A Way Out, and Negotiation

Author: Iwashi-zukushi
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3388fm/40/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

“At present, Lady Grace is doing most of the teaching by herself, is that right?
If there is a way to reduce that burden, I thought the efficiency would improve.”

At my words, the Demon King’s gaze and Lady Grace’s stabbed into me.
…Dorothea’s gentle gaze was a balm, truly.

“That is certainly so, but what do you mean to do?
Will you devise some ingenuity in the manner of teaching?”
“As for the manner of teaching itself, I have hardly enough to speak of, so that is a little difficult…
But in a sense, it is the manner of teaching, yes.”

I answered the Demon King’s question with a small laugh.
The only teaching I have done is cram-school tutoring as a side job, after all.
But this sort of place, too, I think is as one would expect of them.

“What is this, making such a show of it. You tease.”
“Is it not because Your Majesty is meddling?”

Dorothea put in a tsukkomi, smiling and without mercy, at the Demon King, who was a little sulky.
No, I did make a bit of a show of it, so I am somewhat sorry.

“There, there, I do understand Your Majesty’s feelings as well.
And, it is not so much a scheme as all that… In the education I received, we each held one textbook—that is, a book with the contents to be taught written in detail—and took the lesson.
I think, what if we introduced that.
If it is a matter of reviewing characters one has already learned, or solving calculation problems again and again, rather than understanding a new theory, I believe this would have sufficient effect.”

At my answer Dorothea nodded, I see, and the Demon King and Lady Grace… were making troubled faces.
Yes, I think, that is the face one would make.

“Asha, I understand the reasoning, certainly… but then, how do you mean to prepare those books?”
“Even preparing a single book takes an enormous amount of time, and a great quantity of parchment. To prepare that for everyone who is to take the lesson…”

I had to nod, yes, that is so.
Here, books are made by hand.
The author writes, and a specialized artisan copies it by hand, so of course it costs money and time.

Getting the numbers together is hard, and one can hardly go handing such things out to commoners on a whim.
And besides, it is parchment, so it deteriorates fairly quickly.

“Is this not a proposal precisely because you have a means that solves that as well?”

Dorothea tilted her head, looking puzzled.
No, that is true, but that absolute trust is a little frightening!?
I may no longer be allowed to fail! And if I fail, I have a feeling I would be spoiled for it anyway!

But the Demon King and Lady Grace looked at each other.
Then, with faces of surely not. And yet, a little expectation showing, they looked my way.

“Er, at the least, I think the parchment problem can be managed.
As for the other, the labor of copying, I cannot say clearly yet…”
“You cannot know without experiment. That, too, is certainly reason.
Then, what do you need? Speak without reserve.”

Ah, the Demon King has started getting terribly excited.
Lady Grace is still bewildered… this part may be a matter of how long they have known each other.
Or rather, I still don’t even know if I can properly do it!

“Let me see… First, for the paper, we will need timber.
Woodcutters and woodworkers, and after that… I will need Nora to make tools, so if I could have a budget for that.”
“What, timber? And what will you do with that.
Is it that you mean to shave the wood thin and use it in place of paper?”
“Ah, that is not it, but it seems there was an age when they did that sort of thing, yes.”

Wooden slips and bamboo slips and the like. …I wonder if bamboo is growing somewhere. I want it for a different use.
Well, that aside.

“May the details be a pleasure for after it is done?”
“Of course that is no trouble, is it, Your Majesty.”
“Wait, Dorothea, why do you give your consent first.
No, well, if it is Asha, she will surely bring an interesting result.”

Dorothea’s covering fire… or rather, a direct hit, and the Demon King flinched.
Hmh, I want to answer this trust no matter what.

“For my part as well, if a new paper is to be made, I would very much like to ask it of you.”
“If Grace says so, it cannot be helped.”

Fast! The about-face is fast!
No, if you say it cannot be helped, that is so, but.
Lady Grace, please, hold the reins with a moderate, skillful hand…

But I have received approval; I should make it so I cannot fully withdraw.

“Your Majesty, thank you!
I shall without fail show you splendid results!!”
“O-oh… do as you see fit. I shall expect it.”

Pressed, the Demon King nodded.
Yes, with this I have her word, and probably the budget as well!
At the least I expect it will go well up to a certain point.
From there on, what happens… it is frustrating that I will not know without trying.

And more than anything, the greatest problem.

“Also, as for how to copy… for this, I would be grateful if I could have Lady Dominas’s aid, if possible.”
“Hoh, Dominas, is it. Very well. I shall speak from my side as well; use that one to the full.”
“Ah, I am most grateful!”

It was agreed to so readily I found myself bowing my head deep.
This sort of decisiveness may be unique to the Demon King.
It is without mistake a good face of monarchy.

If this were a democratic nation, even receiving a budget would take a great deal of deliberation.
Of course, that too has its good and bad.
If there is a splendid monarch, a monarchy that can decide at once can even surpass a democratic nation, I think.
But, you see, unfortunately… that a wise ruler’s child will be a wise ruler is something history has already proven is not so.
And the more complex society becomes, the more the monarch’s approvals fail to keep up.
So if one means to continue a nation for decades and centuries, I can understand settling on democracy as well.

Ah, Gerda said she would introduce me; what shall I do.
…I will have her sit in at the first meeting. Yes.

“Then, at the actual stage of making it, I would like Lady Grace’s cooperation as well.
At that time I shall come to ask again.”
“I understand. If it is a request from you, I shall give it as much priority as I can.”
“Thank you. I am truly grateful for your help!”

So saying, I bowed my head.

With this, I think the necessary groundwork is probably done.
After this, the actual negotiations, and explaining the specifications to Nora and the others…
Yes, nothing is finished yet!
At any rate. Thus we had received the go-ahead.
I will manage it somehow! It will surely work out!

…I am quite the optimist, even for me.
It will surely work out. I can believe that, if it is in this country.