Since so many people are unable to do basic arithmetic, we shouldn't let the children go shopping by themselves.
Miyo told me as much when she returned to the Village of the Great Tree.
Hmm.
When I thought about it, it made sense. Outside of restaurants, retail shops rarely had price tags on their merchandise. Shopping wasn't just about paying; it was a negotiation with the seller.
Come to think of it, I’d done a fair amount of shopping myself, but I didn't remember doing much haggling.
"It is because people are afraid to engage in strange negotiations with someone who has guards," Miyo explained.
I see. So escorts served a purpose in that regard, too.
"They are proof that one possesses the financial power and standing to hire protection. Of course, if the quality of those guards isn't above a certain level, people will just try to take advantage of you instead."
"What about Galf and Daga?" I asked.
"There is no issue with them. If there were, Lu-sama and the others would have replaced them long ago."
That explained why Lu and the others were always so insistent on me bringing a detail along whenever I traveled.
"By the way," Miyo continued, "I heard that you provided funds to the Goroun Company and the Dalfon Company to have them brew alcohol?"
"Yeah, that was Lu’s idea."
"Because of that, the breweries in Shashato City are in an uproar."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. They are all claiming they will surpass the alcohol brewed by the nobles."
That sounded like it might become a problem in its own right.
"A healthy market only exists when there are rivals to compete with," she said. "If they have a complaint, they simply need to brew something that won't lose."
"I suppose... But not everyone has the luxury to devote themselves to sake brewing, right?"
"That is true. However, nobles are the type of people who cannot simply remain silent in such a situation."
"Is something happening?"
"They are trying to raise funds to counter us by brewing high-quality alcohol of their own."
That was the kind of development Donovan would love.
"Indeed. And so, a request for funding reached Magistrate Ifuls-sama, the magistrate of Shashato City."
"Did he provide it?" I asked.
"I stopped him. If funds are to be provided, let us do it in a way where the Village Head is involved. That way, we can put collars on several of the nobles."
"Collars... That sounds a bit sinister."
"No, no. I simply want them to inform us if there are any movements that might work against our interests."
"Will Magistrate Ifuls complain about this?"
"It will be fine. He wasn't keen on the idea anyway, and the territories of the nobles seeking funds are too far away for the money to be drawn from the Shashato City treasury."
"Could the Magistrate provide it personally?"
"Magistrate Ifuls is not poor, but he is not a wealthy man either. He turns down all large donations and gifts."
"Oh? How noble of him."
"Not quite. He accepts small courtesy bribes for the sake of social relations—just small amounts from acquaintances that won't cause issues. If he refused them entirely, he would be hated by his peers."
"I see. I suppose that's just the way of the world."
"That is how it is. So, what will you do? Will you provide the funding?"
"Will you investigate who to give the money to, Miyo?"
"Of course."
"Understood. How much is needed?"
"About twenty thousand silver coins."
"Twenty thousand? Wouldn't gold coins be easier?"
"We are lending to nobles who are struggling for funds. They wouldn't even be able to exchange gold coins."
"Really?"
"If word got out that they were exchanging gold, debt collectors would swarm them instantly."
"Ah, right. If they're that short on cash, they likely have debts everywhere."
"Precisely."
"In that case, isn't there a risk they'll just default on us? It would be a problem if we provided the funds and they just vanished."
"I suppose it is unavoidable that a few such people will appear."
"So you’ve already factored that in?"
"Yes. As a countermeasure, I will enlist the help of Randan-sama and Gratz-sama. If they have the courage to flee while making enemies of the men who govern the internal affairs and military of the Demon Kingdom, then they wouldn't have been in financial trouble in the first place."
"I see. That makes sense. Twenty thousand silver coins. Where should I have them delivered?"
"To Shashato City. Please make sure the escorts are conspicuous. The Angel Race would be perfect."
"Are the Angels okay? Won't that cause a scene?"
"If they are from the Angel Race, they will just kick aside any trouble that arises, won't they? Besides, it will make it known that the source of the funding is someone capable of using the Angels as their personal guard."
"Roger. I'll ask them."
"I look forward to it."
After my talk with Miyo, it was nearly dinner time.
A single small glass was placed before me. Inside was a liquid that claimed to be alcohol. It was a new variety that Donovan and the other Elder Dwarves had brewed using flowers and grass as raw materials.
It smelled like a medicinal nutritional supplement. It wasn't sweet at all, and the scent was incredibly pungent. To be honest, it tasted terrible. It definitely wasn't something I’d want to drink for pleasure.
"Hmm. Just as I thought," Donovan grumbled.
"What do you mean, 'just as you thought'?" I asked. "Trial and error is fine, but please don't make me taste something you’ve already judged to be a failure."
"No, I thought that perhaps the Village Head might come up with a use for it that didn't occur to us."
Usually, the standard use for bad alcohol is cooking, but the scent of this one was too overpowering. Even if the smell dissipated with heat, it would likely ruin the flavor of the dish. Using it for baking was out for the same reason. The only thing I could think of was mixing it with something else that had an equally strong flavor.
"Hmph. It can't be helped," Donovan said. "I suppose we shall have to drink it bit by bit during dinner."
"Is letting it age out of the question?"
"The prospects are dim."
"Then there's no choice but to drink it. I'll help you out a bit."
"Is that all right? It isn't a flavor that goes well with a meal."
"It's better to finish off a failed batch quickly, right?"
"Hahaha! That's true enough."
I told him to leave the alcohol with the High Ogre Maids so they could serve it during dinner.
"Understood. I'll do better next time," Donovan promised.
"Keep it in moderation. The Civil Official Girls were complaining that you took way more crops than they expected for your experiments."
"Nonsense! Those crops are scheduled to become delicious alcohol. Their moods will surely improve once they have a drink."
"I'll hope that's the case."
During dinner, the Demon King took an interest in the prototype I was drinking. I let him try some, but his reaction was strangely stiff.
"It's fine to say it's bad," I told him. "Donovan admitted it was a failure too."
"No, ah, well... how should I put this..."
"What is it?"
"This tastes exactly like the alcohol used in the most sacred rituals of the Demon Kingdom."
"Wait, really?"
"It is the wine drunk during the Demon King's Inauguration. The manufacturing method was strictly kept secret—so strictly, in fact, that eventually, no one was left who knew how to make it. I have only ever tasted a small amount of the preserved supply, so I cannot say for certain it is identical, but..."
He seemed to want to take the prototype back to investigate it further. He even said that if it turned out to be the same ritual wine, he wanted to purchase the recipe.
I appreciated the offer, but since it was just a failed batch to us, I told him he was welcome to take it for free.
"No, taking it for free would be a problem. There is very little left of our preserved supply. We were facing a situation where the ritual itself might have had to be abolished."
Even so, Donovan would be annoyed if I took money for something he considered a failure.
"It is alcohol for a ritual, so I do not mind the taste," the Demon King added.
That would probably make Donovan's mood even worse.
"In that case," I suggested, "please just buy the manufacturing method. Once you know the ingredients and the process, you should be able to brew it yourselves. Of course, that's only after you've confirmed it's the right one. I'll talk to Donovan about it."
"I am truly grateful. This helps me immensely."
The Demon King continued his meal looking quite pleased, then left with the remaining prototype in hand.
As I saw him off, one of the High Ogre Maids spoke up.
"He really does blend into our dinner table quite naturally these days, doesn't he?"
"I think it's a bit late to notice that."