Saving Labor Turns Everything To Shit (2)

After that, when we climbed the hill—where I had built houses for the slaves—and Princess Riana heard I was raising the lord’s castle on that same hill, she gave me a strange look.

“Are you perhaps using the slaves to build the castle?”

“No. The slaves already had their own work. I was doing the construction myself, bit by bit.”

At my saying I was working “bit by bit,” the women gave me looks of disbelief; then Agnes cautiously asked:

“I heard you can use ‘Chukjo’ (Construction). Is that true?”

“Yes. People say it’s a rare talent.”

“Indeed… If you hadn’t received a viscountcy, you might have been called to the front lines to overhaul fortresses.”

Agnes tossed out something hair-raising without hesitation. I hadn’t seen her this way—maybe she was actually a scary woman.

Seeing my expression, Agnes hurried to explain.

“Please don’t misunderstand. Nobles have no obligation to go to the battlefield.”

What was that supposed to mean? I had worried she would bring up “noblesse oblige” and insist nobles must go to war, but Agnes said the exact opposite.

“To be precise, ‘lords’—but Lord of Ingrad, you are already sufficiently aiding the front, so you have even less obligation.”

“Could you explain what you mean?”

I asked, and, unexpectedly, Princess Riana answered in her stead.

“In fact, with the ingredients we brought last time, we produced various medicines and are operating state-run apothecaries.”

“And what has that to do with the front?”

“Ah—the wound-healing medicine is being sent to the very front.”

“Ah… to the Hero?”

The princess considered for a moment, then shook her head.

“We’re distributing it evenly to the injured. That way, we believe Viscount Ingrad’s deeper intent will be conveyed.”

“…And by ‘deeper intent’ you mean…?”

“You wish many people to be freed from pain by your medicine, don’t you? That’s why you made separate arrangements with merchants to prepare stock—wasn’t it?”

I thought I had better answer this carefully. My mind spun, found the right command, and I replied in under a second.

“How did you know?”

Princess Riana’s smile spread; Agnes looked surprised. For this moment, I was relieved.

I had no idea how they had realized I’d made a quiet deal with merchants—but one thing was sure: they hadn’t caught on to my other intentions. So I kept my face composed and added for the princess:

“I wanted it to be something everyone—not just a particular class—could benefit from. It wasn’t mistrust of Your Highness; I merely worried it would become a medicine for a privileged few. I hope you can understand.”

“Of course. I’ll strive to spread Viscount Ingrad’s intent widely.”

I could only smile awkwardly. At that point, Agnes gently changed the subject.

“But could a building of this size be raised in just two weeks and a few days? Had you been working on it before that?”

“That’s right. Chukjo is indeed rare, but I’d never heard it could accomplish something this grand.”

The two women looked at me, brimming with curiosity. Realizing I couldn’t afford a slip of the tongue, I answered carefully.

“Construction also ultimately uses the medium of ‘mana.’ It’s a little different from ‘magic,’ but in that it uses mana, you could include it under ‘magic.’ You know I can handle mana quite well.”

Both women nodded, so I pressed the point.

“By making medicine, I got used to handling mana; and mana grows little by little the more you use it. Compared to others, I can therefore wield a rather large amount of mana. You could say that’s why.”

“Ah… so mana has that property?”

“That’s the first I’ve heard as someone who handles mana. Though… if you look at some research, there were people who claimed as much. It wasn’t proven and ended up shelved, I believe.”

‘Wait—so what I’m saying isn’t the common view? It grows pretty well for me… Don’t they have the same experience?’

For a second I wondered if I had misspoken—but Princess Riana said:

“If Viscount Ingrad says so, it must be right. You said your strength actually increased… We should re-examine the submitted papers.”

“I may need to review several houses’ papers myself when I return.”

They took my words far too seriously.

After that, we toured the inner keep, leaving the still-in-progress outer curtain aside. Princess Riana kept letting out little cries of admiration as we went from place to place.

Agnes, too, examined the carvings and heaped praise on the delicacy of the work. I seized the moment and broached something to the princess.

“I received notice that most payments would be in slaves. I have a request—if I may?”

“What is it?”

Princess Riana looked at me seriously. Feeling the pressure of that gaze, I said:

“It’s all right to reduce the number of slaves. What I need are ‘skilled slaves.’”

“Skilled… skills… Ah, is this about glass?”

“Not just glass. This domain is practically at a starting stage. I can, one way or another, cover things related to construction, but for the rest—for example, technologies to manufacture various items, and the glasswork Your Highness already noticed—I’m seeking ways to handle such things within the domain.”

“I neglected that aspect, didn’t I? I’ll see to it.”

“No, I’m not asking for too many artisans…”

“I’ll adjust the numbers I send. I apologize for not considering it.”

Princess Riana spoke apologies without hesitation. Agnes gave her a curious look, but the tour came first.

I explained the uses of several spaces on the first floor. When I said the second floor would mainly be my living quarters and workshop, the princess inspected it with particular care.

For the third floor, I said its purpose was undecided; she nodded slowly—who knew what she was thinking.

For now it was merely a large structure, but once maids lived there and people’s hands touched the place, the feel would surely change.

“But the whole building appears to be stone masonry?”

“Since my aptitude makes working stone convenient, I built in stone for now. Later, when artisans arrive, I plan to line the interiors of living spaces with wood.”

“That would give it quite a classic feel.”

“I’ll probably clad only the areas where people live, so most of it will retain the ivory cast of the masonry. Wood isn’t exactly infinite.”

Princess Riana nodded, then suddenly said:

“Next time, may I stay here?”

“…I’ll prepare things so you won’t be inconvenienced.”

“Thank you.”

A strange remark from the princess. On the other hand, it meant she would come again—my head grew busy. After returning to the manor, we began discussing business.

Although the amount I had handed to the merchants last time wasn’t small, this time they needed at least five times that. Thinking of the stock piled high in the warehouses, I said:

“I can have it ready immediately. I already have some batches prepared. But the problem is payment…”

“Shall we increase quality over quantity for the slaves?”

“No. Rather, I want convenience items like magical devices.”

“Magical devices…?”

Princess Riana thought a moment, then said:

“Acquiring them is simple, but if you don’t tell me exactly what kinds you want, sending them might do more harm than good.”

She wasn’t wrong. Magical devices were, as the name suggested, expensive. You couldn’t just buy anything and ship it.

So there was something I’d pondered in the three days before the princess arrived: “liquors” related to herbs.

I intended to develop “herbal spirits,” and first, I asked the princess a direct question.

“Do magical devices exist that can keep a space at a constant temperature?”

“You mean items used to store old books or foods that must be preserved for long periods?”

“Yes.”

“They’re relatively simple items, but what do you plan to use them for?”

“The herbs coming out of the Forest of the Demon Dragon have increased sharply lately. I want to process them.”

“If you’re making food, perhaps it’s better to sell them as medicinal ingredients as you do now…”

“No. I’m thinking of making alcohol.”

“…Alcohol… For commoners or adventurers, perhaps—but alcohol made with herbs from the Forest of the Demon Dragon would be for nobles to consume, and nobles don’t generally enjoy anything but wine.”

If the product had to be a luxury consumed by nobles but had no consumer base, it would be pointless. But the princess knew only half the story.

“Demand depends on which herbs and what effects the liquor has. Supply will create demand.”

I couldn’t say that outright, so I decided to start by stating what I needed.

“Just procure the devices. If there’s a loss, I’ll bear it.”

“…Very well.”

“Oh, and do you have any magical tool that generates pressure?”

“And what would that be for?”

“I have a few experiments to try.”

Since I didn’t give a clear explanation, the princess looked at me with mild displeasure—but what could she do? For now, she was in the position of the paying party who had to fulfill the request.

After that, I requested skilled slaves, magical devices, and certain metals. Regarding “metals,” I couldn’t dispel the princess’s curiosity.

“I’ll manufacture stainless steel and install water pipes…”

When building the inner keep, I had deliberately left spaces to allow for pipe installation. After the pipes were in, I planned to seal them. I could only hope it worked—already imagining water gushing freely once the goods arrived.