In the morning, in Redwing Kingdom, in a school in the capital…

With a tight-lipped grimace on his face, with one of his hands in a fist on his hip, Straf is reading through the students' exam results. Students of all ages are sitting in their desks, some old, some young, most a little in between, and all are staring at Straf with nervous faces. The headmaster standing in front of his students with his hands joined in front of himself, fidgeting with his thumbs, is not any less nervous. He continues fidgeting, and waits to see what Straf will say.

「Tsk… Seriously?…」

Ffwkwapk…

With a disappointed tone, Straf shrugs his hand, noisily flapping one of the student's exam sheet. The students exchange concerned glances.

「…You pass on a technicality, which makes me want to just kick your ass out.」

Krkkrkk!…

He adds, speaking to the headmaster while crumpling up the exam sheet. Straf then throws it at one of the students in the front row.

「So… So I keep the job?…」

The headmaster asks hesitantly, spreading his hands with a nervous grimace.

「You really ought to fucking not to. Two points, is what separates you from being a headmaster and a job-hunter…」

Straf replies, holding two of his fingers up with his mouth aslant in frustration.

「…And this fucking nerd is the main reason why. Seriously. He can fucking do it, why can't the rest of you!? I'm not even good at linear algebra!…」

He then points his finger at a student sitting by a window. The young man adjusts his glasses, startled by the attention he suddenly gained.

「…He hiked the class average so high, that you'd have to be unable to read or fucking write to sink the headmaster!… And this guy had almost done it!」

「Eh? What was that?… Read what?」

Straf shrugs his hands, then points at a shriveled old man with glasses as thick as window panes on his face. He squints heavily at Straf, adjusting them.

「So… Minister… Do I proceed with the semester, or?…」

The principal asks, walking up to Straf with his balding head lowered.

「Tsk… Fine. Keep your fuckin' cushy government job. You, or rather, the school will be receiving funding. Hire some teachers to spread the knowledge. I'll check on you later.」

Visibly displeased, Straf clicks his tongue and gives up, shrugging his shoulders. He turns to leave the classroom.

「Yes, minister!… Thank you for the opportunity, sir!」

The balding principal deferentially follows him to the door, nodding his nearly hairless, shiny head behind him.

With his hands in his coat's pocket, Straf heads down the stairs of the mansion-turned-school back to the entrance foyer, and walks out the door. He makes his way out on the still sparsely populated streets, and turns to head in the general direction of the palace. The citizens are visibly hungover, especially those of lower societal rungs, who bear weary faces as they head for work in one of the many workshops, or somewhere else.

《That's one thing off the list… I suppose the ads are next? Deflation won't handle itself.》

Straf thinks idly as he passes by one of the large mansions with a sign hanging off its front door. The sign reads,「To be open for business soon.」in a bold, black text.

「What a bother…」

He shrugs, briefly rubbing the back of his neck. Straf then places his hand back into his coat's pocket, and continues onward…

…

A little over an hour later, in the consumer goods factory…

「That's it! All you do is press buttons! Easy!… Just don't let your limbs touch the moving parts, we don't have emergency stop buttons!… And even if we did, it'd be uneconomic to press them!」

Vrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!…

The whirring of multiple CNC machines fills the factory as Straf stands proudly with his fists on his coated hips, watching the workers place raw materials in the machines' cold, steel grips.

There are multiple lines producing multiple types of items. One line is converting raw kubelwagen engines to use mana, another line is carving the insides of small boxes, and yet another line is doing the same, albeit their boxes are of different dimensions. Using magic runes, the machines continuously blow air and water at the drill bits, blowing away the detritus and cooling them. Stripe watches on from beside Straf, holding her clawed hands on her hips, and looking on with a slightly unnerved look on her face.

Elsewhere in the factory, more manual work is done as a handful of workers assemble the prepared components into ready-made engines. Another group is placing sets of gems into the boxes.

「This is all so noisy… What am I even supposed to do here?」

Her ears briefly flutter under cloth hat as she asks, turning her golden eyes to Straf.

「You? Personally?」

Straf asks back, staring at her with a tight-lipped grimace.

「…Yeah. They didn't need any help after you were done explaining, and I'm just standing here, watching. What am I supposed to do?」

Stripe nods, and shrugs her hands.

Snap!

「Exactly that. You just watch them, and make sure they are pressing buttons, and not placing their heads in the vices.」

「Huh!? But that leaves me with pretty much nothing to do!」

Straf explains, snapping his fingers and pointing at Stripe. Her jaw drops, and she throws her hands aside in a shocked protest.

「Pretty much…」

Snap.

Straf snaps his fingers again, and points at her with a smug smirk on his face.

「…Well, really, your job is to just make sure that any theoretical CCTV footage from the factory is boring, and that there's no people being pulled into the machines.」

He shrugs as he adds, casually placing his hand back in his pocket.

「…What's CCTV footage?」

Stripe warily asks, lowering her arms with her golden eyes narrowed.

「Something I haven't made yet. Don't worry about it too much. The main point is, as long as there's no production-interrupting fatalities, you'll be doing your job well.」

Turning for the door, Straf nonchalantly shrugs his arms as he heads for the exit.

「I don't want to do something this menial!」

She exclaims, following after him.

「Then yell at them to work faster, or something. Telling other people to work harder is hard work.」

With a quick peek over his shoulder and a whimsy grimace, Straf shrugs as he leaves.

Stripe throws her arms up, then shrug, and lets out a large, disappointed sigh…

…

An hour later, on the Main Street, in front of one of the mansions…

Kneeling on top of an overhang roof in front of the entrance, using a small hammer, Straf nails a small holding frame of metal into the wall. He then throws the hammer into his [Portable Storage], pulls out a rectangular-shaped box, and slips it into the frame, pulling away a springy sheet of metal to fit it in.

Clank!

When he lets go, the metal springs back and latches onto the box noisily. With a satisfied nod, Straf flips a switch on the box, and hops down onto the street.

Thump!

Surprised and alarmed passersby jump away in alarm, before calming down as Straf casually places his hands in his coat's pockets as if nothing happened. He looks up at the overhang. After a faint whirring noise intensifies, a projected text appears right in front of it.

Rooooooooaaaaarrrrrrrrrr!!…

A loud roar startles the citizens passing by. Straf turns his head down the street in anticipation of something.

Fffffwoooooop!… Ffffwoppff!…

They turn their eyes to the golden letters floating in front of the overhang, but their attention is very short-lived. A flapping sound comes from the overhang, but the citizens' attention is drawn to the side, down the street. The people begin to scream and panic.

「Dragon!」「Aaaaaaaa!」「…I don't want to die!…」

They drop to the ground to avoid the monster flying down the street. It flaps its golden wings, spreading them building to building as it flies towards Straf.

Roaar!

A roar comes from the overhang as the golden dragon flaps its wings. It flies just above Straf's head, then shoots upward above the rooftops, flickering slightly.

「Heh. Cool…」

With his hands casually in his pockets, Straf declares with a lightly amused smirk on his face, being the only one standing on the street while everyone else is hunkering down with their heads covered. The dragon loops around then begins diving back down towards the overhang, and Straf.

「Ministry of Fortune! Try your luck where fates are shaped!」

Straf's voice declares from the overhang. Large, golden letters proudly stating「Ministry of Fortune」hover in front of the overhang, attached by nothing at all. The dragon comes down, perching itself on the overhang just behind the golden letters, proudly spreading its likewise golden wings. The letters sparkle and each in sequence grow in size as the voice reads the projected sign out loud. The dragon then spews out a flickering cloud of flame that quickly disappears, before the dragon itself disappears as well.

「…What was that?…」「…What is going on here?…」「…Was that magic? An illusion?…」

The deeply confused people begin picking themselves up off the cold, winter cobblestones, and brushing off dirt of their clothes. They glance at each other for answers, but nobody seems to have any. Straf is staring at the golden letters with his hands in his pockets, grinning. The golden text then disappears, retracting into the overhang.

Rooooooooaaaaarrrrrrrrrr!!…

「…Aaahh!…」「…Here it comes again!…」「…Is this even real!?…」

The people shout and scream, ducking again as another roar comes from the overhang.

Fffffwoooooop!… Ffffwoppff!…

The golden dragon abruptly appears down the road, same as before. Straf scoffs, shaking his head with a ridiculing grin on his face, and heads for the palace.

「Aaaaaahhhhh!」「Aaaaaaa!」「…Help! Guards!… Somebody!…」

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…Roaar!…

Jumping over the people screaming and taking cover on the ground, Straf simply leaves as the golden dragon flies right over his head…

…

A few hours later, in the late afternoon, in Straf's office…

Straf is sitting in his chair with his boots on his desk, reclining back precariously on the chair's rear legs. His hands rest on his stomach while he watches the door with an expectant, albeit very bored gaze, rocking himself slowly, yet dangerously back and forth.

He turns his eyes upward at the ceiling, and stares at it in silence for a few moments.

「…Hey, bimbo.」

Straf calls out with his mouth aslant.

「Tsk… I know you're listening, stop pretending you don't know I'm talking to you.」

He clicks his tongue, rolling his eyes before returning them to the ceiling.

《…What do you want?》

Athea asks, echoing in his mind.

「Do I have to want something from you? Am I not allowed to just talk with you?」

Straf spreads his hands, scrunching his mouth to the side. A brief silence begins.

《…What is it?》

She asks in a softer tone.

「Why didn't you show up yesterday?」

Straf replies, shrugging his shoulders as he stares at the ceiling. His hands return to his stomach, and he interlocks his fingers.

《What for?》

「To talk. To have a drink. To dance… Y'know, celebrate new year's.」

Athea's voice echoes in his head, and he replies with another casual shrug. A brief silence begins again.

《…I don't need to drink… Or eat. Had I appeared, it would have been a problem.》

「Why's that?」

Straf asks in response, shrugging with a little grimace on his face.

《…I'm not supposed to come down there without a good reason.》

Athea replies after a momentary pause.

「Hey, it's fucking new year's! Is that not a good enough reason? I think once a year, your supposedly divine and plump ass can join us!?」

With his face taking a ridiculing smirk, Straf spreads his arms.

《Plu-!?…》

She almost blurts a word out, but stops to collect herself.

《…I am not a part of your world. A year is nothing to me. How many have you blinked since we started talking?》

After another pause, she replies with a calm voice.

Turning his gaze aside, Straf blinks a few times, thinking.

「Iunno. A lot.」

He nonchalantly replies with a tight-lipped grimace, shrugging as he returns his eyes to the ceiling.

《That's how it feels like to me when years pass by. Not just in your world, but everywhere. I'm glad you're celebrating. I'm glad there's people celebrating with you…》

Her voice echoes in Straf's mind behind his bored eyes as she speaks.

《…But I can't be a part of this. I can only watch.》

Athea adds with an almost apologetic, slightly sullen tone.

「What, not even a single dance?」

Straf scoffs, smirking at the ceiling, spreading his hands.

《No… And besides, I bet you'd put your hands where they don't belong, anyway.》

She curtly replies with a stern tone.

「Tsk… There goes my plan to grope your ass again…」《Wha-!? Filthy pervert!》

With an amused smirk on his face, Straf sarcastically clicks his tongue. Suddenly, loud stomping outside floods in through the door.

Thumpthumpthumpthump… Knock knock…

「Come in…」

When someone knocks upon it, Straf calls out towards the door in a calm, disinterested voice.

「Minister…」

Ursa nods his head as soon as he sticks it in, and gains eye contact with Straf.

「…Yeeees?」

Straf asks, turning his head slightly as he spreads his hands.

「…About the current military situation…」

「…Yeaaah?」

Ursa walks in, and shuts the door behind him. Straf nods, patiently waiting for him to start talking. The marshal appears to be neither unnerved nor concerned, but simply searching for words.

「…Somewhere around this morning, all of the invading forces have retreated back into their borders. At a rapid pace, at that. They even abandoned broken wagons and the supplies on them.」

The marshal says, shrugging his arms with a tight-lipped grimace on his face.

「Really?… How so?」

Straf asks, crossing his arms and struggling to keep a straight face as he's fighting to force it back into a serious expression.

「Minister, sir… We are unsure as of yet, but it appears they have been recalled to quell riots that have suddenly erupted all over their kingdoms. Our forces have regained their old positions.」

「Good… Good- Pft-」

Straf nods, and covers his mouth as an amused burst of air escapes his lips.

「…Minister?」

Ursa leans in, furrowing his brows.

「Ahum. Just a little sneeze. I'm feeling a little under the weather… Anyway… What happened? Why are there riots?… And why now?」

Thud!

Straf asks after showily clearing his throat, and drops his boots to the floor with a loud thud of the chair's front legs. He spreads his hands, inquisitively raising his brow.

「We don't know, sir.」

「Pft- Ahum… You don't know?」

Ursa shakes his head, to which Straf involuntarily replies with another sneeze, quickly clearing his throat once more.

「No, minister… But early reports suggest that it may have something to do with their money supply, sir.」

The marshal shakes his head again, then after a moment of hesitation, adds some more information.

「…Their money?」

Straf asks, failing to suppress a grin. He taps his fingers together while Ursa looks at him with his brows furrowed.

「…Yyyes, sir. This is all purely conjecture at this point, but it seems they have fallen victim to the same type of counterfeiting attack as our kingdom was once pestered with.」

「Counterfeiting attack?… Explain further.」

The marshal nods, explaining as he gestures with his hand. Straf raises his brow, grinning, and leans in as he replies.

「…Sir. It appears the enemy has found out that a large portion of their money has been faked. The officers are predicting this will affect all of their military matters…」

He nods after a confused pause, and obliges Straf, explaining further as he asked, gesturing circles with his hand.

「…From the logistics side, such as food, through morale in form of the troops' payment, and even going as far as impacting their strategic and political power. It's causing unrest, too.」

The marshal adds, and places his hands behind his back.

「Strategic and military power too?…」

Straf echoes, covering his grinning mouth with his fists when he realizes what he must look like.

「Yes, minister. Mercia save us from that, but if this war drags on, they'll lose purely on strategic basis. They'll be unable to buy strategic goods, such as steel. This makes them a target to others.」

Ursa nods, and concludes his report. The two look at each other as Straf wordlessly nods his head in approval.

「Thank you, marshal. This was- Pft-」

《…Hilarious.》

「…Ahem. Insightful.」

Straf replies, once again showily clearing his throat.

「Sir. Is there anything you want me to do, sir?」

Ursa quickly salutes, and asks.

「Not you, directly, but you can still do something for me. Gather me diplomats. They'll be going to each of the kingdoms to send a peace offer. Tell them to come to my office.」

Straf points at Ursa, then interlocks his fingers as he explains.

「Sir! Right away!」

With a nod, Ursa salutes again, and rushes out of the room.

Straf begins to cackle, shaking his lowered head.

Crrreak.

「…Maaan. He had to be pretending. He had to be… right? There's no way he doesn't actually know.」

Leaning back in his chair with a creak, interlocking his fingers on his stomach, Straf thinks out loud with a mischievous grin on his face…