Vol 1 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Chapter 1: The De’s Castle, that Profound Audience
Bells toll in the distance
The Hero: “…”
Wind howls
The Hero: “This is… Where is this? Where is the De!?
Wind howls
The Hero: “This Deuards or warning systems As for traps… Well there’re a lot of traps I just need to get over that and… Well I don’t have any regrets…”
Wind howls
The De: “Good afternoon”
The Hero: “What?”
The De: “Good afternoon, Hero”
The Hero: “Wha- What are you?!”
The De… Oh? You didn’t know…?”
The Hero: “Wh- Wh- Why is the De a woman?!”
Wind howls
The De: “Don’t say that It’s a traditional title after all, I can’t help it”
The Hero: “Daht?! Co!”
The De The forty-third De, also known as ‘Ruby Eyes’”
The Hero: “Hmph”
The Deot a seal here too…”
The Hero: “Don’t show me your chest?!”
The De: “No, look There’s the evidence”
The Hero: “Shut up Don’t even think about seducing me”
The De yet…”
Wind really howls
The Hero: “damn it This is worse than traps or whatever else I’ve already decided to take down the Deht decision! I’ to take this person down!”
The Hero: “Dearde!”
The Deain from the start — Good afternoon”
The Hero: “Ugh… Why do I feel so exhausted?”
The De: “Hmm That was a bad response Okay, let’s try this… How farest you?”
The Hero: “Farest?”
The De, long ti I’ve been waiting I’ve been really looking forward to having this conversation with you”
The Hero: “Eh…?”
The Des But since that’s how it is, we’ve got no choice — Well then Let’s raise the curtains The very first Act of the legend of the Hero and I… Or the very last Hero, it’s finally here, these secrets I’ve kept withintime”
The Hero: “Wha… What are you saying, you Master of Demons!”
The De: “Become mine, Hero”
The Hero: “I refuse!”
Wind howls
The De: “No matter what?”
The Hero: “Don’t be stupid! How many countries do you think you’ve laid waste to?!”
The Dedom?”
The Hero: “The sky turned black, the people fell into poverty…”
The De: “Didn’t they inflict this on the pollution?”
The Hero: “Pollution…?”
The De: “Ah Umm… You don’t know, huh”
The Hero: “Don’t lie to do me that wasn’t the work of demons?!”
The Dereedy minister just unsuccessfully embezzle the country’s resources and atteot caught he clai controlled by demons; seems like those are just the bad habits of bad humans”
The Hero: “I can’t forgive… this lie…”
The De”
The Hero: “Then how about the ith the Southern Kingdohtered by the armies of Demons with my own eyes”
The De: “And?”
The Hero: “What? How can I forgive the De who invaded the land of the humans!”
The De of who has invaded whoood points on this side as well… Well, it’s true that we are at war”
The Hero: “You are evil”
The De: “You could say I a to doms, aren’t you?”
The Hero: “What? You’re the only one that’s evil”
The De deood?”
The Hero: “…”
The De: “Wouldn’t it be nice if as a Hero you could just say, ‘I am the Law!’ or ‘I am God!’ or maybe even ‘I am Gundam!’”
The Hero: “Shut up!”
The De: “I really like you, Hero, so we’ll stop here”
The Hero: “Don’t say that you like me”
The De: “Take a look at these data”
The Hero: “What’s this, this is… Isn’t it vellum? It’s thin, and white, and smooth…”
The De paper But that’s not important, what’s written on it is important”
The Hero: “… Umm, Explosion in Demand… Employment? Curve? Consumption Trends… Economic Dependency Ratios?”
The De: “Do you understand?”
The Hero: “What the hell is this, some kind of evil ritual?”
The De: “No It’s an economic analysis of the utility of war to the consumption market”
The Hero: “… Utility?”
The Deht”
The Hero: “Whatis there in war? You damn demons invaded the human world to wipe us out Do you think you can fool ? Don’t try to wrap this all up in smoke!”
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Explanation
Pollution: In the process of heavy industry, various conta by-products are created which es, there were numerous cases of mineral residue which flowed down rivers and caused diseases a the people
Vellum: The hairs of animals (particularly sheep) are removed from the hide, tanned, flattened and cut thinly so that it , vellum is not paper It can be resiliently folded and hence fetches a high price
Printing Paper: Paper was invented in the 2nd Century BC in China and was brought to Europe around the 12th Century AD Compared to vellum and papyrus, paper was thinner, could be folded and bent and was easy to store
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The De: “Hero…”
The Hero: ‘Ugh Why is it a woman And such a beautiful one too?! This is unbelievable!’ (thought)
The Deht”
The Hero: “?!”
The De”
The Hero: “I’ll take your head right this instant”
The Deht, so listen to what I have to say for just half a day”
The Hero: “…”
The Deain during the entire eternity of the universe”
The Hero: “… Fine Speak But if you say anything strange, I’ll chop your head off at any time” Unsheathes sword
The De: “I understand Then allow e of the data in your hands”
The Hero: “It’s a diagram”
The Deraph … That’s a visual representation of the spending patterns and expenditure of the Central Continent over the last 50 years”
The Hero: “…Umm”
The De: “You will notice that since the war started 15 years ago, the econo”
The Hero: “… That’s a lie”
The Dee two This one combines a few sets of data”
The Hero: “The death toll of people in this war has been…”
The Dean, the population of the Hu”
The Hero: “What kind of lousy reasoning is that?! How could the population be increasing when people are dying from this war?”
The De: “Well, usually that would be the case But in this world, the pre-war conditions were different Before the war — well, it’s been this way for a few hundred years — the pri humans were pestilence and famine”
The Hero: “…”
The De enemies, and they’ve been undefeated for the last 500 years or so Soly head, and far from a population increase, entire countries are wiped out”
The Hero: “Pestilence and fas beyond human control Perhaps they’re a way by which the spirits are testing us humans Don’t compare them to the Demon invasion!”
The De: “Well, it’s true that they’re sometimes unavoidable But that doesn’t mean they’re undefeatable, or that they shouldn’t be defeated”
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Explanation
Consumption Trends: Trends which deteroods and services) loosen or tighten their purse strings Also, trends of what this expenditure is directed at
Market: A place where goods are bought and sold Originally referred to theevery es of this abstraction of a massive market That’s a market
Utility: In Econoy, the value of satisfaction which a consuood or service However, even though there may be utility, a less scarce resource (like water) would still fetch a lower price In other words, prices are not determined solely by utility
Deoods which people are actually willing to spend In other words, “I don’t have pocket ame” isn’t demand, but “I have the money to buy it too” is demand
Eive money to people so that they ork for you Eated to pay their workers and eated to create output for their employers
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The Hero: That’s…
The De: “Ever since the start of the war, the death toll from these two causes has fallen by 60”
The Hero: “What’s the reason for that? Is it not a grace granted by the Spirits upon witnessing the tyranny of the Demons?”
The De ti like Spirits … The reason is clear The biggest reason is the forency Council”
The Hero: “…?”
The Deether in order to combat the Demons”
The Hero: “And ould deaths decrease from that…?”
The De: “Countries with an abundance of food send thericultural technology also share this expertise”
The Hero: “Doesn’t that just display this feat of human cooperation!”
The De: “That humans need a ith the Demons to achieve such a basic level of cooperation is quite astonishi+ng really”
The Hero: “…”
The De: “Don’t feel sad The Demons aren’t that far away ourselves”
The Hero: “Is… That so…?”
The De: “It’s just chaos Demons operate in a feudal society Powerful chieftains and expansive warlords have tiain power”
The Hero: “…”
The De: “Well, in this case, the war has saved both Humans and Demons”
The Hero: “…”
The De: “Don’t bite your lip like that Isn’t it already bleeding?”
The Hero: “Don’t touch me!”
The De: “If that’s what you want, then I won’t touch you…”
The Hero: “…?”
The De: “Do you understand the benefits now?”
The Hero: “… I suppose… War ht have some benefits”
The De: “I am relieved to hear you say that”
The Hero: “But that’s no reason for it to continue And that’s no reason for it to begin either You are a war criht now and prepare to stand trial at a tribunal”
The De: “Oh—“
The Hero: “I see now that this as not waged for your own selfish benefit I will escort you there, so just surrender”
The De: “That could be a bit difficult”
The Hero: “Why?”
The Dee six”
Flip
The De: “This records the relationshi+p of the Goods Floeen the Southern Kingdoms and the Central Continent”
The Hero: “Goods Flow…?”
The Deoods Food or clothing, from daily necessities to weaponry, metal, wood and so on”
The Hero: “And these are heavily utilized by the Southern Kingdoms?”
The Deht Wars require massive consumption after all”
The Hero: “… And how are the Southern Kingdo for this?”
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Explanation
Warlord: A warlord independently controls territory and civilians, with a sovereign arathered by himself However, if one takes orders from a Central Governe arher command, he is not a warlord
Good Flows: The flow of goods If one creates a good, were he to just leave it there, he would be unable to generate any significant incooods to consuood flow
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The De: “Hm?”
The Hero: “Don’t you need oods?”
The Deood”
The Hero: “Don’t even think of touching me”
The De: “Oh whoops that was accidental I can’t touch you as long as you don’t give me permission I’m the type that takes promises very seriously heehee”
The Hero: “So how do they buy it?”
The De the Conflict Aid Fund provided by the Central Continental Eency Council Resolution”
The Hero: “…?”
The De: “In other words, the world sends aid doms”
The Hero: “Is that so! Hu, this is the nobility of the human race”
The Deoods from the countries in the Central Continent In other words, they give pocket money for people to buy from their own stores”
The Hero: “…?”
The De: “This syste ht create ‘Wealth,’ but it doesn’t contribute to ‘Prosperity’ Goods and capital flows nation in order to achieve ‘Prosperity’”
The Hero: “…Are you trying to lie to me?”
The De to do everything yourself, you cooperate with skilled workers fro to do By exchanging ti of the people”
The Hero: “Hmm… I can kind of understand that It’s rather like the market in the Royal Square, isn’t it?”
The De: “That’s exactly it”
The Hero: “But isn’t this situation different?”
The De: “In ay?”
The Hero: “The countries of the Central Continent send ht? And in the end, while this—Good Flows?—does take place, the money they send is sent back to themselves, isn’t it?”
The De: “Mmhmm”
The Hero: “In other words there’s no e of specialized products”
The De: “Yes there is”
The Hero: “The Central Continent doesn’t receive anything frodoms In other words, this is just charity This is all donations and charity”
The Dedoms provide ‘Safety’ In other words, the hued for money —You’ve seen it haven’t you? How the whole world is stained by the fires of this war”
The Hero: “…”
The De: “The inventions of new and hts, richer plantations… Do people not continue to dance and revel into the night? Are there no nobility who continue to be inebriated by wine?”
The Hero: “… That’s certainly true But it’s just a few people”
The De: “In other words, it’s this way Hudoreat consumer of their products”
The Hero: “Dependent…?”
The Deht even say, drowning in it”
The Hero: “But ht That’s why they need the Southern Kingdohts protect them, and can only send food and supplies back How is this syste?!”
The De This could be charity, and froument But at the same time, econon Exchange would definitely crumble At this point, the Government Sector is already entwined with the Private Sector to the roots”
The Hero: “Crumble…”
The Deht It’s in the data, isn’t it? If this doe, especially the e spreads, tens of thousands of people could die”
The Hero: “… That’s…”
The De: “But since this co: it’s probably a lie, huh”
The Hero: “It’s a lie?”
The De: “At the very least, I’ this that I don’t know about”
The Hero: “…”
The De: “Well, this warped economic system which is dependent on Good Flows is just one of my two reasons”
The Hero: “What else is there…?”
The De: “The other one is much easier to explain”
The Hero: “…”
The Deht be simple, but the problem itself isn’t…”
The Hero: “What do you mean?”
The De involved in a ith the Demons, human society as we know it has ended Good Flows have iy is widespread, pestilence and famine have been reduced”
The Hero: “Yeah, you said that already”
The De: “That’s just half of the explanation Good Flows are indeed more vibrant than they were before In the past, countries where half the people starved to death did not cooperate with their rich neighbouring countries”
The Hero: “Yes…?”
The De: “However, while Good Flows have increased, world production of food has not increased significantly”
The Hero: “…?”
The Deet it? … In other words, there are still people starving to death”
The Hero: “Ahh Inchildren”
The De: “In this world, ould happen if people didn’t die fro ho kno many tens of thousands would still be alive And if they’re alive, then they need food The hu, isn’t it?— But, food stocks aren’t increasing Humans have after all, just invented the wheel”
The Hero: “That’s…”
The De: “That’s the reality”
The Hero: “But, but…”
The De: “Just why have you come here on your own?”
The Hero: “… What?”
The De’s palace, you’d expect it to be swar for you Don’t tell et here by some freak coincidence of happenstance?”
The Hero: “What are you saying?”
The De the war is the military’s, isn’t it? Aren’t you a hero?”
The Hero: “I am a hero This is my mission”
The De the ene’s life that of an assassin’s?”
The Hero: “…”
The Des probably understand this as well —Whether the humans win the war or lose the war, humanity will suffer”
The Hero: “…”
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Explanation
Foreign Exchange: Instead of using cash, this syste accounts from both places, one can avoid the risk of physically transferring large a distances The Catholic Church in the Middle Ages gained significant profit from this practice
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The De: “That’s why you went out on your own”
The Hero: “…”
The Deht be somewhat one-sided, but the truth is that it’s the same for the Deh you call us Demons, the truth is we’re just the saoing on, catering for just a minority of the people There are of course sadistic elements, but most powerful chiefs just cruelly enjoy war and adopt a selfish view”
The Hero: “Is that so…?”
The Deht … As you can see, my wrists are small and I’m just a weak, dainty lady, aren’t I?”
The Hero: “Don’t you fight with ic?”
The De: “Well, that’s true, I do, but I wouldn’t say I can perforic”
The Hero: “Then why are you the de?”
The De It’s probably a coincidence —My family has a lot of eccentric people and we’re at the forefront of Deevity My speciality is actually Economics”
The Hero: “What’s Economics?”
The De: “I can’t believe the level of human civilization…”
The Hero: “That ”
The De: “This isn’t really about Demons or humans … If this war ends, for example, if it is the Demons in, then a e This ti of a new Act of violence and a scramble for the proliferation of Slavery Powerful De and plundering as they establish a new era of Colonization
Clans which have grown rich and powerful froer and bloodier ill be fought with the goal of Unification, but atte to unify a world even more chaotic than it is noill be no mean feat More blood than ever before will flow”
The Hero: “Colonization?”