Chapter 152 - Episode 147: Daily Life in the Arqvist Territory ④ The Case of Kenooze / The Case of the Merchants and Artisans
It took one autumn and one winter for Kenooze to grow accustomed to his position as a retainer and settle into the days of performing his duties.
He was someone who had once lived while being persecuted as a "lowly beastman" in the southwestern part of the kingdom, who had been swept up in the fires of war to become a conscripted soldier, and who had thought his life had reached its end, seeing no hope after the war. And yet, he had obtained a migration destination that was like heaven, and had even become a retainer serving a noble lord.
While bewildered by the change in position and the change in his life, he worked diligently by trial and error as an assistant to Edgar, who was in charge of agriculture, and as a representative of the beastmen. By the time winter ended, he felt that he had finally become like a proper retainer.
"Edgar-sama, I have finished summarizing the harvest forecast report for the farmland. I would like you to check it."
"Ah, let me see."
The work in charge of agriculture was diverse. Supervising the work of the farmers, and providing guidance on the cultivation of new cash crops. Building smooth human relationships among farmers of various races, and mediating when disputes arose.
When monsters such as goblins appeared near the farmland, he served as the evacuation guide, and sometimes he took up the sword himself to protect the farmers from such monsters.
Summarizing harvest forecasts in preparation for tax collection and creating cultivation plans for the next season were also important tasks for the person in charge of agriculture, and currently, he was receiving guidance from Edgar in the retainers' office of the lord's mansion.
"...Hmm, there are generally no problems. Even though I only taught you once verbally, you really are excellent, Kenooze."
"I am humbled."
What Kenooze had created was not the formal document for tax collection that summarized the harvest forecasts for each independent farmer, but a simplified one for reporting the overall forecast of the territory to Anna, who was in charge of finance, and to the lord, Noein.
Kenooze thought that Edgar was a good boss, as he entrusted him with such simple tasks, taught him the methods politely, and further kept his motivation up by praising him.
Not only Edgar, but the farmers and the serfs were also kind to the still-young Kenooze. Boreas, who was a close friend of his father Jinozze and a relative-like existence to Kenooze, also gave him advice on various matters.
Kenooze thought to himself that he was truly fortunate.
"Alright, all that's left is to hand this to Anna... By the way, regarding the farmland patrols starting tomorrow, I'm thinking of having you be in charge of the southeastern side for a while."
"!? I... I will be in charge of the southeastern side, alone...?"
The territorial capital, Noeina, began its reclamation from what is now the southeastern side, and from there, development proceeded toward the northeast and then the west. Those who owned farmland in the southeast were only the veteran residents who had lived here since early on. Most of them were humans.
Among them, he, a beastman youth, would conduct patrols alone as a retainer. Even though he knew that the farmers were all good people and that beastmen were not strongly discriminated against here, there was a part of him that inevitably shrank back.
But, even so.
"I believe that it is a job you can sufficiently handle now. Can you do it?"
"...Yes, please leave it to me."
Kenooze answered, swallowing his anxiety.
Until now, Edgar had exerted effort so that Kenooze, a beastman, could get along with the farmers of the Arqvist territory as quickly as possible. He had been considerate to increase opportunities for conversation as much as possible and had even arranged banquets with the veteran residents.
Furthermore, he actively spoke not only to Kenooze but also to other beastmen, connecting them with the human residents. Because of this, in the Arqvist territory where there were many immigrants from the south, the humans and beastmen were harmonizing faster than Kenooze had imagined.
Despite that, he could not afford to be frightened here and run away from his work. Because he thought this, Kenooze made his decision and nodded.
Kenooze suddenly wondered if his father was watching over him from the presence of God, seeing him work hard and live happily.
.....
The store of the Skinner Company, the official merchant house of the Baronet Arqvist family, was the largest building in the territorial capital Noeina after the lord's mansion.
On the first floor, there was a retail store for the residents and a large warehouse where carriages for business partners could enter, and on the second floor, there were the office of the company president Philip, administrative offices for the employees, and a reception room for handling important guests.
Dmitri, the head of the construction company, had visited the president's office on the second floor to meet Philip.
"President, Dmitri-sama has arrived."
"Let him in."
The young employee who had served as the guide to the second floor knocked on the room's door, and upon receiving Philip's permission, urged Dmitri to enter. Dmitri gave a slight nod to the youth and entered the room.
"I'm coming in."
To Dmitri's casual tone, Philip responded just as casually. The two were separated by nearly two decades in age, but since both were heads of influential merchant companies in the Arqvist territory and had a long professional relationship, there was no need to be particularly formal with each other now.
As soon as he entered the room, Dmitri gave a small snort. It seemed some incense was being burned.
Incense was a luxury item, and burning it in a room also served to demonstrate one's own wealth. Philip, who had a tendency to be somewhat vain, often let the scent of incense drift through the room like this, but while it was only a faint scent to humans, it was a bit strong for Dmitri, a dog-person with an excellent sense of smell.
However, burning incense in the room was Philip's business, so Dmitri brought up his business without specifically pointing it out.
"I brought the orders for next month. Though, the contents aren't much different from usual."
"Thank you. It's always so polite of the president himself to come; thank you for your hard work."
"Hahaha, well, this is just how things are between fellow presidents."
In the Arqvist territory, lumber could be obtained in any amount, and stone, iron, and copper were also obtained abundantly from the northern Lestio Mountains, but there were still materials that had to be bought from outside the territory for the construction of houses.
In such cases, Dmitri always had the Skinner Company order the necessary items.
"Also, this is my personal order. Well, it's mostly alcohol."
"My, my... these are all expensive items. High-end liquor is grateful for us since it doesn't take up much space yet makes a profit, but please don't ruin your health by drinking too much, okay? You're not young anymore."
"Don't worry, my body's been used to it from drinking for decades."
Philip received the order sheet, which listed the brands and number of bottles of alcohol, with a wry smile. Dmitri's company, which handled the construction within the territory exclusively, was always profitable, and naturally, he as the president was well-off. As someone who made expensive purchases like this, he was a top customer for the Skinner Company.
"By the way, today is the day of the Merchant Guild meeting, right?"
"Yes, it's been decided that we gather at our warehouse when the four o'clock bell rings."
The rapidly developing Arqvist territory had a thriving commerce relative to its population scale, with shops, workshops attached to stores, taverns, and inns lined up. A Merchant Guild run by the managers of each shop had also been established recently.
"In about one or two hours, then. But has Victor-san arrived from Kilde? That man is participating in the meeting too, right?"
Victor, the mining engineer entrusted with the practical work of mine development from Noein, was also a member of the Merchant Guild.
"Yes, he's here. Look, right there."
"Hm? ...Whoa!"
"Hahaha, hello there."
When Dmitri turned around after being pointed toward the diagonal rear by Philip, Victor was already there. Contrary to his stocky build and bearded face typical of a dwarf, he was perched on a chair in the corner of the room with a teacup in his hand.
"Since when were you there!?"
"Actually, I have been here since Dmitri-dono entered the room. I arrived in Noeina a bit early, so I came to greet Philip-dono... I am sorry for surprising you."
"It's Dmitri-san's fault for not noticing," Philip said with a slightly exasperated voice.
"Well, it's certainly my fault... does this mean I've grown dull with age? Should I reduce the alcohol as Philip says?"
No matter how quiet a man Victor was, or that he was in a position that was hard to see just as the door opened, or that the incense in the room made it harder to smell—to not notice a person in the room at all. As a beastman with superior senses, he felt a sense of shame.
Seeing Dmitri become strangely depressed, Philip wore a wry smile in exasperation again, and Victor also laughed a bit awkwardly.