Chapter 474
Charlotte’s evaluation was that the rebuilt Dark Land, Edina, was overly dependent on the Demon Lord.
It was a story of a qualitatively different dimension from the original story that the Dark Land could not exist without the Archdemon.
“so… … . How can I do it?”
“… … First of all, the food issue inevitably becomes a long-term policy. Now we need to address the institutional issues first. There are many petty crimes, but too many cases that could end in simple violence turn into murder.”
“I think it will be difficult to increase the number of guards. To be honest, even with the troops we already have, it’s hard to handle.”
“This is not a guard problem.”
Charlotte shook her head.
“The punishment for criminals is too standardized. Punishment standards are established too simply, such as the death penalty or a labor camp. And there are more cases of being dragged to a labor camp than the death penalty. In addition, it seems that you have a tendency not to give the death penalty as much as possible. Right?”
“Yeah… … . It was because I thought it would be better to use it as labor force somehow than to kill it… … .”
At that, Charlotte shook her head.
“Suppose someone gets into a fight with someone they have a crush on. Let’s assume that a violent incident has occurred and that the other person has been seriously injured. Then, the assailant’s going to the labor camp is certain. Even if you kill them, they go to the workhouse, and even if you beat them with violence, they go to the workhouse. Some people actually just kill them. Because the result is the same anyway.”
“… … uh?”
“Of course, this is just an extreme example and not all. But there are plenty of people out there who make that choice. So the punishment for each crime must necessarily be detailed.”
Charlotte discusses the problems that arise when death-deserving crimes are not punished.
“Reinhardt, capital punishment does not exist to condemn criminals, but to show the majority of the general public the words of a serious crime. Basically, extreme punishments, including the death penalty, are there to consume serious criminals and put them on display in society.”
As a leader, Reinhardt avoided capital punishment because he thought it was more efficient to use criminals as labor than to kill them. Because he thought it was inefficient.
However, Charlotte was suggesting the possibility that she may have abetted a simple violent incident into a murder case.
If the punishment is the same even if the crime is different, there is a side that chooses a serious crime.
“There are no proper laws in Edina now, but for now, there is no system of punishment. that should be established Edina’s situation is completely different from that of a typical country. Due to the nature of inevitably involving numerous outsiders, the number of problems between people increases as more and more people become more and more, not less. So the punishment should be harsher than necessary. The imperial capital is extremely short on resources right now, so it’s impossible to lower the crime rate with capital punishment, but Edina isn’t that far. So it is still possible to deal with criminals with punishment.”
“I see… … .”
“And it is true that the number of guards is absolutely insufficient. It would be difficult to increase the size of the guards in the current situation.”
Charlotte came to a conclusion easily, as if she had an answer to that.
“Make the refugees organize their own vigilantes.”
“vigilante corps? This is the capital, but it can’t even manage the capital, so it makes me organize vigilantes… … . Am I right?”
“It’s not the time to cover that up.”
“Hmm… … .”
Reinhardt quietly rolls his eyes as if he couldn’t agree with Charlotte’s words.
“By the way, those voluntary associations of vigilantes are, after all, like volunteer work, and who would want to do something like that for free? If you’re not going to work for free, you’ll have to pay. But if you do that, you’re organizing vigilantes and giving them financial support. What’s the difference between that and a guard? Then why are you forming a vigilante group? I don’t know?”
At Reinhardt’s words, Charlotte shook her head.
“Don’t give me money, give me some authority.”
“authority?”
“Yes, power by another name.”
Charlotte stares at Reinhardt with a calm expression.
“There must be a lot of people who are anxious to have that little power. money? can’t give it There are people who use power as an end in itself.”
“ah… … .”
“Give me the authority to elect a vigilante and recruit vigilantes. And give them the power to arrest or interrogate people. Then you won’t get a penny, and you’ll think you’ve become something, and you’ll patrol the streets at night and show off. As a result, vigilantes will patrol the streets at night for nothing. Is that enough?”
Because she understands people’s futile desire for power, Charlotte knows that power alone can move people.
Reinhardt broke into a cold sweat at this seemingly evil policy.
“No, that… … . I understand what you mean… … . After all, if you give the vigilantes some power over the refugee district, they will inevitably do something stupid… … . Since self-governing power is relatively free from control, isn’t it bound to corrupt that much?”
“okay. It will inevitably be corrupt, and it will become a group of interests, and they will rather become a corrupt power that commits crimes and goes unpunished. No, since you can’t make money from vigilante activities, you’ll want to line your pockets in other ways. Of course you have to fill it like that. Vigilante activities are busy, but that won’t make money. It must necessarily be so.”
“therefore. It will happen.”
“Why are you worrying about that?”
Charlotte pretends to slit her throat.
“Kill. pull it back Then you can.”
“ah… … .”
“The corruption of the vigilantes is not our responsibility because they are not directly under the government, right? The corrupt vigilante is executed by state power. It looks fair and it’s nice. In reality, the government created an environment in which the security work was handed over to the vigilantes, and since they could not earn a living, they inevitably became corrupt powers. How does the public know that? The more worldly the vigilante leader is, the more corrupt the vigilante is, the more support for the government will come back as a profit when we hang them.”
Charlotte was talking about it with a calm expression on her face that neither smiled nor seemed evil.
Use people in moderation and throw them away. Inevitably, they create and use a group that is bound to corrupt. Not even a single penny.
What the Demon King couldn’t do, Charlotte knew how to do.
Corruption is bad.
So, ruling out the possibility of corruption had been Reinhardt’s idea so far.
But Charlotte is different.
It forms and uses power that inevitably corrupts.
And when the corruption crosses a critical point, it is replaced, and the process of replacement is also used to benefit the government.
The fault of the government that formed the power that was bound to be corrupt is left to the responsibility of corrupt individuals.
The mindset is essentially different.
“Reinhardt, you don’t know something very important.”
“what is that?”
“The purpose of the state is not to achieve justice or goodness, but to maintain the state itself. There is no justice, poor relief, or charity in a lost country. If there is one absolute line that the nation must uphold, it is that the nation itself is maintained. That’s all.”
The government does not have to be good and just.
Government is maintained to be maintained.
In a state where the basic conditions are not observed, no next business or policy can exist.
Reinhardt was not thinking in that dimension at all.
Even if there is injustice or injustice, the state must be maintained, and policies and projects for it must be implemented.
Edina Archipelago did not have it, and Reinhardt had no consideration for it.
The scale is getting bigger, but the system is weak.
That’s why it was Charlotte’s current judgment that a system had to be created.
It is difficult to handle the scale that has grown now, so even temporary measures are needed.
Reinhardt could not deny that Charlotte’s method was better than Reinhardt’s method in maintaining the country.
“The fact that you are the royal family… … . Now I’m starting to feel it… … .”
Reinhardt nodded blankly with a puzzled expression. Charlotte looked at Reinhardt and lowered her eyes.
“I can’t help but be disappointed… … . If this is the only way I can help you… … . Somehow, I have to do well.”
“… … .”
“So, this is the right thing for me to do as the regent. You just need to remain a kind and kind ruler who cares for the people. The more people fear my regency, the more sure their support will be for you.”
So, Charlotte decided to take on all the stigma of the villainous rule she was going to have from now on.
The more people hate the regent. The more I hate the regent.
Support for the Demon King becomes more solid.
Just like using the vigilantes, Charlotte intended to use herself to solidify Reinhardt’s rule.
* * *
I don’t know if Charlotte’s preparations are over.
Just as I became king when I was not ready, Charlotte does not sit on the throne after being fully prepared to become king.
I composed the country as if I was weaving it in an unprepared state, and that is why it has no choice but to be Sasangnugak.
I can keep it for now, but I don’t know how long this will be possible.
That’s why I brought Charlotte to strengthen my internal stability.
I tried to build it as convincingly as possible, but in Charlotte’s eyes, Edina seemed to be regarded as a malformed structure.
Charlotte may not be able to cope with it all.
But Charlotte could think of things I couldn’t.
Sometimes you have to know how to use people to throw them away.
It’s cruel, but I couldn’t deny its necessity.
Charlotte’s approach to events and problems was different from mine.
I couldn’t imagine that everything would be better if Charlotte took over the Edina Archipelago, but at least it would be better than if I stayed on the throne.
I had already reached my limit in handling the political affairs that occurred in Edina.
who will replace it.
Someone who is sure to do better than me.
and.
In a way, he looks more fearsome than me, and is the most suitable person for a demon king.
“Let me introduce you.”
In the audience room where the vassals were gathered, I carefully seated Charlotte on the throne next to me in a black dress, looking down at the people.
“This is Charlotte de Gradias, who will be Edina’s regent starting today.”
At my words, the vassals who were already nervous about the unknown existence breathed in vain.
Charlotte de Gradias.
From the name attached to the back, of course, you can’t help but know what kind of person Charlotte is.
“Keep in mind that she is my substitute, and at the same time an equal being with me.”
I get up, and Charlotte, sitting on the throne, looks down at the vassals.
“Let’s keep it short.”
Charlotte didn’t say nice to meet you or any other kind of greeting.
In the First Princess of the Empire, Charlotte, who became the queen of the Dark Land, looks down on people.
“Everything… … .”
It wasn’t that powerful, nor was it a voice full of confidence.
“It will be very different from before.”
However, I felt that everyone was overwhelmed by the charisma that was felt from Charlotte’s appearance itself.
* * *
Charlotte took care of the most urgent matters first.
Systematization of punishment.
and vigilante organizations.
It was a system that made the refugees themselves responsible for security in the refugee residence area.
The next day, I saw a mold being made in the central square of Razak City.
Some will be beaten there according to the nature of their crimes, and those with the heinous crimes will be beheaded or hanged.
The inhabitants of Edina will be afraid of sin when they see someone’s death on display.
It is unknown how great the effect of public execution will be, but Charlotte’s opinion that such a thing was necessary given the circumstances of the Edina Archipelago could not be denied.
I wasn’t ignorant of the need, but maybe I’d been avoiding making such a decision by talking about efficiency.
After all, have we not yet shaken off such trivial notions that, from a modern point of view, such things are barbaric and bad?
Now virtually everything I did on Edina Islands will be done by Charlotte.
I’m going to step down from my throne now and do what I have to do.
* * *
Charlotte began her reign as regent.
The rate at which warp gates are destroyed gradually slows down.
I’ve destroyed a lot of warp gates in two years, but I won’t be able to destroy all of them in the near future.
So there is still time until the final fight is near.
To prepare for what was to come, I had something to do.
Having brought Charlotte, I was finally able to take off the clothes that didn’t fit me well.
There were still no people out there who had business to do, but I gathered people and started talking.
“I will be away for quite some time.”
“Are you empty?”
At my words, everyone tilted their heads.
“I don’t know how long it will take, but if things don’t go well, I’ll be back. So don’t worry too much.”
Because Charlotte is also an Archdemon, she also has dominion over demons. And Charlotte will lead state affairs more wisely than I do.
So, there was no real reason for me to be in Edina.
So, I decided to do something I hadn’t done before.
“Are you going to do something dangerous again?”
I shook my head at Olivia’s question.
“If you think about it, it’s because it’s to prepare for dangerous things, but… … . Nothing is certain yet, so it’s hard to say. But, don’t worry too much, we’ll bring plenty of teleport scrolls.”
“Still, going alone is a bit… … . It seems dangerous wherever you go… … .”
Those were Harriet’s words.
Everyone knows that I will take care of everything.
Although I knew I wasn’t going to die a ridiculous amount to the hordes of monsters that roamed the continent, I couldn’t help but worry.
“I’d love to take someone, too, but this isn’t the right place.”
I don’t want to insist on going alone.
However, the place I need to go now is a place I don’t know if I can find it alone.
Olivia, Harriet, Charlotte, and Airi.
None of them dissuaded me from my decision, but they looked concerned.
“It won’t be too late.”
Before the Gate Crisis is over, I must be much stronger than I am now.
That’s why I have to bring Charlotte and leave it to rule, and I have to work to become stronger than I am now.
Even the dragon in the last gate.
Even in a fight with Ellen that you don’t know.
In order not to die, you must become strong.
Airi asks as if she is worried.
“Can you tell me where you are going?”
“… … Sorry. I can’t tell you.”
Not sure where to find it.
And, even if you can find it, you might get what you want.
I can’t tell you where I’m going because it’s clear that I won’t let you go if you know where I’m going.
Ellen’s hometown, Lizaira.
i want to go there
