Translator Corner
Minasan Oidemasu! This is Yukkuri demasu!
Without any announcement: Here is your chapter!
DISCLAIMER: There is no guarantee that my translation is 100%correct. Please correct me if I was wrong.
Author:
すずの木くろ (Susunokikuro)
Translator:
Yukkuri Oniisan
Editor, Proofreader:
TheDefend
Quality Assurance:
Chase
Chapter 75: Money Raising Conference
「……Ah, sorry. It’s only something that I wanted to try saying for a bit.」(Kazura)
An awkward sweat appeared on Kazura’s forehead as heapologized to all the people present in the room who were looking motionlesslyat the marbles which appeared from the bags.
「Ka-Kazura-san these obsidian called baargenseyl……」(Zirconia)
「I am really sorry, please forget the bargain sale part. This obsidian,which was made in the God’s Realm, is called ‘glass marble’. It can also becalled as ‘glass’.」[1](Kazura)
It seems that the meaning of the word bargain sale itselfdidn’t get transmitted, so Zirconia had misunderstood bargain sale as the nameof the marble inside the bag.
Kazura completely felt bad for this.
「Glass…… Inside of its transparency, there are various colors mixed in it. SoGod’s Realm even could make something like this…… It looks like the plasticthat you had shown to us before.」(Zirconia)
「I don’t mind if you want to see it closely. T-then how much can these besold? If we have these, then could we somehow be able to keep the budgetafloat?」(Kazura)
When Kazura encouraged them to do so, Zirconia andNelson looked at the marbles closely.
If colored obsidian is extremely expensive, then the glassmarble would surely possess a considerably large value.
「That’s true…… Though currently, I couldn’t say precisely how much it willbe, I believe we could sell this for a fairly large sum of money. However, thisis too extraordinary and it will be hard to claim it as something mined fromthe mine…… Not only this thing being transparent, it’s also mixed with colorand also a perfect sphere, so it is likely to gather considerable attention.」(Nelson)
「That’s right…… It will be fine for obtaining temporary fund, but in thefuture, there might be people who probe into it.」(Zirconia)
「Ugh, is that so. So that means, rather than a marble a colored glass mightbe better.」(Kazura)
“I see”, Kazura nodded, and so Zirconia, who wasgazing at the marble, shifted her sight towards him.
「So there is colored glass too?」(Zirconia)
「Yes, it does. It’s called crystal glass, but unlike these marbles, thecolor isn’t within the transparency itself, but it is a transparent glass that possessesmany colors. Perhaps it is similar to the obsidian that sometimes appears onthe market in this country.」(Kazura)
The crystal glass that Kazura mentioned is the coloredglass that is used for glasswork.
It could be obtained in any amount at a shop that dealswith lampworking goods in Japan, Kazura intended to procure the glass from there.
「I will procure some on my next return to God’s Realm, so that you may sell itas a source of fund. Do you have any color you wish for?」(Kazura)
When Kazura asked so, Nelson returned the marbles intothe bag and turned towards to Kazura.
「Thank you very much. Then, may I ask the color to be yellow-green or lightblue like the ones that appeared on the market? Also, I believe that ratherthan a sphere like this marble, it will be better if the shape is rugged anduneven.」(Nelson)
「I understand. I will bring some suitable pieces, if it’s good then pleasesell it. Then supplement the lack of funds for public works with that money.Also, when that money is used for the services of public works, it is necessaryto ensure the citizen receive a part of the money too.」[2](Kazura)
Though he didn’t know how much money could be obtainedwith the crystal glass that he intended to bring, it seems that based on Nelson’sstory, they could fetch quite a sum of money. With the addition with theaggregate mining yield, there will be no doubt that it will be a considerableamount.
「We can assume that the near-future finance will be good with this, thenafter the issue of food situation inside the territory has stabilized, the nextissue will be of securing funds. When I asked Nelson-san before, I had receivedan explanation that the territory had a chronic lack of funds, but dies thecurrent situation have no prospect of improvement at all?」(Kazura)
「Yes, if the grain fields had been perfectly restored and the harvest incomeincreased more than before then we could secure funds to some degree. However, everyyear several thousand emigrants from other provinces will come to the provinces,so the free food assistance from the other provinces to feed the emigrants is amust. There is no problem with the support from Fraise Province in the south,but the support from Gregorn Province in the west is worrying……」(Nelson)
「Ah, now that you mention it, I had heard this situation before…… Gatheringpeople to anticipate the resumption of war, is it?」(Kazura)
When Kazura first arrived at Isteria with Valetta andothers, he had received an explanation about Isteria Province population fromLodurr.
He said that it was gathering people to anticipate theresumption of war, but with the population increasing by several thousand eachyear, without a large and quick agricultural land expansion, the crop’s outputwouldn’t be enough.
He was informed that there was free food assistancefrom the other provinces, however, from Nelson and Zirconia’s explanation, theassistance amount from Gregorn Province in the west had decreased significantly.
As a result, the food shortage situation in IsteriaProvince ended up worsening, so they must increase food production by any means.
「Then, let’s also expand the farmland beside the current grain fields. Iwill teach you how to make a tool that can draw water up called a hand pump.[3]If we use this, then we can surely expand the farmland.」(Kazura)
「Hand pump…… This is also a tool that I have never heard before, can’t wejust use the existing waterwheel? Even if there is a problem in partsprecision, since it is already in mass production, I think it will be simple ifwe amass their number.」(Zirconia)
「(Hm? I thought she will immediately bite at this topic. Is she beingconsiderate to me?)」(Kazura)
Kazura was a bit disappointed at Zirconia’s lack of immediatesnap at the plan to offer new tools.
If Kazura was at Zirconia’s position, he would jump atthe proposition to offer advanced tools.
Kazura tilted his head as he thought whether she wasdeeply grateful for the continuous offers of tools and knowledge from the lastfew days.
「…… It will be fine if that place could use waterwheel, but not only waterwheelhas a large size, due to how it works, the places where we could install it arelimited. The hand pump is comparatively smaller so we wouldn’t need to be that concernedabout the installation site. In addition, it could even draw water to more than5 met-…… to a place higher than the city outer walls, and the water can be drawnup quickly. However, different from waterwheel, a human action is needed todraw the water and compared to the waterwheel, the amount of water it draws is relativelysmaller.」(Kazura)
Kazura explained while remembering the subject that hehad investigated using the internet on his last return to Japan. Nelson and theother 3 people, “Ooo…”, expressed their admiration.
The waterwheel installed on the river was wheel-shapedwith a diameter of 4 meters, so it could only draw water up as high as itshighest parts, minus its submerged parts.
However, the hand pump that Kazura explained right nowcould draw water up to an even higher place than the waterwheel.
Not only it could bring water up without problem to somewhathigher place, using a relay combination of water ponds and hand pumps, then itcould draw water to an even higher place.
If the water reservoir pond at a higher place was constructedusing traditional method, then if they were not careful, the water would seep throughthe soil and decreased, but if they build the reservoir pond with mortar usingthe lime that can even be procured from this world, then the water wouldn’t beable to seep away.
In case there was a need for a large-scale waterstorage then it should be fine to construct a simple large box-like water tank.
「That is an amazing tool. I will make the arrangement for the necessary personneland tools as maximum priority.」(Zirconia)
「Yes. I supposed I have been requestingtoo much; even so, I will leave the preparation to you. Since I will bring asample hand pump and the paper with the method to build it from the God’s Realmeventually, the production of it need to wait until then.」(Kazura)
「…… Kazura-dono, there is something I want to ask.」(Nelson)
Kazura smiled back at Zirconia who was smiling delightedlyafter she heard Kazura’s explanation, when Nelson, who had been thinking with asomewhat serious expression, began to talk.
「Can that tool called hand pump be installed in a narrow place like a minetunnel?」(Nelson)
「Although it depends on the area, but the pump itself is not somethingthat’s large, so I believe it could. The size will be this about this big…… itsunderside will be attached to a long pipe, and by putting that pipe into thewater table, you can draw the water up.」(Kazura)
While Kazurawas explaining, his hand demonstrated the hand pump’s size with his hand.
「Fumu…… Kazura-dono, if we have that hand pump, then perhaps we couldgreatly increase the mine productivity. If it had been completed, then I want touse several of it in the mine.」(Nelson)
「The mine? How will you use it?」(Kazura)
In contrast with Kazura who asked as if he completelydidn’t understand how it will be used, the others made a surprised expression.
「It’s to drain the underground water. At the northwest mountain, other thanopen-air mining there is also a horizontal tunnel mining, however, there were manycases where the underground water gushed out in the middle of mining. If thewater is not much then it could be drained using buckets, but if theunderground water is too much then there is nothing to do but to abandon theore at that place. However, if we can use that pump……」(Nelson)
「I see, it will be possible to mine the whole unobtainable submerged ores,isn’t it?」(Kazura)
Kazura admiringly nodded when Nelson explained.
Even though he was just informed about the hand pump,he immediately thought about how to use it outside for farming, as expectedfrom someone with feudal lord position.
「Furthermore, if we could gather a massive amount of water using the handpump, then it will be possible to instantly rinse off the entire ore deposit inat the open-air mines.[4]The force of water should be able to expose the ore deposit close to the groundsurface and we will be able to detect the ore deposit that we weren’t able tofind until now too.」(Nelson)
「(……What with this person, his head is amazingly sharp!)」(Kazura)
Although Kazura was nodding at Nelson’s explanation,he shuddered inside his heart at Nelson’s inventiveness and thinking rate.
Since until now Kazura didn’t work together that muchwith Nelson, Kazura only could imagine him always busy and pressed by theoffice work.
However, as expected from the feudal lord that govern Isteriawhere 300,000 people lived, even though he only heard the matter once, he mightcome with many ideas about it.
「Besides, if we could save a large amount of water then we could alsocollapse the already exhausted tunnel by flooding it. If we scavenge thecollapsed tunnel, then we would still be able to mine some of the ore or find anew ore vein. Then by using the water that had been gathered beforehand, wecould wash and sort the gathered ore and the amount of mined ore wouldexceptionally increase.[5]」(Nelson)
「T-that’s true, that is a good idea. Please try it by all means.」(Kazura)
Though he felt a chill at his back, Kazuraacknowledged him with a smile, Nelson also made a smile and thanked him.
「Kazura-san, about the matter that I had heard when we were going togetherat the fields before……」(Zirconia)
When it looked like the talks with Nelson had reachedits conclusion, this time Zirconia approached to talk.
「I remembered that Kazura-san had a good plan that could improve the citizen’sdaily life and generate profit at the same time. May I hear that plan in detailat this time?」(Zirconia)
「Daily life?…… Ah! That’s right. Let’s talk about it right now.」(Kazura)
Although he had hinted about it to Zirconia before, ithad completely escaped his mind since he was tired day after day.
If Zirconia didn’t bring up this subject again,perhaps he would continue to forget about this for a long time.
「Zirconia-san, have you ever heard about a building called ice house?」[6](Kazura)
「Ice house? …… No, this is the first time I ever heard about it. Do you knowabout it, Nelson?」(Zirconia)
「No, I also never heard about it…… What kind of building it is?」(Nelson)
Kazura nodded at the two who showed a confusedexpression and he made a brief explanation about it.
Of course, since he hadn’t investigated the ice housein details, he could only explain to the extent of the meager knowledge he had rightnow.
「Umm, to put it simply, it’s an ice storehouse. It’s a building to store a largequantity of cut-out ices from the lake or pond during the winter, so it can beretrieved for use in the summer.」(Kazura)
「…… The winter ice could be stored until the summer?」(Zirconia)
Zirconia made a doubtful expression at Kazura’sexplanation.
「Won’t it melts?」, was written on her face.
「Although you might think that all the ice would be melted away before thesummer, but with this method, we could store the ice for a long period of time withoutmelting. I will teach you how to build the ice house later.」(Kazura)
「To be able to use ice even in the summer, then if we store meat or fish inthat ice house, you mean we could preserve it with the cold?」(Nelson)
Nelson asked with a great interested, so Kazuranodded.
「Well, something like that. With the method that I remembered, the ice thathad been saved in the winter could be sold when its summer. If we could alsoproduce and sell a cabinet-sized ice house, that is called ‘refrigerator’, thedemand for the ice will be inexhaustible.」(Kazura)
「Cabinet-sized? …… If it’s that big, then it could even be placed inside thecommon citizen’s house. If we can store the ice that is cut during the winter, whichoriginally will be worthless, then…… I see, I see.」[7](Nelson)
Perhaps he somehow could understand what kind a thinga refrigerator is, Nelson nodded with an admiration on his face.
「So, the problem is we need a pond where we can cut that ice. I was thinkingwhether we could make the ice by using the reservoirs in the grain fields area,but will the ice that formed will be enough to be cut?」(Kazura)
When Kazura mentioned this to Zirconia, she put herhand at her mouth and made a thinking gesture.
「…… I think the size will be a little problematic to be cut. Since in themountain the winter is relatively colder, if we make new reservoir there andput water into it, I believe in midwinter we could obtain a thicker ice. I willinvestigate if there is a suitable place to make the reservoir.」(Zirconia)
「Please do so…… Ah, but, this time I also want to investigate together, pleasehold the location selection until then. When I return from God’s Realm, I will reexamineabout the ice house once more.」(Kazura)
Kazura temporarily thought to leave the reservoir constructionlocation to Zirconia, but when he thought about it, there should be a good andbad location to build the reservoir.
What kind of place to be chosen for reservoirconstruction was something that he didn’t know, hence it would be better if heasked an expert trader once he returned to Japan.
Thought it was close to a simple thinking that thisway will be good to make ice, the ancestor knowhow about what needed to be doneshould exist, there was no other option but to utilize it.
After all, the knowledge that can be used had beeninvestigated it in detail so it could be utilized effectively.
「(…… reexamine?)」(Zirconia)
「Umm, for now we will put the matter of the ice house on hold at this point,what we are going to do next……? Ah, it is indispensable for us to discuss aboutthe waterwheel manufacturing precision. I want to go to see the workshop.」(Kazura)
When Kazura said so and stretch his hand to thedocuments that had become a huge pile atop the tale, Zirconia who stood besidehim threw a sidelong glance at him.
However, she immediately helped Kazura take out thedocument, and then she began to explain about the workshop inside Isteria toKazura.
☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽
Zirconia-neesan(26) hadsmelt something about Kazura(25)! Perhaps she might discover what Valetta(16)had already know that Kazura is not a God? Then what about Zirconia(26) schemeof matchmaking him with Lieze(14)?
Next chapter isabout Eira(??)! Since Kazura(25) need an older maid too, other than Marie(13)…
[1]Kazurasaid the first glass marble as ビー玉, while the second Glass is in katakana (ガラス). AlsoBargain Sale was originally in katakana, as it is a gairago バーゲンセール(gairaigo = a loan word or transvocalization word from a foreign language). Hencebasically, it’s a foreign word which is not translated by whatever magictranslation ability that Kazura had. Hence why Zirconia mistook it as theobsidian marbles name.
[2]InKeynesian Economics, it is believed that government spending could inject moneyto the private sector or directly create work to invigorate the economy. Inthis case, Isteria Province spending on public works will serve both as futureinvestment (better harvest, lesser flood) and increasing public wealth (themoney to pay the worker and craftsmen which then will use money to buy thingsfrom other people who will then buy things from other people, ad infinitum, inessential increase the aggregate demand).
[3]Kazurasaid Pump in Gairaigo Ponpu
[4]Atechnique known as Hushing which harks back from Roman Era
[5]A poorman version of mine explosive. Perhaps Kazura needs to teach them how to make ANFO.I can imagine that Zirconia will be very happy 😀
[6]Real typeof Building How to buildone, no electricity needed:
[7]A basic economics: A rare thing will beexpensive, a common thing will be cheap. In winter, ice is plenty so it costalmost to nothing. In summer, ice is non-existent so it will cost a great dealof money. So if they cut ice in winter (CHEAP) and then sold it in summer(EXPENSIVE) then they can obtain profit.