Chapter 157 (2/2)

“Oh, really?”

“Oi, you let this human female prattle on and on, and yet, you won’t even acknowledge me. Are your ears broken? Do you want me to kill you?”

“But, i-it’s genuinely impossible. I mean how…. Oh, right, you don’t know. You’re from another country….”

“Can you tell me why this is so bad?”

I thought she’d be happy that my territory is so close to hers.

“Radius Grassland is where we last fought.”

“So, the place where the Twilight Company set up their camp…?”

“Yes.”

“That’s…unfortunate.”

It sits along the border with the Pussy Republic. I’m guessing the Penny Empire gained control over it after the conflict was settled. It’s probably not great that my territory borders a hostile country, but we are at peace currently.

“…oi, are you listening to me?”

“Well, there was grass growing there so the land must have some use. We could grow crops and even without using fertilizer they should grow extremely well.”

The land there is soaked with the blood of the slain soldiers which should act as a good fertilizer.

It’s a bit of a morbid thought and I’d rather not make a beautiful girl think about it.

“That’s true. The land itself isn’t so terrible, and now that the conflict with the Pussy Republic has been settled, you wouldn’t have to worry about any border conflicts. If you take your time and put in the effort, it’s not impossible, but….”

“But?”

“…the chances are still slim.”

“How so?”

“Oi…Tanaka, you can’t keep ignoring me!”

Christina stood up and aimed a punch right at my stomach.

I held out my hand and conjured volleyball sized fireballs in front of her face.

“Wha –!?”

The unpleasant smell of burning hair filled my nostrils.

“The territory you were granted was won by the Penny Empire in the conflict.”

“I see.”

So my assumption was right.

“That may sound good at first, but I was able to see every inch of that land from atop the hill during the battle. The nobility has to pay taxes every three months. You’d need to be able to earn a minimum of fifty gold coins per month.”

Fifty gold?

That’s the amount the noble mage paid me to come visit him at his home. It’s probably not much to a noble. Even to a lower noble, that amount is probably nothing. But fifty gold per month seems impossible for me.

“Is there really nothing else here? No city or villages?”

“…there isn’t.”

“….”

So this is why Ester-chan was so upset.

I seem to have been given a task much more difficult than I could’ve imagined. The grassland turned battlefield was flanked by hills and forests. To the North was the Pussy Republic and the South the Penny Empire. It’s like my territory sits in a bowl.

I wonder how far my hand can reach towards Pussy before I get bit. But based off what Ester-chan has said the border to the Pussy Republic seems close.

Well, if I think of this as a city building game, I need to start with the basics. Without them, I won’t even be able to make fifty gold.

“Why are you…. A-Are you doing this to tease me!? Oi!”

With the rewards I received from the King, I could cover the taxes and make the payment on time. However, this would violate one of the conditions. I’m sure this was meant to stop Ester-chan from paying the taxes for me.

Anyway, I need to find a way to make fifty gold per month using only what my territory has to offer.

“If there were a trade port here or a large city it would be possible, but there’s nothing here but grass. It’s impossible for you to make fifty gold with just this!”

It was rare to see the blonde loli so hopeless.

Seeing a usually headstrong girl act so timid pulled on my heartstrings.

But such is the heart of a virgin.

“Thank you, Ester-san. I have a better understanding of my situation now.”

“I’m sorry…. I’ve put you in a terrible position….”

She has nothing to worry about. If things don’t work out she can just return to Allen. Personally, I recommend that route.

“…listen to me.” [Christina]

“It’s fine. You just wanted to do something good for me.”

“But, i-if you fail you’ll become a slave!”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Becoming a slave might be the best outcome if I fail. The alternative is execution, and, to be honest, just killing me outright would be much easier for the Prime Minister and whoever he’s working with.

“You might be sold to someone outside the country….”

“If I were to become a slave, I’d appreciate it if you bought me.”

Wha –”

Ester-chan’s eyes opened wide.

“D-Don’t even speak like that! You won’t become a slave!”

She hesitated for a moment.

This damn loli.

She quickly wiped away some drool that was coming out of her mouth. This is dangerous. A non-virgin would be able to do whatever she wants with me. It’s too dangerous.

What would happen to my body if she bought me?

“….”

My masochistic heart’s been stimulated.

My delusions slowly started to take shop. All right, tonight’s menu has been decided.

“I don’t just plan on giving up. Most importantly, the person I care for the most is in this country. I couldn’t stand to be apart from them. I’ll do whatever I can to succeed.”

“But….”

Ester-chan was still wiping away her drool with her sleeve.

According to Ester-chan, the taxes will next be due at the end of next month. I have a little bit of time to get things started.

“I’ll do something.”

“But, t-this is all my fault….”

“…s-stop ignoring me. I really will kill you…. Do you want me to kill you?”

The territory I received doesn’t have any population and most of its land is covered by dozens of bodies.

What should I do?