Isekai Office Worker: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (異世界の沙汰は社畜次第)

Aresh-sama scolded me severely,

but the ultimate goal of this expedition is the holy maiden's purification.

If her mental state becomes such that we achieve no results,

this is a huge financial loss.

Besides, in the end, I can't rest easy unless I verify things with my own eyes.

THE OTHER WORLD'S BOOKS DEPEND ON THE BEAN COUNTER

I MADE A PROPOSAL

Yua, do you think you can do it?

I can.

Yua!

Ist-san, what's the progress of the purification?

Huh?

The purification.

Oh, let me see.

About 30% or so?

In that case, we'll need to organize at least three more expeditions.

The cost of each expedition is hefty,

so I was hoping to do this in one go...

Yua, you did well.

Was I of any help?

Of course! You truly are our holy maiden.

Looks like she's at her limit.

Hey, I told you not to leave my side. What are you doing?

I asked Ist-san and the royal sorcery department for a small favor.

Why did you go to the royal sorcery department?

My third royal order has more experience when it comes to magic.

In that case, Aresh-sama, I have work for you.

Work?

Since civil officials couldn't come, I'm short on manpower.

We'll be all set with the third royal order's help, right, Ist-san?

Hold it! I wasn't informed of this!

What is it you're planning?!

Huh?

I discussed everything with Assistant Director Ist beforehand.

Is that true, Ist?!

Um, perhaps?

Ist!

This again?

Figures.

Now, now. Doesn't it all work out?

As we need people highly practiced with magical energy and in magic studies,

this could only be handled by the royal sorcery department.

Accordingly, we'll grant special compensation for the job.

Can a mere assistant director of accounting decide something like that?

Please, rest assured.

Both my director and His Excellency have already signed off on it.

Indeed...

That should be enough for their department.

I'll have Director Zoltan, who's always eager to be in charge,

instruct the others while Ist-san selects members more resistant to magicules.

Now, I'd like everyone of the third royal order...

Halt.

On whose authority are you doing whatever you please?

His Excellency the Prime Minister.

I have a letter here entrusting this matter to me.

I'm in charge of this purification expedition!

Yes, which is why this was entrusted to me as a separate affair.

A separate affair?

Your Highness, you should see to reassuring

Her Holiness and getting her somewhere to rest.

I-I'd like to stay behind with you, Kondou-san!

Yua?

Has she only now realized the dangers of this world

and the precariousness of her own position?

Still, there's nothing I can do for her right now.

You seem quite tired, Your Holiness.

Please return to the town we set out from this morning and get some rest.

So, what is it you intend to do?

Huh?

As I said, I'm in charge here.

The damage from the miasma is the most pressing issue in our kingdom.

I can't leave matters to an otherworlder who knows nothing.

Oh?

As a prince of this kingdom,

it at least appears he's strongly motivated regarding the miasma.

Then, Your Highness, please stand back with your guard to observe at a distance.

Seiichirou, what should the knights do?

Please protect the members of the royal sorcery department

and record the details of the barrier they cast.

Barrier? What are you going to protect?

We're going to protect this kingdom.

What nonsense are you spouting?

Barrier spells are a complex form of magic that only a select few can use.

A barrier large enough to cover the entire kingdom

would require far more sorcerers than we have.

Isn't that right, Zoltan?

Yes, Your Highness. We only have eight here capable of casting the spell.

You need only think of it the other way around.

We know the root of the miasma, so we just need to shift our perspective.

We can simply seal the source.

Let's begin.

So we cast a barrier approximately three meters in radius around the tree

and determine the concentration of miasma inside...

Then we plant various flora around the area

to document how long it takes for the barrier to weaken, huh?

Yes.

It's not a permanent spell, after all.

In the end, once Shiraishi-san finishes the purification,

we'll cast the barrier again, station guards around the forest,

and have the spell reinforced regularly to prevent any miasma leakage.

Meanwhile, if we find a way to eliminate the source of the miasma itself...

I'd never even considered something like this before you suggested it.

Probably because of the holy maiden.

Few bother to consider other more time-consuming solutions

when an easy one is available to them.

It's intellectual laziness.

But, well, there won't be a need

to summon holy maidens from another world with this method.

Basically, I'm telling the kingdom it should wipe its own ass.

Granted, the holy maiden is a symbol of hope to the people

and an ace up the kingdom's sleeve.

Convincing the king that one is no longer necessary will take more work...

Aresh-sama, I still have a lot of work to do.

Save it for later.

You were exposed to miasma today.

We need to reinforce your barrier.

True. Even the knights with high magicule resistance were feeling unwell,

yet I was fine thanks to the barrier.

I can't thank him enough,

but...

I wonder when it started.

I've grown aware of his feelings,

but right now...

Aresh-sama, do we need to go this far?

We do.

W-We really don't, do we?

We need physical contact to familiarize me with his magic, not acts of pleasure.

Wait, Aresh-sama...

Kondu, you here?

We're in the middle of something. Leave.

I sensed the commander's magical energy from Kondu at the banquet.

It's odd for someone with no magical resistance

to emit another's energy...

So this is how it happened.

Hey, don't run away.

This is a perfectly normal reaction.

Let's do this another time, Aresh-sama.

No. You'll just use your glib tongue to gloss things over and escape.

Um...

Can I stay here and watch?

I'm fine now that we're somewhere with less miasma.

I have documents to submit upon our return that still need organizing.

Also, starting tomorrow, I'll be riding in a royal sorcery department carriage.

Ist-san, we can discuss what you wanted to talk about as we ride.

Got it.

And so, the only ones who lack resistance to magical energy are usually newborns.

It's already been over two hours...

Why are researchers so single-minded when they find something that interests them?

Assistant Director Ist of the royal sorcery department...

Apparently, he's from a merchant family rather than a noble one.

He's incredibly dedicated to his pursuit of magic

and highly skilled in a wide range of spells.

He's gifted in a different way from Aresh-sama.

But since you have zero resistance as an adult,

Commander Indolark cast an advanced barrier spell on you

and he's acclimating you to magical energy himself.

This is most unusual!

Your body is permeated with the commander's magical energy waves,

allowing magic to circulate within you,

which acts as the organ thought to be the core of magical energy...

The magical circulation system

consists of an organ to move magical energy throughout you.

Since you don't have this organ,

I suspect another organ has activated in its place. I think it's probably...

The topic is very interesting, but I still have countless things to do.

I need to report to Prime Minister Camile,

make arrangements with our collaborators, and...

This is a crucial time.

I sent swift notice to Viscount Blanc and prepared the documents

in case of an emergency. Now, all that's left is...

You're still awake?

It would seem the people of this kingdom don't knock before entering.

I knocked, but you didn't respond.

Aresh-sama, we return to the royal capital tomorrow.

I still have some accounting work I need to finish.

If things are going to be even busier tomorrow,

then all the more reason for a protective barrier. Am I wrong?

No...

I really appreciate it.

It's true that I can't afford to collapse right now.

He's thinking about me more than I expected.

Without him, I'd already be dead by now.

There are still things I need to prioritize at the moment,

so I can't properly address his feelings yet.

I'll need to think about them seriously once everything is over...

Hey.

Yes?

I don't plan on letting anyone else take care of you. Got it?

No...

Hang on. Are you seriously saying that now?

What's wrong with saying it right now?

Well, whether or not you say something like that,