Yuusha no Segare

Volume 3, Interlude – 3

“It takes money to operate the Gate Tower, right?”

“I’ve heard that it is about three percent of the country’s yearly budget.”

“I understand why Dad and Shouko-san had to go, but Onii-chan is basically just going there for sightseeing, was it really okay to spend all that money on him? Of course, I understand that it is for Shouko-san’s sake, to make her feel more at ease. But since you are spending money from the country’s budget, I was just wondering, is it really okay to be so lenient? It comes from the taxes paid by the citizens, right? Won’t they find it troublesome?”

“Taxes?”

“Eh? It’s not? That’s what I heard from Diana-san, though.”

“Aah, I suppose that depends on how you put it. It’s true that it takes the equivalent of nearly three percent of the country’s annual budget to operate the Gate Tower. But it’s not like the country pays for each and every single trip.”

“Eh?”

“For example, let us assume that Resteria’s annual budget is one hundred trillion yen. three percent of that would be three trillion yen, right? Who do you think has to pay that three trillion yen for it to be counted as 『three percent of the country’s annual budget』 ?”

“Hmm?”

“I am fairly certain that the Krone family is paying the entire expense for all three of them for this trip. In other words, the funds are from the personal assets of Her Excellency Erijina, Dianaze’s mother.”

“Haah!? Three trillion yen, from her personal assets!?”

“Well, the three trillion figure was just an example, and the currency conversion rates are also completely different, so I don’t think it is actually as expensive as it looks to a Japanese person like you.”

“I’ll need to lecture Onii-chan and Shouko-san when they get back.”

“Eh?”

“They’re already getting to have fun and eat delicious things over there, as his little sister I can’t forgive him for doing all of that on someone else’s dime!”

“No, I doubt they are spending all their time only on having fun…”

“Even though I have more talent for sorcery!!”

“Aah… So you were feeling jealous.”

“Of course I’m jealous! I wanted to go and look around there as well! I mean, a trip to another world where your safety is guaranteed is bound to be fun, no matter what happens! Aarrrrgh! Why do I have to spend my time going to school while Onii-chan is going on dates with Diana-san and Shouko-san!!?”

“Hahaha…”