Elf Tensei Kara no Cheat Kenkoku-ki

「Okay, give me six. That's incredible. To gain a gold coin in just a year.」

「Right? It's a huge profit. There's no other deal like this. Buy more, mister. Nowadays, many people in the city are doing business with these bonds. After all, you can exchange them for gold coins in a year, and you don't have to carry heavy gold coins around.」

「I'll pass.」

I declined politely. I had only wanted them for research purposes, and I didn't expect to make a profit from this. Moreover, at the current gold ratio, the bonds were worth less than five old gold coins. Also, in a year when they could be exchanged for gold coins, there was a high chance that the coins’ gold content would be further reduced.

In short, it was a contract that would result in long-term losses. However, for the Empire, it represented an opportunity to amass a significant amount of gold in a short period. A year later, when exchanged, they could further diminish the gold content, thereby increasing their earnings even more. This was a way to take money from the citizens, no different from taxation.

「This imperial bond, is it selling well?」

「Of course, they're flying off the shelves. If you don't buy some soon, they'll be gone.」

「I'm fine. I don't like to take risks.」

I left the exchange office with a bitter taste in my mouth.

I continued to explore the city for a while. The lack of vitality was obvious.

I understood the reason. By thoroughly squeezing money from the merchants, the residents they employed lost their jobs. Without jobs, there was no money.

Without money, the economy wouldn’t move. Hearing this, it's likely that fewer merchants from outside would come here, and even those who came unaware will limit their transactions due to the currency change.

If there's nothing coming from the outside, they'll have to produce their own food. However, the continuous wars had already taken a toll on the population, and production had been on the decline due to the increased taxes, causing people to flee the countryside.

It had reached a point where it was impossible to recover. It seemed like the Empire was intentionally trying to crush this city.

Not being able to understand what the Empire intended to do, scared me more and more.

「We're recruiting soldiers! Today, there will be a simple test. If you're interested, come along!」

When soldiers appeared and began recruiting, the townsfolk followed them in droves. The people who had lost their livelihoods lined up to join the recruitment drive. It was a bizarrely long line that seemed to consist of almost every man in town, even those who didn't appear fit for combat, like merchants and overweight men.

It was understandable that they needed soldiers. However, recruiting soldiers alone wouldn't solve the issue if there was a lack of food.

「Could it be… that's what they're up to?」

To confirm my suspicion, I poured magic into my legs and sprinted.

My destination was the gate on the opposite side of where I entered.

The Empire was comprised of the capital and the four surrounding cities established to protect it. Therefore, those coming from the opposite direction of Erucy would mainly be from the capital.

What I saw there confirmed my suspicions.

「As I thought.」

A large quantity of food was being transported on wagons.

In other words, the Empire…

「Are they planning to use this city as disposable and use all its citizens as pawns for the war?」

It all made sense now.

The Empire had four big cities in addition to the capital. As a last resort, even if the other four cities were destroyed, the Empire would continue to exist as long as the capital remained intact.

The entire sequence of events within the Empire was clear:

First, they systematically extracted money from the residents of the cities close to Erucy. Prominent merchants were arrested, their properties seized, and the general populace burdened with increased taxes. Additionally, under the pretext of changing the currency, they forced people to trade their coins for inferior ones.

Moreover, by distributing bonds with the seemingly advantageous promise of exchanging it for more than its face value within a year, they managed to collect all coins with genuine worth. Consequently, the economy was in ruins, and people could neither afford to buy food nor produce it themselves.

During this challenging period, the country initiated a recruitment drive for soldiers. Joining the military became the only viable option for survival. Even those who initially hesitated to be conscripted willingly volunteered. All of these new soldiers were ready to endure any form of training if it meant they could survive, rather than resigning themselves to starvation and death.

The food for the soldiers was sourced from the money collected from the citizens, which the Empire used to purchase provisions from other cities within its territory.

The other imperial cities would gladly sell their excess food to the Empire at higher prices, making them gain a solid profit.

「I see, this allows them to increase the number of soldiers in a short time and secure provisions at the same time.」

I shuddered at the thought.

The entire process was nothing short of appalling and inhumane. Selling the future and gambling it all on a single battle seemed like sheer madness.

Then, a girl's voice interrupted my thoughts.

「As expected, you noticed it, didn't you? I thought you would, but it's a bit surprising that you did on the first day.」

「Welcome to the Empire, Erucy's Chief. Do we need to do introductions? You probably know me well.」

The breathtakingly beautiful high elf girl said, her emerald eyes sparkling.

「Just to be polite, I haven't met you before, after all. Nice to meet you, Ashno.」

When I said that, the otherworldly beautiful high elf girl smiled.