Chapter 213
The story continues off the page
The Last Dance Before Midnight
A masked dragon asks the lanternwright for one slow dance
“22,350 people and two more…….”
Administrator Isabella muttered as she looked at the figures on the document she had received, her expression troubled.
“That’s quite a daunting figure. We are still building new structures as fast as we can, but accommodating all of them would still be a challenge at this scale.”
“I suppose so.”
“And they’re all women and elderly people, too……. We may be running at a deficit for some time.”
They had accommodated refugees well enough before, but that was because they had useful manpower available.
What Ferda had brought in were women, children, and the elderly.
“People’s lives are much the same everywhere. We only need to find a way.”
There was no need to worry about it for long.
An elderly woman came to find them and politely greeted them.
Although she was dressed in commoners’ clothing, the dignity in her face clearly showed that she was a noblewoman.
“It is an honor to meet you, Regent Ferda. My name is Esmeralda, and I was the lady of House Decalia.”
“The honor is mine, Lady Decalia. Decalia is a count’s family under Duke Yurei, is it not? What brings you here?”
“I may be overstepping my bounds, but I have come here on behalf of all the refugees. If it would not be an imposition, might I speak with you?”
“Of course. I was just discussing the refugees with the administrator.”
“I see.”
They offered her a seat.
Lady Decalia thanked Ferda in a dignified tone.
“I understand that you brought us here to keep your promise to Duke Yurei. It must be difficult to suddenly accommodate so many refugees.”
“Not at all.”
“You needn’t hide it. I once managed a domain myself, so I understand. My husband was never the sort to sit idle, so I handled matters such as finances almost entirely. I know them well. Poor man……”
Lady Decalia’s eyes filled with tears as she thought of her husband, and then she spoke.
“Anyway, they say guests and fish begin to stink after three days. We are still unwelcome guests, you see. Keeping your promise to Duke Yurei is admirable, but if we are to survive, we must become self-sufficient members of the community rather than guests.”
“You are quite right.”
“So, would you please accept this?”
At Esmeralda’s gesture, several other women behind her carried four chests over and placed them before Ferda.
When the chests were opened, they were packed with precious treasures and gold coins.
“What is all this?”
“These are the riches we brought with us when we left our domain. It is not much, but we would like you to use it as development funds for our refugee district.”
“Judging by the amount……. It seems the noblewomen have gathered all of their wealth. If you give away this much, what will you have left?”
“The duty to care for our people as nobles. That is more than enough.”
Lady Decalia smiled gently.
“Anyone who holds noble rank must bear the responsibility befitting it. If everyone becomes consumed by pointless extravagance and greed during difficult times, they will lose even what they have. This is how I intend to fulfill my duty, at least in some small way.”
The honor of nobility.
Duke Yurei and those under him had acted to preserve their honor as human beings.
Even their wives did not hesitate to do what they had to. How dazzling was that?
Ferda asked Lady Decalia,
“What would you have me do?”
“First, it is important to distribute the refugees evenly. Even if the Far East is close to the Demonic Wasteland, it still has farmland, does it not?”
“Indeed.”
“I beg you to grant subsidies so that the women from farming families can settle there, and to request the cooperation of the lords in each region as well.”
“That is possible. But wouldn’t it be too soon to prepare to move elsewhere when they have only just settled in?”
“If not now, it will be too late. If they try to settle once autumn arrives, they will have to overcome the locals’ hostility toward outsiders. We must spread people out while the vegetation is still flourishing, move swiftly so that they can sow even a little more seed while there are more hands available, and harvest more as well.”
“I see.”
Ferda and Isabella spoke logically about matters they might otherwise have overlooked, making their argument all the more persuasive.
Lady Decalia smiled faintly and added,
“And please do not worry. I am the one ordering this, not you, Regent. I will take full responsibility for the criticism as well, so that you can keep your promise to the duke.”
“Won’t you be resented for it?”
“How often do nobles get resented? Someone has to play the villain. If not an embittered old woman, who would do something like this?”
An embittered old woman, was she?
Where could one find a woman more dependable than this?
“How many people would that send away?”
“In that case, ten thousand people will leave within two months at the latest.”
Even then, ten thousand people would remain.
They were people who lived in the city or belonged to noble families.
The problems of housing and the surrounding environment were still significant.
“What if we did this?”
“Please, go on.”
“We will accept the goods you have gathered, but hold them as a security deposit rather than as a donation for developing the domain.”
“A security deposit?”
“There are already some young noble ladies of marriageable age, are there not? I hear that if they are married off without even a proper dowry, they are often mistreated. As someone who made a promise to the duke, I cannot allow that to happen.”
“But if we do nothing for Hestia Village, won’t it look bad……?”
“Then you simply need to assume that much responsibility.”
Ferda made her an offer.
“I will designate one of the districts currently under development as a refugee district and entrust it to you, Lady Decalia. Become the head of the refugee district and oversee its operations.”
“M-me?”
“You helped your husband manage the domain, and since you came as the refugees’ representative, I believe you have their deep trust. Even if you say the same things, they will listen more closely to you.”
Ferda saw potential in Lady Decalia.
With her in charge, the refugees would actively assimilate into life in Hestia while developing the district at the same time.
“If there is anything you need, I will give it the highest priority. Please tell me at any time.”
Lady Decalia burst into tears at Ferda’s consideration.
The relief of no longer expecting to die miserably with nowhere to go, and the sorrow of losing her husband, came pouring out at once.
After calming down somewhat, Lady Decalia humbly placed a hand over her heart.
“Since you have given me this opportunity, Regent Ferda, I will do my best to lead the refugees in a way that will not bring shame upon the name of House Decalia.”
* * *
The Hestia refugee district officially began operating under Lady Decalia’s management.
Lady Decalia first taught the other noblewomen the basics of administration.
They had received higher education, so they understood things quickly and were good at organizing systems.
The most capable of the noblewomen who received that training were selected to manage the orphanage and senior citizens’ center.
Those who were less suited to management learned Lady Decalia’s teaching methods, became teachers, and taught literacy to commoner women and children.
Their noble duty was to do everything in their power to help people gain new opportunities in a new land.
The refugee district was thus devoting itself to education.
The middle class strongly objected to this.
They found it distasteful that women, and even the poor, were being taught the written language that had once belonged exclusively to the educated.
But whenever that happened, Ferda answered them this way.
-Hestia is a land of opportunity built from bare ground. Opportunity is equal for everyone.
Since they now had a chance to fill the highly skilled positions that had always been lacking, Ferda instead spared no support.
He took this opportunity to give people from other refugee groups equal opportunities as well, helping them learn the basics of writing.
“Regent Ferdaaa!”
Ferda frowned as soon as he heard the irritating high-pitched voice.
A demon who came and went as though she owned the place soon rushed in with a sorrowful expression.
“You’re in the refugee district, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I swear I came here without a single selfish motive, with the heart of a saint volunteering to help, but then I found this notice!”
-No men allowed except for official business.
-Penelope strictly forbidden.
The first thing they did to stabilize the refugee district was minimize contact with outsiders.
Men were prohibited from entering except for certified guards and construction workers.
They greatly improved the district’s stability by imposing the harsh rule that anyone caught pestering the women would be expelled, regardless of the reason.
“I’m being treated exactly like all those other horny men?! That’s outrageous!”
“It is.”
You’re worse than that.
Ferda gave Penelope an exasperated look.
“Then could you erase this notice for me?”
“No.”
“Why not!”
“Because it is obvious that the only business you would have is doing something pathetic, so shouldn’t you be banned from entering in the first place?”
“W-what are you saying!? Even if I may look like this, I’m developing products! Can’t you see? I’m Penelope, head of the Product Planning Department!”
“What could a product maker possibly need in the refugee district?”
“Duh, lingerie.”
“Lingerie?”
Ferda wondered what she could possibly mean.
Penelope pulled out an item as though she had been waiting for this moment.
“This!”
The object she showed him was exceedingly strange.
“What is this scrap of cloth?”
“It’s not a scrap of cloth. It’s clothing.”
“It’s that tiny, and you call it clothing?”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“……?”
“You don’t seem to understand, so let’s think of it this way. Say……”
She whispered conspiratorially.
“Imagine Her Highness Valdrova wearing this.”
“……”
“How would you feel if, with that pale skin exposed in all its glory, a little string like this were sitting on her hips, barely showing, hehehe……”
“……”
“Are you lacking in imagination after all? If you like, I could transform into Lady Valdrova and try it on myself—.”
“The moment you do, I will give you the most miserable death imaginable.”
Ferda released murderous intent and warned her firmly, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
“N-no, I was joking. How could I dare imitate Her Highness, ahahaha!!”
Penelope laughed as she tried to smooth things over, her face pale.
“Anyway, this makes everything clear.”
“Right? Then quickly give me a refugee district pass……”
“You are banned from entering forever.”
“What?!”
“And step down from your position as head of the Product Planning Department.”
“Why!!”
“Aside from making vulgar things with no practical use, you do nothing but eat and loaf around. Why would I keep you in that position?”
“That’s not true! I have products other than my sexy and elegant lingerie!”
“Prove it right now. If you demonstrate your ability, I will permit everything, lingerie included.”
“Haa! I wasn’t planning to bring this out, but……. Look here! Behold the power of the head of Product Planning!”
The item she pulled out solemnly had a peculiar triangular body.
“What is this thing?”
“It’s called a fidget spinner.”
“A fidget spinner?”
“Hold the center here between your thumb and index finger, then spin this part like this……”
Whirrrrr!
“It spins smoothly!”
“It spins well.”
“Right!?”
“And?”
“Huh?”
“Is there anything else?”
“Nope?”
“Then what is the purpose of this thing?”
“It feels good just watching it spin, doesn’t it? What more do you need?”
Whirrrrr.
Ferda stared at the spinner turning in Penelope’s hand, then asked,
“Who appointed you head of the Product Planning Department?”
Since he could not behead that woman, he thought he would have to behead her superior instead.
“Our beautiful and sexy Lady Garnet Swallow, with her explosive body!”
Of all people, it had to be someone he could not get rid of.
Ferda wondered if there was some way he could screw her over.
Then an idea suddenly came to him.
“Are you confident that this thing will succeed?”
“Of course!”
“Then you’re saying that I can decide the fate of your lingerie business based on this product?”
“When you put it that way, I’m a little concerned……”
“If you do not even have that much confidence, shouldn’t you just quit and spend your days loafing around?”
“You keep looking down on demons! I’m confident!”
Just as he thought, she had taken the bait.
“Remember this clearly. If this fails, you will get nothing.”
“Understood!”
“Good. Go.”
“I’m going, but……”
Penelope cautiously held out her hand.
“Give me money.”
“What money?”
“Product development costs.”
“You expect me to give you money for selling this sort of junk?”
“How dare you call it junk! I made it after thinking and thinking and thinking and thinking it over! It has no practical use, but it’s the sort of thing people will go crazy over!? Besides, it will have a huge impact on my future business, so shouldn’t you pay me!?”
“……How much do I have to give you?”
“One hundred goldens. It’s specified in the contract, isn’t it?”
“……”
“Goodness, so cheap! One hundred goldens is practically free~!”
Ferda threw the money pouch at her feet as though it were filthy.
Penelope snatched up the pouch like a dog, her eyes sparkling.
“Yay! It’s a binge-eating party tonight! Pretty girls of Hestia, Big Sis is coming!”
They say there is plenty of public money that no one keeps track of, but to see it extorted by someone like that……
Ferda, filled with a sense of justice, contacted Stephen to arrange Penelope’s guaranteed death sentence.
He then explained the item called a fidget spinner.
-I wanted to tell you that it might make money.
What came back was a message that he was still alive.
“……This thing?”
-Yes.
“It looks utterly useless. How could it possibly help?”
-There are more things in this world that sell well for no reason than things that sell well because they are useful. Aren’t luxury goods exactly that? They are inconvenient, but noblewomen’s vanity makes them wear all sorts of things dangling from themselves.
“Hmm……”
-How much did you agree to pay in royalties?
“There are no royalties. I only paid one hundred goldens as a development fee.”
-One hundred goldens? At that price, isn’t this a real money-maker? It seems to me that you could recoup several dozen times that amount.
“Is it really worth that much?”
-If you refine it and make it properly, I think it could become popular among the middle class as well. Put it on the market at thirty shillings apiece. I will promote it properly. I will also prepare related follow-up businesses in advance.
“……Thank you for the advice.”
Ferda could not bring himself to admit it.
A product made by a third-rate, low-ranking demon was becoming popular.
‘At thirty shillings, no less?’
Even from a noble’s perspective, it was not a price worth paying for such a useless object.
It was more pointless than throwing money onto the ground.
Whirrrrr!
By any common-sense standard, it made no sense.
Of course, the most absurd thing of all was that Penelope was right.
‘This thing must not become a hit.’
Whirrrrr!
Ferda made up his mind as he spun the spinner and wrote something down.
Fidget spinner price: 6 goldens.
Ferda had raised the price twentyfold above the price Stephen had suggested.
‘This way, it definitely won’t succeed.’
There might be a small loss, but if he could drive Penelope away, what did it matter?
Ferda finalized his own wicked plan and sent the paperwork to the Hestia Trading Company.
* * *
-Did you hear about that strange new item that recently came into the Hestia Trading Company?
-The fidget spinner? My son has been begging me to buy him one. What could possibly be so good about such a useless thing……
-Actually, it’s worth buying. My son was spinning his, and I found it strangely addictive, so I bought one for myself, too. There’s a reason the noble lords have been carrying one around lately.
-It didn’t look like anything special. People carry those around?
-They’re several times flashier than the ones sold in regular shops! If you commission one from the trading company, they even set gems in the noble lords’ versions and decorate them properly! The professional craftsmen say they’re making quite a bit of money these days.
-Is that so? If they’re that good, I should get one myself.
-My friend, they’re sold out now, so you can’t even find one. If you want one, you’ll have to go all the way to the Hestia Trading Company and wait a week just to get one!
-Gnnng…… Even so, I don’t want to become a father who falls behind the trend…… I suppose I’ll have to send a servant to find one.
-Isn’t fashion truly terrifying? Haha!
Whirrrrr!