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The ten thousand silver coins I got from the Demon King turned out to be even more useful than expected.

First, I arranged housing for the werewolf and dogfolk units.
Through Aylia, I had a public notice issued offering to buy old houses and inns. As a result, residents and inn owners near the governor’s mansion rushed to apply.

“Well, this place is now the base of the Demon King’s army. I imagine a lot of wealthy folks want to move out,” Aylia said with a wry smile.

She had a point.

“Wouldn’t you prefer to move somewhere quiet yourself?
“I’m the governor. I can’t leave. I need to see for myself whether your forces will truly protect the citizens.”

Such a dutiful woman.

To avoid complaints later, I bought the selected properties at better-than-market rates. Now the dogfolk could be brought into the city.

“Thank you so much, Lord Veit!”
“What a fancy house! Oh, there’s silver!”
“That’s for the house! Don’t start crafting with it!”

I managed to assign the excited dogfolk to their new quarters and finally closed the city gates. Leaving them open like that had been a serious security risk.

The skeleton soldiers were too terrifying in appearance, so I stationed them in the forest outside the city.
If the Milardia Alliance forces attack, it’ll be from the north. But there’s no forest to hide them on that side, so I had to stash them in the west, the same forest we used during the invasion.
From a distance, it should look like there’s nothing outside the city walls.
They don’t cook, they don’t wander around. They’ll just wait quietly in the woods until commanded otherwise.

The housing purchases used up about 3,000 silver coins. Housing 250 people comfortably costs a decent amount.
Next came food expenses. In this world, a standard daily wage is one to two silver coins. That’s enough to get by.
I asked Granny Marie, a former general store owner now with the werewolf unit, to handle the accounting.

“Everyone eats a lot, you know. We’re using around 300 silver coins a day.”
“That much?”

At that rate, the war funds will be gone in just over 20 days. I had to act fast.

“If you don’t work, you don’t eat!”

I shouted before the 200 dogfolk soldiers.

“Once the sewer repairs are done, you’re going to start farming!”

We planned to stay in Lüenheit for the long haul. They’d need to earn their keep.

“It’s a crucial military duty—to supply food for our army. You may not like it, but…”

The dogfolk’s eyes lit up.
One of them hesitantly spoke up.

“Lord Veit, please leave it to us. We’ll fulfill this duty proudly!”
“R-Really? You’re awfully enthusiastic.”

They all shouted in unison; “We love digging!”

Right. They are dogs, after all.

Now then, we may be in charge here, but we’re still outsiders. Plundering is out of the question.
If the citizens resent us and the Milardia Alliance attacks, we’d be crushed by a revolt from within and without.
But it’s not enough just to avoid being hated. We needed to offer real service.

“We’re the ones catching thieves now?”

Garne the elder brother groaned.

“Since the city guards won’t cooperate, it’s our job. Just don’t kill them. Beat them senseless if you have to.”

“You always say such difficult things…” muttered the younger Garne.

I ignored him.

“If people say the Demon King’s army ruined this town, we’ll be disgraced. We want them to say it’s safer and better now. Earn that praise, and I’ll keep the meat coming.”
“Alright, let’s go!”

Such simpleton

The next few days were a whirlwind of activity.
Since we’d occupied the city suddenly, many travelers were trapped inside. Among them were worshippers of the Sonnenlicht Faith who were on a pilgrimage.
They wanted to leave, but since they knew about our surprise attack using werewolves, we couldn’t let them go.
So we issued a decree: “Due to dangerous monsters roaming outside, nobody is to leave the city for now. Your safety is guaranteed, so please stay within.”
As for the pilgrimage, we had Governor Aylia and Priest Jucht jointly issue a wartime exemption.

There were still legal changes to handle, negotiations with merchant guilds, and more. Thanks to support from the governor and the religious leaders, I somehow managed to stay afloat.
In human society, fangs and claws get you nowhere.
Still, bit by bit, Lüenheit began regaining a sense of normalcy. The city wasn’t lively, since trade was frozen, but that too would pass.

“Lord Veit, report from the city gate! A group is approaching the south gate!”

A dogfolk messenger rushed in, panting with his tongue out.
I paused my paperwork and asked the shiba-inu-looking soldier:

“Smell anything?”
“They smell like us!”

I grinned.

“They’re here.”

Something essential for a trading city had finally arrived.
A caravan.

“You’re Captain Veit?”

A beagle-faced dogfolk looked up at me at the gate.
I nodded.

“Yeah. I am Veit, vice-commander of the Demon King Army’s Third Division. I’m in charge here.”

When I held out my hand, she shook it firmly.

“I’m Ku. Nice to meet you. And thank you for taking care of my little brother.”
“Zoi’s a fine soldier. His work ethics are admirable.”

Zoi had served as a messenger during the Lüenheit operation. He was sharp—I was considering him for a leadership role in the dogfolk unit.

Meeting his sister wasn’t a coincidence.
After taking over this trading city, I’d reached out to the dogfolk trading guild. When I heard Zoi’s sister was a trader, I had them contact her immediately.
Negotiations had been easy. The offer of trade with humans was too good to pass up.
Of course, it was all contingent on the Demon King’s army guaranteeing their safety.

Behind Ku, her workers were unloading goods from handcarts that looked like oversized rickshaws. They’d hauled a good amount here.

“What’s in the shipment?”
“Venison jerky and antler carvings. Also silverwork and wood inlays.”

Ku puffed up with pride as she looked up at me.

“We’re really good at fine crafts. Way better than human artisans.”

They do have small hands, and naturally leathery palms. Perfect for craftsmanship.
Just in case, I gave orders to the nearby dogfolk soldier.

“Inspect the cargo. And no taking bribes.”
“Yes, sir!”

A dachshund-looking soldier ran off.

These were rare goods from outside Milardia territory—made by monsters, no less. The merchants in Lüenheit would be drooling.
Oh right, I had one more request.

“Hey, Ku.”
“What is it, Captain?”

Kuu, who had been openly bribing my dogfolk soldiers with jerky, turned around unashamedly.
I didn’t scold her and asked:

“I need charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter. Can you get them?”
“Hmm… I think so? But what do you need those for?”

She looked puzzled, but I just grinned.

“Military secret.”

With the funds secured, it was time to start developing gunpowder.
I came from the world of science, after all.
Even if I tend to forget that sometimes.