“It’s Been a While Since We’ve Had Such a Leisurely Outing.”
“You’ve always been busy writing something, after all.”
It was a late afternoon, and the fresh breeze and sunset made our outing feel particularly pleasant.
Maybe it was because we were walking around at a time when most people were still working.
Or perhaps because I wasn’t alone—I had a beautiful companion by my side.
“Shall we grab something to eat? My treat today.”
“I’d be delighted. Would you mind if we go for something a little fancy?”
“As long as it’s not too expensive, I don’t mind.”
Either way, who cares?
It was one of the first moments of true freedom and happiness I’d experienced since arriving in this world.
I had barely had a moment to breathe until now.
Writing the Pamphlet for the Helvetians, The Prince, and The Social Contract kept me confined and under constant surveillance.
Then I spent my days buried in work while drafting the 115 Theses Rebuttal and On War.
It was only after finally publishing, An Essay on Population that I could afford even a moment of peace.
Damn it.
If it weren’t for that godforsaken goddess,I’d be a young, brilliant professor on the road to success by now.
Instead, I got abducted to this shitty world and thrown into a mess like this.
“Then allow me to lead the way.”
“You don’t need to pull me along; I’m not running away, you know.”
I had been grumbling to myself when Kalia suddenly grabbed my hand and began pulling me forward enthusiastically.
She was humming, clearly excited about the prospect of eating on someone else’s dime.
For someone who usually kept a cold, emotionless face,it was almost cute seeing her let her guard down like this.
Is this what they call gap moe?
“There’s a place just five minutes from here that serves amazing stew.”
“They use rice and mushrooms—the flavor is incredibly soft and rich.”
“Rice? In a stew?”
Shouldn’t that be called porridge instead?
“It also has mussels, shrimp, and various spices. I’m sure you’ll love it.”
Ah, so it’s something like risotto or paella.
That makes sense.
A seafood risotto could definitely be considered a high-class dish.
Especially in a landlocked city like this,where fresh seafood and expensive spices are rare luxuries.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a long time since I’ve had rice.”
Allein Kingdom primarily consumed wheat as their staple food,
so I had never had the chance to eat rice.
It was said to be commonly grown in southern Helvetia and western Hispania,but I never had the time to travel that far.
Maybe once the war ends and the world collapses,I’ll finally have the chance.
“Before We Eat, Let’s Stop by the Market.”
Since we happened to pass through the market, we decided to stock up on groceries for the academy dormitory.
The academy had a cafeteria and campus restaurants that served decent meals at reasonable prices,but sometimes, you just wanted to cook for yourself.
We planned to pick up some pasta and salad ingredients,but instead, we ended up staring in shock.
“Welcome! What would you like to buy?”
“…15 gulden for a single apple? Why the hell is it so expensive?”
The prices were outrageous—several times higher than I remembered.
Fruits were 3 to 6 times more expensive,bread was 4 times the usual price,and cabbage had skyrocketed to 7 times its normal cost.
All this in just one or two months?
“With this much money, I could’ve bought an entire basket of apples before…”
“I don’t know when you’re talking about, but it can’t be helped. Supplies aren’t coming in. We have to make a living too, you know.”
“Still, this is ridiculous.”
As an academy instructor, the price increase wasn’t unbearable.
After all, my salary was higher than most lawyers and doctors.
I might not be able to splurge,but I could still afford to eat well enough.
But what about the common folk?
They probably had to cut down to one or two meals a day just to survive.
Their diets would have to be as simple as possible.
And the poor?
There was no need to even ask.
They were either barely clinging to life or already starving to death.
At this rate, society wouldn’t last much longer.
“There probably aren’t many customers these days, huh?”
“Some still come. If you don’t die, you have to eat, right? So, are you buying or not?”
I clicked my tongue internally and pulled out my wallet.
“…Give me a bag of flour, three tomatoes, a head of garlic, and a pouch of pepper.”
If I was already here,I might as well buy something.
*****
With a basket of ingredients in hand,we headed toward the restaurant.
That was when Kalia turned to me and asked:”Why is this happening?”
I answered.
“It’s the war.”
“War Is a Bottomless Pit of Waste.”
War drains a nation’s resources, manpower, and finances like a giant sponge.
And when it involves multiple fronts and large field armies,inflation is inevitable.
Allein Kingdom had already lost vast territories and was stuck in a brutal cycle of advance and retreat.
Fewer farms meant fewer producers,and fewer producers meant soaring prices.
It was only natural.
That said…this level of inflation was severe.
Maybe it was worse in the capital due to the higher demand.
Out in the countryside, it was probably a little better.
We just hadn’t noticed until now,since we spent all our time sheltered inside the academy.
“That means restaurant prices must be crazy too…”
Kalia trailed off, looking up at me.
Was she feeling guilty for making me spend money?
“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.”
I ruffled her hair to reassure her.
A meal like this was nothing compared to everything she had done to support and assist me.
*****
“I’m Stuffed. That Was Surprisingly Good.”
“I knew you’d like it.”
Two hours later, we walked down the street, patting our full stomachs.
The restaurant Kalia had recommended was excellent—a luxurious atmosphere, polite staff, and quality wine.
It had cost me a week’s worth of grocery money in a single meal,but it was worth every coin.
“Shall we go again sometime?”
“I’d love to.”
With a promise of another meal,we started heading back to the academy.
It was getting late,and I needed to prepare for class the day after tomorrow.
But we never made it back.
Or rather, we were blocked along the way.
A crowd had gathered in front of the church,their faces twisted in anger and unrest.
Boom!
“Come out, you corrupt priests! Surrender peacefully and face the judgment of justice!!”
“Did you steal all the money we sweated blood to earn just to build that extravagant building?!”
“Come out before we burn everything down and tear you apart, you bastards!!”
The furious voices of the citizens rang out as they brandished pitchforks, sickles, clubs, and torches.
They looked ragged, their faces pale—likely from prolonged hunger—but their eyes burned with a murderous rage.
Though they consisted mostly of women and the elderly, making them seem frail, their deep-seated resentment was palpable.
“Shut up, you wicked scum! Do you even know where you are to be spouting such blasphemy?!”
“Heaven for the faithful, hell for the heretics! Begone, you cursed offspring of Satan!!”
“People, do not be deceived by heretical words and forsake your faith! It is not too late—return to the righteous path of belief!”
On the opposing side stood priests, knights dispatched by the church, and citizens who still supported the faith.
They were fewer in number, but their zeal was just as intense.
Armed with swords and shields, they had formed a defensive line.
They didn’t seem to have acquired gunpowder weapons, but their gear was fit for war.
Many among them were also elderly or weak, but the knights stood out as strong and imposing.
“The real heretics are you!! You’ve been sucking our blood dry under the guise of tithes, and now you dare speak of the goddess?!”
“Damn it, they won’t listen to reason. Knights, prepare arms! Expel these rioters threatening the cathedral!”
Tensions escalated further as people tightened their grips on their weapons.
They began stepping toward each other, drawing closer and closer, hesitating only briefly before they finally made their decision.
With a thunderous roar, both sides charged.
“Kill them! Slaughter them all!”
“Smash their heads open!”
Watching this disaster unfold from a side alley, we could only mutter one thing:”…It seems the rebuttal papers were too effective.”
“That does seem to be the case.”
I had put a lot of effort into writing those arguments, but I never expected to witness their impact firsthand like this.
If the capital had reached this point, then what was happening in the Kram Empire or the Navre Kingdom?
‘Now that I think about it, I don’t see any young men around.’
The working-age men were likely conscripted and sent to war, leaving only the elderly, women, and children in the rear to fight over religion.
This must be an absolute nightmare for the kingdom’s leadership.
They were already struggling to sustain the war effort, and now their national power was being drained in pointless conflicts at home.
Just how were they managing internal affairs amidst all this?
I had barely begun wondering when the answer revealed itself.
“Long live His Majesty the King! Let us march forward for the kingdom!”
“Brave citizens of Allein! Unite for victory!”
“Enlist in the Royal Army! Join us in defending our homeland from foreign invaders!”
Military police and trumpeters loudly shouted recruitment slogans as they handed out pamphlets in the streets.
They even grabbed passing civilians, urging them to enlist.
‘Ah, so that’s how they’re doing it.’
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