Slave Kids

Late afternoon, inside the palace, in the office.

Before me stood Mira, the second slave.

"Niina developed a road?"

"A road?"

"Yeah, a road. Don't really get it, but a road. What do you think?"

"Menu open."

I pulled out DORECA, and looked at what Mira had reported.

On the card's video function, it showed a surface like asphalt.

Ah, so that's a road.

Right now, almost all roads—including in the capital, Rebec—are just gravel.

Whether asphalt or gravel is better—well, this world doesn’t know. But I’m certain asphalt is the better choice.

"Material... Bitchime? What the hell is this?"

"Something that comes from monster corpses. Not from a specific monster—any monster, really. About one in three gives it up."

"Huh."

I thought for a moment, then spoke to Mira.

"Contact Merta in Kazan and have her gather them. Yes, issue a proclamation to the people too—buy them at a fair price if they bring them in. Let Yuria set the price."

"Making a road?"

"Yeah, first cover the whole of Rebeck with it."

Got it.

A road, then.

If my guess is right, covering everything with it should accelerate progress even more.

It’d be worth pouring nearly all our slaves into this venture.

"My lord"

A child’s voice sounded.

The door creaked open, and a small girl stepped in, wobbling on unsteady feet.

Fine golden hair, inherited from her mother, pointed ears, a collar adorned with colorless gemstones, a slave’s dress.

Shasri—just a week old, yet already looking like a three-year-old, her tiny body already blooming with the unnatural growth of an Eternal Slave.

Coming straight at me, no hesitation.

Carrying a tray with a cup on it.

Her steps wobble a bit… but that’s kind of cute, too.

We watched Shasri together, Mira and me.

“Here you go.”

She made it safely to me, offering the cup on its tray.

Too high for the desk, so I took it and set it down.

“Good job, well done.”

“Ehehehe.”

I praised her, ruffled her hair.

Shasri beamed with a pure, innocent smile.

“Where’s Risha?”

“On duty. Bees’ kud, she says.”

“Ah.”

“Shasri, too, got work?”

“Yeah.”

I stroked her head, thinking. Exchanged glances with Mira.

Work.

She’s a child, but no doubt an Eternal Slave.

“Master.”

“I know. Help is fine, but work’s better, right?”

—— Magic charge complete: 10,000.

Mira’s smile widened.

She wasn’t even my child, yet she lit up at my answer like it was a gift.

"Anything? Just have Yuria, that’s all."

"That graph."

"Ah, right."

Gazing at the "Food, Clothing, Shelter" graph chalked on the blackboard.

The demand for "Food" in Rebeck had risen one level compared to yesterday.

She produced a single sheet of paper and swiftly sketched a simple map with a pen.

A straightforward route from the palace to the nearest food storage warehouse.

She handed it to Shasuri.

"Shasuri. You know this place? Big warehouse."

Shasuri glanced at it, then nodded vigorously.

"Yeah!"

"Then go make a Psiny there. Fill the warehouse to the brim."

"Is this the one to make?"

She asked, pulling out a slave card.

"That’s right. Can you do it?"

"Leave it to me. I work for my master."

She thumped her small chest with a decisive *don*, then marched out of the room.

"Everyone—let’s go!"

I heard a voice. Just before the door shut, I saw a tiny Eternal Slave running down the hall.

Shasuri and the other five.

The little slave army was all out.

"……pff."

I couldn’t help but snort.

Imagining the kids making Pusini.

They use slave cards and magic power, but the material’s just dirt.

If little ones did it… to an outsider, it’d look like sand play.

Sweet, cozy scene.

But—

"…I wish I could do that. So small, yet they actually work."

Mira said it. Her face was dead serious. Jealous.

No wonder.

Pusini production and replenishment was one of the top priorities in my nation’s governance.

I’d assumed it’d be easy. Still, it was undeniably “real work.”

"Jealous of your daughter?"

"…Well…"

"You’ve got work too, you know."

"Really!"

——Magic power charged: 50,000.

"Go to Nina’s place. Let me research whether I can make roads even harder than the ones we’ve developed this time."

Asphalt’s fine, but I’d also like roads made of concrete.

Different uses, so I want both.

"Got it!"

She made a brief face of mild disgust, then obeyed her master and shot out from the palace.

Alone in the office, she stood by the window and looked outside.

A line of tiny slaves marched into view.

Shasri, the seventh slave, led the way, plodding along with steady steps.

Endearing. Reliable.

"Menu open."

Doreca’s menu appeared.

Twelve slaves now, their magic power still stuck at maximum.

The nation still has so much more growth ahead.