Akatsuki Translations

“Ah, um…” -Riruka

After the haughty ones left together, Riruka approached me.

“Th-thank you… Mia.” -Riruka

And then, she made a 90-degree turn in her direction of travel.

“No, not me.” -Mia

“Alfina-sama too, um, for taking me into consideration.” -Riruka

“Even if it’s just since a short while ago, I am a committee member for the Consort’s Festival. Fulfilling my role is only natural. Besides, I wasn’t the one who negotiated.” -Alfina

Urged by the two, Riruka stands in front of me, fidgeting.

“Um, I feel like I dragged you into this too…” -Riruka

“This time it was my own doing, so it’s fine. More importantly, I want information about the Consort’s Festival. Since somehow I ended up participating too.” -Ricardo

“This time? Somehow? …There are various things I want to say, but whatever. So what do you want to know?” -Riruka

Having thought of something, the energetic girl regained her composure at my words. I’m not saying anything strange though.

“Well, first…” -Ricardo

“Wait, how long do you intend to keep the princess standing in the hallway?” -Claudia

Claudia interjected as if she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Claud.” -Alfina

“Th-this isn’t a complaint against Vinder, it’s just, as someone who protects the princess’s safety.” -Claudia

I see, I thought she was being quiet, but she has some kind of restriction on her. The Archduchess’ instigation?

What to do? Judging by Alfina’s expression, it doesn’t seem like we can say “from here on is commoners only.” In the first place, she herself seems to have various issues with the boss over there. We’ll likely need information from Claudia’s side too.

Besides, who knows who might overhear us here.

“Let’s change locations. To a room where we can sort out the information a bit more calmly.” -Alfina

I pointed down the path we originally came from.

We stopped in front of the now-expanded laboratory. There was a lock on the entrance. Come to think of it, Fuglsig was whining about not wanting to attend the meeting. Mia took out a key from her pocket and opened the door.

“It’s better to be close to the stone tablet, so that desk is good.” -Ricardo

“The key to the Sage-sama’s room… Seriously, who are you?” -Riruka

Riruka said exasperatedly to Mia and me, who were acting familiar. Alfina sits in the middle on the side where the stone tablet is visible. She seems to at least understand that no one can sit down until she does. Claudia stands to the left of her master. I sit across from Alfina. Mia sits to my left, and Riruka hurriedly tries to sit to her left.

“Ah, sorry. It’ll be hard to hear the conversation, so could you sit over there?” -Ricardo

But I mercilessly kicked Riruka out from the commoner side. Riruka looks at me with tearful eyes, but reluctantly heads towards the seat next to Claudia. However, Alfina points to the seat next to herself. Riruka’s body quivers, but she somehow manages to take a seat with awkward movements.

I feel a strong affinity for her face that says “How did this happen?”

“If possible, I’d like Claudia-dono to take a seat as well. The people gathered here are all facing some kind of difficulty regarding the Consort’s Festival. I think Claudia-dono can share in that too. There’s a limit to the information we commoners can gather about the nobles, after all.” -Ricardo

“Claud. It should be fine not to be so on guard here.” -Alfina

Claudia hesitates a bit, but eventually sits down. As expected, she must be dissatisfied with the role pushed onto her by her master.

“So, about what I wanted to ask. First, Riruka-san.” -Ricardo

“Just call me Riruka, it’s roundabout. I call you Vinder too.” -Riruka

“Ah, yeah… Riruka. Um.” -Ricardo

How is this? We’re both addressing each other casually, but she’s using my last name while I’m using her first name. Doesn’t it feel like I’m being presumptuous?

No, this isn’t the time for that. Right now, we’ve made enemies with one of the top merchants in the royal capital. Their backers are the Second Prince’s fiancée and the Prime Minister’s second son. Amidst this headwind, I have to set up a shop at a festival I had no intention of participating in. And in a place where no one would normally visit.

“So my first question is this. Why is Carst going this far?” -Ricardo

The fundamental question still hasn’t been resolved. I heard the reason for this year’s rule change. However, even putting that together, it’s still weak.

“First of all, you don’t seem to fully understand the meaning of setting up a shop at the Consort’s Festival. In the first place—” -Riruka

Riruka explains. In addition to shouldering the honor of one’s family business, it’s one of the few opportunities to appeal to a large number of nobles at once, and there are even cases where new product announcements are made. The currency used at the Consort’s Festival is specially marked, and rankings are even announced based on the profits made using it. In other words, it assigns superiority and inferiority to the heir candidates of each trading company.

“I see, so it’s more like an expo than a school festival.” -Ricardo

I understood a little bit.

“Ekuspo? Anyway, it’s important for commoner students. Much more so than exams.” -Riruka

“Got it. But even with the traditional rules, those with more financial power would secure better locations, right? Is there a need to go as far as spending a fortune to shut others out?” -Ricardo

“Even I have questions about that. At first, I thought it was a conflict between our headquarters and Carst. If we’re talking about circumstances unique to this year, there’s the story about the expansion of the trade quota with the Empire.” -Riruka

“Ah, that came up during the tea party. If I remember correctly, the Empire is struggling in the fight against monsters. But still, no matter what…” -Ricardo

“There’s no way the trade quota will be determined by a competition between children.” -Riruka

Riruka also tilted her head.

“Um… speaking of the Empire, there’s one thing.” -Alfina

Alfina spoke up.

“It seems that students from the imperial academy will be joining the next envoy as entourage. Hilda-senpai also said she would invite them to the Consort’s Festival.” -Alfina

“We haven’t heard anything like that…” -Riruka

“Carst probably knows about it.” -Ricardo

Unexpected information came in. However, it’s still a story about students. I can’t imagine it influencing trade between nations.

Well, whatever. Next is the relationship with this Hilda person.

“Then my next question is, what’s the connection between the Archduchess’s daughter, the Prime Minister’s son, and Carst?” -Ricardo

“That’s…” -Riruka

At my question, Riruka glanced to the side and evaded answering.

“Please tell us. We can’t make any judgments without accurate information. That’s what Rikardo-kun taught me.” -Alfina

“What are you teaching the princess… I understand. Basically, there’s a rumor that Carst, Kurtheit, the Prime Minister’s family, and the Second Prince’s faction are wavering…” -Claudia

“The prince’s faction? Claudia-dono. Isn’t the method of determining the royal successor solely based on primogeniture?” -Ricardo

I turned the conversation to the stern-faced female knight. There shouldn’t be room for factional disputes over the throne. Of course, it would be different if extraordinary means were used.

“It has been decided that the crown prince is His Highness the First Prince. The nobles, including the Archdukes of the East and West, jointly support the First Prince. And the Second Prince and Third Prince each have their own ‘roles’ to assist the First Prince.” -Claudia

“In other words, factions can form around the other princes, even if not the First Prince?” -Ricardo

I strip away Claudia’s official stance. The countess makes an unpleasant face but doesn’t stop my translation. No matter how much she’s being told to keep quiet, you’d think she’d say a word or two. She might have her own thoughts about being pushed around by her family.

“The Second Prince has deep ties with the Prime Minister’s office. And as you know, the Third Prince is with the Knights. With the princess’s recent achievements, it’s believed that the Third Prince and Archduchess Berthold have joined forces.” -Claudia

“My aunt also said that even though she has no such intention, the Third Prince’s faction is approaching her and causing trouble.” -Alfina

The captain of the Third Knight Order was the Third Prince. I took advantage of that, but did it affect the balance of the factions? I left that area entirely up to the Archduchess.

“In other words, the Second Prince’s faction is wary of the rising faction of the Third Prince and Princess Alfina.” -Ricardo

My Hilda profile wasn’t that far off after all. But the system is more unstable than I thought. It’s fine if everyone maintains the official stance, but if someone decides to break it, it will easily crumble. After all, the First Prince, who is the key, doesn’t have any serious allies.

“I sort of understand that the background involves the interests in imperial trade and the impatience of the Second Prince’s faction.” -Ricardo

I’m not completely convinced, but I’ve grasped the enemy’s situation to a certain extent. There’s not enough information about the Empire. Rather, let’s think about obtaining information through this business. International trade is an essential element for my future dream, after all. However,

“For now, let’s focus on the business at the Consort’s Festival.”  -Ricardo

“What other choices do we have?” -Riruka

“Senpai’s scope of assumptions is always weird.” -Mia

“It’s fine. Then next is the tenant locations. Do you know the current layout of the classrooms and the locations likely to be subject to the upcoming bidding?” -Ricardo

“Wait a minute, what about you and the princess who are being thrown out into the courtyard, rather than us?” -Claudia

“I know. That’s why this information is necessary. To determine if the idea I’ve come up with is feasible.” -Ricardo

What I’m thinking of is a business format that’s normal in my original world but outlandish here. There are two conditions that need to be overcome to make it happen. One is the physical constraints on human behavior. The other is the psychological constraints on behavior.

“Got it. Look at this.” -Riruka

Riruka spread out a paper with a layout of the school building on the table.

“Currently, there are a dozen or so trading companies without a location. The numbered rooms on this map are the classrooms where bidding has finished. The rooms with this symbol are the coatrooms and guest lounges. The remaining spaces are small rooms like this and that. Most of them are prep rooms for special classrooms or storage rooms.” -Riruka

I see, the rooms Riruka pointed at are all about half the size of a classroom, some even less than a third.

“If you make a kitchen in this size, that’s the end of it. It’s especially tough for food and drink related businesses. You get it?” -Riruka

“Yeah, you need to create a back area and a hall, and since the customers are nobility, the hall needs to have a spacious table arrangement.” -Ricardo

“Exactly. Last year we were able to use classrooms properly, but even then it was barely enough. And the interior is also a problem.” -Riruka

Originally, it was an academy for noble children. Not only the classrooms as boxes, but also the chairs and desks inside are of appropriate quality. However, the other rooms are not.

“What about just bringing in the food as is?” -Ricardo

“Bringing it in as is is prohibited. The rule is to provide items that have undergone a minimum process in the given space. Otherwise, there’s no point in us doing it.” -Riruka

“Speaking of which, you can cook and stuff, huh?” -Ricardo

“No, we bring in chefs. There’s no way we’d have enough people if we did that much. The point is for the students to manage the overall process.” -Riruka

That’s right. It felt like they were being bullied by big capital, but they’re all young ladies and gentlemen. And the craftsmen’s guild is placed lower than the merchants’ guild. Chefs are a type of craftsman.

“I see. I’m glad Riruka is here.” -Ricardo

“Wha-! You’re just too ignorant.” -Riruka

When I honestly evaluated her, Riruka turned red.

“So, what are you going to do? Thanks to you, we can secure a space, but it’s still very tough. You don’t even have that space. The courtyard is just a passageway between the school building and the gazebo. What are you going to do in a place without a roof?” -Riruka

She has a point. At best, we could use the narrow walkways. But,

“Riruka-san, you’ve been worrying about Rikardo-kun this whole time.” -Alfina

“N-no, that’s not it. Who I’m worried about is Mia, who’s being dragged around by Vinder. Right, Mia?” -Riruka

“Until just now, I believed in Riruka’s friendship, but I’m starting to lose confidence.” -Mia

“Wait, what do you mean by that? No, the courtyard also involves the princess. That’s why we’re requesting her presence like this.” -Riruka

That’s right. At this rate, we’ll just have a lonely stall in the courtyard. As a student, I wouldn’t mind being alone, but a lone stall will surely end up in the red. In the first place, nobles probably won’t even visit a stall.

“I know. Everything will connect in the end. Next, I’d like you to tell me a bit more about the shops that couldn’t participate, especially the food-related ones.” -Ricardo

That’s why my goal is to gather companions to work together with. To create a festival venue in the courtyard that won’t lose to anywhere else.