Chapter 41 - Episode 40: It's Bath Time! Everyone Assemble ①
If one proceeds a short distance southwest from Noeina, the capital of the Arqvist Baronetcy, they will come upon a river.
This river had been utilized as a water source since the early days of reclamation, and even after wells were dug within the village of Noeina, it remained highly valued as a place to supply clean drinking water. Now, the road leading from Noeina to the river has been properly maintained, making it possible to transport large quantities of water at once using carts and such.
One of the things Noein began working on immediately after winter ended was the development of the area surrounding this river.
If there is a river, one can build a watermill and utilize the power of the waterwheel for grinding wheat. For the Arqvist territory, where the wheat harvest began in spring, a watermill would be an indispensable facility.
It would also be convenient to set up a blacksmith's workshop by the river. There are no blacksmiths in the capital of Noeina yet, but if he advertised that they could "migrate with a workshop included," applicants wishing to migrate might appear.
And one more thing—with an abundant water source, a bathhouse could be built. Along with the watermill and the smithy, Noein had been pushing forward with the construction of a public bathhouse for the residents.
Due to the simplicity of its structure, the bathhouse was completed ahead of other facilities that required complex equipment.
"A splendid bathhouse has been built. In terms of size alone, it's on par with a public bathhouse in a small city. Right, Matilda?"
"Yes, Noein-sama. It is a wonderful achievement. One could say it is a symbol that the capital of Noeina is a civilized land."
Noein was frolicking while inspecting the bathhouse, which was of a scale that could accommodate up to about twenty people at once. Matilda accompanied Noein, affirming his words.
In the urban areas of this world, public bathhouses served as one of the entertainments for the residents, but in poor and small villages, the construction of a bathhouse was an unattainable dream.
As a result, a trend had emerged where "having a bathhouse is proof of being a civilized city." By this logic, the capital of Noeina—which had not yet even reached a population of one hundred—was also a splendid civilized city, albeit a small one.
This was an investment that could only be made because the Arqvist territory had a source of funds in the form of the lapis lazuli vein.
"With this, the hygiene and health of the residents will be greatly improved. Their happiness will increase, and labor productivity should rise as well."
"To make such a large investment for the happiness of the residents and the economy of the territory... as expected of Noein-sama."
Noein remembered that during the time he lived under house arrest at the House of Count Kivileft, the effects of bathing were mentioned in various books.
That bathing makes it easier to recover from fatigue, that keeping the body clean in a bath makes one less prone to illness, that the work of laborers improved after a bathhouse was built in a city, and so on.
From medical texts to the memoirs of former rulers, every book from every era and region claimed in unison that "baths are a good thing."
Noein himself had experienced the effects of bathing countless times throughout his life. That was precisely why he had the bathhouse constructed, so that the residents could also enjoy those effects.
Following the example of urban public bathhouses, he would charge an entrance fee, but the amount was one Rebro per visit. At this price, anyone should be able to use it regularly. Considering the current population of users, it was a deficit, but Noein believed that the profit of the bathhouse itself could be disregarded.
.....
"...Baths really are great. I feel like I've come back to life."
"I understand. It really does feel that way."
Bart, who had been soaking first, agreed with Yuri, who muttered as he sank his body into the hot water.
Since they couldn't allocate enough manpower even for the bathhouse stoker, for the time being, bathing was limited to once a week for men and women respectively. Therefore, on the precious days the bathhouse was operational, everyone visited to bathe like this.
Bathing was done in shifts of twenty people. When this many people entered at once, even the spacious bathroom became crowded and considerably lively. On this day as well, the steam-filled bathroom was enveloped in the voices of men talking.
"Speaking of which, Bart, I hear you're quite popular with the women in Retovik."
"...Who did you hear that from?"
"The men among the residents were talking about it enviously."
When men gather in a bathhouse and relax both body and mind, the topics of conversation are predetermined.
For the married, it was complaints about their wives or boasting about them; for the singles, it was what kind of girl they preferred or who they were targeting.
"Since your mercenary days, you've never had trouble with women. Every time we visited a city, you'd make a mistress and get pampered... and now you're a retainer serving a noble. You'll be even more popular."
"Hahaha, well, it's true that there are many girls who approach me... but when it comes to looking for a marriage partner, it's not that simple."
"What, are you quitting playing around with women already?"
"I'm already in my mid-twenties. Since I've finally become a retainer and even have my own farmland, I want to settle down soon."
"I see, you've reached the age where you think about such things..."
The mercenary group was a community that also had aspects of a large family. Bart, who had been picked up by the mercenary group as an orphan, was like a much younger brother to Yuri.
Hearing that Bart, whom he had watched since he was a mere brat who hadn't even reached his teens, was seriously looking for a marriage partner brought a sense of deep emotion.
"I wonder what the criteria should be for deciding on a marriage partner from among several girls."
"That's a very luxurious worry. Are you bragging?"
"No, no, not at all... On the contrary, I'm envious of the Captain, who has been devoted only to Mai for so long. You two were practically a married couple even back when we were in the mercenary group."
"Well, I suppose so..."
"Oh? Are you blushing?"
"Shut up, I'll punch you."
To Bart, who was cheekily teasing Yuri—his senior and superior—Yuri responded in a friendly tone, contrary to his blunt words.
"But seriously, what should be the deciding factor for a marriage partner?"
"Let's see... for starters, choosing based only on looks is a bad move. Conversely, a woman who chooses you based only on looks is also no good. It's fine now because you're young, but you'll grow old eventually, and you might get fat or go bald."
"Well, I suppose that's true."
"Choose a partner with whom you can imagine yourselves living happily even if she becomes plump when you're old, and who will still love you even when you've become a worn-out old geezer."
"...I understand. I'll take that into account."
When Yuri said that, Bart nodded with a serious face.
"Does that mean the Captain also imagined a plump and aged Mai before you got married?"
"Of course. Even if Mai becomes an old hag like an orc, I'd happily embrace her."
"That... is the power of love."
"Yeah, that's what you call true love."
The retainers and the residents alike spent their time at the public bathhouse, chatting away with those they were close to.