Chapter 7 (1/2)

Chapter 7: A Great n.o.ble Has Taken An Interest In Me

TL: Cnine

TLC: Cryarc

Editors: Puissansa

There’s royalty in Cla.s.s E-1. This news spread in the academy in the blink of an eye. After school, the cla.s.sroom was thrown into chaos. Factionless students who heard the rumor, and more importantly, young n.o.bles who don't have any backers yet, visited Cla.s.s E-1 to form a relations.h.i.+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 themselves as Hildegard's faction, however.

Theresa failed to notice this. On the other hand, competent but factionless people looked at the situation cynically.

「It’s amazing, right?」

「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？」

Kamui was the one who started the rumor about Claudia. He gossiped here and there in the academy, as if letting the people around hear it. If the rumour is spread to some extent, there’ll be some people who will 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 me, right?」

「I expected something like that.」

「Otto-kun, you're fine with that?」

「Eh, about what?」

Otto became bewildered when the topic suddenly changed. Kamui words were just too short; sometimes it’s hard to understand what he’s talking about. Moreover, Otto hardly had any chances to converse with him.

「Ah, I mean if you become close with her, it might 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 coming from the transactions with the imperial court is actually extremely small」

「Is that so? I thought the imperial family would spend more money」

Kamui thought that the imperial family has the image of living in every possible luxury; wearing various ornaments and different clothes everyday.

「Well, they do use money. It's just that unless it's a large amount of money, our end profit would be equivalent to none, you know. 」

「Then, in business terms, it’s something like a bribe, right?」

「Please, can you not say it that way？ There are severe penalties for bribery」

「Though n.o.body 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 from the end of the world though.」

「Ooh, it's surprising that Otto-kun can follow up with a harsh remark like that」

「I also want to say that. I mean, taxes are going to rise you know」

「……As expected, a merchant's intel is fast huh. When will that be? 」

Otto's home is a merchant house. Though 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 Kamui-kun'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」

Kamui knew of the grevious financial situation of Viscount Kreutz's house very clearly.

「I mean, we have nothing to 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 more, right?」

「Yeah, that’s right. Thinking about it like that, it's a good thing huh.」

「I'm not okay, you know 」

Otto lightly complained to Kamui and Selene, who were showing relieved expressions.

「It looks like that to me but, is it really that bad？ Otto-kun merchant house is quite large right？」

「Which means that the offering money is also larger. 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 money of that kind will be flowing around, right?」

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 amounts of 'that' flowing 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」

Kamui knew very well that Otto hates explaining when things 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 flow was 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 am the one who should be answering this. As n.o.bles, 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 informed of the minor details.  Since the investigation 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 recommendation right？」

Since the crown prince recommended that person, it’s possible that they have similar ideologies. Kamui felt that if he knew that person, he could grasp the crown prince's true nature.

「This is the only information we have, though I guess 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 might 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 Kamui's line of thought.

「Why？」

「It's a rationalization that I was taught a long time ago though. There are two types of people that will not accept 'that'. First is the honest kind of person as Kamui-kun 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 – crus.h.i.+ng any holders of vested rights. It would be the start of political strife.

「Just like in Kamui-kun's line of thought, this might be in order to crush the merchant house that is similar to mine」

「And then, rising as new force themselves. Quite amazing, huh. I wonder what lies beyond that? What do you think, Alto? 」

「……Their purpose is something along the lines of crus.h.i.+ng the existing merchant house. How will 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 compulsory, it's not a thing we'd like to do. It’s beyond the authority of a merchant house, right……. As it is, it’ll be considerably large scale, you know.」

「n.o.bles with merchants backing them.……It looks like a coup d’etat, huh」

「I'm not saying that the imperial family is planning 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 n.o.ble and at the same time increasing his fellow imperial family's power. It's consistent.」

The subject of the talk between Kamui and Alto grew rapidly.

「Are you seriously saying that?」

For the first time in the conversation, Otto failed to grasp the point.

「It regrettable, Otto-kun. Your generation might 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 enemy of the the emperor is just too dangerous, right」

「Even you, Alto-kun……」

「Good grief. You guys. Just how far can your imagination 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 remarks were quite dangerous.

The houses of the earls are the merchant's biggest support. Those who get 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 compensation given to the earl's house is also big. Trying to crush these great merchants certainly means provoking a confrontation with the earls. If the situation escalates into a  confrontation between the imperial family and the earls, then it might be at a considerable scale.

「Chaos, huh. Even so, this might 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 many of them in our generation」

There’s no need to say who. It's those who became the origin of the term of golden generation in this academy.

「Indeed. Does Alto-kun 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 s.h.i.+ne during chaotic times.」

「The era is waiting for them?」

Selene uttered those words that come to her mind, without even considering it.

「Oh, nice words, Selene-san」

It seems that Alto was quite pleased with Selene's remark.

「If it became like that….…… I see, it might even be a good thing？ 」

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 much better than gradually letting the situation worsen as it is.

「Hee, Selene-san also has the disposition of s.h.i.+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 same time, I’m not the only one who’s wis.h.i.+ng for it right？ 」

「As Kamui said, Selene-san is a difficult woman. Who knew. However, I know a man who’ll s.h.i.+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 magic 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 smiled wryly as he noticed who Kamui is talking about.

「If I'm praising him this much, I thought I might get a reward, Diefried-san」

Saying those words, Kamui looked behind him.

「I’m exposed, huh」

At that place was the figure of Diefried, who was trying to getting closer to Kamui's back without being noticed.

「Since I’m not a blockhead that fails to notice people who are standing behind me. Unlike a certain someone」

「Shut up」

Selene, who had a lot of things coming to mind, voiced her complaint.

「My presence has been noticed huh,  it seems that I’m still lacking in training」

That Diefried could say that shows that he’s quite depressed.

「You’re wrong, to tell you the truth, I only noticed you due to Selene's line of sight.  Other than the people here, if I had to guess who would creep from behind, the answer is clear」