There is only 1 Kiris gold coin left―――.
From nowhere, I heard such a voice.
The sound of gold coins made me look around. I wondered if it was because I spent all day cleaning the safe yesterday.
The owner of the voice will be here soon.
A young man was sitting on top of the barrels lined up in front of the eaves of the inn, unfolding a drawstring bag.
…..I wonder if he’s a traveler.
His atmosphere was different from that of the peddler. Judging from his appearance, he might have come from the south. He looked a little younger than me, who turned 23 this year. I wonder if it’s about 20 years old?
It seemed that he was also confirming the money he has. The young man spreaded a cloth on his knees and arranged things that look like coins. He lifted something in his hand up into the sky, and for a moment it glowed golden in the sunlight.
I was pretty sure that it was a Kiris gold coin. That’s pretty careless of him.I was a little intrigued, so I decided to talk to the young man.
[Lining up coins on the side of the road, are you inviting people to take your things?]
His gaze turned towards me. There was no hint of caution in his eyes.
Due to the nature of his business, he often comes in contact with people, so I thought he knew how to speak, but he looked to be a very defenseless young man.
[Haha, then I’d say Newnelly’s burglars have some good taste.]
He spread his arms out as if to tell me to take a look at this. There was a wide variety of coins.
None of these coins have the luster characteristic of metal, and most of them have a vague reddish copper color. And inside the small circle, an elaborate pattern was drawn that caught my eye.
[…is that sacred coins?]
[Oh, you know your stuff, bro.]
[I have a friend who has a habit of collecting coins. I’ve seen something similar several times. Most of what he had was white and beautiful, but…]
It seems that once upon a time, all the coins that existed on this land were minted in the Holy City of Maguaose. It’s an old story, so I don’t know how true it is.
[Isn’t this something made from clay?]
[That’s right. It seems that the old sacred money was made in the same way as ceramics, and it may be the same as the pots around here.]
[I see, I can’t believe there was a time when people appreciated something like this.]
There’s no point in having coins that don’t contain silver or gold. The design is beautiful, but I still don’t know why anyone would want to collect it. ＲＡℕȰᛒΕ𐌔
[Ahaha, I’m in trouble because nobody appreciates it. If I don’t get hired at the castle as soon as possible, I won’t be able to pay for the lodging. Maybe I should’ve replaced it with a new sacred coin …..I only have this much left.]
Saying that, the young man dexterously flipped the gold coin with his thumb. The gold coin jumped up vertically with a high-pitched bang, and when it reached the top, it fell straight down and right into his hand again.
I was curious about the meaning of the phrase “get hired at the castle”.
He kept saying he’s in trouble. But the young man’s expression didn’t show any hint of anxiety. Apparently he’s already sure of getting hired.
How will he get a job when he doesn’t seem to be “strong”? I was a little curious.
The moment I was about to ask a question, a voice came from a completely different place.
[Hey, the jeweler boss over there! Do you know who this mister is?]
I wonder when the owner of the inn was there. He is also the owner of the barrel in which the young man sits.
[Nah, we just met.]
I’ve seen this innkeeper several times at district meetings. We had never talked to each other, but it seems that we remembered each other’s faces and jobs. We exchanged greetings lightly.
[Jeweler?]
Jeweler, jeweler, jeweler, the young man muttered with a strange expression.
[I run a business. I mainly deal in thick-haired rabbits.]
It is a family business that I inherited from my father who suddenly passed away a few years ago.
It’s a small merchant house, but it’s a fun job for someone like me, who has always liked thick-haired rabbits.
Thick-haired rabbits are wonderful. Their fur is soft and warm, their movements are cute, and above all, they are delicious.
[Then, what’s with the jeweler part?]
[Isn’t that what you call it at your place? Because we call a good-quality thick-haired rabbit with good hair a jewel, the person who handles it is a jeweler.]
And the rabbit that is considered a jewel is very cute. I don’t sell the finest jewels, I just take them from farmers and keep them at home.
The young man nodded in agreement.
By answering his question, it will be easier for me to ask questions. I decided to ask what was on my mind.
[Speaking of work, you were talking about being hired by the city earlier. Are you invited or something?]
However, it was the owner of the inn who answered me.
[That’s it, that’s it. Jeweler-san, please listen to me too! This guy won’t listen to me when I say that he will be hired at the castle! Hey, don’t you think it’s too reckless? If lowly people who look like us are like this, then this is what will happen in no time.]
While saying that, the innkeeper showed a motion of decapitation with two fingers.
Judging from the innkeeper’s tone, it seems that the young man has neither been introduced by anyone in particular, nor has he received an invitation from the city to hire him, and is about to enter the castle on his own. He is too reckless if anything.
[…Are you serious? No, in the first place, they wouldn’t even give you the opportunity to ask them to hire you, you know?]
If I asked the soldiers stationed at the castle gate to hire me, I would probably be assigned to the army instead of the city council. First of all, I doubt whether people from outside the territory will be hired as soldiers. Besides, the young man doesn’t look like a mercenary who fulfill his stomach with his might.
At my question, the innkeeper has a slightly troubled expression.
[No, it’s not like I don’t have any connections. I was busy at the time, so I don’t know the details, but… Do you remember, jeweler-san? At the beginning of the new year, there was a game tournament using toys like playing cards…]
[Ah that. Yes, I remember.]
It’s an annual festival at the beginning of the year, but this year’s event was a bit different. A card tournament was held in the name of the landlord-sama’s heir, Wilk Quordenze-sama.
Anyone who possesses the playing card can participate, and in addition to the fun and lively atmosphere of the New Year, the tournament was a great success with gorgeous prizes given to top performers.
It seems that the number of citizens who want to buy playing cards has increased since that tournament. To the point that it is not so easy to obtain now.
[This guy won the competition. So, it seems that he can get an additional reward at that time, and he was ordered by the city to climb the castle tomorrow. …..I had a really hard time the other day.]
It seemed that a city official came to the inn to confirm the young man’s stay. Apparently, he changed his accommodation quite erratically, and the officials had a hard time figuring out where he was. Because of this, the innkeeper was strictly ordered not to take his eyes off the young man until the day of his visit to the castle.
[The reward that I was supposed to receive at the beginning of the year… I’m tired of waiting.]
The young man shook his head. I couldn’t help but laugh
The delay in the grant was related to the big victory just after the new year. The young lord defeated an enemy Nobleman and took control of a supposedly imperishable castle. As a result, the organizer of the tournament was absent.
[Hahaha. Good luck with that.]
The innkeeper laughed and followed my words.
[Ah, that’s right, you’re lucky. Mister, don’t say anything unusual at the castle tomorrow, okay? You might lose your head.]
For landlord-sama, the fact that the fortress of his sworn enemy, the Spierzeig family, has been taken down is nothing more than a good thing. Naturally, the young lord must feel the same. If you say something negative, they will be displeased, and in some cases you can be considered disrespectful and really punished.
The young man shrugged his shoulders.
[I also got to eat a lot of free food, so I have no complaints.]
It was just after the new year that the castle fell. Just when I thought the New Year’s festival was over, a large-scale festival to celebrate the fall of the castle began, so I remember being busy and having fun.
Booze and food were served with such force that it seemed as if all the storehouses in the city had been liberated, and the city was in an uproar every day. I’m sure there wasn’t a single person in the city who wasn’t happy about the fall of the castle.
[…..well, we now know that you’re invited to the castle, and also that you won the card tournament. But, what can you do? You need to have something special in order for them to hire you.]
It’s difficult for a mere commoner traveler who can’t use magic to get hired at the castle…or rather, it’s impossible.
The powerful high-ranking officers who work in the castle only recognize commoners as domestic animals that can understand their language. You won’t be the first choice.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to speak directly with city officials.
I was hot-blooded and ambitious back then. I’ll take advantage of this opportunity, I’ll sell myself, I don’t want to be like my father who keeps a small business, I’ll become a big merchant who doesn’t stay in the city that I was determined to appeal to the world that it was far more wonderful than the Newnelly Silk that I had come across, but…
I was rushing head first into the reality of the difference in status.
The city officials showed no disgust, malice, nor interest in me. The person who was at that meeting was not me, who has the name Hakuto. It was just a symbol for “Commoner”.
Compared to that, the arrogant and high-handed officials who I have a lot of opportunities to interact with on a daily basis feel much more human. At that time, the high-ranking officials had eyes that seemed to cut off the commoners without any hesitation or grit, as if they were shaving the hair of a thick-haired rabbit.
[You’re not strong, you’re just an ordinary person, aren’t you? Don’t say anything bad. You should be super careful.]
[It’s the other side that makes the decisions. Wouldn’t it be boring if we decided on our own whether or not we would be treated as an equal?]
I felt that the young man sounded like he’s somehow enjoying himself, even though it is about himself. Then, the shopkeeper gave a supplementary explanation.
[This guy told me he’d draw something.]
I see. This young man is a painter.
[Do you have confidence in your skills that the castle will buy your works?]
I heard that Nobles and wealthy people pay a lot of money to invite talented artists from other places. I thought it would be a good way to bring an easy-to-understand artifact called a picture to the castle and show off his ability. .
However, the innkeeper let out a deep breath and shook his head.
[I’m sure it won’t work. I don’t know anything about painting… well, you think your brushwork is wonderful, right? …But, the important thing is that his painting is really creepy.]
[Creepy?]
[Yes. If I were them, I wouldn’t want a picture he drew…]
Those were pretty harsh words. But the young man didn’t even get flustered or anything, as if it were someone else’s problem. Like he was used to that reaction.
[I thought there wouldn’t be a feeling of avoidance if it was a Noble’s territory, but that was not the case. It’s troublesome.]
The young man got off the barrel and entered the inn. After a short sip, he returned with a board in his hand. Apparently it’s a picture he painted.
[Uhh…..]
What was drawn there was a scene of a main street with many people and carriages coming and going. But, the picture was…terribly creepy.
[See?]
The innkeeper said. I wholeheartedly agree. I wouldn’t want this painting.
However, the young man seemed to enjoy my reaction.
[Eh? Mister, are you not worried one bit? Everyone is bound to react like this. I’m sure even the castle officials wouldn’t like it.]
[It doesn’t matter what the officials think. If the young lord here likes it, everything will be fine.]
Is he really going to present such a disgusting picture…? I wonder if it will be rejected for the reason that it looks dirty. A subordinate officer will most likely check the offerings in advance.
When I said that, he grinned.
[Come on, be a little optimistic. I heard that Newnelly’s young lord has a curious persona and likes new things. Look, tomorrow’s climbing to the castle is a special event that doesn’t normally happen, right? Wouldn’t anyone want to see with their own eyes the gifts that are presented there? That’s why it might be easier to catch people’s attention by giving them something strange.]
Although he called his work strange, he neither sounded humble nor condescending.
[You’ve never met him, so how would you know that?]
[I don’t think ordinary Nobles hold card tournaments or invite top performers to their castles either.]
…..he does have a point.
Even before the card tournament was announced, I used to think that the young lord is quite an eccentric for a Noble.
[The young lord wants to see the commoners.]
[Nobles, wanting to see commoners? Are you kidding?]
The existence that reigns even higher than those cold-eyed high-ranking officials, that is, the nobility. Such an absolute person is trying to see a commoner? I couldn’t believe it.
[Do I look like I’m kidding? There is an oddball master who appreciates even commoners. I was employed by such a person until a while ago. I’m in the minority, but I know it’s not zero.]
[…you were employed by a Noble?]
But, the young man didn’t answer my question.
[I’ve heard rumors about Nambonan City. Isn’t it said that the citizens admire the young lord as a gentle Noble?]
I’ve heard rumors about it, but it must be Nambonan City’s own defensive measure. If you show a rebellious attitude to the Nobles, your city might be the next city to be burned down, so you’re better off doing more than you need to.
The Nambonan municipal government is working well because Galiana’s lord, Mylord-sama, is holding them together. A great man who made a fortune on his own and rose to the rank of Noble would be able to think about things from the point of view of a commoner. A true nobility won’t do that.
[…..and there’s that book, Another World History.]
I reacted involuntarily to the unexpected words that popped out.
[Another World’s History. Do you mean that Another World’s History?]
[Yeah! Do you know about it? It’s a book published in Newnelly.]
When I replied that I had read all the previous volumes, the young man cheered. Unfortunately the innkeeper didn’t seem to know about it.
[The Commerce Association that I belong to buys books, including Another World History, and as a member, I can borrow and read it.]
A few years ago, I read through it, thinking that it might become a topic for conversations with government officials and high-ranking officials. Unexpectedly, I fell in love with the story of that mysterious world, and now I follow the publication purely as a hobby.
According to what I’ve heard, the president of the association bought all of them in order to appeal to city officials. It seems that other unions and masters of large stores are doing similar things.
[…..Even so, I’ve never met a person who reads it properly. Most people seem to read the first book a little and then throw it away.]
I don’t think there are many people who read it thoroughly because their sole purpose is to purchase it.
[Ah, as expected, most people are like that. It’s interesting though if you read it carefully.]
It seems that the young man in front of me is a fan of Another World’s history. I’m a little happy that I was able to meet someone with the same kind of heart unexpectedly.
[What did you like about the Another World’s History?]
[There are various things…but I guess if I have to point out the strangeness. Isn’t that world full of wars?]
It’s as the young man said, people depicted in the Another World’s History are constantly fighting wars.
I waited in silence for the young man’s words, as it seemed that he would still tell me the reason.
[Normally, most people will imagine a peaceful world when given the premise that it’s a world with only serfs. At most, it will be small skirmishes between villages, towns, and cities, and no large-scale wars.]
[No, that’s right. You can’t make tens of thousands of people to fight.]
In a world where there are only serfs, the King, Generals, and soldiers are all also serfs. It is an unreasonable idea that a serf could lead tens of thousands of serfs.
Then, the young man made an exasperated gesture, spread his hands wide, and spoke.
[In a village of 30 commoners, the leader can wield power. It’s the same in a town with 300 commoners and a city with 3,000 commoners. But, you can’t do that in a country with 30,000 commoners. The more people there are, the more difficult it is for power to reach them, and the more dissatisfied residents become. What if 300 out of 30,000 revolted? Even if he called himself a King, he would still be a serf, and would easily die with a well-placed stone on his head. If 300 people throw stones at once, the regime will collapse. A stable order cannot be obtained in a country ruled by a King with a weak body. There is an upper limit to the size of a group consisting only of serfs. Therefore serfs cannot create a country…]
The young man was right.
When imagining a world with only serfs, a relatively peaceful world where only small-scale conflicts occur comes to mind. There’s no way a person with power enough to send tens of thousands of soldiers to meet their own demise can be born.
I heard that over 100,000 soldiers gathered on the city side during last year’s Nambonan War, but that was only temporary, and most of all, the commanders on the battlefield were supposed to be “strong” mercenaries. I think that the military and the country are established because the powerless and the powerful are properly divided.
I agree with his reasoning. However, the person who said it doesn’t seem to think so. It was clear from the fact that he spoke in such a way that he intentionally didn’t put any emotion into it, as if he was expressing someone else’s thoughts on behalf of others.
[…..however, the author of Another World’s History doesn’t think the same way. They want to say that a country can be born even if there’s only serfs.]
As he continued, his tone changed to something more amusing. Apparently it agrees with his idea.
[I thought it was an interesting idea. Serfs obey and are enslaved by the false authority created by another serf…the whole world is based on that one definition.]
False authority?
In the Another World’s History, Nobles reign as Nobles for such ridiculous reasons as their ancestors being great or inheriting the blood of their ancestors. It’s a funny story.
[Even though it was a story about being born into the ranks of Nobles and commoners, I thought it was a bit too much. It’s impossible for serfs to claim themselves as Nobles on such vague ground…]
Well, somewhat understandable. In a small farming village, the village chief’s son may have a big face. However, if it goes too far, the villagers will retaliate. After all, they are just commoners with no power.
[Brother, that’s not true. A world where there are only serfs, because I sincerely faced the assumption, Nobles and commoners were born. If there was only serf from the beginning, I don’t think it’s ridiculous for serfs to follow another serf. No. Only readers who know about the existence of Lords and Highlords feel that it is strange.]
It’s not like I don’t understand what he’s trying to say, but I can’t help feeling it.
That high-ranked official I saw in the castle comes to mind… After all, isn’t the relationship between the ruler and the ruled born only when there is an absolute difference in power?
[What is it that made you so attracted to Another World’s History?]
The young man didn’t seem to be trying to persuade me with his own theory.
The question posed to me was simple. However, it was a little difficult for me to answer now.
It took a while for me to take a liking to Another World’s History.
Serfs creating a country is like a dream. And yet, in the Another World’s History, there are only wars. It’s like having a dream that turns out to be a nightmare. It was twisted. I couldn’t really accept it at first.
However, the content was considered. Something that appeared in the first volume is subtly related to something that appears in the second volume. If you read it properly, you can see the relevance of such history and it is interesting. I also liked the biography and legends written at the end of the book, which were strangely elaborate.
If you were to ask me what drew me to it in the first place…
[At the end of Volume 1, there’s a fable-like story…]
[If I remember correctly, “Pandora’s Box”?]
[…Yeah. I was attracted by that. You must know it too.]
[I like the story, so it just clicked with me.]
When the great spirit created heaven and earth, there was no impurity on the earth.
One day, the spirit created a woman on earth. The woman’s name is Pandora.
The spirit gave Pandora a box, informing her that the box contains calamities and should never be opened.
However, Pandora opened the box out of curiosity. Just as the spirit said, the box contained all kinds of calamity, including plague, war, scarcity, hatred, and jealousy.
Pandora hurriedly closed the lid. But nearly all of its content had already jumped out. The only thing left in the box was hope.
That’s how people were able to live on the earth that is already tainted with misfortunes. Because there’s still hope.
[It’s up to the individual how they react to that story, but what did you think? This person, who was in my previous workplace, said that people’s hopes are also a kind of calamity.]
I remember myself several years ago.
In order to succeed as a merchant, you must create a relationship with your superiors. But, it will not be easy. City officials, high-ranking knights, knights, and Nobles… The commoners can easily be ruined with poor contact with any of them. For commoners, high-ranking people are like a disaster in a sense.
When I was driven by ambition, Newnelly Castle was truly like a Pandora’s Box. Inside the box, along with the danger of calamity, there was hope and a glorious future of the great merchant Hakuto.
And that ambition was crushed by the high official in question.
At the mere glimpse of the evil lurking inside the box, my legs froze and I closed the lid. Even though I knew there was hope, I didn’t move forward. I didn’t know the true horror of the calamity.
[The only people who can open a box knowing that it contains all sorts of calamity are only the idiots or geniuses who have made their name in fables…haha…]
If I had been a more reckless fool, I might have been able to push forward.
In order to hide my embarrassment, I decided to return the question to the young man.
[What did you think? I think that asking for employment at the castle is like opening a Pandora’s Box, right?]
That sounded like self-deprecation rather than advice.
Looking at the young man who was full of confidence and vitality, I feel like hating the current me. Maybe I haven’t given up on my dream of becoming a big merchant yet.
[Hahaha, that’s fine. If it’s as what you said, then I’m either a big idiot or a genius. I pray to the spirits that it’s the latter.]
After laughing lightly, the young man quietly continued.
[Besides, I interpret Pandora’s Box as a positive story. It’s good if the castle is a box.]
[What do you mean…?]
[If there is an audience at the castle, I would also like to ask the young lord. How does he interpret the Pandora’s Box story?]
No, there’s no way I’d be allowed to talk to a Noble during an audience. In the first place, the young lord wouldn’t have read Another World’s History.
If you say unnecessary things, your head may be cut off. If I’m unlucky, I might be treated as an accomplice.
The moment when I was about to raise my voice, the young man smiled and held out his hand.
[For that reason, let’s meet again tomorrow. Hakuto from Vaina Company, who is scheduled to enter the castle as the winner of the Old Maid category.]
I couldn’t return the handshake as soon as my name was suddenly called.
It’s true that I’m scheduled to arrive at the castle tomorrow as the winner of the Old Maid’s division of the Trump Tournament. I didn’t mean to hide it. I just didn’t have the chance to say it. Just a little embarrassed.
…..I see, he also attended the award ceremony on the final day of the Trump tournament. He must have learned my name and company at that time. I remember out-of-towners winning the Poker and Concentration categories.
A little late, but I responded to his handshake.
Right, his name is…
[I’m Vidardo. Nice to meet you.]
Meanwhile…
The innkeeper: [(These guys get awfully excited from talking about a strange book…)]
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