novel"There will be Two Churches. And so it begins!" (2)
| ← Ch.15 | Ch.17 → |
The Hero: "Huh... Well, this is completely out of the fields of expertise from both me and the Female Paladin."
- The Kingdom of the Lake, Capitol, the Headquarters of the Union
Shrewd Merchant: "...The price of wheat has started rising abnormally."
Young Merchant: "It's started."
Shrewd Merchant: "Yes. It's up 64% from last year and 9 points from last week."
Young Merchant: "It was a good idea to move our headquarters to the Kingdom of the Lake. It would be disastrous if the information came in late."
Shrewd Merchant: "Shall we begin?"
Young Merchant: "Are you hesitating?"
Shrewd Merchant: "No, I too was born a merchant. I have the stomach for something like this. Let's see the results."
Young Merchant: "Exactly. Are the preparations for the communications and the fast horses done?"
Shrewd Merchant: "All ready."
Young Merchant: "This too is about to become a battleground. We shall not sleep nor rest."
Assistants: "Yes!"
Young Merchant: "Then, let's begin."
Shrewd Merchant: "Yes."
Young Merchant: "We will now commence with the operation for the Union to corner essential goods like wheat, metal, salt and charcoal. Buy wheat up to 320 points of last year's prices and the rest up to 240 points."
Shrewd Merchant: "..."
Young Merchant: "Of course, do not needlessly spend money. Make sure you stay vigilant throughout the entire process and look out for our interests. Except this time, we've got more interests than just profit. We have to maintain the price of the good."
Shrewd Merchant: "Yes."
Young Merchant: "I expect that the political situation will deteriorate. Make sure to pay attention to the shipment and storage of goods. Mercenaries usually only accept money as payment. It is necessary to secure their allegiance so we can try getting them to accept direct payment in wheat or other commodities. In this case, let's arrange to pay them weekly rather than monthly."
Shrewd Merchant: "Understood."
Young Merchant: "Have you drawn up the Wheat Futures?"
Shrewd Merchant: "The contracts have all been arranged."
Young Merchant: "Stay in contact with large-scale landlords and noblemen, please."
Shrewd Merchant: "..."
Young Merchant: "Then, here it begins."
Shrewd Merchant: "?"
Young Merchant: "The Church faction is probably going to disapprove of our cornering the market."
Shrewd Merchant: "Yes, they're already expressing some measure of displeasure."
Young Merchant: "What would we do if they began ratting us out to the Church? We would have to throw away all the profit that lay in front of us, or we would lose a lot of our trading rights, that's something we can't allow as merchants."
Shrewd Merchant: "...What should we do?"
Young Merchant: "We use a Black Hand. Send the three Councilmen away for two weeks."
Shrewd Merchant: "..."
Young Merchant: "We'll finish all we need in two weeks. Once we begin something like this, we can't stop it halfway."
Shrewd Merchant: "I understand."
Young Merchant: "Let's disguise our purchases then. I'm sure that no one in the Central Continent is expecting something like this, but we can't hold it for long. The disguise will probably be broken within two weeks."
- The Holy Empire, a Coastal City, the Noblemen's Quarter
Coastal City Citizen: "Huh!? What!?"
Commodities Merchant: "Yeah, didn't I say already? One sack of wheat is now eight silver pieces."
Coastal City Citizen: "Are you stupid? What kind of price is that?"
Commodities Merchant: "You haven't been here in a while, have you?"
Coastal City Citizen: "Well, yeah. I've come all this way with my cart to buy things from you. You know you can feed a family of eight with that, right?!"
Travelling Merchant: "Hey, gimme some wheat."
Commodities Merchant: "Sure, how much do you want?"
Travelling Merchant: "How much is it?"
Commodities Merchant: "One sack of wheat is going at eight silver pieces. We've also got coarse, second-grade wheat at six-and-a-half silver pieces. Barley is going at five silver pieces."
Travelling Merchant: "Show me the second class."
Commodities Merchant: "Here it is!"
Travelling Merchant: "Hmm... There're bugs mixed with this."
Commodities Merchant: "Nowadays, you'll find that common everywhere. I've got plenty of buyers."
Travelling Merchant: "Fine. Give me twenty-five sacks."
Commodities Merchant: "No problem, it's a sale then."
Fills sack.
Coastal City Citizen: "...Dammit, fine, give me some second class wheat too."
Commodities Merchant: "Sure. One sack for seven silver pieces."
Coastal City Citizen: "Huh!? Wasn't it just six-and-a-half silver pieces!"
Commodities Merchant: "Sir, this second class wheat was going at four silver pieces a sack last week. It's probably better for me not to sell anything and just keep it all."
Coastal City Citizen: "...Dammit! Two sacks. Four sacks of barley as well."
Commodities Merchant: "That's a great purchase you've just made."
Baker: "Cheap! Cheap! Buttered grape bread! Two for fifteen copper pieces."
Fills sack.
Coastal City Citizen: "How is that cheap? It's so small as well. How could that be worth fifteen copper pieces? Just what is going on? ...There's nothing for it. Let's get some lentils and peas. This year, we don't have the Blessings of the Spirit of Light. Well, let's hope it gets better next year."
Coastal City Citizen: "Ehh?!"
Merchant: "Lentils are going at four silver pieces a sack. Peas at six and a half silver pieces."
Coastal City Citizen: "What the hell?! I understood that the wheat harvest was bad. It's true that the weather hasn't been too brilliant. But didn't the legume crops turn out great this year?!"
Merchant: "Well, that's true. But—"
Coastal City Citizen: "Ahh."
Merchant: "Just think about it. Those people who usually eat wheat will switch to eating barley or peas when the price of wheat rises too high, right? Those people who usually eat barley or peas will switch to other foods like beans, buckwheat or walnuts, when the price goes up as well, right? Understand? The demand for legumes is far higher than usual in the Human World right now. That's why the price is going up."
Coastal City Citizen: "Why is this happening..."
Merchant: "I've been working hard to try to lower the price as well."
Coastal City Citizen: "...?"
Merchant: "That being said, the noblemen are speaking about fixing the prices of beans, commodities and things like bread next week."
Coastal City Citizen: "Fixing...?"
Merchant: "Yeah, they're going to fix the prices."
Coastal City Citizen: "Brilliant! Then as long as I buy within month, I can get wheat and beans cheaper!"
Fills sack.
Travelling Merchant: "My, my."
Coastal City Citizen: "Ahh, you're the merchant from earlier."
Travelling Merchant: "Didn't I meet you at the Commodities Merchant's?"
Coastal City Citizen: "Yeah, you're a Travelling Merchant, right? How are you?"
Travelling Merchant: "You don't understand anything, do you?"
Merchant: "There's no choice. He's never had any connection to the farm anyway."
Coastal City Citizen: "What do you mean? What's going on?"
Merchant: "...Huh."
Travelling Merchant: "I probably shouldn't say anything, but I'm a traveller so it probably shouldn't affect me too much."
Merchant: "I've been weighing the beans."
Coastal City Citizen: "And?"
Travelling Merchant: "The prices of wheat, barley and oats have been rising constantly. I sincerely don't believe that the prices are going to fall any time next month. What do you think will happen if they do fix the prices of wheat and bread? They'll all probably go bankrupt. If the price of wheat remains this high, then Commodities Merchants and Bakeries won't even be able to open."
Coastal City Citizen: "Ah!"
Merchant: "That's right. Even though the prices are rising, they're still trying to sell everything they have. Of course, they keep enough for themselves so they don't starve to death."
Coastal City Citizen: "...That's—"
Merchant: "Alright... How about this? If it really is as he says, then none of the shops will be open next month. You should probably buy some bacon and beans, or at the very least some barley, in preparation."
Coastal City Citizen: "I-I-I understand!"
Merchant: "I'm closing up for today, so I'll give you a discount."
Coastal City Citizen: "Give me two sacks of lentils and peas."
Merchant: "That'll be twenty silver pieces."
Travelling Merchant: "Give me twenty sacks of peas."
Merchant: "Alright. Give me a hand with these then!"
- The Palace of Winter, a Large Room, Strategy Committee
Disciple Merchant: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
Assistant: "Wha—"
Seneschal: "Oh, it's the Disciple Merchant? What's up?"
Disciple Merchant: "I have an urgent report that needs to be made. Where is His Majesty the King?"
Butler: "Ohh, Disciple Merchant. He's over there."
Lone Winter King: "What's up?"
Disciple Merchant: "Your Majesty. It's an emergency. I have a report. Something has just been announced."
Assistant: "Ho—"
Lone Winter King: "What's wrong? Is it a tax issue? Or has something happened with the military?"
Disciple Merchant: "Your Majesty, it is indeed a tax issue."
Assistant drags flipchart over.
Lone Winter King: "Read out your report."
Disciple Merchant: "I shouldn't, Your Majesty. Time is of the essence."
Butler: "How proper..."
Disciple Merchant: "I'm still learning how one talks with a King."
Seneschal: "He has indeed grown."
Disciple Merchant: "Allow me to explain this in simple terms. Flip!"
Assistant: "Yes!"
Disciple Merchant: "Right now, the price of goods which the Central Continent imports from the Southern Kingdoms is rising quickly. At the same time, the volume of gold being transferred is increasing."
Assistant: "Yes."
Lone Winter King: "What do you mean?"
Disciple Merchant: "In other words, something you could buy for five gold pieces last week costs ten this week, twenty next week, and it just keeps on rising."
Butler: "Won't that be tough on the people?"
Disciple Merchant: "Of course. But, in response, noblemen are expending their gold reserves in large quantities. If the gentry disseminates their gold to the people, they might be able to achieve some sort of equality, but at present, that the prices aren't something which the people can afford is the reality of the situation. That's why we need to act fast. Oi, flip!"
Assistant: "Yes!" Flips.
Disciple Merchant: "As you can see from this chart, prices are currently twice than last year, this is an unprecedented speed."
Assistant: "Mmm."
Seneschal: "I understand... But why are you so worked up?"
Butler: "This is a really big deal."
Lone Winter King: "Hmm."
Disciple Merchant: "This is probably the work of somebody trying to corner the market on wheat."
Lone Winter King: "Work? For what purpose?"
Disciple Merchant: "That's not important. We don't have the luxury right now. But against such a skilled player, we do not have the upper hand."
Seneschal: "Player?"
Disciple Merchant: "Ahh, forget I said that."
Disciple Merchant: "What's important is figuring out what will happen from now on."
Lone Winter King: "Yeah, our response is the top priority. What do you predict will happen?"
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Explanation
Player: This refers to a player in a game. However, in this case, what they are playing with are massive amounts of money in the form of wheat moving across the market. In other words, the one who loses the game also loses this massive sum of money.
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Disciple Merchant: "Within the Kingdoms of the Central Continent, a massive shift in wealth distribution is taking place. Already, the wealth of the cities are being gathered by large merchants, landlords, feudal lords, noblemen and nobility. However, this price inflation is affecting the prices of all the goods, it's gotten to the state where there's not much point holding cash anymore. As time goes by, all the prices have been rising incredibly."
Butler: "Hmm..."
Disciple Merchant: "As a result, there is currently significant government expenditure, but the effect of this is limited due to the actions of a group of determined noblemen. Due to this group of determined noblemen, the flow is unlikely to cease. Oi, page three."
Assistant: "Yes!"
Butler: "?!"
Disciple Merchant: "That's right, there's still somewhere where the prices have yet to rise, somewhere far away, in other words, the Southern United Kingdoms. It is likely that their next course of action will be to begin purchasing large sums of goods from us, and we are already seeing signs of a segment of society at work here."
Lone Winter King: "If that happens, then the prices in our Kingdom?"
Disciple Merchant: "Will undoubtedly rise."
Assistant: "That's incredible."
Butler: "How do we counter this?"
Disciple Merchant: "Allow me to elaborate. First, we need to determine that such an economic attack will actually take place. If the other side has no intention of doing so in the first place, that would be a disaster. This is a risk. If we get it wrong, the Kingdom may even collapse."
Lone Winter King: "I understand."
Disciple Merchant: "Firstly, tariffs. With an emphasis on wheat, we'll impose a tariff on all goods produced within the Tripartite Union intended for export."
Lone Winter King: "Like a transit tax?"
Disciple Merchant: "Flip."
Assistant: "Yes!" Flips.
Disciple Merchant: "It's similar but far more limited. This only applies to goods which are leaving the country. Whether it's grain or potatoes, one carriage of goods needs to pay a tax of ten gold pieces."
Seneschal: "Ten!? That's a bit harsh."
Disciple Merchant: "What? We have to be more concerned about our own pain and suffering. If we don't impose this tax, all of our food will end up being sold to the Central Continent and we'll all starve to death."
Seneschal: "Is that so? Then I guess even twenty would be fine too."
Butler: "We can't allow a famine to take place."
Disciple Merchant: "Next is to restructure the wage salaries for people connected to the Palace."
Lone Winter King: "What do you mean?"
Disciple Merchant: "At present, the relevant question is, 'How much is one gold piece worth?' In other words, if one can usually buy three sacks of wheat with one gold piece, how many can one buy now?"
Butler: "Hmm."
Disciple Merchant: "Usually, two gold pieces are about a month's salary, but we're not sure about now. Even if it's still the same now, we won't be sure about the future. In other words, this is the collapse of the fiat currency system. That is why at least part of the currency system is likely to collapse. Important occupations like soldiers and ministers should no longer be paid in gold, but in physical, real value goods like wheat."
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Explanation
Government Expenditure: This refers either to the government spending money on public works and other goods, or giving money to the people to spend. This introduces demand for goods into the economy and can help to boost the economy during tough times.
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Seneschal: "How about potatoes? They're delicious and there're lots of them."
Disciple Merchant: "Flip!"
Assistant: "Yes!" Flips.
Disciple Merchant: "Luckily, our Kingdom and the Tripartite Union has made the shift from wheat to potatoes. This is an unforeseen stroke of luck among our misfortunes. The potato is currently seen by the Central Continent as a heretical crop. Barring some miracle, we'll never be able to sell any. We can use that to our advantage."
Lone Winter King: "By fixing the price."
Disciple Merchant: "That's right. We can pay a fixed amount of money to buy potatoes from producers. We can then sell potatoes at a fixed price to people who eat them and to food establishments in the cities. We can adjust this price once every two months. We can use the potatoes to prevent famine among the settlers. By doing this, we should at least be able to stabilise the faith that the people of the Tripartite Union have in the currency. In other words, how many potatoes can they buy with one gold piece? If we can assure them that one gold piece will be able to buy one month's worth of potatoes, then we give meaning to the currency again. On top of that, there are a lot of other good points. Potatoes keep better than wheat too, right? Didn't you encourage its production?"
Lone Winter King: "That's how we'll deal with it?"
Disciple Merchant: "For now, those are our financial options. But there's more."
Lone Winter King: "What?"
Disciple Merchant: "This isn't my specialty, but if the price of food goes up in the Central Continent, there are going to be people starving. Of course, the state law and order will likely weaken too."
Butler: "Is that so?"
Lone Winter King: "Mm? What's wrong, old man?"
Butler: "No, no, it's just that there have been rumours of mercenary groups becoming bandits. They get hungry and they just go off the grid accept to attack our convoys."
Lone Winter King: "There is talk of such a thing."
Disciple Merchant: "If they're bandits, then they shouldn't be too concerned with whether or not the potato is a heretical crop. They may even come to raid and pillage cities and urban centres."
Seneschal: "This is my responsibility! Please rest easy. I have activated three times the usual numbers for the Kingdom of Winter. But how will you deal with them?"
Butler: "They may be bandits now, but they used to be mercenaries before. They're surely very proud."
Seneschal: "Yes!"
Disciple Merchant: "There's one more point, and that's about the emigrant population. Winter is coming, and if the Central Continent gets any colder, there's likely to be a famine. If that happens, we can expect a large-scale migration across to our borders."
Lone Winter King: "If that's the case, it's just what we want then."
Disciple Merchant: "That's only if we can find something for them to eat. To fulfil that, I advise that we should increase the potato harvest substantially."
Lone Winter King: "I understand the details, you have advised me on them well."
Disciple Merchant: "No, no, this is my responsibility."
Assistant: "Yes."
Lone Winter King: "I respect your views very much. I'd like to make you the Finance Minister starting today."
Disciple Merchant: "Eh?"
Lone Winter King: "It's a Marquis position. It comes with a salary and a position."
Disciple Merchant: "No."
Lone Winter King: "Don't be modest. As Finance Minister, you'll have three times as much work. I'm counting on you."
Disciple Merchant: "W-wa-wait! That's not what I mean! I'm going to die!"
Lone Winter King: "Hahahahaha. I'll make the announcement soon. If there's anything, make sure you come along too. Oh that's right, I've got a state dinner tonight. Come along! It'll be fun!"
Seneschal: "My condolences."
Butler: "Hurry up and get married. Boobs have a powerful impact on the working ability of young men."
Disciple Merchant flinches.
Assistant: "..."
Lone Winter King: "Hahahahaha. Alright then, I'm going!"
Butler: "Wait, Young Man! I'm coming too."
Lone Winter King and Butler walk off.
Disciple Merchant: "..."
Assistant: "Are you alright?"
Disciple Merchant: "It's probably impossible."
Assistant: "Shall I get you some tea?"
Disciple Merchant: "Please."
Assistant: "Yes?" Scampers off.
Disciple Merchant: "But... This flow..."
Disciple Merchant: (I do know who is behind this. To pull off such a major feat of economic warfare is only possible if you're the Union. They've managed to corner the market so quickly. But what is their objective? Are we their enemy? Or their ally? How can I, the mere third son of a merchant, hope to take on a behemoth like the Union. But... Aghhhh. I can't run away from it this time.
What are they doing buying wheat and all these daily essentials? How are they even paying for all of this? They don't seem to be buying anything else. They must be using some sort of contract, unless they're paying for this out of their pocket... What would be the point? Is this just some investment? They increase the price of food products, then sell it all and make a killing — is it possible that's their entire objective?)
- The Courtyard of Memories, the Memories of the Demon King
The Chief Maid: "—!"
The Demon King tinkers around.
The Chief Maid: "—!—!"
The Demon King: "Oh, did I get it wrong?"
The Chief Maid: "—! Hey, answer when I call you, please!"
The Demon King: "Ohh, you shocked me there!"
The Chief Maid: "I'm the one who's shocked!"
The Demon King: "In that case we can be shocked together."
The Chief Maid: "Is that all?"
The Demon King: "Mmm."
The Chief Maid: "Mm? —! When did you last change?!"
The Demon King: "It's fine. Lions and bears don't change either. Neither do Dragons or Massacre Troopers. They don't do that, and yet they're still alive."
The Chief Maid: "That's not good. You can't be a human-shaped bear. You're already a grown-up woman. You should start to act like it."
The Demon King: "If it's about age, I've been this way for a hundred years."
The Chief Maid: "Right, that's because of the Cosmic Library, right?"
The Demon King: "I'm not good at dressing myself."
The Chief Maid: "Aghhh! Enough! Stop saying that—! Are you really going to be the Demon King?!"
The Demon King: "Yeah..."
The Chief Maid: "Don't shine that in my face!"
The Demon King: "Sorry." Turns off.
The Chief Maid: "Don't expose the flab on your chest either."
The Demon King: "I can't?"
The Chief Maid: "...Don't tell me, it's not for me?"
The Demon King: "No, it's not."
The Chief Maid: "That's good, but..."
The Demon King: "It's really just something convenient for me. It's a bit strange that you're concerned at all."
The Chief Maid: "..."
The Demon King: "My coronation is next month."
The Chief Maid: "—This means you're going to become the Demon King. You do understand that, right?"
The Demon King: "Hmm."
The Chief Maid: "Have you entered the Palace of Death? I don't know about the other Races, but this Race tends to spend a lot of time gaining knowledge in the Palace of Death, doesn't it?"
The Demon King: "By this Race, I suppose you're referring to our Race."
The Chief Maid: "I'm a... new member to the Race."
The Demon King: "It doesn't matter if you're a new member, we're one Race."
The Chief Maid: "More importantly, will you be going there to absorb the wisdom of the Demon Kings of History?"
The Demon King: "To be precise, I won't so much be absorbing as being contaminated by them."
The Chief Maid: "Isn't it the same thing?"
The Demon King: "It's completely different. The contamination will change my entire body. If I were just absorbing there would be a way to revert things, but when I'm being contaminated, there definitely isn't."
The Chief Maid: "Is it something extremely bad?"
The Demon King: "No, well, there are limits. Everything has its pros and cons. Even though I'll be contaminated, I'll still be me. Till the end, my sins are still my responsibilities."
The Chief Maid: "All I'm hearing are the cons."
The Demon King: "Moreover, absorbing occurs in an instant, while being contaminated takes time? Though it wouldn't seem that way."
The Chief Maid: "Huh?"
The Demon King: "I'll be in the Palace of Death for just a short while."
The Chief Maid: "Eh?"
The Demon King: "I'll be inside for a while, and then I'll be right out."
The Chief Maid: "Huh!? Wh-What are you saying!? Just like that, you'll receive Demon King-level combat ability? How can it be that the Demon World can be ruled like that? To begin with, how are you going to fight!?"
The Demon King: "I can rule without violence."
The Chief Maid: "What are you saying?"
The Demon King: "Take a look at NDC Number 300. Humans have an individual combat ability far below that of even a middle-level Demon yet they're perfectly capable of ruling themselves. Combat ability was never a prerequisite to governance."
The Chief Maid: "That may be so, but then why would you want to be the Demon King? Excuse me for saying this but you seem like a research insect."
The Demon King: "This is another life experience, you understand, right?"
The Chief Maid: "Life experience..."
The Demon King: "Yeah, I want to experience both worlds like they have never been experienced before. And if possible, I'd like to meet my destiny as well."
The Chief Maid: "Eh?"
The Demon King: "Look."
Heart beats very quickly.
The Chief Maid: "This... is...?"
The Demon King: "He was born last week."
The Chief Maid: "A human... boy?"
The Demon King: "I used a long distance telegraphic lens so the resolution is quite bad but according to that Infinite Library, this could be the one."
The Chief Maid: "A boy...?"
The Demon King: "The Hero."
The Chief Maid: "...?!"
The Demon King: "One of only two Living Singularities in this world. The Child of Destiny. I'm sure he'll be very handsome in twenty-five years' time."
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Explanation
NDC: This refers to the Nippon Decimal Classification system which is used by Japanese libraries in order to differentiate library books by genre. Number 300 are books on Social Sciences, within this, Number 310 are books on Political Sciences.
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The Chief Maid: "Don't tell me..."
The Demon King: "Yes. Hehehe — I would really like to meet this person."
The Chief Maid: "B-But, he's the one who has been prophesised to kill you, isn't he!? What are you thinking of!"
The Demon King: "That's fine too."
The Chief Maid: "—"
The Demon King: "He will come to meet me. He will come from a great distance... He'll come from somewhere we'll never have contact. Well, I'll probably die by his sword, but before I get killed, I should at least get to say hello. Or at least, salutations, or something like that. And if a miracle occurs — maybe I'll even get to rub that black hair of his. It'll definitely be fluffy-fluffy and wonderful."
The Chief Maid: "You can't be serious."
The Demon King: "I'm completely serious. This is the only chance I have, in order to see a 'future which has never been seen before. ' In order to create a story which has never been told even in that Library — in order to meet my destiny."
The Chief Maid: "But... even so."
The Demon King: "It's decided."
The Chief Maid: "What will you do about the Wars of Succession?"
The Demon King: "Well, we'll act appropriately."
The Chief Maid: "They've gathered six brave warriors and fighters from throughout the land, right? You've got no chance of beating them. And if you don't defeat them, you can't become the Demon King."
The Demon King: "Well, I've got my work cut out. I'm not good at fighting but I'm very good at balancing profits and losses."
The Chief Maid: "That's impossible."
The Demon King: "How cruel."
The Chief Maid: "—!— Are you being stupid!?"
The Demon King: "Winning or losing is not the issue here. This is the only chance. The only problem is that whether we win or lose, will we regret gambling... Or should we try gambling?"
The Chief Maid: "... You—"
The Demon King: "Mmm? Did I say something strange?"
The Chief Maid: "Nope."
The Demon King: "..."
The Chief Maid: "...Mistress."
The Demon King: "What is it?"
The Demon King: "Mistress. You're a cruel, cruel fool."
The Demon King: "What are you saying? I've been called the Professor of Lost Worlds."
The Chief Maid: "But you're still a fool."
The Demon King: "Hmm."
The Chief Maid: "Allow me to be your maid."
The Demon King: "Eh?"
The Chief Maid: "I will be your follower."
The Demon King: "What are you saying? Don't be stupid. This is my dream, my chance. I don't need to drag other people in with me."
The Chief Maid: "In that case, you should give it up. When you're the King, when you're the ruler of the Demon World, you don't do anything else but drag other people in with you! Are you saying that you'd bet your life and everything you've worked for for that dream?"
The Demon King: "—"The Chief Maid: "I also have a dream as well, Mistress. I want to pursue the Way of the Maid. I am deeply indebted to you. But above this, I've never seen anyone as useless as you, Mistress. You're both really simple yet incredibly gifted. You really are the perfect Mistress."
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Explanation
Living Singularity: A singularity is a highly unique point. In other words, the two Living Singularities are the Demon King and the Hero. To this world, they are the most special existences around which the Fate of the Universe now revolves.
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The Demon King: "Is that enough? I'm the one who's got a fool next to me. It's like I've died, am I dead? Really."
The Chief Maid: "That's because you don't know about maids, Mistress."
The Demon King: "Huh?"
The Chief Maid: "No matter what sort of books you read, they always extol the excellent qualities of Maids, like their domestic ability, governorship, problem solving ability. Much has even been written in praise about their battle ability, hasn't it? In fact, the Maids in the Early Victorians and the Japanese people in the stories of the Library have often been elevated to the status of living goddesses."
The Demon King: "Is that... so?"
The Chief Maid: "Yes, be assured."
The Demon King: "Really."
The Chief Maid: "I'll make you some tea."
The Demon King: "Ah, ahh. Thanks. Umm... Chief Maid."
The Chief Maid: "I don't have any subordinates, though."
The Demon King: "Even without subordinates, you're the Chief."
The Chief Maid: "Thank you." Smiles.
The Demon King: "But, that's... Is it alright?"
The Chief Maid: "Yes, of course."
The Demon King: "..."
The Chief Maid: "Your dream is to wait for the Chosen One, there's nothing else I can do but support you through it. That's what happens when you're the Chief Maid."
- The Central Continent, Kingdom of Mist, House of Nobles
Steward: "My Lord! My Lord!"
Obese Nobleman: "Mmm. Cut me another plum."
Young Maid: "Yes..."
Steward: "My Lord!"
Obese Nobleman: "Hey! Shut up! I hear you! What do you want to say, you noisy person!"
Steward: "It's here!"
Obese Nobleman: "The mustering call?!"
Steward: "That is correct!"
Rips open envelope and pulls out mustering call.
Obese Nobleman: "Hmph. The Commanding General is going to be the Grey King of the Kingdom of Mist... I knew we would get mustered but I didn't think it would be this soon. Hahahahahaha. Those Barbarian Kings of the South, let's stop with this pointless negotiating back and forth. The truth is that it's going to end very quickly."
Steward: "What shall we do?"
Obese Nobleman: "Send word for an emergency muster to all the lords in the land!"
Steward: "Yes!"
Obese Nobleman: "What a splendid timing. We've spent most of our military budget buying up all the wheat. That Wheat Futures thing just appeared this year as well. My treasury is completely empty now."
Young Maid: "U-umm... Here's the plum..."
Obese Nobleman: "Haha. Oh, how sweet." Bites.
Obese Nobleman: "With this much money from the King, it should be easy enough to pay the salaries of our knights and the mercenaries as well..."
Obese Nobleman: "We can get 700, no, 1000 soldiers, maybe even more than the Grey King. If we do this, we might be able to win the support of the Bishop. It might help him win the White Cross of Light, no... Maybe even the Primarchy."
Obese Nobleman: "The price of wheat has gone up again. But with this much money, we can afford to do quite a bit more. Hahahaha. I hear the pork in the South is particularly delicious."
Obese Nobleman: "That's because their treasuries are overflowing with gold, hehehehe. We can hold our heads up high now. This war... Well, the mustering will take place in half a month's time. It's winter, but it's still best to get a move on before the snow accumulates around the New Year's. It seems the Grey King is getting very pumped about this as well."
Steward: "I shall draft a reply right now!"
Obese Nobleman: "Alright. Draw up a list of every knight under my command! Select and distribute the leadership roles and appointments! Prepare the weapons!"
- The Kingdom of the Lake, a Rich District
Young Merchant: "Hahahahaha. And how is your daughter?"
Incredibly Rich Nobleman: "Haha. My daughter is at a marriageable age. Her mischief is really overheating. Haha."
Young Merchant: "No, no, a lady is like a butterfly dancing among the flowers. I'm sure there will be many brave knights and illustrious noblemen vying for her hand in marriage." Smiles.
Incredibly Rich Nobleman: "Do you really think so? Mm? You have a certain position in the Union, do you not?"
Young Merchant: "No, no, someone like me is far too young. It would be highly premature to have such an opportunity to get close to the nobility like this."
Incredibly Rich Nobleman: "Hahaha, how humble you are. What do you think? I'm going to have a ball in my territory, there'll be many noblewomen at attendance. You're invited."
Young Merchant: "But I'm nothing more than an uncultured simpleton..."
Incredibly Rich Nobleman: "Ahahaha! Please don't worry. It'll be a party to celebrate the coming of the new winter, so... it's the kind of party with hundreds of names attending."
Young Merchant: "How splendid." Smiles.
Incredibly Rich Nobleman: "Hahahaha! Today's negotiations were certainly nice. So, one Pigeon's Blood will set me back 450, 000, right? Hehehehe. What a great deal."
Young Merchant: "Thank you for your kind patronage."
Incredibly Rich Nobleman: "Ahh, allow me to introduce you to some noblemen as well. In that case, I'll give you a discount when we confirm the date of the ball."
Carriage rolls in...
Young Merchant: "Ah, it appears my carriage has arrived."
Incredibly Rich Nobleman: "Indeed. Then please take care."
Young Merchant: "Thank you very much."
Incredibly Rich Nobleman: "Mmm. I await the day of our next business negotiations. See you again!"
Carriage door closes. Carriage rolls off.
Young Merchant: "..."
Young Merchant: "Heh... That was nice. 450, 000 for one ruby. That's really not bad for just one night. It's a bit strange that it's being paid for in wheat, and he didn't give me any sort of guarantees either way... It's not like I can eat rubies in any case."
Cold wind howls.
Young Merchant: "It's cold. Well, it's winter in the Kingdom of the Lake too, I guess. Winter's about to come to the South." Coughs.
-
Explanation
Pigeon's Blood: A type of ruby which is a deep, murky red, similar to the colour of pigeon's blood. It is the very highest grade of ruby.
-
Young Merchant: "Shall we go back? Well, we could go back to the Military Headquarters tonight as well."
Carriage rolls on.
Beggar: "Please, sir."
Young Merchant: "..."
Young Merchant: "How inappropriate."
Carriage hits someone.
???: "Ah."
Young Merchant: "Oh I'm sorry."
Young Merchant: "Who would be wearing a cape and a hood so late at night? A Northerner? She sounds like a young woman..."
???: "No, no."
Young Merchant: "It's dangerous for a young lady to be walking around so late at night. Please be careful and return home as soon as you can."
???: "I've been waiting for this Honoured One."
Young Merchant: "Huh?"
???: "You."
Young Merchant: "Huh?"
???: "We'ves met once before."
Young Merchant: "Huh? Oh. As I thought, I recognised the cape."
Fire Dragon Lady: "Indeed. I apologise." Removes cape.
Young Merchant: "Ah. Ahh!"
Fire Dragon Lady: "Do you remember me?" Smiles.
Young Merchant: "What are you doing here?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "I've been looking for this Honoured One."
Young Merchant: "Why?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "You're a merchant. You're the kind of person who can get his hands on anything. At least that's what I heard at the banquet..."
Young Merchant: "That's a merchant, alright..."
Fire Dragon Lady: "?"
Young Merchant: "Your... tail."
Fire Dragon Lady: "What about it?" Waves tail.
Young Merchant: "No, this is a bad place. Let's move somewhere else."
Fire Dragon Lady: "Yes, I have something to tell this Honoured One."
—— The Kingdom of the Lake, a Rich District, an Inn rented by the Young Merchant
Young Merchant: "You're very reckless."
Fire Dragon Lady: "Why?"
Young Merchant: "Uhh, humans don't have tails."
Fire Dragon Lady: "Oh, that's right." Grins.
Young Merchant: "Would you like some tea?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "It would be great if you had some firewater... It's really cold here."
Young Merchant: "It's much colder here than where you come from, I guess."
Fire Dragon Lady: "Since coming here, my tail has never been warm. The Human World sure is a freezing place."
Young Merchant: "Well, that's because it's currently winter."
Fire Dragon Lady: "Winter..."
Young Merchant: "Don't you have that in the Demon World?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "I've never heard that word before. Well, I understand what it means though. The closer you are to the Second Gate, the colder it is, and the further away you are, the warmer it is. That's the Demon World for you."
Young Merchant opens door.
Young Merchant: "Mmm... Come in then."
Fire Dragon Lady: "Thank you very much."
Young Merchant: "So, milady, why are you here?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "I have come to meet with this Honoured One."
Young Merchant: "Could you stop calling me 'This Honoured One?'"
Fire Dragon Lady: "Then what shall I call you?"
Young Merchant: "Merchant."
Fire Dragon Lady: "In that case, I have come to meet with the Merchant."
Young Merchant: "Huh... All the way from the Demon World? Wait, using Teleportation Magic? Demon Magic is far stronger than Human Magic after all."
Fire Dragon Lady: "That's not true. According to my father, the Ceremonial Magic of ancient Humans is far more powerful. Demons are only adept at harnessing the superficial layers of Magic. I came to the Human World using a Teleportation Seal."
Young Merchant: "How did you know where I am? Where is the Hero?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "No, I kept it a secret from him— I am here of my personal capacity. I found you using Seeking Magic. It's a very convenient spell." Chuckles.
Young Merchant: "You certainly sound very pleased with yourself."
Fire Dragon Lady: "Well, I have been fairly successful after all."
Young Merchant: "Quite right. I am definitely impressed by your abilities. I'm sure it takes a certain type of person to have accomplished this task."
Young Merchant: "Alright then, what sort of goods are you looking for, milady?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "Salt."
Young Merchant: "How much?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "I'm not sure. But it's important."
Young Merchant: "What a vague request."
Fire Dragon Lady: "That's why I'm here."
Young Merchant: "...?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "The volume of such requests is likely within your field of expertise, that's why I've come to look for you."
Young Merchant: "Hmm."
Fire Dragon Lady: "Salt is a luxury good in the Demon World. We would like to import some."
Young Merchant: "..."
Fire Dragon Lady: "..." Tail sways.
Young Merchant: "..."
Fire Dragon Lady: "..." Drinks wine.
Young Merchant: "..."
Fire Dragon Lady: "...It really warms you up."
Young Merchant: "You can drink the entire pot."
Fire Dragon Lady: "Did you hear me?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "...?"
Young Merchant: "You know this is a real puzzle, right?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "I'm a foolish girl, but I'm sure this wouldn't be a puzzle to an expert like yourself."
Young Merchant: "Don't you think you're thinking too highly of me?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "A smart girl would gather all the possible information about a subject before acting. But for a girl to gather so much information on the subject will require so much time and effort, it isn't likely to be of use to anybody. These are the Lessons of the Dragon I learnt from my mother. To get as many merchants into our hands as possible, we're willing to solve as many puzzles as we need. To secure the help of you merchants would certainly be my greatest honour and pride."
Young Merchant: "If it's just salt, then there's no problem."
Fire Dragon Lady: "...Ahh, I feel warm to my tail." Smiles.
Young Merchant: "You've really drunk a lot."
Fire Dragon Lady: "The wine in the Human World is really something."
Young Merchant: "Is this your first time in the Human World?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "Of course it is. It's a very precious experience. There're lots of delicious things here like bread. It's a lot more expensive than I'd heard though, it cost a lot of my travelling expenses... And this Church thing sure is fantastic. Their hymns and carols are something else altogether. They've got that instrument, the one as big as an entire building. That was a truly heavenly experience. You humans sure know how to enjoy things."
-
Explanation
Instrument as Big as a Building: This refers to the Pipe Organ. One pipe is required in order to make a different note or quality of sound. In order to make sounds which span 5 octaves (60 notes) with 5 different types of sounds, 60 x 5 = 300 pipes are necessary. Moreover, in order to produce a richer and deeper timbre of sound, a single sound may require a few pipes. For this purpose, the larger-scale Pipe Organs may even use thousands of pipes, resulting in an entire building being needed to house some of these organs.
-
Young Merchant: "...Will you stay in the Human World for the time being?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "?"
Young Merchant: "To make arrangements for the Salt."
Fire Dragon Lady: "Really?"
Young Merchant: "Yeah."
Fire Dragon Lady: "I am grateful."
Young Merchant: "It would be unbelievably troublesome if you were to run into some danger here."
Fire Dragon Lady: "The tail?"
Young Merchant: "Yeah, well, the horns too."
Fire Dragon Lady: "I'll cover them up. I think it would be really interesting to see the way people panic when they see them, though."
Young Merchant: "..."
Fire Dragon Lady: "..." Waves tail.
Young Merchant: "You—"
Fire Dragon Lady: "?"
Young Merchant: "Your existence really throws a spanner in the works. Don't you think there's still too much we don't know?"
Fire Dragon Lady: "What about?"
Young Merchant: "Unfortunately, about cooperation."
—— The Winter Palace, the Audience Hall
Door closes.
The Hero: "Your Majesty!"
Butler: "The Hero has arrived."
The Hero: "They've declared war?!"
Lone Winter King: "That's right. I received a formal Declaration of War this morning. On top of this, at about the same time, I also received a Writ of Excommunication from the Church."
The Hero: "That's too fast."
Seneschal: "I apologise. I had better expectations."
Lone Winter King: "No, I had no choice — The situations have changed."
The Hero: "Situations...?"
Lone Winter King: "Mmm, we're on a tough path. Starting with wheat, the prices of goods have risen all across the board."
The Hero: "Prices? So we can't buy food?"
Lone Winter King: "It seems that way. You can hear the details from the Disciple Merchant. I'm not completely sure about the structures or reasons for this myself. But basically, the prices are twice as high as they were last year."
Butler: "To top it off, it's also winter."
Lone Winter King: "I fear this price hike could be the machinations of some of the higher-ups in the Church. If the price of wheat rises, peasants are going to find dealing with the winter very difficult. It's the same with mercenaries too... They will probably try to invade the Southern United Kingdoms, plunder us, and use it to tide through the winter. If those snooty noblemen who don't care at all about the pathetic state of their impoverished peasants don't want to go bankrupt instantly from those insane price hikes, they're going to have to make this a very short and decisive war. At any rate, that's probably why they've rushed to give us such an urgent declaration."
The Hero: "Is that so..."
Seneschal: "Your Majesty, the precise words of the Declaration—"
Butler: "Let me read it. Umm. Ahem. On the first month of winter, on the Fourth moon, we will adjourn to battle on the Northern Fields, it says."
Lone Winter King: "Hmph. That's a very succinct message."
The Hero: "Ten days."
Butler: "If we don't go..."
The Hero: "What will happen?"
Seneschal: "If we're speaking about this war, whether or not we take note of their Declaration, the Central Continental Armies will continue marching onwards. If we look further ahead, this will become a siege. — Starting from our Kingdom, the Southern United Kingdoms has built lots of fortresses in preparation for the Demon Invasion. But, to the North of our territory, in the direction of the Central Continent... In other words, in the direction from which the Central Continental Army will invade us this time, apart from a few sentry towers and minor fortifications, we don't have any fortresses which can stand up to them for any extended period of time. They will invade our Capital Cities and demolish us there."
Lone Winter King: "Well. It looks like we don't have any choice but to accept their Declaration."
The Hero: "Ugh, I don't want to fight— I don't want to fight!"
Lone Winter King: "This is a war between us foolish humans."
The Hero: "No. This— These are seeds which I planted."
Lone Winter King: "No. 'Recognising the Freedom of the Serfs' is a decision that was made by Humanity. It is a war for Humanity. There is no need for you to shoulder this responsibility, Hero."
Seneschal: "That's right, Hero!"
Butler: "Even at this point, we are very grateful to you, I'm sure you consider us to be an annoyance."
The Hero: "No... That's not true."
Butler: "Hero..."
The Hero: "I didn't say it correctly, but that's wrong. Such a thing is not what you're aiming for. This could really be the end."
Seneschal: "..."
Lone Winter King: "It's true that whittling away either of our military power here is of no advantage to us at all. This does nothing to increase either of our International Powers either. Why does the Central Continent not understand this?"
The Hero: (Those who wish for war are dictators. In this limited world, there are those who wish not for Prosperity, but for Influence and the creation of their private Oligopoly... That cannot be denied. )
The Hero: (What will you do? How will you stop them? Assassination, Your Majesty? ...Don't be stupid, Hero! That's the same as when I went to the Demon King's Castle. At the very least, if I had half a year... No, just three months...)
The Hero: (At the very least, just a while longer...)
The Hero: (This price hike thing is probably the work of that Merchant. Only that guy would do something like this. It must be him... It has to be. It probably isn't just him but he definitely has some kind of pivotal role in this... Why? Why is the price of wheat going up? Ahhh—! I don't understand! Why is the Demon King missing at a time like this! If she was here, she would have solved this issue in a heartbeat!"
Really? But you're the Hero!
The Hero: "Why am I remembering this at such a time..."
Have you ever thought, 'There's something beyond that hill yonder' or 'What will there be at the place where this ship is sailing?' That happy, expectant feeling?
The Hero: (Why is it that at moments of life-and-death like this, I always recall the first time I pointed my sword at her, and she pointed those sparkling eyes at me?)
That's why I want to see it.
The Hero: (So defenceless)
-
Explanation
International Influence: This refers to the various elements of power which a country controls. This is not just limited to military power but also extends to economic, governmental, diplomatic, scientific, technological and even cultural influence.
Oligopoly: This refers to a state of Economic Competition within a market. In this structure, the entire market is controlled by a few individual firms or people (typically 2-3), but can also refer to a political state where the country is controlled by these few people.
-
But precisely because of this, if we can welcome this 'Alternate Future, ' not just for me but for the Three Thousand Worlds, this will be another thing that has never been seen before.
The Hero: "—"
Seneschal: "Hero."
The Hero: "Your Majesty, if we do go to war, how can we fight in such a way as to avoid as much loss as possible?"
Lone Winter King: "What the enemy intends is something that has been done many times. In these sorts of battles, two armies meet at a predetermined time on this wide, open field. The strategy will likely consist of... large swathes of knights charging at each other head-on. If tactics, numbers and equipment are not vastly different on both sides, such a battle will likely go on 1-2 times a day."
The Hero: "A knight's battle, then."
Lone Winter King: "Of course that won't be all. In order to fully develop the true force capability of the Knights, extensive preparation will be required. Alongside the Knights will be foot-soldiers and squires. Unless some accident which causes the entire battle to completely dissolve occurs, such as the Commander getting captured, this could potentially go on for days. Both sides will suffer severe losses and the loser will be the one who capitulates."
The Hero: "I don't want us to make these sacrifices, whether it's the Armies of the Southern United Kingdoms or the Central Continent."
Lone Winter King: "..."
The Hero: "It's not a sweet thought. But it's something I consider essential."
Lone Winter King: "..."
Seneschal: "Your Majesty..."
Lone Winter King: "It depends on the weather."
The Hero: "Snow, then—"
Lone Winter King: "That's right. It's piled up quite high over here, but in the Northern Plains it hasn't yet begun to snow. If those plains become snow-covered first — if snow falls, the war plans will fall too. The battle will have to be postponed as well.
In these ten days, if no snow falls and the good weather continues, there will be nothing in the way of this pitched battle. On the contrary, if snow really begins to fall, amidst the falling snow, we may yet be able to find a way to avoid this battle."
The Hero: "Yeah."
Lone Winter King: "At worst, four weeks. At best, if we hold out for two weeks, snow will fall. That's how long we need to endure for."
The Hero: "Can we do it?"
Lone Winter King: "...I'll take it up. I will not lose this Winter War. I stake my name on it."
-
Explanation
Predetermined Time: In wars during the Middle Ages, the scouting ability and communications of an army were very low. As a result, they were often unable to locate the enemy and would spend a long time searching for each other. Even if they did know where the other was, this information tended to be old, and it was often that when Armies marched to where the enemy was meant to be, they would be long gone. As a result, instead of fighting, both sides would often retreat endlessly while expending large amounts of grain and other resources. In order to prevent this, it was often necessary for enemies to arrange the battle at a predetermined time and place.
Snow: Snow does not necessarily completely impede the movements of an army. However, the cold will reduce the speed of movement of soldiers and also decrease morale. If equipment and preparations for the cold are inadequate, sicknesses like frostbite or hypothermia may also decrease the number of battle ready soldiers. Furthermore, sending of supplies is difficult when roads are blocked by snow, and there may be the danger of supplies being cut off from the front.
Winter War: A war being waged in the winter requires a very specific set of combat abilities. Instead of foot soldiers, ski soldiers may be deployed and also used for transport. Since soldiers are fighting in heavy winter gear, with the strong winds causing swirls of snow which may block their line of sight, much of such wars fought hand-to-hand at close quarters. As a result, there will be a massive difference in combat ability between troops trained to fight in winter and troops which are not. Even in Japan, the Japan Self-Defence Force has specialised divisions trained for Winter Warfare.
| ← Ch. 15 | Ch. 17 → |