Distances Growing Closer, Distances Growing Apart
*Right now, the Hero Party is in battle.*
“Lord Erason, something’s coming from the right. Please be careful!”
“Understood. Almeria, don’t come out from behind me.”
“Yes. Ah, Lord Erason, you’re injured… I’m so sorry, it’s because of me. I’ll use healing magic right away.”
“It’s fine. A man protects a woman… I’m just glad you weren’t hurt.”
“My, Lord Erason. Thank you so much.”
Yeah… what exactly am I being forced to watch here?
Lady Almeria? You’re my fiancée, you know…
Here, look at this hand. It’s covered in blood.
Instead of making a huge fuss over Crown Prince Erason’s scratch, maybe start with your fiancé’s serious injuries.
When Almeria noticed my wounds…
“I’m sorry, Julius. That just now used up all my mana. Here, take a potion.”
Aaaand there we go, potion received…
My fiancée-slash-childhood-friend handed me the potion and immediately walked away again. I really wanted to tell her, “Today’s potion tastes kind of like tears.”
Well, I cried enough to rehydrate with it, I guess. So sad~
And over here…
“Princess Elizabeth, I defeated the monster. Please kick me!”
Hero-boy was in top form again today.
“Good, good. Such a good boy. Here’s your reward. Savor it properly.”
The Princess kicked him away without mercy…
Yeah, that’s not a princess anymore. That’s a queen.
Maybe I should make her a proper costume at our company next time?
“Ahiiiiiiinn!!”
Our beloved Hero-boy let out a wonderful cry.
“Please do it more like you’re gouging upward from below.”
So he was already advanced level… Too late now.
Whatever. Do whatever you want.
The Hero Party moved around for monster subjugations.
Actually, even just that cost an absurd amount…
I personally arranged custom-made carriages from the Yotsuba General Trading Company (not for sale). The rental fees alone were insane.
Then there were the knights traveling with them, the adventurers, and food and drink supplies for all those people…
Whenever they entered a town, it was luxury inn suites.
There was no way defeating one monster could cover that. Every trip ran in the red…
And the Hero Party had absolutely no intention of reforming. If anything, their demands kept growing.
“Julius, don’t you have a better sword? Something worthy of a Hero… like a Holy Sword or something~”
You don’t even fight. Do you need one? I already gave you a needlessly ornate sword just for finishing blows. Pure looks-over-function.
“That’s right. I want something dazzling and gorgeous, worthy of me,” the Princess added.
You know what, I’m seriously going to hand you a whip covered in tacky decorations.
While I was thinking that, Hero-boy looked at me with sparkling eyes.
Yeah yeah. You’re definitely the Hero, no doubt about it.
The food and drinks were all top-grade. The potions too.
They used magic stones for tents and magic tools without restraint.
Expenses? What’s that, is it tasty? That kind of attitude.
And the one managing all of it was yours truly, Julius, porter and errand boy…
“Everyone, we’re over budget. Tonight we’ll have to stay at a standard-rank inn.”
“Ehh, no way.”
“You expect me to stay somewhere with commoners?”
“I refuse to enter any place beneath my rank. I’m going home.”
“Julius… umm…”
There it is. This right here.
For the record, the order was Milian, Crown Prince Erason, Princess Elizabeth, then Almeria.
“Fine. When we get back, I’ll ask for the budget to be raised.”
“You should have said that from the start. Don’t trouble us with such things. Julius, you don’t fight, so at least handle chores like that…”
“Julius, Lord Erason is right. This is your role, so please do your job.”
“Lord Erason,” huh…
Now then, whose fiancée do you think you are?
“… Understood. My apologies.”
After the subjugation ended, I went before King Jimetz, the Finance Minister, and the other big shots.
“The Hero Party’s expedition funds are insufficient. At this rate, the next expedition cannot proceed. What would you like to do?”
“We have provided ample funding. Could it be that Lord Julius embezzled it?”
The pudgy Finance Minister. Must eat well.
“The Hero Party travels like royalty on a luxury parade, you know? Just gathering the funds gives me headaches…”
“We cannot provide more, Your Majesty. What shall we do?”
The pudgy Finance Minister looked like he had high blood pressure.
“Julius. Figure it out.”
A heavenly decree from King Jimetz…
Ahh, that reminds me of a useless boss from my previous life. Terrible at work, amazing at office politics. Said the same thing all the time…
“Understood. Then would you leave the method to me? Though if it fails and the Hero Party says they refuse to go on expeditions, don’t blame me… What do you say?”
“Very well. I leave it to Julius. I will not complain afterward, so make sure the Hero Party’s expeditions succeed!!”
Good good. Got that on record. Time to work…
After that, Julius made the Hero Party’s expenses effectively unlimited.
“Julius, don’t you have something better than this cosmetic?”
“I do, but it’s expensive, Princess.”
“You’ll obtain it for me. Payment as usual. Milian, Almeria, what about you two?”
“Yes, thank you. Julius, I’d like some too…”
“… Me too…”
“Got it.”
Then I established the “Hero Party Support Donation Fund” through the Yotsuba General Trading Company, calling on nobles and other merchants to participate…
The names of donating nobles and companies were publicly announced at storefronts, letting them gain prestige. Supporting the Hero became a kind of status symbol.
Once that momentum started, nobles and merchants with money to spare rushed to donate…
And just like that, the funding crisis was avoided through the Hero Party Support Donation Fund.
All Hero Party supply purchases were made through *our* Yotsuba General Trading Company…
Julius: “Much appreciated. Cha-ching~ $”
What do you think about this chapter?
