Chapter 171

171 . Sanction 3

“It seems to be quite a commotion . …under the surface, that is” (Rephilia)

“Under the surface, huh…” (Mitsuha)

Rephilia reported the situation with overflowing smile on her face .

Right, I will not forgive those who look down on me .

Especially in a world like this, once someone looked down on you, those who thought they could do the same would come all together . That’s why, even if I have to take some risks or damages, I’ll crush those who look down on me . To prevent that sort of people from appearing one after another .

In order to do that, I will gladly become [That] . The [I’m cruel, you know] thing .

You can call me Gorgeous ☆ Mitsuha .

…I’m not always carrying a globe though .

(Note: the former is reference of the vintage manga [Gorgeous ☆ Irene], and the latter, the globe thingy, is reference of the Japanese comedian called [Gor☆geous])

Since the fact that I’ve been missing from the store was already known to those people, I borrowed the duplicate key to the warehouse of Rephilia Trade from Rephilia, and secretly transferred the whole inventory there from my store at midnight . Otherwise, the Rephilia Trade will run out of stock .

I told Rephilia that I decided to move at night because [If they found about this, we might come across something weird again] . That’s why I borrowed the key from her .

I transferred near the warehouse, entered with the borrowed key and confirmed that no one was there . Then I transferred the goods inside, went outside, locked the warehouse, and left . … it was an easy job .

Of course, the reason why I didn’t directly transfer the goods into the warehouse is to avoid encountering someone, since even late at night, someone might still be working .

Besides, I’m not doing this every day . Normally, there’s no trader who receives the goods carried by sailboats every day . …especially in this world .

Actually, it should be once every few months in normal circumstances, but because there are problems of storage capacity and product deterioration, I have to carry them gradually . However, it is not necessary to notify this matter externally, so the frequency of import is known only to me and the leader of the Rephilia trade .

“Then, Rephilia can decide what to do about this matter however you see fit . You should be relentless towards those who you deemed to be hostile, give some flexibility to those who you deemed to be friendly, and keep the deals going . We need to use our weapons effectively!” (Mitsuha)

“As you wish, Your Highness!” (Rephilia)

…who’s [Your Highness]!!

Is she joking, or is she really thinking that I’m a member of royal family…

Well, I guess from the perspective of a commoner like Rephilia, there’s no big difference between nobles and royals . If you go against or offended them, your head will fly easily … not in figurative terms, but literally and physically .

“Well then, since the inventory has been replenished properly, do your best to become [Charlia Terrace]!” (Mitsuha)

“Yes!” (Rephilia)

Yes, I adapted, translated and shortened that masterpiece novel and told the story to Rephilia .

Then, Rephilia set her sight to become [Charlia Terrace], one of the store on the shopping street in the royal capital, where the high-class stores lined up, just like in that story . (Note: Ref . the title of Ch . 166)

…what will become of her, I have no clue .

(Narator’s POV)

Rephilia’s father and brother, of course, know that Count Wonrade and Viscount Efred are the aliases of the King and the prince . However, Rephilia, who never actually goes to transaction place with the customers, associate with each customers, or attended nobility parties when she studied business and helped the store, does not know about it . And of course, Mitsuha too . So, neither of them realized that a lot of people who were involved with the royal palace were being cut off from the merchandises handled by the Rephilia Trade .

(Mitsuha’s POV)

All right, Colette-chan and Sabine-chan are in good mood, Rephilia trade only needs replenishment every other week or so, and [Gold Coin] would be fine if I leave it to its capable manager and the clerk . …it doesn’t matter if they get a little deficit .

So, what am I gonna do, you ask?

It’s territory management of my Yamano Viscounty!

No one asked me to do things on the new continent, I do it at my own expense . I just borrowed the initial funds from the King, and I had to return it later . So the things on the new continent are just volunteer project, not a mission or a duty or anything .

But territory management is different . It’s my duty as a lord, and I must protect the territory and its people . … as the second priority after my life and safety .

That’s why it’s been a long time since I stayed at the territory residence . No, I sometimes go to my home in Japan or the store in the Royal Capital, but what I mean is [the basic place to stay] .

And when I’m trying to go to work…

“Alright, I’m claiming the exclusive right to keep Mitsuha for myself!” (Colette-chan)

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Colette-chan has made a somewhat questionable claim .

As I’m wondering what she is talking about so suddenly, I listened to the story…

“Leah, Noel, and Ninette thinks it’s unfair if only me get to be with you all the time since I started telling everyone about Mitsuha’s good points every day, and they’re planning to take my position…” (Colette-chan)

“It’s because you say unnecessary things . You reap what you sow!” (Mitsuha)

“No way…” (Colette)

Leah is the daughter of a servant and commercial advisor, Rachel, who should have been five years old . Noel is the girl who escaped the danger of human trafficking sham called Lifetime Service, uhh, I think she is 11 years old since she just had her birthday just a while ago, and she’s a member of the Viscount Yamano’s maid girls corps . And Ninette is a girl from the fishing village who’s a member of the maid girl corps and her birthday shouldn’t be here yet, so I guess she is still 12 years old .

Ninette is a little taller than me since she has a good physique for a 12-years-old . …well, she’ll be 13 soon, it’s just the growth rate difference between Westerners and Japanese …

Because this mansion provides the servants plenty of meals with decent nutrient-rich diet, so it’s unavoidable that her height and breast are above me . Yes, growth rate difference, it’s growth rate difference!

…Damn it .

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Anyway, Noel and Ninette, the two minor maids of Yamano household, plus the apprentice maid Leah, and the vassal candidate Colette, these four are the maid girl corps that the Yamano household is proud of!

One of them is not a girl, but a little girl, and one of them isn’t maid, but well, don’t worry about such a small thing!

“Have you ever cared about the big things then, Mitsuha?” (Colette-chan)

Eh? Don’t tell me Colette-chan have the ability to read people’s mind…

“You said everything out loud!!” (Colette-chan)

Ah, is that so…

Anyway, I did a little follow-up every now and then, but still, I need to review the territory progression .

That’s why I summoned all the main members .

“Randy-san, how is the development status?” (Mitsuha)

The first one is from Randy-san, who’s in charge of research and development in Yamano territory .

“Yes . I’m thinking of trying to develop a gun using the method called [Hook Riffling] that you told me, but… there’s a problem with how to hold and rotate the barrel, how to feed the cutter into it, and how to make a cutter that is strong enough to cut the barrel…” (Randy-san)

In other words, little to no progress has been made .

Even though it’s still difficult to reproduce even the smoothbore barrel, I guess it was a bit unreasonable…

And there’s no way we could make a cannon in a countryside like this where both iron and manpower are lacking, so I leave that matter to Count Bozes . Its research and development are in progress concurrent with the sailboat’s in the County . It would be easier to duplicate based on a sample, and the riffling would be relatively easy if we use the La Hitte system .

Well, there is still plenty of time . I am unlikely to die prematurely from injuries or illnesses, so anything except accidents, assassinations, exiles from the country, etc . that would prevent me from participating in the interception .

There should still be plenty of time before they can intercept without me . Until then, I need sufficient time to continue to provide knowledge of the Earth and make rifled gun, rifled cannon, and explosive shells…

“Well, let’s proceed gradually without being impatient . It doesn’t mean that there is no result at all… Next, the report on agriculture, forestry, fishing, and town please . ” (Mitsuha)

Selling two-thirds of the ownership of the captured vessels to the country and Count Bozes, and selling Eras to the country, allowed us to have a considerable territorial budget . However, it’s just [nonrecurring income], it’s not the funds we should rely on .

Those funds should be invested in upfront investment such as mineral exploration, steelmaking research, construction of fishing boats, and farmland improvement instead . You should use easy money for such investments and shouldn’t be included your regular expenses . It’s the same as one of the useless thinking where you try to make ends meet of your household with the money you earned from gambling .

And, of course, those funds are for the territory, for the people of the territory, not for my personal retirement assets .

The “seized war assets” from a certain country aren’t my personal property either, because they were acquired during the war between our territory and another country . Since I more or less reported the matter to the king and received the permission, I have to give a share to the country…

Just like when the absolute defense of the Royal Capital, war is profitable .

I wonder if there’s anyone, whether a country or territory, would wage a war with me personally…