Chapter 27 - 27 Isis and Karen
"We were shallow as well. I offered my daughter as a concubine out of a desire for noble connections, and he will likely be accused of sleeping with Cielo's daughter out of greed for money..."
The Madam nodded at Cielo's words.
"But, is that child really only thirteen? To think he was already considering ten years down the line."
"True. Honestly, I was surprised."
"I was so surprised I couldn't even find my voice."
"Ten years from now for those children. I wonder how things will be."
"Didn't he say he's taking meticulous care not to make enemies at that age?"
"It's probably due to the influence of his parents, right?"
That was a story far too famous in the Imperial Capital. During the Great War fifteen years ago, the Imperial Army was on the brink of certain defeat.
Then, because of a traitorous informant, the Imperial Army's position turned disadvantageous all at once. The ones accused of betrayal were Kaoz and his son, Ivan. However, it was Butler who led them to a reversal victory. Yet, having lost many companions, he had punched Ivan, shouting, "This is your fault!"
Abalon sat alone, left out in the cold.
While Abensis, Sera, and the Cielo couple were getting along well, he was eating a sandwich looking lonely, as no one spoke to him.
And then, the conversation returned to me.
"I asked Sera earlier, and she said the five people we sent are serving as village chiefs in the village? Why are you letting them do such a thing?"
Since Abensis was looking excited, I stated the reason. First of all, we are still young, inexperienced, and lacking in knowledge. If we were to attempt something like hereditary succession, there would be zero elements to allow us to compete with the great noble families.
"Then what should we do? We challenge things that no one else is tackling. When you take on something new, you will inevitably face difficulties somewhere. You confront them, tackle things no one else is challenging, and accumulate experience points. There will surely be times when you experience setbacks."
And then, you challenge yourself again through reflection. This failure is what makes a person grow. They are struggling and suffering in the unknown world of being village chiefs. However, if they succeed here, they will be able to share joy with many people. And in the future, when they confront unknown worlds in business, this experience will surely be useful.
"I have a guiding principle within me: 'Obtain the maximum effect with the minimum effort'."
That could also be one's own goal. Even when forming a team, if you execute what you've thought about deathly hard regarding 'what should be done' to achieve a goal, and then think about why it still failed and strive together, the team will surely become strong.
"This is the same in any world. Soldiers, merchants, and farmers too. There isn't a fool who would devise tactics or strategies without having information, right?"
Hearing that, Abensis looked at Abalon and nodded in understanding, saying, "I see! That's certainly true."
"I'll have to make sure I don't suffer major injuries due to half-baked information, too. I'm impressed by you. 'Maximum effect with minimum effort'... that's a good phrase!"
Abensis showed interest in my words while patting Sera's head.
And then, we came to the final topic of business.
"I have brought things that can only be sold during this season!"
It was the furs of Wild Cattle, Wild Boar, Wild Bear, and Kusarikku.
"Ho! And how much are you asking me to buy these for?"
"Cielo-san. You can pay after they are sold. How about a 20% cut?"
He said that was too cheap and demanded 30%. From there, after arguing about transportation costs and labor fees, it was settled at 25%.
"Then, I shall aim to sell them as high as possible!"
"It's fine even if they sell cheap. If there is anything else you want to sell."
"A tie-in sale... and you're saying I can use it for that too?"
When I nodded, he performed a Dogeza, saying, "I owe you one. Also, please let my shop sell the 'All-in-One' as well!" He also started saying he wanted Holy Water Aqua and, if possible, the Premium.
"Actually, I want to sell that meat too! However, considering the transport time, there's a possibility it will rot. If it's frozen, the meat might become unpalatable..."
When I told him I'd make it so the meat could be sold too if he took the furs, a ruthless order was issued: "Leave it to me! Hey! Abalon. From now on, until the furs are sold, you don't need to come back!"
It seems Abalon is going to be a fur peddler.
"Listen up! If you sell them cheap, ruin the products, or have leftovers, I'll deduct everything from your salary. If there's additional stock in the middle, you sell that too! Got it!"
So he sets off alone, lonely, toward the north for the coming winter...
"Well, it can't be helped. He probably believed he would be the eldest son and the heir until now. From my perspective, that's impossible."
Sera said, laughing "Kyahaha."After Abalon left in a daze, I passed on the information.
"Next spring, there will be the wedding ceremony of Aristo-sama and Aria-sama. I am currently working behind the scenes to have Sera participate, so I think she will be able to attend first. Aria-sama has also received intel that she wants Sera to come!"
Muttering "Aria-sama," Sera began to cry uncontrollably.
"I think your role will be that of my secretary. I'm counting on you, Sera. Let's make a wonderful dress!"
My parents were eager, saying they definitely wanted our shop to make it. There, I showed them the dress I had made.
"I designed it, and I also made the thread. I'll give it to you for your reference. Please make the best dress for Sera."
Abensis, showing interest in the design and the thread, bit at the offer.
"Someone said this was a remote backwater, but as I thought, I have to see it with my own eyes! Give me a vacation! I want about a month, because I'll go to Shivans-kun's territory first, and then to Butler-san's territory!"
It was rejected immediately.
"Speak to me after you've made a dress that exceeds this!"
He was rejected by Cielo, and while I thought he might be depressed, he wasn't. Perhaps he said it knowing it was impossible from the start. He immediately stared intently at my dress.
"Amazing... the material for this thread isn't just one thing, is it?"
"That's right. At least two. At most, I combine three."
"Shivans-kun! Why don't we start a sewing factory next time? Let's do it together!"
Since I couldn't tell if this person was serious, I held back.
Returning to the Lord's Manor, I called the three members of Shivans' Guard to discuss this matter.
"Yeah. Certainly, if Yaris sleeps with the Young Master, anyone would think she became a general and that her foster father, Regias, is a Captain through that connection! The same goes for the young lady. People will think she became the Young Master's concubine to gain noble connections, and that the Young Master is receiving aid from the Cielo Trading Company."
"If that happens, it won't be a plus for this territory, but rather just interesting gossip for other nobles. We won't be able to show their true strength. Therefore, I want Vel to cooperate!"
We will spread rumors in the city.
"I heard the Young Master here leaves everything to Sera, the female Commerce Minister, and Yaris, the female General for military affairs, while he just stays cooped up in his family home?"
"Is that true? Is he a mama's boy?"
Well, something like that; I want to make it look like the two of them are working hard while I am being looked after. Because a noble territory where women are active is almost non-existent. While it's extremely rare for a daughter or someone to be active, people from commoner backgrounds being active becomes a light of hope even for those who aren't nobles.
"Then, Young Master! Let's include commoners too! That's certainly good! It'll seem like merchants and farmers can come easily, and let's add that 'you won't be treated unreasonably here'! Let's spread the rumors immediately and improve the image!"
As Vel was getting eager, Regias said with difficulty, "I hate to rain on your parade, but..."
"If it's Yaris, she has to leave some mark in battle, and if it's little lady Sera, she won't be recognized by the world in the end unless she leaves a mark through policies or specific good governance. Though the Young Master will likely support her from the shadows."
Sera threw a blunt question: is it okay for her to become a concubine?
"It's not a problem for me to nitpick about. Even if people say I've become no different from a local thug, I'm not the kind of parent who can complain about that..."
She looked like she wanted to ask what had happened, but it was certainly as Regias said. Everyone's opinion was unanimous. There, when I suggested, "If an incident occurs, how was it resolved? Let's have someone like Passo make a newspaper and circulate it to the public!", Sera immediately ordered Passo, "Do it!"
Since woodblock printing existed, it seemed she had him create a newspaper team.
One month passed. I spent almost all my time going to the dungeon, and when I finished, I would make medicines and lotion or work on Sera's dress.
(I might be able to mass-produce Holy Water Aqua!)
The raw material for Slime Solution is the skin of a shed slime, but in this different world, you can pick up as many as you want if you go to the river. So, when I had the children do part-time work buying them for one G each, they brought mountains of them.
I discovered that if heat is applied to this Slime Solution, it dissolves and can be processed to become like rubber or like vinyl. So, I gathered mold artisans and had them make things like PET Bottles using the Slime Solution.
I attached two large water storage tanks, and had them perform the work of filling them with the Aqua Heal Water I made and carbonated Aqua Heal Water, and finally, the work of sealing them with heat. When I wasn't around, I had my mother, Leen, help out.
"Shivans-chan? Should I put it in here using magic?"
"Please, Mother!"
(This hardly costs anything in raw materials! Labor costs will be an issue, but we'll make a killing!)
Since it was a job even elderly people could do, over 100 people gathered immediately. We decided to aim for producing 100,000 bottles every day.
The Cielo Trading Company began to take its partnership with me seriously. Every day, the Cielo Trading Company's carriages come here to the Butler territory. First, they go to the Adventurer Guild to collect the meat and skins of the monsters we hunted. Since it's a Magic Box specification, it doesn't rot. Next, at the PET Bottle factory, they purchase at least ten thousand bottles of Holy Water Aqua, and finally, they buy as much of my lotion and Premium as they can and head back.
"Father is completely relying on Shivans-sama... I wonder if our company will be okay?"
Our products seem to be selling explosively, to the point that Sera is worried.
During this one month, no major incidents occurred, and the only news item for the newspaper was the capture of a burglar who had targeted us during my absence.
At that time, a request came in at the Adventurer Guild.
"A massive outbreak of Maple Treants has occurred in the southeastern forest."
Maple Treants are ferocious, but it is said that the trees hold a large amount of nectar.
"Emi-nee! Reimi! This smells like money!"
""Let's go!!""
The two of them immediately shouted for the sake of the future and for the children, and rushed toward it. While I was wondering if we could distinguish them from normal trees, we knew immediately. Because vines extend from the trees to attack.
[Wind Cutter]
When we attacked the base, they fell over with a rustling sound. There were over 1,000 of them, but because my magic's power had increased, it ended in an instant.
"Geez! I didn't get to do anything at all!"
"Sorry, Emi-nee..."
Even so, when I said we defeated them safely and that it would turn into money, Reimi comforted her, laughing, "That's true! Well, it's fine, Emilia!"
After collecting everything and using alchemy to squeeze out the sap from the roots and remove impurities, we obtained 100kg of syrup from a single tree. As we proceeded further, "White Sugar" was produced.
(Since there are over 1,000, how many tons will it be? Should I bag this up and sell it too?)
It was a moment where my excitement expanded.
Two months passed, and as the signs of winter were felt, the Cielo Trading Company's regular deliveries had increased to about five times a day. The monthly transaction amount easily exceeded one hundred million.
When it came to dresses for parties in the Imperial Capital, Emilia, Reimi, and Yaris immediately said they didn't need them. When I had Sera try on several, she said happily, "I wonder if the dresses Father makes can exceed these?"
Because her flare skirt flutters, there are many panty flashes.
"Lately, there are a lot of string-style panties, aren't there?"
"Oh, they don't hurt even if they dig into my butt anymore. Ever since Shivans-sama played with me, they've become quite comfortable. But, I only show them to Shivans-sama, you know?"
When I said I liked lewd women, she said, "They'll become even more so! But, before that, I crave some kind of achievement!"
Since I was immediately curious about the dresses and the ladies' underwear, I headed to the Cielo Trading Company in the Imperial Capital.
"You've come! You are very welcome!"
It truly seemed like a warm welcome.I was suddenly hugged by Cielo...
I immediately showed the dresses. All of them were dresses that pushed sexiness to the forefront, something that didn't exist in this world. Since they were all put on mannequins, they had a three-dimensional feel and were easy to understand.
"By the way, where is the Madam? Is she out?"
"No. I'm here, Shivans-kun! I wanted to see you!"
When I was back-hugged, her large breasts were pressing against me.Then Abensis arrived and was staring intently at the mannequins.
"As expected, Shivans-kun. You have great taste! If Sera were to wear one, which would it be: mine or his?"
"You already know, don't you? Shivans-sama! Brother Abensis makes products, but Shivans-sama makes dresses that suit me. That difference is huge!"
I praised her, thinking she was indeed my sister.Watching them, I wondered if Abensis might be a sister-con?
(Abalon is a mama's boy and I'm a sister-con, huh. What a pitiful pair of brothers.)
The Madam gathered the women, saying she wanted them to see her in her underwear. There, I brought out and showed the drawings I had made before.
"And now, this is how it will be in two months!"
I certainly thought she had become beautiful, and it seemed she wanted me to draw her. She seemed to want me to draw her beautiful self. As I was drawing, a naked Isis clung tightly to my back and showed herself happily, saying, "Did I become beautiful too?"
"You've become very beautiful!"
"Ufu! It's thanks to Shivans-sama! Tonight, again..."
She said in a whisper and left. And there was one more person, Karen.
"Please don't run away tonight, okay?"
"Of course!"
Does this mean both of them are coming tonight?And just as I thought, the night became a 3P.
"I'm leaving here today, so I'm glad I could see you!"
"Are you quitting, Karen?"
It seems she is going to a shop where she will be married off tomorrow. She said that since that shop is also connected to the Cielo Trading Company, we might meet again.
"I see. I want to see you again too!"
"Yes! I'm glad my virginity was offered to Shivans-sama!"
However... the two of them did not expect to be embraced until morning.
"Chirp... chirp chirp!"
The chirping of birds could be heard, and Isis and Karen woke up sluggishly.
"In the end, I wasn't allowed even a wink of sleep. To think my first time would be such hard sex..."
"Fufufu. Even I have never been sought after like this by my husband. As a woman, I'm happy! By the way, Karen... what about contraception?"
When she shook her head, Karen said, "What a coincidence. Me too! If we unexpectedly end up with a child, they might not be the child of either husband, right?" To which I said, "I want cute children! So that's fine as it is!" and Karen laughed.
We left the Cielo Trading Company and went to the Klaus family, where Aristo greeted us. Then we were shown to the hall, and Sera, meeting the five members of the Klaus family for the first time, offered an apology.
"It is already in the past. More importantly, I heard you are being active in the Shivans territory?"
When Klaus said that, she said bashfully, "Someone like me... is still far from it..." There, she began to passionately explain how wonderful my thoughts were.
"Certainly, if you were to become a concubine now, vulgar people would see the relationship between Shivans-kun and the Cielo Trading Company that way... It's a shame."
The Madam rejoiced that this would lead to the improvement of women's status. However, she seemed fed up with the trivial, gossip-loving nobles.
"The Holy Water Aqua sold at the Cielo Trading Company—did you think of that? Mother's name is incredibly popular everywhere now! I'm happy too!"
When Aristo praised it, Aqua smiled happily and rubbed her stomach, saying, "Shivans-sama was the one who named it. He said he wanted to spread the name of the city even more."
Then, Windam made a displeased face.
"It seems Aqua is more of a celebrity than I am..."
"If you say something useless, I'll make you experience it firsthand, Windam!"
He became quiet after being scolded by Klaus.
"Those who know that Shivans-sama and the Grand Duke family are on good terms seem to associate them with Lady Aqua! The city is beautiful, but Lady Aqua is also beautiful!"
At Sera's flattery, both Aqua and Aristo were pleased.
"So, Windam? When will the city of Marino be completed?"
"Mother... there's no need to burn with rivalry in such a place..."
Then, it was mentioned that the Imperial Academy exams were approaching in one month. When that became the topic, it seemed that the fact that a 24-year-old from the Imperial Family, the Prime Minister's grandson, Kaoz's grandson, and Baron Auris's daughter were taking the exam was a hot topic in the current noble circles.
"Do you know, Lady Sera, that Shivans-kun and Aristo will be taking the exam in two years?"
To Klaus's question, she answered quietly, "I am aware."
"Naturally, since Shivans-kun will be forced to live in the dormitory, it will be you all who protect the territory. I suspect Shivans-kun is already starting to entrust it to you so that you can operate it by yourselves alone."
Sera was surprised, realizing that was the case.
"Of course, he is likely aiming for things like the improvement of women's status and various other things. After all, he looks quiet, but he has a greedy side! Ahahaha!"
"That is exactly right! He says that 'obtaining the maximum effect with the minimum effort' is the guiding principle of Shivans-sama's life!"
Assuming two years from now? There's no way. They are overestimating me in a good way, though.
"Just as you apologized earlier, you must still be carrying some sense of guilt somewhere, right? However, life is something you learn from failure. Listen to this as an old man's lecture. A single failure can be made up for with a single success!"
"Klaus-sama... your words... touch my heart! Thank you very much!"
As she shed tears of joy, Aqua and Marino huddled close. A gentle atmosphere flowed around them, but Windam, the crusher, destroyed it.
"Shivans-kun! If you're a noble too, why not just embrace Lady Sera instead of all that 'improvement of women's status' stuff? She's got a nice body, doesn't she?"
Klaus, having his rare moving story destroyed by his son, was absolutely furious. Even Aristo looked exasperated and showed a gesture of giving up.
Windam was taken out to the garden.
"Woryah!"
Klaus shouted. In the garden, there was Windam, being beaten to a pulp and wriggling like a zombie.
"Forgive me, Shivans-kun..."
"No, Excellency. I understand it was a noble joke intended to lighten the mood in his own way, Lord Windam."
Then, a zombie appeared from the edge of the garden and shouted, "Yes! That's exactly right! You understand me best, Shivans-kun!"
"Woryah!"
The zombie became Klaus's prey once again.
"Haa, haa... That was good exercise."
After saying that and returning, Klaus brought up a surprising story. He prefaced it by saying it was still an internal matter. It was... the personnel changes for the Internal Affairs Officers of the former Count Hermann territory.
"Kaoz's third son seems likely to be appointed. He might try to harass you and your parents. Because there is a grudge. You will be the first target! Shivans-kun, be on your guard!"
"Understood, Excellency!"
After I replied, when I looked at Sera, she seemed to be still moved by Klaus's words, muttering, "I will certainly be of use! Please watch me!" as if quietly burning with passion.