Chapter 85 Honeymoon II

Translator: Isekai Shousetsu

Second Day.

On the second day, we went sightseeingOr rather than sightseeing, we went inspecting.

First, we headed for the harbor.

Our country, Lezzad, is mainly a base for transporting salt from the Adernia Peninsula and produce like wheat and olives harvested from Lezzadian farms to the Cretian mainland. All these products are gathered in Claris, two-thirds of which would then be exported to the Persis Empire. Recently, however, we have also been profiting from paper aside from salt.

The MP explains for us with a smile.

You can clearly see he is currying favor with me through every important point.

Now that I thought about it, diplomatic policies of countries with monarchies change on the whim of their kings so you need to pay quite close attention.

Conversely, if you flatter them then you should be able to create a favorable relationship.

Are the ships that anchor in this harbor all from Claris?

No, ships from the city-states participating in the Western Alliance with Claris often use this harbor. Ships from Alto and Therbae also stop by occasionally; although the cause of their resupply is getting shipwrecked. Others, like Persis ships and Povenian ships, although rare, also stop by.

I see, theyre not in bad relations to the extent that theyd disrupt commerce, huh.

They also seem to be exporting a considerable amount of goods to the Persis Empire such as salt and agricultural produce, after all.

Economic connection is quite the strong force.

Suddenly, a group of naked men catches my eye. All of them have shackles in their legs - slaves.

Where were those slaves procured from?

Those areprobably from Gallia. Even Gallia has colonies, after all.

There are slaves here and there when I looked around.

While the Rosyth Kingdom has a not insignificant number of slaves, theyre not in a percentage this high. Our country is primarily a nation of landed farmers, after all.

Lezzad shouldnt have any mines so perhaps these men are probably made to work the fields or row the galleys.

Racially speaking, a lot of them are whites.

While the image of a slave being black is strong, I dont see much black slaves. There are black merchants though.

By the way, we want to purchase several ships but

Ships, you say? This might sound rude butthe Rosyth Kingdom doesnt have any seas, yes?

Yes, we dont have any seas. However, seas arent the only places those things can be used in.

Well be using them in the rivers. Our country has a lot of rivers after all. Although I do understand that Im out of my depth regarding the difference between using ships in the rivers and in the seas butis there none? As expected, even Lezzad

After I said such provocatively, the MP responds positively with a slightly serious tone.

We have some, you know. We also use some of them in our home country for water transport, after all. How many do you need?

Lets seeFor the meantime, well take about fifty. Well put them up for trials. By the way, we also want to hire shipwrights. Theyre for when well need repairs.

At my request, the MP promised that theyd be recruiting on my behalf.

For the meantime, human resources secured.

Next would beyou want to see the farms, yes?

Yes. Ill be in your care.

Ains is observing this new king that he had known for so long.

He seems to be listening attentively to the MPs explanation.

Ains holds favorable sentiments towards this youth by the name of Almis.

Not only has this lad returned his loans, he had returned it with 25 years worth of interest.

He couldnt help but be astonished at this youth.

He had thought that this lad, from the very beginning, had been interested in Cretian culture.

A lot of influential Adernians prefer Cretian culture.

Negatively speaking, simply and sincerely, from the point of view of people who had grown up under Adernian culture that reeks of destitution, the luxuriously and gorgeously delicate Cretian culture is an extremely attractive proposition.

Thus, Ains had laid in wait after preparing various goods such as carvings, pictures, and jewelry.

But guess what, this youth had ignored all those things; Hes currently looking at things like ships, farms, and roads with great interest.

This came at a great surprise to Ains.

Ains doesnt like agriculture very much.

This is something that applies to any country in the west but, in Claris and Lezzad, there are two factions - the Coasts Party and the Plains Party which stresses the importance of trade and agriculture respectively. Naturally speaking, Ains is in the Coasts Party.

From the point of view of Ains who is from the Coasts Party, its a mystery why Almis would want to study about agriculture that much.

Furthermore, Almis had told him that he wants to hire Cretians in that line of work.

Well, Lezzadians arent particularly prohibited from migrating so there wont be any problems if Lezzadian artisans had willfully left for the Rosyth Kingdom.

It would have been better ((Almis had wanted)) tradeable things such as important military secrets like ironware since he couldnt sell things like roads and farms.

This is foaming fruit for baths, yes?

Almis asks with an interested voice so Ains rushes over to him.

This is a Salpo fruit.

Salpo?

Almis asks again.

You use this for washing the body. Its famed even among Cretians to make the hair and skin smooth and silky. Does it pique your interest?

Yes. I most certainly want some of these. Or rather, I want the trees and some specialist managers, the whole package.

Almis draws closer to Ains as if taking a bait.

Ains was a little troubled at Almis enthusiasm. To think hed want Salpo to this extent.

Uhmhow about we negotiate about it? There are several people who have built specialist farms for Salpo after all. If you asked such people to migrate to your country in exchange for land and such as compensation then

Certainly, please introduce them to me.

Almis strongly grabs Ains hands.

Oh yeah, while youre at it, wont you give me some of that sponge?

Sponges, yes? Understood. Well prepare some for you as souvenirs.

Theyre expensive items but if it means youd be buying the favor of a countrys king, then its a very cheap expense.

What a splendid number of books.

Thank you very much for your complement. This library has 30,000 volumes in collection. Its the largest in the Adernia peninsula.

I look around the library.

It would seem the books are made chiefly from papyrus. I cant find anything made with our countrys paper. Well, reproducing them would take time after all.

By the way, where is the worlds largest library located?

If I can recall correctly, the collection of the Imperial Library in the Persis city Jamshid which has 250,000 volumes is the largest in the world. The largest in Cretia would be the Claris National Library with 100,000 volumes.

If I recall correctly, the Library of Alexandria had around 700,000 volumes, huh.

If you think about it, the Persis library has quite the scale.

I also want a library like this in our country. By the wayif we are to reproduce the books here, how much would one book take?

Is this about personnel expenses?

From what Ive heard, there doesnt seem to be any concept of copyright.

Books are something written to propagate ones thoughts. As such, having their books reproduced is actually very well received by authors.

The expenses will comprise of paper and personnel costs. Well, this would certainly be expensive, huh.

Yeah. Once the country settles down, well be requesting this. Would that be fine?

Yes, Im always at your service.

The MP answers with a smile.

Now then, shall we head for the temple next? Oi, Tetra, lets go.

Nyou go on ahead. Ill meet up with you later.

Tetra got hooked on a book. I guess it cant be helped.

Then lets leave her alone and go on ahead.

Would that be fine?

The day will end if we wait for her, you know?

I reply in jest.

Julia is enthusiastically appreciating the temple while having an intense conversation with the chief priest.

Unfortunately, I dont have that much interest in religion.

Therefore, Im bored with nothing to do.

How is religion organized in Cretia?

Our country is systematizing religion. Were separating it as much as possible from politics. Claris primary god is the god of commerce and gold, so our priests are also working hard in order to make money. Well, its a business by the name of donations, yes?

Oh, really?from the point of view of these guys from Claris, donations are business, huh.

Are they going to be fine with corruption?

Rather, theyre quite determined, huh.

Polytheism is quite loose from time to time but, from what Ive heard, in Claris, rather than loose, it seemed to be quite muddled.

As I talk with Ains, Julia comes back.

Behind her, several priests are carrying golden statues.

Hey, Almis. If we donated ten gold coins, they told me theyd share (bunrei) their gods with us.

These glittering statues are the gods, huh. Well, I guess 10 gold coins would be fine.

I dont think well become well off with these golden statues but, I guess its just her way of thinking.

That said, bunrei sure is cheap, huh. However, these are quite the things. As expected of religion.

When push comes to shove, I guess making something that looks authentic with wood should be fine.

Cheers for Idolatry! Banzai!

Whats up with the strange goldies?

Tetra mutters.

Rather, when the hell did you get here?

I just got here a while ago. Look, they said theyd give me this.

Tetra shows a bundle of papyrus in her hand.

I wonder if she started an argument again? Or maybe they just couldnt stand an unyielding Tetra any longer

Please dont get to too far from me, okay?

Im fine. Im not a kid.

Ains lets out a sigh at my reply.

Our shopping, under the pretext of inspecting the marketplace, got approved under the condition of being supervised and guarded by several MPs.

They went with my wish to conceal our social status.

That said, the roads sure are wide, huh.

Well, unless roads were this wide, carriages wouldnt be able to pass through.

The road is divided into the carriageway and the footpaths. Im walking on the footpath.

Several carriages can pass through the carriageway. The footpaths, on the otherhand, even have drainage. It seems to have been constructed so as rain water would not accumulate. Alright, should we also headhunt some road officials?

That said, you sure have a lot of things here huhThis is?

I discover a green orb that looks familiar.

This is a

Its a melon, sir.

You even have melons here, huh. Ill have some raised in our country too.

I love sweet melon after all.

Melons arent sweet you know? Well, compared to cucumbers, they do have a slight sweet taste.

Is that so?

However, no matter how you look at it, melons and watermelons are vegetable-like, right?

Theyre from the same Gourd family so it wouldnt be strange if their common ancestors had the same taste.

However, if we selectively breed them we should be able to achieve musk melons.

I want to get these musk melons be cultivated before I die. I wonder if its not overdoing it?

We find a precious metal store on the way.

Its a sensible shop. There are battle slaves inside as well as what appears to be slaves holding weapons and standing at attention.

They have quite the scary faces as well as amazing physiques.

Just their presence is enough of an an