Chapter 557 The Pros and Cons of Trade ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”So, that’s the situation,” I said. “I’d like to import Komipom in large quantities. Would that be acceptable?”
”‘Komipom’… you mean that ‘rubber bean’ material you mentioned?” the Queen asked in her usual calm tone.
After wrapping up our “experiment” with Ms. Nada, our guest from the Southern Continent, I had carried out several follow-up tests of my own. Once I was convinced of the material’s potential, I headed straight for the Queen’s office with a proposal. Even setting aside the adult-oriented magic circuits sold in my shop, rubber was bound to become an important resource in the future.
”Yes. As I already explained, its properties make it extremely useful.”
”Hmm… yes, I suppose they do…”
The Queen’s answer lacked conviction, though not because she doubted me. Rather, I had already spent far too long “explaining” the material’s many applications. Some of those details were not exactly suitable for discussion in mixed company, either.
”‘Rubber,’ was it?” Prince Roland cut in, curiosity showing in his voice. “The super balls were certainly interesting, but is it really that remarkable a material?”
The other person present was Prince Roland, heir to the throne and currently deep in his practical education as a future ruler. Since Ms. Nada’s business had been with my shop specifically, he had not attended the earlier meetings. At this point, however, keeping him uninformed was no longer an option.
If trade with the Southern Continent became a reality, much of the responsibility would eventually fall to him. The Queen had insisted that Roland, rather than herself, needed to think seriously about what kind of relationship our country should build with the Southern Continent. She would advise him, of course, but the conclusion had to be his.
Incidentally, the super balls I had created during my various “experiments” had become surprisingly popular within the palace.1 What started with the court mages bouncing them around the courtyard soon spread to the soldiers, and before long even the Prince had heard about them.
Before long, competitions sprang up everywhere. Some tried to see who could make a ball bounce the highest, while others formed circles and played games where losing meant either dropping the ball or letting it bounce twice. Watching them, I had to admit it looked like fun.
For the Prince, who had spent far too much time buried beneath paperwork lately, it seemed to be a welcome change of pace. As for the sight of fully grown adults obsessing over rubber balls, that remained a rather strange spectacle in my eyes.
But that was beside the point.
”Yes, it’s an extremely versatile material,” I said. “It’s flexible, durable, and useful in all sorts of applications.”
”The reports from the Court Mages support that assessment,” the Queen said. “Purchasing it through the state and attempting domestic cultivation are both viable options.”
”If that’s the case, then what is there to hesitate over?” Roland asked.
”That is precisely where matters become complicated.”
The Queen stopped the Prince before he could settle on a conclusion. As expected, the issue was not that simple.
The real problem lay in the political situation on the Southern Continent and in the position held by Ms. Nada’s master, the woman known as Meryamisha. I repeated everything Ms. Nada had told me.
”The Aurumcame Governor State… and a succession struggle over its leadership?” Roland asked.
”Correct,” the Queen replied. “Building ties with Lady Nada’s master means attracting the attention of the other claimants. If Lady Meryamisha becomes Governor, the benefits to us could be considerable. On the other hand, she has little interest in the position herself. Ideally, she would maintain her current standing, but there is no guarantee events will unfold that way.”
As she spoke, the Queen laid out both the advantages and the risks of establishing friendly relations with Meryamisha.
The advantages were obvious. We would gain access to Southern Continent products such as rubber beans while opening new markets for our own goods. It would also make gathering information from the region considerably easier.
The risks were equally clear. Any relationship with Meryamisha would inevitably draw us closer to the political turmoil currently brewing across the sea.
Roland considered the information for a moment before speaking.
”To be blunt, are those risks really that serious? Even if something happens in the Southern Continent, it does not directly affect our country, does it?”
”Hmm. That is one way to look at it,” the Queen admitted. “It’s somewhat opportunistic, but one could argue that even if Lady Meryamisha were to lose her position, our trading partner would simply change. Our nation itself would suffer little.”
It was a reasonable conclusion. Whatever happened to the Governor State would take place on the far side of the ocean. The chances of conflict reaching our shores were extremely low, and trade would likely continue in one form or another.
Even so, a ruler needed to look beyond the most obvious answer.
”For us, perhaps,” the Queen said. “But what if you were in Sylvaol’s position?”
”Ah…”
Roland immediately caught the implication.
No matter what happened in the Southern Continent, the Maritime Nation of Sylvaol was our neighbor. For them, the issue was far more immediate.
The Queen pressed on.
”Why do you think Lady Nada approached us instead of Sylvaol? She was welcomed there as a rare visitor from the Southern Continent. By all appearances, she even developed a good relationship with their diplomat, Lady Schueri. And yet she still has not revealed her master’s identity.”
”Because she has a reason not to,” Roland replied. “Or perhaps because keeping it hidden is more convenient.”
”Exactly. When someone acts on behalf of a particular position, actions that cannot be dismissed as coincidence usually have a purpose behind them. Though, admittedly, there are exceptions who act entirely on emotion.”
”Lady Nada is not that sort of person.”
”Precisely.”
I had watched exchanges like this countless times since these study sessions began.
The Queen presented a problem, and Roland worked through it step by step. To his credit, he was an excellent student. He listened carefully, thought quickly, and rarely settled for the first answer that came to mind.
”In other words,” Roland continued, “Lady Nada does not want Sylvaol learning her true identity. She approached the merchant guild in the harbor city governed by Lady Meryamisha. Given the circumstances, they may already suspect the truth.”
”Indeed,” the Queen replied. “Even so, she avoided confirming it. Because she did not want it made public.”
”Is that because of her relationship with the other successors?” Roland asked. “If it became known that Lady Meryamisha was dealing with the Northern Continent, perhaps they would look down on her. They do seem to regard us as inferior.”
”That is possible,” the Queen said. “However, I suspect the people she is most concerned about are not the other successors.”
”Not them…? Then…” Roland paused before his eyes widened. “Could it be Sylvaol?”
”Yes. That is my conclusion as well. She is wary of Sylvaol, which is why she keeps her identity hidden.”
There were not many pieces on the board. If the successors were not the answer, Sylvaol became the most likely candidate. Even so, the idea that concealing her identity itself was a clue had been a subtle trap. Roland spotted it and reached the correct conclusion.
The Queen smiled and gently patted her younger brother on the head.
Roland truly was talented. More importantly, he was eager to learn. Rather than basking in his sister’s praise, he immediately moved on to the next question.
Why, exactly, did Ms. Nada need to be cautious of Sylvaol?
And why was keeping her identity secret so important?
”Following that line of reasoning,” Roland said, “wouldn’t it be more convenient for both Lady Nada and Sylvaol if her identity remained hidden? Since they both understand that, Sylvaol chooses not to ask, and Lady Nada chooses not to answer.”
”Correct,” the Queen said with a nod. “Try looking at the situation from both sides. The information you need is already there.”
She offered no further explanation.
Thought exercises like these were essential. They taught Roland how to anticipate another party’s actions and prepared him for similar situations our own nation might face someday.
To the Queen, this must have felt like ideal teaching material arriving at exactly the right moment. Naturally, the matter involved real international politics and could not be treated lightly, but compared to dealing with the Wielope Empire in the east, it was far easier to use as a lesson.
As a result, Roland was able to think deeply about the problem and continue sharpening his judgment.
Now then… what answer would he arrive at next?
—
Summary:
The protagonist proposes importing “Komipom” (rubber beans) to the Queen, who uses the opportunity to conduct a pedagogical thought experiment with Prince Roland. They analyze the geopolitical risks and the delicate power balance involving the Southern Continent, Ms. Nada’s master Meryamisha, and the neighboring Maritime Nation of Sylvaol. The Prince successfully identifies that Ms. Nada’s secrecy is a strategic move to maintain diplomatic ambiguity with Sylvaol.
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Trivia:
The protagonist’s “adult-themed magic circuits” are hinted at as an additional factor in his business.
”Super balls” are a product the protagonist invented, which inadvertently became a sensation in the royal palace.
The Queen is actively training the Prince for the future, viewing these real-world trade dilemmas as perfect educational tools.
The protagonist views the adult-oriented nature of his shop as a juxtaposition to the serious political discussions.
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Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Nada – A tall, slender Southern Continent merchant and envoy with dark skin, sharp almond eyes, and vulgar slang, this graceful woman is Meryamisha’s right-hand infiltrating the Canaria Kingdom. Embroiled in a succession dispute, she holds a mysterious identity and acts as a key figure in regional trade. She has business with the protagonist’s shop and is in an intimate relationship with Kento.
• Roland – Earnest but inexperienced heir to the Canaria throne, this golden-blonde, innocent-faced prince is the younger brother of Queen Cecile and the King of Ferguson. Close to Unia and assisted by Harvest, he is currently training in practical statecraft under his sister’s guidance, balancing his studious, youthful demeanor with the complex burdens of his future role as monarch.
• Meryamisha – A beautiful, white-haired, dark-skinned young woman, she is the governor of a Southern Continent harbor town and master of Nada. Known as “That Person,” she is a key figure in the Aurumcame Governor State succession struggle. While navigating intense political power plays to fiercely guard her position, she secretly acts as a compassionate protector for local orphaned children.
• Schueri – An elegant, slender diplomat from the Maritime Nation of Sylvaol and Nada’s lead retainer, who shares a close personal rapport with them. Formerly a royal instructor with deep knowledge of the palace and Coalmine Kingdom, she is an intelligent mediator fluent in multiple languages, despite Kento’s doubts. She maintains a refined demeanor while hiding a secret curiosity for adult merchandise.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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