Hachinan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou! Chapter 5 part1

“It looks like Philine was accepted without any issues, and the demon is obedient as well. It finally feels like I can go back to my normal life.” (Wendelin)

“Dear, how about another serving of tea?” (Elise)

“Thank you, Elise. Can you please pour me some?” (Wendelin)

“Yes, here you go.” (Elise)

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On an early afternoon of a certain, sunny day we spent our time leisurely inside the mansion.
I put a cookie inside my mouth after taking a sip of the tea poured by Elise.
The cookies were handmade by Elise, Ina and the others working together.

“I wonder what Erw and Haruka are doing?” (Wendelin)

I casually asked since I couldn't see them anywhere close-by.

“Since today's a day off, he's going to guide her around Baulburg, he said.” (Ina)

“A date, in other words?” (Wendelin)

Both of them are officially betrothed to each other and it's just a matter of time until they marry.
But since Haruka is from Mizuho, the various preparatory meetings and arrangements take time.
Meaning, they are enjoying some time as lovers before that.

“Since Baulburg suddenly grew big in the last year, I think it's fun to make various discoveries.”

It's because I prepared the soil for a big expansion, but thanks to Roderich's tenacity and Erich-nii-san's help, Baulburg expanded to twice its previous size during our absence.
Stores and sightseeing spots, we don't know well either, have been established. It seems Erw and Haruka went out to see those.

“Huuumph, to go on a date with your girlfriend on your day off…” (Wendelin)

I guess it's a habit from my previous life.
I get angry the moment I hear stories about riajuu.
Figuratively speaking, it's like having the bad luck of being asked 『I wonder where I should go tomorrow for my date with my girlfriend?』 by a coworker just when tomorrow's finally a day off.
However, right now I'm Earl Baumeister. And thus there's no way for me to vent a worthless feeling of jealousy.

“Wend-sama, I want to explore the city on the next day off.” (Wilma)

“That's a great idea.”

With that the feeling of jealousy that gnawed at my heart was immediately dispelled.
Right, after all I have five wives right now.
Moreover, I'm the one invited to dates by women.
Once I recall that this would have been impossible in my previous life, I became slightly sad again.

“Wendelin-san, if it's the new urban area, Roderich-san talked about the need of inspecting it soon.” (Katharina)

“A date and an inspection are two different pair of shoes.” (Wilma)

“Indeed. After all it won't be possible to go shopping even if there are interesting stores.”

It's just as Wilma says. Since it's work, you have to carry out the inspection properly, and that alone won't be any fun, right?

“Katharina, will you be satisfied with it just being an inspection?”

“Satisfied or not, that's not the issue here.” (Katharina)

“Katharina is diligent after all. Wend, I will go with you as well. It looks like it will be plenty with Katharina doing the inspection.” (Luise)

“T-That's not true!” (Katharina)

Whoa, Luise!
Since Katharina lacks the ability to easily adapt as she's a bit too serious, I'd like you to not tease her too much.

“Then next time it will be a date with everyone in the new urban area, okay? Katharina, you will join as well, won't you?” (Wendelin)

“Yes, well…I will go with you, too.” (Katharina)

At such times Wilma or Luise, who are able to honestly say that they want to go on a date with me, are less work.

“Milord, there's a matter I'd like to discuss with you…” (Roderich)

At that point Roderich entered the room, carrying a bundle of documents.
It looks like he wants to consult about work.

“Public works again?” (Wendelin)

“That will follow step by step.” (Roderich)

Not 『It's enough already』, but step by step, huh? It looks like my daily public works with magic will begin again after resting up from the civil war for a bit longer.
When I accidentally look sideways, I see Katharina revealing an expression, asking 『Again…?』.
As she's a type similar to me, she has skillfully mastered various kinds of spells. Having improved her skills during the civil war, the shrewd Roderich set his aim on her.
Since there's few nobles, who can use a magician and moreover several of those for the development of their territory, there's no way for him overlook her.

“I'd like to hear about your view in advance, Milord. If you have some kind of idea, I would be glad, but…” (Roderich)

“Roderich-san, would you like to have some tea?” (Elise)

“That's very appreciated.” (Roderich)

Roderich sat down and accepted the tea poured by Elise.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Staring up an industry within the territory, eh…?” (Wendelin)

The matter of consultation by Roderich was about what kind of industry to begin within the Baumeister Earldom.

“It's not enough with the loot from the Demon Forest?”

“Luise-sama, I won't say that it's not enough, but looking at just relying on those as future prospect is…” (Roderich)

The development of the Baumeister Earldom is making progress, but if one were to speak of its industry, it's focused on agriculture, fishing, and hunting as well as gathering in the Demon Forest.
Because of the development rush, there's a mountain of public and construction works. There's also the business catered towards the gathered people.
But, we have to assign new work to the manpower, once the first stage of the development has been completed.
If we can't do that, the people will lose their work and lead a life in slums. The public order within the territory will naturally deteriorate, too.
In order to guarantee employment and allow the money to circulate within the territory, a new industry is necessary.
I discussed that idea with everyone.

“I see. So what are you going to do?”

“Well I wonder?” (Wendelin)

“It would have been cool if you could cleanly say “Let's do it like this,” Wend!”

Sorry, but suddenly creating the territory's industry is impossible.

“Luise-sama, there's no problem since Milord has said that he understands why it's necessary to create an industry.” (Roderich)

“Having said that, do you have any idea, Luise?”

“Eeeeeh? I'm your wife, Wend, so I have nooooo clue.” (Luise)

“What a dimwitted way of talking.” (Ina)

“Inchan! That's cruel!” (Luise)

Well, I think Ina is right there.
An industry that will provide safe employment to the fief's population, huh? People become rational only when their necessities of life are guaranteed.
If I can't provide everything, I will be lacking as feudal lord. Well, it's inevitable for there to be differences in the things provided to them though.
The food will increase by increasing the farmland at a quick pace. Even the amount of the goods gathered and hunted by adventurers is in the middle of growing. If we simply keep relying on the imports from other fiefs while unable to use anything but magic airships for transportation, we will run into troubles once the population grows in the future.
As it's the same with other goods as well, producing the goods, which we can produce ourselves, within the territory will provide jobs to the residents.
We have to stimulate the economy by spreading money around.

“Among the necessities of life, we are putting great efforts into taking steps for securing food and housing. I suppose the problematic areas are clothes and living ware.”

“I see. In the long run there will surely be issues with the transportation expenses.”

A long time ago the Margrave Breithilde household sold salt to the Knight Baumeister territory through a merchant group.
That salt was slightly expensive, but if you consider the transportation expenses, the Margrave Breithilde household made a loss. Them dispatching the merchant group despite all that was because of their sense of duty as patron and as high-ranking nobility.
However, there's no one that will make such considerations for a huge territory at the scale of the Baumeister Earldom.
There would be the option of transporting a large amount all at once using the same ship for it, but cheap clothes and living ware wouldn't become quite expensive.
Even so, given that the kingdom and the Margrave Breithilde household mediated to not raise the prices too much as well as thanks to Roderich's skillful negotiations, we have managed to avoid a situation where prices are several times higher than in other fiefs.

“If you consider the distance, it would be best to produce cheap goods that will be used by the residents within the territory.”

“We could call people from elsewhere and have them build workshops for clothes. Clothes will be fine if we use cotton, hemp and monster materials such as the thread of the Big Southern Spider.”

“I guess expensive clothes with high quality are impossible.”

“Tailors, who can produce clothes that can be exported to anywhere, are naturally sheltered by their feudal lords.”

I suppose that makes sense.
After all they are valuable, talented people that earn income through export.
If it's a tailor, who sews clothes that can be made in huge amounts at competitive prices, they will try to go for it in the Baumeister Earldom where demand is expected to increase in the future.
Roderich is apparently gathering such talented people.

“Raising the production output of clothes depends on our ability to secure the raw materials within the territory. Also…”

Roderich's eyes shift towards the teapot, which Elise uses to pour tea, the cups, the saucer and the plate with the cookies.

“Tableware?” (Elise)

“Just as you have guessed, Elise-sama.” (Roderich)

Given that humans eat everyday, tableware is necessary.

“I guess it means that cheap tableware that can usually be used by the fief's population is lacking as well?”

“That's right. I hear that tableware is difficult to transport as it's heavy.”

The prices of clothes can be kept low by transporting a huge amount via magic airships, but soft-paste and hard-paste porcelain is heavy. Since they are breakable, it's also easy for them to be damaged during transport. These aspects lifts the expenses.
Having said that, tableware made out of metal is heavier and more expensive.

“Recently tableware made out of wood is in fashion within the territory.” (Roderich)

“It's an effective way to recycle unused branches and scraps of the wood used in construction and development.” (Elise)

I see, they have solved it ingeniously with a material they can obtain locally.
For having noticed that, Elise is amazing as well.

“In other words, it's possible to make hard-paste and soft-paste porcelain in the fief.”

As long as there's clay, the necessary raw material, it's possible to make hard-paste and soft-paste porcelain.
Just like I made jars with magic in the past.

“By the way, is it possible to make expensive porcelain that can be exported?” (Wendelin)

“In a few decades maybe?” (Roderich)

Thought so…
If it was that easy to make, nobles, who own production areas that can create high-class items, wouldn't guard the artisans with eagle eyes, would they?

“The quality of the required clay is lacking. It should be possible to find clay with better quality, if we search the territory, but right now I'm having the gathered craftsmen focus on quantity over quality. In reality, they aren't unskilled either though.” (Roderich)

According to Roderich, the production of porcelain is easy and thus various nobles have turned that into their special product. It looks like the competition is intense.
It's fine as long as you can make goods with your brand that sell for a lot or if you become the purveyor of the royal family or a high-ranking noble, but at the moment there are many production areas for earthenware that are fairly unknown.
Since the number of earthenware that can be sold doesn't increase in such production areas, there are craftsmen left over.
Given that the eldest son inherits in most cases in this world, there are many cases where the second or third sons learned the trade while helping out at home and became surplus then.
Such people have come to the Baumeister Earldom, but there seems to be a fixed number of people among them who are fairly skilled.

“How about having those people make high-class porcelain?” (Katharina)

“Katharinsama, it's not that easy to make goods that have a high popularity.” (Roderich)

Makes sense.
If you could make porcelain that can immediately be sold at a high price by leaving it to craftsmen who are slightly skilled, there would be no hardships for anyone.

“Besides, such products have already appeared on the market.”

Roderich pointed at the porcelain made by Mizuho I had received from High Earl Mizuho…no, I guess now he's a Duke. They resemble Imari porcelain quite closely.

“The civil war came to an end and thus trade with the Empire has resumed. Even Mizuho has to compensate for the huge war expenses and the maintenance of its new territory. The Mizuho porcelain is popular because of its novel design.”

“Yeeeeaa.”

Following that, I compare the pot with the tea made by Elise and the Empire's porcelain from a famous pottery which I had received as part of the reward from Peter.
Elise's favorite pot is an item she brought with her as dowry.
It's a famous product of a purveyor who serves many of the Kingdom's noble families, not only the Viscount Hohenheim household.

“What do you think, everybody?”

“Well, I don't think that the Empire's porcelain will sell that much in the Kingdom. Don't you think so as well, Wend?” (Ina)

“I do.” (Wendelin)

I agreed with Ina's opinion.
There's not much difference in the quality of the porcelain between the Empire and the Kingdom. Bringing it expressly to the Kingdom will only make the transportation expenses high, meaning it will be difficult to sell it.
The quality is the same, but even the designs and paintings resemble each other quite a lot. In Earthen terms, it's close to the design that can be seen on Western white porcelain bowls.
It's quite thick and its color feels more grey than white, but that's probably owed to the quality of the clay.

“Wend-sama, it's just a bit, but the Mizuho porcelain is whiter.” (Wilma)

“Now that you mention it, that's true.”

As Wilma says, the Mizuho porcelain is somewhat whiter than the others.

“Rather than the difference in quality, it looks like it's selling because of its unusual design, dear.” (Elise)

Given that Mizuho has a culture resembling Japan, the porcelain adhered to it, too.
A small teapot that's not a pot, teacups that are not cups, or things that were pretty similar.

“But, it's difficult to use this.” (Elise)

“It doesn't suit me, or rather, it's odd. Aren't there many items that are similar to those used at the tea party held by Duke Mizuho during the civil war?”

It's better to use a Western-styled tea set at times when we are enjoying mate tea and cookies like now.
Made by Mizuho is a brand for rich collectors since it's rare and the number of available items is low, but it's not fit for being used normally.

“Elise, wouldn't it be better if this tea pot and cups were whiter?” (Wendelin)

“No matter what workshop, all of them are researching on a daily basis how to achieve that. Though it seems to be quite difficult.” (Elise)

I guess it's because the technology is still in the middle of development. Porcelain that you can buy at a reasonable price in Japan is white and of good quality.

“Understood, I will try coming up with a little something.”

“Ooh! As expected of you, Milord!” (Roderich)

“Thinking is no guarantee for success.” (Wendelin)

I was struck by a little idea. If I use this method, the quality of the porcelain might improve.
Let's run some tests with magic at once.

◆◇◆◇◆

Having said that, there's no way for me to own the techniques to produce refined porcelain.
The jars I made with magic in the past were crude earthenware containers.
Thus I decide to use a technique that was invented in Great Britain during the 18th century.
It's a porcelain called 『Bone China』, produced by mixing bone ash of cattle into potter's clay as substitute for white clay since that was difficult to procure.
Since there are several places in the territory where you can pick up clay, it's been traditionally in use. It should be possible to make beautiful, opal porcelain, if you shape, bake and create clay that had bone ash mixed into it.
There's no guarantee that it will succeed by default, but there should be no loss in trying.

“Time for experiments.”

Bones, which are the raw material of bone ash, are available in large quantities when a monster, which had been hunted, is dismantled. Bones were used as material for magic tools and magic potions as well as substance to improve the soil in agriculture, but there were also many excessive parts that are discarded as trash.

“(If I remember correctly, bone china should be porcelain containing more than 30% calcium phosphate. Since there are no cow bones, I have to substitute it with monster bone ash.)”

While adjusting the mixture rate with magic, just as I did at the time with the 『Extreme Limit Steel』, I produce plenty of clay with bone ash mixed in and change it into boards. Then I manufacture it into porcelain by reproducing a firing reaction with magic.
Since I don't have any techniques for molding it, the shapes were distorted, but I succeeded in creating white porcelain that's whiter than Mizuho porcelain which used to be the whitest.

“(I guess this is the best one. I will remember the detailed mixing ratio.)”

Next I create a great amount of clay with that mixing ratio and decided to give it to craftsmen to have them make tea cups, saucers, tea pots, plates and vases.

“Which reminds me, where is porcelain being produced?”

“There are several places within the territory, but today I will guide you to a pottery that's located in the outskirts of Baulburg.”

Once we arrived at the pottery, many craftsmen were in the middle of work.

“Oh, a magic furnace. I expected a normal furnace.”

A magic furnace uses mana as fuel instead of firewood.
Since it's easier to adjust the required temperature and maintain it, it's easier to produce earthenware with good quality.
As it's a magic tool, it's very expensive. Using an ordinary furnace was common practice for small potteries.
If you ask why I know something like that, it's because I heard that Mizuho uses magic furnaces except for a few special earthenware products.

“Isn't that expensive? A magic furnace, that is.”

“That's the norm.” (Roderich)

“Norm…eh…?”

If you were to consider obtaining a magic furnace as prior investment in the high-class porcelain world with its intense competition, you would probably buy it off a noble who ended up deep in the red due to its maintenance costs.
A magic furnace can't be used without mana or magic stones.
For small potteries, which can't employ a magician, that will become a big burden. Therefore it's easier for them to use the wood growing in the vicinity as fuel.

“Oh my, Roderich-sama and…Earl Baumeister-sama!? Welcome! Please come in!”

A middle-aged man, who seems to be the one in charge of this pottery, greeted us half in astonishment.

“How it's going with the earthenware?”

“Right now we are making large amounts of cheap earthenware that can be readily used by the fief's residents.”

Ten-odd craftsmen were immersed in their work, but once I look at the produced earthenware, it doesn't look all that bad.
Though it's a layman's judgment at best.

“They don't seem all that different…”

I took out the famous porcelain of the Empire from my magic bag and compare it. The clay's quality is inferior, but I feel like the molding technique is equal.

“Wow, the Empire's Rubel Pottery's products, huh?”

“I received them as reward. I don't really know anything about them though.” (Wendelin)

In my case it's a safe bet that I wouldn't realize anything even if I were given porcelain and told that they originate from a pottery in the Kingdom.

“Well, it's my work after all. I worked in the Sohnfahrt Pottery located in the suburb of the royal capital.”

If I remember correctly, the favorite tea set of Elise should have been made there.
I suppose they are a purveyor of high-ranking nobles.

“Roderich, isn't he actually a really amazing craftsman?”

“No, I'm not at that point yet. Giving it a fair assessment, I'm halfway to being first-rate.”

Once I listen to him a bit more, I hear that this supervisor was born into one of the families managing the Sohnfahrt Pottery.

“Craftsmen are similar to nobles in some points. If you speak of nobility's purveyors, they have a good reputation, but since it's high-class items, it's not like they can sell large amounts. The number of people, who can succeed as craftsmen, is limited. Even I continued training since my childhood, but my elder brothers were given priority, with the result that I would have wasted away if I hadn't left the house. There are also similar circumstances in other potteries… Waiting to be invited by a noble, who wants special porcelain, is the best option.”

The competition in the porcelain world seems to be terrible.
Apparently the left-over children of craftsmen are sent out into the world.

“Talks that business with Mizuho porcelain will increase from now on are circulating within the industry. You can't win against the unusual Mizuho porcelain with the porcelain of an amateur after all.”

In the end all that's left is to mass produce cheap earthenware catered towards commoners with the resolve to accept small profits.

“In the case of the Baumeister Earldom, imported porcelain will likely lose its standing soon since we can sell it cheaper as we have no transport costs.”

Only a few high-quality porcelain items will remain as imported goods?

“In the future only making goods that are so overwhelmingly excellent in quality that even an amateur can see it, or making goods that are different from the other porcelain will be left as viable option.”

“I thought so, too, and thus I prepared this.” (Wendelin)

I took out the material, which was a mixture of monster bone ash and clay, from my magic bag.

“If you use this, it should be possible to create porcelain that has a far stronger white lustre than the existing ones.” (Wendelin)

“Certainly, this will allow us to make porcelain that's white in comparison to before. Even the designs and pictures on the porcelain should become more conspicuous.”

Looking at the white clay held out by me, all the craftsmen apparently got motivated.
Telling them to show us the finished product once they're done, we left the clay behind and returned to the mansion.

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——————- End of Part 1 ——————-

Translation Notes:

Chapter end