Faced with Cecelia’s completely unrestrained criticism, Via remained silent for a long moment.
“…Is all of that what you truly think?”
Via turned her head away and looked out the window.
Cecelia couldn’t see her expression at all, but from that sudden cold and distant tone, it was clear her earlier disparagement had definitely upset Via.
“Senior, I was just speaking casually, you don’t have to take it to heart. Perhaps me saying these things now is a bit meddlesome…”
Cecelia cautiously leaned a little closer to Via, her voice tinged with slight grievance, speaking carefully.
Usually, when she showed this attitude, even if the other party was displeased, they would most likely calm down.
Cecelia had gradually figured this out during their time together.
However, this time, Via didn’t soften as expected. Instead, she continued pressing with that icy tone: “I’m asking if what you said was truly how you feel.”
“…It is.”
Cecelia’s face was full of grievance.
Suddenly, the Demon Lord turned her face.
The authority radiating from her expression instantly made Cecelia uneasy—even back when they had been enemies, she had never seen this woman so serious.
It seemed she had indeed touched a nerve of her senior’s pride.
After all, this city had been built by Via’s wholehearted effort, and might even become the foundation of her future power.
Being belittled by Cecelia now—anyone would be unhappy.
“Since you say that’s how you really feel, then from now on, the coordination of resources within the city and external trade will be your responsibility.”
“Excuse me… huh?”
Cecelia had been about to apologize at lightning speed but suddenly realized something was off in what Via just said.
“Why are you just standing there? Didn’t you say you were dissatisfied with this matter? Since you’re dissatisfied, you must have a better way to improve it, right?”
Via smiled with satisfaction.
“Starting tomorrow, you’ll be in charge of the city’s resource allocation and transportation. I want a proposal on my desk within a week. I’ll approve it. Make it quick.”
“…Wait a minute, Senior, what you’re doing is…”
“Don’t misunderstand me. How could I deliberately trick you? Besides, you’re human and I’m temporarily of the demon race. Even if you really had that capability, I wouldn’t trust you enough to let you handle it yourself. This is just to have you help me deal with some troublesome matters. Everything you do still needs my approval.”
Although she spoke very formally, Cecelia could clearly feel that Via was smiling mischievously.
As the Holy Maiden, Cecelia hadn’t done much long-term governance, but she had dealt with many livelihood-related affairs—such as the church distributing food during relief efforts, raising funds for building churches, and so forth.
These tasks were routine for Cecelia, and she was very proficient at them.
In fact, from some perspectives, the areas where the city was currently lacking were exactly what she was good at.
Only now did she realize she had fallen into a trap set by the other party from the start.
The questions were meant to test whether she had experience in these matters.
Moreover, she was quite certain that this woman had noticed her relevant experience long ago.
“Senior, what you’re doing—tricking and cheating like this—isn’t right…”
“If you’re a guest relying on others, then you have to pay some price, right? I think asking you to handle some affairs now isn’t too much.”
Via had long anticipated this situation but was sure Cecelia wouldn’t refuse her.
If Cecelia really refused, then Via would have to consider making her pay for her allegiance with something even more valuable.
“I’ve already told you before, I won’t join the demon race. If you really need my help, I can only be responsible for human-related matters in the city. Demonic affairs are best handled by you yourself.”
“Alright, alright, then you take care of the humans and I’ll handle the demons. We’ll each mind our own.”
Via was delighted.
She had been mingling within the demon race for a long time and knew more about their situation, while she was now less familiar with the current state of humans than she was back when she was still a Saint.
Besides, compared to the demons, the human population in the city clearly had more urgent material needs.
People get hungry, resources run out, but my demon kin—you have strong adaptability and bodies of steel.
If you get hungry, you can always drink the northwest wind.
When it came to taking advantage of the demon race, Via felt no guilt.
After all, it was they who had dug her out of the graveyard in the first place.
Since they didn’t treat her as human, she’d treat them like dogs.
Anything that could reduce her workload, why not take it?
“Also, in the next few days, the church might send someone over here. I don’t know if you know them, but in any case, there will be a church insider undercover. Keep an eye out if you have time.”
Via suddenly seemed to remember something and gave this warning.
“Huh? How do you know the church is sending someone undercover?”
“Guess. Who do you think wrote the church’s current textbooks on undercover disguise and behind-enemy-lines reconnaissance?”
“Ah… well…”
“I still have a few informants in the church. But honestly, with how strong the demon-excluding barriers and spells have become in all countries, including the Holy Country, I can’t plant many spies there. If it weren’t for those old men who developed those spells, you’d have been infiltrated by me long ago. You know those recent church personnel better than I do, so I’m counting on you to help me out.”
What was most notable about the church now was their complete system for identifying demons and related spells.
This had caused many demon spies sent by Via to be killed one after another—though Via didn’t really care, since she didn’t have much goodwill toward the demon race.
However, this identification system wasn’t widely adopted by all human nations due to its high cost and was only used at the church’s Holy Country headquarters and during clergy inspections.
Naturally, there were still some slipping through the cracks, hiding in others’ territories.
“I won’t betray these people—if they’re innocent in my eyes.”
“You’re quite virtuous at just the right time. Well, after all, you never agreed to become one of us demons, so from the human point of view, betraying those who have no quarrel with you would be wrong.”
“…I won’t tell you proactively, but if necessary, protecting your safety is no problem.”
“I’ll be counting on you then.”
Via smiled.
Hmph, little Holy Maiden, you’re already starting to fall bit by bit.
Cecelia also smiled.
Ha, naïve senior, you really did let me take charge of things.