Chapter 21

It's finally the Royal Council meeting.

I'm the last one. In the sofa in front of the meeting room, Serea is sitting next to me, holding my hand and encouraging me.

"Your Highness, it's time."

When called by the official, it's finally my turn. I stand up with my sketchbook.

"Mr. Shin, do your best!"

"Leave it to me!"

Still, I'm really nervous.

The big door opens, and I enter the Royal Council room. My father, the King, is sitting at the head of the large table. On either side are the ministers and the dignitaries of the ducal families.

Everyone looks surprised. My father has a stern face and is glaring at me.

"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today. I am Shin, who has taken over the supervision of the hospital and orphanage from Princess Saran. Please treat me kindly."

I bow my head in greeting.

"Raise your head."

With the King's permission, I raise my head.

"What is the purpose of your visit today?"

"I would like to propose the establishment of effective hygiene practices and the production of necessary supplies for hospitals."

"Proceed."

"Yes. Um, have any of you heard that if you get injured on the battlefield, pouring strong alcohol on the wound helps it heal better?"

The effect is due to the alcohol content in the alcohol.

Experiments in the hospital have shown that it is effective, and more than half of the post-operative cases have prevented the worsening of symptoms. Not only in hospitals, but also in the kitchen of the orphanage, these disinfection procedures can prevent food poisoning. Using alcohol is inefficient and expensive, so we need high-purity alcohol that can be produced cheaply.

High-purity alcohol can be produced using the same process as distilled alcohol. Since it is not for drinking, it can be made from cheap crops, unsellable vegetables and fruits, and the residue of sugar radishes, which can also be a form of resource recycling.

It can be manufactured using existing distillery equipment. If this is commercialized and produced in large quantities, it can improve the hygiene of the people. If it is established as a medical drug, it can also grow into an export industry in the future.

I explain this while flipping through the large sketchbook, which contains drawings and slightly suspicious graphs that make people laugh along the way.

"Alcohol for medical use... My, that's quite something."

"You've done a remarkable job to gather all this information on your own. Well done."

"It's hard to believe this is the insight of an eleven-year-old... I mean, is that really true?"

"Further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of high-purity alcohol. It's not something to be implemented immediately. However, I need a certain amount of initial investment to proceed, as more funds are required than what the royal family can provide. If further effects are recognized, it will be easier to secure future investments."

"These matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Health, but the procurement of crops is under the Minister of Agriculture, and the production of alcohol is under the Minister of Industry."

"I understand. Therefore, I would like to request the cooperation of all three ministers. It will save lives, improve the treatment of injuries, and certainly help in the prevention of diseases."

"Shin."

"Yes."

The King looks at me sternly.

"If it succeeds, it will be the minister's achievement, and if it fails, it will be the prince's failure. Is that acceptable?"

"Yes. That's not important. What's important is the health and lives of the people."

"King, how much do you think we are being underestimated? No matter what, we would not take credit for the achievements of an eleven-year-old child."

The Minister of Health says this, and everyone laughs. The atmosphere becomes more relaxed.

"If high-purity alcohol becomes widely available, there will surely be unscrupulous people who mix it into alcohol and sell it. We need to establish laws in advance."

The Minister of Justice nods in agreement.

"It is for medical use, not for drinking. The alcohol tax will need to be reviewed. We cannot tax it. Can it be exempted, Minister of Finance?"

"Well, we'll do it, but the investment money will go out, and there will be no tax revenue. It's a tough situation."

The Minister of Finance says this with a smile.

"Don't be so stingy. If injuries heal faster and diseases are prevented, medical costs will be reduced, and the life expectancy and population of the people will increase. It will pay off in the long run."

"I understand. Please commercialize it quickly and make it exportable to other countries. I'm counting on you."

In the end, it seems that almost all the ministers are involved. I hadn't thought that far. Everyone is really impressive. I think I understand why my father called me here.

"Is there anyone who opposes this?"

"It's impossible, Your Majesty... That's unfair. Using a prince like that..."

"That's not it. I am being used. If you have any complaints, take them up with Shin."

Everyone bursts out laughing.

Ah, that's good! It seems to be going well.

"Shin, you have presented a great cause. You may leave now. Leave the rest to the adults. Try to act more like a child. Truly..."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The King, who told me to do it myself, now says it as if I forced my way in. It's a political gesture, I suppose. I'll gratefully accept it as such.

"Leave the sketchbook here."

"Yes. I'll take my leave then."

When the door to the Royal Council room is opened for me, I step out and see Serea.

"Serea! We did it! Thanks to you, thank you!"

I pick up Serea and spin her around.

"S, Shin-sama!"

I hear laughter from behind.

...Ah.

The door to the meeting room was still open.

Later, while having afternoon tea, Bel comes and gives me a report.

"The Hans Trading Company, which is now a trading company after integrating its restaurant business, is expanding smoothly with the full support of Baron Blauer. They have increased their branches in the city to three."

"Wow..."

It's the fried chicken restaurant. The heroine is steadily making progress. They've also added a new product called "Chicken Burger," which is popular.

"Next week, a new store will open. It's not a chicken restaurant, though."

"What kind of store is it this time?"

"The details are unclear, but it will be a store that operates from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM."

"Until 11:00 PM! Will it really operate until such a late hour?"

"Yes."

...Is there really a demand for such a store?

It could change the lifestyle of the citizens. What a remarkable idea!

"I think it will be an experimental operation. I don't expect it to be immediately accepted by the citizens."

"...No, I'm sure it will definitely become popular."

Serea is surprised but agrees.

After Bel leaves, she tells me.

"That's called a convenience store."

"What's a convenience store?"

"A convenience store, which means 'convenient store' in English."

"Is it really convenient just because it's open from early morning to late at night? What kind of products do they sell?"

"They sell a variety of products, but not in large quantities, just a little bit of everything, from daily necessities to food."

"But there are already stores for each of those things, right?"

"Customers don't have to go to different stores; they can get everything they need at one store. Things like soap, toothbrushes, towels, stationery, snacks, drinks, seasonings, alcohol, and bento boxes... They have everything."

"Can a store really stock so many different products with only a little of each?"

"Because they don't stock a wide variety of each product like a specialty store. They only stock a few popular items. And it's a bit more expensive."

"Will people really buy it even if it's more expensive just because it's convenient?"

"In my world, it became a huge trend, and the city was filled with convenience stores, driving many small retail stores and shopping districts out of business."

"That's... scary."

Such a store seems to have many issues.

Will it drive existing retail businesses out of business? Can it provide the same level of service? Will it lead to fierce competition? And only the most profitable items are stocked, which will significantly reduce the number of people who can make a profit. It's like a devil's store for existing retail businesses and shops.

"Is this the idea of Lins, the daughter of the Hans Trading Company...?"

"That's right. If it starts being called a 'convenience store,' it's a term from my world."

The heroine is steadily building a track record using her "past life knowledge." She could become a force to be reckoned with. No, she probably intends to.

We must not neglect monitoring the Hans Trading Company.

"Next week, shall we go and check it out as a date?"

"...I'm a bit scared."

The last time we saw the heroine, we almost fainted. It could be traumatic...

For me, there's also the purpose of confirming that I'm okay with seeing the heroine now that I'm married to Serea, but it might be a bit of an adventure.

"Besides, next week, I have a paper theater commitment at the orphanage with the children."

"What are you going to do this time?"

I should ask, just in case. Serea's stories might be a bit unconventional in our world.

"'Hayabusa-kun's Errand' was well-received, so how about 'A Trip to the Moon' next?"

"That sounds interesting. It sounds full of dreams. What's the story?"

"The Apollo 11, launched from Cape Kennedy in the United States with three crew members on a Saturn V rocket, first entered Earth orbit, then docked with the lunar module Eagle and headed for the moon..."

Sorry, I don't understand a single word of what you're saying.

Thank you for waiting! The second volume of "A Real Hunter from Hokkaido Thrown into Another World" is now available!

It will be released in September. Look forward to the turbulent second volume with a Magnum rifle, a showdown with a witch, a battle against a military otaku, and a wolf man!

Next time: "21. First Contact"