Building A Human Empire By Creating A Clan [EN]: Chapter 44

The constant stream of reports caused me to frown.

It wasn’t from feeling overwhelmed, but because my focus kept blurring.

Each time I narrowed my eyes to refocus, a wave of fatigue washed over me.

“Reclamation and sowing are proceeding as planned,” Griff reported.

“The Ollimus-Lagoa road construction is nearing completion,” another Familiar stated.

“It appears we can increase the mining output from the Lagoa mine,” a third added.

“The transportation volume has exploded due to the supply of rags from the transportation unit. Requesting additional Familiars for transport,” Calliope concluded.

Finally, I put down the documents and rubbed my tired eyes.

Calliope quietly took away my cold teacup and replaced it with a newly filled, warm one.

“It would be good to rest for a while, Master.”

“Ah, should we stop for now?” I asked, more to myself than anyone else.

I nodded to Griff, signaling a break, and they all immediately put down their documents.

I grabbed a cigarette and headed outside the lord’s manor for some fresh air.

Calliope and Pasimhea followed close behind.

“Don’t overdo it,” Pasimhea said, her tone laced with concern.

I chuckled at her words.

She might seem brusque on the outside, but her underlying concern was always evident.

I lit the cigarette and took a long drag, the nicotine offering a momentary reprieve.

“It’s okay. I just need a short break. More importantly, how’s the research going?”

“You mean the gunpowder? Of course, it’s going well… No, I told you not to talk about work during breaks!” Pasimhea scolded.

I nodded, a smile playing on my lips, and exhaled a plume of smoke.

‘It would be nice if I didn’t feel fatigue as easily as the Familiars,’ I thought.

It would be a huge help if I could at least level up.

If I leveled up, my stamina would increase, and I’d be less exhausted. But since leveling up seemed impossible for now, I had to endure the heavy workload with sheer willpower.

‘Still, I’m incredibly grateful to have the Familiars.’

They handle so much of the day-to-day work, taking a significant load off my shoulders.

Reports are thorough, and I’ve yet to find any falsified information.

‘In my previous life, I couldn’t trust anyone, so I was always suspicious and had to double-check everything.’

Without the Familiars, who could I possibly entrust with this work?

The only other options would be my vassals or members of the merchant class.

The problem is that both are, to put it mildly, unsatisfactory.

‘Most of my vassals are only interested in fighting and glory.’

To them, calculation meant counting the number of enemies, and negotiation meant forcing their will upon the enemy through brute force.

‘And if I entrusted important tasks to merchants, there would be countless guys like Pinto [a reference to a dishonest merchant from a previous interaction].’

They’d embezzle taxes at every opportunity, manipulate documents as a matter of course, and wouldn’t hesitate to file false reports… They’re untrustworthy in a completely different way from the vassals.

‘Compared to them, the Familiars are paragons of reliability.’

Their abilities vary depending on their job and level, of course.

But they are all capable of complex calculations and delicate negotiations, and there’s absolutely no risk of embezzlement or manipulation.

The only thing lacking is their numbers.

The current number of Familiars is just over 200, which is still not enough.

‘Beings with human hearts, but who uphold their responsibilities with machine-like precision.’

Isn’t that the ideal situation?

The reason I work so enthusiastically is also connected to this.

Wouldn’t I be ashamed if I, who leads them, showed any signs of laziness?

I put out the cigarette and rubbed the back of my stiff neck.

“Let’s go back inside.”

“Rest a little longer,” Calliope suggested gently.

“It’s okay. I’m fine.”

I returned to my seat and picked up the stack of documents.

As if they had been waiting for my signal, the Familiars also picked up their documents, ready to resume their duties.