Chapter 179

The End of the Uproar
About a week had passed since the duel incident.
Since things were in disarray within Ostland, I had been working on government affairs alongside my brother—who was working himself like a zombie and teetering on the edge of death from overwork—in his office.

"Ahh, it’s great that the budget increased, but if I keep pushing forward with all the policies I want, we’ll use it all up in a few years. I’d like to think up another industry, but Alice already made a big move. Our allied nations are already crying, begging us to stop any more short-term imports."

Big brother grumbled as he stamped documents.
Certainly, there were many policies that had been left unattended.
Now that there was a budget, my brother was boldly carrying out large-scale reforms while suppressing the opposition. That’s really impressive, right?
He's implementing policies that, under normal circumstances, would be impossible due to conflicting interests.

Incidentally, the Viceroy’s Merchant Union had just launched the sale of household magic tools.

The main products were refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, lighting, washing machines, radios, and televisions.
Since these didn’t use magic crystals or magic gems, their prices weren’t particularly high.
This was thanks to the urban energy infrastructure beginning to take shape through the use of magic furnaces.
Of course, remote villages couldn’t have magic furnaces installed, and mana wires—the substitutes for electric lines—couldn’t be laid either.
Because monsters are drawn to mana.

Big brother planned to boost the villages’ defense capabilities and install high-capacity magic crystals in the villages instead.
It was inefficient, but with monsters around, there was no helping it.

The Viceroy’s Merchant Union also began selling the bracelet series.

The main product was the “Healer’s Bracelet”.
This used the same spell formula as the lighter-like device I gave my brother, which allows even those without aptitude to use healing spells like Heal.

The mana cost wasn’t very high.
However, its effectiveness improved with deep knowledge of the human body, so it became especially popular among priests and town doctors.
If embedded with a magic crystal, even non-magicians could use it. The price went up a bit, though.

Next was the “Golemancer’s Bracelet (Stone Doll)”.
It allowed the user to create and control a golem.
Apparently, many parents bought them for their children as a self-defense tool.

Incidentally, kids who received them had started a trend of making pocket money by hunting goblins using their golems.
Golem battles also seemed to be in vogue.
Parents’ intentions were lost on the kids, it seems.

And so, our allied nations began to cry.
Household magic tools couldn’t be exported due to energy-related restrictions.
Since they didn’t include magic crystals or gems, they weren’t exportable.
But the bracelet series? They desperately wanted those.
Especially the “Healer’s Bracelet”, which was selling like hotcakes.

By the way, my privately compiled anatomy reference book was also being sold.
People asked where it came from, but I had taken useful material from Earth’s anatomical books.
Since human anatomy is basically the same, much of it could be adapted.

Well, with all these useful products being released one after another, our allied nations cried that their national wealth might dry up.
Still, Big brother was someone who could be considerate even about that.
He looked for beneficial things in allied nations—things unknown within Arland—and increased imports.
Even art-related goods were booming in bilateral trade, and both sides were making a killing.
Though it seemed Wa no Kuni was raking in the most.
Anyway, we were boosting trade and sniffing out hidden markets with the nose of a hyena, building an environment where both sides could profit.
At the same time, my brother was also carrying out reforms in Arland, which left him looking like he might drop dead any minute.

Incidentally, most of the developments by the Viceroy Merchant Union were thanks to my clones.

Moreover, the ministers working under my brother were also wearing the faces of the walking dead.
They were managing the laws concerning the things my clones developed, budgeting for the suddenly increased funds, and handling the massive workload brought by the reforms.

“Should we export magic furnaces?”

“If we tried selling magic furnaces to people already crying about having no money, they’d probably start shedding bloody tears.”

Right?
And on top of that, my father had carelessly installed a magic furnace in the royal capital, and apparently the Magic Kingdom sent a delegation demanding I be handed over.

Since they showed up at 3 a.m. without any prior notice, one of my clones handled them.
My magic tool was destroyed as a result of the duel, and the clone who did it fled, so no one knows where they are now.

And then, since I’m apparently being called a Saintess, the Empire also sent a delegation requesting my extradition, but they returned as devout Fluffy Cult believers.
They took on the noble mission of spreading the teachings of the Fluff throughout the central continent.

Anyway, the reason my father let slip about the household magic tools was because the citizens asked, “How are we supposed to handle the mana?”
It would’ve been discovered soon enough, so it didn’t really matter.
Rather than hiding it, it was better since the country could charge mana usage fees. The nation was grinning.
The citizens could get cheap and useful magic tools, so they were grinning too.
No need to worry about the central powers at all.

As a result, the Magic Kingdom issued a ban on exporting magic tools to Arland and its allied nations—a classic move.
But both Arland and its allies apparently just scoffed and said, “Do as you like.”

In truth, Arland had completely shut off the route of buying magic tools from the Magic Kingdom via third countries years ago, so they weren’t affected at all.
Since the privately made ones could be produced more cheaply and in larger quantities than those from the Magic Kingdom, that country was now irrelevant.

“So, what should we do?”

My brother thought for a moment and sighed.

“There’s nothing we can do. If I became an adventurer like you, the bureaucrats would collapse… Well, some already have.
This is something that can’t be helped. I’ll just take it slow and steady. After all, tax revenue is only going up.
If we push reforms too hard in the short term, it’ll only cause unnecessary distortions… By the way, Alice, could you take on a bit more of the paperwork—wait, don’t run!”

As soon as I finished sorting my share of documents, I dashed out of the room.
Just as I exited, I passed by the Prime Minister.

“Your Highness, here are some additional documents.”

Just as expected. At this time of day, the only one who’d approach the office is the Prime Minister—and he’s always carrying a mountain of paperwork. If I stay in the office, I’ll just get saddled with more work, so today’s duties are officially done.

I can hear my brother screaming from inside the office, but I don’t help. After all, if the Prime Minister sees me, he’ll just hand over more documents.

Back in my room, I check on the research results of my clones. These clones are independent and not connected to me directly, so I’ve made it a strict rule that they must submit reports on whatever they’ve made.

“Hmmm. Why are they making an A-10 knockoff? A field request, maybe? Or is there another reincarnated person out there? Doesn’t seem like there’s any otherworlders in the experimental unit though.

They’re making some other interesting stuff too.”

Looks like the experimental unit has also sent in a few additional development requests.

There are some problems as well. First off, the sniper unit training hasn’t progressed at all. They’ve turned into a brute-force charge-loving musclehead unit. I’ll have to request the commander be properly educated.

As a result, they’ve apparently got a surplus of sniper rifles. Well, if they’re not needed, I’ll talk it over with my brother and redirect them to the elves. They can be repurposed for hunting, and the elves are a hunting people. I’m sure they’ll make good use of them.

The artillery and tank units are coming along decently. Training for fighter and bomber pilots is also progressing. However, there’s apparently one problem child who keeps crashing the training planes... and this is the same guy who submitted that additional development request.

Well, it’s the experimental unit. Over the next few years they’ll gather experience and data, and then things will spread to the rest of the army and air force. This kind of thing doesn’t change overnight. There are still people who don’t trust guns, after all.

The real issue is that too many people can deflect bullets. Father, for example, can shrug off a direct hit from a 7.72 mm round using only his battle aura. He even said, “Aim for my lower back—it might help with the stiffness.”

So, the kingdom’s policy now is to keep the Knights Order that uses swords and such. In fact, they’re planning to enhance them further with magic tools to make them even more elite. I don’t like this at all—imagine a knight unit marching straight through a battlefield while artillery shells rain down. That’s terrifying.

“Princess, the commotion in Ostland seems to be over.”

After knocking, Alicia comes in and reports on what happened afterward.

“First, Baron Uzal and his illegitimate child are being sent to a monastery. The Uzal family will be succeeded by Lady Maria’s uncle. Lady Maria herself will be placed under the care of the royal government, but that’s essentially a recruitment. She seems to be reasonably capable.

Also, the head of the Gaiel Ducal House has passed the title to his second son, and both the eldest son and the former head have been forced into retirement.”

Lady Maria will probably be monitored for a while, and once things quiet down, she’ll be given a post or something.

As for the Gaiel house, the second son is in the king’s faction, so they put him in charge. That means the eldest son was probably a useless noble. Good luck, second son. Given how badly things went, I imagine society will treat you coldly.

By the way, that impostor of mine was apparently a daughter of the Gaiel family. Due to trust and body type, she was the only one who could impersonate me. Using someone less convincing could’ve tipped off the kingdom, so it was likely a reluctant decision. That fake Helios was apparently a former A-rank adventurer known as the Iron Fighter, so they probably didn’t think they’d lose. Underestimating me cost them dearly.

The fake Alicia seemed to have been part of the Gaiel family’s shadow unit. Both she and the impostor were now sentenced to labor in the mines.

The girl who impersonated me was also being sent to a monastery. Though in her case, it’s just a regular one. From the investigation, it sounds like she didn’t really understand what was going on and cried, saying she didn’t know why it ended in a duel. She couldn’t be declared innocent, so she’s become a sister. Not that it’s a big deal—the Arland Orthodox Church in this world is so lax that even sisters can marry. Yes, Ostland has now switched over to the Arland-style religion.

“Also, the Fifth Prince is being held jointly responsible and will be sent to a monastery before spring. Even his concubine mother couldn’t defend him, and she’s been sent back to her family home.”

Well, that’s what happens when you form a foolish faction. The adventurers got cocky, too. Having a royal backer really inflates people’s egos. I should be careful myself.

“That ended pretty quickly, huh?”

“Well, rumors about the Gaiel house being at odds with the royal family had even reached Arland. They probably kept meddling after forcibly making their daughter a royal concubine, since she was just a consort from an outer branch.”

The political marriage itself might’ve been fine, but they got greedy afterward and lost the royal family’s trust. That was their undoing.

“Also, the King of Ostland sent an unofficial message thanking us for helping remove obstacles.”

I flopped onto the bed. I’ve been busy lately—no harm in taking a short break.

Winter will be over soon, and spring is coming. The academy in Ostland will reopen in spring. I hardly get to see Sharon and Keena, but I’ll be able to see them again come spring.

Big brother will be attending the academy too, so his workload should decrease. Though right now, ministers are doing their best to block even that, and he’s in a bit of a scuffle with them. Who knows how it’ll end. If the ministers win, he’ll probably have to cancel his study abroad plans.

Me? I’ll be attending the academy normally. It’s not “studying abroad” anymore—just commuting. The royal aircraft is all prepped, of course. The pilot candidates are currently studying with the experimental unit too.

And so, I basked in the slightly warmer sunlight streaming through the window and took a nap.

Unaware that with the coming of spring, a year of upheaval was about to begin, I rested.

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