I Was Caught up in a Hero Summoning, but That World Is at Peace (WN)

Chapter 2407 - Spreading Aftermath ⑧

While Kaito was spending enjoyable moments with the two from his hometown, those involved with the Ritch Barony at the center of the storm were steadily starting to move as well.

Deep within the headquarters of the Lord Trading Company in Archlesia Empire, in the private chamber of its head, Satania Darklord, sat Gluttony, one of the same Ten Demons, across from her.

[……So, I want you to cooperate as well.]

[If it benefits Miyama Kaito-sama, there is no reason for me to refuse cooperation. I can act immediately, if needed.]

[No, it’s not that simple. First, we need to present the plan to construct a teleportation gate in the Ritch Barony, get approval, apply through the Archlesia Empire, and purchase the necessary land. Requests for teleportation permission fall under the jurisdiction of us Phantasmal King’s subordinates, so that part will go smoothly, but considering applications for constructing a large structure and notifying the surrounding area, preparations alone will take at least a month. Actual construction can only begin after that.]

[……I’ll leave the rights and permissions to you. As for construction, using my Dimension Beasts, it can be completed without issue in two days.]

Gluttony was a master of space-time magic, but that wasn’t all, she commanded her own unique forces, Dimension Beasts created from her own flesh and blood. Among them, Natasha, her masterpiece, possessed the ability of a Peak Count-rank, and she had many other powerful Dimension Beasts under her command. By mobilizing them, even a massive teleportation gate could be completed from scratch, including all adjustments to the ritual, within two days.

However, Satania shook her head at Gluttony’s words.

[No, that won’t do. If the goal were simply to establish the teleportation gate, that would be fine, but this time, we also need to adjust logistics and the flow of money in the Western Archlesia Empire…… the Ritch Barony. By employing and dispatching workers and increasing local consumption, we can raise the total volume of money circulating within Ritch Barony’s domains.]

[……Fumu.]

[Furthermore, we don’t want a situation where the Lord Trading Company wins everything alone, that could create unnecessary enemies. We need to give other trading companies some leeway to operate, including competing in commercial battles. Considering the time it would take for other trading companies to establish sales points or stores within the Ritch Barony, I initially thought three months would be ideal…… but just now, Shalltear-sama instructed that the teleportation gate should be completed “six months from now”.]

[Shalltear-sama did?]

According to Satania’s calculations, if they wanted to complete the teleportation gate while giving other trading companies a chance to earn, improving logistics, employment, and consumption without letting the Lord Trading Company dominate too much, three months would have been ideal, but then a timing directive arrived from Alice.

[Yeah, apparently it’s because “she was pleased with how they handled things and intends to let them profit as planned”. Shalltear-sama wants to give the merchants she’s taken interest in an opportunity to earn.]

[I see. In any case, if it’s Shalltear-sama’s order, it’s absolute. The teleportation gate will be completed six months from now.]

[Yes. I’ll contact you again when the time comes.]

[Understood.]

Gluttony confirmed her cooperation, and Satania nodded in satisfaction, ending the discussion about the teleportation gate. Both were devoted to Alice without question or dissent, and the completion of the teleportation gate was set firmly for six months later.

At the same time, in the imperial office of the Archlesia Empire, Emperor Chris was staring into the distance while reviewing a stack of documents, making a strange motion of pressing her eyes and shaking her head.

A close aide, wearing an expression somewhere between pity and unease, spoke up.

[Your Majesty, lamenting it won’t change the results of these reports.]

[……I almost want to hit my past self for saying it would be better if Miyama-sama were more involved with the Empire. So much…… in just a few days…… things have moved this much…… and now the west…… the budget proposal will need to be reconsidered, and the nation can’t just sit idle…… but having the Lord Trading Company involved makes things difficult.]

[It’s impressive, I must say. I didn’t expect they would gather information faster than us. Ideally, we would have wanted the teleportation gate to be state-led…… but already, we’ve received a preemptive letter of inquiry for the construction permit, clearly an attempt to keep us in check.]

[At this point, we have no choice but to give up. Their initial moves were far faster than ours; if we intervene clumsily, it will only lead to conflict with the Lord Trading Company.]

Chris, of course, was aware of the movements of merchants within her own country, and she had even paid close attention to the participants of the tea party hosted by Eris.

She had learned that Marie of the Ritch Barony had given ripple to Kaito…… but she could never have predicted that Kaito, while distributing it among acquaintances and promoting it, would draw so much attention in just a few days that merchants caught wind of it and began moving, ultimately affecting the entire Western Archlesia Empire.

Among all this, the Lord Trading Company moved at an astonishing speed. The state had wanted to be involved in the construction of the teleportation gate, which promised immense profit, but that now seemed almost impossible.

[For now, improving the surrounding infrastructure of the Ritch Barony is essential. We need to allocate a larger budget to ensure at least that large horse-drawn carriages can pass through without issue.]

[Yes. I’ve already given instructions to the Minister of Finance and the key financial officers, so a meeting can be held immediately…… Another point of concern is the movements of Goddess of Fertility-sama.]

[……Inviting the Ritch Baron and Lady Marie to the temple…… I don’t expect the Gods to get involved in a commercial battle…… but for what purpose……]

Based on the information Chris had, the Goddess of Fertility wished to speak as soon as possible, which led to the Ritch Baron and Marie visiting her temple today. Imagining what kind of discussion would unfold there…… Chris unconsciously moved her hand as if stroking her stomach.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [Well, it’s only natural, after all, this is happening within the empire, so even this Stomachache Warrior is bound to be affected.]