New chapter of May Our Village be Happy is out (2/2 chapters)

Official Merchant

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

Winter had passed, and it was now mid-March. From the capital of the Yutilainen territory, Eltpoli, the Valentine household’s official merchant, Ernest, arrived. He brought an unprecedentedly large shipment loaded onto two horse-drawn carts.

“Lord Valentine, I am at your service. I humbly ask for your continued favor from this day forth.” (Ernest)

“It is good to know you arrived safely, Ernest… no, Ernest. I look forward to working with you.” (Mika)

Mika responded with a more formal tone to Ernest, who stepped down from the cart and bowed politely. From this spring onward, Ernest would transfer the base of his business to the Valentine territory. He would live in this village, open a store for the local inhabitants, and work by traveling between the village and Eltpoli.

By formally establishing residence within the territory, Ernest would become one of the Valentine territory’s people. For that reason, Mika treated him with the proper demeanor of a lord toward a resident.

“Without delay, let me show you your shop and house. This way.” (Mika)

Mika led Ernest and his party. They proceeded to the north side of the square at the center of the village. A store faced the square, and directly north of it was the residence. In preparation for the future expansion of the territory, the store had been made large, the warehouse spacious, and the house suitably grand for the official merchant of the lordly household.

“Is it truly acceptable to receive such a splendid store and residence?” (Ernest)

“Of course. You have been kind to me since I first became lord, and now you are establishing a base while the territory is still developing. The very least I could do is this. Do you like it?” (Mika)

Ernest smiled and nodded deeply in response to Mika’s question.

“Yes, I am sincerely grateful for such generous treatment. I shall work all the harder as a merchant to repay the favor you have shown me.” (Ernest)

Observing how pleased Ernest was with his store and residence, Mika felt a sense of satisfaction. If the prominent figures of the Valentine territory were this pleased, then the effort he and Joel had made during winter, utilizing magic in the construction, had been worthwhile.

“Then, you should go and inspect the interior. It seems there are many goods to carry in.” (Mika)

“Yes, I shall do that. Everyone, begin bringing them in.” (Ernest)

Following Ernest’s instructions, the people from the two carts descended and began unloading and carrying the goods.

The lead cart carried a woman who had long worked for Ernest. She was said to be the daughter of a mid-ranking merchant from Eltpoli and had married Ernest last year. Mika assumed her family had employed her to work for Ernest in anticipation of her marriage to the promising young merchant.

The second cart carried a strong man responsible for heavy labor, who had also been employed by Ernest previously. From Mika’s perspective, he was a diligent worker, and Ernest intended to continue employing him under favorable conditions. He, along with his wife and two children, would also relocate and be provided a room in Ernest’s house.

With Ernest, his wife, and the employees’ family, the population of the Valentine territory increased by six.

Watching as the large shipment was gradually brought inside, Mika spoke to Ernest once more.

“By the way, have you learned anything regarding the matter we discussed?” (Mika)

“Yes, some information gradually arrived from the south during winter, and after winter ended, we obtained even more before leaving Eltpoli.” (Ernest)

Mika had asked Ernest to gather detailed information about the war that had forced Joel and the other new settlers from their homes, including events that followed. Nodding, Ernest began to report his findings.

According to him, the Langenbach Household had indeed clashed with the Strauch Household and won a decisive victory. The Strauch Household had been extinguished, and their lands divided between the Langenbach Household and subordinate minor lords. In the southern region of the great forest, the Langenbach Household had become an overwhelmingly powerful lordly house, with their domain’s population exceeding seven thousand and exerting significant influence over neighboring minor territories.

Rumor had it that the current head of the Langenbach Household was not satisfied with controlling just one region. He was said to be seeking to expand influence over surrounding areas, and if this occurred, the Yutilainen Household and its subordinate lords, whose territories bordered this sphere, could not remain uninvolved. Military conflict, as well as political tension, was a realistic possibility.

“I see. That is a troublesome situation. The Hewitt Household, Ayla’s relatives, border the Langenbach sphere of influence directly, so if military conflict occurs, we will inevitably be drawn in.” (Mika)

“I shall continue gathering information, and if there is any movement in the south, we will know quickly. Should the Langenbach Household undertake military action, its scale would be considerable, and we should be able to detect signs early.” (Ernest)

“Very well, I am counting on you. Now, changing the subject, I have a gift for you.” (Mika)

Mika, speaking in a lower voice, brightened his tone at this point.

“A gift, you say?” (Ernest)

“Yes. I want you to accept it to celebrate the founding of your merchant guild here. It is a specialty newly produced in our territory.” (Mika)

As he spoke, Mika gestured, and Dimitri, standing nearby, nodded and produced a small jar from his pocket. Mika handed it to Ernest, encouraging him to look inside.

“This is… It cannot be! I… su–…” (Ernest)

Inside the jar was something that nearly made Ernest shout the name of sugar, only for him to cover his mouth and suppress his voice at the last moment.

“S-Sugar, is it?” (Ernest)

“Yes. Taste it and see for yourself. Once we began keeping horses in the territory, we started growing sugar beets as feed. I remembered tasting the root as a child and sensing its sweetness. I wondered if sugar could be made, and since last autumn, I experimented. By luck, we succeeded in producing something resembling sugar.” (Mika)

Mika nodded as he explained to Ernest, who whispered his inquiry.

The process of producing sugar from sugar beets had continued to be refined since last autumn. As a result, a method for producing sugar of sufficiently good quality for commercial use had now been established.

“I see. From sugar beets… It certainly tastes like sugar. But was it truly acceptable to disclose the raw material to me?” (Ernest)

“It does not matter. I intend to entrust you with exporting this sugar outside the territory. You will gain substantial profit, and by sharing the secret, I am demonstrating my trust in you. It is nothing.” (Mika)

When Ernest had been an outsider, Mika could not have revealed the sugar or its source. Now that he had relocated and become inseparable in fortune with the Valentine household, sharing this secret would strengthen trust. Given the profits to come, Ernest would not reveal the source to outsiders. Moreover, by observing the handling of sugar beets in the territory, he would have soon realized that sugar was being produced from them. Mika thought this carefully.

“I am grateful for your trust. I swear to God that I shall never reveal this matter to anyone.” (Ernest)

“Thank you. I was never concerned. For now, accept this sugar as a housewarming gift. There is only a small amount of trial sugar, not yet enough for commerce. Once we harvest sugar beets this autumn, full-scale production will begin. For the next few years, we will quietly sell it only to the Yutilainen Household, gaining wealth while developing the sugar industry. Keep this secret for the time being.” (Mika)

Mika pressed a finger to his lips, and Ernest nodded firmly in acknowledgment.

 

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