Chapter 228: Studying at once (1/2)

Chapter 228: Studying at once

Sponsored Chapter

Being the beginning of the month, I wanted to thank all the people that became patrons in my patreon, and also the people that have been supporting me.

Thanks a lot!

By revolution, is he referring to the one that changes society? That revolution?

Rembrandt-san nodded when I asked for confirmation, so there’s no mistake.

When he said ‘this country’, did he refer to the Aion Kingdom?

In other words, people that can start a revolt against the royalty have appeared.

…Eh? Isn’t that a big deal?

Why is Rembrandt-san so calm?

“That’s right, a revolution. Regarding the details, I will be telling you as I teach Raidou-dono, but well, in terms of the time…I think it will start moving by summer.” (Rembrandt)

“Summer?! T-There’s already less than a half a month left!” (Makoto)

Even if Aion Kingdom is not a frontline country that is fighting directly with the demon race, it is one of the four major powers.

If a big country, that’s at the rear and is in an alliance with Limia and Gritonia, begins a civil war, it would be no time to do war with the demon race.

No no no.

Isn’t this a lot more important than my resolve?

If this country falls into civil war, even Tsige might get enveloped in the flames of war.

I don’t want to think this is true but…could it be that this is also related with the demon race?

“Hahaha, an organization that has been caught before doing their move, wouldn’t be able to do anything big like a revolution anyways. Catching them with a margin of half a month is already superb, Raidou-dono.” (Rembrandt)

“By the way, this matter was not orchestrated by the demon race. It is not like they are completely unrelated, but they are not deeply related either.” (Morris)

Morris-san read my mind.

Even so…I think that a big affair like a revolution happening in half a month is outrageous, and I think that half a month passes by quickly.

That’s what I think, but…

It seems like Rembrandt-san and Morris-san think that half a month is plenty enough time.

“And so, what did you want to consult with me regarding the revolution?” (Makoto)

“Umu. I will be direct. I want you to witness and hear your opinions about the way Tsige will move at that time.” (Rembrandt)

The way Tsige…will move?

“And I wanted to hear about Raidou-sama’s thoughts regarding this revolution. That’s what it would be.” (Rembrandt)

“My thoughts, is it.” (Makoto)

In the first place, I don’t know much of Aion Kingdom.

Frankly speaking, aside from Tsige, I don’t know of this country.

If I remember correctly, it is a country that excels in information gathering, and their cavalry unit.

That’s the most I know.

“Sorry but, I don’t know the condition of Aion Kingdom itself, so I don’t have any sort of opinion in it.” (Makoto)

Thinking about it once, I spoke my honest thoughts.

This isn’t the moment to try looking good.

“That’s fine.” (Rembrandt)

“Hah?”

“No well, that way is better, is how I should say?” (Rembrandt)

“Uhm…”

“If you had an opinion regarding this country itself with knowledge beforehand, I would of course want to hear that as well. However, what I want to hear more than that is how Raidou-dono views ‘revolution’ itself. It would be strange to call this a normal revolution but, Raidou-dono, what do you think about this?” (Rembrandt)

So that means it doesn’t have to be centered in Aion huh.

A revolution.

It is a vague image, but it would mean that the tops of the country would change, right?

Mainly by force or by illegal methods.

And if as a result, the revolution is successful, the government and economy will change as well.

If asked what I think about it, it would be that the allies will change depending on the times and society.

If the government was good, there wouldn’t be a revolution to begin with, so if a bad government was going rampant, a revolution is a valid path for change.

There would be a lot of side-effects because of it, but…I wouldn’t say it is completely wrong.

In that case, my thoughts about it would be that depending on the situation, it is a valid method.

“I don’t think it would be the correct method in all situations, but I do think that there’s times when a revolution is necessary.” (Makoto)

“Hoh!” (Rembrandt)

“That’s…” (Morris)

I thought they wouldn’t like this incredibly vague answer of mine, but the reaction of the two was of simple surprise.

“Did I say anything strange?” (Makoto)

“…No. I was just surprised that you didn’t consider revolution as evil.” (Rembrandt)

“If the government is corrupt, a revolution is bound to occur. I think there’s times when that happens. And when it is a revolution in those cases, I think it is something necessary.” (Makoto)

“You see, a king that rules over the country, is someone that has been given the right by God to do it.” (Rembrandt)

The Goddess huh.

But that’s quite the valid way of thinking.

Like, the king has the right, so he can rule the country.

How was it called?

I remember I learned it in world history.

…The divine right of kings?

Ah right, that’s the one.

In the case of this world, it actually happens, so it is not a simple expedient though.

“Meaning, the temple and the general populace think of revolution as absolute evil.” (Morris)

Morris-san supplements the explanation.

I see.

That’s why my way of thinking that ‘it is necessary depending on the situation’ is already heresy in itself huh.

Let’s be careful about that from now on.

In the first place, this is the first time I have talked about the topic of revolution, so I doubt there will be more times to come.

“In that case, I have said something bad. Sorry, I will be careful.” (Makoto)

“No, I think Raidou-dono is in the right. But well, it isn’t something that you can disclose in public, so you are correct in taking note of it.” (Rembrandt)

“Haha, thanks.” (Makoto)

“Fumu. But with this, it has made it a lot easier to say.” (Rembrandt)

“So true.” (Morris)

It seems like Rembrandt-san and Morris-san were saying something to each other with their eyes.

Is it my imagination? Even when we are in the reception room, it feels kind of stormy here.

“Rembrandt-san? Could it be…you are participating in that revolution?” (Makoto)

I nervously ask this.

I heard from him before that he wouldn’t become a merchant that profits from war, but if he was in favor of the revolutionary forces’ believes, it is plenty possible.

Because he wouldn’t profit from it after all.

“I am unrelated.” (Rembrandt)

“Ah, I see.” (Makoto)

“Currently, that is.” (Rembrandt)

“…”

“Later, I will give you the documents pertaining the revolution that will be occurring in Aion. Well, if I had to summarize it, I would say, they are an amusing bunch of idiots.” (Rembrandt)

“Isn’t that no good then?” (Makoto)

“Umu, that’s right. It is no good. This is something that’s felt daily in the government officials of Tsige as well, but it is truly no good at all.” (Rembrandt)

“Yeah…” (Morris)

It wasn’t me but Morris-san who nodded seriously.

Rembrandt-san emphasized that it was ‘no good’ twice, but is it that much?

I have not seen the government officials appointed in Tsige, but if they are people evaluated in this way, it is probably for the best that I didn’t meet them.

“Raidou-dono, do you know who Tsige belongs to?” (Rembrandt)

Rembrandt-san asks me while maintaining that tired expression.

Well, I at least know that much.

“If I remember correctly, a noble…I think it was the fourth prince.” (Makoto)

He is still young.

If I count the time since I heard this, he is probably 6 years old now.

“That’s right. The current king had given this land to this fourth prince he dotes on so much, soon after he was born.” (Rembrandt)

Tsige was gifted to a baby?

That’s pretty sad.

In that case, the king owned this town before that.

“So until then, Tsige was owned by the king, right?” (Makoto)

Is it a territory that is in direct control of the country?

Well, since it is a gift from father to son, there’s probably not going to be nobles who would take it away from him, so in a sense, it is valid.

“…”

“…”

“W-What is it?” (Makoto)

When I asked for a confirmation, the two of them simple stared at me silently.

Unable to take it anymore, I speak out, and Rembrandt-san did a small sigh and began speaking.

“This Tsige is the second most prosperous land in Aion. This is a number simply going by the payment of taxes though.” (Rembrandt)

“Heh~” (Makoto)

That’s impressive.

It is certainly true that it is a lively place and it is in the wasteland as well.

The transit of people is intense, and I did know that it had power as a town, but to think that it was the number two town in Aion for their payment of taxes even when they are a remote region like this.

“The primary disadvantage is the distance it has from the capital, but in terms of population, economic scale, its location of being the entrance to the wasteland, being the ending point of the Golden Highway, and the adventurers’ quality; the worth of this town cannot be measured.” (Rembrandt)

“Right.” (Makoto)

“And the king has given the rights of this town to a kid that literally doesn’t have the ability to do anything.” (Rembrandt)

Ah.

I see.

Now I understand the reason of why Rembrandt-san is dismayed.

Conferring the rights of Tsige to someone, means that the person who conferred it holds incredible authority.

Giving authority like that to a kid would only stir the people around into having disagreeable thoughts, and in the first place, it wouldn’t serve as anything good for that kid.

No matter how cute that kid was, this is not a correct decision for a father to his son.

To bring your fondness into governmental affairs is not good.

“And then?” (Makoto)

“A king that would do something as stupid as throwing away his own authority. Even though he is already in a complicated position where he has so many children that it is creating problems regarding the successor, he still did something as stupid as that. If he was aiming for that when he did it, then he is quite the schemer.” (Rembrandt)

“From the sound of it, he wasn’t aiming for it.” (Makoto)

“Even though he is still in good health, he easily relinquished a town that offers money to the country as if it were trivial. He did that, and yet, he didn’t place a capable and loyal subordinate as a set for this action of his. I can understand the emotions of the people that want to cause a revolution. At those times, I sended people disguised as aborigines and attacked him night after night.” (Rembrandt)

…A-Attacked him.

Just how pissed were you?

It is true that it was gifted to a child, but it is not like their everyday life would change.

“…Since then, the newly appointed government officials were all nobles that have been influenced by the mother of the fourth prince and has been changing constantly in that way. This type of people are not rare in the nobles, but they were all people that only sucked off this town as much as they wanted.” (Morris)

Morris-san complemented the explanation once again.

Well, that’s something.

The worries must have piled up at mach speed.

It truly affected the daily life of the people.

No wonder he wanted to punch him.

Well, it is not like Rembrandt-san himself is punching the king. It is simply his aborigin disguised people that are secretly punching him, so Rembrandt-san probably held back quite a lot.

If those government officials don’t know about what was happening to the king, it would simply be releasing stress after all.

“Petty officials that are crazy in the head, and idiotic generals, that have muscle for brains, were coming and going. It was a crisis that remained in the history of Rembrandt company. Seriously, there’s a limit to doting on your children.” (Rembrandt)

“A crisis that would remain in the history of the company?” (Makoto)

But I feel like Rembrandt-san is also the type who doesn’t have a limit when doting his children though.

“They tried to put their hands on my wife and daughters, and after receiving strange marriage proposals, I judged it had already surpassed the limit and did a few things. Anyways, they were noisy about raising the taxes and demanding money, you see. No matter how much you try being rational with them, talking with that bunch just doesn’t work. They always say: ‘Understood. Then, when can you ready the money?’” (Rembrandt)

I have dealt with people like that from time to time. The type of people that understand words but conversation is useless huh.

Those kind of people are annoying.

In my case, I could just have Tomoe and Shiki deal with them and ignore it, and it would be resolved later, but how do you deal with people like that in reality?

Anyways, tax huh.

I know that Rembrandt-san is a merchant that possesses incredible power in this town, but he was someone that could even participate in the decision of the taxes?

I feel like that surpasses the domain of a single company.

“Taxes, is it. But in that case, wouldn’t it be a lost cause if the government officials just decide for it to be that way?” (Makoto)

“If it were the usual, then it would be just as Raidou-dono says. But they are people as well. It is possible to indoctrinate our side’s thoughts into them. The most simple method is to entertain them.” (Rembrandt)

Entertain huh.

Entertain the government officials, hear their thoughts, request of them, and place your own side’s thoughts in them.

I see.