Volume 6 Chapter 92 The Moon Is Beautiful, Isn’t It？
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”You have a precise understanding of our country’s plight. Indeed, I see that Your Majesty Sabroa is quite a remarkable person. I think I will accept this proposal,” said the sister, voice calm but with a tinge of excitement.
Ayub Castle.
The king’s private chamber, protected by ancient barriers. In a space where even the empire’s spies could not intrude, the siblings were engaged in a secret conversation.
”But, sister,” the young king asked with furrowed brows, “isn’t that guy after your Doll Princess?”
”That’s where the sophisticated political consideration comes in. Don’t you understand?” she replied with a slight smirk.
”No way!” he exclaimed, eyes wide. “That would be deceit! I thought he was just a weakling infatuated with the Doll Princess!”
”He said it would be fine to have a marriage by proxy,” she explained calmly, “anticipating that this country would not stand without me. The conditions are far better than being married off to an imperial merchant.”
”Was that the case?” the king muttered, suspicion clouding his tone. “Isn’t that a misunderstanding on your part, sister? I mean, you are indeed beautiful, but you’re over 20 and still unmarried. There’s no such sweet deal in real life!”
”Who are you calling unmarried!” she snapped, her composure cracking. “Listen—in another world, it’s normal to get married after turning 20. It’s a cultural difference!”
”If you were to stay with me forever, I would be so happy…” the king murmured, then suddenly gasped. “But if he comes around, it means that… No way! How lewd!”
”Calm down!” she said, flustered. “You’re already a respectable adult. It’s time for you to find a lifelong partner and have an heir. Lady Tizzy missed out—she was more than just a rumor.”
”That one is just a poor imitation of you, sister,” he muttered bitterly. “Compared to your Doll Princess, she clearly falls short.”
”She was cute—like a twin. I was young back then too,” she reminisced softly.
”No matter how cute she is, the Doll Princess can’t live for more than a year, right?” the king asked with sudden insight. “I see! That’s why he wants to use the real sister as a substitute! What a despicable strategist!”
”That’s right,” she nodded solemnly. “The Doll Princess is my doppelgänger. Realizing her own death, she entrusted her beloved to me—the true self. It’s love. It’s love. Do you understand?”
”No way! My sister, who hates men, is getting all giddy!” he cried. “Why?!”
”What a terrible thing to say,” she huffed, pouting. “I’m just, well… somewhat interested in men. In other words, to a normal extent…”
”But after all,” he protested, “isn’t it famous that you swore an oath to the Goddess Cybele?”
”Cybele is also the Goddess of matchmaking,” she corrected him. “She protects the maiden’s purity from boring men while also bringing together heroes to make them a couple.”
”That man, who delights in having many women around him, is a hero?” the king scoffed. “There’s no way he could defeat my sister’s sword. He doesn’t even seem like he could beat me!”
”His Majesty has defeated our army,” she replied coolly. “So there is no doubt—he is stronger than I. He is a hero, Sir Hero. As a thank you for the fulfillment of his great wish, we must offer a bull to the Goddess.”
”What?!” he exclaimed. “Isn’t my sister’s marriage partner decided at the temple’s martial arts tournament? Every 4 years?”
”The life of a flower is short,” she said, folding her arms. “Can you really wait 4 years? If he is a man I acknowledge, the Goddess will also grant him permission.”
”Sister, isn’t that a bit unfair? It’s definitely unfair, right?” he pouted.
”It has been decided that way since ancient times. It’s not unfair,” she answered, not budging an inch.
”Ah, my sister, who used to be like a spirit,” he sighed melodramatically, “has taken on a woman’s face. I’m disillusioned. There is no dream or hope in this world. I’m the most unfortunate king in this world…”
”Yes, yes. Stop saying foolish things and you should start settling down too,” she said, tousling his hair. “Life is much shorter than you think.”
”I wanted to stay a child forever,” he confessed. “I never wanted to become a king.”
”Don’t worry,” she said with a kind smile. “I will continue to support you properly. From my perspective, His Majesty Sabroa has a large-capacity magic bag. Do you understand what this means?”
She leaned closer, voice lowering into conspiratorial glee.
”The time has come for our country’s high-quality cheese and butter to see the light of day. Whatever we produce will sell. Hehe, conquering the world market might not be just a dream.”
”Oh, so that was your goal!” the king laughed, both relieved and exasperated. “You weren’t actually in love with him, were you? That’s good to hear. However, didn’t he say that our country shouldn’t stand out?”
”Oh, right. You understood that story properly,” she said, clearly impressed. “You’ve grown. I’m so happy for you.”
”Hahaha. I won’t let anyone call me a foolish king who can’t separate from his sister forever. For the sake of our country’s interests, let’s make him contribute as much as possible.”
* * *
Despite some misunderstandings, the unification of will among the royal family was achieved in this way.
In the courtyard of the old castle.
The clear winter night sky is illuminated by the brilliantly shining moon from another world. It’s the moon of my sister, Saria.
Although it appears much smaller than Earth’s moon, its phases are still clearly visible. When it’s full, it illuminates the ground enough that one can walk without using night vision skills.
The moon… perhaps a lunar calendar would be nice.
I have been commissioned by the cardinal to create a calendar for this world. The Stargazer has the skills suited for that.
A calendar is needed because there are fractional days in a year. If the same calendar is used every year, it will gradually shift. That’s why leap years are necessary.
Without overthinking it—
For example, there’s a method to set the winter solstice as New Year’s Day and determine each year based on observations.
If a dedicated sundial is made, even those who are not Stargazers can determine the solstice. There’s also a theory that the pyramids on Earth were devices for that purpose.
If it were based on the moon’s phases, anyone could understand it easily, but…
The lunar calendar increasingly falls out of sync with the seasons, making it unsuitable for determining when to plant crops.
The sense of a “year” might become faint.
The people in this world have a vague sense of time.
Without clocks, they live leisurely and absentmindedly, aging and dying before they even realize it.
Ah—once the harvest of wall barley is over, a year has passed, and age is added.
No one cares about birthdays.
I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
Once you get used to it, it doesn’t bother you that much.
Ah…
The length of a day feels quite long.
It was the same on Earth when I was young.
By creating a calendar, will I affect how people in this world live and think?
That’s a heavy responsibility.
It feels a bit frustrating—knowing it might be used to legitimize the Great Temple.
Should I just go ahead and build a giant pyramid as an Astronomy platform?
Civil engineering projects are a good way to distribute wages.
It’s instantly recognizable as a symbol of authority.
It might even become a tourist attraction in the distant future.
* * *
I sense someone approaching. This presence… it’s Ms. Nina.
Despite not having any night vision skills, she walks confidently in the moonlight. Is this my home—no, my castle?
Ms. Nina was quite the tomboy back in the day. This garden must’ve been the perfect playground for her.
”Be careful. That stone over there is quite slippery,” I warn.
Yeah… it’s a secret that I almost tripped just now. Only the top of a stone, about the size of a hug, peeks out above ground. Its angle is so perfect, it’s practically a hidden trap.
I thought about tossing it into my magic bag since it’s dangerous, but taking a stone from the garden without permission… wouldn’t that make me a thief?
It seems to be a stone full of memories for Ms. Nina, so I’m glad I didn’t mess with it.
”The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” Ms. Nina says softly.
My heart skips a beat. Is that… a confession? No, it can’t be. She wouldn’t know the Sōseki reference, would she?
…But maybe Ms. Shirakaba told her.
It probably just means what it says. It really is a beautiful moonlit night.
”Well, yeah. It’s too small to really feel like the moon, though,” I reply.
”Speaking of which,” she continues, “the moon on Earth is about the same size as the sun, right? It must be incredibly bright on a full moon night.”
The moon often shows up in anime too. But the sense of scale… you can’t really grasp it unless you see it in person.
As the song says, when the moon rises, it looks huge—especially when it’s full.
She probably heard it from Ms. Shirakaba, but saying it’s the same size as the sun… that’s actually a good way to describe it.
We both look up at the moon together.
…Huh? Isn’t this a pretty nice atmosphere?
If we held hands right now, we’d look like a proper couple.
”Standing here again, in this place… it feels like I’m dreaming,” she murmurs.
I get it. I really get it. When I finally came home to my family’s house, I thought it was a dream. It didn’t feel happy, just… surreal.
”This is such a beautiful place. It feels like I’ve stepped into a fairy tale,” she says.
A pastoral scene. Cows lazily grazing. Majestic mountains like the Alps rising behind a Western-style castle.
It’s so scenic I want to take a million photos and send them to my uncle.
”Yes, when I was young, everything in the world looked beautiful. But as I gained knowledge… I started to feel guilty,” she says, her tone growing heavy.
”This country is a harsh place for the poor. No matter how pretty the view is, it doesn’t feed anyone.”
Is reality really like that?
I was about to say something about the richness of the heart, but it felt too shallow, so I held back.
Wasn’t there something about heroes coming from beautiful lands?
Even a breathtaking view won’t fill your belly.
But if there’s wall barley, I guess there’s no risk of starving, even if you’re poor.
”In the harsh winter cold, some people freeze to death,” she says flatly.
Ah. So that’s where the struggle is.
Clothing here is absurdly expensive.
Most commoners can’t even buy new clothes on their yearly income. Winter must be brutal in the colder areas.
”Oh, why not raise sheep?” I ask.
”Wool is an important income source for this country,” she explains. “But it all gets bought up at rock-bottom prices. We can’t afford to wear wool ourselves.”
It’s like rice farmers not being able to eat rice.
Unbelievable, yet you hear that kind of thing on Earth too.
They’re probably being exploited by merchants.
And honestly, the rulers are at fault too.
Will the merchants ever buy wool at a fair price? Probably not. The farmers are likely already drowning in high-interest debts.
If I stepped in, I might get dragged into it and end up enslaved to repay those debts myself.
”Ah, is this an extraterritoriality issue?” I ask. “The Totoana merchants can act however they want, without regulation. The sorrow of a vassal state, huh…”
It’s not like Princess Auroora and the others are incompetent.
They just can’t go against the empire.
No wonder the royal family feels guilty. At least they’re not actively exploiting their citizens like the merchants.
”Is there any value in a royal family that can’t even protect the modest happiness of those who work hard?” I ask quietly.
”The national army is decent,” she replies. “And Princess Auroora is doing her best. Without military strength, they’d already be a Totoana colony. The merchants would have even more free rein.”
Princess Auroora is sharp. She must’ve considered a thousand options already.
The fastest way would be full independence from Totoana.
But in today’s global situation, that’d mean a world war. Countless lives lost.
It’s not just this country being exploited by imperial merchants.
Many oppressed vassal states are at the brink of rebellion.
From what I gather, Totoana’s military can only maintain three fronts at once.
If the vassal states rise together—it’s the beginning of the end for the empire.
Larse will definitely meddle.
Their merchants are ruthless, but still… marginally better.
Hmm. There is a path to victory in a war for independence. Not impossible.
Maybe… 70% odds?
If this were a game, I’d absolutely go for it. But in reality?
Who would take such a blood-soaked path knowing how high the cost is?
Even if we won, the aftermath would be terrible.
I don’t want to kill anyone. Not if I can help it.
To fulfill Ms. Nina’s wish, we just need to make sure no one freezes to death this winter.
In that case… even I, a peace-loving Japanese, don’t feel hesitant.
Distribute winter clothing? Nah, they’d probably just take it as collateral against debts.
Hot springs? That’d turn into a resort real quick.
What we need is cheap, disposable fuel—something we wouldn’t mind losing.
”Aren’t straw pellet fuels widespread?” I ask.
”They’re monopolized by the Totoana merchants,” she replies, frowning.
Figures. Of course they’d strangle every useful resource.
They’ve probably locked everything down with contracts too. To fight them, we need a loophole.
Alright… time for our new product: bean charcoal.
Mr. Raoh and the dwarves are researching charcoal. It’s made by steaming straw, mixing it with lime and clay, then shaping it.
They plan to use it as fuel for steam engines.
It’s cheaper than coal—and the key point? It bypasses the charcoal guild.
But what’s in actual demand… is the byproduct, bean charcoal.
More useful than straw pellets for homes. Keeps you warm all day in a pocket warmer. Super convenient.
”If we barter bean charcoal for dairy products, we should make it through this winter,” I declare. “In the meantime, let’s have Miss Floria check the contracts with the Totoana merchants. We’ll take back what was taken from us. Double the return!“
I’ve always wanted to say that line. Sounds so cool.
…But Ms. Nina just brushes it off.
”They can change the contracts however they like,” she says.
”…I suppose so,” I admit. “But contracts under the gods can’t be broken. There’s a way to fight.”
A contract made in the name of the gods is absolute—even if it’s unfair.
If greedy merchants tamper with the terms, we can get the god of contracts on our side.
”Those who don’t fear the gods… they’re dangerous. They must think they’re omnipotent,” I mutter.
Yeah. When things go your way, it’s easy to forget your limits.
…Huh? Why am I getting philosophical during this rare romantic moment with Ms. Nina?
Was the mood… just in my head?
Misreading romance is so embarrassing. But if I get too shy, I’ll never move forward.
Alright, time to try that trick I learned from my martial arts master, Mr. Escalion—the grandmaster of flirting.
Apparently, if a woman says she’s cold in winter, the guy’s toast. But if you say it and offer your cloak… that works great.
And even if I fail, there’s no real damage. Let’s go.
”Oh, it’s cold. It’s really chilly tonight,” I say with as much casual charm as I can muster.
Maybe a little forced? Whatever. She doesn’t know I’ve got insulation skills.
I take out a large cloak from my magic bag and drape it around both of us, wrapping Ms. Nina snugly.
This way, it doesn’t seem unnatural to be close.
Her body heat seeps into me, and I feel strangely happy.
Ms. Nina doesn’t pull away.
It really is cold tonight.
As long as there’s a reason, is this okay?
…Tsundere? Nah, doesn’t feel quite right.
”Cold can be nice. It reminds you you’re alive,” she says, then sighs. “No, that’s too privileged of me. People suffering from the cold might get angry if they heard that.”
Not the reaction I expected… but very much like Ms. Nina.
Yeah, someone on the edge of freezing to death might call that naive.
Still… it’s fine. People once said it: The world exists for the two of us.
”Ms. Nina, you’re too serious. Way too serious,” I say.
I hug her tightly, trying to warm her up.
She’s smaller than I thought—like a small, vulnerable animal.
Just that makes me smile. I really am soft.
But that’s okay.
I’ll never forget this moment.
This is the top scene I’d want in my life’s final slideshow.
”I have no regrets in my life,” I say.
”You’re such a fool. You watch too much anime,” she laughs.
Interdimensional cultural understanding: achieved.
Man, I’m happy.
Tonight, I feel like I really moved forward.
Maybe three steps forward, one step back?
This pace.
This distance.
Let’s walk. No need to run.
* * *
”Huh? Princess Auroora and I are getting married?” I blurted out, unable to hide the confusion in my voice.
After breakfast, I’d been called by Miss Floria to speak in a private room. I’d already used a radar scan to confirm we weren’t being eavesdropped on. Still, that doesn’t guarantee anything. There are workarounds. Voice tubes don’t register a mana response, so they can easily go unnoticed. It’s unsettling, being in someone else’s castle.
If it weren’t for Miss Floria, I wouldn’t have even known such dangers existed. Of course, there are countermeasures: speak as if you’re being listened to, lower your voice, switch to written communication…
It’s an old castle, after all. It still hides plenty of dark mechanisms—like ventilation shafts repurposed as listening devices. It seems Princess Auroora and the others aren’t using them, though.
”You didn’t even know those existed?” Miss Floria said with a sigh. “The vent has a rusted iron cover, completely stuck. It hasn’t been used in, what, a hundred years?”
”It seems there was a misunderstanding in the negotiations, but it’s not a bad deal, is it?” she added with a teasing glint in her eyes. “Do you dislike the princess? At this point, why not take both of them at once?”
No, Princess Auroora is… basically the former Ms. Nina. Or rather, a darker version of Ms. Nina. They’re essentially two halves of the same person.
Of course, I don’t dislike her. But if you’re asking whether I like her enough to want to marry her… that’s a different matter. She’s not Ms. Nina.
”That girl is also a dear student of mine. I want her to be happy,” Miss Floria said gently. “If you spend time with her, won’t you develop feelings?”
”That’s true,” I admitted, then frowned. “But it still feels like I’m betraying Ms. Nina…”
”What are you talking about?” she said with exasperation. “How many wives do you even have?”
That depends on your definition of “wife.” Just looking at the numbers, I might seem like some over-the-top harem protagonist, but every case has its reasons. Everyone’s in the loop, and Shea-Shea has even compiled the whole situation into a readable, well-organized story.
I must’ve explained this to Miss Floria before. Was that sarcasm? Irony?
”I think Princess Auroora is special to Ms. Nina,” I muttered.
In sci-fi, it’s a cliché for the original and the copy to end up fighting each other.
”So, would you prefer Princess Auroora be married off to a corrupt merchant?” Miss Floria pressed.
That… would be unpleasant. Is that sympathy I feel? Or possessiveness?
”What does she think about it? Does she see it as just a political marriage?” I asked.
”Nobles and royals usually marry for politics,” Miss Floria said matter-of-factly. “Especially in remote areas, it’s hard to even find a lover. With her personality, she probably considers it a pseudo-love marriage.”
It’s complicated. Maybe she thinks Ms. Nina is her stand-in. But they seem to share memories of growing up here in this castle, so maybe it’s not even a misunderstanding. Still, the memories of adventuring with me belong solely to Ms. Nina.
”Do you think I can get along with Princess Auroora?” I asked.
”That should be fine,” Miss Floria replied. “First, we need to win her over. So, for lunch, please make it beef curry. Lately, my palate has become refined, and the food in this castle just isn’t satisfying. Ho ho ho ho.”
…I do miss good food. I think the chef tried his best, but just throwing salt and a few spices on grilled, tough beef doesn’t cut it.
”Good things come to those who hurry,” I muttered, as I secured permission and made my way into the castle kitchen.
The head chef was an old man, formerly a butcher. While he was skilled with a cleaver, he’d only picked up cooking secondhand. He seemed to hold a grudge against the Totoana merchants for mocking his rustic food—and honestly, they weren’t entirely wrong.
They’d slaughtered an old cow to welcome us, but most of the meat was still untouched. Leftovers would be distributed to the locals, and the housewives who came to help were sneakily stashing away the tougher cuts. Even if it’s tough, meat is still meat—a feast in its own right.
Strangely, the head was missing. Apparently, Princess Auroora had taken it as an offering to the gods. A shame. Beef tongue is delicious.
Miss Floria had asked for curry, but I figured I might as well go for beef stew instead. The challenge was the tough, smelly, not-properly-aged meat. Fuel is precious here, so I summoned a salamander to help out. Then I used a modern cheat: the pressure cooker. I bought a bunch back home for 2,000 yen each. Cheap, but reliable.
They’re a bit of a pain to maintain afterward, but thanks to my magic bag, I can just toss them in post-use and they’ll stay clean.
Same goes for frying oil. With the bag, storage is no issue. It’s basically a cooking cheat.
I blanched the meat to eliminate the smell, cut it up, seared it, then pressure-cooked it. Even the toughest meat becomes tender in no time. The bones soften, and I can extract the marrow for a rich broth.
It’s only been a day since the slaughter, and it’s cold—are the organs still usable? Maybe. But it’s risky.
Apparently, the old chef kept them for himself. If he’s going to eat them, they’re probably safe. I’ll give him some sauce as a thank-you later.
* * *
In the end, I served a creamy white beef stew, grilled offal on skewers, and a cheesecake for dessert. Sparse, maybe, but balanced.
Uno had asked for fried potatoes and cola, so I added those too.
”Isn’t cooking for the lowly?” King Ayub grumbled, sounding like a fossil from a bygone age.
Princess Auroora gave him a sharp elbow to the ribs before I could even respond.
Despite that rocky start, the king and ministers devoured the meal. Not just quietly—they tore through it with zeal.
Worth the effort, then.
The old chef and the local housewives already confirmed what flavors this country likes. And this other world? They love sweets. Princess Auroora looked like her soul had ascended over the cheesecake and cola. In contrast, Ms. Nina isn’t really into food.
”I concede,” said one minister solemnly.
”Please let me call you brother,” another added reverently.
”This puts the bland, uptight Totoana cuisine to shame!” declared the flabbiest one with what seemed like half-genuine flattery.
They’re way too easy to please. Honestly, that worries me a little.
That said, looks matter for court cuisine. Cultural background is important, and you can’t just copy French haute cuisine wholesale.
If we’re talking experts, Gluttonous Baron would top the list. If he weren’t a lord, I’d scout him as head chef.
”What, this meat is our country’s?” the round minister exclaimed. “Oh, I can’t wait for the wedding banquet!”
”No, we must not hold a public ceremony,” said a senior minister, frowning. “We cannot allow Totoana to discover our nations’ alliance just yet.”
In this world, weddings are basically political PR. If there’s no benefit, they often don’t bother with a ceremony. But weddings are a dream for many women. I wonder how Ms. Nina feels about it?
Come to think of it, I never had a proper wedding ceremony with Tizzy and the others either. Should we throw a private party? No, lately we’ve been doing that every time there’s an excuse—new dish tasting events and such. Just food wouldn’t make it special anymore.
”Then at least, let us hold a private ceremony to report to the gods,” said a skeletal minister, his eyes lighting up. “(If we’re lucky) we might even receive their blessing.”
He’s clearly from the temple. Obvious, really—he gets desperate whenever his interests are involved. And temple stuff costs a lot in hush money. We’ve already got enough divine protection, thank you.
I’m not stingy. I just don’t like being conned by people pretending to be gods.
* * *
Let’s think this through: what do women admire in a wedding? Even in a different culture, some universal points should apply.
A feast. Beautiful clothing. Vows of love. A sacred place.
Even if it’s a secret wedding, I can arrange all of that.
I know of a place holier than any temple.
As for jewelry—ring, bracelet, necklace—I can craft first-rate items. And if I want something god-tier, I can always ask Master Zenom.
Food is easy. If I let Ancient Dragon Uno supervise the plating, the tradition angle will be covered too.
The problem is the attire. A wedding dress?
Apparently, they aren’t white in this world. But that’s fine; white isn’t a necessity.
In that case… I’ll make it myself, with my whole heart.
My sewing skill is maxed out—but that doesn’t mean I have real experience. To make something truly satisfactory, I’d need at least ten years of training.
Now I just want to hide in Uno’s nest again.
…Is this what they call the marriage blues?
Notes:
• Tizzy – Claims to be Duke’s daughter, a noble with advanced magic skills. MC and Ms. Shirakaba lover.
• Saria – Sar-Sar. A young girl from a noble family, the Toyata Viscount house. She is the daughter of Lady Laara and is destined to bear the fate of her clan.
• Ms. Nina – Doll Princess (Auroora 217), renamed by the protagonist. Beautiful blonde, ~168 cm, slim waist. Wears adventurer attire. Made from artificial parts and wooden limbs, resembling a princess. Knowledgeable, can read, write, and use basic healing magic. Reliable partner, often saves the protagonist with her skills.
• Nina – Doll Princess (Auroora 217), renamed by the protagonist. Beautiful blonde, ~168 cm, slim waist. Wears adventurer attire. Made from artificial parts and wooden limbs, resembling a princess. Knowledgeable, can read, write, and use basic healing magic. Reliable partner, often saves the protagonist with her skills.
• Shirakaba – A paladin who seems to be a skilled fighter. He’s introduced as someone with a strong defense and healing abilities.
• Raoh – Pakkyamara. An infamous, scheming, but somewhat incompetent senior adventurer known for meddling with hero summoning rituals; often gets beaten up as a result. The one who want japanese food.
• Miss Floria – Elegant, silver-haired noblewoman in her 40s, referred to as an ‘older sister’. Judge of the Supreme Court and Baroness. Former tutor of Princess Auroora. Initially stern but warms up, showing a playful side. Close with Ms. Nina (Princess Auroora’s doll copy), treating her like a sister. Trustworthy and explains legal matters clearly.
• Escalion – Male. An old swordsman who claims to be the ‘true Hero.’ He is Mia’s lover and appears to be a human from the same world. Despite his shabby appearance, he is incredibly strong and has a frightening presence. He dislikes humans and has a complicated history with them, including an experiment involving a fox.
• Shea-Shea – Mauro’s daughter. Hurt by Alexander. Became an eager fiancée after advice from protagonist.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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