Chapter 421 (2/2)
At first, the girl stared blankly, then her face transitioned to disbelief as she lowered her head to the ground for a deep bow.
「T-tha……thank……」
Whether because of nervousness or excitement, she couldn't seem to articulate herself.
「Enough, just go. Also, if you do something like begging, your character will drop. Lastly, don't go excreting wherever you want like that idiot over there like some wild――」
「I don't wanna hear it. It's my hobby.」
Puzzled, the girl didn't know what else to do but smile.
Then, her gaze s.h.i.+fted and her eyes opened wide.
Nonna and Carla also look where the girl's eyes landed and see a woman in her thirties come out of the back alley with a muscular man hugging her shoulder.
「Hehe, that was pretty good for how thin your body is. Man, I feel refreshed.」
「……thank you.」
The laborer gives the woman's a.s.s one last rub before leaving.
The woman sees him off with a friendly smile and then hunches over to count the copper coins in her hands.
「Mom?」
When the girl calls out, the woman freezes and her head turns to the source of the voice like a rusted gear.
「Mom? She's the mother of this child? What is she thinking, letting a girl like her beg――」
Nonna approaches the mother to criticize her.
Seeing that, the girl runs over to protect her mother.
「D-don't!」
Perceiving the situation from the appearance of the woman shrinking away in fear, Carla grabs Nonna's shoulder and stops her.
The woman's clothes were wrinkled and her neck was covered in multiple red marks.
Her gait was also awkward due to how painful it is to probably open her legs.
「Naruna, don't come……」
「W-why? Ah!?」
A sticky sound accompanied the white cloudy liquid that dripped down to the feet of the mother when the girl hugged her.
「So the mother is involved in prost.i.tution and the daughter is a beggar.」
That was when the mother noticed Nonna.
Discerning her ident.i.ty as the feudal lord's wife, she lets out a small shriek and bowed her head along with her daughter's.
「Begging and prost.i.tution outside of brothels is illegal in Rafen.」
「I'm aware! However…… please, I ask that you overlook it.」
The mother's face stuck to the ground as she pleaded.
Despite the main road being loud with the shouts of the laborers and the sounds of construction work, people couldn't help sensing the abnormality and gathering to see what was going on.
「What's that? A mother and child prostrating? Shoplifters? Pickpockets?」
「There have been quite a few lately. It's because the people from outside the wall were let in…… d.a.m.n trash, taking advantage of Adolph-sama's kindness.」
「Geh, look who she's with. It's Nonna-sama! Aaーah, it's over. There's going to be two more people taken to the dungeon.」
As more bystanders start to make a fuss, the parent-child duo turn red to their necks and begin to tremble.
Nonna saw that and looks sideways at Sally.
「This way.」
Sally points to the restaurant nearby.
Maruru chases out the customers and even the store owner.
The concerned parties move into the vacated store to avoid the eyes of the public and once they were freed from the judgemental looks, the mother and daughter explained their circ.u.mstances in tears.
Their family consists of four people that lived in a small shed outside of the walls; the husband worked as a transporter for a store within Rafen, the wife took care of the husband while also doing sewing work to a.s.sist with the family finances, and the daughter tends to the newly born baby.
It was a humble lifestyle and one that kept them from starving.
The drastic change happened during the battle in Rafen.
Their house and furniture burned down and the husband, who joined the volunteer soldiers to protect his family, lost one of his legs in the fight and could no longer work.
Although Adolph's policy granted them a house within the walls, they had to raise money to pay for food expenses and the husband's medical bills.
The wife was the only one who could work, but her needlework was only at the level of a side job and was not earning enough.
Thus, the wife decided to secretly sell her body cheaply to laborers hungry for women while the daughter was forced to beg everyday.
「……I understand the situation, but I can't turn a blind eye to actions that diminish Rafen's image.」
The mother's shoulders twitch.
「At this rate, the young girl will become a pervert who defecates outside night after night.」
The daughter's shoulders twitch.
「So you will need to be re-educated. Tomorrow, come to my place to do a live-in apprentices.h.i.+p. You will work as a trainee.」
The two were speechless and so was Carla.
And thus, at the wage of 30 copper a day, Nonna increased the number of apprentice maids by one.
After bowing over ten times, the mother and daughter left the shop.
「So there's some good in you after all.」
Carla praises as she plays with Nonna's hair from behind and grabs her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
「Stop that! I only thought the legal wife of the Hardlett family should have more attending maids.」
Nonna whips her head to the side with a ”hmph”.
「Have you become less inclined to spend on luxury?」
Carla asks as she pokes Nonna's cheeks. Nonna doesn't turn her way and flatly denies it.
「I won't stop. I'll continue buying luxurious items.」
She spoke on before Carla could complain.
「I'm sure there are still many more citizens besides those two living in poverty.」
Carla couldn't help refraining from making fun of Nonna with the different aura around her than usual.
「By controlling myself and not buying one piece of clothing, I can save a few or even a few dozen. But that would be pointless.」
Nonna jingles her expensive necklace.
「What they really need is not daily income, it's wealth. Even if you give them enough money for the short-term, unless they attain wealth, nothing will change. Once they achieve wealth, they will not need to ask for charity.」
Nonna stands up, her extravagant dress fluttering accordingly.
「If the Hardlett family is wealthy, the people will be saved. For that reason, my luxury is needed!」
Nonna throws her chest out with pride and chuckles.
Seeing that, Carla giggles to herself.
「Now you're talking. I don't get that stuff, so that's why you're the legal wife, eh?」
Carla happily hugs Nonna.
「'Kay, let's indulge in luxury…… and also-」
「What is it?」
Nonna listens as she brushes Carla aside.
「You're quite similar to that woman. Especially that laugh at the end, it's almost identical.」
Nonna doesn't retort and simply pinches Carla's nose.
Some time after the two bought a single piece of jewellery, they spotted Adolph taking charge.
「Aah…… if it isn't Nonna-san……」
Adolph slumps his shoulder at the sight of Nonna and anxiously pats down his hair.
「Adolph. I have something to say.」
Nonna declares as she quickly walks over to him.
Because of what happened earlier, Carla nods as well, her face filled with expectations.
「What's the meaning of building all these houses!? What do you think you're doing with my money!?」
Carla stumbles.
「Such a waste! What was that earlier!?」
Adolph looked like he was asked to do the most unpleasant thing and was about to explain himself until a voice shouted out.
「Chase out the foolish ones――!」
「It's their fault we had to sacrifice needlessly――!」
「Don't spread their wicked teachings――!」
The citizens are yelling something as they march along the road.
「What is that?」
Nonna puts her anger aside to ask Adolph.
「Well, it's apparently a demonstration parade. It's a method of expressing opinions of the people to the ruler that Jim-san and the others from Libatis have popularized…… this one looks like it might go out of control.」
「Don't be fooled by the childish appearance――!」
「Remember what they did to you――!」
The people march forward while scattering small sheets of paper.
Nonna picks one of them up and gives it a quick glance.
「Let's see, ”Altair is a heretical religion”, ” Countless heinous deeds”, ”The mayhem in the south was Altair's fault”, what is this?」
「It's a citizen's parade against the church of Altair. Because of their behavior in the earlier battle, the enemy's will to fight was heightened and we suffered more casualties than necessary. Also, it appears the words from the South Yuguria prisoner of war regarding Altair's past deeds have reached the ears of the people. I'm hearing the details for the first time and also think that done some pretty horrible things.」
「Eeeeh, not interested. If you don't want to believe in the religion of whatever, just leave them alone.」
Nonna and Carla don't show any concern while Adolph seems to be at his wit's end and a tuft of hair loosely falls from his head.
After the demonstration proceeds through the city, they stand in front of the Altair church and protest loudly.
A few believers try to argue back, but their voices are erased due to the difference in numbers.
The young Altair and Remia also attempt to plead their case, but their explanations fall on deaf ears, and the protesters maintain their one-sided abuse.
「I don't know much about this Altair or whatever, but if Aegir-sama has given permission, any number of people defying that cannot be tolerated. I will do something about this as the legal wife.」
Nonna puffs out her chest and walks toward the church of Altair.
<hr>
Protagonist: Aegir Hardlett. 25 years old. Summer.
Status: Goldonia Kingdom Margrave. Great Feudal Lord of Eastern Area. Mountain Legend. Friend of the Dwarves. Friend of the King of Aless. Dragon Slayer Hero.
Elf Mediator. s.e.x King of White City.
Subordinates:
Celia (battalion commander), Myla (rat hunting), Irijina (commander), Luna (commander), Sekrit (pregnant belly s.h.i.+p captain)
Leopolt (strategy preparation), Tristan (staff officer plenipotentiary), Gido (escort unit), Yakov (105th commander), Brynhildr (vampire), Ivanna (angry, lactating), Annette (service)
Nonna (awakened legal wife), Carla (bad influence)
Army:
Under Protagonist: 42 000
Escort Unit: 100
Infantry: 10 450
Cavalry: 1100
Archers: 1200
Cannoneers: 450
Bow Cavalry: 8700
Independent Celia Squad: 950
Aless Soldiers: 14 000
105 Army Corps: 4940
Cannons: 60, Large Cannons: 30, Dwarven Cannons: 16, Field Artillery: 20, Chariots: 50
Battles.h.i.+p Suvorov, Battles.h.i.+p Aless of Aless (being repaired)
Large Combat s.h.i.+ps: 5, Small Combat s.h.i.+ps: 20, Transport s.h.i.+ps: 20
Port City: Stationed in Patena
Enemy Force: Confirmed Portion
Western Army: Approx. 50 000, Magrado Local Army: Several Tens of Thousands
Fleet Stationed in Tebia: (Battles.h.i.+ps: 1. Large Combat s.h.i.+ps: 8, Medium Combat s.h.i.+ps: 46, Small Combat s.h.i.+ps: Approx. 90)
a.s.sets: -30 gold (Nonna's jewellery purchase -30) Natia's reward money borrowed by Nonna
s.e.xual Partners: 783, children who have been born: 69 + 565
<hr>
<hr><ol><li id=”fn-56749-1”> Nat: Gold Coin = 100 000 yen, Silver Coin = 10 000 yen, Copper Coin = 100 yen </li></ol>