Chapter 7 (1/2)
7: A Great noble Has Taken An Interest In Me
TL: Cnine
TLC: Cryarc
Editors: Puissansa
There’s royalty in Class E1
This news spread in the academy in the blink of an
eye After school, the classroom was thrown into chaos Factionless students who
heard the ru nobles who don’t have any backers
yet, visited Class E1
to form a relationshi+p with Claudia
It appears that a lot of students surround Claudia every day
「As expected, it’s impossible to hide your social status」
Theresa looked at the situation in which the students gathered around Claudia
Although she seems happy, she knew that they are people who still cannot find
backers, even at this late hour They’re a bunch of people who couldn’t announce
theard’s faction, however
Theresa failed to notice this On the other hand, competent but factionless people
looked at the situation cynically
「It’s aht?」
「Well, duh After all’s said and done, she’s the imperial princess of the empire」
「Are you curious about why I made it public？」
Kaossiped here and
there in the acade the people around hear it If the rumour is spread
to some extent, there’ll be some people ill try to confirm it
When they realized that the rumour is true, the entire academy is wrapped in
surprise
「If I did that, they won’t approach ht?」
「I expected so like that」
「Ottokun,
you’re fine with that?」
「Eh, about what?」
Otto becaed Kamui words were just
too short; so about Moreover, Otto
hardly had any chances to converse with him
「Ah, I ht prove to be useful in trade
right?」
「Ah, about that? I’m not that troubled you know Moreover, if we look our profit as
a whole, the percentage co from the transactions with the imperial court is
actually extremely small」
「Is that so? I thought the imperial family would spend more money」
Ka in every possible
luxury; wearing various ornaments and different clothes everyday
「Well, they do use e amount of money, our
end profit would be equivalent to none, you know 」
「Then, in business terht?」
「Please, can you not say it that way？ There are severe penalties for bribery」
「Though nobody was ever actually prosecuted for bribing」
「Well you see, the one who should be prosecuted with the crime is the one on the
receiving end」
Actually, government officials and feudal lords from various places are the ones
who receive the greater amount of bribes This is because they aim for the practical
advantages provided by them, which are more than that which is provided by the
imperial family
「The world is over, huh」
「It’s still a considerably long way froh」
「Ooh, it’s surprising that Ottokun
can folloith a harsh remark like that」
「I also want to say that Ito rise you know」
「……As expected, a merchant’s intel is fast huh When will that be? 」
Otto’s hoh Kamui knows of the speed of their
information, he is still a little surprised that Otto – who is still a student – also knows
about it
「It’
s right after new year’s But Kamuikun’s
group doesn’t have to worry about
this Only the merchants are subjected to this tax increase」
「That makes me a bit relieved Our financial situation is severe」
Karevious financial situation of Viscount Kreutz’s house very
clearly
「Ito do with the tax decided by the empire」
In the first place, Selene’s house is already under heavier taxation than it should
be Still, it doesn’t mean that it’s irrelevant to her, either
「Even so, this will be used as an excuse to take ht?」
「Yeah, that’s right Thinking about it like that, it’s a good thing huh」
「I’m not okay, you know 」
Otto lightly co relieved
expressions
「It looks like that to me but, is it really that bad？ Ottokun
merchant house is quite
large right？」
「Which er I mean, it was rumored that
the tax rate will be in proportion with the property」
「……If you think of it that way, it’s a good thing that we got to know about this
Various ht?」
Merchants won’t quietly watch things develop to their disadvantage They will use
various means to crush it
「Obviously, I think there will be considerable a around」
「Even so, the increase is still going to go ahead What happened? 」
「Should I be answering that?」
「Don’t fret, it’s not a big deal」
Kas become bothersome
That part of Otto is similar to him
「I didn’t mean it that way you know The reason why ‘that’ failed to floas
because we couldn’t reach a satisfactory figure No, it’s because they wouldn’t
accept ‘that’」
「Someone like that exists?」
Officials who refuse bribes Even that should be the obvious case, such officials are
actually quite rare Even if they didn’t wish for it, given as a present, they’ll still
accept it
「That’s why I asked if I a this As nobles, you
guys should’ve known about this A while ago, a newcomer was promoted into the
government with a recommendation from the crown prince That official seems like
a rather excellent person you know」
「Perhaps, that newcomer possesses considerable political power?」
「Well, that’s probably right」
「What kind of person is that newcomer?」
That person is not even royalty, but capable of ignoring a prominent merchant’s
coercions This shows that that person has considerable influence This is the fact
that Kamui is most interested in
「I haven’t been inforation was not
called off, then perhaps it’s a fact, huh」
「This is getting interesting That official is quite a mysterious person, huh?」
「At least in this situation Since it was a sudden promotion We don’t know yet
what that official was doing before this」
「You said that the official received the crown prince’s recoht？」
Since the crown prince recommended that person, it’s possible that they have
siies Karasp the crown
prince’s true nature
「This is the only inforuess they’re reasonably
trustworthy Because, even if he’s a crown prince, for him to suddenly promote an
unknown person – I feel that that’s quite unreasonable The crown prince’s
reputation will be tarnished if that person wasn’t excellent」
「Even so, that person was excellent Since that person wouldn’t accept bribes,
perhaps that official is an honest person?」
In that case, the crown prince who gave that recommendation could also be an
honest person If that is so, there ht still be a little hope for the next era
「I’ve told you not to use those words, right?」
「My bad It’s ‘that’ right, ‘that’ 」
「It’s still uncertain whether that official is an honest person or not, you know」
Otto denied Kaht
「Why？」
「It’s a rationalization that I was taught a long tih There are two types
of people that will not accept ‘that’ First is the honest kind of person as Kamuikun
said, the other one is a person who got ‘that’ from the other people already」
「They already have alliances If that’s true, that official would be quite the
dangerous person, huh」
In a situation where the other party was already in an alliance, it would mean that
their goal would be – for the sake of their allies – crushi+ng any holders of vested
rights It would be the start of political strife
「Just like in Kamuikun’s
line of thought, this ht be in order to crush the
merchant house that is similar to mine」
「And then, rising as new force the, huh I wonder what lies
beyond that? What do you think, Alto? 」
「……Their purpose is so merchant
house Hoill they do that is uncertain, but there will be considerable chaos,
right?」
「That’s right Even my house has its roots quite far and wide across the empire,
you know」
The structure of distribution of goods in the empire is composed of this type of
merchant Each merchant has his own link that connects a city to another city If
that is stopped, there’s no doubt that the circulation of goods in the empire will fall
into chaos
「Even if it’s co we’d like to do It’s beyond the authority of
a e scale, you know」
「nobles withthem……It looks like a coup d’etat, huh」
「I’ a coup d’etat, duh」
「Is that so? The possibility of this being be the crown prince’s intention is quite
high, though Weakening the noble and at the sa his fellow
imperial family’s power It’s consistent」
The subject of the talk between Karew rapidly
「Are you seriously saying that?」
For the first tirasp the point
「It regrettable, Ottokun
Your generation ht have it bad」
「I wonder Will you please stop saying things that will only bring bad luck ？」
「I mean your opponent is the crown prince you know He is the future emperor
Making an eneht」
「Even you, Altokun……
」
「Good grief You guys Just how far can your iination spread with just this kind
of information If the earls ever come to know about it, they won’t stay quiet The
empire will fall into chaos, you know」
Unable to endure seeing at the depressed Otto, Selene joined the conversation
Unfortunately, her following reerous
The houses of the earls are the et hailed
as great merchants must have some connection with an earl’s house It can be
said that they grew that big by using connections
Naturally, the co to crush
these greata confrontation with the earls If
the situation escalates into a confrontation between the imperial family and the
earls, then it ht be at a considerable scale
「Chaos, huh Even so, this ht be outside of their plans」
Unexpectedly, Alto showed a delighted expression after hearing Selene’s words
「Why？」
「If chaos transpires, there will be a need for people who can resolve it, right?」
「And they are？」
「People like that – there are eneration」
There’s no need to say who It’s those who becaolden
generation in this academy
「Indeed Does Altokun
also feel that way too?」
「I’ve been investigating various things, you know Those guys – they’re not a
bunch that can live in a peaceful era, are they? That’s how I feel They’re a bunch
that will shi+ne during chaotic times」
「The era is waiting for them?」
Selene uttered those words that co it
「Oh, nice words, Selenesan
」
It seems that Alto was quite pleased with Selene’s remark
「If it beca？ 」
Selene’s face suddenly changed to a serious one
Chaos in the empire will become the frontier territory’s best chance If a civil war
spreads all over the empire, the influence of the frontier territories, which occupies
a quarter of the empire, will inevitably increase It would be fine for them to pick a
side, aim for military achievements or even plot for independance
Though it’s a dangerous bet that will lead to ruin if it failed, Selene felt that it is
the situation worsen as it is
「Hee, Selenesan
also has the disposition of shi+ning during turbulent times, huh?
」
「I don’t have that kind of power, you know Nevertheless, the chaotic era is what I
wish for At the saht？ 」
「As Kamui said, Selenesan
is a difficult woman Who kneever, I know a
man who’ll shi+ne the most at that time」
After hearing what Alto said, all of their eyes naturally gathered at Kamui
「Who？」
「It’s you, FOOL!」
「Hey, didn’t you just call me a fool？」
「Hey you, stop being thickheaded Rather than those guys, I think you’re the one
that lost his mind, you know」
「I appreciate the concern, but that’s wrong The one who lost his mind is someone
else」
「……Who?」
「That person is superior in ic and sword, and has a nice personality That
person has considerable insight In addition, that person is good looking」
Impeccable If it’s as Kamui says, there’s this kind of impeccable person in the
imperial academy
「It’s quite a rave review, isn’t it?」
Alto s about
「If I’et a reward, Diefriedsan
」
Saying those words, Kamui looked behind him
「I’m exposed, huh」
At that place was the figure of Diefried, as trying to getting closer to Kamui’s
back without being noticed
「Since I’ behind me
Unlike a certain someone」