Chapter 1422. Next Mission / Inequivalent Exchange

「 Is it okay for us to meet our Grandfather? 」

While we’re inside the limousine heading to the hotel in front of the station…

Matsumoto Maki-san asks.

「 I believe in Takahata Marika-san, and I can see now that you have the power to convince Grandfather with your power 」

Maki-san speaks timidly.

「 I’m sure that Torii-san’s the daughter of the president of Torii electronics, and I also believe that she’s the daughter of the Kouzuki house 」

She figured out that we were not lying during our conversation.

She was still half in doubt when Marika brought her to our school.

But after meeting Margo-san, Mariko, then Rei-chan, Mitama, Kinuka, Rie and Eri who appear on TV.

She performed in front of Minaho-neesan.

Then, show the mansion where we live.

「 Miki-san, what about you? 」

I also asked Maki-san’s sister, Miki-san.

「 I also believe it now. Uhm, I think that you could help us 」

She’s not confident, but she’s believing in the possibility.

「 What about you? What do you feel? 」

While at it, I asked Igarashi Izumi who forcibly came along with the Matsumoto siblings.

Seems like she likes Matsumoto Maki-san as a woman.

「 I don’t even know what’s going on! I’m just honestly scared of you people. I only think that I might be involved in something dangerous 」

Igarashi Izumi’s forced disguise with the Miko power and sing the national anthem at the school swimsuit judo tournament.

Her fear is stronger.

During our first meeting, she was so high-handed and talked so much, but now she’s not talking at all.

The truth is, she’s a timid girl.

「 For now, we’ll do what we promised. Marika’s a part of our family, and Matsumoto Maki-san’s a friend of hers. Then Maki-san’s little sister too, both of you will continue to study music 」

I tell the sisters

「 Leave the negotiations with your grandfather to us, or should I say that we brought the best people in our family who can deal with this 」

I look at the car in front of our limo.

Minaho-neesan, and Kyouko-san disguised as Chemin Koda.

The two of them can surely persuade Matsumoto-san’s grandfather.

They’re dangerous people who will take the situation as they see fit no matter what.

「 And it’s too late to stop at this point. We already have multiple people moving for us 」

Minaho-neesan’s using her underworld connections to set up an appointment with Matsumoto-san’s grandfather.

It’s not just one or two people that will have to stop.

Even the hotel in front of the station. Minaho-neesan owns it, but people are waiting for us, and Matsumoto-san’s grandfather’s arrival is contacted in advance.

The meeting is ready.

「 Doesn’t it cost a lot too? 」

Matsumoto Maki-san says after seeing the overly luxurious limousine interior.

「 It is as you imagine 」

I replied honestly.

We even went to the trouble of preparing a fancy limousine.

Even having Ruriko, the daughter of Kouzuki put on a dress.

Even I put on my best suit.

Kyouko-san and Minaho-neesan directed all these.

Meaning…

If we want to overwhelm the Matsumoto Elder, who built up a drugstore chain in his lifetime, then we have to show that we’re wealthy, that we belong to the upper class.

Elder Matsumoto said that he won’t fund Matsumoto Maki-san and Miki-san’s music studies.

Telling Maki-san to leave her school and go to an ordinary one.

Forcing Miki-san to sell the violin her father left for her.

If we want to oppose that old man…

We have to say that we’ll guarantee Maki-san and Miki-san’s tuition and living expenses.

We must show that we have the money and power to make it possible.

We have to show them from the start that we’re far bigger than the chairman of the drugstore chain.

「 But, we’ve got nothing we can repay everyone 」

Matsumoto Maki-san holds Marika’s hand while saying.

Miki-san feels nervous about what her sister said.

Igarashi Izumi looks confused.

「 That’s why…this is indeed what we asked for, but we’re afraid 」

That’s…

「 Are you afraid that things are moving for real? That’s understandable 」

Mariko smiled and talked to Maki-san.

「 That’s right, I think so too. Neither Miki nor I are professionals yet, and we don’t have the beginnings of a professional either. I’m just a student. I don’t know if I’ll ever make it as a performer, and I know it’s going to cost a lot to get to that point 」

Maki-san’s performance in the piano is at the top in their school.

I heard Miki-san play the violin.

I don’t know much about music, but Minaho-neesan saw potential in these sisters.

Even so.

Whether or not they can become professional performers is still unknown at this stage.

「 We’re still immature, and yet, everyone’s doing everything to help us, so we don’t know if it’s good or not. Is this okay? 」

「 Miki-san, after hearing what your sister’s opinion is, what do you think? 」

I asked her sister again.

「 I’m still in middle school so I agree with Maki-oneesan 」

Miki-san looks at me with moist eyes.

「 So, if your sister says that she’s backing off, you’re just giving up on your violin? 」

「 That’s… 」

Miki-san hugs the violin case.

She can’t give it up, but she also can’t make her own life choice.

「 Err, in short, what you worry about is that you don’t have anything to give back to Ruriko and Ruriko-san who helped you, so you don’t know what you should do? 」

Mariko asks.

「 Maybe, are you thinking that you’ll have to bow your head to us for the rest of your life as payback? Or serving us eternally because we have your weakness? 」

I ask while peeking into their eyes.

「 That’s likely to happen. Matsumoto-san 」

Igarashi Izumi tells Maki-san while trembling.

I…

「 Yes, that’s possible, or maybe not. Either way, that depends on you 」

The sisters look at me in surprise.

「 Matsumoto-san, do you really believe that you should return equal value to others when they do something for you 」

「 That’s…if possible, then it has to 」

The elder sister replied.

「 I thought of the same before. There was that time, but I don’t think the same way anymore 」

Err.

「 You know that I’m selling pastries at school since you came during our school festival, right? Then you also heard that I also sell pastry even when it’s not the school festival, right? 」

I first met the Matsumoto siblings at the cafeteria and fed them our pastry.

Someone in the mansion should’ve told them that I usually sell pastries.

The Matsumoto siblings had been waiting in the mansion for quite some time before I returned.

I’m told that Agnes and the girls were doing their best talking to the Matsumoto siblings during that time, so they definitely reached pastry as the topic.

「 Yes, I heard about it 」

Maki-san’s face is asking “Why are we talking about this?” she replied.

「 I bake pastry every day as business, and I always think about it, but… 」

That’s…

「 Are 100 yen pastries really worth that much? 」

Maki-san, Miki-san, and Igarashi Izumi don’t understand what I say.

They’re looking dumbfounded.

Their tension loosened up.

「 No, I’ve been thinking about this from the start. The pastry you sell at 100 yen must be worth a hundred yen to the customer who buys it. It’s worth a hundred, and so selling it for a hundred is correct. And it’s…what do you call it? 」

「 It’s the equivalent exchange, Onii-sama 」

Ruriko tells me right away.

「 That. Equivalent Exchange. When I started selling pastries, I thought that’s the right way to do business 」

「 Isn’t that the right one? 」

Igarashi Izumi asked.

「 No, that’s not the case 」

I.

「 If you want your customer to be pleased with their purchase, then you can’t just sell a pastry worth 100 yen for 100. For the customers, they should be able to buy something worth more than 100 yen for that price 」

If they buy something that should be worth 150 or 200 yen for 100, then they will be happy.

「 If 100 yen worth item is sold at the same price, then it’s boring. There’s no feeling that you just made a bargain. That’s why you have to develop your business that way. I realized that early 」

I’ve learned a lot since I first started selling pastries after the end of summer vacation.

「 I mean, for the customers, what’s worth 100 yen and what’s worth more than 100 yen, is a sensory thing, not their real value. In fact, the cost of making them is less than 100. If you don’t make a profit, then your business won’t last. So if you’re selling something for 100 yen, then it shouldn’t cost you 100 yen 」

The siblings and Igarashi Izumi’s dragged along with my story.

「 And so, you have to make a product that makes the customer feel like “Is this really worth 100 yen? I feel like it’s actually worth 150” 」

「 Values are a relative thing, right? 」

Mariko said.

「 No, it’s something even more halfhearted. All you have to do is make the customer feel like it’s more than it’s worth. Even if it’s actually just 80 or 70 yen 」

In short.

「 What you need is to satisfy the customer’s senses, and there’s no point selling something worth 100 yen for 100 yen 」

Satisfy your customer with their purchase.

That’s everything.

「 I see. Kou’s saying that Marxian economics is wrong 」

Mariko smiled wryly.

「 Marx what? 」

I don’t get it.

「 You don’t know? It’s Marcus Aurelius Antonius. One of the five sage emperors and the philosopher emperor who wrote the book of self-reflection 」

Kinosh*ta-san who’s listening to the conversation joins in happily.

「 It is said that “An Dun, King of the State of Great Qin,” who appears in the Book of Later Han Dynasty, is the same Marx! 」

I see.

Yep.

I don’t get it.

「 Either way, the payback that Matsumoto-san can give us isn’t equivalent exchange either 」

I said.

「 That means, you can give anything in return as long as it satisfies us. You don’t have to worry about the money spent or the labor 」

Rather.

「 Rather, there’s something I want to be clear with you 」

Yes, I want to clarify something before we get to the hotel.

「 Matsumoto-san, are you serious that you want to continue studying music? Are you willing to accept whatever it takes to keep it going? 」

I need to get it clear before facing her grandfather.

「 You can think about the repayment later. We’re giving you the opportunity. The question is whether you want to jump at that opportunity or will you let it pass? 」

Matsumoto Maki-san and Miki-san look at me with a startled faces.

「 If you’re not reaching for it, then we can’t help you. We won’t do anything. Those without courage can’t get anything 」

We’re not helping those who don’t ask for it

We’re not going to be that easy.

「 I want to continue playing my violin. No matter what 」

The younger sister answered before the elder.

「 M-Me too, I don’t want to stop playing piano now 」

Maki-san followed her sister.

「 I’m sorry. We’re the ones asking, so we should’ve said it with the conviction that we’ll do anything in return 」

Maki-san bows her head.

「 No, that’s where you’re wrong 」

I…

These sisters need to join the family.

Furthermore, Maki-san loves Marika.

I’m taking her in not as my sex slave, but as Marika’s lover.

「 Then be greedy if you want to become a professional musician 」

I told the sisters.

「 You should do anything for your dream, but, you must not forget your happiness. There’s nothing but suffering if you feel obliged to me. You have to think about how to make yourselves and the people around you without suffering, and move forward with that kind of thinking 」

Saying “I helped you, so you’re my slave for the rest of your life”…

I’m not giving such orders to Maki-san.

「 If you want to be a professional, then be freer, more tactful, more greedy 」

I need to brush off the darkness wrapping these sisters first.

「 Indeed. If you want to be a musician, then be a bit more egoistic. But of course, there are some lines that you shouldn’t cross, and you need enough strength to make the people around you happy, even if it’s a little selfish 」

Mariko told the Matsumoto siblings with a smile.

「 Either way, you need to have your resolve to let us take care of it, right? You’ll figure out the rest later 」

I too…

Margo-san told me when I joined the Black Forest.

『 For now, eat the food in front of you, just think about later, later 』

「 It’s important to jump in without thinking even if you end up regretting later. Nothing begins from idling around. That’s what I believe in 」

Back then, I jumped in and raped Yukino.

I had some worries back then.

But, I don’t regret it now.

If I didn’t jump in back then, then I won’t be my current self.

「 Indeed. Ready yourself. For now, think about continuing your music studies 」

「 I agree with Onee-san 」

The sisters said.

「 I’m thinking of cutting off relationship with Grandfather 」

「 It’s inevitable 」

Then.

「 That’s where you got it wrong 」

Luna, who had been quiet until now, speaks to the sisters.

「 The greed Nii-san’s talking about is much deeper. If Onee-san doesn’t just desire to continue playing music, but also reconcile with your grandfather, then… 」

Luna reads the minds of the sisters.

「 Then, you should make that wish real. You should put on some effort into obtaining your wish 」

I remembered what Tsukiko told me earlier in the dining room.

Tsukiko said that the case of the Matsumoto siblings is trivial.

I was thinking of twisting the elder Matsumoto’s will using Tsukiko’s Miko power, so the sisters would be free to continue playing music.

But, Tsukiko told me that she doesn’t need to go, that Luna’s enough for that.

In short.

「 You seem to think that going against your grandfather, and continuing to play music, means that you have to say goodbye to him for the rest of your life, but… 」

Luna said.

「 But is that really the case? Getting along with your grandfather and still playing music, is the best outcome, isn’t it? Isn’t that what you wish for? 」

「 But that’s… 」

「 That’s impossible 」

The siblings said, but…

「 It’s not. If you ask, then Kou-kun will do something about it 」

Marika speaks to the Matsumoto siblings gently.

「 All you have to do is ask, say ‘help us,’ 」

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