Chapter 204
204 . Society's Grand Operation 1
"Cherylea-sama, is there something the matter?"
At the [Society] 's tea party, Mitchan worriedly reached out to one girl who seemed to less cheerful than usual .
Yeah, that's Mitchan for you, exerting care here and there... tte, It's a little bit different this time .
Cherylea-chan is the daughter of a baron family, which is rare in this gathering .
This sorority is mostly composed of daughters of count families, along with the [real purpose] of its establishment .
The marquis families were originally small in number . Either they declined the invitation because they have an equal relationship and didn't want to be under the Mitchell family or that they led a rival faction to the Mitchell family . After the foundation of the [Society], no one has been able to be admitted because of the rules .
Dukes families and the Royals were not invited from the beginning since it would be unbearable if they are poorly interfering or trying to take control over the gathering . Well, [Since it is a gathering of daughters of Marquis families and below] .
But it is, more or less, an [Informal social gathering where status difference does not matter] . And on top of that, it is a place where several [daughters of baron and viscount families, which are somewhat influential regardless of the ranks, whose parents and themselves, both, have virtuous personalities] are gathered .
Of course, I myself bear the Viscount title, and as everyone might imagine, it's different from my parent's rank or the line of succession to the throne . Not all of the daughters here have a title after all .
(Note: Reminder that Mitsuha is assumed to be a royal descent (of her home country, of course) by the people of this country)
So that's why the daughters of baron and viscount families who were called out were happy to participate .
Well, being invited to a gathering of Count's and Marquis' daughters was a tremendous honor for them . If they can get along with the daughter of senior nobles, it will bring an invaluable advantage for their own family . No matter what they think, their parents will make them participate .
...and now the results are about to come out .
"...n-no, it's nothing..." (Cherylea-chan)
The baron's daughter, Cherylea de Wennarl, leaned back and said that with a slightly dark expression on her face .
However, Mitchan will not withdraw with just that .
"That's a lie . Didn't we, the [Society], vowed that we would not abandon those in need and will always help each other!" (Mitchan)
Ooh~~, as expected of Mitchan, what a splendid acting...
"B-but, different from something like a personal love affair, for little girls like us who doesn't even have our own power, no matter even if we're nobles' daughters, there's nothing we can..." (Cherylea-chan)
Alright, now!
"Please wait!" (Mitsuha)
I interrupted her speech and approached her .
And, in preparation for this, I took out something from the shoulder bag that was hanging on my shoulder and presented it to Cherylea-chan .
"......arrow?" (Cherylea-chan)
Yes, it's an arrow that used to shoot something with a bow . And it's the one that used with a small bow . Large bow arrows won't fit in the shoulder bag .
"Yes, please break it" (Mitsuha)
"...eh? Y-yes, I understand..." (Cherylea-chan)
Snap!
Even though she didn't get a clear idea, Cherylea-chan received the arrow and broke it, thinking that I might have some reason . And...
"Next, please put this together and try to break them" (Mitsuha)
This time, I took out three arrows from the shoulder bag and presented them to Cherylea-chan .
"Yes..." (Cheryl-chan)
Cherylea-chan once again received the arrow and tried to break them altogether .
Snap!
Huh!? She can break them!!!??
" " " " " "......" " " " " "
Seeing my appalled expression, everyone knew that something had gone wrong, and Cherylea-chan realized she had apparently made a mess .
" " " " " "......" " " " " "
But there's no need to worry! I expected if something like this might happen, so...
"Next, please put this together and try to break them" (Mitsuha)
Saying that I took all the remaining six arrows out of the shoulder bag .
She might be able to break them again if with just four or five, so just in case, I took out all of the rest of the ten arrows I brought .
Using your war potential one at a time is sheer stupidity, always use all of your maximum strength to destroy whatever your enemy is!!
I'm glad I prepared a lot of arrows...
And Cherylea received the remaining six arrows I offered .
"Please try to break them together" (Mitsuha)
Right, let's pretend that the matter about the three arrows from earlier has never happened .
"Y-yes..." (Cheryl-chan)
She put her strength in her arms, but she couldn't break the arrows this time .
"like this, even if each one of the arrows is weak, they will become stronger if there are 6 of them together . And we have more than 6 friends in our [Society] . That means, even if we are powerless alone, if everyone works together, our power is invincible!" (Mitsuha)
" " " " " "Oooooohh!!" " " " " "
Alright, how simple!
I wonder just how many of them noticed that the six arrows made an awkward sound and that Cherylea-chan hurriedly eased her strength...
Cherylea-chan is overpowered!!!
"...then, the population of the barony could be starved to death due to famine?" (Mitsuha)
"Y-yes... the neighboring territories too, though not as bad as ours, they're still having bad harvest... That's why we couldn't buy food from other territories, and the price had jumped in the first place... Also, even if we try to buy from a distant territory, it'll take a lot of time and cost of transportation . And there's a high possibility that it will be attacked when passing through other areas that having food shortage too . At this rate, the folks will..." (Cherylea-chan)
Everyone has a dark expression on their faces after listening to Cherylea-chan's story .
Right, it wouldn't be strange if something like that can happen to their own territories at any time .
Cold weather, disease, insects, drought, and so on...
It's common .
It can't be helped .
There's nothing we can do about it...
"Well then..." (Mitchan)
Saying so, Mitchan took of her awning hat and turned it upside down on the table . And she took off her ring and necklace, and then put them inside . Then she pushed the hat all the way towards me...
"Is it possible to charter a ship of Yamano territory and hire an overland caravan along with the escorts with this? And to purchase foodstuffs from the Rephilia trade..." (Mitchan)
And I also took off the pendant from my neck and put it in Mitchan's hat ...
"Of course, it's possible . If it's for a friend of the [Society], whether the ship's operation plan goes wary or the delivery schedule of wheat, potatoes, corn, etc . will be messed up, it wouldn't be a big problem . " (Mitsuha)
"Eh..." (Cherylea-chan)
Unable to comprehend what Mitchan and I were saying, Cherylea-chan is stunned with her mouth hanging open .
And of course...
More and more pieces of jewelry are put into Mitchan's hat one after another .
Right, with this trend, there is no reason not to do so .
After all, everyone here is proud noble ladies who are united by friendship .
We, the [Society], are comrades!!
...as well as a bunch of simplisticheroineswho yearns for a wonderful friendship story .
Although worn by the nobilities' daughter, those are still just child's accessories . They are expensive for the commoner, but from the nobility's point of view, they are not that valuable . And, if we try to sell them as secondhand items in an urgent, then...
However, if their stones were to be recut and re-polished on Earth, as well as have their stone-seating and pedestal rebuilt, perhaps they could be sold at reasonable prices .
Well, I'm prepared for the deficit from the beginning . This was never a profitable plan, after all .
This is just a performance, a publicity stunt .
To instill the impression in the people that [Society] is an ally of the people, and those who interfere with it are enemies of the people...
Right, it is to drive the blames towards the country in case the nobilities, royals, or merchants are laying their hands on the [Society] and trying to seize its control to make use of it .
Beautiful girls who are on the side of the people and dirty adults are trying to use them .
In case something happens, I wonder what the outcome would be if the information were to be leaked to the general public...
Fuha .
Fuhahahaha...
"Fufufu, yeah, sometimes my genius is almost frightening!!" (Mitsuha) (Note: insert meme here)
Colette-chan caught me saying that in a low voice .
"Is that so? If anything, you looked like the worst fraudster to me..." (Colette-chan)
Yeah, Colette-chan awakened a new habit with bad puns recently ...
You don't have to awaken such a thing!!
Since you're a cute otherworld girl, if you want to awaken something, how about you awaken a magic skill instead!!