Chapter 484 - Sixth Episode: Shellfish Cultivation
That said, Finis and Sertoria are not supposed to participate in this war. When I returned to the Royal Palace and spoke to the King of Primordia in the room used for the meeting, he first raised those doubts.
(However, is it acceptable? Even if it is technical cooperation, our country is at war with West Liber. Is there no inconvenience for you all who come from countries that maintain neutrality?)
(As you know, our country has many powerful magic beasts. We need silver weapons. Won't your country be short of supplies during the war? For our country, you will be a good trading partner.)
(What we are doing is merely a search for pure magic technology to see if we can teleport water to a water tank on an island near the continent. We do not know if it will be technical cooperation. After all, it is none of our business how your country treats the experimental results.)
Gwyn-sama's queen's argument is one thing, but Eleanor-sama's argument is even worse. It's mere sophistry, no longer even an excuse.
The moment Edward-sama and Beowulf heard their words, they looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Well, it's a good thing those two are on good terms.
The rest is specific talk.
(Then, this is a welcome offer for us as well. We would definitely like to ask for it. Is the trade through the Class of 175?)
The King of Primordia confirmed with Mary.
(No, alcohol and silver are beyond our capacity. We would like to add them as part of the herbs we usually trade.)
(Hmm. I understand. Then, how shall we settle the payment?)
We can't handle alcohol or silver. It's better to leave those with high unit prices to the big players.
(Your Majesty. Could you leave this transaction to me? It's wartime, and a large number of advanced holy magic scrolls will also be needed. I have been ordered by Cadogan-sama to purchase them, so it's just right.)
The one who stepped forward was Sianya. She takes on the cargo of the Class of 175 as a whole, also serving as a measure for those in poverty. Since she is a priest belonging to the Primordia Royal Capital Great Church, large-scale purchases of holy magic scrolls are also possible.
(I see. If you handle the cargo of holy magic scrolls and the cargo containing the sleeping medicine together, it won't draw the eyes of others. Since the unit price is also appropriately high, it wouldn't be strange to use silver as payment for the alcohol as well.)
(Yes. How about the people of Finis?)
They would have no choice. In a sense, she is the most reliable trading partner. The market prices for scrolls, silver, and alcohol are fixed. Once the price and purchase amount of the medicine were decided, the talk was settled easily.
Now, after the commercial transaction was over, it was the even more troublesome talk.
(Then, this meeting ends with this. Since we will stay behind and do the rest.)
When Eleanor-sama declared this, everyone was blinking their eyes.
(From here on, it's simply a magic experiment. It's better for each country not to be involved. It would be a problem if West Liber found out. No, even if East Liber or Engrio found out, they might spread rumors about things that are or aren't true and use it for diplomacy. Since it's wartime, such risks should be avoided.)
Well, I understand that, but then what happens to Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama?
(Since we are merely peddlers who came with Mary, we won't draw the eyes of other countries.)
She says so proudly, as if she had won.
To say such a line in the Royal Palace, and in front of the King and the Crown Prince. Moreover, despite being someone who introduces herself and spreads charm to everyone regardless of who they are everywhere she goes. Miana was giggling. Queen Magdalena was looking down and covering her mouth with her hand.
As expected, it was too much, and just as Edward-sama, with a somewhat tense expression, was about to take a step forward, Sianya, who was beside him, stopped him.
(Oh, that's right. Henry-dono and Eleanor-dono are indeed merely peddlers. In that case, there is no problem even if they conduct magic research with our country's Magic Corps. What do you think? Why not even come to the island where the water will be teleported?)
Of all people, the King of Primordia himself went along with it. Seeing him smiling, he is clearly enjoying the situation.
(Is it acceptable?)
Eleanor-sama, making a small fist pump with her right hand, had a triumphant expression.
Henry-sama nodded greatly, and Wilson-san was shaking his head from side to side while sighing.
(Now, now, the first voyage of that ship will be to confirm this experiment anyway. Whether it's a success or a failure, see it with your own eyes. You must have entered the country as the Henry peddler party this time too. From now on, I will issue a special pass so that you can freely pass through our country's borders.)
Oh dear, it's finally gone from tacit approval to official recognition.
The meeting itself ended safely, and everyone boarded ships and returned to their respective countries.
I'm staying because of the Great Shark hunt. Matilda is also staying to make the dolls used for the Great Shark hunt and for the technical exchange of prosthetic hand and foot making. And the Henry Party is also staying. Bonnie, who has recently felt like she's joined the Henry Party, is also staying.
"First is the Great Shark hunt. The fishing villages near the search area are quite expectant, saying today's big catch is as good as promised."
According to Edward-sama, it's no longer just a Great Shark hunt, but has become like a Great Shark festival. A request to hold a banquet after the hunt has come from the villages near the search sea area.
Since cooperation with the coastal spirits is indispensable, Alex has already been sent in as an interpreter. Since I asked him to teleport there two or three days before the scheduled date, banquet or not, he must be drinking and making a fuss every night anyway.
"I'd rather it wasn't so flashy..."
If I, who am merely a stray priest, am lionized, I'll be glared at by the Church.
"There's no need to worry about that in our country. After all, His Majesty and Cadogan-sama are backing you."
It seems to be part of the measures for those in poverty. The current King of Primordia, often called the Liberator King, executed the great nobles who were in collusion with Engrio during the previous war and confiscated their territories. The extremely vast lands were distributed either as direct-controlled lands or as territories for small and medium nobles, and by giving them to the serfs in a way that divided them, all serfs were made into free farmers. In Primordia, where they pay taxes and have enough land to maintain their lives, and where the use of agricultural magic is mandatory, the income of farmers has reportedly risen greatly.
However, on the other hand, the fishermen, who originally didn't depend much on land, didn't have much to gain.
"His Majesty was also struggling with that point. But at least for the fishing villages on the eastern north coast, trade with the coastal spirits has progressed, and they are now able to process what they've obtained at processing plants built by the country, so their income has risen."
It seems the country is only taking customs duties. They are actively adopting the policy of King Seldic of Engrio, who implemented it ahead of other countries, that the people becoming wealthy leads to an increase in the country's revenue.
"In that case, wouldn't it be better to make it a festival centered on the King or Sianya, rather than me?"
"That's one thing, and this is another. Every fisherman around here knows that Jeanne participated in the sea serpent hunt. On top of that, you've made it possible to cooperate with the coastal spirits, and every time there's a Great Shark hunt, there's a big catch. Until then, let alone a big catch, when there was a Great Shark, they even refrained from sending out fishing boats because it was dangerous. You know it was a big deal with many victims during the sea serpent hunt, don't you?"
Certainly, at that time, it became a request from country to country. Sertoria also prepared as a nation for support, and although it was based on a misunderstanding, the first Handsome Men and Beautiful Women Contest was held. Incidentally, the Handsome Men and Beautiful Women Contest has become established as a spring event due to its popularity, but since past finalists cannot participate in the local preliminaries or the main tournament, Mary and Will, who were finalists in the first contest, can no longer participate.
"But growth has plateaued. Because there's no interpreter, cooperation with the coastal spirits isn't going so well. If that goes well, I think the number of big catches will increase a bit more."
In short, they probably want to do drive-in fishing in cooperation with the coastal spirits, but flexible response isn't going well. It's because there's no regularly employed interpreter.
"We have no choice but to hire Alraunes or Goblins. Or beastmen."
"At present, there are no cases of them being discovered in our country. Because the national territory is narrow."
Hmm. I could introduce beastmen through the delinquent prince of Regnentes, but... let's try consulting Alex once.
That Alex was dead drunk at the fishing village that served as the base. Well, it's as usual.
"Yo, Jeanne. You've come. I've been waiting for you."
Called the Interpreter-sama, he is drinking local alcohol. The Interpreter-sama is quite something, having young girls attend to him on both sides and pour him drinks, while he eats shellfish and shrimp grilled on a net over a bonfire tended by the villagers.
The unopened barrel at his feet must be the reward he received from the Regnentes Royal Palace this time. I believe it's one barrel per day.
"Alex. You've got it good. Isn't this extravagant?"
As expected, when Edward-sama and Sianya arrived, the young girls stepped back, and instead, the village headmen from the surrounding fishing villages came over.
"It's not like I asked for it. What do you call it? Look, it's personal magnetism, personal magnetism."
What personal magnetism? Honestly.
"Listen. I think we need other interpreters too."
"What? You need another interpreter? Why, are you dissatisfied with my interpreting?"
No one said that. If you're a person of magnetism, listen to what people have to say until the end.
When I explained the situation to Alex, he said he'd talk to the coastal spirits for me.
The village headmen are also stirring.
"So, what do you lot want to do?"
Alex asked the village headmen waiting in front of him.
"We are thinking of being able to fish in cooperation with the coastal spirit-sama."
"What are you going to do? I'm a mine spirit, so I don't know about fishing."
The fishermen's argument is, in short, the detection of fish schools. If I'm there, I can detect fish schools in the sea with Sense Living. Unfortunately, Sense Living is one of the rare magics and there are few who can use it. Generally, it's about one in a hundred thousand people. Since the population of Primordia is about one hundred thousand, there's one, or at most two. Since it's originally magic for life-saving or reconnaissance, activity in those areas is expected, and they can't be deployed to fishing villages. On the other hand, scrolls, which are expensive and have poor usability, are too inefficient.
"If the coastal spirit-sama can search the sea and tell us, it should have the same effect as Bishop Jeanne's magic."
I can understand the village headmen's argument.
"Is that really okay? The sea is wide, you know."
"Yes, well, but no other good ideas come to mind..."
"Hmm. Well, I'll at least ask."
"We would be most grateful."
There was such an exchange, but when I conveyed it to the coastal spirit who arrived as scheduled, she tilted her head.
"She says she knows the sea areas where fish schools are likely to occur, but it's difficult to accurately predict when and where they will happen. That said, it's hard to search and swim every single day. She says you should probably give up."
Hmm. She's a coastal spirit, not a sea spirit. Even though she's knowledgeable about fish, she apparently can't predict the occurrence of fish schools.
"Hey, Alex. What kind of places are the sea areas where fish schools are likely to occur?"
When I had him ask, she said difficult things about shelves, tide rips, and small fish for bait.
It also changes depending on the weather and the ebb and flow of the tide, and since the water is deep, it apparently can't be easily predicted.
"She says it's like finding them by chance while swimming in the sea. If you think about it, you'll know the sea is wide. Fish schools are moving too. So even if there are sea areas where they're likely to occur, it doesn't mean they occur recklessly. She says she just happens to find them."
"The human hunters have fixed times for sending out boats, so wouldn't just those times be fine?"
It's Edward-sama. Since he originally wanted to be a fisherman, he can give an opinion from the fisherman's side.
"When is it?"
"In the morning, it's before dawn. It's when the fish wake up and look for food. Since the fish have to be handed over by the time the processing plant starts, they return to port by then. Next is before noon. It has to be in time for the afternoon processing. Well, it's roughly those two times."
"If it's just those two times, it might be okay. But what will you do when they aren't there?"
"We'll set nets. If we can drive them in to some extent, it'll be a harvest at least."
"What's the return?"
When Edward-sama looked at the village headmen, they held up one finger after consulting. It must be ten percent.
"Alcohol, processed dried fish, or something else. Ten percent of the harvest in equivalent exchange."
When Alex asked the coastal spirit, she thought for a bit and said something.
"In addition, regardless of whether it's a big catch or a poor catch, three meals a day. And she wants a glass of wine with dinner."
"That is perfectly fine."
It seems a new contract has been established.
By the way, in the beastman village of Regnentes, a ranch to turn river fish into monsters has started. Since it's a pool and not a lake, they probably won't grow that large, but a fifty percent increase is quite something. And the taste becomes better too. I can't talk about it openly, but they are raising octopuses in Uminohara, and they are raising Krakens on Vectis Island. Can't such things be done here?
"Raising fish like livestock? Is such a thing possible?"
"Yes. We make a preserve and raise them there. Once they grow large, they can be shipped, so a stable income can be expected."
"I've never heard of it..."
Edward-sama looked at Sianya, but Sianya also lightly shook her head. She hasn't heard of it. Is it difficult with sea fish? I tried asking the coastal spirit through Alex.
"She says it depends on the type of fish. She says that sea fish, unlike those living in ponds or lakes, include those that roam the great ocean, and such fish probably can't be kept in a narrow place like a preserve."
I didn't know that. Is it because they grew up in a wide place that they can't live in a narrow place?
Wait? Hold on a second.
"Hey, Alex. How about salmon? That kind of fish is born in a river, goes to the sea, and then returns to the river, right? I hear some even stay in lakes."
"Ah, the ones at the Water Dragon's place."
"Yeah. Those were certainly originally trout."
As a result of having him ask, the salmon and trout types seem to be okay. However, even if we say we'll raise them, there's no point in raising adult fish. You raise small ones to make them large. The problem is there; salmon spawn in the upper reaches of rivers, but Primordia has no rivers where salmon return to spawn.
"N-Now, don't be so discouraged. I'll ask her if there's anything suitable."
Alex said this to comfort me as I was feeling dejected, but as a result of asking the coastal spirit, something unexpected was found out.
"She says that flat shellfish over there? The thick, delicious ones. She says maybe those can be done."
Where Alex was pointing, a flat bivalve was opening its mouth wide on the net over the bonfire, going bubble-bubble. It must be just right for eating now. Cultivating that shellfish?
"Yeah, juvenile shells? She says such things are on the seabed. If you gather those and raise them, they won't be eaten by starfish or octopuses."
In other words, many large ones will grow.
"Then, let's try that."
"Yeah. She says the timing is also good if we start preparing now."
Apparently, if you just sink a suitable net or something to the seabed, they'll stick to it on their own. It seems you just need to protect them with wire mesh or something so predators don't come, or raise them in a water tank filled with seawater with sand on the bottom. Since the management is by the coastal spirit, it'll be perfect.
In the end, the bivalve cultivation was to be supported by the Primordia Royal Family as a whole, and a new industry was to be started in the village.
The allowance for the spirit is three meals a day and two glasses of wine. And the protection of seals by the Kingdom. This should be more than enough change.