***Arc 6 One Who Pierced Through, Chapter 120 The Million Pumpkin Woman***

That was when the four of them were relaxing at night.

Kreschenta who was, woof woof-ing, kunn, snuggled up to Krische, who was sitting on Bery's lap.

Spooked by the visitor's knock that was too energetic, she flew and sat down on the chair next to Selene――Anne who opened the door strangely energetic and entered the room without even waiting for their approval and said, "Come in! Come in!"

It was Gallen who followed her into the room with a wry smile.

She was so excited that she didn't even bother to knock, but no one bothered to tell Anne.

Bery stood up with a wry smile and invited Gallen to his seat.

"――Oba-san?"

"Yeah, I heard she's been sick a lot lately, but she seems to have collapsed in the middle of field work the other day... well, it seems it was about two weeks ago though."

When Krische asked what happened, Gallen showed the letter and said that.

It is quite a distance from the village of Kalka to the royal capital. It would take two weeks for the letter to reach him.

"I thought about going to see her, but... after all, what would make Gala the happiest is Krische. Of course, there is the matter of Krische’s work."

Both Gallen and Krische have work to do in the royal capital.

That said, with Selene as the Marshal and Eluga as her assistant, Gallen became Alberinea’s――Krische's adjutant, which means that half of the military's work was Gallen's.

Krische had completed the paperwork related to the reorganization of the army earlier than anyone else――in short, she was ready to leave everything to Keith and the others, so there was no particular work to be done in that area, and as long as Gallen remained in charge of the details, there would be no problems.

Gallen's concern was about Krische’s other work.

However, there was no urgent schedule on that side either.

The basics of the project had already been communicated to the crafts squad, and it would take a certain amount of time to produce the parts. The work that Krische had to do had already been done, and there would not be much of a problem if she continued after she came back.

"Gala-san, is..."

"She's the one who used to take care of Krische a lot. She taught Krische how to bake pies, remember…"

The scales tilted inside Krische, and she was a little lost.

A round trip would take about a month. It was certainly not close.

Although there was no problem with leaving the royal capital, there were things she could do as much as she wanted.

Of course, she loved Gala, who had taken care of her ever since she was little, but was she the kind of person who she should throw away her works for?――Krische pondered it.

"I see. That's worrisome..."

Bery's vague words.

Hearing that, Krische immediately drew her conclusion.

"Okay. But is Selene okay?"

"It's okay. I'm busy, but it’s not like I need Krische help... the Marshall adjutant is doing his best after all."

The kingdom has lost a lot in the civil war, and the entire army is currently being reorganized.

The Imperial State troops brought in by Kreschenta were sticking to the western and eastern parts of the country, where there are particular problems, so while there were no problems in terms of national defense, it was not so easy to fill in the lost generals and corps commanders.

Although they could pay money to recruit soldiers, commanders cannot be replaced.

While dealing with these issues, Selene saw it as a good opportunity to establish a military school in the capital.

The foundation was created by taking the structure of the General Staff Department, which was originally located in the northern part of the country and was in the process of planning, and was now recruiting from among the nobles.

The purpose was to reeducate the second and third sons, who were capable but unable to take over their families, as assistants to generals, corps commanders, and battalion commanders, and to have them compete with each other to incorporate the top performers into the army as general staff members.

It goes without saying that weak and small nobles, even among large nobles, if they were the third and fourth sons, their career would at most be a corporal or a centurion――in the front line.

Naturally, the casualty rate is high, and the loss of personnel who have received advanced education from an early age in noble families was a significant disadvantage.

There have been many cases of people with superior brains but poor sword skills being lost for nothing, and this had been a long-standing problem in this area.

The purpose of this project was to create a place where such hidden gems could be given opportunities. Contrary to them, there were many commanders in the military who excel in valor and rose through the ranks, but who rely on their intuition and do nothing but recklessly.

There were two types of commanders in the military: those who excel in valor but lack brains, and those who cannot wield swords but excel in brains.

If you combine the two, you would be able to combine each good aspect to some extent, supplement the lacking parts, and become a first-class commander――Bogan's idea was to create a great commander using multiple people, and to further strengthen and stabilize the army.

Originally, the military demanded an excessive amount of processing from commanders, and no matter how good a general was, if the war dragged on, their performance would decline.

Besides the adjutant, an assistant officer was necessary to reduce the burden, and Bogan believed that a major improvement in the military organization was necessary, and the existence of the staff officer was born there.

Depending on the situation, unlike the adjutants who take command themselves, they create new people who were in charge of strategy planning and clerical calculation work based on that knowledge.

This would reduce the burden on the commander, thereby simply improving his command ability, and stabilizing the tactical side of the operation by having a general staff member in charge of strategy planning.

It was Eluga who showed strong motivation for this.

Originally, he was the one who put the most effort into the General Staff under Bogan, but the problem was the lack of funds and the number of people who were interested in the project.

This time, however, he had the queen's backing.

These problems had been solved, and many letters had already been received expressing interest in this endeavor.

The problem was the current commanders who were satisfied with the current system.

The question was how to treat the general staff as a rank so that they didn’t become a threat to their interests, but they were still in the process of turning one building into a school and bringing in books.

It was still a long way off――it would be a few years before it would take off and take solid shape.

For the time being, the best of the personnel gathered there would be thrown directly into the military, and they will be assigned to the commander who has been promoted through this reorganization and lacks ability, as a temporary staff officer treated as an assistant to the adjutant general.

The current goal was to minimize the deterioration of the military's capabilities, and since it's still in the recruitment stage――before it gets busy, it's fine to think about the details later.

Fortunately, many of the nobles were enthusiastic, Kreschenta's willingness to step forward was probably one of the reasons for this.

"The Hero’s, the last dream entrusted by former General Christand――I must return the debt and loyalty I received from him."

She did not know that Bogan had such an idea in mind when she said she wanted to create something like this, but when it came time for the meeting, she made up a long story and pushed it through, saying that it was a dream that Bogan had told her once upon a time.

She was a queen made up of nothing but lies and acting.

Her Majesty the Queen was sitting next to Selene, pouting her lips and alternately glaring at Bery and Selene.

‘Argan-sama is so unfair!’ and so on could be heard from her gaze.

If Krische goes, Bery will naturally follow.

She was probably not happy that they are going on a trip together for a month.

Selene patted her head so that Gallen wouldn't see it, and this time her cheeks puffed out.

She was a complete child, a different person from the one she had been during her political duties.

Selene said to Krische with a wry smile.

"It will be unveiled next month…if you miss this chance, you won’t be able to go home soon, so go now. I also have something I want to ask of Bery."

"The luggage at the estate, right?"

Bery nodded.

Although they brought some necessary items such as clothes from there, almost all the furnishings and furniture were left behind in Gargain's estate.

As expected, they couldn't leave all the household goods, including luxury items, to someone else, and were putting off what to do with it.

This would also be a good opportunity.

"Incidentally, can you also help me with the...sale of the estate?"

"……yes"

For Selene, it's where she spent her whole life――a home full of memories with her parents.

It was probably the same for Bery.

Nonetheless, leaving a mansion without living in it would only hurt and cost money. It's too big to leave for sentimentality, so it's much better to sell it for money and have someone live in it.

"You can choose what you want to bring, at a minimum. You can sell the rest. I know you're not one to do it, but don't bring too much of this and that."

"I understand. The house has a lot of decorations to begin with and ...... I'll try to keep as few as possible. What would you like, Ojou-sama?"

"All of the books...and my father's liquor. I'd like to give it to my father's acquaintance."

"Yes, Ojou-sama."

Gallen nodded and smiled.

A softness came over his wrinkled face.

"I'm glad that you have some business over there too. As expected, I was a little worried about just visiting (sick visit) for a month, but..."

"It was quite hectic until a little while ago after all. Thanks to you, we've reached the finish line, Gallen-sama."

Selene smiled back and looked at Krische.

"Well, I hope you're not stretching your wings too far and getting any dumber."

"... Krische is not an idiot."

"You're the only one in the world who would tries to name an elite unit as Blacky Company, really. It would have been dangerous if I hadn't noticed."

The name of the unit that was written among the documents submitted for the reorganization of Krische’s army was a mysterious organization called the Blacky Company under Alberinea's direct control.

Selene suffered from headaches.

She was glad from the bottom of her heart that she had not stamped the seal on the document.

Still bitter and dissatisfied, Krische lips pouted and Bery said ‘that’s no good’ then she chided Serene with a wry smile,

"Don’t dig up what's already done like that. Doesn’t Ojou-sama feel sorry for Krische-sama."

"It's your fault for neglecting it too much. Bald Eagle, Skeleton, Woof Woof, I was still patient with thinking it would be okay if it was just a nickname, but…"

"Bald Eagle, Skeleton, Woof Woof, all three of them love the nicknames Krische gave them."

Muuu, Krische puffed out her cheeks, objected, and Bery stroked her head troublingly, repeating to Selene that it was no good.

"It's a problem for you to pamper her like that, isn't it?"

"I'm always on Krische-sama’s side."

"Kuku, it's good that you're on good terms."

Gallen said happily and stood up.

"Krische, if you're going to Gargain, why don't you pop over to Korze and say hello. Tell him I'm doing well. I don't think I'll have the chance to go."

Korze was a former subordinate of Gallen and a skilled blacksmith.

He was the one who had forged Krische's sword.

Remembering his aged face, Krische nodded.

"Yes, Krische understand"

"thank you"

'Well then, Your Majesty’, Gallen bows and leaves.

Anne went out to see him off――Kreschenta immediately jumped to Krische.

Then, while hugging Krische, she glared at Berry.

"It's unfair, it's just the two of you traveling."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but..."

"Even Kreschenta was with Berry the whole time during the civil war, right?"

"That's fundamentally different! I don't want Argan-sama, I want to be with Onee-sama!"

"What a selfish child. Look, it's a cookie."

"Uh...ahm"

She couldn't help but to eat while glaring at her.

This Kreschenta doesn't have the option of not eating the given cookie.

An attack to make herself docile――her figure that accepted the cookie head-on despite knowing that it was truly the majestic royal family, the Queen of Alberan.

She swallowed one, then the second.

"Idiot" Selene said exasperated while looking at the sight of Kreschenta happily *mogu mogu* while loosening her cheeks.

"If you're going there, you should have another sword forged."

"Sword is it?"

"That's right. It's not something you can make right away, and if the one you're using now breaks, wouldn't it be a problem? It's not an ordinary sword that can be obtained on the fly, so a spare is necessary."

"…Krische won’t break――"

"You're going to have it forged. Do you understand?"

Her tone was final.

Krische nodded while groaning.

10,000 pumpkins――for a spare sword, paying such a large amount of money would be a waste of money for Krische.

"Bery, I'm sorry, but I leave that to you too."

"Yeah. If we’re this far away, we can't even continue like before..."

Starting from Nozan and Kolkis, as well as Bogan's subordinates, they usually had their swords forged at that store, but now they're all scattered.

Sales will drop significantly.

It was only polite to offer them a little extra for all the help they had been given.

He has helped me in many ways, not only in business but also in other areas, such as giving them a sword for free to one of Bogan's men who had no money to begin with.

Three small gold coins――Bery paid the price that a normal person would be able to spend five or six years without working, in order to repay such an ‘invisible debt’ only for one of Krische swords, but Krische was still unfamiliar with that kind of amount.

"Selene, Krische sword won’t break, so..."

"......You always have poor thinkin in that area, huh, really."

"...? Why is Onee-sama so stubborn about that?"

Kreschenta tilted her head and Krische sighed.

"Because... it's a waste of money to buy 10,000 pumpkins for one sword, after all... putting aside the first one, for the second one is"

"10,000 pumpkins..."

Kreschenta thought for a moment and looked at Krische exasperated.

"What is Onee-sama talking about when it’s only two or three small gold coins? Onee-sama, who do you think you are, Onee-sama is the first princess and the second-ranked general in the Kingdom, you know?"

"Haah...listen here, Kreschenta? In the village, a family can live comfortably with two pumpkins a day. 10,000 pumpkins is a huge amount of money――"

" Onee-sama, please look at this."

Saying that, Kreschenya pointed to her own head——a silver hair ornament shaped like a crescent moon.

It is like a barrette, a small one-piece.

Krische tilted her head to asked what it mean, and Kreschenta said

"This one cost ten gold coins."

"…Eh?"

Next Kreschenta showed her left wrist.

There is a bracelet made by intertwining two types of metal, gold and silver.

"Next is this bracelet, a very fine piece of gold and silver work, with some gemstones scattered…let me see, it will probably cost more than two or three dozen small gold coins."

"Eh, uh…"

"This necklace also has a brightly colored scarlet stone attached to it, and it’s also fairly large…this will usually cost 50 pieces. Depending on the situation, 70 to 80. …The one-piece dress I'm wearing right now can easily exceed three small gold coins, and it's made by a famous tailor who has a long relationship with the royal family."

Krische was stunned, and Kreschenta, exasperated, said to her.

"For a Tiaras it can't be priced just at 100 or 200, and if I'm going to a formal banquet, one of my dresses can easily cost a few hundred small gold coins——sometimes over a thousand. …… Do you understand? It's embarrassing for me to see Onee-sama who was so active only using a sword worth three small gold coins."

Krische was surprised and puzzled by the amount of money that Kreschenta had embraced.

Even the current amount was roughly 300,000 pumpkins.

Kreschenta was a bit of an idiot, goofy, and spoiled——but she's the million pumpkins woman.

What Krische had was astonishment.

She was stunned by the truth.

"... Seriously, onee-sama. Why don't you think about your position a little more? Considering your current position, onee-sama's sword is too cheap, geez."

Bery, who was listening behind them, gave a wry smile.

Kreschenta’s statement was a little excessive as a royalty, but Krische was also Krische and was too stingy.

It was good for her to cherish things, but it was a problem to be reserved and not accept even necessary things.

Especially when it comes to weapons, she would like her to have at least a spare sword to protect herself.

"Well, that's right. Krische has almost never touched the salary and the rewards she received... Considering that, one sword is trivial."

"Uuu..."

The kingdom provides subsidies for the corps that Christand commands to organize, and it covers most of the maintenance costs for the Black Flag Special Force and commanders that they employ on a permanent basis, and the salary is only a small supplement.

The cost of living was low because Christand now has two breadwinners, Selene and Krische, a few servants, and Krische, who hates to waste money, saves most of her wages.

The rewards from the war with the empire and the recent civil war are still untouched, and the savings only kept accumulating, partly due to Krische’s character of only paying for what she needed.

She was not particular about ornaments or what she wore, and the only thing she spent money on was things related to cooking.

Although there were expenses for work recently, they were still trivial, so there was no need to hesitate to buy a few swords.

That said, it's probably just a matter of personality.

Krische was the type to save money and was too reluctant to spend money.

Although it would be a shame to see her get into the habit of spending money, Bery thought it would be good for her to learn how to spend money in a more noble way.

Krische's sense of money was at best those of a town girl who loves cooking, and was far from her current status, which could be said to be a great noble.

"... If Bery says so, then"

"Yeah…just like what was said in the past, the reason nobles receive so much money is to distribute it to various people. Of course, it's good to save money for future big expenses, but that shouldn't be the goal."

"……yes"

"Fufu, if Krische-sama understands then that’s fine."

Bery stroked Krische’s head, and Selene looked at them exasperated and sighed.

"You’re so honest when Bery is the one who is saying it huh, really".

"It's all about your usual attitude, Ojou-sama."

"You're just spoiling her, geez."

"That's right, Argan-sama always just takes the best... Argan-sama is cheating, nmu."

"No, Kreschenta. If you leave her alone, she will immediately try to speak ill of Bery after all. Kreschenta may only speak woof for a while."

*Uuu*Krescenta glared at Berry while chewing on the cookie.

When Krische called her name once more, Kreschenta reluctantly let out a woof.

"That being said, Kreschenta, you say it's cheap, but do you know how many cookies Kreschenta is eating right now worth for one pumpkin? On the contrary, Krische thinks Kreschenta should understand the value of pumpkins a little more."

"I-it’s not like I bought it——"

"…Woof"

"Uuu…woof"

She was taught by her younger sister about the value of money in a condescending manner, a frustration that lingered in her heart for some reason.

From there, Krische passionately explained the value of pumpkins to the millions of pumpkin women—— Kreschenta, who could only say nothing.