Chapter 38

Do you all remember?

The errand event I was asked to do by a certain god.

The task was to visit the three major deities of this world and dedicate the carving, the symbol of the certain god. I visited the only temple of the Earth Mother Goddess Aigas in this town, or rather, this country, but due to various circumstances, I couldn't get the symbol. I was asked to wait for about a month while they consulted with their superiors, so I ended up staying in this town.

Now, Mutton Leitia, the only priestess serving the Earth Mother Goddess Aigas, was standing in front of the inn.

She still had that gentle smile and a refreshing presence. If she were an idol in Japan, she would surely be very popular. With her tall and slender figure, she could even pass as a beautiful woman in men's clothing. Her chestnut down-tail swayed gently.

"Good morning, Akira-sama."

When she came in front of me, she bowed politely.

"Yeah, good morning. ...I was going to thank you for the inn, but I got a bit busy and couldn't come over. Sorry about that. And thanks for the help."

"Not at all. We are the ones who are imposing on you, so this is the least we can do."

She seemed genuinely apologetic... or so it appeared. I couldn't really tell what she was thinking.

"So, what brings you here so early in the morning? Did you manage to contact headquarters?"

"I'm sorry, I came to inform you of a different matter."

What could it be?

"A fast courier to headquarters arrived in the city of Sevites and was handed over to the Griffin courier service."

"Sevites? Griffin courier service?"

Both were unfamiliar terms.

I had seen griffins in games and novels before. What were they again?

"Sevites is a major city upstream of the Liber River. The Griffin courier service is a delivery service that uses flying animals. It's not very common, so many people don't know about it... but it's a business that delivers items to distant places. Do you know about it, Akira-sama?"

"No, not at all. But I think I can understand the system."

"Indeed, you understand quickly. Ordinary people often don't understand."

In my country, postal and delivery services were well-developed. If I said that most things ordered online would arrive the next day, people probably wouldn't believe me.

"Anyway, what's the matter with that?"

"The letter was handed over to the Griffin courier service in Sevites, which is the safest route, so it's almost certain that it will reach headquarters. I came to ask you to wait in this country until then."

"I see."

Indeed, it's a place where bandits often appear near the town, so it's not unusual for communication to be cut off. I hadn't realized that until now. Since griffins can fly, it's probably safer. It's considerate of her to bring such a report.

However, flying animals... I'd like to see them.

"It's fine. I have plans to stay in this town for about a month anyway. So unless something extraordinary happens, I won't run away."

"Plans?"

She tilted her head. It was a gesture that would make anyone fall in love at first sight if they saw it.

"Yeah, I'm not sure myself, but I ended up helping a merchant I met."

"I see. If it's the god of commerce... then I'm sure it will lead to a wonderful outcome. Although we believe in different gods, I will pray for your success in business."

"Thanks a lot."

I didn't ask what she was about to say. If she called me something otaku-like, it would take me a while to recover.

"Well, I'm off."

"Yes. If you have any problems, feel free to visit the church or send someone, and I will come to you."

"Got it, I'll let you know if anything happens."

Yeah, I'll make sure nothing happens. It might be a bit too late for that, though.

"See you."

Leitia saw me off with a smile. Beautiful people look good no matter what they do.

---

On the hill that has become my regular spot every morning, the elf Yararai stood, smoke rising from her kiseru.

"Hey, it's Yararai."

"Indeed."

Why is she here?

"What's up?"

"Breakfast. Please."

Ah, right. I handed a sandwich to Yararai, who always speaks so little and is dressed like a Native American. I'll have a noriben and tea.

Remaining balance: 9,308,930 yen.

It's hard to offer coffee when there are people around. I want to keep my abilities hidden, so I'll hold off.

Yararai and I both eat quickly, so the meal is over in no time.

"I'm off. See you."

He left without even a post-meal smoke. The reason is probably the approaching Cherina. Whether it's to avoid being a bother to us or because she dislikes Cherina, I can't tell.

"Good morning."

As always, she was dressed in red, with a thin red chain wrapped around her body in a cross. I wonder what that is.

"Hey. ...You don't have to come to pick me up, I'll go to the guild on my own."

I don't want my morning break to be disturbed too much.

"This is my morning walk route."

That's right. We've run into each other here even though I haven't explained this place to her.

"I see... wait a moment."

I lit a cigarette and inhaled nicotine into my lungs. Since coming here, I've been smoking a lot less. I don't intend to quit or cut down, but the timing just hasn't been right...

"Tobacco leaves are a luxury item in this country and are very expensive."

"Wow, I can't smoke much in public, then."

I exhaled a sigh and smoke. I remembered the office districts in Japan where smoking areas were gradually disappearing.

"Only Baron Letter is allowed to import tobacco."

"...Doesn't he have too many privileges?"

"The merchant he employed was very talented."

"I see. Why the past tense?"

"When the current king ascended the throne, he forcibly recruited him."

"That's a bit much, isn't it?"

"Yes, but it can be said to be the king's greatest achievement."

He'll just be hated, won't he?

"His appointment as a minister was met with great disapproval from all sides, but he left a record that overturned all of that."

"Really? What did he do?"

"He successfully invited agricultural scholars to start food production, relaxed the entry and exit of merchants to increase logistics and tax revenue."

"Hmm, isn't that what I suggested before?"

I must have talked about a free trade city.

"It wasn't as drastic a policy as what you suggested, but he started addressing the country's problems with a focus on commerce, such as improving roads."

"...Wait, that's quite different from what I heard before."

Cherina bit her lower lip.

"Yes, it was when tax revenue temporarily increased and the residents became more active. That's when the king's extravagance and the tax hikes began."

Hey, pig king, you're the root of all evil.

"What? The tax cuts worked, so the tax revenue increased, right? Any reasonable person would think that a policy that produces results in a short time is quite excellent. Why would you deliberately ruin it?"

"It's simple. The king thought that since tax revenue was increasing, it was fine to spend more. Because even if he spent, it would increase again. ...That seems to have been his thinking. It's just a rumor, but it's probably true."

"That's just plain stupid..."

"No, at first, no one understood that tax cuts could increase revenue. I didn't believe it either."

She sat down next to me.

A bit too close.

"Thanks to the tax cuts, items that were previously unprofitable to import became possible, and the town's selection of goods increased. Merchants began to visit, and only then did I understand the meaning. So when you mentioned the economic special zone, I was blown away."

If Cherina couldn't understand, there's no way the pig king could.

"But it was a bad move. If you cancel everything just as things are starting to pick up, people's motivation will drop. In the end, the economy will decline even more."

"...That's exactly what's happening now."

I see... the lack of energy in this town is because of that. It's impressive that Cherina's Veriello Guild has managed to maintain its motivation. Maybe it's because of her character?

"The timing of the tax hike was the worst possible. It was just when the old-established guilds in this country were starting to handle new items. They returned to find higher taxes than before. Most of the stores either went out of business or fled."

"Why didn't the Veriello Guild flee, Cherina?"

"There are several reasons, but the biggest one is that."

She pointed to the giant sailboat.

"There are very few ports with the facilities to handle that ship. Our guild made a huge investment to have repair docks and everything. There are ports where it can dock and unload, but there are no other ports in the Western Midal Sea that can serve as a base."

"That's why you can't flee."

"Yes, we have no choice but to live in this country."

"Right."

Even in Japan, where transportation is well-developed, there are plenty of people who have never left their hometown. Even if the physical barriers are low, leaving one's hometown is a high psychological hurdle. Of course, if you have no attachment to your hometown or hate it, it's not that hard to leave. Whether you can survive after leaving is a different matter.

"Well, we have no choice but to try our best. Let's get to work."

I waved my hand in a carefree manner.

"Right, let's do our best today."