Three-point increase!
Buy.
All you can.
We've found a ship carrying copper.
Acquire it. Pay double if you must.
Emergency.
The church is backing the Holy Capital's effort to issue new currency.
The exchange rate?
Twenty-eight old-currency gold will get ten of the new.
The possession or use of old currency will be forbidden.
I've also heard that
they plan to issue more of the new currency than required by the exchange rate.
What does this mean?
Basically,
they're replacing 10,000 in old currency with 5,000 of the new.
And then claiming the new amount is worth 14,000 in old currency.
Wouldn't that mean
the government makes a 4,000-gold profit, as measured by the old standard?
It does indeed.
It's quite clever, isn't it?
However,
I wonder if they'll be able to maintain the new currency's value at 2.8?
All the soldiers and knights in our territory,
six hundred, fifty-four in total, have gathered.
The Ashen King brings his royal knights and axe brigades.
The Mountain Country's heavy cavalry
and the Treetop Country's archers will also arrive soon.
What of enemy movement?
Holding in the forest, at only several hundred.
It appears that they are slow to gather.
Maybe they're afraid of us?
How many have you brought?
Four hundred veterans.
You'll be paying us well for this.
My lord, dinner is prepared.
The local landowners have donated barrels of strong drink.
Twenty barrels of high-quality iced wine.
So that is how they hope to keep us from trampling their fields?
I'll give some to the mercenaries, as well.
It's one of the lady's students!
It's been awhile.
Have you been well?
What I learned from our teacher's lessons has kept me going.
But why are you here?
We are compiling a book of new teachings.
The Crimson Scholar is alive?
Our spies report that
she is making many blasphemous books in the Iron Country.
Impossible!
The Inquisition has judged her to be a demon! A blasphemer!
The serfs have been crossing the border into the Iron Country.
At this rate, my country...
The White Night Country will be destroyed!
Then steal them.
A surprise attack...
They'll be focused on the punitive force.
In the meantime, we'll ambush the Iron Country, and destroy it.
I'll share the darkness in my right eye with the entire country!
Chapter 11
I just destroy and kill, without creating anything.
Then we'll maintain a strong defensive formation, and wait for snow to fall.
I'll have the winter gear handed out at once.
Could I ask you to minimize the casualties?
The army of the Central Nations...
Will have at least 20,000.
We will be fortunate to field 4,500.
It will depend on their actions...
Leave it to me.
I'll ensure as few casualties as I can.
Message from the southern ice seas!
Demons!
Numbers?
We're not sure,
but estimating from long range, at least 1,500!
Now, of all times?!
Hero...
Has something happened to the Demon King?
No, not to her.
I'm sorry, Hero.
We have no troops to spare.
Don't worry.
I'll take care of it myself.
But would you be upset if I said I don't want to fight the demons, either?
Th-Then...
We must avoid a fight on two fronts, at all costs.
My king...
Thank you, Winter King.
Are you the Financial Minister?
Yes, though only just appointed.
I'm sorry to visit so suddenly.
Not at all.
I've been waiting for you.
You're the one who's been playing a game
across the whole continent, aren't you?
Why do you think so?
If I were the one playing, I would visit in person.
You were the one who established that tariff, right?
Yes.
I like you!
So, then let us negotiate.
I have four matters to discuss.
I'll summarize.
First, I would like you to give the Alliance
an exclusive exemption from the tariff.
An exemption?
The exemption would only apply to goods passing through your realm,
not to any that are purchased within.
That would prevent the exemption from affecting your economy, correct?
That's true...
Second, lease rights for Bright Light Island.
I would like to lease part of the island, in the way a lord is granted a manor.
In this matter, I represent another party.
Who would want that place?
The only thing there is salt—
Third,
are you familiar with the banking organizations within the Alliance?
I would like permission to establish banks and other Alliance facilities
within your three nations' capitals.
That would be wonderful, but well...
Fourth, we are prepared to purchase
your entire potato stores.
That is all.
Um, the Inquisition has banned potatoes.
The Central Nations have reissued the currency to try to raise its value...
But that's not going to work.
The value of food products, such as wheat, is far more stable...
And the Alliance is the group with the most wheat.
If it's the army's job to end a war,
it's the king's job to find a place for it to end.
Sorry, but I'm a Hero, not a king.
So I couldn't find the place for it to end.
If you'll accompany me to the other side of the hill, that's enough for me.
I definitely want to see it, too!
You and me, the Knight and the Old Man...
The King, the Maid Sisters, and the Head Maid.
Mage, and Gate City, and the Southern Nations,
and everyone in Winter's Pass Village...
I want the Central Nations and the demons to see it, as well!
Because I...
I just destroy and kill, without creating anything.
Azure Demons?
They're equipped for long-distance travel.
And they have provisions.
If I'm going to make them withdraw, that's where I should aim.
Okay!
You included me.
Good.
I'm finally out.
I'm so hungry...
And I'm tired.
That was terrible.
What's wrong,
Head Maid?
It's okay now.
Let's return.
To where?
The battlefield.
What are you doing, insect?
I am not an insect!
No, you are an insect.
As you'll see when you're flat on the ground.
Her Majesty would never have such a crude laugh.
This is how I'll be from now on.
Her Majesty
is brilliant! Intellectual!
Logical! Calm! Cynical!
Coldly realistic! But with a cute smile!
My master!
She's lazy, and she hates to change or wash her clothes.
She can't clean or cook, but...
But she is the one I chose!
She is my destiny!
Impressive...
My strength is beyond that of the Fanged Beasts, yet you match me.
But you are still a mere demon.
I went easy on you in the hopes you might serve me.
I am a maid!
Die!
Where have you been?
Communication channel established.
I never get used to this.
Go.
The Demon King is waiting.
You know her?
I'll act in your stead.
Once I've dealt with them,
you must destroy the gate with the strongest spell.
If I do that, no one will be able to go to the Demon Realm!
That's okay.
It's all right to destroy it?
...needs you.
She needs you.
You aren't interested in the wheat as a trade good!
But as a pseudo-currency!
Yes.
And you plan to invest that wheat in the Southern Triads.
Indeed, I am.
A-And you're after...
I'm after?
The continent functions as one international market
due to its unified currency.
So when inflation begins,
throwing around additional coinage in one nation accomplishes nothing.
Also, if you want increased competitiveness with the surrounding regions,
it's best to have more than one currency.
A dual-currency system...
That's correct.
True, with the Central Nations' economy weakened, now is the perfect time...
Which naturally means our next step
will be to invest in an emerging market with growth potential.
Are you
intending to go beyond our territorial waters and open trade relations with demons?
Yes.
Why would you...
Because I am a merchant.
Everyone has an opinion as to what's right or wrong.
We will never see eye-to-eye on that,
but everyone wants to be a little happier than they currently are.
So isn't our job to compromise on that one point,
and then to trade?
B-But...
I'd ask that you consider this, in addition.
H-Horns?
She is the Dragon Princess.
A representative of Gate City, the one place in the Demon Realm
where humans and demons coexist.
Total number of demons: 2,670.
Initiating range-finding.
Locking on target.
Spell-decompression algorithm in progress.
15% complete.
37%.
59%.
81%.
Designate current area as target.
Deleting conflicts.
The Hero...
To save the Hero!
I've had to use Time Stretch and multiple compressions
to save up all these spells!
Do you know what that took? How many years?
She's losing it again...
When something happens to the Hero,
my job is to go and grant his wish!
Is she seriously teleporting each of them?
Do you understand what it did to my pride,
that twilight day when I could do nothing?
Can you understand?!
Complete.
Go.
Right!
Wide-Area Thunderbolt!
Mass destruction confirmed.
Maybe I overdid it a little.
Use your magic to fly into the pillar of smoke.
Damn White Night! Only barbarians would consider a surprise attack!
Even if they outnumber us,
we must destroy them all!
You mustn't be impatient.
This enemy is a cavalry.
The only countermeasure for their mobility
is to isolate them and work together.
Enemy approaching!
They'll arrive in a minute or so!
All forces!
Ready crossbows!
Primary targets are stationary, or any dismounted soldiers!
The enemy is comprised of light cavalry, emphasizing speed!
They lack the plate mail to stop our crossbows!
Don't force any risky shots! Aim for the center of the horse!
What?
What's happening?
Why are you stopping?
Enemy trap!
Use your speed to push through!
All troops, advance!
The enemy numbers few!
Crush them!
What are you doing?
Use your mobility!
Push forward, and spread the rear lines to the left and right!
Keep firing!
New conscripts are to divide themselves between weapon loading and defense.
Defense squads are to eliminate any troops
that make it into our trenches, and to move any horses, to keep them out!
Archers and loaders, concentrate all fire on the right flank!
Our side attack is working.
The right flank is weakening!
All right... Send all our forces in!
Yes, sir!
The enemy is heading for the left flank!
Then the right flank drove them off.
Our defenses are on a sloping hill.
Any cavalry that makes it past the front lines won't break through,
but they'll be drawn into a small, cramped area.
Now it's time for us to do our jobs, Lieutenant.
Everyone,
check your bows once more!
It's time for our assault!
It's getting brighter?
What is this wind?
Where am I?
The Demon Realm?
That's correct.
The Demon Realm is underground?
Yes, it is not a separate world.
It is connected to the Human World.
What's happening with her?
She's nearly become the King of Evil.
The King of Evil?
But the Demon King is waiting for you.
What are you talking about?!
She's waiting for you, you damned virgin!
Get going!
She's at the center of the Demon King's castle, at the lowest level...
Majesty...
Just try once more...
Remember how black...
How fluffy...
How warm it looked?
Damn you!
Trying to buy time is useless!
If she comes out again, I'm going to die...
This body is mine!
I am the Demon King!
But even still, I...
I'll go straight there.
Accelerate!
I've never seen magic particles like these.
Is the Demon King really this strong?
The Central Nations' army has begun a full conference.
They have 40,000 all together.
Of those, 28,000 are soldiers.
9,000 are cavalry.
So what did we send them today?
Thirty barrels of iced wine, three boars, six pigs.
Good.
They'll hold another banquet tonight.
Next we'll need horse fodder.
Fodder?
Yes.
With that many horses, they'll require a great deal.
This time, inform more farmers.
The army's here, and if you have no fodder for them,
they could hurt you.
And sell them the dried grass and oats we prepared.
Giving it to them is fine.
What's the point of that?
The grass and oats
have been soaked with filthy water.
Just enough to gradually sicken the horses.
Ah...
I understand...
That'll make it harder to start hostilities.
I feel bad for the horses,
but I'm sure they'd prefer that
to death on the battlefield.
The Iron-Arm King has
instructed us to treat the wounded!
Don't help our side alone.
Start with the worst off,
and use a handkerchief, so the doctors know the priorities!
Move any lightly wounded to the outside tents!
Have the citizens help them.
Move the moderately wounded within the Convent,
treat their wounds, and use distilled alcohol for disinfection!
You're a general now.
A g-general?
In this country,
that's the term for soldiers who perform above the call of duty.
I wasn't even thinking...
I was only doing as I was taught.
Reporting.
Our forces sustained eighteen fatalities.
Two hundred, twenty-one wounded.
The White Night suffered three hundred and four fatalities,
with eight hundred, ninety-two injured.
Four hundred and fifty prisoners.
In addition,
several enemy troops escaped into the city,
and we are in pursuit.
The one-eyed man we believe to be their commander is among them.
Give anyone who can still move a meal,
let them rest, then send them on patrol.
Yes, sir.
I'll keep watch on the city.
Out of my way!
Demon King!
Hero!
Demon King...
Be careful, Hero!
That isn't really her.
The evil spirits of the ancient Demon Kings have corrupted her.
Next Chapter:
—I'm back, my Hero. —You sleep too much, my Demon King.