Project Necro is an official initiative by Re:Library.

Lord Forne’s evil schemes spread through the North more rapidly and powerfully than I had anticipated.
To begin with, we demons have a bad reputation.
Werewolves and vampires are monsters that blend into human society to attack people.
And the centaurs were rivals competing with humans for the grasslands.
To the centaurs of ancient times, the fields cultivated by humans were “the bounty of the earth,” and they would arbitrarily take half of it, believing that they could share the bounty.
Every single one of us was nothing but an enemy to humans.

But things are different now.
Werewolves these days don’t eat humans. Even werewolves would hate to eat a race that looks just like them.
Besides, meat that hasn’t been bled out is so gross, it’s inedible.
Vampires, too, know that if their numbers grow too large, the human population will dwindle and they’ll run out of food, so they only drink a very small amount of blood—just enough to not turn their prey into a vampire.
Among the citizens of the ancient city of Bernehainen, “going out to get a little blood sucked” is treated like a part-time job. Apparently, you can make a decent living just by sitting still in the open.
As for the centaurs, they’ve even learned to farm, and most of them make a living by tilling the fields.

Amidst all this, the series of plays created by Forne had literally a dramatic effect. They swept away the old image of the demon race, portraying them as “strong, mysterious beings with hearts just like humans.”
Of course, the values of humans and demons differ significantly, but not to the point where they cannot live together in the same town.

By the way, in the Miraldian language, the general term for small blood-sucking creatures like mosquitoes, ticks, and leeches is “Boera.”
And vampires are “Vanboera,” with “Van” meaning “human.” It doesn’t exactly carry a very favorable connotation.
Roughly translated, it means something like “tick b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲” or “leech-man.”
What a terrible image it conveys.

However, thanks to the play Forne put together, vampires suddenly found themselves in the spotlight as stylish demons.
The circumstances here have something in common with my past life.
Thanks to that, Senior Marlene is beaming with pride.

“Forne’s play is wonderful, isn’t it? I really need to repay him properly for improving the vampires’ standing.”

Saying things like that, she’s working harder than ever on her duties.
It seems Firniel is doing the same.

But I know the truth.
I know that that ever-cunning governor of Veiria is quietly raking in the profits.

“What do you think of this armor? I’ve named it the ‘Black Wolf Armor.’”

What Forne brought was armor for the nobility.
The glossy black helmet is modeled after a wolf. The cloak is subtly trimmed with black fur.
It closely resembles the style of the werewolf in the play.

“Since that play was such a hit, I decided to try selling this armor to the nobility. Maybe wearing it will make you feel like a werewolf?”

Is that a superhero transformation kit or what?

“The centaur armor and vampire armor are popular too, but the Black Wolf Armor is definitely the top seller. I’m having trouble keeping up with production.”

Trouble my butt. He’s clearly grinning ear to ear.

I’d seen this kind of sales tactic plenty in my past life… and since I’d spent a fortune on it, I saw right through Forne’s intentions.

“Lord Forne, this is what you’d been planning to push since the very beginning, isn’t it?”
“Oh my, you saw right through me? You’re truly terrifying, Lord Black Wolf of Lüenheit.”
“The profits from theatrical performances are limited. Especially if you’re employing top-tier talent, you’re probably just barely breaking even, right? So even if you feel the urge to get a little more business-minded, no one would blame you.”

Then Forne chuckled softly, then nodded at me with a serious expression.

“Exactly. That’s exactly why I hold you in such high regard.”
“What do you mean?”
“A werewolf who gets it is more loved than a human who doesn’t. I’ll make sure to spend what we earn, so count on me again. Oh, and I’ve got orders from northern governors too, so I’ll go handle that myself.”
“Ah, I’ll leave it to you.”

A little while after Forne left, it dawned on me.

“……I should’ve charged a character usage fee.”

Well, whatever.
We’re getting solid results, so I’ll just let him do as he pleases.

Just as Forne’s propaganda strategy was gradually taking effect, I heard a strange rumor from the pilgrims of the Sonnenlicht Church.

Apparently, the Sonnenlicht Church followers in the north are growing increasingly dissatisfied.
That’s surprising.

The Rolmund Empire prohibits all religions other than the Sonnenlicht Church. In return, the Sonnenlicht Church should be receiving generous rewards.
However, the pilgrims all said, “The Sonnenlicht Faith in Rolmund is not the Sonnenlicht Faith we know.”

To give one example, the Rolmund Sonnenlicht Church has a practice called “Sun Worship.” It is a ritual performed once every few days, in which they bow to the sun while reciting sacred verses. Since there are no accurate clocks, I can’t say for sure, but it takes about an hour.
On the other hand, the Miraldia Sonnenlicht Church has no such precept.

My guess is that this precept serves as a form of health management in Rolmund.
Humans fall ill if they don’t get enough sunlight. This is because sunlight is necessary for the synthesis of vitamin D, but there seem to be various other reasons as well.
That’s why, even in Europe in my past life, sunbathing was popular in high-latitude regions. Even if people didn’t understand the science behind it, it seems to have been known as a rule of thumb.
Since Rolmund is apparently a cold region, going outside must be a hassle, but once it’s made into a precept, everyone follows it.

However, to the people from Rolmund, Miraldia is a dazzling paradise bathed in sunlight. There’s no need for sunbathing.
That’s probably why the “Sun Worship” ritual has fallen into disuse. It lowers labor productivity and offers no benefits.
It would be a problem if such a precept were to be revived now.

These subtle differences were gradually coming into sharper focus.
Furthermore, a major difference in their attitude toward non-believers was also becoming clear.
In Rolmund, non-believers are nothing more than “enemies who defy the teachings of God.”
In contrast, in northern Miraldia, they are viewed merely as “unfortunate neighbors who believe in false teachings.” Sympathy outweighs hostility.
Further south, they are seen as “fellow countrymen who have chosen a different path from ours among the many teachings available.”

And when it comes to Jucht, a priest of the Sonnenlicht Church in Lüenheit, he even goes so far as to say, “They must know truths we do not, so let us learn from them.”
He really has changed, that man.

Given that this is the state of affairs even within the Sonnenlicht Church alone, expectations for Princess Eleora were gradually turning to disappointment in the north.
People get their hopes up on their own, then get disappointed on their own—humans are such selfish creatures.
But since their livelihoods are at stake, I suppose it can’t be helped.
Everyone has their own position to uphold.
Of course, I do too.

“I have my own position too, though…”

In the mirror, a man who looks like a villainous executive is muttering to himself. That’s me.
A black formal suit and a cape. The shoulders of the cape are adorned with spiky silver accessories attached to chains—it’s practically a cosplay outfit.

“Lord Veit, it looks so good on you!”

Around me, the dogfolks are getting excited. They’re the ones who made the accessories.

“I’m flattered.”

I let out a sigh.

As the popularity of werewolf plays grows in the north, it seems there’s an increasing demand to “see the real Lord Black Wolf!”
The citizens of the north have no idea what Princess Eleora’s true intentions are. That’s why they simply believe that peace has come to Miraldia.
It seems the fear of the “Black Wolf Lord the Four-Hundred Slayer” is gradually fading as well.
Since I received a personal invitation to a dinner party from the governor of the fortress city of Worngang, where Princess Eleora is currently absent, I’ve decided to go while I’m on an inspection tour.
This is also a legitimate official duty.
That said, this outfit is a bit much.
It was Lord Forne’s doing.

“You look dashing, Senior! So stylish! Awesome!”

Firniel, who had come to check on me, blurted out whatever came to mind. Does she even know what he’s saying?

And Senior Marlene and Aylia nodded in agreement.

“I suppose so. It actually suits you surprisingly well.”
“It suits you well, Sir Vait.”
“Ugh, but…”

I don’t care much about clothes. They’ll just get torn to shreds when I transform into a werewolf anyway. It’s a hassle to go to all the trouble the rest of the Werewolf Corps does.
So, just like in my past life, I stick to cheap knockoffs from the clearance rack. Clothes are expensive in this world, so I can’t help it, but Aylia was speechless the moment she saw me, so I guess I look pretty dorky.
When I’m on official business, everyone makes a fuss, so I wear proper clothes. Then I end up transforming while still wearing them, and get scolded afterward.
Since I’m that kind of guy, I’m not the type who looks good in cosplay like this.

Ah, right. In my past life, I had a line I’d say at times like this.

“I dress like a clown.”
“Huh, really? It suits you, Veit. You look like a noble prince of evil.”

When Senior Marlene tilted her head, Aylia and Firniel nodded.

“Yes, you have an air about you that suggests you’d gently lead someone to ruin. I think you’d be popular with the ladies, too.”
“Oh, I get it! It’s great, isn’t it? An evil hero who’s only kind to you!”

No good, they don’t get it.
Of course, no one would know the reference, and it just ended up making me feel even more down.
Fine, I’ll go do my best to spread the propaganda.