“Arineeeeel!”

“Arinellellellell!”

“Arineeeeel!”

“Arinellellellell!”

Aunt Annie, with her pink hair tied in pigtails and wearing glasses, and Uncle Burnel, in his alchemist’s attire with purple hair, came running like wobbly seaweed, kicking up dust from afar.

No, please maintain some dignity when others are watching!

“Arineeeel!!! I missed you!!!”

“Arinel!!! Nelnelnel!!!”

Still, seeing these two representatives of national institutions running like puppies with sparkling eyes… ugh!

I was squeezed like a steamed bun in Aunt Annie’s embrace.

“Me too! I want to hug too!”

“No way. You’re a man! You even have a beard! This could be harmful to a pre-teen girl!”

“This is discrimination!”

“Shall we settle this legally?”

Aunt Annie and Uncle Burnel started growling at each other immediately. Just like when I was little!

“W-wait, I can’t breathe.”

“Oh my, Arinel. I must have hugged you too tight. There, there.”

Aunt Annie finally released me from her embrace.

I smoothed down my static-charged hair with my small hands and formally greeted them both.

These two who had reached the pinnacle of their fields in their teens, disappeared and then returned with Parmes to claim their positions as Tower Masters.

“Hello, Aunt Annie, Uncle Burnel… no, Justice Tower Master Anes and Alchemy Tower Master Baron.”

That’s right.

The Rockwell siblings, known as once-in-a-generation geniuses in Albreon’s alchemy and law circles, were also residents of Galnem village.

And they absolutely adored me.

“Ahhh, you don’t know how much I’ve wanted to pinch these cheeks.”

Anes’s eyes were sparkling.

“You must understand, Arinel. We were really… caught between a rock and a hard place.”

Baron pretended to wipe away tears as if wronged.

“Duke Siegfried sent me a threatening letter. Said he’d cut off the Justice Tower’s budget if I tried to lure Arinel away.”

“It’s so unfair. We struggled together in Galnem, but they didn’t even let us join the competition for you.”

“You know how intimidating Duke Guermont is, right? He warned Baron with those yellow eyes of his, something about knowing one’s place!”

“Hmph! Psh! Pah!”

The siblings apparently could only appear before me after the terrifying ministers had left the capital.

After receiving my recruitment notice.

“Aunt, Uncle. I’m so happy to see you after so long. And to think you came to help me… I’m really touched!”

“Arinel!”

“Arineeeel!”

They put their hands on their cheeks, delighted as if they’d become Mrs. Alens 2 and Mrs. Alens 3.

‘Just like how they doted on me in Galnem!’

Anes, who had been smiling happily, suddenly looked around with a wary expression.

“Hehe, just tell me if there are any troublesome customers. With this heavy law book, I can take down anyone who dares to target Arinel in one hit.”

Justice Tower Master Anes was holding a law book heavy enough to be considered a weapon.

“Sis, don’t say things like that. You’ll scare away customers. Arinel, leave the special effects to me.”

Alchemy Tower Master Baron rolled up his sleeves as if ready.

“Bubbles? Lights? Fireworks? Just name anything that could attract customers’ attention!”

Though their enthusiasm was a bit excessive…

‘Well… at least it’s better than Duke Guermont’s soldiers. If Duke Guermont were here, it would practically mean the end of business.’

I shook my head, imagining the mansion surrounded by armored cavalry.

The same goes for Lady Alens. Her noble lady fans would flood in so overwhelmingly that other customers would leave.

Duke Siegfried… though he has rational and logical charisma, if he stood in the shop, it would feel like taking an exam the entire time we’re selling.

These two are indeed less burdensome than the other ministers.

They just responded to my reasonable advertisement, so even if the three ministers question me later, I can just say I didn’t know when I recruited them.

Now then, shall we start preparing for sales in earnest?

I rolled up my sleeves, and my eyes sparkled with childlike energy.

***

Inside the magnificent Imperial Palace office.

Mrs. Alens, who had returned to the palace today, was standing with dignity and humility while reporting the progress of her mission to the Emperor.

“You need not worry about public sentiment. Most imperial citizens are aware of the coming famine, and we are actively informing them about what measures Your Majesty is taking to overcome this.”

Negative issues typically spread faster than positive ones.

Thus, it was inevitable that voices criticizing the empire would grow louder in times of chaos.

Mrs. Alens’s intervention was necessary to prevent the Second Prince’s remaining rebel forces from exploiting this.

At this point, it was most important to convey accurately what measures the Emperor and ministers were taking to overcome these difficulties.

And Mrs. Alens, who was well-versed in social politics, was doing her part splendidly.

“Contact with provincial lower nobility and upper-class commoners is particularly important. Rumors usually start spreading from those circles first. The red sugar beet products that Arinel prepared are proving very useful at my parties.”

“So you’re using red sugar beets to quell their anxiety.”

“Yes. Red sugar beets are vegetables that grow well without using mana, and thanks to Arinel, it’s been verified that they’re completely safe for human consumption. People are already relieved that they won’t starve even during the great famine, and now they’ve realized they won’t have to force themselves to eat unpalatable food just to survive.”

Parmes nodded with satisfaction.

“My daughter-in-law’s contributions are truly significant.”

***

“They say a famine is coming in two years. Do you think that’s true?”

“The Department of Economy released the geological survey results, so it must be.”

Several men who had finished their morning duties were playing cards at a wooden table in front of someone’s house while conversing.

“If there really is going to be a famine for four years, won’t food become more precious than money?”

“We should stockpile food…”

“But what kind of food would last more than 5 years? It’ll rot and grow mold… That’s obvious. There’s no point in buying it in advance.”

One man shook his head gloomily.

“Damn it, should we abandon our homes and leave the country?”

“Only those Hugo Brint bastards who buy up houses will benefit. Just think about how much interest we’re paying on mortgage loans.”

Even baked bread becomes stale and moldy after just over a week.

Unless there was food that could be preserved for such a long time… commoners like himself would be as good as dead when the famine came.

It was an unbelievable story, one they didn’t want to believe – that Albreon’s fertile territories would soon become unproductive land.

“No, wait! There is food that can be preserved for a long time! How could we forget?”

Someone suddenly exclaimed urgently.

“What food? Come on! What food could last for years?”

Though someone scoffed in response, the man continued.

“You fools. Don’t you remember? What we ate at the tasting event.”

Everyone clapped their hands and widened their eyes in realization, exclaiming “Ah!”

The Marquis Mylar family’s young lady’s new business.

It was a food business related to red sugar beets, and the product description they handed out at the time stated:

Red sugar beet preserves can be stored for over three years, and when dried, they can be stored for over 10 years.

If that was really true… they could prepare for the famine just by purchasing red sugar beets.

“…Are they selling it now?”

“Today’s the opening day!”

“Damn it! We’re late! Let’s hurry!”

The men who belatedly realized today was the opening day threw down their cards mid-game and started running, competing to get there first.

They weren’t the only ones who thought of the Mylar Shop at the mention of famine.

When the roof of the Marquis Mylar mansion began to appear in the distance…

“No way, is this…”

It seemed like everyone in the capital had come out – there was a line stretching as far as the eye could see.

“It’s all just a line?!”