Oukoku e Tsuzuku Michi

I sit down on the chair across from Adolph and Polte.

「Sum it up more concisely. Can’t you at least keep it to one page……?」

A stack of papers sits in front of me.

I appreciate the effort you took to write all of these overnight, but I don’t want to read through every single one.

「The main purpose of the documents is to provide instructions to the responsible parties. However since Hardlett-sama has the highest authority, it is the duty of the domestic affairs official to make sure everything has been reviewed.」

「What a tedious process……」

I walk in a circle around the desk occupied by the mountain of documents.

「Alright, checked.」

「「No.」」

Even Polte is on Adolph’s side.

I was the one who took your virginity, yet you’re going to ally with him? I’ll come see you tonight.

「Who cares about the details? I just need to have a rough understanding.」

Seemingly reacting to my words, the fox jumps out from under the sofa, pulls a sheet of paper from the pile and drags it to me.

This is the same fox that has been tagging along recently for some reason.

Ever since it was pursued by Nonna, it has always been right next to me.

「That’s the territory population distribution chart……」

Agreeing to read one document, I open it up……oh, this one’s a scroll.

Existing Territory Total: 240 000

Major Cities Rafen: 45 000, Lintbloom: 10 000, Refugees: 40 000

New Territory Former Libatis Total: 120 000

Major Cities Richemott: 30 000

New Territory Southern Region Total: 5000?

Major Cities Zwei Elfie: to be planned

All population: over 360 000

Friendly Nations

Malt 200 000

Aless 70 000

「What is this?」

I compare the writing on the paper to the map once more.

「There is no mistake. Former Libatis has 100 000 in that small area. We haven’t confirmed everything in the southern land, but I don’t think we’ll find hundreds or thousands of additional survivors in the future.」

I was aware of it, but with such a decrease, the fields cannot be maintained, let alone the towns and villages.

「Yes. It’s better if the survivors gather in a new city. Nevertheless, the population ratio is skewed.」

The only survivors in the south are those who were lucky to escape in groups like Rinuga and those who hid underground.

Because women and children were given preferential treatment, the male to female ratio is unbalanced.

「Although the existing territories also suffered casualties, the loss of citizens was kept to a minimum so there wasn’t a significant decrease. However there is an urgent need to secure the livelihoods of those who were driven by the scorched earth operation and those who fled from the south.」

I’ll leave that up to you.

Do as you wish.

The scroll goes on.

「This bottom part is regarding the entire Central plains?」

「Yes, we don’t have a direct need, but we are within a small plains. The circumstances of the neighboring areas will affect us……I had to take that into consideration while planning.」

Before and after war – Central Plains Population

City States 540 000 ⇒ 510 000

Malt Kingdom 200 000 ⇒ 200 000

Goldonia+South Yuguria 7 400 000 ⇒ 4 600 000

The reason the population of the city states decreased is because Meldora and Aless were involved with the war.

Malt, due to their usual good fortune, managed to escape with marginal losses.

On the other hand――

「Goldonia and South Yuguria were hit the hardest. Nearly three million died.」

The fact is made even more irredeemable because most of the corpses were eaten.

「I must mention one last thing in addition to the casualties of war. Not even a tenth of the population of South Yuguria’s center of operations is left. I rummaged through the history books for fun and couldn’t find any records of a war in the Central plains that resulted in this many deaths.」

「You heard him.」

I poke the bag at my waist.

The severed head inside the bag makes a conflicted expression and rolls out.

「Wakyaa――ah!?」

Polte holds her crotch and turns pale after jumping backwards in shock.

Did she pee herself?

「It was not my doing. However, I have memories of ordering for an extraordinary massacre. I don’t know if I should reject it and feign ignorance or bow down and apologize. Which would be the correct choice as a human?」

This thing also seems to be around me for some unknown purpose.

Though most of the time I ignore what she says because it’s too difficult to understand.

Head-helmina goes into deep thought while rolling.

Saying anything at this point won’t do any good and I don’t have any intention of blaming her.

「Fumu, let’s leave it for a later time then. Oh, the data over here looks interesting.」

I take a peek.

Population by Faction

Unified Goldonia 4 600 000

King’s Domain 800 000

Traditional Noble Faction 2 500 000

New Noble Faction 1 300 000 (Radhalde Territory: 240 000, Hardlett Territory: 360 000)

I see, setting the kingdom’s territory aside, the gap between the traditional nobles and the new nobles is fairly large.

「It can’t be helped. Since the land is old and distant from war, the entire northern region of Goldonia belongs to the traditional noble faction. They have a solid foundation. Conversely, the southern region which is home to many new nobles went through war after war……and the new territory granted to you this time, for lack of a better word, is more like a loan with interest than a bad debt.」

Pretty much every great feudal lord besides Erich and I are traditional nobles.

I’m sure that guy’s head is hurting from this predicament too.

「This is a financial index, huh……man, it’s going to give you a headache too.」

The rolling Head-helmina pulls the paper.

How is she so adept as just a head?

But the fox is similarly aiming for the same sheet of paper and pounces at the document, unwilling to let it be taken.

「Stop. Don’t touch my face with your tail. Your unclean place is touching.」

The feud between the fox and severed head is fruitless so I pull the document away from them.

Somehow, I feel like I’m being led to look over everything.

「This is the expected balance until next spring. The new territory will be taxed later after we ascertain the population. I suppose I should say it’s an approximation.」

Revenue

Head Tax 40 000 gold

Mine Tax 30 000 gold

Trade Tax 0 gold

Sale of Grain 0 gold

Total Revenue 70 000 gold

Expenses

Mansion Maintenance, Repairs 7000 gold

Guard Maintenance 13 000 gold

Army Wages 250 000 gold

Military Facilities, other 20 000 gold

Domestic Development, Restoration 10 000 gold

Interest 10 000 gold

(for 100 000 gold coins)

Total Expenses 310 000 gold

Net Income -240 000 gold

The fox cries sadly.

「This is awful.」

「Do we have to file for bankruptcy?」

The amount is no joke,

How did things turn out like this?

Adolph’s explanation is long and depressing, but I have to listen.

「Starting from the revenue――first of all, we can only tax the people living in the stable cities in the north. We can’t take from the areas burned by the flames of war or dispossessed even once from South Yuguria.」

Since we’re imposing a tax in exchange for protecting them, it makes sense that we can’t take from places that were burned down or abandoned for strategic reasons.

「The mining tax is also greatly reduced because all the mining and production in Lintbloom has been devoted for military purposes. Trade has disappeared due to the war……and there is no surplus food due to the large scale burning of cultivated land. If we impose a harvest tax, people will starve to death.」

The fields that the elves built for us won’t bear fruit until next spring.

「The most notable expense is the soldiers’ wages. For those who are wounded or killed in battle, we pay even more, so the amount is outrageous.」

If we were stingy with the payments and renege on the promises made at the time of recruitment, it may lead to a dispersion of people or a rebellion in the future.

We can’t afford to cut down this particular amount.

We’re finished based solely on the numbers.

Either we run away from our debts or we attack and pilfer neighboring lords.

「You have a trump card, right?」

「Yes.」

Adolph checks the door, window and under the desk, confirming nobody is listening.

Is it because a maid was hiding between my legs and eavesdropping while sucking me off last time?

Head-helmina and the fox cover their mouths to show Adolph they won’t spill any secrets.

「The gold has begun to arrive from the dwarves. It seems they don’t have experience mass-refining it and aren’t making much progress, but we’re talking about lumps of pure gold. They have the potential to overturn our financial situation right away.」

「Then shouldn’t we do it soon? It doesn’t feel good to be accumulating more and more debt.」

Adolph shakes his head.

「If we release it into the world without thinking, that will immediately attract the kingdom’s eyes. First we release it as an emergency fund, next we go outside……seek permission to trade with the city states or the Federation, pay them with the gold, and use the goods and money gained from them to purchase goods domestically.」

Wait, my head hurts.

「For example, we trade dwarven gold for Aless gold coins. Then we use the gold coins to buy things from within the country. Aless then uses the gold to make new gold coins. This way it looks like we’re just buying things with the profits of trade.」

I still don’t get it with Polte’s explanation, but it smells wrong.

「We are not breaking any laws. Although there is a law that says we have to get approval from the king to mine gold, we simply discovered the mine and the ones doing the mining are not citizens of Goldonia. The law doesn’t apply to the dwarves.」

Head-helmina nods in agreement.

I draw close to Adolph, push a glass toward him and pour him a drink with a meek smile.

「Adolph, you’re evil.」

「No, not as much as the feudal lord-sama……satisfied?」

「Yep.」

I try to think if there’s anything else that hasn’t been mentioned and then I remember.

「Oh right. You were using Busco, right? How was he, was he useful?」

Adolph and Polte turn to each other and answer with troubled expressions on their faces.

「He is excellent in terms of ability. He may not have one skill that stands out, but being able to do things from domestic affairs and maintaining public order to discovering new talent makes his work worth about 65 points.」

As expected of the former king of Meldora, he’s not a completely incompetent fool.

「However……he doesn’t have much class……rather, he’s a sleaze.」

Polte says hesitantly.

「Specifically, he is harsh and arrogant to those below him, and flattering to those above him. He will kick commoners in the face, and then rub his head on the ground when he sees Hardlett-sama.」

Polte says in disgust.

「He also said some nasty things to me at first, but after finding out I am Adolph’s subordinate, he fell to his knees and licked the soles of my shoe……」

Head-helmina chimes in.

「He is a vile man deep in his heart. We can utilize him well as long as he doesn’t cause real harm and kick him out if he causes trouble.」

That should be fine.

Someone knocks on the door.

I question Adolph with my eyes, but since nothing regarding the gold mine is documented, we should be fine as long as nobody hears what we say.

「Enter.」

「Pardon me. I have a package addressed to the feudal lord-sama from Lintbloom!」

Ten guards carry a crate into the room.

「Oh, you can leave it over there.」

The soldiers place the heavy-looking box on the floor with a thud, catch their breath as they salute and then exit.

「May I see what’s inside?」

「Sure. It’s not a secret or anything.」

I open the box in front of Adolph.

Contained inside are the gold coins of Goldonia I asked Balbano to make.

I think it totals about 5 000 gold.

「……how did you get this?」

「The dwarves made it. I can’t buy Nonna’s dresses if I don’t have gold coins. It’s not like I can go shopping with gold nuggets.」

I chuckle and gulp down my alcohol.

「Counterfeit money……it’s a serious crime that can instantly ruin a house.」

Adolph’s karate chop and Polte’s low kick simultaneously hit after Head-helmina’s sentence.

「What are you doing!?」

The attacks from the two civil officials did not inflict any damage, but I reflexively tossed Adolph out of the window and pinned Polte down, sticking my tongue in her mouth.

「You better hide it.」

The severed head advises with a sigh as the fox drags it partially under the carpet.

Adolph groans and rolls in pain outside the window while Polte covers her mouth in tears.

「――Pardon me.」

Leopolt was so confused by the situation that he paused for two seconds when he came in.