My name is Michael.
Michael Goroun.
I am the Chairman of the Goroun Company.
Ours is no ordinary firm. We pride ourselves on being the second-largest commercial entity in the entire Demon Kingdom. When you consider that the top-ranked Dalfon Company is actually a conglomerate of several smaller firms, the sheer scale of the Goroun Company becomes even more impressive.
I have spent many long years and immense effort maintaining and expanding this empire. It was rarely smooth sailing. There were times I struggled against the inherent disadvantage of being a human in the Demon Kingdom. There were times our merchant ships sank, taking a massive portion of my assets with them. If I were to recount every hardship I’ve faced, it would likely take half a year.
As the head of such a company, I was currently staring down one of the few true precipices I have encountered in my life.
It began early in the morning.
A single letter arrived at the company headquarters. The sender was Lord Randan, one of the primary heavyweights of the Demon Kingdom. Naturally, the letter was delivered directly into my hands with the highest priority.
The moment I received it, I was startled. On the sealed portion of the envelope, words had been scrawled in a large, frantic hand: "Extremely Urgent," "Emergency," "Grave Matter," "Crisis Affecting the Company’s Survival."
The handwriting was far too erratic to be a joke. I could tell it had been written in a tremendous hurry. In other words, the situation was exactly as dire as the envelope claimed.
I hurriedly broke the seal and checked the contents. The letter detailed how poor-quality sake had been provided as a gift for a festival involving the Village Head, and how that oversight had become a major point of contention.
The talk of creating a ranking system for the alcohol surprised me. Even if the weight of the votes was skewed, a public ballot involving both nobles and commoners could only result in trouble. Honestly, it was an impossible task.
However, since the Village Head had proposed it, it had to be carried out. I initially assumed the Goroun Company would have to facilitate it, but as I read further...
I honestly couldn't believe my eyes. I had to read the passage five times. I even had my son and several subordinates nearby read it just to be sure. The text remained unchanged.
The ones who had provided the poor-quality sake were the Dalfon Company and the Goroun Company.
...
My son, who was familiar with the Village of the Great Tree, spoke up tentatively. "T-the Village Head... he would surely laugh and forgive us, wouldn't he?"
He probably would. But the people surrounding him would not. This had been the very first topic of discussion during last night's high-level meeting. The ranking was a punishment. It had to be executed.
However, doing it immediately was out of the question. We needed time—five years, maybe ten. For now, as a first step, we needed to build a track record for the ranking system. Attempting to have nobles and commoners vote together all at once was more than difficult; it was suicidal. Riots would break out. In the Human Kingdoms, several nations had been destroyed by social unrest stemming from similar voting issues.
Forcing a situation where the disparity between nobles and commoners was felt so distinctly was a terrible idea. One noble counting for a hundred votes against a commoner's single vote was an exquisite difference, yet it was precisely the kind of thing that would leave both classes dissatisfied. Furthermore, a public ranking of sake flavors would provoke the commoners. Only the wealthy can afford to be particular about taste; the majority of the common populace is hardly in a position to be picky.
How much would we have to spend to appease the masses? There would likely be actual casualties. At worst, people would die. And if the cause of those deaths was traced back to the ranking system, then the blame would ultimately fall on its progenitor: the Village Head.
That had to be avoided at all costs. Even if I had to take the brunt of the blame myself, I had to convince them to call off the ranking—or at least the part where nobles and commoners were grouped together. Since I had already planned to accompany the others to offer encouragement for the upcoming auction, I was glad I had checked the Village Head's schedule.
I worked with everything I had.
Eventually, after the auction inspection was over, I saw the Village Head and the others off as they headed back toward Village Five and Shashato City through the Teleportation Gate.
I think the ordeal aged me. Just recently, people had been telling me I looked younger. It was a shame.
However, I couldn't afford to relax yet. First, I had to root out the cause. I know I said it clearly: he is an important partner. He is not someone you can afford to cut corners with. There are people in his circle who truly understand flavor. With that in mind, I had commanded my staff to provide as much of the highest-grade sake as we had in stock. I told them it didn't matter if the storehouse was emptied; the profits we received from that relationship were worth far more.
And yet, why was such swill provided? I said it was fine to empty the storehouse, but I never told them to dump the dead stock that had been rotting in the back!
"Freddy! My trusted Royal Capital Branch Manager! If you have an excuse, let's hear it!"
"I-I’m sorry, sir! I was summoned by Viscount Keebul and had to go. I left the gifts in the hands of my subordinates. There must have been a misunderstanding along the chain of command."
"You left it to your subordinates? You left it to your subordinates? You left it to your subordinates?! I personally perform the final check on the items intended for them. You should have known that. And yet, because you were summoned by some minor noble, you threw that duty aside?"
"B-but, Chairman, I can't just ignore a summons from a noble!"
"He probably just wanted to borrow money! There was no need for the branch manager to go in person!"
"I was summoned by name, sir!"
Gunuu...
...Fine. It was my own failure for not sufficiently conveying the order of priority. I was in the wrong. I shall re-educate you.
"Chairman..."
"Freddy, next time, let's go to the Village of the Great Tree together."
"Eh? Ah, yes. I don't mind, but..."
"I see, I see. I'm glad you've given your ready consent. Good, good. Oh, by the way... later, it would be troublesome if you claimed I deceived you, so I’ll tell you now. You saw the Village Head when he came to visit the storehouse, didn't you?"
"Yes, sir. I was right there beside you."
"The women who were surrounding the Village Head. Do you know who they were?"
"No, sir. I only thought they were exceptionally beautiful ladies..."
"You were participating in the parade, but you weren't watching? Ah, I suppose you were busy with business."
"Yes. We made a considerable profit."
"I see, I see. Even so, you've heard the stories of the Angel Race going on a rampage during the parade, haven't you?"
"O-of course. The Royal Capital has been abuzz with nothing else."
"Those women? Every single one of them was from the Angel Race."
"Eh?"
"When we saw off the Village Head, the ones who placed their hands on my shoulders were Lady Malbit and Lady Ruincia."
"Eh? You mean... the top leaders of the Angel Race?"
"Exactly. The Village of the Great Tree is the place where the man guarded by those two and the rest of the Angels serves as the Village Head."
"Ehh... Ah... C-Chairman. Suddenly, my stomach has started to hurt... I was wondering if I could take a leave of absence for a while."
"Don't worry. I’ll take you there regardless of what state you're in. Make sure you prepare a proper greeting."
"Wait, C-Chairman!"
"Oh yes, would you like to hear what those two said to me when they placed their hands on my shoulders? They said they had intended to fix the ranking themselves after returning to the village, but since I took the brunt of the blame and corrected it first, they would overlook it this time. Do you understand, Freddy? We were being tested."
"H-hiiiii!"
"Don't just stand there trembling! Prepare the apology gifts! Not just for the Village of the Great Tree, but for the Academy as well!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
In truth, it wasn't as if I wanted to bully Freddy. He is a descendant of the family that helped mine take root in the Demon Kingdom when my clan first migrated from a human country. Of course, he also has the genuine skill required to be entrusted with the branch manager position. I would never put an incompetent person in charge of the Royal Capital branch, regardless of the debt I owe.
Freddy is capable. That is precisely why I am taking him to the Village of the Great Tree. It is a chance for him to step up. I want him to work hard with that in mind. And, perhaps, I want him to understand even a fraction of the exhaustion currently weighng on my heart.
Ah, that reminds me of Lady Ridley of the Dalfon Company. She is also my comrade in this mess. It seems she is involved with Lady Tiselle and knows quite a bit. When she was apologizing, I found myself giving her advice in spite of myself. It was partly because she was accompanied by Lady Isree rather than Lady Tiselle.
Even if we are rivals, I want to cooperate where we can. Yes, in the past, I lived to overtake the Dalfon Company, but recently my perspective has shifted. Peace is the best. I can honestly support them now, thinking, "Keep it up, Dalfon Company." If the number one firm in the kingdom were to collapse, it might be a business opportunity, but it would cause all sorts of logistical nightmares.
The Dalfon Company... it seems Lady Kierbit has intervened and the internal structure is being reorganized. But it's fine. On the surface, they remain stable. Keep at it, Dalfon Company! For the sake of the Goroun Company's peace!
That’s right. I should invite Lady Ridley to the Village of the Great Tree as well. I’m sure she’ll be delighted.
Michael: "I am absolutely, absolutely, absolutely counting on you." Freddy: "I am absolutely, absolutely counting on you." Subordinate: "I am absolutely counting on you." Subordinate’s Subordinate: "Counting on you." The actual employee who made the mistake: "Uhh, so I just need to deliver the sake from the storehouse to the Academy festival, right?"
Every time the order passed through a new person, the sense of importance diminished.
The actual employee: "H-hiii!" Michael: "I won't let you escape!" Freddy: "T-that’s the Spin Double Arm! That rotation speed! What power!" Michael: "Kieeehh!" Freddy: "He threw him high into the air! That posture! N-no way!" Michael: "Take this! Hell’s ●●●!" The actual employee: "Gueeeeehhhhh!!!"
He was approximately that angry. Normally, he would have forgiven a mistake with just a Front Choke.
Michael: "Lady Ridley, would you like to visit the Village of the Great Tree as well?" Ridley: "Do you really hate me that much!?"
Malbit: "Voting... it really does have many problems, doesn't it?" Ruincia: "But we couldn't correct it in front of the Demon King and the others. It would have had to wait until we returned." Michael: "I wish to request a correction!" Malbit: "...He’s good." Ruincia: "It wasn't exactly a commendable act, but let's evaluate his stance of trying to protect the Village Head."