Of course, this is not a d*mning story for Master Noah.

Huh....

　I don't know why it sounds like it's a common phrase for scammers.
　I don't think there's a story in the world where someone benefits because someone else loses, and no one benefits from it.
　Of course, I don't think Feliana has that idea.

'Well let me just get this straight.

Yeah, no problem.

Jessica, what's going on?

Oh, yes!

　I ask Jessica, who is next to me.
　I'm sure that Jessica, who is smarter than me, would understand. And I'm sure she'll be able to explain it to me in a way that I can understand.

''Your Majesty Feliana is right, it's not a story that is detrimental to our country. Rather, it's a story of gain.

Really?

'We're talking about giving us the tax revenue as it is, without having to do anything. I'm willing to accept that and I don't have a problem with it.

I don't understand it, though.

But is the abandoned land in a condition where it can be expected to generate tax revenue?

　Oh, Jessica ignored me and started talking.
　'Can I tease you?

'Unfortunately, I don't think we'll even be able to cultivate it properly in the first year. The wells were poisoned, the fields were burned and abandoned, making them very uninhabitable.

I suppose we'd rather be on our own than let the enemy take it from us?

That's what I mean.

''........You would let the people of the Kingdom of Orleans live in such a poor environment?　I don't think we're going to see any tax revenue from that.

If the well is out of service, you can head for a nearby stream. If the fields are burned, then we can plow them again and sow the seed. In return, we will provide land that can be cultivated freely - subjects of my kingdom will cultivate the land regardless of such adversity. We may not even hope for tax revenue at first, but in the first year we will pay you the shortfall in tax revenue from the kingdom's treasury.

　Feliana's last words were to me.
　Let's see.
　Well, I guess it's a matter of letting the people of the Kingdom of Orvance live in an uninhabitable place and turning it into a place where they can get a decent amount of tax revenue. When you think about it, well, it makes sense. It means that we'll occupy the dead territory of the empire in the hopes of generating future tax revenue, right?
　But what I don't understand is this.
　All the tax revenue earned there will be provided to Grandizia - that's the word.

'Well, I understand that the people of Orvance will get the abandoned territories.

Yes, sir.

It's just that all that tax revenue is going to me...

　It's not that I don't like money either.
　But when you say "I'll give you everything..." like that, it makes me suspicious.
　Maybe she read my thoughts, but Feliana smiles slightly.



No, no, I'm not questioning...

"We, too, have taken the situation in Grandizia into consideration. You will recall that we have a treaty with Grandizia. We have established a treaty between the Kingdom of Orvans and Grandizia, which states that if the Kingdom of Orvans and Grandizia invade the Draukos Empire's territory and acquire it, they will cede it in fifty parts. Do you remember that?

Yeah.

　That's what I remember, too.
　I don't remember what the article was, but I'm pretty sure there was a sentence like that. I think it was, "We shall cooperate with each other in our territorial aggression against the Draukos Empire, and shall cede control of our territory in fifties," I think.
　That.
　If that's the case, then half of the former Draukos Empire's territory up to the barrier of Hydra belongs to me, right?

It's a good thing that you're not the only one. I'm aware that aside from the two heroes over there, there is no one who should be a citizen.

'........yeah, yeah. That's right. They're all demons.

'I suspect that Grandizia is still very new to the country, and its legal provisions are not so settled. What does Master Noah think of the tax revenues in the lands he has ruled?

"Uh....

　No matter how they say it is.
　Even if you say tax revenue, the demons don't have to eat anything in the first place, and they don't have to have any entertainment or anything like that, or rather, there's a sense that fighting is like entertainment.
　To put it another way, my country, led by demons who don't need to eat anything, doesn't even need to grow any crops. Because no one eats them.
　What would happen to the tax revenue then? You wouldn't have to take anything, would you?

Well I'm not quite there yet, but... yes.

''As long as it's still in its infancy, it can't be helped. In addition, I have heard that the subjects of Grandizia are all demons. Even if we wanted to revive the village, it would be difficult to manage the fields with only demons.

We are currently working on that as well. After all, no matter how many demons you have to feed, you can't survive without food.

....

　I let Jessica's words flow in silence for now.
　Come to think of it, Jessica doesn't know that demons don't have to eat anything. Likewise, so does Feliana.
　Normally, the idea of not having to eat anything would never come to mind.
　I can't afford to let it slip through my fingers here either.

''Well, yeah, well, in the end, you know, you know, providing all the tax revenue to Grandizia...''

Yes. ''In other words, the new territory is ostensibly the territory of the Kingdom of Orleans, with Grandizia taking effective control of it, if you can think of it as such.

...ostensibly?

''The surrounding countries will feel it is unnatural to call themselves the territory of Grandizia while the people of the Kingdom of Orvance live there. Therefore, we would like to make it the territory of the Kingdom of Olvance for all intents and purposes. In exchange, we would like to ask you to allow us to provide you with all of our tax revenue.

　Hmph, and Feliana smiles slightly.
　I don't understand the advantages and disadvantages as usual, but what kind of advantages are there in the Kingdom of Olvance?
　A fiefdom is something that generates tax revenue. It should be common knowledge that the lord and the people of a fiefdom are united in the form of gaining patronage in exchange for paying taxes.
　That's why I don't understand the idea of gaining the territory but giving all the tax revenue.

''If I were to state it plainly, I'd say that I want the Kingdom of Orvance to get the name and Grandizia to get the fruit.

...berries?

''Yes. It's a simple fact that the Kingdom of Orvans is still inferior to the Draukos Empire in terms of national strength. However, if you can obtain a vast territory, even if it's papier-mâché, you will be able to become an equal to the Empire. This time, if we can acquire the Empire's territory in the area of the Hydra, we will have an almost equal footing.

....

　Yeah, I see.
　Finally, I'm starting to understand something. In other words, the Kingdom of Orleans genuinely wants to expand its territory. They want to claim it as a country with a vast territory, even if it means offering me all the tax revenue they can get from their territory.
　Of course, I can't understand what that means in terms of diplomacy.

If that's the case, I understand. As for the tax revenue...yes.

　I don't know anything at all about the tax revenue of the Olvance Kingdom.
　I'm sure Feliana doesn't intend to do that, but if someone like a tax collector thinks "I don't want to pay taxes to a demon's kingdom" or something like that, there's a possibility that I'll put it in my own pocket.
　We should have personnel on our side who can confirm that.

''.........er, Jessica.''

Yes, Master Noah.

Can you oversee the taxes that will be paid by the Kingdom of Olvance in the future?

We understand, Mr. Noah. Leave it to me.

'So then ... as far as tax revenue goes, make sure you get it through Jessica.

　It's really helpful to have a subordinate who can be trusted with things like this.
　I'll let Drake or Angus take over eventually, but what will I do then? Should I pretend that I've lost my hearing, so I'll have to write it down in writing, please?

'Thank you, Master Noah.'

Well, for me, it's awkward in a way that leaves it all up to you...

No, please don't worry about that.

　So Feliana lowered her head.
　Then she looked at me with serious eyes.

''And then ... one more thing I came to ask Noah-sama for a rude request.

Huh... what is it?

Two years will do.

　Soooo, Feliana holds up two fingers to indicate to me.
　Take a big deep breath, as if you've made up your mind to do something.
　I said.

''We would like to make our invasion of the Draukos Empire in a way that our country will be the master.