Chapter 6

"If God gives money, would people and nations not make their own money?"

"Apparently, they used to make it in the past."

"What about now?"

"At the very least, in this Kingdom of Bato, private minting of currency is punishable by death."

The Great Desert where I was summoned is a world where God bestows money. According to Lieutenant Thunder, you can earn money by defeating sand beasts.

"So, the supply of currency relies on God and the sand beasts, huh?"

"I've heard that some countries and regions do mint their own currency, but they are unpopular due to unstable quality and value, and at least in our country, they are not usable."

"I see."

Without advanced currency manufacturing technology like in Japan, it seems that even if a country mints its own currency, it cannot gain credibility. Since the currency given by God is the most trusted, there is little reason to mint one's own currency unless there are special circumstances.

"Take a look at the divine currency."

Encouraged by Lieutenant Thunder, I took out the coins from the leather bag. Inside were five silver coins with '100' engraved on them. The silver coins look a lot like a hundred-yen coin.

"Defeating a sand lizard yields five hundred dolks per beast. The meat and skin of the lizard vary by the day's market price, but they can fetch between two thousand to three thousand dolks."

"That's not a small amount, is it?"

Even so, only one in ten people can defeat a sand lizard. Considering the risk to life, the reward seems too low.

"Well, it's a common story. The higher-ups take a large share. The Hunter's Guild, which buys the materials from sand beasts, is run by nobles."

In other words, the Kingdom of Bato has many nobles who need to be fed to maintain their power. Military officer positions are also like that, and because of this, excellent officers like Lieutenant Thunder have to retire, and if hunters lose motivation due to the guild's low prices, it ultimately goes against the national interest.

"Maintaining the privileges of the thick layer of nobles makes bold policies impossible, and even the king might be in trouble if he tries to change it. It's a stuck country."

I can't say much about other countries since I haven't seen them, but at least I understand why the Kingdom of Bato expected a 'reformer.' Even if I am the one, the king must be disappointed.

I am not an exceptionally talented person. I consider myself average, so it was always difficult to meet the king's expectations. So, in a way, this is for the best. At my age, I can't help but think that being expected so much is a bit much.

"Also, half of the reward is taken as taxes, so even if you defeat one sand beast, you won't get two thousand dolks."

"That's harsh."

"The minimum goal is to defeat three per day, but most soldiers and hunters can only manage that much."

"Lieutenant Thunder, you and your team are strong, right?"

You defeated dozens of sand lizards in a short time, so Lieutenant Thunder and his soldiers must be quite strong.

"There are always stronger ones. That's why I won't have a problem retiring from the military. I plan to become a hunter with these guys."

I see. The five soldiers are excellent talents trained by Lieutenant Thunder. They plan to retire from the military and earn a living as hunters.

"One month until retirement. I'll take good care of you."

"But I feel bad."

To live in this world, I need to level up, and doing so means I won't get anything from defeating sand beasts, essentially making the soldiers work for free.

"Don't worry about it. The divine currency and materials are confiscated anyway."

"Right, Lieutenant Thunder, you and your team are employed by the military."

"There's no bonus or anything for working hard. Many dislike the nobles who, from the safety of the rear, pressure the commoner officers and soldiers to 'defeat more sand beasts!' Everyone is just doing their job. In fact, many capable commoner officers and soldiers end up retiring to become hunters. Soldiers receive a fixed salary and free equipment, and those who want to become hunters save money to buy their own equipment and use the military to level up quickly."

With such a high turnover, is national defense okay? Is there even a war with the sand beasts?

"There is a need to report, but bringing back materials is a hassle."

"That's true, Lieutenant Thunder. When you defeat a lot, they get heavy..."

"If you can't carry it all back, the nobles complain..."

"Even if you manage to bring it back, the meat rots in this heat, and you get scolded..."

"If you get injured, you don't even get medicine..."

"In that case, being a hunter is better."

So, they will help me level up for a month. But...

"After that, we can't take Taro as a companion. Without divine currency and materials, we would starve."

"Right..."

It seems I can't survive by hunting sand beasts. I need to level up, toughen my body, increase my heat resistance, and find some other job.

"Experience points are still earned, so it's efficient for us. Once you reach a certain level, we'll let you join the battles."

"Okay."

I thought Lieutenant Thunder and his team would be upset that I don't get divine currency or materials from defeating sand beasts, but it seems fine as long as it's just for a month. However, after today's hunt and reporting back to the capital's barracks, the noble officer made a clearly displeased face.

The divine currency and materials from the soldiers support their luxurious lives.

"The king said he would take care of you for a month. After that, get out of this country immediately! You useless person!"

I was scolded by the noble officer, but it's understandable since I don't get the usual rewards from defeating sand beasts. There's no point in lamenting, so I'll try to level up as much as possible in this month and toughen my body.