Volume 4 Chapter 2 Part3 (1/2)

Translator Corner

Minasan oideyasu. This is Yukkuri demasu!

The last chapter!

Please enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: There is no

guarantee that my translation is 100% correct. Please correct me if I was

wrong.

Author:

Dozeumaru(どぜう丸)

Translator:

Yukkuri Oniisan

Editor:

So-Chintzy

Enlightenment Arc

Chapter 2: Let’s Create an Educational Program C

Author’s Note: Zenpoko-kun was like this

image. I remembered it when I wrote it, a toy similar to it that I had in the

past…… Its form changed according to its emotions, or so was the character

setting that I had thought of. However, there was no chance to show it yet.

Left: Zenpoko-kun Tsujou (Usual) Mode, Right: Zenpoko-kun Yaruki (Eager) Mode

✦✧✦✧✦

The short drama of Zenpoko-kun

and Juna onee-san finished and the broadcast projected yet another place. This

time it wasn’t a stage, but a place that was similar to a reception hall, where

ten children of ages 3 to 5 years old could be seen. There wasn’t any

uniformity in them as they freely moved around, sat, ran, or lied down.

By the way, these children were the

children of the castle’s workers who were looked after in the daycare

establishment inside the castle. Since we were talking about creating n educational

program, then there ought to be child spectators in it, too. After receiving

the consent of their parents (well, since their employer the King asked it,

they couldn’t exactly say no to me……), I was able to get them to appear in the

program. Then amongst the children, there was a teenage girl mixed in.

She was the former Amidonian

Ducal Princess, Roroa. Just like Juna, Roroa was wearing boyish attire. Then, she

called out from the middle of the children.

「Now,

everyone~. Let’s call the Singer Onee-san out~. Ready~ Go!」(Roroa)

「「「「Juna

Onee-san‼」」」」(Children)

Roroa yelled and the children

followed suit. Then,

「Ha~i」(Juna Onee-san)

While waving her hand, she

entered. Juna-san stood beside Roroa.

「Now,

everybody. It’s time for a song♪.」(Juna Onee-san)

As she said this, she started to

clap her hands into the beat.

◇　◇　◇

「Roroa!?

What in the world is that girl doing!?」(Liscia)

Liscia looked in my direction, so

I shrugged my shoulders.

「When

I mentioned to Roroa about creating the educational program, she said 『That

sounds interesting! Darlin’, I also want to appear~』 and

threw a tantrum. I couldn’t help it, so now she plays a role as Juna’s

a.s.sistant and appears in the program.」(Souma)

「Can

you choose the cast just like that!?」(Liscia)

「…… I

can’t win against a weeping girl, landlord and investor.」(Souma)

This 『Together

with Oneesan』 show was being sponsored by the company 『Silver

Stag Store』 that was publicly

headed by Sebas, while Roroa was its shadow president. Right now, it was

investing in various businesses and research in our country. Research and

development for food, healthcare, military and other fields that were related

to the citizens’ lives were put as our priorities. Hence, the national treasury

was always in a state of barely being afloat. Even though, eventually the

increase in population would increase the tax yield and cover the expenses, it

wasn’t something that will happen right now.

『Due

to the establishment of the training schools and cla.s.ses, the budget is already

strained! We don’t have any leeway to put more money into an educational

program with unclear effectiveness! Please have a bit more restraint!』(Colbert)

……Was what the Finance Minister

Colbert had said while in tears. As expected from someone with a “brake” role

next to Hakuya, he was stiff with the strings in the purse. Although I was relieved

that there was a reliable person looking after the purse…… I had no other

choice, but to ask Roroa’s company to finance the show.

「The

world is such a tough place.」(Liscia)

「It

sure is.」(Souma)

……Well, perhaps Roroa already

predicted this situation ever since she established her company. Actually, if

Roroa didn’t finance it, then this show wouldn’t exist. If I didn’t yield to just

a slight selfishness from my talented fiancée, then I will incur divine

punishment. I looked back to the hall and saw Juna-san, Roroa, and the children

singing 『Close Hands, Open』[1] together.

「「Close

your hands, open your hands♪

Clap your hands, close your hands.♪」」

While looking at Roroa, who was

making exaggerated hand movements, the children danced to mimic her. The sight

of the children hopping with their arms and feet flouncing around brought

smiles to one’s face. As my heart was warmed by the children’s angelic actions,

Liscia asked me again.

「I

know why you want to make educational programs, but why are there so many

songs?」(Liscia)

「Songs

will linger in one’s ears and are also easy to propagate. You could strangely

remember the songs that you heard in your childhood, right? It will remain

inside one’s mind much more easily than regular methods of teaching and can be

disseminated far more widely.」(Souma)

To give an example, in my case, before

I learnt about 「Irohanihoeto」[2], I remembered the children song, 「Irohamatsuri」[3]. Then, even though it could be said that I was still

confused on the order of the 12 Chinese zodiac, the song 『Zodiac

Merry Go Round』[4]  really helped

me in remembering them. The remembered melodies were quite hard to forget. ……These

were the wonderfulness of children’s songs.

Liscia replied in admiration.

「I

see…… If I think about it, Souma’s plan is indeed amazing.」(Liscia)

「Hm……

Well, since my job is to think after all.」(Souma)

「It

ought not to be as simple as you say, since it’s a policy that puts the citizens

into the consideration.」(Liscia)

Liscia sent me a respecting

look…… so I averted my eyes away.

「Hey,

why did you turn your eyes away?」(Liscia)

「Well,

you see, it’s not entirely for the citizens’ sake…… It could be said that I

have a bit of self-interest in doing this……」(Souma)

「Self-interest?」(Liscia)

Liscia gazed towards me intently……

Can’t be helped, let’s confess.