Tilea's Worries

I am Shiro from Vegeta Village.

A long-time [Apprentice Warrior] good-for-nothing.

I, who lose in arm strength even to village children, am the lowest [Apprentice Warrior].

And now...

I have become the 24th [Clan Leader] of the wolf tribe.

It was an exceptional promotion without the fifteen trials passed down among the beastmen.

It was an unprecedented story, and the envy from those around me was incredible.

Everyone glared at me as if they wanted to kill me. Especially [Vice Clan Leader] Gau even attempted a sneak attack.

Fortunately, Gil-san was nearby and counterattacked for me, so I was saved...

Next time I'm alone, I'll definitely be killed.

Sigh~ I can't help but sigh.

I want to quit being clan leader.

I look at the [Clan Leader] bracelet on my arm.

It was glowing ominously in dark red.

This bracelet is a warrior's proof soaked with the blood and sweat of successive [Clan Leaders]. My thin arm is far too mismatched for such a distinguished item.

In the first place, the wolf tribe's [Clan Leader] must constantly go to battlefields and continue showing martial prowess. That's the pride of a warrior race.

Even if it's just a title, I am the [Clan Leader]. At least once, I'd probably need to go to a battlefield and take an enemy general's head.

Holding a sword and cutting down people... impossible, absolutely impossible.

I can imagine it.

I'd hold a sword with trembling hands, unable to move while standing still. Then an enemy charging with battle cries would helplessly cut me down.

Sigh~ I sighed once more.

"Shiro, what's wrong?"

"Ah, Gil-sama..."

In the carriage heading to the royal capital, Gil-san sitting across from me spoke to me.

"We'll arrive at the royal capital soon. If you have any worries, speak now."

"N-no, I don't have any worries..."

"Don't hold back."

"B-but..."

Gil-san spoke to me in a friendly manner.

But would it be okay to talk about such worries?

The clan leader appointment was the Demon God Army's decision. If I voiced objections, it might be disrespectful.

"You have a big job waiting after this. If you have even the slightest concern, speak up. I'll help you."

"I understand."

That's right, if I work nervously while harboring anxiety, Tilea might kill me.

Gil-san isn't a savage who would suddenly hit me.

Above all, he's reliable.

"Gil-sama, actually—"

Encouraged by Gil-san's powerful words, I conveyed that I had great anxiety about my job as clan leader.

Gil-san listened to my story with his arms crossed.

After hearing my story, he let out a big sigh.

He looked a bit exasperated.

"Shiro, you still don't understand."

"What do you mean?"

"Clan leader work is unnecessary. You're a cook above all - just think about cooking first."

"Yes, I understand that. However, even if it's just a title, I'm the wolf tribe's [Clan Leader]. If I don't go to battle at least once, everyone won't accept it. A riot is already on the verge of breaking out..."

"You don't need to worry about governance."

"Is that so? But a [Clan Leader] who never goes to battle is unprecedented."

"Shiro, that's enough. Lend me that bracelet."

Gil-san pointed at my bracelet.

"Eh!? This bracelet?"

"That's right. That bracelet that's the proof of clan leadership."

Gil-san asked to borrow the bracelet I had been touching fearfully.

Originally, it was a distinguished bracelet that no one but the clan leader should touch. Even when surrendering to the humans, this alone wasn't confiscated. It was a sacred artifact passed down to the wolf tribe that the villagers would have protected even if it meant total annihilation.

Previous clan leaders would have refused even if killed.

Well, I don't have such courage.

I don't have pride as a warrior race either.

There's no way I could refuse Gil-san's order.

I removed the bracelet and handed it to Gil-san.

When Gil-san received the bracelet, he stood up.

Then he swung his arm widely and threw the bracelet far away.

"Uh, um..."

I couldn't keep up with understanding.

Gil-san had simply discarded the sacred artifact passed down to the wolf tribe like trash thrown in a garbage bin.

If the previous Vegetable-sama were alive, he would have shed tears of blood at this sight.

"Now you don't need to obsess over being clan leader."

I was startled by Gil-san's words.

Haha, so that's it.

I had lost the [Clan Leader] bracelet, the proof of the warrior race passed down from the first generation.

Such a major blunder couldn't be erased no matter how many military achievements I accumulated.

In other words, no matter how hard I tried to imitate being clan leader, it would be meaningless. Having lost the bracelet, I would be made a blood sacrifice by everyone.

Thinking about clan leader duties had become pointless.

"Shiro, let me emphasize once more. Listen carefully."

"Y-yes."

Overwhelmed by Gil-san's presence, I straightened my posture.

"The reason you became clan leader is because you needed the title. It's only so you can state 'Wolf Tribe Clan Leader Shiro' before Tilea-sama."

"Yes."

"You hold the position of [Sergeant] in the Kitchen Corps belonging to the Demon God Army Second Division. Be proud of that. You don't need to cower before some petty village leader."

"Yes."

"You finally seem to have gotten over it."

Gil-san said this and smiled slightly.

"Thank you very much. I'm sorry for troubling you over someone like me."

"Hah, it's fine. I have expectations for you."

"Expectations for me?"

"Ah, I'm counting on you. The Second Division's fate depends on you. Use your skills to the fullest."

"Yes!"

That's right. Gil-san is correct.

My fate was decided the moment I became [Clan Leader].

I can't return to the village anymore.

The moment I return, I'll be killed without question.

Because someone like an [Apprentice Warrior] became [Clan Leader] and defiled the warriors' pride.

I've lost my place to return to.

...Yeah, this was for the best.

It's a village with no decent people. Even if I returned, I'd just be worked like a slave while being ridiculed.

Let me start fresh and work hard in the royal capital.

I'll serve the Demon God Army in the royal capital.

Of course, I might be treated like a slave in the royal capital just like in the village - no, that possibility is quite high.

After all, it's the base of the harsh Demon God Army.

But I was encouraged by Gil-san's words.

He said he was counting on me, that he had expectations.

I'd never be told such things in the village.

I received those words. Even if I'm treated like a slave, let me try my best in the Demon God Army.

I want to try meeting someone's expectations.

From now on, I am Sergeant Shiro belonging to the Demon God Army Second Division.

Grandmother, please watch over me.

Grandmother...

The only regret is that I can no longer visit grandmother's grave. In painful times, sad times, I would go to grandmother's grave and cry.

I can't do that anymore.

I'm starting to feel melancholy.

No, it's okay.

I have the cooking that grandmother taught me. I can see grandmother through cooking.

★　☆　★　☆

I arrived at the royal capital.

Amazing.

People, people, people... there are so many people.

And so many buildings packed closely together.

I've never left the village since I was born.

Everything I saw and heard was fresh.

I followed Gil-san while looking around curiously.

Gil-san showed me around the royal capital's market and blacksmith shops along the way. He said I should remember various things since I'd be living in the royal capital from now on.

At the market, abundant seafood and marine products from Sanriku were landed in large quantities. Besides fresh vegetables from the continent and marine products, miscellaneous goods and clothes were also being bought and sold.

At the blacksmith, they were hammering hot iron with clanging sounds, making swords and axes. Of course, there were also frying pans and kitchen knives used for cooking.

Fun.

It was my first time seeing such a townscape. I could feel people's activities and vitality.

In the village, I was treated like a slave and had nothing but cooking frantically.

Is this what they call sightseeing?

I naturally felt my tail wagging back and forth.

"Hah, Shiro, I understand you're excited, but I can't have you letting your guard down."

"Y-yes, I'm very sorry!"

Gil-san admonished me.

That's right. What was I misunderstanding?

From now on, I have to serve Tilea, whom the tyrant Ortissio fears.

She's Ortissio's master. I don't know what unreasonable orders I might receive.

If I let my guard down and commit rudeness, I'll be killed immediately.

I need to stay alert.

So as not to anger her, I must refrain from unpleasant words and actions.

The weak must always be conscious of the strong's moods.

I calmed my frivolous emotions and locked my heart.

It's okay, this is good.

It's the same as when I was in the village. If I kill my emotions, I can survive.

After Gil-san showed me around all the buildings, we finally went to the Demon God Army's base.

Here, I would apparently sleep every day and cook as my job.

I wonder what my sleeping quarters will be like?

In the village, I had terrible sleeping quarters with severe rain leaks and drafts blowing through. It was a ramshackle house that couldn't withstand storms without constant repairs.

I am a [Sergeant] rank, after all.

It seems like a fairly high status, so maybe I can have expectations?

Maybe there's even a futon that only the clan leader owned in the village... no, no, don't expect anything. If it's a place that can shelter me from rain and dew, that's more than enough - that alone would be the best.

I followed Gil-san and went down the stairs.

"Here it is."

"Uwaaaah! A-amazing..."

A voice of admiration escaped.

Beyond the stairs, an incredibly huge space spread out.

Spacious, and with countless rooms.

And there were lots of furniture I'd never seen before. There were lighting fixtures that brightly illuminated the interior, and many expensive-looking vases and paintings that even a country bumpkin like me could recognize.

"Surprised? This is the base prepared by the Second Division led by Captain Ortissio."

"Yes, it was so amazing I was overwhelmed."

"That's right. It's not just here. Each room is equipped with first-class furnishings."

Unusual. Gil-san was talking proudly.

Usually he's a taciturn and calm person.

The Demon God Army Underground Empire...

It was originally a great noble's hidden mansion in the royal capital that they seized and renovated.

The renovation was done by a Second Division member named Johannii. Johannii apparently created this Underground Empire without sleep or rest.

I see.

This is the base that Ortissio and the Second Division prepared.

I understand why Gil-san is unusually talkative. He must want to boast about it.

Gil-san showed me around the Underground Empire.

Everything was amazing in a word.

This place is probably the same as what they call a royal palace.

And then... finally I was shown the Demon God Army's kitchen.

Uwah!

A-amazing.

I let out another voice of admiration.

How many times am I going to be surprised today?

The kitchen was packed with a complete set of cooking equipment including frying pans and pots. All were first-class items.

I could tell without even touching the kitchen knives.

This iron's brilliance, sharpness - with just this knife, I could freely change the texture of ingredients.

Amazing, amazing.

In the village, there were hardly any proper cooking utensils.

Here, there were things I'd heard of but never seen. Unknown utensils were also placed all over.

My cooking spirit was being stimulated beyond measure.

I busily observed them.

"Hey, another one appeared."

While I was distracted by the kitchen's cooking utensils, I heard a voice.

When I looked up, there were people.

A crowd of about seven or eight people.

They wore chef hats and held kitchen knives.

"Gil-sama, are these people...?"

"Ah, that's right. They're your opponents."

These people are...

I don't know any cooks other than grandmother.

Grandmother was the best cook.

I was taught by that grandmother.

I'll win, I'll show them I can win.

I'll prove that grandmother's cooking is the best.

My hands trembled with nervousness.

"Shiro, it was brief, but I checked out the other cooks in my own way."

"H-how was it?"

"Don't worry. They're no match for you."

"Is that so!"

"Ah, have confidence. You can do it."

"Yes, I'll do my absolute best to meet your expectations."

"That's good. You just need to cook as usual. You're number one."

Gil-san said this and left the kitchen.

Left alone, I headed toward the other cooks to greet them.