#1134 Ministry Inauguration 

Now that I’ve treated myself to some sweet waffles, it’s time to get down to business and start building the Farm Kingdom! 

That said, I’m still at the stage where I’m laying down the groundwork. 

Everything around me is a blank canvas, so blank that I’m not even sure where to begin. Seriously, what do I start with? 

Anyway, the first thing I decided on is to give everyone an official position. 

After all, a nation is built by its people.  
How they work and what roles they play will shape the entire kingdom. 

They say “people are the castle, people are the stone walls, people are the—Horiuchi-K*nyus,” right? 

Up until now, we were basically just a farm with a laid-back vibe, but from here on out, we need to tighten things up. 

“So, I’ve decided to assign official titles to each of you.” 

I gathered the residents and informed them of our agenda. 

“You’re all going to be the central figures in our new Farm Kingdom. Having proper titles should make things run smoother in the long run, so that’s why we’re doing this now.” 

Hearing this, the familiar faces look a bit uneasy. 

“A title, huh? I’m not used to that, but if we’re really becoming a country, I guess that’s how it goes.” 
“If I get to pick, I want something awesome like ‘Dragon Emperor of the Eight Great Skies’ or whatever!” 
“How about ‘Nine Provinces!’ or ‘Ten Blades!’ or ‘Those Eleven People!’” 

…Never mind, they don’t seem too uneasy at all.  
They’re actually pretty pumped. This positive attitude is exactly why I love the farm crew. 

So, without further ado, I keep talking. 

“I took the liberty of deciding who gets which position myself.” 

I’m going to give high-level roles and broad authority to the people who are already at the core of our farm. Then everyone else will rally under them, so we can operate efficiently. 
Having clear responsibilities will let us see who’s doing what, which is definitely the right call for a first step. 

“First off, I’m a bit embarrassed to say, but I’ll serve as the leader of the Farm Kingdom. I’ll do my best, and I hope you’ll all support me.” 

That was mostly just a formality. 

But applause erupts from the crowd anyway. 

“So you’re basically the king now!” 
“Go get ’em, Your Majesty!” 

Don’t call me king!  
That still makes me all kinds of embarrassed! 

…Ugh, maybe I should come up with a different title around here.  
Like ‘Representative’ or ‘Chairman’ or ‘Prime Minister.’  
Maybe I should copy Edward and go with ‘Pops.’ 

But I’ll deal with that later… 

“Next, my partner Platy will take the position of Prime Minister.” 
“OOOOOOH!” 

 A wave of interest ripples through the farm members. 

I’m guessing they find that choice pretty reasonable. 

The Prime Minister is the king’s right-hand officer. 
They support the ruler at close range, and even handle national affairs in their stead when necessary.  
It’s essentially the top spot right below the throne. 

Platy’s been by my side this whole time, helping run the farm as my wife. Plus, she’s a merprincess and a witch, so she’s already proven her knowledge and power in spades. 

She’s in the perfect position both as my wife and as someone who can back me up better than anyone else. 

Platy responds to the announcement with a hearty laugh. 

“Hooooooooo-ho-ho-ho-ho! If I’m both Dear’s wife and the Prime Minister, so that makes me Queen plus Prime Minister, doesn’t it? Sure, I’ll be juggling two roles, but I’ve got the brains and the talent to pull it off with style!!!” 

That’s Platy, as confident as ever. 

But considering she’s already got massive magical skills and royal mermaid blood, she’s more than fit to be the top advisor to this budding nation. 

“Though it’s not like I have zero worries about this, either...” 

The only catch is that Platy’s now the mom of three.  
With Junior, Norito, and Shotaro to look after, every day is already a battle.  

She’ll be wearing more like three hats at once: wife, mother, and now Prime Minister. 

I was a little worried she’d be overwhelmed, but… 

According to Platy, it’s not a big deal at all. 

— “Junior and Norito aren’t much trouble, and Panu and the others help out with childcare. I’d rather throw myself into the job and show the kids what a hard-working mom looks like!” 

Wait, isn’t that usually a dad’s job…? Well, I guess it’s fine. 

Either way, I’m sure Platy will go down in history alongside Lucife Focale and Zoth Syra as a brilliant Prime Minister. 

Let’s move on.  

“Orkubo.” 
“Yes, my Lord.” 

I call on Orkubo the orc. 
He’s one of the steadfast companions who’s been with me since the early days of the farm. 

As an orc, Orkubo’s huge and incredibly strong, but he’s also reliable and levelheaded. 

“I’m appointing you as Minister of Construction.” 
“Understood.” 

Orcs love building things, and every structure on this farm is their handiwork.  
They’ve gained so much experience that their craftsmanship is now on a whole other level. 

I’m sure their building skills will be a huge asset when it comes to expanding our farm into a kingdom. 

“Next up, Gobukichi.” 
“My Lord.” 

Gobukichi is the goblins’ leader.  

Like Orkubo, he’s one of the farm’s oldest members. 

Goblins are small and dexterous, lending a hand in everything from fieldwork to crafting. They’re so handy that we often say, “Just let the goblins handle it!” 

So… 

“I’d like you to serve as Chief Cabinet Secretary.” 
“Chief Ca…binet Secre… is that, like, the CCS? ‘C’ for short?” 

Let’s not shorten it that way, okay? 
Honestly, these titles are all over the place, powered by my random enthusiasm, but that’s fine. 

Back in my world, the Chief Cabinet Secretary was the go-between for all the ministries, so Gobukichi, who can handle just about anything, is perfect for the job. 

“I’d also like the orcs and goblins to serve as our defense force whenever trouble arises. I’m counting on you all.” 
“YES, MY LORD!!!” 

I relied on Orkubo and Gobukichi a lot in the past, and I’ll probably rely on them even more from now on. 

Okay, next. 
Aileron shall be the Minister of Pottery… 

“My lord.” 

Yes? 
Oh, Orkubo and Gobukichi are still standing there, looking unexpectedly serious.  
Did they have something else to say? 

“My lord, if we could have a moment of your time…” 
“Sure, go ahead.” 
“We’ve been thinking about this ever since we each married. We’re monsters, and we wondered if we truly deserve this human-like happiness. Each time that doubt crept up, you reminded us not to feel guilty for living our best lives.” 

Is that so... 

Well, that does ring a bell. We had some deep talks about that. 
Mostly over drinks at Bacchus’s tavern, though. 

Orkubo and Gobukichi can be a bit too earnest, so they get wrapped up in this sort of existential worry.  
It was especially bad when they got married or had kids... 

I did try my best to play wise mentor back then. Guess it stuck with them. 

“That’s why we made a decision. If we’re going to be part of human society, then we want to become humans in every sense of the word.” 
“For the sake of our wives, our children, and for you, my lord. We don’t ever want to be dismissed as ‘just monsters.’” 
“We want to become flawless, impeccable humans!!” 

Alright, alright, calm down, guys. 

When serious people get worked up, they can run wild. 
But hopefully not too wild… 

“So we’ve been…studying!!!” 

…Pardon?