I'm the Only Totem in Another World - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: How to Manage a Barbarian City （1）

‘Jin’ Malak said he chose me because I was the only one who cared about the barbarians.

Honestly, I don’t quite get it.

All I did was send a suggestion to the company that we should cast the barbarians, who were living peacefully in a remote area, as villains in the next content update.

Does that really count as caring?

Making the barbarians and the Loa they worship into enemies for the Paladins to defeat?

I don’t know if it’s because he’s a god, or because he’s a bit dumb but a good guy.

Maybe any attention is good attention? I don’t know.

How could I possibly understand the thoughts of a god?

But one thing’s for sure, the barbarians really are…

“No, damn it! That’s not it!”

…really talented at everything except fighting.

Harry, with his flushed face, once again erupted in anger.

“L-Look here, man! When did I ever tell you to put meat in the grain warehouse?! They’re clearly different categories!”

“The old geezer’s got a sharp tongue. Aren’t they both things you eat? It’s all the same once it goes into your stomach.”

“That, that! Argh! Damn you all!”

“Please calm down, Grandpa…!”

Harry, unable to bear it any longer, clutched the back of his head.

I understand. I’d be frustrated too.

Within this Tribal Federation, the only ones capable of handling ‘civilized’ matters are Harry and Luna.

Since Luna is still young, Harry took charge of the city reconstruction task, but the results weren’t very good.

‘If you don’t understand, I’ll explain it again. Come here.’

At first, Harry explained things calmly and logically.

The barbarians listened attentively, too.

But frequent mistakes and failures followed one after another, and eventually, we ended up here.

I desperately wanted to help Harry, but I’m a 21st-century Earthling.

This is the medieval era, well, not strictly speaking the medieval era. It’s a fantasy world, isn’t it?

My understanding of civilization is just as poor as the barbarians’.

Still, people are the same everywhere, so I understand some things, but that’s about it.

How much could a rookie part-timer know about the facilities of a ‘medieval fantasy’ city or the everyday items of its citizens?

“Meat and grain require very different storage methods. Think of it simply as plants and animals.”

Finally, Luna stepped in, just as Harry was about to cough up blood.

“…?”

But the ‘battle brains’ of the barbarians, whose ranks were almost entirely composed of warriors, were solid.

“So, that’s…”

In a few days, Luna will probably turn out just like Harry.

We’re screwed.

We went through all the trouble of conquering a city and making it our headquarters, but we can’t even utilize it properly.

“Malak-nim! Almost all the villages in Symphony have knelt before the Tribal Federation! Soon, all of this land will be ours!”

Kanto and the warriors, who had gone out on a subjugation mission, just entered.

The highlight of this farce is that we’re earning points even better than before, despite all this.

I used the earned points to fully upgrade the Healing Totem.

[Healing Totem （Highest Grade）: Heals followers within its radius. Greatly increases natural healing rate. Neutralizes all types of status ailments. Radius significantly increased.]

Nothing special.

Of course, the significantly increased radius and the enhanced healing and neutralization abilities were powerful effects, being simple as they were… but it’s still the final upgrade.

It’s human nature to wish for at least one more special option.

Something like strengthening the physical abilities of warriors within the radius, you know, a good option like that.

Am I being too greedy?

Anyway, if we keep going like this, it’ll only lead to ruin. We need to come up with a different plan.

“Malak-nim! A group of civilized people is approaching the Tribal Federation headquarters!”

The opportunity came sooner than I thought.

Paya, who had gone out scouting with Tteunteuni, brought good news.

Paya has now taken on the role of scout in addition to being a priestess.

It’d be a shame to waste our medieval stealth fighter, wouldn’t it?

━ I want to see.

I switched to Totem No. 3 and flew into the sky in Paya’s hand.

In the middle of the road leading to the Tribal Federation, I saw a group of over a hundred people approaching with their belongings packed.

They seemed to be the last survivors of Symphony.

Some were armed, but they didn’t seem hostile. It felt more like a minimal means of self-defense.

Most importantly, they were carrying a white flag.

As a bonus, they also had a placard with the message, ‘We are not enemies. We come to surrender,’ written in the barbarian language, albeit clumsily.

They came thoroughly prepared.

“They don’t seem to be worshippers.”

━ Indeed.

I agreed with Paya. Demon worshippers wouldn’t be smart enough to pretend to be refugees.

The demons and their worshippers are all dead, and the city is now occupied by people.

They’d naturally see this as an opportunity and come here.

Among those many civilized people, there must be farmers. I want to welcome them with open arms.

Age of barbarians, please go away!

━ Prepare to welcome them.

“Yes!”

I issued an order to the Tribal Federation.

New followers are always welcome.

▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄

“Great being, Malak. This humble creature greets you.”

The leader of the civilized group, kneeling before Totem No. 1, entered the altar.

A woman in her late 20s wearing a monocle. She seems quite learned.

She speaks the barbarian language well too.

“I am Rachel. It’s nothing special, but before the fall, I was a scribe in Symphony city.”

A scribe, that’s, like, an administrator who handled paperwork in the medieval era, right?

She’s an excellent talent.

━ Rachel. I will remember you.

“It is an honor.”

Rachel bowed her head once more.

Rachel, you’re mine.

I had a brief chat with her.

It was more like Rachel unilaterally praising ‘my sacrifice and greatness as the only god who descended to Earth,’ but still.

After receiving Rachel’s oath to make all the civilized people who came to Symphony sincerely serve me…

“…While heading to the temple, or rather the altar, I briefly looked around the city. It seems the Tribal Federation is facing some difficulties in managing the city.”

━ That is accurate.

Yes. This is the key point. Please tell me what I want to hear quickly.

“If it’s not disrespectful to Malak-nim, I can help.”

Yes!

As expected of someone who worked in politics, she’s quick to the point.

Ah, but if it’s administrative work, then it’s not politics, right? So, a civil servant?

Anyway, she led a large group of people for several years, so she’ll know what she’s doing.

━ Rachel, from today onwards, you are the temporary administrator of Symphony. Consult with Harry, who has been handling administrative affairs until now, and rebuild Symphony.

“I will do my best.”

I gave her the authority to sit at the round table in the center of the altar.

This means she’s been included in the Tribal Federation’s leadership.

Though the leadership is still just Rake, Paya, Kanto, Muri, and Harry, just like before.

━ If you resolve the situation, your position will no longer be temporary.

I’m not a tyrannical boss.

If you do a good job, even a part-timer can become a regular employee.

Damn, this reminds me of the convenience store manager.

He was the kind of guy who didn’t do anything himself but worked his employees to the bone.

The great Malak-nim is different from such a tyrannical manager.

Just as I was about to tell Rachel to take a good rest today and start her administrative work tomorrow…

She slowly stood up and adjusted her monocle.

This scene seems familiar from manga.

“As this is a critical matter, I’d like to start right away. Harry-nim? I heard you’ve been handling administrative affairs.”

“Hmm? That’s right.”

Harry, who was observing Rachel along with the rest of the leadership, nodded.

“I’d like to hear about the exact situation. There are many things that concern me… First of all…”

“The damaged city walls were filled with rocks instead of bricks. If rocks are placed between bricks…”

“Instead of neglecting the now-unused church, it would be better to renovate it into a new space…”

“I saw that the well was covered up because it was slightly damaged, but there’s no need to…”

A barrage of feedback. Rachel fired a verbal machine gun.

“W-Well, let’s talk about the details later, outside.”

Harry was sweating profusely.

Good. I think this woman will do well. Should I leave the city management to the civilized people who lived in the city?

━ You can discuss it while sitting at the round table.

“…I don’t know much about these things, being a mage.”

Harry sat down with a resigned expression.

▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄

A week had passed since Rachel took over as administrator.

[You have acquired a territory! There is a blessing you can learn!]

What is this?

I checked the blessing.

[Power of the Wind and Rain God: The Loa Malak is a being who controls the weather. Nothing affects plants more than the weather. When used, it can rapidly accelerate the growth of crops.]

What, you had this kind of ability too?

This is an ability optimized for territory management. A skill that Paladins could never obtain.

But why is this appearing now?

It’s been a while since I designated Symphony as the headquarters of the Tribal Federation.

What is this?

Ah.

I think I get it.

It’s nothing grand, but a very simple and obvious answer.

“I think the basic maintenance is all done now.”

What Rachel just said is the key.

It means Symphony was in such a mess that it couldn’t even be considered a territory, right?

Ha.

You crazy barbarians.