#1249 Merchant and Railways 

My name is Shax. 
I am a demon merchant. 

I preside over the Pandemonium Trading Company, and I take pride in carrying the burden of the Demon Kingdom’s economy and trade upon my shoulders. 
One of the proofs of that, my dealings with Lord Saint of the Farm, once forced me into a period of hiding when they came to light. But recently, I’ve finally managed to regain some stability. 

That’s all thanks to Lord Saint and the Farm being officially recognized by the world at large. 

Right now, His Majesty the Demon King himself is moving to suppress the fools who stir up trouble for no reason. 
There’s still “fair trade” and “equal opportunity” to consider on paper, but the highest priority at the moment is that we must not trouble Lord Saint. On that foundation, my company alone continues to handle trade with the Farm. 

…Well, technically, it’s “fair” since our company acts as the distribution hub for the Farm’s goods. 
But when the Farm Kingdom fully kicks into gear, I expect it will be a free trade bonanza across every field. 

That’s fine by me. When the time comes, the Pandemonium Company will use our unbeatable service and quality to win the contracts. Until then, I’m happily pouring support into the Farm Kingdom’s development project, stacking up good deeds for posterity. 

And then one day… 
I receive a truly shocking report. 

*** 

“A new railway line?! For the railroad?!” 

And it’s supposed to connect the Demon Kingdom and the Human Kingdom’s capitals?! 

When I hear that such a plan is taking shape between the two nations, I nearly fall out of my chair. 

The railroad. 
…Of course I’ve heard of it. 
It’s one of those outrageous, unbelievable inventions brought into the world by none other than Lord Saint. 

I don’t know how it works, but it moves a giant hunk of iron at terrifying speed.  
It carries people and goods by the cartload. 

In short, it’s a mode of transport and shipping on a scale that breaks all previous common sense. 
The impact on the world is immeasurable. 

Up until now, we’ve been huffing and puffing with horse-drawn wagons, but the railroad can move dozens of times the load in a fraction of the time. 
Maybe some fools will shrug and say “so what,” but such fools are amateurs.  
Idiots. 
This invention will overturn the very foundation of the world!!! 

The acceleration of trade means the acceleration of time itself!  
As railways spread, the pace of the world will speed up, and society will advance at a staggering rate. 

Of course, as someone who keeps a close watch on the Farm, I’ve been aware of the railroad’s existence from the beginning. 

I’ve even had the chance to ride it. 
I sometimes use teleportation for work, but I’d never experienced high-speed travel like that before. Watching the scenery outside the window blur into liquid streaks was a novel experience. 

Also, the boxed lunches were delicious. 

The only drawback for now is that it’s limited to running along the tracks, so making it widespread will take time.  
Still, once this system spreads across the world, society will take a step up to an entirely new dimension. 

Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who saw the potential. The rulers of nations did, too.  
Hence this new project. 

The Demon Capital and the Royal Capital, linked by rail… can such an incredible thing really happen? 

Two nations dividing the world above: one ruled by demons, the other by humans. 
And now their capitals will be bound together by rail, the fastest means of travel. It isn’t hard to imagine just how much this will streamline, how much faster and more efficient everything will become. 

After all, the capital is where political decisions are concentrated, and where goods inevitably flow and gather. 

Naturally, we’re not immune to the ripples that spread from there.  
If the foundation of distribution changes, the foundation of commerce changes with it. 

Those who fail to adapt to change get mercilessly left behind. That’s the way of the world! 

And right now, even my own trading company, currently sitting at the top of the Demon Kingdom’s economy, is no exception.  
Whether we manage to carve out a share of this railway business or not will decide the rise and fall of our future! 

My people!  
Know that this is the moment of truth! 

Huh? I’ve been declaring “the moment of truth” every single day for the past few years? 

Well, what do you expect?! Ever since Lord Saint showed up, every day has been the moment of truth! 

Now then… are there other merchants trying to get a piece of this railway venture? 

…A lot of them?! 

Well of course! Any merchant who let such an obvious chance slip by would be unworthy of the name! 

“Everyone is abuzz with excitement over this huge, big business opportunity!” 

That’s the report from my subordinates.  
The redundant “huge, big” is nothing more than a slip of the tongue, born from sheer excitement. I’ll take it as a good sign. 

“If the line opens between the Demon Capital and Royal Capital, it will allow massive exports of Demon Kingdom specialties to the Human Kingdom, and vice versa! Some industry guilds have already begun increasing production in anticipation of the demand!” 

That’s a bit hasty! 

“And merchants are already setting out to negotiate imports from the Human Kingdom as well. If our company doesn’t act quickly, we’ll fall behind the wave!” 

Indeed, that’s the urgent matter for us, too.  
...Very well. Dispatch a special team to the Human Kingdom immediately. 

…Speaking of which, what about the Carriage Guild?  
Their business model is in direct competition with the railroad. 

Whenever society undergoes a major transformation, old powers clash with new powers. 

In this case, the Carriage Guild that has handled transport until now is bound to collide with the railroads, the new standard... 

“The Carriage Guild seems to be doing well.” 

That’s the report from my subordinate. 
…Or maybe “well” is an understatement? 

“They're adapting and finding ways to coexist by complementing the advantages of each side. For this new Demon Capital–Royal Capital railway, they’ve already drafted a matching plan. They intend to sell a special ticket bundle: a discounted round-trip train fare plus an unlimited day-pass for local street carriages. There are one-night/two-day and two-night/three-day course options available.” 

…Okay, I want that. 
Tch, those crafty carriage people. They’re already working out how to survive under the new standard. 

“And one more issue… something we can’t overlook.” 

Oh? 
As expected from my capable subordinate. Even without my prompting, he’s already analyzed the situation and pulled out the key concern. 

All that rigorous training I put him through as head of the guild has paid off. 
So then, what’s the problem? Let’s hear it. 

“It’s about the route itself.” 

Hmm? 

“At present, the new line is confirmed to start at the Demon Capital and end at the Royal Capital. But the exact path it will take hasn’t been decided at all. Both nations are filled with large cities outside of their capitals, and if the line passes through those major hubs, the economic benefits will multiply even further.” 

True enough...! 
A major city means a massive population, which means countless buyers and sellers all in one place. 

If every stop becomes a “station,” then the number of stations could very well determine the entire scale of this business. 

And even if it doesn’t connect across nations, just linking major cities within the Demon Realm itself could have an enormous impact. 

So, have station candidates already been put forward?  
How many are we talking about in the end? 

“…Currently, about 340 towns and villages have submitted applications.” 

340?! 
Isn’t that a bit much?! 

“Yes… but think about it. If the line passes through their humble little village, the economic effect would be enormous. Even if their chances are slim, people can’t help but try. And if by some miracle they’re chosen, they’ll practically leapfrog straight into the ranks of major cities.” 

Ghh… well, when you put it that way, it does make sense. 
But this is going to turn into a brutal competition. 

340 applicants, and in reality, maybe ten will get chosen. 
The more stations there are, the more stops the trains have to make. The more they stop, the slower the entire line becomes. 
And that defeats one of the greatest strengths of the railway! 

“Exactly. The Demon King himself is said to be troubled by this overwhelming flood of applications… If this isn’t handled properly, the entire project could lose its purpose and collapse.” 

So, this isn’t just a business opportunity to celebrate. 

As head of a major trading guild, it may be time for me to offer my counsel. 
I must go to Demon Castle immediately and request an audience with His Majesty!!!