Translator Corner
This is Yukkuri demasu...
Changing Istelle Territory to Istelle Province.
Changing Nelson’s title from Feudal Lord of Istelle Territory to Lord Governor of Istelle Province.
I think this is alright.
Also, all the herbs that Kazura mentioned in this chapter do have their stated effects.
This is the clean version…
DISCLAIMER: I don’t guarantee that I translate 100% correct....So helping hand is welcome!
The Translator:
Yukkuri Oniisan
The Editor:
TheDefend
Chapter 46: Anxiety and Hope
Meanwhile on the same day.
In a certain room in the mansion, Isaac showed a surprised expression in front of Nelson.
While Havel, who stood beside Isaac, didn’t show any particular expression and just nodded in consent with what Nelson had just said.
「 Then, in other words, it will be alright for me to continue working as Kazura-sama’s close aide in the future, right?」(Havel)
「Yes. Work earnestly and be careful to not incur his displeasure. Start with becoming someone that is trustworthy on Kazura-dono’s instructions and do your best on each task to earn his trust and confidence. So that Kazura-dono could be influenced to give additional support, and if you see signs that Kazura-dono would end his support then…… What’s wrong Isaac? Is there something bothering you?」(Nelson)
「……Nelson-sama, even if it’s for the country……or rather, for the people, to scheme for additional support from Greysior-sama who appeared to save us is rather……」(Isaac)
Isaac answered with a strained expression that made Nelson frowned.
Havel who stood beside Isaac sent him a really cold sidelong glare at him.
「Isaac, do you know the extent of national power difference between our country, Arcadia and Balveile?」(Nelson)
「……Yes, I do.」(Isaac)
「Then, you can understand this, right? We don’t know what kind of measures that Kazura-dono will take next, but he will resolve the food shortage, control the flood, deal with the hygiene problem, and in addition, if possible, rejuvenate the economic situation in Istelle Province. With our current situation, when the war resume between our country and Balveile in 4 years from now, how much do you think the chance of our country’s victory against Balveile?」(Nelson)
「…… If we cooperate closely once again with the allied nations just like the times before the armistice then I think at least we will not be defeated.」(Isaac)
「That’s also true, but there is no guarantee that in another 4 years, those countries wouldn’t become an enemy or just stand on the sideline and not cooperating with our country. On the last war, Balveile was underestimating the various countries in the south and attacked all of them at the same time. Because of this tomfoolery, the alliance could come into existence. In addition, at the same time as Balveile southern invasion, the northern barbarian do a large-scale raid into Balveile, that also work for our advantage.」(Nelson)
「Nelson-sama, do you think we will be defeated in the next war with Balveile?」(Isaac)
Hearing Nelson’s explanation, Isaac asked back with vexing expression.
「Depending on the circumstances, there we might lose. However, we also keep doing preparation for the war and perform diplomacy to maintain the alliance relationship. So we wouldn’t be defeated that easily.」(Nelson)
「Then, why!?」(Isaac)
Isaac asked with criticism lined up in his tone. Nelson leaned back in his chair and took a small breath.
「…… Just one month ago, Balveile signed peace treaty with some of the Northern Barbarian tribes.」(Nelson)
「Wh-!」(Isaac)
「They will also do the same peace or cease-fire treaty with the other barbarian tribes. With their rear secured, they will definitely come to attack again.」(Nelson)
Beside Isaac who had become speechless, Havel also became wide-eyed in surprise.
If Balveile signed a peace treaty with the barbarians, then that means in the next war Balveile wouldn’t need to wage war on two fronts.
In fact, there might be a possibility that Balveile would employ the barbarians as mercenaries and added them to their factions.
「D-do you mean there is no possibility to avert the war?」(Isaac)
Isaac said this in trembling voice, but Nelson shook his head.
「Having the peace treaty with the barbarian who had been severely harassing them until now, they will surely come to attack us. Furthermore, they had abolished army conscription system and adopted army volunteer system since 3 years ago. They had recruited a lot of soldiers from the poor people and increased their standing army numbers. Their diplomats might say that the peace treaty with the barbarian was 『part of economic policy』, but their real aim was really clear.」(Nelson)
「……However, how could Balveile prepared a large amount of equipment and cover the expenditure to maintain such standing army? In the last war, there were rumors that Balveile had a shortage of tin…… Did they found new large tin vein?」(Havel)
After Nelson gave his explanation, Havel who was quiet until now began to speak.
To maintain an army, a large expenditure is necessary.
Calling the citizen to become the soldier in time of emergency and dissolute the army in the time of peace, is the basis of conscription systems that Arcadia and the majority of other countries adopted. With this system, the country only needs to support the army maintenance cost for a limited period.
In addition, the conscripted soldiers’ equipment was provided by the soldier themselves. This was the typical army system in this world
After all, the cost that is burdened to the country was only the lump sum payment for the campaign period to the gathered soldiers and the ration cost that was needed to maintain the army.
However, recently Balveile adopted volunteer system, that was a completely different system.
Including 『the country prepared the equipment』 that Havel had mentioned before, there were three important components on the volunteer system in Balveile.
The first point was that the country would provide the equipment for the recruited soldier, then they would also provide them with a salary.
With this systems, the poor people, who didn’t have any financial capabilities to prepare equipment by themselves, could join the army even if lacking any possession as long as they applied into it, and could rid themselves from poverty.
In one action the poor people could save themselves, not only this increase the number of soldiers but if the poor people have a better standard of living, then the public order would also increase. Killing two birds with one stone.
The second point was that it had been decreed that the soldier service period was 25 years.
Since the service period had been decided, it would facilitate the planning of long-term military strategies.
Furthermore, since there won’t be any conscription of the farmers to become soldiers, it also didn’t have any major influence on agricultural productivity.
The third point was that when the soldier retired they would receive retirement payment or land grant.
With this, the soldiers wouldn’t need to worry about their livelihood after their service period finished.
In other words, as long as they could safely finish their service period, although this also depends on the amount that they save during their service, then it was not a pipe-dream to retire and living a life of leisure with dignity.
However, to maintain these three points, it would need a great amount of capital.
The equipment that was used by the soldier was commonly made from bronze.
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, but its production yield was small, and especially because tin was only found in limited areas, which resulted in its price being expensive.
It wasn’t something that can be obtained in any amount just because there is money to paid for them. Just like what Havel had said, at the war 4 years ago, there was a rumor that Balveile had a shortage of tin.
In addition to the equipment cost there also the salaries need to be paid to the soldiers and the cost for their training. The components where money was needed were endless.
「That’s true…… It was unbelievable if they suddenly are able to provide a large amount of expensive bronze equipment for the whole soldiers. However, the volunteer system tenet is that it will be the country provided the equipment. It will be impossible to do it in short time period, but one way or another they will. I received a report that recently Balveile suddenly increased their timber production, just like what Havel had said, Balveile might have found a tin ore vein.」(Nelson)
Nelson stopped his words and turned to face Isaac.
「I understand what you want to say. To request further support for selfish reasons to Greysior-sama, who lent us his hand to our plea, is something that is really impertinent. So, of course it would hard for you to approve it easily. But you know, Isaac.」(Nelson)
After he called Isaac name, Nelson leaned forward on his chair and bend his body towards Isaac’s direction.
「It is necessary to do so. You also know what happened to the country that was defeated by Balveile. They would seize all the land and properties and turned the survivors as slaves. Even if the country capitulate before war happened and annexed by Balveile, they wouldn’t escape the loss of land and properties. Losing war with them means that you will lose your freedom for eternity. So I will do all kinds of things even if it to increase our chance of victory by the slightest.」(Nelson)
「……」(Isaac)
Isaac hung his head down as if he couldn’t reply anything back, Nelson sighed in his mind and then once again leaned back on the seat’s back.
「Let’s bring this talk to an end. Isaac, Havel, I am relying on both of you.」(Nelson)
✦✧✦
「Hmm……」(Kazura)
After the pleasant conversation with Lieze, Kazura was staring seriously at the stone wall on the corridor at Nelson’s mansion.
What Kazura was looking was not the wall itself, but the mortar between the stones.
Then, after he looked at the mortar or awhile, he then scratched it with his fingernail.
「Hmmm…… Ah, Isaac-san, just in time. Can you come here for a moment?」(Kazura)
Kazura understood something as he observed the powder sticking in his fingernail. At that moment, he noticed Isaac who appeared from the mansion’s interior and called out to him.
Hearing his name being called, Isaac noticed that Kazura was there and then came running to him.
「Good morning, Kazura-sama……」(Isaac)
「Good morning…… Hm? Are you alright!? Your face is pale!」(Kazura)
Kazura was surprised when seeing Isaac’s face.
Isaac’s face was so lifeless it was whiter than white.
「No, I am alright, so Kazura-sama need not worry about me……」(Isaac)
Somehow Isaac carved out a smile in his corpse-like countenance.
His voice also lacked willpower, so he completely didn’t look like someone who is alright.
「(Although he usually showed a rather tired face, but he was fine until yesterday…… He is just like a new employee feeling depressed after receiving intense scolding from the client or superiors.)」(Kazura)
Kazura remembered the sight that he sometimes saw when he still working at the company before he came to this world.
After all, this was the expression of someone who just received a big shock.
「……Please follow me a bit.」(Kazura)
Kazura said this and led Isaac through the corridor. He asked a maid he met en route for an empty guest room and asked her to bring some hot water to that room.
「I will quickly return, so please wait in this room for a moment」(Kazura)
After they reached the guest room, Kazura let Isaac took a seat in the room and then head towards Nelson’s office.
Then he grabbed the travel bag he had left in the office, covered it with cloth and then while under the curious eyes of the patrolling soldiers, brought it to the guest room where Isaac was waiting.
When Kazura entered the room, Isaac bowed to him while still have a depressed expression on his face.
「Thank you for waiting. I will prepare it immediately.」(Kazura)
Kazura smiled to Isaac and took out the candle-style aroma pot, the pouch with small bottles of aroma oils, glass teapot, and several small bags with herbs from the travel bag.
「U-Um, may I ask what are you preparing?」(Isaac)
「I think Isaac-san would enjoy a cup of tea. Do you like tea, Isaac-san?」(Kazura)
「Eh!? N-No way, does Kazura-sama want to make tea for me? To trouble Kazura-sama is….」(Isaac)
Isaac stood up with an extremely thankful expression in his face, Kazura just answered, “It’s fine”, sat down on the chair, and put the herbs from the small bag into the glass teapot.
「For the last several days, we were practically working without taking any break, then I think it will be better if we do have one soon, even if it only a tea break while we have a nice little chat with each other.」(Kazura)
Kazura said this while putting linden flowers, rose petals, St. John’s worts in equal amount to the pot.
When he lined up the porcelain teacups from the shelf atop the table, someone knocked the room’s door.
It was the maid from before who came with the hot water.
Kazura received the copper pitcher with the hot water from the maid, dismissed her and poured the hot water into the glass teapot.
The herbs softly shuffled as the water poured into the glass teapot, as the time passed by, the water inside it was beautifully amber colored by the herbs.
While the herbs’ flavor was being extracted by hot water, Kazura poured the hot water into the aroma pot and put two candles at the base of the pot.
Then, after confirmed that the herb had been nicely decocted, he poured the herb tea into a teacup and presented it to Isaac.
「Please have a drink, I hope this will suit your taste.」(Kazura)
「Thank you very much…… What nice fragrance.」(Isaac)
Isaac brought the teacup closer to his mouth and smelled the herb tea’s faint pleasant scent that made him have a small smile.
Seeing Isaac took a sip of the herb tea, Kazura poured the tea into his own teacup and took a sip of it while enjoying the scent.
「How is it? If the taste doesn’t suit you then I can make another type of tea.」(Kazura)
「No, this is really delicious. Thank you very much.」(Isaac)
Looking that Isaac had calmed down for a bit after drinking the herb tea, Kazura smiled.
「Then, I’m glad.」(Kazura)
Kazura then took out the small bottle with lavender oil from the bag with aroma oil bottles. He opened the bottle’s lid and put several drops of oil into the hot water inside the aroma pot.
Then he took out a lighter from the bag and light up the candle placed at the pot base.
「What is this?」(Isaac)
「This is called aroma oil, an oil we get after extracting the essence of plants in my co-…… in God’s realm. If we placed them beside the fire like this, then we can enjoy the particular scent from that oil.」(Kazura)
As soon as the candle in the pot lightened up, the soft pleasant scent of lavender quickly could be smelled.
「Then…… Isaac-san, I know that I had requested you to prepare 3000 bags of the same size several days ago, but if it is really impossible to fulfill, please just say it. After all, I never demanded that it must be prepared at any cost.」(Kazura)
After Kazura confirmed that lavender scent had filled the room, he spoke to Isaac with worrying expression on his face.
「No, there is no problem in the procurement of the cloth bag. We have already asked the tailors in the town to produce it and I believe it would be finished by tomorrow.」(Isaac)
「(…….Huh? He wasn’t depressed from the failure from procuring the bags?)」(Kazura)
After hearing Isaac’s answer, Kazura became confused in his mind.
Kazura thought that surely it was because Isaac wasn’t able to fulfill his instruction so he was scolded severely by Nelson or Zirconia.
However, it seems the cause for Isaac’s depression was something else.
「Is that so, then that’s good. Since Isaac-san had such gloomy expression, I was thinking that surely…… Umm, if there something bothering you, then you can talk it with me you know? Ah, but, if you don’t want to talk about it, no need to force yourself to say it.」(Kazura)
「……Yes……thank you……very much……」(Isaac)
As Kazura spoke with him, Isaac voice became clogged and hang his head down with an expression as if to cry.
Kazura thought that Isaac had something that he couldn’t share, so he just silently watched Isaac cast his sight down.
Then, after he watched for awhile and since Isaac didn’t say anything, Kazura changed the topic.
「Ah that reminds me, there is something I want to ask Isaac-san, but is this the right time for that?」(Kazura)
「……Yes, feel free to ask.」(Isaac)
Inquired by Kazura, Isaac raised his face.
It wasn’t a face that was on the verge of crying anymore, but a face of someone who had found the resolution to do a breakthrough for something.
Even his ambiance had changed from the dejected spirit he showed before into someone who was overflowing with determination to do something.
「(…..Eh? Herb tea and aroma oil had this extremely powerful effect? Or during the last few minutes, something had happened inside Isaac-san’s mind?)」(Kazura)
Kazura was bewildered by the Isaac’s sudden mood change.
To cheer up Isaac who had become depressed, Kazura chose herbs that have antidepressant or relaxation effects and made tea from them for Isaac to drink.
Not only this, but he also used lavender oil that has antidepressant and relaxation effect.
However, if Isaac had such extreme change of heart, then the effect was too effective.
Previously, when Valin who was close to death’s door received Lipo-D, it took about 2 hours until he recovered his physical health.
However, the herbs and oil he used just now wasn’t for physical recovery, but for the mental effects.
Inside Kazura’s mind, there was a concern about whether the herbs and oils had a more powerful effect than food.
「(No, wait a moment, if this true then it couldn’t explain what happened last time when Valetta-san and Valin-san drank the herb tea. If there is such extreme effect, then since both of them drank hibiscus tea then they wouldn’t stop peeing.)」(Kazura)
「Umm, Kazura-sama, is something wrong?」(Isaac)
Kazura was pondering about the effect when Valetta and Valin drank herb tea last time. Maybe because Isaac feel uneasy when Kazura suddenly became silent, he asked Kazura with a worried look.
「Ah, no, it’s nothing.」(Kazura)
Kazura answered in a hurry while thinking that it would be for nothing if Isaac became depressed once more.
☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽
Post chapter remainder:
Sorry for the rather delayed release… Stuffs happens.
Lavender really does have some relaxation effect (there are several studies about it) either from their placebo effect or active ingredients.
Hibiscus really had diuretic effects. So please be careful in consuming it.