Chapter 158 - Episode 153: The Guest
In late June, after the short rainy season had ended, the Arqvist territory welcomed a certain guest.
Noein stood in front of the lord's manor to greet the guest, flanked by Matilda, Clara, and several other maids.
The carriage that came to a halt before the manor was one that could be recognized as belonging to a noble at a single glance. The family crest depicted on the carriage body was a design mimicking wheat and cattle, indicating it belonged to a landed noble whose primary industry was agriculture.
The door opened, and the owner of the carriage stepped out.
"Lord Arqvist, it has been a long time."
"Excellency Oggoren, welcome to the Arqvist territory."
It was Baron Tobias Oggoren, who held lands toward the south within the northwestern part of the kingdom and was on very good terms with Noein.
"I have wanted to visit like this for some time, but it has become quite late. My apologies."
"No, I believe things are quite chaotic on the southern side right now. I am glad that things have settled enough for you to be able to visit us like this."
"Yes, my territory does not border the southwest directly, but the noble territories a bit further south were indeed caught up in skirmishes. Thanks to the assistance of Earl Marcel-sama, that has reached a lull. The problem of skyrocketing food prices still continues, however..."
Noein exchanged such conversation with him while inviting Baron Oggoren into the manor.
"Shall I show you around the capital first? Or shall we enter business negotiations immediately?"
"Let's see... then, from the negotiations. Let us finish the talk of work first."
Following Baron Oggoren's wish, Noein guided him to the reception room, where they sat on sofas facing each other across a table.
"Well then... shall we begin?"
"Yes, I look forward to it."
Baron Oggoren had not come merely for pleasure this time. The primary purpose was a discussion to begin direct trade between the Arqvist territory and the Baron Oggoren territory.
Behind this was the circumstance that the Baron, who was strongly affected by the worsening domestic situation, sought help in the form of establishing trade with Noein, who was relatively well-off.
While the atmosphere remained amicable, at this moment both of them tightened their expressions slightly, assuming the faces of landed nobles.
"First, as for what we will sell, it will be primarily potatoes, is that correct?"
"That is right, that is the most important thing of all. Additionally, regarding iron and copper, I would be grateful if you could let me buy a small amount."
In the Arqvist territory, which was developing remarkably and located within a forest—allowing for the acquisition of much food through hunting and gathering—there was a surplus in potato production. For Baron Oggoren, whose territory was further south and who was currently suffering from food shortages, he wanted to obtain those surplus potatoes no matter what.
Furthermore, regarding the iron and copper that were also skyrocketing in price, buying directly from the Arqvist territory, the source of production, would allow him to obtain them cheaper than the current market rate.
"...Do you have no need for the lapis lazuli, a specialty of my territory?"
"Hahaha, if I had a bit more leeway, I would buy it with pleasure."
When Noein asked jokingly, Baron Oggoren laughed and responded in kind.
"And from my territory, I would like to sell tea and cattle. Neither are absolutely necessary for Lord Arqvist, I imagine, but..."
"No, I like tea, and the livestock in my territory are centered on pigs, so cattle are still few. I have heard that these are the specialties of your territory, Excellency Oggoren, so I would be grateful to be able to buy them."
Noein's preference was tea leaves from the southern part of the kingdom, but it was said that the same variety of tea leaves was cultivated in the Oggoren territory, which held lands toward the south within the northwest. Additionally, in the Oggoren territory, which had many plains, animal husbandry was also reasonably prosperous.
"It helps that you say so. Now, as for the method of trade..."
"On our end, we would like to conduct trade through each other's appointed merchant guilds."
"Indeed, that would be the fastest way to handle things."
The Skinner Company, the appointed merchant guild of the Arqvist family, had few connections outside the territory because the guild master, Philip, was still young.
Allowing Philip to create connections with the guilds of the Oggoren territory, develop distribution routes to the south, and grow the company was also Noein's aim this time.
"The rest are the specific quantities, prices, and delivery dates..."
"Yes, for starters, our wishes are—"
Aided by the good relationship between Noein and Baron Oggoren, the discussions proceeded smoothly thereafter.
.....
"This is the western farmland currently under cultivation."
"Ho... even though there is already such rich farmland on the east side, you continue cultivation of this much area further... Amazing."
Once the talk of work ended, the rest of the time was for personally deepening their friendship.
Noein himself guided Baron Oggoren around the urban areas and public facilities of the capital Noeina, the workshops (the new weapons were, naturally, hidden), and the farmlands, and they were currently looking at the west side of the capital which was under new development.
"Since refugees continue to flow into my territory and the population keeps increasing, I continue new cultivation and the construction of houses with the future in mind. It seems I am thinking on the premise of chaos in the western part of the kingdom, which may be improper..."
"That is not the case. In other words, Lord Arqvist is becoming the final safety net for people with nowhere to go, is that not it? As a noble of the kingdom, is that not something that should be praised?"
"I am grateful that you say so."
Noein replied to Baron Oggoren's words with a faint, bitter smile.
"Even so, to think you advanced cultivation this far in five years. To be honest, it was beyond my expectations."
"I am honored by your praise. Of course, as the lord, I intend to make every possible effort, but being blessed with luck was also a large factor... The success of potato cultivation and mine development is one thing, but meeting excellent subordinates was the greatest luck of all."
"Hahaha, it is precisely because you recognize the excellence and achievements of your subordinates that you are admired by good talent, Lord Arqvist. That too is a talent of a lord."
Baron Oggoren praised Noein in a gentle voice.
"Furthermore, this territory is not just increasing in people and expanding the area of the town and farmlands. How should I put it... yes, it seems sophisticated. As a single society, it looks like it is running very efficiently."
"That... may be a large influence of education."
"Ah, the school you showed me earlier... To think it differs this much just by increasing the number of people who can read, write, and do arithmetic."
Baron Oggoren recalled the small school building he was shown as part of the tour of the capital.
"Rather than reading, writing, and arithmetic themselves, the logical thinking ability and the ability to understand things cultivated in the process of learning them are what is important. In my territory, we strive to let them acquire knowledge and culture not only in schools but also in the territorial army, so looking at the territory as a whole, the proportion of educated citizens is high."
Baron Oggoren listened with interest to Noein's talk.
"Those who have received systematic education have a faster and deeper understanding of work, whether it be agriculture, industry, commerce, or military affairs. If such people increase, the efficiency of each job rises, and the organization begins to run without waste. Additionally, when there are many cultured citizens, the public order of society also improves."
"I see, so that is how you realized this society."
"Yes, it was not all intentional, but that is how it turned out as a result."
"Amazing. I would like to imitate it in my own... but if I let commoners receive education for free, the wealthy farmers and merchants would likely be noisy. This is something that can be done precisely because it is a newly emerging territory like the Arqvist territory."
Noein showed a smile to Baron Oggoren, who spoke enviously.
"Yes. Including things like that, I believe I was blessed with luck."
.....
After finishing the tour of the territory, they returned to the manor, chatted with his wife Clara, had dinner together in the evening, and afterwards talked while exchanging drinks as men.
At that time, at Baron Oggoren's request, Matilda was also present, and she was praised with things like "dignified, intellectual-looking, and beautiful" and "as expected of a beastman slave loved by Lord Arqvist," and because Noein continued to say things like "she is the lover I am proud of," there was a rare scene where she became embarrassed and flustered despite being in front of a guest.
On this day, Baron Oggoren stayed in a guest room of the manor, and the next morning, Noein saw him off as he returned to his territory.
"Excellency Oggoren, if you like, please take this as a souvenir."
"This is... a raw lapis lazuli stone. And such a large one at that. Is this alright?"
Seeing the contents of the small box Noein offered, Baron Oggoren's face became one of surprise. The raw lapis lazuli stone inside boasted a brilliance that even the Baron, who was not very knowledgeable about gemstones, could tell was of high purity.
"Yes, it is a token of my friendship. I wish to maintain a long-term relationship with your Excellency... with that size, even after processing, it should be enough for more than two pieces of jewelry. I think it would be good to make them gifts for your wife and Misha-san."
Baron Oggoren loved his cat-person slave, Misha, as much as he loved his wife. Considering his circumstances, Noein had intentionally given a large raw stone as a souvenir.
"I see, you went so far as to think of Misha... I am grateful. I shall use it with care."
Rather than entrusting the given souvenir to a servant, Baron Oggoren boarded the carriage while holding it himself.
"It was enjoyable. Also, it helped that you established trade, thank you. Once the situation over here settles a bit more, Lord Arqvist, please come visit my territory as well."
"Yes, I shall certainly do so... please be careful on your way back."
After the Oggoren family carriage departed and he watched it disappear past the gate, Noein returned inside the manor.