Chapter 5

One afternoon. Just as I was thinking about taking a walk in the garden, I had a visitor. The person shown in was a merchant from the Castle Town. His face was a mixture of impatience and anger. Looking at the merchant—I guessed what this was about. And then, I remembered what happened in the morning. My work was finished earlier than scheduled. …I’m bored, with such a lighthearted feeling, I created a single document. I had no plans to use it. It was the casualty insurance system from my previous life. It would be reassuring to have it, it was just that kind of idea. A draft. Just that. If it already existed, I would just throw it away.

“Your Highness the Third Prince. Previously, when the disease was spreading in the Castle Town—because of Your Highness’s instructions to make workers rest, the delivery date was delayed.” That much is a fact. “As a result, we suffered great losses. I want you to take responsibility and compensate us.” It was a blunt way of speaking. In other words, he was telling me to pay up. I swallowed a single sigh and spoke quietly. “Then, let me confirm something.” I looked at the merchant. “In that situation where the disease was rampant, if we hadn’t let people rest and made them work as usual—what do you think would have happened?” The merchant was at a loss for words for a moment. I continued without minding him. “Infected people would increase, severe cases would emerge, and deaths would occur. The workforce would decrease, and the town would malfunction. Markets would close, distribution would stop, and your company would have faced far more than just a ‘delivery delay’.” I interlaced my fingers on the desk. “If the disease lingered, recovery would require years. What would be lost as a result is not temporary profit, but the economy of the entire town.” I looked straight at the merchant. “—This is something one understands even without being royalty.” The merchant bit his lip. “However, in reality, we have suffered dam—” He persists? I tilted my head slightly. “Then, let’s talk about the next point.” I didn’t change the tone of my voice. “Business is originally something that always accompanies risk. Bad weather, disasters, epidemics. Those are not ‘unforeseen,’ but ‘situations that should be anticipated’.” The merchant’s eyes wavered slightly. “What became clear in this case is the fact that your company has the intention to push all risks onto us.” I took out the paper I made in the morning and placed it on the desk. “I have a proposal.” The merchant took it, bewildered. “Create a system where merchants pool funds together to prepare for losses during epidemics or disasters. In a manner of speaking, it is a mechanism like casualty insurance.” The merchant was scanning the paper. “In normal times, you each contribute a small amount, and in emergencies, compensation is made from that. The state only handles system design and supervision. Management decisions and responsibility are held by the merchants themselves.” I smiled brightly. “With this, even if the same thing happens next time, there is no need to storm in and yell at someone. You will likely be able to respond to other disasters as well. If it already exists, please discard it.” The merchant froze while holding the paper. No counterargument came out. “You do not have to come to a conclusion immediately.” I stood up from my chair. “Discuss it among the merchants, and if the system starts moving, please report it. Depending on the result, I will consider my response.” Silence. It was complete silence. I said quietly. “I will not compensate you.” Eventually, the merchant slumped his shoulders and left without saying anything. …However, when leaving the office, he bowed slightly.

(Don’t think you can win a war of words against a former corporate slave.) I murmured that in my heart and headed to the garden as planned. On time again today. —It is peaceful.