I Picked It Up

The flaws in the reward system were becoming evident.

Signs of class solidification were starting to emerge.

This wasn’t just an efficiency issue—it was a dangerous hidden threat.

If mishandled, it could erode the foundational trust of the lower-class civilians.

Vivian cradled Luna, her fingers unconsciously stroking her daughter’s soft hair, her mind racing with thoughts.

She knew, of course, that problems wouldn’t be resolved simply by issuing decrees.

That would be far too naive.

The world was constantly changing and evolving.

The absence of problems would be the truly terrifying thing.

The presence of issues, on the other hand, reassured Vivian.

“…Don’t worry, little one. Mommy will make sure you have a safe and stable world to grow up in.”

Vivian glanced at the peacefully sleeping Luna, murmuring to herself.

Though it was just the beginning, she was determined to rebuild Evernight City—perhaps even the entire Evernight Territory—within the next year or two.

After resting an extra day in the underground makeshift delivery room, waiting for her condition to improve slightly, Vivian decided it was time to return to the public eye with Luna.

Before leaving, she carefully examined her body.

In the mirror conjured by magic, her near-perfect, unblemished figure was reflected.

Her chest, due to childbirth and nursing, was slightly fuller than before, but otherwise, she looked almost unchanged.

Even her abdomen, marked by stretch marks during pregnancy, had nearly fully healed in these two days of recovery.

There was scarcely a trace of having been pregnant.

“…Is this the body of a Demon Lord?”

Even Vivian was somewhat astonished.

The first pregnancy, even for demons, was a long, grueling process, and recovery typically took time.

Yet, after just two days of rest, aside from lingering mental fatigue and slight physical weakness, the damage from childbirth had almost entirely healed.

It was almost unbelievable.

Huff.

Exhaling, Vivian enveloped herself in mana, transforming into her usual Demon Lord attire.

She picked up Luna, who was full and fast asleep, and left the delivery room.

Before departing, she used her mana to incinerate all traces of her presence.

Then, taking Luna for a brief detour outside, she openly released her aura and headed toward her original tent.

“Lord Demon Lord!”

Moments later, Aria appeared before her, leading several other demons.

The loyal head maid wagged her tail lightly, like an eager puppy.

“You’ve finally returned, Lord Demon Lord… Wait, who’s this child…?”

Aria’s eyes immediately locked onto the tiny bundle in Vivian’s arms.

“I found her.”

“F-found her?”

As planned, Vivian responded with an unflinching expression.

“Her name is Luna. I found her on my way back.”

“I understand, Lord Demon Lord.”

Aria’s ears perked up, her pupils shrinking slightly as she stared, dumbfounded, at Vivian and the child in her arms.

After a long pause, she seemed to snap out of it, choosing to unconditionally accept Vivian’s flimsy excuse.

“I sent Luna ahead to report on the past month’s developments. It seems there are quite a few issues—let’s tackle them one by one.”

“Yes, Lord Demon Lord.”

Vivian spoke calmly.

Aria and the other demons followed her respectfully back to her tent.

Though Vivian had been absent for a month, the tent remained unchanged from when she left.

She casually placed Luna to the side, casting a soundproofing spell, then sat in her usual seat, ready to resume work.

The course of events was always a tangle of contradictions.

Not long after, Lucia hurriedly arrived, joined by several capable, high-ranking demons gathered before Vivian.

“I’ve heard Luna’s report on the past month’s progress and issues.”

“The work enthusiasm among the lower-class civilians has been declining, correct?”

“And reforms across the territory are meeting resistance, while… some have even started engaging in corruption?”

Vivian’s gaze swept over everyone present, her tone deliberate, with extra emphasis on the final point.

The group exchanged uneasy glances, as if the mention of corruption carried the heaviest weight.

The atmosphere grew tense, with eyes darting nervously.

“Uh… Lord Demon Lord, regarding the corruption, it’s… not too severe yet.”

“It’s just some minor, unavoidable actions at the lower levels.”

Aria, choosing her words carefully, spoke up.

“We’ve noticed some individuals withholding surplus materials for personal sale or use.”

“Others are accepting bribes to assign easier tasks.”

“But in my view, it’s not a high priority.”

“…No, it’s critical.”

Vivian exhaled heavily, shaking her head.

At the start of the Evernight Territory’s reconstruction, resources were scarce, and the territory faced attacks from the crusade army.

Back then, survival was so precarious that few had the inclination for corruption.

Now, in the fourth month of reconstruction, trade routes had resumed, and commerce with other territories, including several deals with the Winter Territory, had restarted.

While Evernight City’s resources weren’t abundant, the immediate survival crisis had passed.

But with growing resource availability, a new problem emerged.

If power couldn’t be used for personal gain, would anyone still willingly bear the corresponding responsibilities?

Imagine someone struggling tirelessly, walking on thin ice, to gain power, only to find their rewards barely differed from those of ordinary people—yet they still had to shoulder greater responsibilities.

Who could resist the temptation to profit?

This was why corruption was so hard to eradicate.

As the saying goes, “When the water is too clear, there are no fish.”

Power wasn’t simply granted by a central authority or superior, with subordinates blindly obeying.

In an organization, members only cede portions of their power to certain individuals if it brings them long-term benefits.

When many individuals relinquish their power, it accumulates into the authority wielded by a leader.

Vivian had long anticipated that her [Incentive] measures would inevitably lead to some corruption and bribery.

The initial rewards were merely “meat,” but over time, tangible rewards like [Military Merits] and [Points] became substantial resources.

Bribing a superior for better evaluations or rewards wasn’t uncommon.

Vivian knew one truth well: as long as people were involved in resource management, corruption was inevitable.