Tenhou-dono used the reward he should have received for the defense of Toukaku."
"What do you mean?"
"That person fought desperately in the north. Thanks to Kou Tenhou-dono's efforts, the battle with the Jinkyo Tribe has ended. His Royal Highness the King's younger brother and His Majesty the King intended to reward him for that. However, Kou Tenhou-dono has put it on hold, saying he couldn't think of anything he wanted."
"...What!?"
Heki Nei's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words.
"Could it be!? Kou Tenhou-dono is doing this for us!?"
"Just as you imagined."
Tanshi nodded, seeming satisfied with Heki Nei's reaction.
"Kou Tenhou-dono could have built a big mansion or received a lot of money. But that person used it for Toukaku... and to protect the country. Can you understand that feeling?"
"...Kou Tenhou-dono did it for Toukaku."
Heki Nei's body started to tremble.
(Does that person really go this far!!)
He heard that Kou Tenhou fought against the fierce warriors of the Jinkyo Tribe in the north and barely won. He achieved such great things. He should be proud.
If he used the rewards for himself, no one would complain.
Yet, Kou Tenhou easily threw that away.
For the newly assigned Toukaku and for Heki Nei and the others in the 'Six-Person Unit.'
(...Could I do the same?)
Could he throw away the rewards given by the country for his work?
For subordinates he just met?
──Deciding he couldn't, Heki Nei shook their head.
(If I were in Kou Tenhou-dono's position...)
He would take the rewards and go on a journey.
To get revenge on the ones who killed his sister and brother-in-law.
The anger of having his family killed still burns in his chest.
It probably won't ever go away.
Still, the reason he doesn't go searching for his enemies is because of his niece.
She has talent.
He wants to help her grow, but he can't do that while searching for his enemies.
So even now, Heki Nei lives in Toukaku.
He believes that the bandits who killed his sister and her husband will appear near this town again.
(I guess Kou Tenhou-dono doesn't have such feelings. Is this... the difference in a person's character?)
Maybe he can be trusted.
Perhaps he should open up and ask for his cooperation.
Just as Heki Nei was thinking this──
"What's all this noise?!"
"────!?"
Startled by the sudden voice, Heki Nei turned around.
In the middle of the road was a group of cavalry.
At the front was Ri Kai, the captain of the defense in Toukaku.
Behind him were his direct subordinates.
"Heki Nei. Explain yourself. What are you doing here?"
"Yes! I'm gathering workers to repair the fort."
"That kind of thing is not permitted."
"Our 'Six-Person Unit' has old equipment, and the fort has leaks. Fixing the environment will benefit my subordinates as well──"
"In exchange, your 'Six-Person Unit' should be doing easy work."
Ri Kai said in a cold tone.
"Old equipment? A hole in the roof of the fort? Of course, I know. I planned to fix it when the budget allowed. Until then, I thought it would be better to assign you easier tasks. In fact, I haven't made you do night patrols."
"I understand."
"Then why did you act on your own?"
Ri Kai, on horseback, showed his anger clearly.
"Toukaku has its own way of doing things! So, who acted on their own!? Who are these people gathering here under whose will!?"
"It is by the will of His Royal Highness, Ai Hakusho."
The one who answered was Tanshi.
He approached Ri Kai and looked up at him from his horse.
"The workers came here under the orders of His Royal Highness, Ryougen-kun. I apologize for the delay in contacting you, Ri Kai-sama."
"You are...?"
"I am Tanshi, the vice captain of Kou Tenhou-dono. I was ordered by His Royal Highness the King's younger brother to assist that person."
"W-Wait, under Ryougen-kun's orders? So, you are Ryougen-kun's subordinate? Then... are the others here too?"
"Yes. We are here under the orders of His Royal Highness the King's younger brother."
"W-Why would His Royal Highness the King's younger brother... do something like this?"
"It is for the improvement of the 'Six-Person Unit' environment. The workers were arranged by His Royal Highness the King's younger brother, but the funding comes from Kou Tenhou-dono. That person sacrificed their own rewards because they wanted to improve the environment for their subordinates."
"Kou Tenhou-dono...?"
"That person was made the superior of Heki Nei-dono by Ri Kai-dono, right?"
Tanshi nodded in agreement.
"Thanks to you, Kou Tenhou-dono, who became the leader of the 'Six-Person Unit,' has decided to improve the equipment. I believe this aligns with your wishes as the captain of Toukaku's defense... Am I wrong in my thinking?"
"...No, you're not wrong."
Ri Kai finally said just that.
"Preparing the soldiers' equipment is important. I felt bad for delaying the recovery of the 'Six-Person Unit' equipment due to budget issues. I was planning to take action soon. But seeing the work already started confused me."
"I see."
"If Kou Tenhou-dono and His Royal Highness the King's younger brother are going to renovate the base, I have no objections."
Ri Kai got off his horse and clasped his hands towards Tanshi.
"Please tell His Royal Highness the King's younger brother that I appreciate his thoughtfulness."
"Understood, Ri Kai-dono."
"By the way... Does His Royal Highness the King's younger brother have an interest in the situation in Toukaku?"
Suddenly, Ri Kai spoke those words.
It seemed like words spilled out unintentionally.
"His Royal Highness the King's younger brother is always thinking about Aika Country."
Tanshi replied.
"As part of that, he must also be paying attention to Toukaku."
"Is, is that so?"
Ri Kai spoke in a flustered tone.
"As the captain of the defense for Toukaku, I appreciate His Royal Highness the King's younger brother's thoughtfulness. With the equipment for my subordinates improved, they can better guard the town."
"Thank you. However, it was His Royal Highness the King's younger brother who requested the equipment improvements──."
"Of course, I am also grateful to Kou Tenhou-dono!"
"Then, it would be best to tell him directly."
Tanshi said this and looked across the street.
From the direction of the morning sun, Kou Tenhou was walking toward them.
Immediately, Heki Nei clasped his hands and bowed his head toward him.
Tanshi and the workers did the same.
Seeing this, Kou Tenhou tilted his head.
He probably didn't understand the situation well.
"Good morning, Heki Nei-sama. Tanshi-san. You both are early... wait, is that Ri Kai-sama too?"
"Good morning, Kou Tenhou-sama. Workers from Hokurin have arrived."
It was Tanshi who answered.
Kou Tenhou seemed satisfied with this.
"I just sent a letter to His Royal Highness the King's younger brother, but have you already made arrangements?"
"Kou Tenhou-dono said that the reward would be used for the country's defense. His Royal Highness the King's younger brother must have been moved by that."
"That's not such a big deal..."
While saying this, Tenhou greeted the workers.
They were commoners, but it seemed he didn't mind.
"No, that's impressive. Kou Tenhou-dono. It's clear that you are suitable for the position of defense Vice Captain."
Suddenly, Ri Kai clapped his hands.
"You are too good for the leader of the 'Six-Person Unit.' If you wish, I would like to assign you to a hundred-person unit. What do you think?"
"Thank you very much."
Tenhou bowed to Ri Kai.
"But, I want to work with Heki Nei-san and the others."
"...N-no, but..."
"I am still inexperienced. I appreciate your offer to lead a hundred-person unit, but I want to properly lead the 'Six-Person Unit' first and achieve results."
".........I-I see. Understood."
"However, I appreciate your kindness."
"Well, I don't mind. Then... I'll take my leave now."
Ri Kai remained expressionless as he became a figure on horseback.
With that, he walked away with his subordinates.
"I would like to address our unit leader, Kou Tenhou-dono."
Then Heki Nei bowed towards Kou Tenhou.
"First of all, thank you for your consideration towards our unit."
"It was just something necessary. Please don't worry about it."
"Something necessary, you say?"
"Yes. For me, it was important to equip you, Heki Nei-san and the others. That's all."
"Is it for the protection of the town?"
"That's right. To protect the town for the future as well."
"...I see."
This person is trustworthy.
That's why we must be careful.
We cannot involve those with a future in our actions.
"From today, our unit will renew our spirit and focus on the defense of the town. With the new equipment, we will also conduct night patrols. I would like the unit leader to join us..."
Thinking such things, Heki Nei began to explain the work.
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