Takarakuji de 40-oku Atattandakedo Isekai ni Ijuu Suru - Chapter 77
Translator Corner
Minasan Oidemasu! This is Yukkuri demasu!
Okay. This is a very late release. But please bear it with me.
I will try to translate as fast as I can. However, a release a day or arelease per two day is 無理.
I am not dropping any of my project. I just being slow. Since I had becomea NEET now (work contract ended, no intention to work in near future), thetranslation speed should have speed up (I just translate 3 chapters ofGenjitsushugiyuusha a.k.a. as Souma the King).
Next will be the much delayed Chapter 3 of Black Healer.
Without much delay, here is the chapter.
As always,
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
Chapter 77: The Craftsmen’s Situation
The evening of the next day.
Kazura and Lieze, who had finished with the constantworks at the field yesterday, met with Zirconia and visited a certain workshop.
They had sent Eira, Marie and the servants to themansion firsthand, so the ones who accompanied them now were only several guards.
The workshop that the three visited was a carpenterworkshop numbered 1, where numerous large timber were piled at one of thecorners of the yard, waiting to be sawed.
In the middle of that yard was a building to store thecompletely sawed lumber and an annex workshop building.
Right now, the three were inside that annex workshop building.Together with an elderly carpenter, they were surrounding a table. Unrolledatop the table was the blueprint for the waterwheel parts.
He was the master of this workshop, a veteran that hadtread upon this field for 40 years,
Zirconia had explained about the previous waterwheelparts’ precision to this master but the master made a moody face and fell intosilence after he heard the explanation.
The other people inside the workshop were three young carpenters,who were working the wood wholeheartedly using the bronze saw and woodenhammer, relying on the illumination of nearby candles.
It seems that, after the cease fire treaty 4 yearsago, this workshop had always worked in such manner and they continued evenlate until night every day.
The master was still staying silent like this for sometime, but finally, he reluctantly started to speak out.
「…… Perhaps this is just a guess, but the defective parts were made by theKrupp’s place at the workshop number 2 on the next building. Since they shouldbe the one who drilled the blade planks of the waterwheel, so if the waterwheelrotation speed is irregular, I see no other cause but that. If after wecorrected it, it still doesn’t work right, then it would be the workshop whomade the wheel outer parts.」(Master Craftsman)
「I see. Then, let’s go to visit that workshop right now. Kazura-san, Lieze, shallwe?」(Zirconia)
After prompting Kazura and Lieze, Zirconia walkedtowards the entrance.
Kazura greeted the master, “Pardon us for theintrusion” and began to walk towards the entrance, chasing after Zirconia.
「……Zirconia-sama. I know this might not be someone of my stature could say,but may I speak it nonetheless?」(Master Craftsman)
Just when the three was about to exit the building,the master suddenly addressed Zirconia.
「Yes, what is it?」(Zirconia)
Zirconia stopped walking, turned back and looked atthe master who called her with a nervous expression while tilting her head tothe side.
Kazura and Lieze also turned back and looked inquisitivelyat the master.
「We are craftsmen. It’s obvious that if we receive a work then we will doeverything we can to complete it, we also absolutely won’t let any defect inthe work we received. In the current waterwheel parts case, if Krupp is reallythe cause of the defect, then I will punch him so hard until he pukes out blood.But, you know, please turn a blind eye just this once.」(Master Craftsman)
「……Umm, let’s have a seat and talk about it.」(Zirconia)
The master spoke with a great sadness on his face.Zirconia returned once more into the room and sat on the chair near the tableand prompted the master to take a seat.
Kazura and Lieze also followed Zirconia and sattogether on a nearby wooden bench.
The young carpenters that had been working in the room,cease their work and turned their attention to the silent master.
The master sat at the chair and made an imploringexpression as he faced Zirconia.
「That guy had lost his old man and his best disciple in the war back then. Evenat the other workshops, most of them had their skillful workers either died or crippledin the war, so they lack hands for the job. Even at my place, the guy who hadalways working with me died, while the other guy lost his right hand so hecouldn’t do any carpentry anymore. The ones in this place now, are theirchildren or relatives.」(Master Craftsman)
「……Keep on.」(Zirconia)
With a serious expression, Zirconia prompted the masterto continue his story.
The master looked at Zirconia before he began to speakin a downhearted manner.
「We know that we must postpone everything else when there is a request fromthe Lord and we also understand that this request is important for theprovince, hence why all the workshop accepted the request. Even if we made itin a hurry and it was a rush job, this is no excuse for the lack of precision; ofcourse, the whole craftsmen could understand. But, you know……」(Master Craftsman)
The master only spoke until that point, his words temporarilycease.
His voice slightly trembled.
「Even we have a limit. All of the craftsmen had been sent into the frontlines to repair the equipment or constructing the camp field. There were manyof the older craftsmen died from disease due to unable to adjust to the life onthe camp. A craftsman is not something you can obtain from just one or twoyears of teaching. A craftsman can be said to be able standing on his own onlyafter 20 to 30 years of working. In Isteria, there are no more people toreplace them.」(Master Craftsman)
The young carpenters, who heard what the master hadsaid, gulped.
What the master had said was something that could besaid to be a criticism of Isteria’s leadership.
「Mother, what the master has said is justified.」(Lieze)
Just when Zirconia was about to say something, Liezecalled out to her as if to obstruct her.
「These craftsmen have forced themselves to work excessively for theprovince’s sake. So please, please do not blame these people.」(Lieze)
「Eh? I’m not going to do any……」(Zirconia)
Zirconia showed a perplexed expression at Lieze whosaid those words as if she was trying to protect the craftsmen.
Perhaps the master and Lieze had a misunderstanding,that Zirconia was about to punish the craftsmen due to the defect on themanufactured part.
Zirconia didn’t have the least intention to do anypunishment, as she could wholly sympathize with the carpenters and the other craftsmen,who had to work to the limit every day.
That’s why she wanted to greatly reward the craftsmen whowere involved in the waterwheel production and since it was a rushed order shedidn’t even put any production quota on it.
「Lieze-sama…… Thank you very much……」(Mob Worker 1)
「How compassionate……」(Mob Worker 2)
However, seeing that the craftsmen gratefully articulatedtheir words of gratitude for Lieze’s cover, so Zirconia, who was going to explainher remarks before, closed her mouth and keep silent.
Since the situation had calmed down somehow and Kazurawas nearby, she decided to just take up the villain role.
「I understand what you want to talk. I only came because there was a defect inthe completed goods, not to deliver any punishment, so please be at ease. Itwill be alright as long as you can pin down the fault and fix it.」(Zirconia)
When they heard Zirconia’s words, the carpentersraised their voice in amazement.
Then, for some reason, once again they gave theirwords of thanks to Lieze.
Lieze smiled gently at the carpenters’ action.
「(……Am I, that scary?)」(Zirconia)
Seeing that warm scene from the side, Zirconia was abit sullen and hurt.
「(How should I say it…… Good job……)」(Kazura)
From her appearance, Kazura could guess what Zirconiahad been thinking and appreciated her inside his heart.
✧✦✧✦
Three hours had passed since then.
After finished with their inspection on the variousworkshops, the three people returned to the estate and had a quick dinner withNelson.
Currently, Kazura, Zirconia, and Nelson were having ameeting in the office room.
As usual, Lieze also had a bath today and afterward,she went straight to the bed after it.
Since it was Lieze’s habit to sleep early and wake early,it would be hard for her to stay up late for the clerical work like the rest.
It was something that Kazura had heard from Nelson notlong ago that Lieze’s age is 14 years old.
For a girl in puberty, staying up until late in thenight might harm their beauty and growth, so even if she proposed to help,everyone might unanimously tell her to sleep instead.
「It was only a brief inspection, but it seems that every workshop has a shortageof skilled workers…… In addition, they are so buried with works, that the partscame out with defects in their precision.」(Kazura)
「I had already grasped the situation of the craftsmen since some time ago…… However,it seems that my dealing of this matter didn’t turn out well. I am deeply sorryfor this……」(Zirconia)
As Zirconia said this, she hung his head in shame witha pensive expression.
After the event with the master, Kazura’s group hadinspected the workshops, but it was just like what the master of the firstworkshop had said, when they asked the craftsmen, there was a dearth of skilledworkers for the work.
When the workers saw Zirconia at first, they shrinkback and so the group couldn’t immediately talk about what are the obstacles intheir work. However, at Kazura and Lieze’s prompt, they began to share thesituation little by little.
「Well, as you can see, this situation is inevitable. The lack of workerscould be compensated with tools. I will examine whether or not I could supply awaterwheel rotation-powered sawmill to saw the timbers and any other neededtools. If we increase the work efficiency then the craftsmen workload could beconsiderably reduced.」(Kazura)
「……Yes.」(Zirconia)
These were what Kazura proposed, but Zirconia’sexpression was still gloomy.
When Kazura first arrived at Isteria, she had a more covetousimpression but lately, he felt that she had become somehow pessimistic, or moreprecisely, become diffident.
Kazura worried that perhaps the consecutive failure ofthe things she managed had made her lost her confidence.
「Please don’t make such a face. It will be alright, surely it will turn outwell.」(Kazura)
「……Yes, thank you very much.」(Zirconia)
When Kazura spoke those words to her, Zirconia finallyshowed a smile.
It was a smile with a hint of gloom behind it, but itwas much better than showing a depressed expression all the time.
「Then, let’s leave the matter of carpentry workshops for now. Concerning ourinspection of the blacksmiths and the well-diggers, I also want to examinewhether or not there are something we can do about them when I return to God’sRealm. Especially about the well, since it’s greatly concerned the health andsanitation issue of the place where there is no access to draw river water, sowe will need to deal with it one way or another.」(Kazura)
After Kazura’sgroup had inspected several carpentry workshops, they inspected the workshop ofthe blacksmiths and well-diggers.
The problem that the blacksmiths complained about was completelythe same as the story they had heard from the carpenters, so he believed that onlythe introduction of machine tools might solve this problem.
However, from the discussion with the well-diggers, theproblem that they encounter was a completely different set of problems
When they were digging well in Isteria, they would digthrough a layer of brown sand for about 6 to 8 meters deep before the watergushed forth.
However, this water wasn’t that good for use, whiteclothes washed with this water would become bright red on the next day.
Cooking food with it would cause a bad taste andprolonged consumption of it would be harmful to the body.
By the way, under the brown sand was a layer ofbedrock, which the well-diggers inform him was the place where they constructeda wooden-reinforced well.
They could also construct a stone-reinforced one, butsince this was costly, they were mostly using wood as the reinforcement.
「Thank you very much. Well water had been a problem since long time ago andit had long cause inconvenience for the people who lived far from the river. Wealso couldn’t construct waterway to cover the entire city, so we had given up onthis problem as we couldn’t do anything about it.」(Nelson)
Nelson bowed his head and thanked Kazura for hisproposal.
Perhaps if they could solve the well problem then Isteria’shealth problem might be drastically improved.
For Kazura, well-digging was outside his realm ofknowledge, so when he returned to Japan he would borrow the wisdom of the expertsand by supplying technical treatise or if the circumstance permits, thewell-digging tools, then they should manage one way or another.
「By the way, when we were walking towards the well-diggers, Lieze-san seems speakingquite friendly with the craftsmen. Does Lieze-san often visited the workshops,too?」(Kazura)
When they visited the well-diggers workshop, thecraftsmen were at first shrunk back when they saw Zirconia, but when theynoticed Lieze, their expression softened. They were actually talking with her ina friendly tone.
Kazura heard the words 「Thank you like always」mixed at their conversation, so he was curious whether or not she had previousencounters with the craftsmen.
「Ah, perhaps it was because Lieze personally replenished the mud she used towash her hair and body from the well-diggers. Most of the washing material usedto wash the noble ladies’ hair or for the dishwashing in the noble’s mansionare purchased from the well-diggers. There are many who used soap, but Lieze preferthat mud better.」(Zirconia)
「Hah, mud? …… Is it much better even than the soap?」(Kazura)
「Depending on the mud type, but the one that is used by Lieze, the White Mud,is a top quality item, so it is far more superior than the soap. Does Kazura wantto try using it? If you ask Lieze, she could procure some.」(Zirconia)
「Hmm…… Then, next time I will ask Lieze-san personally for it. I am a bitinterested.」(Kazura)
Using mud to wash body or head, could be said as counterintuitive,but even in Japan, cosmetics company also sell mud face cleaner or mud pack.
Since mud was also used even in Japan to some extent, themud in question might have a performance that was unbeatable by even the scientificallyproduced soap or detergent.
「Does Zirconia-san use that mud too?」(Kazura)
「I rarely paid attention to such things…… However, perhaps I will try it foronce.」(Zirconia)
Even while having this kind of idle chat, the threepeople then continued their discussion about the workshop.
✧✦✧✦
「Glass, flour mill, threshing machine and…… Isn’t this had become quite anamount? It will take time to prepare all of these……」(Kazura)
After finished with the discussion, Kazura returned tohis bedroom and sat down on his bed while writing down what the goods that heneeded to prepare in Japan.
At tomorrow morning he would depart to Grisea Village,so now he was sorting the information at hand so that he won’t forgot what heneeds to purchase or examine.
Since one-way trip from Isteria to Grisea Village willtake about 2 days of travel, if he forgot to buy something then he couldn’timmediately return.
It was a distance that is not close yet not that far, nonetheless,he was greatly vexed by this.
「If the carriage and the guards do a forced march then we would arrive inthe village in one day, but if the carriage move that fast, then Marie and Iwould vomit. There must be something I can do with the carriage……」(Kazura)
Because the road between Isteria and Grisea Villagewas an unpaved bare soil road, if the carriage traveled too fast, it was equivalentto a suicidal act.
Even if he could endure it one way or another usingthe essential oil, he didn’t want to bother Marie too much, even on the last rushedreturn trip to Grisea Village, the rocking of the carriage was quite harsh forMarie.
It might be better to leave Marie in the estate, buthe thought that considering Marie’s position, it wouldn’t be a good thing todo.
「Ummm, receiving the generator, confirming the progress of constructionplan……」(Kazura)
While he kept muttering like this, Kazura spent thewhole night looking at the notebook.
By the way, at that time, Eira was waiting in thekitchen for Kazura. However, Kazura who was busy with the preparation of histrip tomorrow didn’t show up in the kitchen.
In the end, Eira who remembered that Kazura was goingto depart to Grisea Village on the next day, returned to her room in dejectionand then went to sleep.
✧✦✧✦
Ignore this line. I only put this line to tease thetext scrapper…
☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽
Does Eira had beenjust Forgotten-zoned? Also, when Valetta? When?
Also, I state this againas an emphasis: Lieze’s age is 14 years old.Kazura is 25.
Also… No footnotes!