Chapter 197 The Jewel Box of Evil
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Even though Ayumu had been temporarily relieved of Lord duties, Keldan kept spinning on as usual. From early morning, the line workers marched into the city on foot. The sight was eerily familiar—like the old world—but there was something odd here in this otherworld.
The girls who had left behind lives of prostitution now worked in factories, and children whose families had received modest support from the Count of Keldan—enough to be forced into school—lined the streets. Even though Yugan had transformed into the Freehold City alliance, opening trade wider after imperial stagnation, only Keldan ensured that children from non-wealthy backgrounds could access schools, childcare, stable income, and workplaces for women.
”Hey, you’re the newbie, right?”
”Yes, thanks for having me.”
The line workers seemed ready to begin today’s tasks.
”No emergency work today, so it’s not a shift day—but don’t be late on your shifts. And don’t forget the wooden tokens you’re given! Forget them at the start of work and you lose your meal discounts at the public cafeteria! Got it?”
He realized they were talking about Keldan-issued wooden tokens. Each day, the design changed, and these tokens ensured that low-income workers or factory laborers could access food. This system not only provided sustenance but also created jobs for those struggling to eat.
The public cafeteria offered both low-cost and free menus:
Low-cost meals
- Breakfast: Sweet cereal with milk, Birene Potato Salad [the “coffee of the poor”] and Coffee Cherry Tea
- Lunch: Rye & Barley Soda Bread, minced meat, eggplant, onion, turnip in Birene Eggplant Sauce Buckwheat Porridge, vegetable consomme, lemonade-style soda
- Dinner: Wholegrain Rye & Wheat Bread, roasted cabbage and pork leg, Blend Tea with Job’s Tears
Free meals
- Breakfast: Steamed Birene Potato, Birene Potato Salad [coffee of the poor], Coffee Cherry Tea
- Lunch: Minced meat & turnip oatmeal, Job’s Tears Blend Tea
- Dinner: Steamed Birene Potato—now just a cabbage soup
(Blend Tea using Job’s Tears tastes similar to corporate teas like Ju-○ Tea or Sō-○ Bi Tea.)
Despite appearances, even the free menu was generous compared to other regions where serfs struggled to eat.
”Wait… the wooden token designs are different?”
”Fake tokens! Catch them!!”
”Whoa!!”
Apparently, a resident from neighboring Livonia had recently tried to cheat the system with counterfeit tokens.
”Damn! They got away…”
”What a fast bastard!”
Returning staff were panting, confirming the escape. Shifting focus back to the newbie, he was being shown the factory line by a senior worker.
”Never turn off the safety devices, even if inconvenient. Just the other day, someone disabled the sensors and got caught in the machinery.”
”And don’t flirt with the seamstresses or factory girls—ex-prostitutes are strong-willed, and married women have intimidating husbands.”
The newbie couldn’t help imagining the real-life horror stories behind these warnings.
Shifting perspective to the school, the children—still pure at heart—were approaching lunchtime. Today, the cafeteria served meat sauce soft noodles, beloved by kids and adults alike.
Due to rushed integration policies, classes had ended up segregated by ethnicity. Snacks were provided to prevent malnutrition—today, it was a cup of pudding à la mode. Ayumu’s thoughtfulness extended even here, anticipating children might reject repetitive, fortified rations.
”Hey! Colorless mouse! Give me that pudding!”
”No! That’s ours, Birene kids’ snack!”
Elandric children were trying to snatch Birene children’s treats. Today’s lunch monitor, Sasami’s friend KukKuk, was cornered by multiple Elandric boys, eyes brimming with tears.
”Stop right there! Elandric scum, I’ll crush you!”
Sasami charged with a broom, pummeling the boys until blood nearly flowed—far beyond reasonable. Even the teacher rushed over.
”Too soft!! Ms. Sasami!! Elandric kids lack learning ability! Crush more! Break their bones!!”
The school descended into chaos—students and teachers alike, a full-blown brawl. The children’s innocence seemed nowhere to be found.
Deciding not to watch the teachers’ fight, Ayumu turned toward the market.
”Colorless mice, no sugar for you! Go home!”
”Damn you, Yugan scum… remember this!”
”Next! 120 Keldan petty coins.”
”What? That’s ridiculous! Earlier Birene folk paid 30!”
”The earlier customers got the comrade discount—yours is full price! Don’t like it? Go elsewhere!”
”Damn it! Yugan get out! You colorless rats leeching off us!”
”Enough! Keldan is Birene town! We’re just reclaiming losses from discrimination by Yugan and Elandric!”
Even among adults at the market, hostility ran high.
The People of Birene erupted, shouting in unison, “Exactly! That’s right!” Their chants quickly morphed into a full-blown chorus: “Get out! Get out!”
But take heart—relief arrived swiftly. Oregano, leading her guard squad, stormed onto the scene, ready to impose order. Surely, the ever-justice-driven Oregano would resolve this mess in no time. She listened carefully to both sides, piecing together the situation, then muttered with feigned understanding, “Hmm… I see…”
”Then, as a special measure, I’ll favor whoever pays more…”
Wait, what? This wasn’t a heroic arrest scene—Oregano was demanding a bribe.
”No way… the captain of the guard demanding money?!”
”Hey! You! Rabbit-eared girl!! Don’t mess with us!!”
”You think that demand can pass? When Lord returns, I’ll report this!”
The two previously brawling parties, shocked by the unexpected turn, found themselves oddly united in protest. But Oregano, unmoved, pressed on.
”What are you babbling about? Is it not obvious whose judgment I trust more, yours or theirs? And while Your Excellency is relieved of duty, one must earn a little, right?
Or… what? If you can’t pay, should I just kill you all right here? Fortunate for you, with my mixed demi-human blood, there’s no way you could overpower me. Casualties in suppressing riots are… common.
Even if every last one of you dies, Your Excellency, relieved of duty as you are, wouldn’t mind one bit…”
Sadly, this wasn’t a dramatic manga moment. Oregano’s cold, shadowed face—eyebrows frozen in place—sent chills through everyone. Surrounded by her fully armed guards, both factions froze, eventually surrendering nearly all their money with trembling obeisance.
”Hmph. Not a bad haul… I feel good. By my mercy, I’ll make an exception and let you both off this time… but let this be the last time you trouble me!”
”Yes… (glare!) Thank you!” The victims’ expressions mirrored those of street punks being extorted near a station, grateful to get back just enough for their transport.
As Oregano’s squad turned to leave, the rivals immediately resumed blaming each other: “This is your fault! Apologize!!”
Oregano spun on her heels, fury flaring. “What… is my fine not enough? Do you wish to be hauled off as well?!” Finally, both sides scattered like frightened spiders, disappearing into the crowd.
Once Oregano and her guards exited the market, the Infantry, who should have been on duty elsewhere, appeared. They began selling surplus rations, originally intended as emergency military food or free provisions: alpha-processed dried oats mixed into chicken soup oatmeal, and the same oats with dried bonito flakes oatmeal—all in bulk.
And, of course, they pocketed the profits for themselves.
Rotten… this place was a jewel box of evil.
It was over. This domain had truly reached its end.
And so—reporting live from Keldan’s market, where even in Lord’s absence, every cunning hand worked to line Ayumu’s own pockets just a little—this chaotic spectacle drew to a close.
To be continued…
Notes:
• Sasami – Birene girl, small and sharp-eyed with messy brown hair | First in Ch.126 | Servant maid from the slums, does chores with chaotic energy | Has many starving siblings she secretly sends wages to | Bonds with Cocoa as her junior but constantly drags her into trouble | Meets Ayumu as part of the first servant group, wakes him with flying tackles and endless pranks | Unique note: loudmouthed gremlin who hides deep loyalty and homesickness behind mischief
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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