Back To The Territory Again

The second shop had also gotten on track, its sales steadily increased, and Kent felt relieved. Then the weekend arrived, and Kent decided to head to the town of Sampto in Baron Frederick’s territory in order to do the assignment given to him by Caro’s father, Baron Frederick. The promise was that if he could produce results within the remaining one month and a few days of summer vacation, his relationship with Caro would be permitted. If he could not, their relationship would not be approved, so he could not afford to fail.

“Well then, Marie-san, Catherine. I’m off.”

“I’ll feel lonely thinking I won’t be able to see you for a while, Kent-san.”

“I don’t understand territory management, but it’s hard, right? Do your best.”

Seeing him off with Marie and Catherine, Kent decided to leave the house.

“Come to think of it, Al wasn’t here since morning. I wanted to tell her to take care of the shop.”

Al, who should have slept with him last night, was gone by morning. Kent felt lonely that he had not been able to say goodbye, but he had plans after this, so he entered the first shop.

“Ah, Master. Good morning.”

Emily, who had been cleaning inside the shop, ran over to Kent.

“Good morning, Emily. Is everyone here?”

“Yes, I’ll call them.”

Emily ran up to the upper floor and called Rachel and Elnette.

“Morning, Onii-chan.”

“Kent, are you leaving already?”

“I’ll be away for a little over a month, but please take care of the shop.”

“Yeah, leave it to me.”

“I wanted to go too. What a shame.”

“Please leave the rest to us.”

Elnette had also offered to accompany him, but Kent refused. With Kent and Caro gone, the shop would be short on staff. If even more people left, it would affect the shop’s operation. It would be reassuring to have her come as a guard, but the shop was important too, so it could not be helped.

“I think the second shop’s orders will be fine if you go through Emily, so I’m counting on you. Even if it’s your own money, please avoid unnecessary orders as much as possible.”

“Okaaay.”

Kent reminded Rachel firmly. Recently, her private purchases through Emily had increased. Before he knew it, Rachel’s room had been furnished with game consoles, a computer with no internet connection, and other items, excluding some things that could not be obtained, making it an environment as complete as her private room in their previous world.

While Kent was away, Emily would receive the orders for items that had previously been stocked through the device. If Kent approved them, they could be obtained, so it would not affect the shop’s operation. Even if an unforeseen situation occurred, Kent and Emily could contact each other in real time, so it should be fine.

“Well then, I’m off.”

“““Take care.”””

Kent parted from the three of them and headed toward the stagecoach station. Since he would be staying for about a month this time, he had slightly more luggage. He could also procure things locally with the device, so if anything was missing, he could deal with it that way.

“Good morning, Caro-san.”

“Good morning. Kent-san, I’ll be in your care starting today.”

Caro also had slightly more luggage. She was wearing the clothes Marie had previously given her as a present. Because of that, from the outside, she looked like nothing but a commoner.

“Caro-san, you changed your hairstyle.”

“…Huh? Yes, does it suit me?”

“It suits you very well.”

“Thank you very much.”

Caro usually wore her hair in twin-tails, but today, her hairstyle looked as though she had placed one bun on top of her head. She held it in place with something like a yellow flower ornament. That flower ornament had a texture that did not look artificial, and it was so finely made that one might think it was a real plant.

Kent and Caro had used the carriage to Sampto before, so this time, they were able to go without getting lost.

“We’d like to ride the one going to Sampto. There are two of us. Is that all right?”

Kent spoke to the older man organizing the carriages.

“You came at just the right time. With you two, it’ll be exactly full. Then the fare is two large silver coins for the two of you.”

Caro handed the fare to the older man.

“Thanks. We’ll be departing shortly, so get on and wait.”

Kent and Caro boarded the carriage and sat down in the open seats. Unfortunately, since it was full, they could not sit next to each other.

“Oh my, it’d be pitiful for a couple on a trip to sit apart. Here, this old man will switch seats with you.”

““Thank you very much.””

A kind merchant older man switched seats with them, so Kent and Caro were able to sit together.

“Thank you for waiting. The carriage for Sampto is departing.”

The stagecoach departed, heading for the town of Sampto.

Kent was heading to the town of Sampto with the title of acting lord, but ordinary lords used their own family carriages. Normally, he would have used Caro’s family carriage, but Baron Frederick’s household did not have very abundant funds and owned only one carriage. Since the baron also had to use the carriage for official duties and such, arranging a new carriage for nobles would cost a large amount of money. Due to those circumstances, at Caro’s suggestion, they traveled by stagecoach as they had last time.

“Still, when we rode it last time, there were empty seats, but there are a lot of passengers this time.”

“That’s true. We changed various things based on the previous inspection, so perhaps the effects are showing.”

Caro said that. This carriage had a passenger capacity of ten people, but last time, there had been seven people including them. This time, another similar carriage was accompanying it in convoy. Because of that, the total number of passengers was twenty.

After half a day, the stagecoach arrived at the town of Sampto. It stopped once in front of the town, and they had to complete the entry procedure.

“Thank you for the long journey. I apologize right after your arrival, but please allow us a little time for the entry procedure.”

The soldier guarding the entrance said that to the passengers of the carriage.

“The response has changed from when we came last time.”

“Yes. I thought speaking in a high-handed manner was not good, so I had it changed. It seems the training has also been thorough, so I’m relieved.”

Then, the passengers lined up at the window for the entry procedure. Kent and Caro likewise lined up.

“Originally, we wouldn’t have to go through the procedure, but people around us are watching.”

Caro quietly said that to Kent. It seemed to be a consideration so as not to make the other passengers feel unnecessary tension.

“Then, next person, please.”

Kent wrote his name, and then Caro wrote hers.

“Thank you very much.”

The soldier in charge of reception handled the paperwork mechanically and carried out the entry procedure.

“They don’t collect entry tax anymore?”

“I had that stopped.”

It seemed the entry tax, which had made Caro furious last time, had been abolished. Because of that, Kent understood why the flow of people had increased and why there were more carriage passengers. After the procedures for all passengers were finished, the carriage arrived at the stagecoach station in the town of Sampto.

“Kent-san, we’ve arrived. Since we kept sitting, my bottom hurts a little.”

“That’s true. So, where should we go?”

“Officially, we will be going to the Town Head’s house, but…”

Caro said that with a slight wry smile in response to Kent’s question. When the lord stayed in this town, they used the lord’s residential area attached to the Town Head’s house. The facilities were also prepared so that official duties and such could be carried out there.

Kent and Caro started moving toward the Town Head’s house.