Chapter 213
Practicality
“Twenty-two thousand three hundred and fifty people… and two more.”
Isabella, the administrator, muttered as she studied the figure on the document with a troubled expression.
“That is a rather difficult number. We are continuing to construct buildings, but even so, it will be difficult to accommodate all of them.”
“I expected as much.”
“And since most of them are women, children, and the elderly… we may have to operate at a deficit for some time.”
They had successfully accepted refugees before, but that was because those refugees had included able-bodied workers who could be put to use.
The people Ferda had brought were mostly women, children, and the elderly.
“People live much the same wherever they go. We simply need to find a way.”
As it happened, they did not have to ponder the matter for long.
An elderly woman came to see them and offered a courteous greeting.
Although she wore the clothes of a commoner, the dignity in her face made it clear that she was of noble birth.
“It is an honor to meet you, Regent Ferda. My name is Esmeralda, formerly the lady of House Decalia.”
“The honor is mine, Lady Decalia. If I recall correctly, House Decalia is a count’s family under Duke Yurei. What brings you here?”
“It may be presumptuous of me, but I have come as the representative of all the refugees. Might I speak with you, provided it is not an imposition?”
“Of course. The administrator and I were just discussing the refugees.”
“I see.”
They offered her a seat.
Lady Decalia thanked Ferda in a composed tone.
“I understand that you brought us here in order to honor your promise to Duke Yurei. It must be extremely difficult to accept so many refugees without warning.”
“Not at all.”
“There is no need to hide it. I once helped manage a territory myself, so I understand. My husband was not the sort of man who enjoyed sitting still, so I handled nearly all matters related to finances. That poor man…”
Lady Decalia’s eyes filled with tears at the thought of her husband.
She composed herself and continued.
“In any case, they say guests and fish both begin to stink after three days. At present, we are still unwelcome guests. Honoring your promise to Duke Yurei is admirable, but if we are to survive, we must become self-sufficient members of this territory rather than remain guests.”
“You are absolutely right.”
“Then would you please accept these?”
At Esmeralda’s gesture, several women behind her carried forward four large chests.
When the lids were opened, they revealed precious treasures and gold coins packed tightly inside.
“What is all this?”
“These are the valuables we brought when we fled our territory. It is not much, but we would like you to use it as development funding for the refugee district.”
“Judging by the amount… it seems the noblewomen pooled nearly all their wealth. What will you have left after giving up this much?”
“We will still have our sense of duty to care for the people as nobles. That is enough.”
Lady Decalia smiled gently.
“Those who stand in the position of nobles must bear responsibilities befitting that station. If we cling to pointless luxury and greed while everyone is suffering, we will only lose what little remains. I merely wish to fulfill my duty in whatever way I can.”
The honor of nobles.
Duke Yurei and his followers had acted to preserve their honor as human beings.
Now even their wives did not hesitate to do what was required of them.
How could such resolve be anything but radiant?
Ferda asked Lady Decalia,
“What would you have me do?”
“First, it is important to distribute the refugees evenly. Even though the Far East lies close to the Demon Lands, there is still farmland there, is there not?”
“There is.”
“Please provide settlement funds so that the women from farming families can establish themselves there. I also implore you to request the cooperation of the local lords.”
“That is possible. But would it not be too soon to prepare them to move elsewhere when they have only just arrived?”
“If we do not act now, it will be too late. If they attempt to settle after autumn begins, they will have to overcome the hostility of the local people. We must spread them out now, while the land is abundant, so that the additional labor can sow even a little more seed and gather a larger harvest.”
“I see.”
She explained the matter so logically that even Ferda and Isabella were persuaded by details they had overlooked.
Lady Decalia smiled and added,
“And please do not worry. I will be the one issuing the order, not you, Regent. I will accept all the blame so that you may still fulfill your promise to the duke.”
“Will you not be resented in my place?”
“When has a noble ever been free from resentment? Someone must play the villain. Who else but a venomous old woman could take on such a task?”
A venomous old woman?
Where could they possibly find a woman more dependable than this?
“How many people would leave if we did that?”
“At the latest, ten thousand should be relocated within two months.”
Even then, more than ten thousand would remain.
They were people accustomed to urban life or members of noble families.
Housing and the surrounding infrastructure would still pose significant problems.
“What would you say to this?”
“Please, go ahead.”
“I will accept the valuables you gathered, but rather than treating them as a donation for territorial development, I will hold them as a deposit.”
“A deposit?”
“Some of the young noblewomen are already of marriageable age, are they not? I hear that women who marry without a proper dowry are often mistreated. As the man who made a promise to the duke, I cannot allow that.”
“But if we contribute nothing to Hestia Village, we may feel as though we are taking advantage of its generosity…”
“Then you need only assume a responsibility equal to the value of the contribution.”
Ferda made her an offer.
“I will designate one of the districts currently under development as the refugee district and place it under your authority, Lady Decalia. I would like you to serve as its administrator.”
“M-Me?”
“You assisted your husband in governing your territory, and you came here as the refugees’ representative. I imagine they trust you deeply. Even when the same words are spoken, they will be more willing to listen when they come from you.”
Ferda saw potential in Lady Decalia.
She would actively help the refugees adapt to life in Hestia while simultaneously contributing to its development.
“If you require anything, you will receive priority support. Please speak to me at any time.”
Lady Decalia burst into tears at Ferda’s consideration.
The relief of realizing that they would not die miserably after losing their home, combined with the grief of losing her husband, finally poured out of her.
After calming herself, Lady Decalia humbly placed a hand over her chest.
“Since Regent Ferda has granted me this opportunity, I will do everything in my power to lead the refugees without bringing shame upon the name of House Decalia.”
The Hestia refugee district officially came under Lady Decalia’s management.
The first thing she did was teach the other noblewomen the fundamentals of administration.
Since they had received advanced education, they learned quickly and were able to establish organized systems.
The most capable among them were appointed to manage orphanages and homes for the elderly.
Those unsuited to management learned Lady Decalia’s teaching methods and became instructors, teaching commoner women and children how to read and write.
It was their duty as nobles to do everything in their power to help the people obtain new opportunities in a new land.
And so, the refugee district placed great emphasis on education.
The middle class strongly objected.
Literacy had long been the exclusive privilege of intellectuals, and now it was being taught not only to women but even to the poor.
They did not look kindly upon it.
Whenever they complained, Ferda gave them the same answer.
—Hestia is a land of opportunity built from nothing. Opportunity is equal for everyone.
It was also a chance to replenish the skilled workers the territory had always lacked, so Ferda offered his full support.
He extended the same opportunity to refugees from other backgrounds, helping them learn the fundamentals of reading and writing.
“Regent Feeeerda!”
Ferda frowned the moment he heard that irritatingly high-pitched voice.
A moment later, a certain demon who came and went as though the place were her own rushed into his office.
“The refugee district is here, right?”
“Yes.”
“I went there with absolutely no ulterior motive whatsoever, purely with the heart of a saint devoted to charitable service, and I found this sign!”
—No men permitted without official business.
—Penelope is strictly forbidden from entering.
The first measure taken to stabilize the refugee district had been to minimize contact with outsiders.
With the exception of authorized guards and construction workers, men were forbidden from entering.
Anyone caught harassing the women would be expelled immediately, regardless of the circumstances.
This strict policy had significantly improved security within the refugee district.
“They are treating me exactly like all those lust-crazed men! Can you believe that?! It makes no sense!”
“It certainly doesn’t.”
You are worse than they are.
Ferda looked at her as though she were utterly pathetic.
“Then could you remove that line from the notice?”
“No.”
“Why not?!”
“Because it is obvious that the only ‘business’ you would have there is doing something pathetic. That is why you are forbidden from entering.”
“W-What do you mean by that?! I will have you know that I am developing products! Can you not see? Penelope, Head of Product Planning!”
“What business would someone developing products have in the refugee district?”
“Lingerie, obviously.”
“Lingerie?”
Ferda had no idea what she meant.
As though she had been waiting for that question, Penelope pulled something out.
“This!”
The object she showed him was extremely strange.
“What is this scrap of cloth?”
“It is not a scrap of cloth. It is clothing.”
“How can you call it clothing when it covers so little?”
“Is that not what makes it good?”
“...?”
“You do not seem to understand, so think of it this way. For example…”
She leaned in and whispered secretively.
“Imagine Her Highness Valdrova wearing this.”
“Imagine all that pale skin fully exposed, with these tiny strings resting over her hips. And that part would be just barely hidden, almost visible, and—hehehe…”
“…”
“Perhaps you lack imagination. In that case, I could transform into Lady Valdrova and model it for you—”
“The moment you do, I will grant you the most miserable death imaginable.”
Ferda unleashed enough killing intent to make it clear that there would be no room for negotiation.
“I-It was a joke! How could I dare imitate Her Highness? Ahahaha!”
Penelope laughed with a pale face, desperately trying to defuse the situation.
“In any case, this settles it.”
“Right? Then hurry and give me a permit to enter the refugee district—”
“You are banned from entering forever.”
“What?!”
“And step down as Head of Product Planning before you leave.”
“Why?!”
“All you do is lounge around and make vulgar, impractical scraps like this. Why should I keep you in that position?”
“That is not true! I have other products besides my sexy and elegant lingerie!”
“Prove it right now. If you demonstrate your ability, I will approve the lingerie and everything else.”
“Ha! I was not planning to reveal this yet… but behold! The true power of the Head of Product Planning!”
The object she dramatically produced had a peculiar triangular body.
“What is this?”
“It is called a fidget spinner.”
“A fidget spinner?”
“You hold the center here between your thumb and index finger, then spin this part like so…!”
Whirrrrr!
“It spins smoothly!”
“It certainly spins well.”
“Right?!”
“And?”
“Huh?”
“What else does it do?”
“Nothing?”
“Then what is its purpose?”
“Does it need one? It feels good when it spins.”
Whirrrrr.
Ferda stared at the spinner rotating in Penelope’s hand before asking,
“Who appointed you Head of Product Planning?”
Since he could not cut off this woman’s head, he considered cutting off her superior’s instead.
“That would be Lady Garnet Swallow, possessor of a beautiful, sexy, and explosive body!”
Of all people, it had to be someone he could not get rid of.
Ferda wondered whether there was some way to make her suffer anyway.
Then an idea occurred to him.
“Are you confident that this product will succeed?”
“Of course!”
“Then you would not mind placing the fate of your lingerie business on this product’s success.”
“Now that you put it that way, I am having second thoughts…”
“If you lack even that much confidence, you may as well give up and spend the rest of your days lazing around.”
“You keep looking down on demons! Fine! I am confident!”
Got her.
“I will remember those words. If this fails, you will get nothing.”
“Understood!”
“Good. Now leave.”
“I will, but…”
Penelope quietly held out her hand.
“Give me money.”
“What money?”
“Product development funds.”
“I have to pay you for selling this garbage?”
“Garbage?! This is an utterly impractical item that I created after thinking and thinking and thinking and thinking, yet people are certain to go wild for it! Besides, it will greatly affect my future business ventures, so of course you have to give me money!”
“How much?”
“One hundred goldens. It is written in my contract.”
“My, how cheap! A mere hundred goldens is practically free!”
Ferda tossed a pouch of money at her feet as though it were filthy.
Penelope snatched it up like a dog and her eyes sparkled.
“Oh yeah! Tonight is a feast! Beauties of Hestia, your big sister is coming!”
People often said that public funds were easy money, but to think he had been extorted by someone like her.
Filled with righteous indignation, Ferda contacted Stephan to have Penelope’s impending doom confirmed.
He explained the object called a fidget spinner.
—I believe it may actually be profitable.
The answer he received was effectively confirmation that Penelope would survive.
“…This thing?”
—Yes.
“It looks completely useless. How could it be of any value?”
—There are many things in this world that sell well for no reason at all, more so than things that sell because they are useful. Luxury goods are exactly like that, are they not? Noblewomen hang uncomfortable ornaments all over themselves purely out of vanity.
“…”
—How much did you promise her in royalties?
“There are no royalties. I only gave her one hundred goldens in development funds.”
—One hundred goldens? Then that is an incredibly profitable deal. From what I can see, you may recover several dozen times that amount.
“That much?”
—If we refine the design, it could become popular among the middle class as well. I suggest listing them for thirty shillings each. I will promote them properly and prepare the related secondary businesses in advance.
“Thank you for the advice.”
Ferda could not bring himself to accept it.
An object created by a third-rate lesser demon might become popular?
‘And at thirty shillings each?’
Even from a nobleman’s perspective, that was not cheap enough to waste on such a useless object.
It would be no different from throwing money onto the ground.
Whirrrrr!
It made no sense whatsoever.
Of course, the least believable part of all was that Penelope had been right.
‘This cannot be allowed to succeed.’
Whirrrrr!
While spinning the toy, Ferda made his decision and wrote something down.
Fidget Spinner Price: Six goldens.
Ferda had raised Stephan’s proposed price twentyfold.
‘There is no possible way it can succeed now.’
There might be a small loss, but what did that matter if it allowed him to drive Penelope out?
Ferda finalized his wicked plan and sent the document to the Hestia Association.
—
“Have you heard about that strange new item at the Hestia Association?”
“You mean the fidget spinner? My son has been driving me mad asking for one. I cannot imagine what he sees in such a useless thing.”
“It is more worth buying than you might think. My son was spinning his, and it seemed strangely addictive, so I ended up purchasing one for myself. There is a reason nobles have begun carrying them around.”
“It looked like such a trivial object. They really carry those?”
“Theirs are several times more extravagant than the ones sold to the public! I hear that if you commission the association, they decorate the nobles’ versions with jewels and proper ornamentation. Professional craftsmen are making quite a handsome profit from them these days.”
“Is that so? Then perhaps I should get one myself.”
“You fool, they are sold out now. Even if you go directly to the Hestia Association, you will have to wait at least a week before you can obtain one.”
“Urgh… Still, I do not want to become a father who falls behind the latest trends. I suppose I will have to send a servant to secure one.”
“Fashion truly is a terrifying thing! Hahaha!”
Whirrrrr!