The next day, I was sleep-deprived.
And today, not only Mil but also Kiara joined us, and I’m being hardened on both sides.
I was falsely accused.
Kiara is cool about it, even under my protesting glare.
“It’s not possible for brother to touch a married woman.”
“Um, what’s with this treatment?”
Kiara smiles smugly.
“It’s just a pretext.”
When she called it a pretext boldly, I lost the desire to retort any further.
Mil chuckled when he saw my stunned face.
“So, who are you going to visit today? After what you heard yesterday, I’m sure you want to move quickly.”
Well, that’s true.
“I’ll wait for the person Ms. Kriemhild introduced to me. And…what would you two like as thanks for substituting?”
Mil and Kiara looked at each other and nodded.
It seemed that they had discussed this beforehand, and they both opened their mouths together.
“Can I buy some clothes?” “I would love some new clothes.”
Clothes?
“No, you don’t have to tell me that, you can buy whatever you want.”
Kiara looked at me.
“Brother… How much do you spend on your own personal expenses?”
Personal… hmmm, I don’t remember.
“Maybe zero?”
Kiara sighed grandly.
“How can we buy clothes on our own when someone like that is at the top.”
Oh, that was careless.
It’s no use even if I say “Don’t hesitate”.
I can’t help but scratch my head.
“I am not financially independent from my family. I don’t know how I can afford personal expenses there. But the two of us are like first ladies. Clothes are a necessary expense.”
Even Mil sighed at me.
“Al… what did I say to you before when I asked you if I could buy my own clothes?”
Perhaps you said that because you wanted to buy one yourself? No, then don’t say together.
“I have enough with what I have now. It’s pointless for me, who’s plain, to dress up. It would make sense for the two of us to be together.”
Kiara looked at me with white eyes.
“How about a fancy meal once in a while? What did you say when I asked you that?”
“I’m happy with my current meal, and if that’s the case, let everyone else have something good to eat.”
No, because a meal that costs 10 gold coins or so for just me and the people around me is not cosy, right?
If we were entertaining a noble, it would be a necessary expense, but we don’t have nobles here.
If we have such a luxurious meal, the tableware becomes more luxurious, the house more luxurious, and so on… the list goes on and on.
So you’re withholding because I don’t spend money on myself at all.
In other words, you wanted me to have some personal expenses…
I can’t help but recite a phrase in my mind.
The clear stream of the Shirakawa River is no longer inhabited by fish, but by the muddy rice field swamps, which I now miss.
Not that I was aware of it… but I was too busy working to waste time.
So I was making things a little cramped for both of them.
“Let’s buy clothes as a thank-you. Besides that, I will give you an allowance every month. You are free to shop with it.”
Since they are not the type to pay bills on their own, it would be better to tell them that they can spend it freely.
Saying “salary” makes me sound like a stranger.
This settles the matter… though the two of them are giving me the stare.
Mil pointed a finger at me.
“How much is Al’s allowance? I’d feel guilty if we were the only ones getting it!”
No, I can spend as much as I want… and in a backward country like this, I have no use for it!
“As a matter of fact, the line between my private and public purse is unclear. If I separate them clearly at this stage, it will be inconvenient later on.”
I also take public money out of my assets.
If it is called a private expense, it is a minus.
It can’t be helped since we are a primitive organization with no taxation system.
The economy is like a baby.
Even Kiara pointed a finger at me.
“Brother, it’s all well and good to be innocent, but there should be a limit!”
“Would you still be cramped if I didn’t have your own personal expenses?”
The two leaned forward.
“Of course!” “Of course!”
Even if you tell me that…
“I’ll think about it later. It’s not my intention to make you both feel cramped. Please use it for my sake, and not to the extent that it becomes a waste of money.”
They faced each other and sighed.
“I knew it was coming, but… that’s the only way we’ve got.”
“Yes, sister… The last resort.”
Don’t tell me you’ve been simulating this in advance… please don’t do that.
“Well, please be gentle, both of you…”
Mil looked at me and smiled.
“Al, I’m going to buy some clothes, but you’re going to have to help me choose.”
Kiara smiled as well.
“I wish my brother would choose for me, too.”
Geez… that’s torture… give me a break! It’s going to take a long time and I’m just going to wait.
I don’t even have a phone or anything to pass the time, you know!
They know it and plan to harass me.
“No, that’s a bit…”
Mil moved her face closer to mine with a smile on her face.
“Okay?”
No… there’s nothing I can do.
“Yes…”
Kiara had a gasping look on her face.
“Brother, everyone knows that you are honest. Thanks to you, everyone tends to shy away from applying for necessary equipment and repairs to the government building. That’s not good for us.”
“If that’s the case, please say so at the beginning… I will issue a decree that you should apply for what you need without hesitation.”
Kiara shook her head.
“It’s pointless. We don’t know the criteria for what is needed with a decree from someone like Brother. They won’t replace it unless it is completely useless.”
This is troublesome.
I’ve been trying to avoid personal waste since I’m at the top… but I guess I’ve gone too far.
The power of influence at the top is scary.
If I don’t do something, I’ll stop the flow of money unnecessarily.
Not spending could become a virtue.
This is what happens when you are aware of the “necessity and false demand” of the Jougan Era.
I know the backbone is different from China’s, but have I underestimated the differences?
“What shall I do with this…”
Mil and Kiara looked at each other and sighed.
“That’s why spend as much as is humanly possible…” ‘There are no zeros…”
I mean, I’d rather have time than money.
Really.
The next day, I was sleep-deprived.
And today, not only Mil but also Kiara joined us, and I’m being hardened on both sides.
I was falsely accused.
Kiara is cool about it, even under my protesting glare.
“It’s not possible for brother to touch a married woman.”
“Um, what’s with this treatment?”
Kiara smiles smugly.
“It’s just a pretext.”
When she called it a pretext boldly, I lost the desire to retort any further.
Mil chuckled when he saw my stunned face.
“So, who are you going to visit today? After what you heard yesterday, I’m sure you want to move quickly.”
Well, that’s true.
“I’ll wait for the person Ms. Kriemhild introduced to me. And…what would you two like as thanks for substituting?”
Mil and Kiara looked at each other and nodded.
It seemed that they had discussed this beforehand, and they both opened their mouths together.
“Can I buy some clothes?” “I would love some new clothes.”
Clothes?
“No, you don’t have to tell me that, you can buy whatever you want.”
Kiara looked at me.
“Brother… How much do you spend on your own personal expenses?”
Personal… hmmm, I don’t remember.
“Maybe zero?”
Kiara sighed grandly.
“How can we buy clothes on our own when someone like that is at the top.”
Oh, that was careless.
It’s no use even if I say “Don’t hesitate”.
I can’t help but scratch my head.
“I am not financially independent from my family. I don’t know how I can afford personal expenses there. But the two of us are like first ladies. Clothes are a necessary expense.”
Even Mil sighed at me.
“Al… what did I say to you before when I asked you if I could buy my own clothes?”
Perhaps you said that because you wanted to buy one yourself? No, then don’t say together.
“I have enough with what I have now. It’s pointless for me, who’s plain, to dress up. It would make sense for the two of us to be together.”
Kiara looked at me with white eyes.
“How about a fancy meal once in a while? What did you say when I asked you that?”
“I’m happy with my current meal, and if that’s the case, let everyone else have something good to eat.”
No, because a meal that costs 10 gold coins or so for just me and the people around me is not cosy, right?
If we were entertaining a noble, it would be a necessary expense, but we don’t have nobles here.
If we have such a luxurious meal, the tableware becomes more luxurious, the house more luxurious, and so on… the list goes on and on.
So you’re withholding because I don’t spend money on myself at all.
In other words, you wanted me to have some personal expenses…
I can’t help but recite a phrase in my mind.
The clear stream of the Shirakawa River is no longer inhabited by fish, but by the muddy rice field swamps, which I now miss.
Not that I was aware of it… but I was too busy working to waste time.
So I was making things a little cramped for both of them.
“Let’s buy clothes as a thank-you. Besides that, I will give you an allowance every month. You are free to shop with it.”
Since they are not the type to pay bills on their own, it would be better to tell them that they can spend it freely.
Saying “salary” makes me sound like a stranger.
This settles the matter… though the two of them are giving me the stare.
Mil pointed a finger at me.
“How much is Al’s allowance? I’d feel guilty if we were the only ones getting it!”
No, I can spend as much as I want… and in a backward country like this, I have no use for it!
“As a matter of fact, the line between my private and public purse is unclear. If I separate them clearly at this stage, it will be inconvenient later on.”
I also take public money out of my assets.
If it is called a private expense, it is a minus.
It can’t be helped since we are a primitive organization with no taxation system.
The economy is like a baby.
Even Kiara pointed a finger at me.
“Brother, it’s all well and good to be innocent, but there should be a limit!”
“Would you still be cramped if I didn’t have your own personal expenses?”
The two leaned forward.
“Of course!” “Of course!”
Even if you tell me that…
“I’ll think about it later. It’s not my intention to make you both feel cramped. Please use it for my sake, and not to the extent that it becomes a waste of money.”
They faced each other and sighed.
“I knew it was coming, but… that’s the only way we’ve got.”
“Yes, sister… The last resort.”
Don’t tell me you’ve been simulating this in advance… please don’t do that.
“Well, please be gentle, both of you…”
Mil looked at me and smiled.
“Al, I’m going to buy some clothes, but you’re going to have to help me choose.”
Kiara smiled as well.
“I wish my brother would choose for me, too.”
Geez… that’s torture… give me a break! It’s going to take a long time and I’m just going to wait.
I don’t even have a phone or anything to pass the time, you know!
They know it and plan to harass me.
“No, that’s a bit…”
Mil moved her face closer to mine with a smile on her face.
“Okay?”
No… there’s nothing I can do.
“Yes…”
Kiara had a gasping look on her face.
“Brother, everyone knows that you are honest. Thanks to you, everyone tends to shy away from applying for necessary equipment and repairs to the government building. That’s not good for us.”
“If that’s the case, please say so at the beginning… I will issue a decree that you should apply for what you need without hesitation.”
Kiara shook her head.
“It’s pointless. We don’t know the criteria for what is needed with a decree from someone like Brother. They won’t replace it unless it is completely useless.”
This is troublesome.
I’ve been trying to avoid personal waste since I’m at the top… but I guess I’ve gone too far.
The power of influence at the top is scary.
If I don’t do something, I’ll stop the flow of money unnecessarily.
Not spending could become a virtue.
This is what happens when you are aware of the “necessity and false demand” of the Jougan Era.
I know the backbone is different from China’s, but have I underestimated the differences?
“What shall I do with this…”
Mil and Kiara looked at each other and sighed.
“That’s why spend as much as is humanly possible…” ‘There are no zeros…”
I mean, I’d rather have time than money.
Really.
