Volume 23 Chapter 2, Floria’s Thoughts

“Why don’t we make a country?”

Alec suddenly said such a thing, and Kousuke was taken aback.

It was obvious that he had not even thought of such a thing.

After fully understanding what Alec had said, he checked his surroundings.

Alec and the others from the city had an expectant look on their faces, as if they had anticipated that Alec would say that.

Wahid also had a similar expression on his face, so he must have been notified beforehand.

In contrast, the members of the administration, rather than looking surprised, looked as if it had finally happened.

In other words, the only one who had no idea at all was Kousuke.

***

“Uh… Could you say that again?”

“A country. Why don’t we make a country centered on this Tower?”

At Alec’s urging, Kousuke gave him an “It can’t be helped” look.

He must have realized that Kousuke never thought about making a country until now.

“Well… Is this a joke?”

Kousuke asked Alec, hoping that it was a joke.

“How can I joke about something like this right now?”

“I guess…”

Hearing Alec’s reply, Kousuke shrugged.

“… Frankly, I hadn’t thought about it at all, but is there a reason you just now started talking about it?”

“No reason, nothing at all, I was just thinking that it was strange for someone to control all the towers in this continent without really thinking about using it to make something like a country. It just makes one wonder about it.”

“In addition to that, if I may add, there is already talk that the announcement will finally lead to the creation of a country in the city on the 5th Floor.”

Alec’s words were followed up by Wahid.

This talk was not just a joke in a bar, but very common talk in general.

It was a common story in this world to build a country around a Tower.

Recently, there had been no stories of new Tower conquests, so it has been a long time since the birth of such a nation.

Of course, no one had ever conquered a Tower on the Central Continent before.

It was no exaggeration to say that Kousuke, more than anyone else, held the right to create a country that had never been created on the continent.

***

Kousuke could understand that it was already starting to look like a done deal.

“Uh… Honestly, this is all too abrupt for me to respond?”

“I suppose that’s true. Well, at least now you have an understanding that we have such a discussion to think about.”

“Thank you.”

“I’d really like you to hurry up and decide, if you can.”

At those words, which were added with a grin, Kousuke could only return a wry smile.

“I understand. I will come to a conclusion as soon as possible.”

“Besides, even if you talk about making a country, the situation is almost the same as it is now, right?”

“Eh?”

“In the first place, such work is already being done by the executive branch. Of course, we need to set up a national structure, but that can be covered by gathering personnel from other towns.”

As for what Kousuke thought he would have to do as king, he was expecting to do more than what he was already doing, but Alec wasn’t expecting anything of the sort.

Alec’s current title was deputy of the town on the 5th Floor, but he was already in charge of several towns, including Kennelsen.

Although the number of towns involved was small, what he was doing was almost the same as that of a prime minister of a country.

Moreover, most of the decisions were made by Alec on his own initiative, without going through Kousuke.

Of course, he would ask Kousuke to make decisions on important matters, but most of the decisions were made by Alec alone.

Even if a country were to be established, what Kousuke would do would be virtually the same as now.

Moreover, even assuming that a country was created, there would be more problems if Kousuke were to become involved in the administrative affairs of the country.

***

“Isn’t it problematic for a deity to rule directly over people?”

Sylvia, who had been listening silently up to that point, came to raise that question.

“I think it would be problematic.”

In a country where Gods actually exist, for better or worse, if a God actually ruled a country, he would be left to his own devices, and nothing good would happen.

In fact, because of this, the goddesses did not have a country exclusively worshiping them in the present day, let alone in mythological times.

Naturally, Alec and the others were aware of this.

“Then…”

Alec interrupted Kousuke’s attempt to say something with his hand and continued.

“That’s why a deputy or prime minister like me is responsible for administration. After that, if Lord Kousuke happened to have a child, the throne could be passed to that child.”

Alec’s words changed the mood of the women who had been watching the situation.

It was not a good mood, but a bad one.

Both Kousuke and Alec noticed this.

“What’s wrong?”

Kousuke asked, but did not get an immediate answer.

“The child… At least, we can’t have children yet as it is now.”

Shrein answered on behalf of everyone else, who were speechless.

“… What do you mean?”

Kousuke, who didn’t seem to be joking from his mood, asked cautiously.

Sylvia, unable to avoid answering Kousuke’s question, let out a sigh and replied.

“To have children with Kousuke-sama, who has become a god, we must each become a higher race.”

“Higher race, you don’t mean…”

Kousuke recalled a time when he had talked about this with the girls before.

The girls were in a strange mood then, too.

“It means we have to evolve.”

“On the other hand, if you could evolve, you would definitely be able to have children, wouldn’t you?”

Sylvia nodded, despite being confused by Kousuke’s words.

“Well, that’s good.”

Kousuke said unintentionally.

He could have thought of the worst-case scenario and even considered not being able to have children.

At least there was a way.

And the girls could see that path.

Kousuke’s own power had already given them the answer.

Kousuke noticed that the girls were doing many things to try to master divine power.

He knew there was something going on, but he did not expect it to lead to this.

***

“There seems to be a complicated situation, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have children, right?”

Alec, who had been silent so far, sensing the mood, interjected, knowing how the conversation was going.

“It is as you have heard. It’s not good as it is now, but it doesn’t mean there’s no way, I guess.”

“I see.”

Alec replied shortly and became silent.

Any further discussion would be stepping into their private affairs.

Considering that they were considered successors to the country, it could be said to be a public matter, but it was not that specific yet.

Even with Floria, his daughter, in mind, he knew that this was not the right time to ask.

“Well, it’s not a matter of what to do about the country right now. Take your time and think about it.”

The atmosphere was somewhat delicate, but he decided to close this regular meeting by saying that the rest should be discussed by the participants themselves.

The other participants seemed to think the same way, and nothing more was discussed.

He knew that it would be a mistake for a third party to intervene in such a sensitive topic.

First, it was important to let the parties involved think things over slowly.

If there was to be any intervention, that would be after things have settled down enough.

All the participants hoped that this would not affect the future management of Tower.