Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 208

Among the people who are left gaping, the first to recover and ask a question is Sara.

“Kenji, I don’t quite understand what you said…”

Following her, the rest of the group—Gorgoro, Anne, and Kiriku—also begin to express their confusion.

“That’s right. I don’t get it at all.”

“Yeah, I didn’t understand either.”

“I didn’t get it either. Can you explain it a bit better?”

The previous explanation is tailored for Deacon Michelino, who has a foundation in law, so it’s only natural that the others can’t grasp it. It would be better to use a different example for them.

I nod and decide to explain from a slightly different angle. “Everyone pays taxes, right?”

At that, everyone looks displeased. Well, no one likes the word “tax.” Perhaps only the nobles and clergy, the upper classes of society, feel differently.

Deacon Michelino is the only one who remains composed when he hears the word “tax.” After all, they are the ones collecting them.

“Have you ever wondered what taxes are used for?” When I pose this question, all but Deacon Michelino wear expressions indicating they have never considered it.

It is only natural, given that public education is not widespread.

“Um, I don’t really know, but isn’t it used for the nobles’ clothes and meals? They must change into beautiful clothes every day and eat a mountain of meat and white bread, right? That sounds really expensive…” Sara suggests.

“You’re an idiot! It’s more about clothes than food! And then there’s jewelry! And trendy shoes! It goes to the decorations in their mansions! They use that money for things like that! The candlesticks are silver, and the dishes are shiny silver! I’ve been inside noble mansions many times! The place is filled with gold and silver decorations, sparkling everywhere!” Anne replies.

“I don’t know much, but isn’t it used to buy swords and armor? The nobles’ plate armor is custom-made, with each part tailored to fit their bodies. The engravings to grant magical effects are intricate, and that stuff is expensive,” Gorgoro chimes in.

“It’s probably used to maintain the military. After all, an army is a money-eating monster,” Kiriku adds.

I nod at their opinions. “I think everyone’s opinions are correct. However, we can’t really know for sure if that’s the case. Right?”

“Well, that’s just how taxes are,” Kiriku replies.

This reflects the average view of taxes in this world: they are imposed unilaterally, and we have no idea how they’re used.

“What would you think if you were told how the taxes were being used?”

“What do you mean… That’s impossible!” Anne dismisses the idea, but since I want them to continue the thought experiment, I encourage further discussion.

“Let’s say, hypothetically, that the nobles explain in documents and words what the taxes they collect are used for in a way that ordinary people like us can easily understand. What would you think?” When I pose this question, everyone closes their eyes to think and starts to groan.

It seems they are struggling with the hypothetical scenario of nobles explaining tax usage to commoners.

After a while, Anne speaks up. “Well… I might be somewhat convinced to pay taxes.”

“That’s true,” Gorgoro agrees.

However, Sara has a slightly different opinion.

“That’s true, but… if the money is used improperly, they might become very unhappy. I mean, if my younger siblings are hungry and I find out that the noble is feasting on meat and other luxuries with tax money, it would really infuriate me.”

Upon hearing that opinion, the other three also change their views.

“That’s certainly true.”

“Well, it’s impossible for that to happen!”

“Yeah, there’s no way the nobles would tell the commoners how taxes are used.”

There is a thick layer of distrust towards nobles among the common people.

In a world without public education, that’s just how feudal lords operate.