Published: January 4, 2026
One day, I went into the city with Zoe.
The purpose that day was to personally inspect the city undergoing reconstruction.
No matter how good the instructions given on paper might seem, it’s important to see with one’s own eyes how things are actually being carried out on the ground, and how that is affecting the people.
Father used to energetically travel around incognito when he was young, so I try to follow his example by actively conducting inspections.
Larak, the provincial capital, was regaining its vitality.
The streets had been almost completely rebuilt, and the overall atmosphere was much livelier compared to when I first arrived.
Amid all this—
“Hey, seriously? Don’t mess with me!”
At the front of a certain shop, a customer and the shopkeeper were having a dispute.
“Master.”
“Yeah.”
Zoe and I moved a bit closer and watched the situation from a distance.
It seemed to be a liquor store.
Not a tavern, but a shop selling various kinds of alcohol.
A young laborer-looking man was angrily complaining to the shop staff.
“The prices have gone up again. How many times has it been now?”
“Sorry about that, but given the current times…”
“Tch, if it goes up any more, I’m not buying anymore.”
“We apologize.”
The man grumbled but ended up buying some alcohol.
And it wasn’t just him—most customers coming into that liquor store were saying things like “Prices went up again?” or “This is too expensive.”
“Let’s go.”
“Y-yes.”
After witnessing this, I took Zoe and left the scene.
Zoe followed as ordered but kept glancing back at the liquor store behind us, clearly concerned.
Once we had put some distance between ourselves and the store, Zoe asked me.
“Master, I hope it’s not too forward of me, but…”
“Hmm?”
“I took a look at the products they were selling at that liquor store, and the prices have roughly doubled compared to before the earthquake.”
“That seems to be the case.”
I nodded.
I had a good grasp of the market prices for the main goods.
Comparing them, I could clearly see that, as Zoe said, the prices had nearly doubled.
“Is that acceptable? Letting merchants raise prices like that in times like this—I think that’s sheer profiteering.”
“I’ll let them do as they please.”
“Let them do as they please?”
Zoe tilted her head.
Though she didn’t say it aloud, her face clearly showed she thought that was uncharacteristic of her master.
“I understand what you mean.”
Without stopping, I said as I walked through the bustling streets with Zoe.
“You’re wondering if it’s okay to leave merchants who greedily profit in such times unrestrained?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’ve also heard that you resolved the rice riots as soon as you arrived in this land.”
“You know well.”
I chuckled.
It wasn’t surprising that Zoe, in her current state, had that information firmly in mind.
“That case is different—I’ll let them do as they please.”
I repeated the same words once more.
Seeing that Zoe still looked unconvinced, I decided to explain as we walked.
“That’s alcohol, not rice.”
“Huh…”
“Some people say they can’t live without alcohol, but in the end, it’s just a luxury item. If it’s too expensive to buy, they just shouldn’t drink it.”
“A luxury item… that’s true.”
Zoe nodded quietly.
“If my sense isn’t off… in times like this, a husband complaining about alcohol being too expensive would probably get scolded by his wife at home.”
“…Indeed.”
Zoe said so and then chuckled softly.
She probably found the image of a “husband drunkard being scolded by his wife” amusing.
Taking advantage of the moment, I continued the story.
“The staples around here are rice and salt. I’ve issued directives to the merchants not to mess with those two. But for everything else, I turn a blind eye if they try to make profits. It’s a long road ahead. I don’t want to unnecessarily earn the merchants’ hatred by forbidding everything.”
“That much foresight… Amazing, Master.”