Chapter 193
(Kyle
Calendar Year 510: Age 17)
Preparing
for the Calamity
Translator : PolterGlast
The Supreme Tournament
had concluded without a hitch, and my brother's wedding had been a huge
success. After seeing off all the honored guests, I gave my hardworking
comrades a vacation.
And yet... the very
next day, everyone was working as usual. What's going on?
Having no choice, I
gathered the key members for a meeting and declared that after the meeting was
over, we would all rest! And so, the meeting, which gathered all the mages,
including the academy group that had accompanied us from the Royal Capital, and
the leadership, starting with the Commander, began, with Miseri proceeding over
it.
"Well then,
regarding the sales from the recent Supreme Tournament, Yoltia-san, please give
your report."
"Yes. Since
before the event, the restaurants and various lodging facilities were
constantly full and showed great liveliness. With this, I believe each
establishment has earned a profit that more than makes up for their losses
during the plague.
Furthermore, the
stalls and temporary shops set up by the citizens and merchants were also
completely sold out, even the additional slots, and each of them has turned a
profit. The stall fees alone amounted to 500 gold coins, and the economic
effect on the area is immeasurable.
Also, direct sales of
souvenirs and other general goods were also very strong, with sales exceeding
2,000 gold coins."
"They sold that
much? By the way, what were the best-selling items?"
"In terms of
value, it would probably be the relatively high-priced practice crossbows. The
ones made for training by the new craftsmen, items not suitable as official
products, were sold at a low price with non-lethal arrows, just as you
instructed, Takuhir-sama, and they sold like hotcakes.
Next would be the
general-purpose soap. This was sought after not so much by travelers, but by
many of the citizens who had used the soap that was distributed during the
plague. It seems travelers were also drawn in and purchased it.
The other notable item
would be the happi coats. It seems
that many people bought them after seeing the self-defense force in their happi."
"Well then, Takuhir-sama,
may we proceed to the next topic? Yoltia-san, please continue with your report
on the status of the business negotiations at the trade fair."
"Excuse me again.
I will report, including the matters that you received directly, Takuhir-sama.
First, we have
received a request from the Royal Knights to purchase the limited-edition
crossbows. After consulting with Workshop Master Karl, it seems we can handle
500 units for now with the surplus of monster materials in stock. In addition,
for the crossbow mounting harnesses, we have an initial order of 10,000, which
is scheduled to be delivered in batches of 1,000.
In terms of arms, we
have also received orders for 1,000 harnesses from Margrave Hamish and another
1,000 from Lord Darek. As for the improved crossbows, we have received an order
for 500 from Count Model, and orders for 200 each from the new guests,
including the marquess, count, and viscount houses."
Brother... he's already
ordering them for his own cavalry. I mean, can our production system even
handle this?
"Regarding the
production system, well, I think we can manage somehow. Of course, we won't be
able to deliver them all at once. We have already established a collaborative
system with the workshop in the town of Est, and our system for hiring craftsmen
and mass production is also coming together. Also, we were able to secure about
100 craftsmen from the former Hiyorimi domain, so that is also a big
help."
As if he had sensed
it, Workshop Master Karl added a supplement to my question. Originally, the
refugees from the Hiyorimi domain had included such craftsmen, and at their
call, craftsmen had gathered all at once.
After all, the Teigoon
area was overflowing with work, so craftsmen were in high demand. And the mass
production workshops in the town of Gaia were also operational, and the
training of those who would work on that line was also progressing.
"Also, regarding
arms, we have received orders for 10 improved catapults each from Margrave
Hastburg and Margrave Hamish. The price assumes that Bart-san and Kaul-san will
handle the transport of the finished products, but was that okay?"
"Yes, that's
fine. Margrave Hamish's place is quite far, but there will be future deliveries
and procurement of warhorses as well. Being able to transport the finished
product to the site is our advantage."
Yes, we are moving
forward with a plan to install many catapults on the defensive wall on the
demon territory side. For that reason, we have adopted a division of labor and
a mass production system, so the unit price is consequently low.
Furthermore, we have
the strength of being able to assemble the finished product, conduct test
firing and adjustments, and then deliver it as is. Normally, it would be
disassembled for transport and require readjustment after installation, which
is a lot of trouble and the transport fees also add to the cost. We had the
event companions explain this point properly.
In that regard, we,
who utilize the spatial storage of the Space-Time mages, have a drastically
lower total cost. Even with a sufficient profit margin added to the product
itself.
"As for the rest,
we have received orders for disinfectant and mass-produced soap from the cooks
and maids who accompanied His Majesty, and for high-end soap from the noble
wives and daughters. Even besides arms, we were able to receive orders for
these products to the point where our production lines will not be able to keep
up even at full capacity for the time being."
"It's thanks to
everyone's proper explanations. Thank you again. By the way... how were the
merchants at the trade fair?"
"Yes, some
merchants, having heard a rumor somewhere, strongly requested to purchase honey
wholesale, but we explained the situation properly and declined. Also, for the
flower-patterned lanterns for the light-up, there were some who wished to
purchase single items or small quantities and were being difficult... but we
politely declined them as well."
"Thank you.
Regarding the honey, we plan to continue to limit the outlets to direct sales
at our shops in Teigoon and the Royal Capital, and small, regular sales to
nobles, so that should be fine."
Yes, in the kingdom,
beekeeping using hives is still not practiced by anyone but us. They use an
inefficient method of destroying the hive with each harvest, and the risk of
being stung during collection is also high, so honey is still a very high-end
product. For that reason, it is hardly in distribution and is treated as a
presentation item for some of the wealthy.
"Yes, they were
quite insistent, but as a result of suggesting that we would wholesale sugar
instead, they all quieted down. Of course, we plan to be selective about the
merchants we wholesale to in this case as well.
The population of
Aegis has also increased, the land is being converted to farmland, and the
planted area has grown dramatically. I believe that within a few years, we will
be able to break into a corner of the sales channels created by the Empire's
side.
As for the rest, we
have also received many inquiries from numerous merchants regarding the
high-end and mass-produced soaps."
"I see. For
things other than sugar, as long as they are merchants who are favorable to us,
I think it's fine as long as we can trade fairly. Only for sugar, let's be
careful in choosing our partners. We will not wholesale arms to merchants. We
do not plan to change this policy in the future, so please be aware."
"Yes, understood.
The selection of merchants will be made after confirmation on the political
side by Miseri-san, and on the intelligence side by Bart-san and Raphael-san.
I forgot to mention,
but in direct sales other than to merchants, we have generated sales of
approximately 25,000 gold coins. Of course, since delivery is related to
production capacity, the numbers will not be realized all at once..."
"Wha-! Th-that's
amazing! Thank you, Yoltia. Regarding the handling of the merchants, Miseri,
Bart, Raphael, please continue to provide your support. Also, Workshop Master,
please continue to share information on production and possible delivery
quantities."
I think we were able
to fully demonstrate our pride by hosting the trade fair this time. With the
high profitability of direct sales, as the Demon Territory Count, I was able to
contribute sufficiently to the domain's finances, and we have established a
good outlook for the future.
"Ah, one more
thing from the trade fair. I received a direct request from His Majesty to
produce a light-up event. For 10,000 gold coins."
"T-ten
thousand!" Everyone shouted. If you don't know the story behind it, that's
the natural reaction.
"Yes, including a
reward for our hospitality this time. I mean, His Majesty said that the
majority of the 10,000 was a thank you, but I want to do it properly. I'd like
to prepare at least two thousand of the flower-patterned lanterns, but can we
do it within half a year?
If this present from
His Majesty to the Queen is a success, I'm sure the nobles throughout the
kingdom will want to imitate it. And we're the only ones who can prepare a
large quantity of lanterns."
"Let's definitely
do it! A present like that is the greatest of joys for a woman!"
Led by Miseri, the
women got excited again.
"Well then, I'll
consult with the Workshop Master and..."
I was cut off before I
could finish.
"Please make it
the top priority!"
At the chorus of the
women, the Workshop Master's face twitched slightly... I wonder if he's okay?
※
After that, the
necessary discussions, such as a review of the tournament and a confirmation of
issues and points for improvement, were concluded.
"Finally, I have
something to say to everyone again. Many natural disasters and crises have
struck this town, the Estol domain, until now, but we cannot rest easy yet.
There is the possibility of an invasion by the Empire, but according to old
documents..."
At this, the
expressions of Anne, Miseri, Claire, and Yoltia changed completely. They had
guessed that the old documents I was referring to were about the calamities
that could occur in the future.
"In light of the
recent climate, there is a possibility that another drought, on a larger scale
than the one 10 years ago, or a weather anomaly of a similar magnitude, will
occur in the near future.
We need to proceed
with both the strengthening of our defenses in preparation for the Empire's
invasion and the response in preparation for weather anomalies such as
droughts, in parallel. I want you to keep these countermeasures and
preparations in mind this year."
"The water from
the mountains of Teigoon is fortunately not affected by the climate, but the
problem is Gaia and Ishtar, and the newly added territories, Dimos and the five
border farming villages. Also, the area around Mars, in your father's
domain."
"I believe Anne-san
is correct. For the pioneer villages of Gaia and Ishtar, let's build several reservoirs
by winter and take measures. Teigoon has moats, but let's expand the moats
around the pioneer villages during the winter to secure even more water for
emergencies. After that, we'll build a moat around the perimeter of Dimos, and
reservoirs in the border villages as well..."
"Elan-san,
instead of a reservoir around Ishtar, how about a moat that also serves as a
defense? We can call the Earth Mages belonging to the academy's Magic Tactics
Research Department as part of their defensive city construction training.
Fortunately, we also have the defensive facilities on the demon territory side,
so let's have them help out as part of their training. Including myself, there
are five Earth Mages, so the foundation work will be a piece of cake."
Mary said this and
playfully stuck out her tongue. Hmm, I hadn't thought of effectively utilizing
the academy's mages. But the Headmaster had also proposed the idea of an
expeditionary training exercise... this might work.
"While we're at
it, let's have the Water Mages accompany them. I think we can be of use in
confirming nearby water sources, including for emergency wells, and selecting
the optimal locations for reservoirs. Incidentally, there are three of us,
including myself, in the Magic Tactics Research Department. If we participate
in the Commander's training (drilling) as a set at the end, I think it will be
more than worth their while in the end."
You know, both Mary
and Sasha have been baptized by the Royal Capital and have become quite
cunning... Now, as if to pay back their old debts, they're scheming to use the
academy for their own benefit.
"Then, let's
proceed in that manner. That should give us some leeway, and I think we'll be
able to make it in time. Since we're doing it, how about we proceed with an
urban plan that is resistant to natural disasters, taking into account both
droughts and floods? Mary, Sasha, I want you to make full use of what you've
learned in the Royal Capital and take the lead in advancing that plan."
"Yes! Leave it to
us."
"Of course!"
The two of them, of
course, had not just become cunning. In the Royal Capital, they had closed the
distance with me as they used to and had now become proactive.
The countermeasures
for the calamities I knew of had begun to move. In a direction that made full
use of the merits of being involved with the academy.
"That's right,
one more item to share.
I think that that man
will probably come to Teigoon this year, under the guise of an honored guest.
The most fearsome man in the Empire, Viscount Sieghart von Kämpfer...
I believe we will
eventually have a preliminary skirmish (hospitality) before our confrontation,
so I want you all to keep this in mind. Raphael, I don't mind if the other
party finds out, so please gather information on his movements from the
merchants in advance. And, could you gather as much information as possible on
which merchants have their feet planted on which side?"
"Understood.
They're quite a handful. Takuhir-sama, please let me use a little honey. Big
sis (Miseri-san), I'll be using a little of the expense account."
Saying this, Raphael's
face became his original one, the face of a formidable ruffian.
And so, we began to
move against the two remaining calamities.
Of course, after the
meeting, I strongly told everyone to take a rest and held a grand feast under
the name of a thank-you party.
For the first time in
a long while, we drank and enjoyed our meal to our hearts' content.
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