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Chapter 771 – Lottery
A bamboo blind was installed in front of the oriental dragon god I carved.
The publicized reason was because everyone’s afraid to look at it directly.
As for the behind the scene reason, some dragons are afraid of it.
Well, if someone wishes to see it, we will just take the screen off and show it to the person in question on the spot.
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In any case, something surprised me.
Dors said “There used to be” but Kwon and Kworun were both able to take the form of oriental dragons.
Amazing.
I couldn’t help but want to look for their seven balls.
No, there are two of them so I guess fourteen.
That’s a lot of work.
「Ano, is there something wrong?」
Don’t mind me.
By the way, why aren’t you transforming in those forms?
I’ve seen Kwon and Kworun’s dragon forms a number of times but they were in their western dragon form.
「Father in law(Dors)-sama gets scared of me….」
I-I see.
「Pedigree-wise, I think Raimeiren-sama and Grafaroon-sama can transform into oriental dragons as well. 」
Is that so?
「Yes. Although there are pros and cons. In the east, this form is more revered so our father and mother are both living in this form. In this place, Dors-sama’s form is more revered.」
I see.
「By the way, in the past, there was a time when dragons fought for the stupid reason of which form is superior. In order to avoid that from happening again, we are taught to never compare them.」
I understand.
Then, can you please transform to your human forms now?
Yeah, the silver foxes were so surprised that they thought the shintai had become real.
There’s no need to look at it at the shrine if that happens.
Reflect, me.
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Now, the reason I came to the shrine now is to have a serious discussion about how to manage the shrine.
It has been about 20 days since the silver foxes came to this shrine.
It is about time they got used to living here which means it’s about time for them to fully work.
It would be bad to make them do nothing but clean.
I have also received feedback from the silver foxes that they have no problem with their new job.
That’s good.
I have a few businesses I have in mind.
I want them to do those.
However, let’s think about it first.
I don’t want to act on an impulse and turn them into big deals.
Also, I don’t really care if the businesses I thought of fail but in this case, faith is involved.
We can’t fail.
I know how scary faith is.
That is why I set up a meeting to discuss it.
Here, I’m going to explain my plans and decide whether or not we will actually do it.
The place was inside the worship hall.
A low round table and cushions were set up there.
The participants are me, Youko, Niz, Kon-san as the representative of the silver foxes, Kitsu-san as the recorder, and ancestor-san.
Ancestor-san was asked to participate as head of the Korin Religion.
I think it will already be fine with Youko and Niz but I would like to have an outside opinion.
Also, there is a talk about whether or not this shrine will join the Korin Religion.
I’m so glad that he made time in his busy schedule to join us.
I appreciate it.
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「Let’s start with the report on the current situation.」
The facilitator of this meeting is Kon-san
「The lives of the silver foxes, red foxes, black foxes, and round-face foxes are going well. There have been some problems but they have all been reported to both Youko-sama and Niz-sama. Measures have already been taken. Our lives are improving by leaps and bound and next year or the year after that, we plan to make children.」
That’s great news.
I’m happy for you…..
「If you become too many, you’ll be in trouble. Don’t forget to control yourself.」
Youko, who had already stopped dressing and acting cute, is in her usual clothes and in her usual strictness.
By the way, the reason she stopped dressing and acting cutely was because her daughter, Hitoe, started imitating her. The spiderlings even prepared costumes for her.
It’s still too early for Hitoe so Youko returned to her original self.
Loo and Tier were already starting to wear similar outfits so I guess it’s a wise decision.
The spiderlings and the residents of Village Five were disappointed though.
「The preparations for the field in the mountains have been completed and the only thing left to do now is to sow the seed in the spring. Also, the chicken farm and coop have been completed so we can now be self-sufficient in eggs.」
That’s great.
In fact, not too long ago, Youko and Niz were wondering if it would be alright to raise livestock in a shrine full of shintai.
It’s true that no one would want to kill any kind of animal near the shrine.
After much deliberation, it was decided that it was safe to keep chickens and just eat the eggs they lay. And so, the chicken coop was built.
Well, the coop was built halfway up the mountain, hidden from the eyes of worshippers…..
I’m glad that everything’s okay.
「The cleaning work by those who can transform into humanoid form has also improved to the extent that although it’s not perfect, it’s not unsightly. Normally, we should still be focusing on perfecting our shrine-keeping jobs but if we have no income, we will burden on Village Five that’s been supporting us. We are thinking of becoming financially independent and we have gathered here to discuss this. Please take care of us.」
After Kon-san finished her explanation, she bowed and I applauded.
I think she was a better facilitator than me.
Niz and ancestor-san clapped with me but Youko did not.
Is it normal for her to be able to do this much?
Or are foxes strict in judging their kind?
I’ll ask later.
Ehto, it’s my turn.
I thought so but Youko raised her hand and proceeded to talk.
「About Kon’s concern about the shrine’s financial independence. The residents of Village Five who heard about the shrine’s construction have begun building stores along the road connecting Village Five and the shrine. We have estimated that a part of the tax collected from them will be used to cover the operating expenses of the shrine….and it should be enough to cover the operating expenses.」
Is that so?
The operating expenses should be relatively high since it includes the maintenance and repair of the facility, the wages of the foxes, food expenses, the cost of periodic ceremonies, personnel expenses when hiring others, and entertainment expenses if someone important comes to the shrine.
Can all of those be covered?
「Yes. Some stores have already started operating and they are very popular. There is no way we shouldn’t tax them.」
I see.
Well, the residents of Village Five are even trying to pay more taxes voluntarily.
I don’t think the estimate is far off the mark.
「However, that doesn’t mean that the shrine doesn’t need to do anything. In addition to ceremonies, we would like to hold events and make the road connecting Village Five and the shrine livelier.」
That’s true.
However, I am thankful that the operating expenses are already covered.
We don’t have to be obsessed with making a profit from the shrine’s business.
We can just shift in the direction that makes the worshippers happy.
….let’s scrap the lottery then.
「Lottery? What a nice name.」
TN: Literal translations are “treasure” and “raffle”.
Oh, it caught Youko’s interest.
Niz and ancestor-san looked interested too so I explained it to them.
Just a simple explanation.
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Lottery.
For example, we will sell numbered tickets in order to raise money for the operation of the shrine.
After a certain number of tickets have been sold, a draw lot will be held in order to determine the winner based on the number written on the ticket.
The winner will receive cash prize but if there’s only one winner, the tickets won’t sell well so the number of winners will be increased and the prizes will be changed to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
It’s a system of exchanging prize money for the winning number tickets.
-0-
Kon-san and Kitsu-san are both…anticipating it. On the other hand, Youko, Niz, and ancestor-san were holding their heads.
Why?
「You did the right thing to scrap it.」
Youko said.
「Don’t underestimate faith.」
Niz said.
「I’m in favor of scrapping it too. And please don’t tell anyone about that idea. It’s too dangerous.」
Finally, ancestor-san concluded.
Okay but…is it that bad?
Ancestor-san answered my question carefully.
「That’s a too good system for collecting money. If it’s connected to faith, it will be unstoppable. There will be people who will pour all their wealth into it just to prove that they love god.」
I see.
「The mechanism of that lottery is quite simple. Under village chief’s supervision, we will be able to restrict the number of times we do lottery but what if it was imitated by other shrines? Can we control them too?」
I see.
「And the biggest problem is…..the people who would actually buy tickets from the shrines. It will be okay if they think they just don’t have enough faith but if they start to think that god doesn’t care about them….their faith will be shaken. It’s like testing god. 」
Eh?
Ah, yeah, right.
Gods exist in this world.
So that will happen if benefits and faith are too close.
I see.
Yeah, truly dangerous.
Maa, I was going to scrap it in the first place so let’s scrap it altogether.
That was close.
Hnn?
What’s the matter, Youko?
Don’t ever tell the angels about the lottery? Okay.
Especially Tiselle?
No, I’m not going to tell anyone because there’s no need to tell anyone….
Understood.
If you’re that worried, why don’t we make a lottery rule now?
Something like, the lottery is a test of one’s luck rather than blessings from the gods.
If we set a time limit for the lottery and the method of drawing lots, there would be less trouble in case of an accident.
Perhaps that was a bad suggestion from me but Youko, Niz, and ancestor-san started to seriously make rules for the lottery.
I don’t think they need to do it on the spot but I guess that’s how dangerous they see it.
Yeah, I get it.
Ehto, so the discussion on shrine management is….
Tomorrow.
Okay.
Kon-san and Kitsu-san, who were not able to join the discussion and were free, came to my lap in their fox forms. Thus, I pet their backs and tails.
Good good.
Let’s leave the difficult discussion to the three and let’s relax.
It is almost spring.
-0-
Narration: The always-extended village council meeting is finally over!
Village Council Members: Haa…it’s finally over.
Youko: Alright. Now, let’s proceed with today’s agenda.
Village Council Members: Bufuhhh!
Youko: ….what’s wrong? Do I have something funny on my face?
Village Council Members: S-sorry! Wai, hey, the more serious Youko-sama is, the more interesting it becomes!
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AN: Finally, I was able to update.
Sorry for the delay.
The anime has started airing.
If you are from a place where you can watch it, please do.
I live in Osaka and…. long-distance broadcasting is difficult.
The next update will not be available until around the 20th.
Sorry, I will be working on the LN version.
Volume 14 seems to be doing well.
It has already been reprinted.
Thank you very much.
TN: I watched the anime and I didn’t notice the time until it ended. I think it’s just me who anticipated it too much though.