“Initiate the emergency order.”
—
On a day when the heavy rain had begun to subside, and warm sunlight peeked through the dark clouds, an emergency economic decree was issued in the city of Luna, Artemis.
—
The moment the decree was announced, I became the center of a team composed of economic experts who gathered to form a temporary economic recovery task force.
—
The first area we investigated was taxation.
The number of people employed in the alcohol industry, who pay taxes.
The expected financial impact of the curse of Dionysus on tax revenues.
—
The investigation results revealed something surprising: the alcohol industry accounted for over 20% of the city’s total tax revenue.
—
When the experts presented this number, I initially found it hard to believe. But upon reflection, the figure made perfect sense.
In this world’s medieval times, most forms of entertainment revolve around drinking. Citizens often spend their days enjoying good drinks and talking with friends.
This isn’t just the case in our city of Luna; it’s true in every other city as well. Even the gods partake in this pastime.
So it was only natural that merchants like Clepeion would revolt when their profits were threatened. In fact, it was a stroke of good fortune that the citizens didn’t join them in rebellion.
—
Knock knock.
A 50-year-old economic expert opened the door to my office and stepped inside without waiting for an invitation.
“Esteemed Priest. The results of our investigation into the temple’s taxes have come in.”
“Finally. What’s the verdict?”
In response to my hopeful question, the expert’s face darkened like the twilight.
I already feared the worst.
And my suspicion was right.
“Impossible… If we allocate 30% of next month’s revenue to support alcohol industry workers, it won’t be long before the entire city collapses.”
“Hmm…”
“Sir Priest, it would be far more effective to abolish education altogether…”
“That’s not an option.”
I cut off the expert’s pragmatic advice. One of the first things I did after becoming Artemis’s priest was establish an education division.
Though the department has a grand name, its work is actually quite simple—essentially carried out by myself.
Our main objective is to teach orphans how to read and write by establishing a small academy within Luna and hiring teachers to educate the children.
Even this modest effort costs 30 gold per month, or roughly 30 million won, covering teacher salaries and the children’s meals.
To the economic expert, it probably seems like money is just slipping through our fingers. But children are the hope for the future of this world.
I, too, had once struggled with hunger until I met my benefactor, Liam, who helped me to grow as I have. My wish for children remains unchanged from then until now.
—
“I have no intention of cutting the education budget. Rather, we should first eliminate the expensive gifts sent monthly to the Twelve Great Gods.”
“Absolutely not, Priest.”
To me, those gifts seem extravagant, but for those who have lived alongside the gods, such a thing is unthinkable.
I considered pressing the issue further but decided against it, fearing Dionysus might unleash another curse.
—
“Sir Priest, boosting internal economic growth won’t be enough.”
“Hmm… How about raising citizens’ taxes?”
“It’s unreasonable. Tax increases only take effect three months after they’re announced due to the laws established by Artemis—”
“Expert, the emergency economic decree has been issued. We don’t need to worry about those laws.”
“Ah… My apologies. I wasn’t familiar with the legal situation…”
Our laws can roughly be compared to those of a modern state:
The laws of Olympus, made by the gods, equate to a constitution.
Laws created by each god to govern their city are equivalent to statutes.
Administrative decrees issued by gods within this legal framework function as executive orders.
Currently, under the emergency economic order, laws can be overridden if they don’t violate the constitution of Olympus. Essentially, we’re allowed to do whatever is necessary to weather this crisis.
Though the system isn’t identical to that of modern nations, the core principles are similar.
However, this isn’t truly a law-based society, as the gods take precedence over all laws, making their displeasure effectively the highest law.
But I am a priest, and as long as rules exist, we must abide by them. That’s the only way people can trust and follow us. It’s one of the basic tenets of leadership that I believe in completely.
—
“You’ve worked hard. You’re dismissed.”
“…Yes.”
The 50-year-old economic expert left my office with a face that seemed to have eaten something bitter. Was he embarrassed by a young man like me pointing out his legal misunderstanding?
I can’t afford to console such small feelings right now. We need a strategy to overcome the economic crisis caused by Dionysus’s curse.
Alone in my office, I stood up and walked toward the window.
“If we just raise taxes by 5% on the citizens of Luna, it might work… ”
As I muttered to myself, watching priestesses tending to the fields, I couldn’t think of a viable solution. My mind kept circling back to the idea of increasing taxes.
“No. If we do that, the citizens might join Clepeion’s revolt.”
The reason ordinary citizens hadn’t joined Clepeion’s rebellion was simple: they weren’t yet directly affected.
But raising taxes would inevitably change their situation, and even a simple solution would have significant repercussions.
“Ultimately, we need to bring in a large sum of money. Is there any other way?”
The method I had briefly mentioned to Artemis.
Before the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, took a liking to me personally, she had been fascinated by this—the system I created.
Yes, this is the only way.
“Let’s go.”
Leaving the temple, I headed straight for Luna. Entering the inner castle area, where the most important buildings of the city were located, I made my way toward a public organization.
“Halt!”
Massive soldiers armed with steel armor and spears blocked my path. Their voices were stern and forceful. I showed them my identity badge from within my robes, easing my own tension.
“I’m Ark, priest of Artemis. I request access to the Citizen Pension Fund.”
“Ah! Esteemed Priest Ark! … Verified.”
The Citizen Pension Fund.
It was the very first thing I created after becoming a priest, and it’s the most popular system among the citizens of Luna.
We collect 1 to 10 silver coins each month from all citizens of Luna, which the fund manages. In return, when the citizens grow old, we return the funds, adding interest, in small amounts every month. It’s a form of social insurance.
“May I enter then?”
“Even if your identity is confirmed, security personnel will accompany you inside. Do you agree?”
This place handles more money than the Artemis Temple’s treasury, so strict security is essential. If it were lax, I would have fired everyone here immediately.
“Of course. Follow me.”
“Understood!”
What surprised me was that instead of just one guard, four surrounded me, shielding me from any possible threat. With their protection, I felt reassured as I entered the building.
Once inside, the representative, having been informed of my arrival, greeted me and led me to a reception room.
“Thank you for visiting, Sir Priest.”
“I apologize, but I must get to the point immediately.”
I showed the representative the emergency economic decree issued by Artemis. He left the room with the parchment to consult with a notary, who verified its authenticity. Satisfied, the leader returned.
“Sir Priest. It has been confirmed. What can our Citizen Pension Fund do to help our city overcome this economic crisis?”
“Simple. Give me some money.”
“Whatever amount you need, we’ll provide it.”
“All of it.”
“…What?”
“All of it!”
At my shocking request, the representative’s glasses fell off his face. Struggling to stand due to trembling knees, he collapsed onto the floor, clutching his fists and began crying uncontrollably.
“Oh my! You blasted priest are trying to destroy our Pension Fund!”
“What? Blasted priest?! Stop talking nonsense!”
“Damn it! Do you think I don’t know your plan to run off with the money?! To have to have my nose cut off in broad daylight under the guise of law!! Oh Artemis!!!”
“Pull yourself together, you incompetent representative!”
I struck the top of his head with the back of my hand. Then, I explained my detailed plan to overcome this crisis. Only then did the representative understand, nodding his agreement and clapping his hands.
“Ah! If you’d only explained this earlier—”
“Who was the one saying ‘whatever amount you need, we’ll provide it’?”
“So, shall we implement this tomorrow?”
“…Yes.”
The representative quickly passed over what could’ve been an unfavorable detail. I briefly considered whether he was fit to remain in such an important position but quickly disregarded it—his quick understanding of my plan was sufficient proof of his intelligence.
The next day,
Under my name, the Citizen Pension Fund announced a welfare policy to combat the economic crisis.
A monthly living allowance would be distributed to those in the alcohol industry who had been economically affected by Dionysus’s curse.
The fund would allocate all its extra money each month after covering fixed expenses.
The economic team estimated that around 100,000 citizens of Luna had been directly or indirectly impacted by the curse.
Based on this calculation, the fund decided to distribute 1 gold coin to each individual, for a maximum of three months.
After the policy was announced, the citizens of Luna showered Artemis and me with praise. Songs celebrating us were composed and sung day and night, celebrating the substitution of alcohol for water and beverages.
“Phew… But I can’t say I’m happy.”
Despite their cheering, I couldn’t help but feel a shadow over me.
The policy amounted to distributing 30 million won monthly to 100,000 people for three months, as well as using the pension funds to compensate for the shortfall in government revenue.
With this decision, the coffers of the Citizen Pension Fund were practically empty.
Moreover, all these policies rested precariously on the uncertain hope that I could lift Dionysus’s curse. Now, the only thing left was an unavoidable high-stakes negotiation with Dionysus.
We had to settle the issue within three months.
“Let’s go, Ark.”
“Yeah.”
With the citizens’ praise echoing behind us, Artemis and I headed toward Dionysus’s residence.
