Translator Corner
Minasan Oidemasu! Thisis Yukkuri demasu!
Sorry for the verylate release, RL job is very demanding to me for the last several months.Hopefully my workload will be lessened since things had calmed down now.
Whole November: Busydue to the public health accreditation.
First week December:FREE hence posting chapters.
Second weekDecember: Busy due to Teenage Health Cadre Training (I was the chairman forthis program).
Third week December:Busy in first-half due to disease surveillance patients data recap.
Fourth weekDecember: Christmas holiday, so I’ll have 2 full free day. (YIPPEE). Will spendmy whole time translating (after I finished the patients data recap).
January: I’ll needto submit the yearly report (Yes, I know I could make one now, but I like toprocrastinate)…… I hate paperwork……
Also, stop yelling: Idrop translation this or I drop translation that. If I drop something (like theHimekishi to RV) I’ll put an announcement. If I drop something. I will tellyou.
As always,
DISCLAIMER: There is noguarantee that my translation is 100% correct. Please correct me if I waswrong.
Author:
すずの木くろ (Susunokikuro)
Translator:
Yukkuri Oniisan
Editor, Proofreader:
TheDefend
Chapter 91: ArmamentsSituation and DIY Work
After they returned to the office, Nelson were explaining to Kazura about theseveral documents that were unfolded on the table.
The content of the documents were mainly the basic matters concerningconscription inside the province.
Because Kazura still couldn’t fluently read this country’s script, Nelson explainedthe main points of the documents orally.
Lieze sat beside Kazura and read the contents that were written in thedocument that Kazura asked.
「So everyone prepared their ownprescribed equipment according to their assets, but the quality standards ofthe equipment itself isn’t standardized ?」(Kazura)
「The private soldiers of theaffluent nobles often have standardized equipment, but the equipment of thecitizens that were gathered for the conscript is disorganized. However, forthose above the Second Class, they had been instructed to prepare long spearand shield in the specified size.」(Nelson)
From the explanation, the conscription in this land varies according to theincome.
The draftable citizens were divided into five classes according to their assets,which will determine the equipment and the units they will join.
The First Class was the wealthiest, while the Fifth Class was the ones withthe lowest income.
The equipment for every class in Istelle Province was in the followingmanners.
First Class: a helmet, a round shield, greaves, a body armor, a long spear,and a sword
Second Class: a helmet, a round shield, a breastplate, a long spear, and a sword
Third Class: a helmet, a round shield, and a short spear
Fourth Class: a short spear, and a javelin
Fifth class: A sling, and stones
From these, the First and the Second Classes were classified as HeavyInfantry, and the others were Light Infantry.
Also, the shields that were prepared by the First and the Second Classesmust be made of bronze, and the size was strictly specified.
Other than this, anyone who was proficient in the bow will be assigned asarcher regardless of their Class.
Because the nobles commonly underwent riding training from a young age, theywere pretty much assigned to form the cavalry.
The equipment of the nobles’ private soldiers was supplied by the nobles,and the quality of their equipment is often excellent.
They were also often provided with a Rata, so those who had riding skill wouldparticipate as a cavalryman, while the rest will be treated to be in the same lineas the First Class soldiers.
Also, those who had riding skills even if they weren’t a noble and could preparea Rata would be recruited as a cavalryman disregarding their income class.
The riding skill was something that demands proficiency just like the bow,and rather than just able to ride a Rata, it will take months and years untilsomeone was able to swing sword or spear while on the mount.
Hence, other than the nobles who received riding training from young, therewere really few people who could fight as a cavalryman.
「I see, the citizens with few assetswill have to prepare few equipment.」(Kazura)
「Other than the spears, equipmentlike the body armors, swords, and shields are costly to procure and to maintain.If the entire soldiers need to prepare standardized equipment, it will place a burdentoo great for them. So, we specified the bare minimum necessary equipmentaccording to their income.」(Nelson)
「Can’t the Lord’s side prepareand distribute the equipment?」(Kazura)
「As expected, it is very hard toprepare in that amount… Bronze equipment is expensive, even in the peacetime,it will take time and effort to prepare and to maintain the equipment, so weneed a considerable financial resource.」(Nelson)
「Hmm, I see. It’s the matter offinancial problem again……」(Kazura)
Originally, it would be best if the Lord’s side prepares the standardized equipmentand distributed it to put it into use.
If the standards are unified, it will decrease the disparity in thestrength, and more than anything, regardless of the difference between rich andpoor, they could exert the same strength.
However, it was useless to say about this if the prerequisite for it wasmissing.
First of all, they need to resolve the financial problem of the province, beforethey were able to discuss what to do about the equipment.
「So that means, we have noother way than to increase the yield of the farmlands and introduce new tools invarious place to reduce the cost…… If the introduction of the hand pump could increasedthe output of the mine, it will be even nicer.」(Kazura)
「That’s true. Especially if theamount of the mined silver increased, it should ease the financial situation. Furthermore,the increase in the mined copper and tin, will also decrease the price ofequipment, so the equipment quality of the conscripted soldiers will also beimproved.」(Nelson)
「Price and quality,right?…… *fumu*」(Kazura)
After hearing Nelson’s explanation, Kazura pondered about the introductionof iron metallurgy that he considered before.
If they could obtain iron ore nearby, the introduction of iron metallurgy willdrastically reduce the armaments cost.
On Earth, the iron had more deposits that couldn’t be matched by metals likecopper and tin.
The fact that there were many deposits means that it had a low rarity value,which means that the procurement cost will be low.
If they use iron instead of bronze, then they surely could lower the armamentscost.
Since iron is harder and more durable than bronze, it will also improve thequality of the equipment.
Compared to bronze, iron will take time and labor to process, but theintroduction of iron will have great advantages.
The burden of the blacksmith will be dramatically increased to manufacture theequipment, but it is possible to reduce their burden to some extent byintroducing a waterwheel-powered trip hammer machine.
From what he had heard from Valletta before, the war with Balveil might beresumed in 4 years.
Although the result of the last battle was a draw (with many damages onboth sides), it was uncertain whether or not on the next war this country couldendure like it did in the previous time.
Since if he was just stood and watch and late in giving the aid, it couldcause irrecoverable damage that ruins Arcadia, then he should to introduce theiron metallurgy if it became needed.
However, if war didn’t get resumed and peace can last like it was right now,then there was no need to introduce a disruptive technology like iron metallurgy.
If the iron metallurgy was introduced, then surely it would greatly disturbthe power balance with the neighboring countries, so it was necessary to be cautiousabout the introduction.
「Nelson-san, about the diplomatic situation with the othercountries……」(Kazura)
Kazura spoke up until that point when he realized that Lieze who was sittingnext to him was staring him with a curious expression.
He was careless. Lieze didn’t know that Kazura is Greysior.
Of course, she would be curious since she observed how Kazura was askingabout armaments like he was completely clueless about it.
「…… Please let me hear thedetails at some other time. There is still opportunity to continue this talklater.」(Kazura)
Kazura said this and stood up, and beside him, Lieze also stood up.
「Hm is that so? I understand. Thedetails will be for another time. Thank you for listening to our situation.」(Nelson)
Nelson deeply bowed his head to Kazura.
✦✧✦✧✦
After leaving the office room, Kazura was walking on the mansion’s corridorwith Lieze.
Right now, it was almost noon, but later this evening, he planned to dig awater channel in the courtyard for the hydroelectric generator with Isaac andHavel.
The current time was a bit past 11 o'clock and there was still quite some timeleft before the lunchtime.
「Kazura-sama, about theconversation before……」(Lieze)
Kazura was walking while thinking about the armaments when Lieze spoke out timidly.
「Ah, yes. What is it?」(Kazura)
After he gave his reply, Kazura remembered the series of events in the referenceroom and he felt as if his back was wet with cold sweat.
If Nelson didn’t enter the reference room at that time, then he can’timagine what would have happened.
He felt as if he was drawn by a great influence, but what is that really?
「If you are interested in the militaryaffairs, then I can guide you around in the military. Since the Noble Guards soldierand the other private soldiers are training every day, then you can see theirtraining if we go to the training ground or barracks.」(Lieze)
「Huh, it’s not that topic?」(Kazura)
「Eh?」(Lieze)
「Ah, it’s nothing! Please do so!Since I would like to see the army even for a moment!」(Kazura)
Kazura thought that she was surely going to continue their conversation inthe reference room, so he never thought of an unexpected proposal that he unintentionallyyelped.
Like this, it was like he was expecting for that conversation to happen, sohe hurriedly returned a nod to Lieze.
「Then, since it will be noonsoon…… Ah, I am scheduled to have an audience soon…… Tomorrow…… there also anaudience…… I'm sorry, I will set the time later, then let's go together.」(Lieze)
Lieze became dejected when she remembered her schedules.
When Kazura returned back to Grisea Village, Lieze refused every audiencerequest that came to her so she could finish her work as much as possible.
However, the refused suitors didn’t just give up, but postponed theaudience and requested for an audience again, so Lieze was in a condition whereshe was unable to move.
Lieze was thinking that if she canceled the audience by saying that thecircumstances not permit, then those scheduled audiences itself would disappear,but this idea wasn’t that good.
As expected, if she continues to repeatedly refuse it will tarnish her socialappearance, so this situation couldn’t be helped. She would receive theaudience from the noon today.
「Oh, that’s fine. I also have aschedule this afternoon, so let’s go together on the next occasion.」(Kazura)
「Thank you very much. Then whenthat time comes, please say so. I am also looking forward to it, even if it’s onlya trip to the city.」(Lieze)
「Well, as soon as thecircumstances permit, let’s take that trip.」(Kazura)
When Kazura matched her conversation, Lieze made a very happy smile.
「Yes! Then, I'll inform youabout the possible time after I sort my schedule later!」(Lieze)
「Eh? Yes, I understand.」(Kazura)
Seeing how Lieze was looking forward to that event, Kazura nodded even whenhe was a bit bewildered.
From the event in the reference room, and how she clung unto theconversation just now, Kazura felt that Lieze’s attitude suddenly changed, afterhe returned to Isteria.
He thought that it was because she was a rather sociable girl, but he feltthat somehow the vector had changed into an unexpected direction.
After that, Kazura passed time talking with Lieze until the lunchtimearrived.
✦✧✦✧✦
That afternoon.
After his lunch with Nelson and Lieze, Kazura was in the courtyard justoutside his room with Isaac and Havel.
Besides Kazura, there was a cardboard box that contained the hydroturbinegenerator, and above it, the unfolded instructions.
By the way, Zirconia didn’t show up at the lunch.
It seems that for today she was taking a good rest in her room.
「Let’s see, 『You need a slope to some extent fort the generator to operate』…… So, I can’t generate electricity in a flat ground.」(Kazura)
The hydroturbine generator that was purchased by Kazura was a type that usesthe water flow inside a thick vinyl chloride tube.
Fan-like blades were attached inside the tube, that rotated when waterflows in the cylinder and exerted its force on the blades.
The blade shaft was connected directly to the generator, so when the shaft wasrotated by the force from the water current, it will drive the generator.
「Is it necessary for the water toflow from higher place?」(Havel)
Havel, who heard Kazura’s muttering, asked.
「Yes. We have no other way but drawwater with the waterwheel, construct an aqueduct at a higher position and thendirectly connect it with this tube. So it will be another do-it-yourself work……」(Kazura)
「We will prepare the personnelwho would undertake the work, so please tell us anything that we needed to do,since we will quickly work on it」(Havel)
「Then, can you install awaterwheel in the waterway of the estate to draw the water from it and thenbuilt an aqueduct to bring that drawn water until it reaches the front of thisroom?」(Kazura)
He had originally thought that it would be enough if he just extended thewaterway that was flowing in the estate until it reached his room, but it lookslike this wouldn’t work.
Although it would be quite taxing, it seems that there was no other waythan using a waterwheel and the aqueduct to bring the water into the front of hisroom and then install the generator at its end.
「Certainly. Then I will gatherthe needed personnel immediately.」(Havel)
「Please do so. I will confirm thenecessary components and the installation location for the aqueduct. Isaac-san pleaseprepare the waterwheel. I’m sure that there are some waterwheels that are underconstruction in the carpenter workshops, please bring them all here.」(Kazura)
「I understood.」(Isaac)
Currently, the gasoline generator could only cover the electricity for therefrigerator, but if he could use the hydroturbine generator he prepared thistime, then he would be able to use other electric appliances such as the airconditioner and the microwave oven.
The gasoline used for the generator could be kept in reserve and be broughtout together with the generator when he needed electricity at another place.
And the best above all, if he could use the air conditioners then his dailylife ought to be slightly more comfortable.
From the amount of the electricity that can be generated by the hydroturbinegenerator that will be installed, it could cover every electric power requirementneeded by the home appliances that he brought here.
If the installation of the hydroturbine generator was successful, then hewould be able to pass the days in almost the same as his life back in Japan forthe foreseeable future.
☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽
Oh? No footnotes!