episode_0023

“It’s been a while since I’ve gone out this leisurely.”

“You’ve always been busy writing something or other.”

It was a late afternoon after finishing lectures and work. The feeling of going out while enjoying the refreshing breeze and sunset was quite pleasant.

Was it because I was out relaxing while others were still working?

Or maybe it was because I wasn’t alone, pathetically, but had a beautiful colleague by my side.

“Shall we go grab something to eat? I’ll pay today.”

“I’d love that. Would a slightly luxurious menu be alright?”

“As long as it’s not too expensive, anything is fine.”

Well, whatever it is, who cares? This is almost the first freedom and happiness I’ve experienced since coming to this world.

I really haven’t had any time to spare until now.

Until I wrote the pamphlet for the Helvetians, “The Prince,” and “The Social Contract,” I was constantly confined to the organization’s hideout or being monitored.

And writing the 115 Rebuttals and “On War” while juggling organizational tasks left me with no personal time.

Only now, after publishing “An Essay on the Principle of Population,” have I finally gained some leisure and peace.

Ha, damn it. If it weren’t for that damn goddess, I would have been on a successful path as a young, genius professor by now.

Because of that bitch, I was kidnapped to this other world and have been suffering like this.

“Then follow me, I’ll lead the way.”

“You don’t have to pull me, I’ll follow. I’m not running away.”

As I was grumbling inwardly, Calia eagerly grabbed my hand and pulled me along.

She was even humming, excited about eating delicious food with someone else’s money.

She usually has an icy cold face, but when she’s like this, her expressions are cute. Is this what they call gap moe or something?

“There’s a place that makes delicious stew just a 5-minute walk from here. It has rice and mushrooms in it, and the soft taste is excellent.”

“Rice in a stew?”

Wouldn’t that be called porridge?

“It also has seafood like mussels and shrimp, and spices. You’ll definitely like it if you try it.”

Ah, so it’s something similar to risotto or paella.

Indeed, seafood risotto could be considered a high-end dish.

It’s difficult to make and taste in cities deep inland like this because fresh seafood and expensive spices are hard to come by.

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s been quite a while since I’ve had rice.”

The Elaine Kingdom mainly eats wheat, so there aren’t many opportunities to have rice-based dishes.

I heard they grow a lot in the southern part of the Helvetia Peninsula and western Hispania, but I don’t have time to go there.

Maybe I should visit after the war ends and the world falls apart.

“That’s good then. Oh, and let’s stop by the market for a bit before we eat. I need to get some groceries to eat at the academy dormitory.”

Since the market was on the way, we headed there.

Usually, you can get decent meals at reasonable prices in the student cafeteria or the school restaurant, but sometimes you just want to make something simple at home.

We changed our steps with the intention of buying some pasta noodles and salad ingredients–

And soon, we were shocked.

“Welcome. What can I get for you?”

“…..15 Gulden for one apple? Why is it so expensive?”

The price was excessively high. Almost several times the number I remembered.

Fruits and vegetables were 3-6 times more expensive, bread was 4 times, cabbage was 7 times….. How could it go up this much in just a month or two?

“With this money, I could have bought a whole basket of apples before….”

“I don’t know when you’re talking about, but there’s nothing we can do. We can’t get supplies, what do you want us to do? We have to make a living too.”

“Still, this is too much.”

This price wouldn’t be too burdensome with an academy instructor’s salary.

Even like this, it’s a high-paying job with a higher income than most lawyers or doctors.

I wouldn’t be able to spend as much as I want, but I’d be able to make a living.

But what about the common people?

They’d probably have to cut down from three meals a day to one or two.

And simplify the menu as much as possible.

In the case of the poor… there’s no point in even talking about it, is there?

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they’re barely surviving or already starving to death.

At this rate, the livelihood of the people can’t possibly hold out.

“There probably aren’t many customers at this price.”

“Well, some people still come. You have to eat to live. So, are you going to buy something or not?”

“….Give me flour, three tomatoes, and one garlic. Also, one bag of pepper.”

The shop owner urged me on, and I clicked my tongue inwardly and opened my wallet.

I should buy something since I came all the way here anyway.

* * * * *

As we walked towards the restaurant with the food in our basket,

Calia asked me.

“Why is this phenomenon happening?”

I replied.

“It’s probably the impact of the war.”

War is an act that sucks up a country’s resources, manpower, and finances like a sponge and wastes them without limit.

Especially if it’s a fight on multiple fronts and involves the operation of large-scale field armies, rising prices are inevitable.

Moreover, the Elaine Kingdom has lost a large amount of land from the start and is engaged in fierce battles.

It’s not surprising that prices are soaring as farmland decreases and producers disappear.

Well, even considering that, it’s still quite severe.

I guess the actual increase rate is particularly high because it’s the capital.

The provinces are probably less affected than here.

We’ve been living inside the academy ever since we became instructors, so we’ve been out of touch with the outside world.

“The restaurant prices must be a mess too….”

Calia trailed off and looked up at me.

Was she feeling sorry for putting too much of a burden on me?

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just this much.”

I patted her head and comforted her.

Still, this much is okay.

How could I not buy a good meal for someone who has helped me and supported me all this time?

But still… what will happen after the war?

‘There might even be a revolution. Even if I don’t intervene further.’

Once prices go up, they never come down easily.

It will take at least a few years for the supply of goods destroyed by the war to normalize, so high prices will be maintained for at least 10 years or so.

Usually, this is resolved by a natural decrease in population or the distribution of the population to the provinces…..

But I’ve spread things like “An Essay on the Principle of Population” and “Leviathan,” so it doesn’t seem like it will be handled naturally and smoothly.

Honestly, I don’t even know what will happen.

* * * * *

“Wow, that was good. The portions were generous and it was surprisingly good.”

“I knew you’d like it.”

Two hours later.

After finishing our meal, we were walking down the street, patting our full stomachs.

The restaurant Calia recommended was quite excellent.

Luxurious atmosphere, courteous employees, and good quality wine.

I spent a whole week’s worth of food expenses on one meal, but I didn’t regret it at all.

“Shall we go again next time we have time?”

“I’d love to.”

After promising a future date, we were about to return to the academy. It was getting late, so we had to go back to prepare for tomorrow’s class.

But we couldn’t.

To be exact, we were stopped along the way.

Because of a crowd of ominous-looking people gathered in front of the church.

–Thump!

“Corrupt priests, come out! Surrender and face the judgment of justice!”

“Did you take all the money we earned with our blood and sweat to build that fancy building?!”

“Come out, you son of a bitch, before we burn everything down and tear you to pieces!!”

People were holding hoes, sickles, clubs, and torches, raising their voices in a frightening way.

They looked shabby and pale from not eating for a long time, but their eyes were fierce enough to eat a person alive.

They seemed weak because they were mostly women and elderly people, but I could feel their deep-seated resentment.

“Shut up, you wicked bastards! Do you know where you are to be spouting such nonsense?!”

“Goddess heaven, unbeliever hell!! Get out, you cursed spawn of Satan!!”

“Everyone, don’t abandon God by being deceived by false writings! It’s not too late to return to the path of correct faith!”

On the other side, there were priests and holy knights who seemed to have been dispatched by the clergy, and people who still supported the clergy.

The number was relatively small, but their momentum was no less ferocious.

They even brought swords and shields, forming a line.

They must have had trouble getting gunpowder weapons because I couldn’t see any, but their attire was suitable for going to war.

There were also many elderly and weak people, but the holy knights were burly, making it feel out of place.

“You’re the heretics!! You suck our blood in the name of donations, and then you talk about the goddess?!”

“Damn it, we can’t reason with them. Knights, fix bayonets! Drive out the rioters who threaten the cathedral!”

Eventually, the atmosphere became heated, and one by one, they grabbed their weapons. They pointed them at each other and gradually closed the distance.

They moved closer and retreated, and when they finally got face to face, the two groups seemed to have made up their minds and shouted in unison.

“Kill! Kill them all!”

“Smash all their heads in!”

We hid in the side alley at the miserable sight, and could only say one thing.

“…..It seems the effect of the rebuttals was too good.”

“I know, right.”

I put a lot of effort into writing it, but I didn’t expect to see the effects like this.

For the supporting and opposing forces to clash in the middle of the capital, the response must have been quite significant.

If the Elaine Kingdom is like this, what the hell is happening in the Kram Empire or the Navar Kingdom?

‘Come to think of it, I don’t see any young men.’

The men who would be the workforce were probably dragged to the battlefield, and in the rear, there was a violent conflict over religion.

From the perspective of the national leaders, it would be a frustrating situation.

Now, national power is being wasted, the war effort is sluggish, and it’s quite a problem.

How is the rear control even being carried out?

It wasn’t long before I knew the answer.

“Long live His Majesty the King! Let’s advance for the kingdom!”

“Brave people of Elaine! Let’s unite for victory!”

“Enlist in the Royal Army! Let’s all join forces to protect our country from foreign enemies!”

Military police and trumpeters were loudly shouting propaganda slogans on the streets and handing out pamphlets.

They even grabbed passersby and encouraged them to participate in the war.

‘Ah, that’s how they’re doing it.’