Chapter 165

The Thing That Will Bring Ruin to Imperial Japan [Part 1]

“Then, can I have one sack of rice?“

Seeing that the Emperor and the Shogun had eaten up the spaghetti napolitan, Melsa put forth her request with a grin.

“...Huh?“

“O-one sack?!“

All the Imperial Japanese people in the room almost rose to their feet from shock.

“Y-You prepared that amount of relief supplies for just one sack of rice?!“

Imperial Japan’s nearly empty storehouse was now full of the relief supplies from House Stuart.Vissit novelbin(.)c.om for updates

So we have been overly stingy for merely one sack of rice? ...No, if you only want one sack, then say it from the start!!! The Imperial Japanese people began to feel awkward over their earlier dramatic reluctance.

“Are you sure you didn’t get the unit wrong? Perhaps you meant one koku?“

[T/N 1: A koku represents the amount needed to feed a man for a year. 1 koku is equivalent to approximately 180 liters or about 150 kilograms (330 lb).]

Actually, one koku doesn’t feel like a fair exchange either... The Shogun confirmed it with her again, thinking that although Melsa had mastered Imperial Japanese splendidly, she might not have known about more detailed vocabularies, like units of measurements.

“Moreover, the number of people I saw on the road leading to the imperial residence bothers me a little... No matter how many of the Kingdom’s people make a rare sight here, it was too big of a crowd. It’s as if all citizens are gathered around the Edo Castle...“

Imperial Japan was not a big country. Even if this area was the capital city of the country, it was abnormally packed with people.

When Melsa looked deeper into the town beyond the main street, she could see many rows of hurriedly-built shacks. Having met the Emperor, the Shogun, and Imperial Prince Tasuku, she was very sure that they wouldn’t make an unbalanced policy like not distributing food to the countryside. So when there was nothing wrong with the policy, but most Imperial Japanese people had still flocked to the urban area, it must have been because of other problems, and not just the bad weather. At least, that’s what Melsa believed.

“You said that you are just an interpreter... but you’re sharp.“

She got to the heart of the problem after walking through the streets just once.

The ninja who had been on stand-by on the ceiling, Momochi, suddenly appeared.

“Your Imperial Majesty!!! Let’s tell the Kingdom the truth. Melsa-sama is a trustworthy and reliable person. I’m sure she can help us!“

“...Momochi, don’t say the impossible. This is already an irreversible situation we cannot recover from. If we talk about it, we will only give her unnecessary worries.“

“But—!!!“

“Momochi, Imperial Japan is about to perish...“

” ” ” “...!!!” ” ” ”

*sniff*

At the Shogun’s words, the close attendants couldn’t help but shed tears of regret.