(Women’s Battle) –
The Demon Lord.
It was said to be the one who governs over demons and leads them. Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub… If it were in Japan then Kurama, Tengu, in Islam it would be Iblis, in Babylonia, it would be Pazuzu.
It was also often being used as a figurative expression to describe the overwhelming ability… Oda Nobunaga was called Six Heaven Demon Lord, such name was being told in the future, it was words that express his talents and also brutality…
“… I wonder, what’s going on here?”
This was inside the reception room.
Being stared by Emily and Erika’s cold gaze, Kota’s body stiffened… He felt nervous… As far as Kota remembers, the last time he felt this way was when he entered the second year of his freelancer’s life…
“E-Errr… Y-You, see… About this…”
“Ah, I don’t need an excuse…”
‘… Then don’t ask!’ Was what he thought, but of course, Kota could not say that. It was his personal experience that saying such words toward a woman was not a good thing. Especially in this kind of situation…
“… Hmm, let’s see… Kota, if my memory serves me right. You went to Sorbania for a ‘pleasant talk,’ no? Right, Emily? am I wrong, I wonder?”
“No, Erika-sama. Even in my memory, I remembered that Kota-sama went there for a ‘pleasant talk’…”
“Right? The world should be written as ‘Pleasant Talk’ right? And it’s not ‘Marriage Talk’ right?”
“Yes, I’m sure it was not. Since I heard it with these both ears of mine. Kota-sama certainly said he went for a ‘pleasant talk.’ I’m very sure it was not ‘Marriage talk’…”
Kota cold sweat couldn’t stop. He didn’t know what to say… The pressure was unbearable. He was called the Demon Lord, or the Devil, but to be honest, looking at the two ‘black aura,’ they both were more suited to be called Demon lords.
“Kota-sama? What are they angry about?”
The one who spoke was an adorable girl who didn’t know Kota’s inner struggle asked him while tightly hold his arm. The one who spoke was, of course, it was Lady Sonia.
“Ermmm… Sonia-san.”
“” Sonia….. ‘san’?””
“… Sonia-sama.”
“No, please don’t call me like that, Kota-sama. No need to be so formal with me… After all, we’re already in a relationship, no?”
“… Heeee! In a relationship, I wonder what is that all about?!”
“E-Erika-sama! Please calm down! The cup! The cup is going to break!”
“… Erika-sama, that one is the wrong cup. The one with ‘Kota’ written on it is here…”
“… Oh my, as expected of Emily. Very attentive…”
“That is so mean, Emily-san! Just what—…”
“—What?”
“— N-No, nothing…”
Kota shut his mouth. Scary… As expected, the women were scary…
“… Well, I will consider Kota’s punishment latter…”
Kota’s spine trembled… ‘Huh? Punishment? About what?’ Kota asked his own mind. – –
“… First of all, thank you for visiting us, Princess Sonia. I’m happy that you looked healthy…”
“Thank you, Erika-sama, and I’m sorry for having to disturb your residence… I’m also glad that Erika-sama looks healthy…”
“Thank you very much. At any rate, it has been a long time since we last met, is it not?”
‘Though I never thought that we would meet in this kind of situation,’ she said…
“… What do you mean?”
“Oh my, it is just like I suggested. I’m very sorry that ‘MY’ Kota seems to have caused you some trouble…”
Strictly speaking, ‘quick-witted people’ and ‘smart people’ were slightly different. For instance, in the case of Kota. If anything, he was more knowledgeable than being ‘quick-witted,’ in short, he was a ‘smart people.’ The things he had done before, it was not his original method or surprising wits. It only seemed to look ‘original’ because there was no one doing it in Orkena. In truth, it was just him using his accumulated knowledge. It was the same for Emily and Erika. It was natural for them to have more knowledge than others since Erika was a royal, and Emily was someone who had lived with aristocrats for long…
“… It is alright, Erika-sama. There’s no trouble at all. After all, he is ‘MY’ Kota.”
On the other hand, Sonia was part of the ‘quick-witted people’ group. It might be related to her young age, but she was someone who was able to think outside of the box. The fact that Sonia noticed something that the King of Sorbania unable to notice, it was in truth her having a different perspective. And now, what is the different between quick-witted people and smart people.
Of course, it was not about which one was superior. And there was also the difference in age. Although Sonia might not be able to beat Erika no matter how much paper test they took to test their pure knowledge, it didn’t mean Sonia was not a genius, there were ways to beat Erika other than using a check. The bottom line was the difference in the direction of their talents…
“Also, Erika-sama, please stop calling ‘my’ Kota without an honorifics okay?”
…Sonia know… That the person in front of her was her ‘enemy.’
“… What do you mean by ‘my’?”
“Yes. Isn’t that obvious? After all, Kota is my fiance…”
“… Hee… A fiance, eh? Princess Sonia, if I’m not wrong, you’re still ten years old?”
“That is right, what’s of it?”
“Nothing… It’s just… I wonder if Kota has such ‘hobby’?”
Stare, Erika’s gaze pierce Kota. As for Kota, he was shaking since a while ago…
“… What do you mean?”
“No, you see… for a ‘little girl’ like you being Kota’s fiance… I thought it is such a bad joke…”
“… Not really, the age difference is not uncommon in politic marriage, no?”
“As you say, the age difference is not uncommon in politic marriages. But still…”
Saying that Erika sent a glance to Sonia from top to bottom…
“… Pfft…”
“What?! What’s wrong with that gaze?!”
“No, there’s no meaning behind it, yes? ‘Political marriage,’ huh? I wonder if you can satisfy Kota as a ‘Woman’?”
While saying so, Erika put on a triumphant smile. On the other hand, Sonia bites her lower lips.
… Just to be sure, everyone should remember that they had ten years difference in age.
“… Hag…”
“… Oh my? Did you say something, princess Sonia?”
“… Nothing~… But you know~, when I turn twenty years old, Erika-sama would be thirty years old… Now then, who would Kota choose?”
“… What do you mean?”
“I was wondering, they said gentlemen always love ‘young’ woman. Also…”
Having said that, Sonia sent a glance at Erika’s body, specifically looking at the two hills…
“… Pfft.”
“What’s with that smile?!”
“… No no… It’s just when I saw Erika-sama’s body, there seems to be a problem with the part called ‘adult woman charm,’ isn’t it?”
“Wha-… I don’t want to hear that from you!”
“My chest is filled with dreams and hope! After all, I am still ten years old. Compared to that, you’re…”
Pfft, she smiled…
Having a grin on her face, she taunted Erika.
“… Emily…”
“Yes.”
“If we end up having a war against Sorbania, I guess it cannot be helped, isn’t it?”
The light disappeared from Erika’s eyes. Generally speaking, it was an expression that was more terrifying since Erika had such a beautiful face.
“… Erika-sama. It is not good to say the word ‘war’ easily like that…”
“But!”
“… Besides.”
She said.
She took a deep breath and stick out the two mountain that had grown splendidly on her chest.
“… The value of a woman is not only measured by their chest size?”
“Y-You!”
“Also, having it big is not that great, it makes my shoulders stiff see…”
“You can say that because you have them!”
Indeed, that was the truth…
“T-The size is not important! What important is the s-shape!”
“Indeed, that is right, princess Sonia. Just like my chest… Filled with milk…”
“W-What’s with that triumphant look! Just now, you looked at me with pitying eyes, aren’t you?!”
“You just imagine things, Sonia-sama.”
“H-How rude of you! You know I am~…”
“The eleventh child of Carlos the First, the King of Sorbania, am I right? Of course, I know of that. I know but…What?”
‘it can’t be you’re going to use status into this battle?’, she indicates with her gaze…
“… Khu!”
Mind you, Emily attitude could already be regarded as lese majeste. It was not such a funny thing, but…
“… N-No, there’s nothing!”
Although Sonia could consider that as ‘trump card,’ she could not do it. She felt she should not bring position into this ‘women’s battle’…
“…”
“…”
‘…”
It felt like there was a Dragon, a Tiger, and a Bear standing in front of Kota.
“””Fuh-“””
Seeing such an aura behind the three, Kota could only sit while trembling on the corner of the room.
“….”
“…”
“…”
“… Emm… Erika-san?”
“… What?”
Inside private Erika’s room, Kota was sitting on the chair facing each other. She looked mad. Erika-san is definitely angry!…
“E-Emm… I’m sorry for taking Sonia with me without permission. I know it might turn into an international problem if I took Sonia-san without the lord, Erika-san’s permission, but… Ermm, Erika-san, why are you looking at me with those cold eyes?”
“… Nothing…”
‘This idiot really didn’t understand?’, was what Erika thought… ‘I wonder whether he did it on purpose or not.’ she continued…
“It can’t be helped that you bring her along. But we don’t have a residence suited for someone from Royal family such as Sonia…”
Saying that Erika sighed… In the first place, lately, many kinds of people had come to her current residence. It can be said to be an excellent opportunity…
“… I guess let us do a major renovation.”
“… Emmm, Erika-san? It might be presumptuous for me to say this but, Soia-san said ‘I don’t mind with a normal ordinary residence’…”
“That is not the problem… Listen, alright? If Sonia said ‘I don’t mind an ordinary residence,’ you can’t let her stay in a really ordinary residence, understand? Sonia is a princess after all…”
It was more like if someone said ‘You can come wearing everyday clothes to the party,’ then one really come wearing a T-shirt and short pants. One can imagine what would happen. Terra would be the one who felt ashamed if they didn’t show proper respect and attitude toward foreign royalty.
“… Though I think the conversation previously deviate from a normal conversation for a princess?”
“… Did you say something?”
“N-No, nothing! I didn’t say anything! I didn’t say anything but, are you sure this is fine?”
“About what?”
“Erm… The money…”
“W-H-O-S-E fault do you think this is?”
“I-I’m sorry! It is my fault! But—”
“… Don’t worry. I talked with Earl Baden while you were gone… We will pay only half the price for the next winter wheat stockpiles…”
She said that looking proudly.
Hearing those words, Kota was looking amazed.
“… Really?”
“Yes.”
“How did you do it?”
“Oh my? Isn’t that obvious? Just like how we did it in Terra?”
‘By negotiation,’ she said…
Erika was grinning while looking at Kota.
“… That is why you don’t have to worry about money. Well… Though~, I don’t want to use it for something like this!”
Saying that Erika glared at Kota. Since this was the current guilty Kota. She thought he must be frightened by it…
“… Kota?”
But, in spite of that…
“… I see.”
Kota didn’t look frightened, and he gazes back at Erika. Due to his sharp gaze, Erika blushed involuntarily…
“… Sorbania, they said they are going to circulate their own deposit certificate. And also, they will circulate it in Terra…”
The heat on her face then cools down after she heard Kota’s words…
— A question mark floats above her head. Sorbania deposit certificate circulating in Terra?
“…I don’t understand the meaning of that but, that means Sorbania would also spread their deposit certificate, yes? Then we could use both certificates? Isn’t that a good thing? That means the transaction with Terra would become more convenient, no?”
As she said… If Sorbania deposit certificate circulated in Terra, it would make it easier for Sorbania merchants to come to Terra… Then Terra would become more active, and there was the possibility the economic boom would be bigger than now…
“… I agree. I don’t deny that.”
“Then—”
“Then? What happened after that?”
“After that?”
“Sorbania deposit certificate circulated in Terra. Erika-san, if you’re a merchant, a bigger company or small company, which one do you think to offer bigger payment?”
“Well… The bigger company, of course?”
“And if you want to deposit money, where do you going to deposit?”
“…”
In response to Kota’s question, Erika answered in silence…
“… Terra was able to collect a lot of money by issuing the deposit certificate.”
Countermeasures against forgery were prepared, time and money were needed for that, but in the end, all of that was only an initial investment. At present, it was possible to issue a large number of pieces, in term of cost basis, one hundred gold coins certificate didn’t even exceed one gold coins to make, at best it would only cost one copper coin. After all, it was only a piece of paper.
“Thanks to the deposit certificate that could be made only with one copper coin, Terra was able to collect more white gold coins. Furthermore, the certificate had ten years of the repayment period. With the white gold coins we acquired, Terra made investments, turning the economy…”
Just like how Maria and the greengrocer borrowed money, Terra also lends white gold coins at the same time as the deposit certificate being issued… The white gold coins deposited in exchange of certificate were used to give loan to people. Such was done over and over. Thanks to such movement, Terra economy was moving more actively, and Terra itself would gain revenue in the name of interest income.
“With the circulation of Sorbania deposit certificate means that the value of Terra deposit certificate would be reduced. In other words, the cycle of the economy in the future would be slower. And the one who would feel it the worst would be here, Terra…”
Among the traders who were in Terra, if they asked about the territory most of the times they would answer ‘Ah, it was that country…’ Naturally, Terra was a territorial province that was deserted until just a few months ago, and although it was possible to deposit 10,000 white gold coins, only big trading companies could do that.
“Most of the trading companies in Terra have branches in Sorbania. Even Maria-san, her main store is located in Sorbania. For convenience, many of the trading companies would then use Sorbania deposit certificate.”
If Terra deposit certificate ceases to be distributed, Terra would not be able to collect more white gold coins. Not being able to circulate the money, the market would also become small. And the small amount of money circulating would mean the value of money goes up, causing the price of goods goes down. When that happens, the shops would make less money, and recession due to deflation would come…
“B-But! Just like Kota said, Sorbania deposit certificate would be circulated along with Terra deposit certificate, no? Which mean the value of money would still be—…”
“As a result, Terra would lose its currency sovereignty. The economy would depend on Sorbania’s economy, the policy would depend on Sorbania’s policy, and there would only be Sorbania’s ideal…”
Terra would become the so called dependency territory…
“… T-Then we should stop Sorbania’s deposit certificate–”
“That is impossible. With how Terra now, it is impossible to stop Sorbania’s move…”
If Terra were more powerful than Sorbania, then the story would be different. To begin with, if Terra had more power, the story would not become like these… In other words…
“No matter what we do… It is inevitable that Sorbania would invade Terra…”
“… Why…”
“…”
“… Why, such a thing!”
In response to her words, Kota frowned… What Erika had said was something Kota wanted to say since a while ago…
“There are two reasons…”
“Speak…”
“The first is because Terra success had caught the King of Sorbania eyes. I thought sooner or later something like this would happen but… I thought it would only happen in the next two or three years…”
To begin with, what Kota did here was only a rehash of what they did in modern Japan. The thing they did in Terra was something everyone could do in any territory. Just like Columbus, Kota was only the first who did it…
“… I see.”
Erika bites her lips. If that was true, they should be happy about becoming a model for another country, but at present, they could not feel happy at all… Seeing that Erika, Kota continues to speak.
“… The second reason is…”
He clutched both hands.
“… The second reason is because of my naivety. Sorbania is indeed a great power, though I did think it would be convenient, I was late to realize that the foundation we had was too light…”
Like Erika and Emily, Kota was also a person with common sense. The thing that King of Sorbania did was akin to that of changing the currency in modern Japan without any warning, like telling the people ‘we will abolish the Japanese yen, and only use electronic money starting now!”. Which was outside of common sense.
“To be honest, there’s also a side of me that thought I was able to do all of this because this is Terra. The territory is small, and comparatively out of sight. Since the territory is relatively new, the ties of obligation still small(politics) I thought, Sorbania won’t be able to do it as well as Terra…”
If one decided to do something new, it would be better to have fewer people with the authority to make the decision. It was often said ‘the size of an organization was not an excuse for slow decision-making,’ but the speed of decision making would become slow in proportion to the size of the organization structure.
“That’s why… I’m very sorry, Erika-san.”
‘You want to develop Terra, and here, I manage to corner Terra instead.’, he said…
“W-Wait, Kota!”
“All was due to my naive perspective…”
“Y-Your head—”
“… But, I won’t let it be like this…”
Hearing that, Erika hold back what she wanted to say…
“–Kota?”
“… I won’t let it end like this. Fortunately, there would be some time until Sorbania manages to circulate their certificate. We will use that time to strike the next policy.”
“… Eh?”
“… Young, level of knowledge, lack of experience. There are many factors to be looked down upon…”
To the extent, he himself was feeling unpleasant about it…
“Negotiations, the power to push, cutting card, where to cuts… We are not falling behind in that regard…”
That was why… This was his own personal fault, that was what Kota had thought…
“… I’m very sorry. I know that it is shameless of me to say this… I know that but… Erika-san.”
… ‘Please give me another chance,’ he said…
“…”
Kota kept her head bowed down…
“… Around.”
“Erika-san?”
Inside Erika’s mind.
“… Don’t joke with me!”
Something snapped.
(Women’s Battle) –
The Demon Lord.
It was said to be the one who governs over demons and leads them. Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub… If it were in Japan then Kurama, Tengu, in Islam it would be Iblis, in Babylonia, it would be Pazuzu.
It was also often being used as a figurative expression to describe the overwhelming ability… Oda Nobunaga was called Six Heaven Demon Lord, such name was being told in the future, it was words that express his talents and also brutality…
“… I wonder, what’s going on here?”
This was inside the reception room.
Being stared by Emily and Erika’s cold gaze, Kota’s body stiffened… He felt nervous… As far as Kota remembers, the last time he felt this way was when he entered the second year of his freelancer’s life…
“E-Errr… Y-You, see… About this…”
“Ah, I don’t need an excuse…”
‘… Then don’t ask!’ Was what he thought, but of course, Kota could not say that. It was his personal experience that saying such words toward a woman was not a good thing. Especially in this kind of situation…
“… Hmm, let’s see… Kota, if my memory serves me right. You went to Sorbania for a ‘pleasant talk,’ no? Right, Emily? am I wrong, I wonder?”
“No, Erika-sama. Even in my memory, I remembered that Kota-sama went there for a ‘pleasant talk’…”
“Right? The world should be written as ‘Pleasant Talk’ right? And it’s not ‘Marriage Talk’ right?”
“Yes, I’m sure it was not. Since I heard it with these both ears of mine. Kota-sama certainly said he went for a ‘pleasant talk.’ I’m very sure it was not ‘Marriage talk’…”
Kota cold sweat couldn’t stop. He didn’t know what to say… The pressure was unbearable. He was called the Demon Lord, or the Devil, but to be honest, looking at the two ‘black aura,’ they both were more suited to be called Demon lords.
“Kota-sama? What are they angry about?”
The one who spoke was an adorable girl who didn’t know Kota’s inner struggle asked him while tightly hold his arm. The one who spoke was, of course, it was Lady Sonia.
“Ermmm… Sonia-san.”
“” Sonia….. ‘san’?””
“… Sonia-sama.”
“No, please don’t call me like that, Kota-sama. No need to be so formal with me… After all, we’re already in a relationship, no?”
“… Heeee! In a relationship, I wonder what is that all about?!”
“E-Erika-sama! Please calm down! The cup! The cup is going to break!”
“… Erika-sama, that one is the wrong cup. The one with ‘Kota’ written on it is here…”
“… Oh my, as expected of Emily. Very attentive…”
“That is so mean, Emily-san! Just what—…”
“—What?”
“— N-No, nothing…”
Kota shut his mouth. Scary… As expected, the women were scary…
“… Well, I will consider Kota’s punishment latter…”
Kota’s spine trembled… ‘Huh? Punishment? About what?’ Kota asked his own mind. – –
“… First of all, thank you for visiting us, Princess Sonia. I’m happy that you looked healthy…”
“Thank you, Erika-sama, and I’m sorry for having to disturb your residence… I’m also glad that Erika-sama looks healthy…”
“Thank you very much. At any rate, it has been a long time since we last met, is it not?”
‘Though I never thought that we would meet in this kind of situation,’ she said…
“… What do you mean?”
“Oh my, it is just like I suggested. I’m very sorry that ‘MY’ Kota seems to have caused you some trouble…”
Strictly speaking, ‘quick-witted people’ and ‘smart people’ were slightly different. For instance, in the case of Kota. If anything, he was more knowledgeable than being ‘quick-witted,’ in short, he was a ‘smart people.’ The things he had done before, it was not his original method or surprising wits. It only seemed to look ‘original’ because there was no one doing it in Orkena. In truth, it was just him using his accumulated knowledge. It was the same for Emily and Erika. It was natural for them to have more knowledge than others since Erika was a royal, and Emily was someone who had lived with aristocrats for long…
“… It is alright, Erika-sama. There’s no trouble at all. After all, he is ‘MY’ Kota.”
On the other hand, Sonia was part of the ‘quick-witted people’ group. It might be related to her young age, but she was someone who was able to think outside of the box. The fact that Sonia noticed something that the King of Sorbania unable to notice, it was in truth her having a different perspective. And now, what is the different between quick-witted people and smart people.
Of course, it was not about which one was superior. And there was also the difference in age. Although Sonia might not be able to beat Erika no matter how much paper test they took to test their pure knowledge, it didn’t mean Sonia was not a genius, there were ways to beat Erika other than using a check. The bottom line was the difference in the direction of their talents…
“Also, Erika-sama, please stop calling ‘my’ Kota without an honorifics okay?”
…Sonia know… That the person in front of her was her ‘enemy.’
“… What do you mean by ‘my’?”
“Yes. Isn’t that obvious? After all, Kota is my fiance…”
“… Hee… A fiance, eh? Princess Sonia, if I’m not wrong, you’re still ten years old?”
“That is right, what’s of it?”
“Nothing… It’s just… I wonder if Kota has such ‘hobby’?”
Stare, Erika’s gaze pierce Kota. As for Kota, he was shaking since a while ago…
“… What do you mean?”
“No, you see… for a ‘little girl’ like you being Kota’s fiance… I thought it is such a bad joke…”
“… Not really, the age difference is not uncommon in politic marriage, no?”
“As you say, the age difference is not uncommon in politic marriages. But still…”
Saying that Erika sent a glance to Sonia from top to bottom…
“… Pfft…”
“What?! What’s wrong with that gaze?!”
“No, there’s no meaning behind it, yes? ‘Political marriage,’ huh? I wonder if you can satisfy Kota as a ‘Woman’?”
While saying so, Erika put on a triumphant smile. On the other hand, Sonia bites her lower lips.
… Just to be sure, everyone should remember that they had ten years difference in age.
“… Hag…”
“… Oh my? Did you say something, princess Sonia?”
“… Nothing~… But you know~, when I turn twenty years old, Erika-sama would be thirty years old… Now then, who would Kota choose?”
“… What do you mean?”
“I was wondering, they said gentlemen always love ‘young’ woman. Also…”
Having said that, Sonia sent a glance at Erika’s body, specifically looking at the two hills…
“… Pfft.”
“What’s with that smile?!”
“… No no… It’s just when I saw Erika-sama’s body, there seems to be a problem with the part called ‘adult woman charm,’ isn’t it?”
“Wha-… I don’t want to hear that from you!”
“My chest is filled with dreams and hope! After all, I am still ten years old. Compared to that, you’re…”
Pfft, she smiled…
Having a grin on her face, she taunted Erika.
“… Emily…”
“Yes.”
“If we end up having a war against Sorbania, I guess it cannot be helped, isn’t it?”
The light disappeared from Erika’s eyes. Generally speaking, it was an expression that was more terrifying since Erika had such a beautiful face.
“… Erika-sama. It is not good to say the word ‘war’ easily like that…”
“But!”
“… Besides.”
She said.
She took a deep breath and stick out the two mountain that had grown splendidly on her chest.
“… The value of a woman is not only measured by their chest size?”
“Y-You!”
“Also, having it big is not that great, it makes my shoulders stiff see…”
“You can say that because you have them!”
Indeed, that was the truth…
“T-The size is not important! What important is the s-shape!”
“Indeed, that is right, princess Sonia. Just like my chest… Filled with milk…”
“W-What’s with that triumphant look! Just now, you looked at me with pitying eyes, aren’t you?!”
“You just imagine things, Sonia-sama.”
“H-How rude of you! You know I am~…”
“The eleventh child of Carlos the First, the King of Sorbania, am I right? Of course, I know of that. I know but…What?”
‘it can’t be you’re going to use status into this battle?’, she indicates with her gaze…
“… Khu!”
Mind you, Emily attitude could already be regarded as lese majeste. It was not such a funny thing, but…
“… N-No, there’s nothing!”
Although Sonia could consider that as ‘trump card,’ she could not do it. She felt she should not bring position into this ‘women’s battle’…
“…”
“…”
‘…”
It felt like there was a Dragon, a Tiger, and a Bear standing in front of Kota.
“””Fuh-“””
Seeing such an aura behind the three, Kota could only sit while trembling on the corner of the room.
“….”
“…”
“…”
“… Emm… Erika-san?”
“… What?”
Inside private Erika’s room, Kota was sitting on the chair facing each other. She looked mad. Erika-san is definitely angry!…
“E-Emm… I’m sorry for taking Sonia with me without permission. I know it might turn into an international problem if I took Sonia-san without the lord, Erika-san’s permission, but… Ermm, Erika-san, why are you looking at me with those cold eyes?”
“… Nothing…”
‘This idiot really didn’t understand?’, was what Erika thought… ‘I wonder whether he did it on purpose or not.’ she continued…
“It can’t be helped that you bring her along. But we don’t have a residence suited for someone from Royal family such as Sonia…”
Saying that Erika sighed… In the first place, lately, many kinds of people had come to her current residence. It can be said to be an excellent opportunity…
“… I guess let us do a major renovation.”
“… Emmm, Erika-san? It might be presumptuous for me to say this but, Soia-san said ‘I don’t mind with a normal ordinary residence’…”
“That is not the problem… Listen, alright? If Sonia said ‘I don’t mind an ordinary residence,’ you can’t let her stay in a really ordinary residence, understand? Sonia is a princess after all…”
It was more like if someone said ‘You can come wearing everyday clothes to the party,’ then one really come wearing a T-shirt and short pants. One can imagine what would happen. Terra would be the one who felt ashamed if they didn’t show proper respect and attitude toward foreign royalty.
“… Though I think the conversation previously deviate from a normal conversation for a princess?”
“… Did you say something?”
“N-No, nothing! I didn’t say anything! I didn’t say anything but, are you sure this is fine?”
“About what?”
“Erm… The money…”
“W-H-O-S-E fault do you think this is?”
“I-I’m sorry! It is my fault! But—”
“… Don’t worry. I talked with Earl Baden while you were gone… We will pay only half the price for the next winter wheat stockpiles…”
She said that looking proudly.
Hearing those words, Kota was looking amazed.
“… Really?”
“Yes.”
“How did you do it?”
“Oh my? Isn’t that obvious? Just like how we did it in Terra?”
‘By negotiation,’ she said…
Erika was grinning while looking at Kota.
“… That is why you don’t have to worry about money. Well… Though~, I don’t want to use it for something like this!”
Saying that Erika glared at Kota. Since this was the current guilty Kota. She thought he must be frightened by it…
“… Kota?”
But, in spite of that…
“… I see.”
Kota didn’t look frightened, and he gazes back at Erika. Due to his sharp gaze, Erika blushed involuntarily…
“… Sorbania, they said they are going to circulate their own deposit certificate. And also, they will circulate it in Terra…”
The heat on her face then cools down after she heard Kota’s words…
— A question mark floats above her head. Sorbania deposit certificate circulating in Terra?
“…I don’t understand the meaning of that but, that means Sorbania would also spread their deposit certificate, yes? Then we could use both certificates? Isn’t that a good thing? That means the transaction with Terra would become more convenient, no?”
As she said… If Sorbania deposit certificate circulated in Terra, it would make it easier for Sorbania merchants to come to Terra… Then Terra would become more active, and there was the possibility the economic boom would be bigger than now…
“… I agree. I don’t deny that.”
“Then—”
“Then? What happened after that?”
“After that?”
“Sorbania deposit certificate circulated in Terra. Erika-san, if you’re a merchant, a bigger company or small company, which one do you think to offer bigger payment?”
“Well… The bigger company, of course?”
“And if you want to deposit money, where do you going to deposit?”
“…”
In response to Kota’s question, Erika answered in silence…
“… Terra was able to collect a lot of money by issuing the deposit certificate.”
Countermeasures against forgery were prepared, time and money were needed for that, but in the end, all of that was only an initial investment. At present, it was possible to issue a large number of pieces, in term of cost basis, one hundred gold coins certificate didn’t even exceed one gold coins to make, at best it would only cost one copper coin. After all, it was only a piece of paper.
“Thanks to the deposit certificate that could be made only with one copper coin, Terra was able to collect more white gold coins. Furthermore, the certificate had ten years of the repayment period. With the white gold coins we acquired, Terra made investments, turning the economy…”
Just like how Maria and the greengrocer borrowed money, Terra also lends white gold coins at the same time as the deposit certificate being issued… The white gold coins deposited in exchange of certificate were used to give loan to people. Such was done over and over. Thanks to such movement, Terra economy was moving more actively, and Terra itself would gain revenue in the name of interest income.
“With the circulation of Sorbania deposit certificate means that the value of Terra deposit certificate would be reduced. In other words, the cycle of the economy in the future would be slower. And the one who would feel it the worst would be here, Terra…”
Among the traders who were in Terra, if they asked about the territory most of the times they would answer ‘Ah, it was that country…’ Naturally, Terra was a territorial province that was deserted until just a few months ago, and although it was possible to deposit 10,000 white gold coins, only big trading companies could do that.
“Most of the trading companies in Terra have branches in Sorbania. Even Maria-san, her main store is located in Sorbania. For convenience, many of the trading companies would then use Sorbania deposit certificate.”
If Terra deposit certificate ceases to be distributed, Terra would not be able to collect more white gold coins. Not being able to circulate the money, the market would also become small. And the small amount of money circulating would mean the value of money goes up, causing the price of goods goes down. When that happens, the shops would make less money, and recession due to deflation would come…
“B-But! Just like Kota said, Sorbania deposit certificate would be circulated along with Terra deposit certificate, no? Which mean the value of money would still be—…”
“As a result, Terra would lose its currency sovereignty. The economy would depend on Sorbania’s economy, the policy would depend on Sorbania’s policy, and there would only be Sorbania’s ideal…”
Terra would become the so called dependency territory…
“… T-Then we should stop Sorbania’s deposit certificate–”
“That is impossible. With how Terra now, it is impossible to stop Sorbania’s move…”
If Terra were more powerful than Sorbania, then the story would be different. To begin with, if Terra had more power, the story would not become like these… In other words…
“No matter what we do… It is inevitable that Sorbania would invade Terra…”
“… Why…”
“…”
“… Why, such a thing!”
In response to her words, Kota frowned… What Erika had said was something Kota wanted to say since a while ago…
“There are two reasons…”
“Speak…”
“The first is because Terra success had caught the King of Sorbania eyes. I thought sooner or later something like this would happen but… I thought it would only happen in the next two or three years…”
To begin with, what Kota did here was only a rehash of what they did in modern Japan. The thing they did in Terra was something everyone could do in any territory. Just like Columbus, Kota was only the first who did it…
“… I see.”
Erika bites her lips. If that was true, they should be happy about becoming a model for another country, but at present, they could not feel happy at all… Seeing that Erika, Kota continues to speak.
“… The second reason is…”
He clutched both hands.
“… The second reason is because of my naivety. Sorbania is indeed a great power, though I did think it would be convenient, I was late to realize that the foundation we had was too light…”
Like Erika and Emily, Kota was also a person with common sense. The thing that King of Sorbania did was akin to that of changing the currency in modern Japan without any warning, like telling the people ‘we will abolish the Japanese yen, and only use electronic money starting now!”. Which was outside of common sense.
“To be honest, there’s also a side of me that thought I was able to do all of this because this is Terra. The territory is small, and comparatively out of sight. Since the territory is relatively new, the ties of obligation still small(politics) I thought, Sorbania won’t be able to do it as well as Terra…”
If one decided to do something new, it would be better to have fewer people with the authority to make the decision. It was often said ‘the size of an organization was not an excuse for slow decision-making,’ but the speed of decision making would become slow in proportion to the size of the organization structure.
“That’s why… I’m very sorry, Erika-san.”
‘You want to develop Terra, and here, I manage to corner Terra instead.’, he said…
“W-Wait, Kota!”
“All was due to my naive perspective…”
“Y-Your head—”
“… But, I won’t let it be like this…”
Hearing that, Erika hold back what she wanted to say…
“–Kota?”
“… I won’t let it end like this. Fortunately, there would be some time until Sorbania manages to circulate their certificate. We will use that time to strike the next policy.”
“… Eh?”
“… Young, level of knowledge, lack of experience. There are many factors to be looked down upon…”
To the extent, he himself was feeling unpleasant about it…
“Negotiations, the power to push, cutting card, where to cuts… We are not falling behind in that regard…”
That was why… This was his own personal fault, that was what Kota had thought…
“… I’m very sorry. I know that it is shameless of me to say this… I know that but… Erika-san.”
… ‘Please give me another chance,’ he said…
“…”
Kota kept her head bowed down…
“… Around.”
“Erika-san?”
Inside Erika’s mind.
“… Don’t joke with me!”
Something snapped.
