Chapter 30 – Anticipation of a New Product
After training in the forest, on the way home, I asked Dan about something.
"Say, are you not going to tell Bent about how his sword always wavering at the end?" (Gail)
"I'm in charge of Young Master. I won't interfere with Bent's training." (Dan)
"You have a point, but...." (Gail)
"Besides, I'm sure Master Arnold has noticed it for a long time now." (Dan)
"Really!? Then why didn't he say anything?" (Gail)
"Isn't it because John has already told him? You need to work on yourself instead of worrying about others --- or something along those lines." (Dan)
"That’s exactly what John often said to Bent." (Gail)
"If Master Arnold also points out this emotional weakness, Bent’s heart will have nowhere to take refuge." (Dan)
"To take refuge?" (Gail)
"That’s right. Criticisms could help someone grow, but it could also discourage them. When someone touches on your weaknesses, you need a strong heart to accept it." (Dan)
"So Bent's heart is not that strong...." (Gail)
"He is still a child, after all. Being pointed on what he can't do from all sides can discourage him or even break his heart. It’s Master Arnold’s kindness to not say anything to protect Bent's heart." (Dan)
"I guess there's nothing I can do for him." (Gail)
"If Young Master involve yourself in this matter, it will only make things worse." (Dan)
I thought back to my days as an office worker as I talked to Dan. I remembered that there was a superior who would yell and shout at his subordinates who were working hard but not getting the result he was looking for.
There is really nothing I can do for Bent with this small body and age.
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About a month later, there was a change in our morning training.
"John, from now on, you will be training while wearing this." (Arnold)
Having said that, Arnold handed John a set of armor for knight apprentices.
"The knight school are focused on swordsmanship rather than academics. You will wear the armor during the exam, so get used to it from now on." (Arnold)
"Yes! Thank you, Father!" (John)
John looked really happy.
"I-I also want to wear armor...." (Bent)
"Bent, you still don't know if you want to enter the knight school, do you?" (Arnold)
"Yes, but...." (Bent)
"If you decide to take the knight school exam next year, I'll also prepare one for you." (Arnold)
"Okay." (Bent)
He really paid too much attention to other people's affairs.
John couldn't move well in armor he was no used to wearing, so Bent successfully landed two attacks on him as a result. However, he didn't seem to mind it and smiled with satisfaction.
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"Lately, we have been busy with sword training. How about we go for walk in town for a change?" (Dan)
Dan suggested this to me after breakfast.
"Me! I'd like to go, too." (Misha)
I've been neglecting Misha since I started sword training, so let's do that.
"Then let's also grab some lunch from the food stalls while we are at it." (Gail)
During sword training in the forest, I only ate adventurer style food like bread and dried meat. I am getting tired of it, so this is perfect.
"Okay, I will tell the kitchen that we don't need lunch today." (Misha)
Misha left the room with a smile on her face.
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"So, where are we going today?" (Dan)
"I want to see the residential areas that I haven't visited yet." (Gail)
"Got it. Let's go there then." (Dan)
We walked from the main street stretching from east to west to the residential area. The number of residents in this town seemed to had been increasing steadily since my father became the lord. The residential area was experiencing a construction boom.
"I see new houses are being built here and there." (Gail)
"It's first come, first served when it comes to land, so people are competing to build their houses in a good location." (Dan)
"First come, first served?" (Gail)
"Yeah. The rights to land in shopping district and other areas belong to the lord, but the right to land in residential area belong to those who build houses there." (Dan)
"In that case, it's better to secure a large amount of land in advance." (Gail)
"Not really. You have to pay taxes based on the size of the land, after all. If you can't pay it, your house will be confiscated." (Dan)
"I see. So it's better to build a house that fits your income." (Gail)
"The same goes for a territory." (Dan)
"Territory, too?" (Gail)
“Feudal lords can claim more land as part of their territory.” (Dan)
"Does that mean we can freely expand our territory?" (Dan)
"That's right, but the taxes to the kingdom will also increase accordingly." (Dan)
"That's the same principle as the residential areas." (Gail)
"Yes, and so does a country." (Dan)
"What? Even a country?" (Gail)
"If you declare 'This is my country!', then that is your country." (Dan)
"Is that how it works...?" (Gail)
"It's just that even if you managed to develop your own country, there's a possibility that other countries would attack it and rob everything from you. That's how the countries that exist today were formed. In ancient times, I heard there were many small countries, but they were gradually swallowed up by more powerful countries as they became larger and larger." (Dan)
It’s like the warring states period of Japan.
"When Young Master grows up, why don't you try to build your own country too? But you have to be strong enough to defend it by yourself." (Dan)
Dan laughed like usual while saying so.
Nah, that sounds like a lot of work.
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While we were talking about such a topic, we heard an angry voice coming from a nearby construction site.
"Fool! I told you not to cut down this tree yet!"
"S-Sorry, Bossman."
A small, stocky old man called Bossman was yelling at someone.
"What the hell, kid? This place ain't a playground!" (Bossman)
He yelled at me, too. Even though I was just looking at him.
"Sorry, but we are just taking a stroll around the town. I promise that we won't get in the way, so can we look around for a bit?"
"Your kid?" (Bossman)
"He is not our kid! I'm Young Master's maid! Hmph!" (Misha)
Misha replied with a snort.
"His maid? You noble or something?" (Bossman)
"Oh, I'm not a noble, but this boy is the son of the lord. I'm just escorting him." (Dan)
"Tch, I don't care whose child he is, just don't blame me if he gets hurt!" (Bossman)
"Thanks, we will just watch from here." (Dan)
"Sorry, Young Master. All dwarves are like that, so please don't be offended. They mean no harm." (Dan)
Speaking of which, Pops was like that, too.
I nodded to Dan in understanding. Then after watching for a while, Bossman cut some planks out of a log with a saw.
It's amazing how he can cut such straight planks by hand.
"That's amazing. He cut it so neatly...." (Gail)
"Oh, you know the stuff, kid.... I mean, you can talk!? You're only about two years old, right?" (Bossman)
"That's right, but Young Master is amazing, so he can talk fluently already." (Misha)
"He is amazing, indeed. So, boy, can you see the beauty of these planks?" (Bossman)
"They are perfectly cut and you did it in such a short amount of time." (Gail)
"Hehehe, you really know the stuff, boy. I'm the best carpenter in the world, after all. Hey, it’s your turn, sand the planks!" (Bossman)
Hearing that, the men, who appeared to be apprentice carpenters, sprinkled sand on the planks and started rubbing them.
"What are they doing?" (Gail)
"They are making the surface of the planks smooth, so it feels better to the touch and lasts longer." (Bossman)
Is this maybe a substitute for sandpapers?
"Are you going to paint them with something after this?" (Gail)
"No, I'm not going to paint them with anything." (Bossman)
No paint or varnish, huh.
"Are you going to use them for the exterior?" (Gail)
"That's right." (Bossman)
"Won't rainwater seep into the planks?" (Gail)
"Well, yeah, but there is nothing we can do about it." (Bossman)
"Hmm, it will repel water to some extent if you smooth it with a planer, though...." (Gail)
I talked to myself in a whisper.
That's right, sandpaper is enough if you are going to paint it later, but if you are going to use it as is, you need to smooth the surface with a planer so the wood would last longer.
"What is planer?" (Bossman)
Oh, did he hear me? I mean, is there no planer in this world? No, maybe it has a different name.
"Dan, I want you to do something with your sword." (Girl)
I asked a leftover wood from Bossman and handed it to Dan.
"What are you planning to do with that?" (Bossman)
Bossman titled his head.
"Now put the wood on that table and try to shave its surface with your sword as thin as possible. Hold the blade flat and slide it parallel to the wood surface.... Yes, like that." (Gail)
After a while, I showed the shaved surface to Bossman.
"T-This is...." (Bossman)
"If you do this, the wood surface can repel water. Not perfectly, though." (Gail)
"Boy, where did you learn to do this!?" (Bossman)
I guess there is really no planer in this word.
Damn, how should I explain this?
Bossman began examining the wood surface from various angles.
"Didn't I tell you that Young Master is amazing?" (Misha)
Will he accept such a vague explanation?
"Hmm, indeed, he is amazaing...." (Bossman)
He accepted it! It's easy to fool people in this world.
"Boy, can you teach me more about this?" (Bossman)
"I don't mind, but you actually need a planer instead of a sword." (Gail)
"Do you not have it now?" (Bossman)
"You'll have to get it made." (Gail)
"When will you have it made?" (Bossman)
Even if you ask me....
"Hey, Dan, can we ask Dwan to make a planer? It's a simple tool, so it should be easy for him." (Gail)
"Pops is pretty stubborn. I don't know if he'd be willing to make something that isn’t related to weapons." (Dan)
"Hey, did you just say Dwan?" (Boss)
"Yes, Dwan the weapon shop owner. He may be able to make a planer, but...." (Gail)
"So that bastard Dwan is in this town, huh." (Bossman)
"Do you know him?" (Gail)
"Yes, he is my big brother." (Bossman)
Big brother?
"Okay, let's go now." (Bossman)
Huh? Hey, wait, wait!
I ended up being dragged along by Bossman to Dwan's place.