Noble Reincarnation: Born Blessed, So I'll Obtain Ultimate Power

The next day, inside the office.

I was sitting as usual, with Wards standing across from me.

What was a bit different from lately was that Zoe, dressed as a maid, was standing beside me as my aide.

Wards kept glancing back and forth between my face and the new face of Zoe, hesitating as if he had something difficult to say.

“Um…”

“Pull yourself together!”

Zoe suddenly raised her voice to scold him.

Wards was so surprised that a woman dressed as a maid would scold him so loudly that he flinched and hurriedly straightened his back.

“You are before the governor’s excellency; your report should be concise and clear.”

“Y-yes!”

Completely intimidated, Wards’ expression sharpened.

I was impressed by Zoe.

With just one sentence, she balanced the reason I called him here—to treat me as the governor—and the principle that one should be sharp in front of the governor. That was quite skillful.

While I was impressed, Wards began his report.

“We dispatched troops to the ranches across various regions to exterminate the monsters, but… well—”

He hesitated again, but this time, when Zoe glared at him, he hurriedly continued.

“—most of them were driven back by monster hordes…”

“Driven back? You mean they retreated?”

I asked Wards, slightly furrowing my brows.

“Yes…”

“Hmm… What does that mean? Weren’t these the very people who originally managed the ranches in this land?”

“That’s correct, but all of them unanimously said the monsters have become formidable.”

“I see.”

I nodded in understanding.

“What do you think it means, master?”

Zoe asked with curiosity.

I also felt a sense of realization.

“Zoe, you’re not well-versed in combat matters, right?”

“My apologies.”

“It's fine; it’s understandable if it’s outside your expertise. Even Oscar is decent at military strategy but ranks below a squad leader on the front lines.”

I comforted Zoe and then got to the main point.

“The monsters were somewhat weakened when under control, but once released into the wild, they probably grew stronger. They are like beasts freed from chains, regaining their wild nature.”

“I understand now.”

“So, does that mean the current forces cannot handle them?”

After explaining to Zoe, I asked Wards again.

“Well… if we are prepared for sacrifices—”

“That’s enough.”

“No! We can do it! Just give the order!”

Wards suddenly became persistent.

He swallowed the words that were difficult to say and, with a changed expression, implored me.

He must have taken my words as being abandoned, and that was a situation he desperately wanted to avoid.

That was understandable.

Whether an emperor or a governor, from the perspective of someone at Wards’ level, being abandoned by a higher authority must be terrifying.

So he insisted, saying, “If sacrifices are prepared for, it’s possible.”

However.

That was not what I wanted—

“Master does not favor pointless sacrifices.”

Zoe, who knows me well as my aide, cut him off sharply.

Wards swallowed hard and slightly recoiled.

Zoe continued.

“Master does not like actions that assume sacrifices from the start, only those that are a consequence.”

“Ah, y-yes…”

Wards, told off by Zoe, glanced at me as if questioning if that was really true.

Ignoring that implicit inquiry, Zoe continued.

“Remember this from now on.”

She declared.

“U-understood!”

Wards flinched for the second time today, straightened his spine again, and responded with such force that he aligned his heels.

After Zoe’s “lecture” settled down, I asked again.

“Tell me the locations of the ranches where the troops were pushed back.”

“Master, will you be going yourself?”

“We can’t expect troops for the time being, so I have no choice but to go.”

“Understood. I heard that permission was granted to the civilian guild.”

“Yeah.”

“In that case—Wards, was it?”

“Y-yes.”

For the third time, Wards straightened his spine.

Zoe gave him a sharp, almost glaring look.

“Hurry with that. While the governor’s excellency can exterminate monsters without trouble, you can’t have him keep troubling himself forever.”