When Midori first heard Takiko's words, her mind failed to grasp the enormity of the sum.
In the modern world, 300 Yen was what she used to pay for three riceballs with tuna and mayonnaise filling.
But she was now in the Meiji Era, the year 1875 -- soon to be 1876.
The last time she spent money, she paid 70 sen for a night's stay in a humble inn, complete with breakfast. The innkeeper's daughter even packed lunch for her.
That was 0.7 Yen.
The numbers flew in Midori's head as she tried to calculate the monthly living cost of an average person in the era.
....
Unless she was mistaken, 300 Yen was enough for a single, average person to sustain himself for five to ten months!
"Ojou-sama, that's too much money," Mai whispered. "I can't possibly... Ojou-sama, if you lend me the money, I am willing to pay it all back with interest."
Midori let out a burst of cheerless laughter.