Chapter 493 - Transcription
The transcription using Thought Communication was conducted by bringing the Encyclopedia to the tower where Archbishop Lloyd's senior disciple lives, serving as both practice for future full-scale transcription and a test of whether the senior disciple could participate. Besides me as the main participant, there were three others: Sianya, Archbishop Lloyd, and Archbishop Lloyd's senior disciple.
After the early morning meeting, I had released an ultra-high-level Anti-Sepsis—though the effect itself dropped two levels to basic-intermediate—on the senior disciple after taking a deep breath, so his physical condition was good, and Archbishop Lloyd looked like he was about to cry with gratitude at any moment.
At first, Lloyd-sama's gratitude and words of thanks to me overflowed in everyone's heads, making it impossible to do any transcribing.
I thought about suspending it, but when the senior disciple started singing a song praising the Goddess and the three of them followed suit and sang together, Archbishop Lloyd also calmed down.
After that, Lloyd-sama stepped out for a short while, likely to wash his face, and returned with a solemn expression, after which he settled down and began to concentrate on the transcription.
Originally, it wasn't something that would end in a day. Moreover, the words used in the Encyclopedia seemed to be based on words commonly used on the continent, so the task became me reading out each character of words I didn't understand the meaning of, and the others recording them in order. I had studied the ancient language of the White Island, but I didn't understand continental languages at all. With the secret books, the content would enter my head on its own if I used Thought Communication. This was fundamentally different. If I don't understand continental languages, it's out of the question. Since the other three could read it fluently, my participation might have been a nuisance.
(No, no. Unless one is like me or Lloyd, who has actually gone to various countries and seen the herbs in person, it would be impossible to read and understand this Encyclopedia. Therefore, it should be easier for the others to proceed if you read it character by character in order.)
Sianya nodded with all her might at the senior disciple's words. According to her, especially the nouns—names of herbs, the lands where they grow, the diseases they affect, and above all, the processing methods and tools—almost all of them were words she had never seen or heard before.
(Originally, many nouns were used that were forcibly converted into the language used by a giant empire that once existed, what one might call the common language of the continent, from herbs that can be collected in various parts of the continent, so if one doesn't understand those changes, it becomes a series of words one has never seen or heard. Unless one proceeds while accurately understanding the meaning of those words, there is no point in just copying them.)
Apparently, they originally come from the languages of the lands where those herbs are mainly harvested. In other words, they are words that originally did not exist in that common language of the continent. There's no way to know them. Moreover, the transcription proceeds while studying those words. I have no idea when it will ever end.
(Well, for those reasons, to be honest, it must have been judged that it was too heavy a burden for those from the White Island. The White Island uses a different language from here.)
At the senior disciple's words, Lloyd-sama also nodded deeply. It was not only unnecessary for the White Island but too difficult.
"I had heard a bit from Cadogan-sama, but I didn't think it would be this difficult."
"Cadogan-sama has actually seen this Encyclopedia. At that time, he said it was too heavy a burden for him. After all, he was a person with unparalleled enthusiasm in Primordia, so many people would have been troubled if he had left his home country."
Lloyd-sama added an explanation to Sianya's words. In the end, it seems Cadogan-sama had managed by having the types of necessary herbs and prescriptions explained briefly. In short, the task of transcribing this Encyclopedia itself was something tremendously difficult.
In the end, we took a break after about an hour, but we hadn't even progressed through one page of the thick Encyclopedia. There were too many challenges, and to be honest, I didn't feel like continuing. Manage to read and copy one passage. Have the two of them explain the words used in that sentence and finally understand the content. At this point, it's not reading aloud but language study. Before long, I might have to do dictation. In fact, Sianya was writing down each word she was seeing for the first time on parchment.
(How was it?)
The senior disciple asks.
(Should we start with language study first?)
It's out of the question. It's not just reading aloud. It would be much better to copy by listening to someone reading the characters aloud.
(But that won't do either.)
According to the senior disciple, the Encyclopedia is not something that can be understood just because one understands continental languages. Sianya is proof of that.
(However, if I or Lloyd are here, we can transcribe while explaining the meaning of the words to some extent. But Lloyd is busy. He couldn't do it.)
Couldn't?
The past tense... which means...
(Bishop Jeanne. You released Anti-Sepsis directly on me twice. Especially the one this morning was powerful. Thanks to that, my physical condition is excellent. So much so that the cautious Lloyd has agreed to let me board a ship and go to the treatment facility in Primordia.)
When I reflexively looked at Bishop Lloyd, he was already crying.
(B-Bishop Jeanne. A-and Bishop Sianya too. P-please listen...)
Even though he told us to listen, it was very hard to hear because he was crying too much. Moreover, words from the mumbling pronunciation of this region were mixed in.
The senior disciple, having lost his patience, explained after chasing him away to wash his face.
If he goes to Primordia, he can receive continuous treatment in a good facility. And Thought Communication will be enough with a basic-level scroll. If released on a magic circle, it can be used continuously for one hour twice a day. There, the transcription can be done.
(The Encyclopedia here is, of course, a transcription. And there are two spares that could be called transcriptions of the transcription. I intend to take one of those with me to Primordia. And I intend to explain the content I have had read to me to Priest Sianya and the people of Primordia.)
"I-is that true!"
Sianya involuntarily raised her voice, and realizing it, she put her hand to her mouth and cleared her throat.
(Is it really alright for you to do such a thing?)
Even I know how precious the Encyclopedia is.
And effectively, lectures on that valuable item will be held in Primordia. In a few years, Primordia might become a place like a hall of fame for herbalism on the White Island.
(Whether it's alright or not, that is the best method for me. After all, I am a being that originally should not be alive. But if I go to Primordia, I can apparently become a citizen of that country. Fortunately, I am also on close terms with Cadogan-sama, so I think it will be comfortable.)
It's not just about him. Taking a copy of the Encyclopedia, which is difficult even to read, to the White Island and making multiple transcriptions of the transcription like a lecture. Moreover, the church in East Liber is the one that organized the original Encyclopedia. In the ongoing war, they would be an ally of Primordia. Even in the matter of the prisoner-of-war camp, they are coordinating between churches with East Liber through Engrio. Wouldn't this be a great opportunity to create deep ties both politically and religiously?
Certainly, it's only possible because he'll be on the White Island where Thought Communication can be used freely, but as a result, they might obtain a tremendously large asset.
(Lloyd should have spoken to you two, but as of yesterday, we have issued letters to acquaintances of mine and Lloyd's in the main countries of the continent. They know that I was afflicted with a disease and was just waiting for death. That I have recovered and will give lectures on the Encyclopedia. It will surely be received with shock, and those who are able will likely come to see how things are in this country and Primordia.)
If this person shows his healthy self and the researchers of various countries, Cadogan-sama, and Lloyd-sama can join hands and cooperate, it might become the trigger for a grand coalition.
When I looked at Sianya, she was either excited or her eyes were wide open, her cheeks were flushed, and her breathing was heavy.
Hey, after Lloyd-sama, is it your turn?
By the time Lloyd-sama returned, Sianya's excitement had also subsided.
Once everyone had calmed down, we organized the story again.
According to the senior disciple, now is the time to cross over to the White Island, before the war situation becomes complicated. Sianya and I have finished our test and trial transcription for now, so we will return tomorrow. He says he will go along on that ship. Since he is a patient with Just a Disease, there is no problem; that was the common view of Lloyd-sama and Sianya. At lunch, Edward-sama and Duke Harmonia joined us, and the result of the six of us discussing was also 'no problem'. Documents would be prepared by Duke Harmonia and Lloyd-sama, and the senior disciple would safely cross over to the White Island.
The next day, we went to the harbor by carriage and joined the Henry Party.
"So you were alive."
Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama knew Archbishop Lloyd's senior disciple.
However, since the senior disciple had boarded the ship with Duke Harmonia and Lloyd-sama under the guidance of Edward-sama and Sianya, he was acting separately from me, who joined the Henry Party at the inn in the harbor where they were staying. Duke Harmonia likely intends to act as if he hasn't met the Henry Party.
"I received an introduction to him as someone connected to the Sertogne Royal House when he was in good health. He should have also been in frequent contact with Phillips."
"Yes. He was a researcher of epidemic measures famous even on the continent. Does Magdalena know him?"
"No, I do not."
There should be an age difference of about forty years between the former heroes and the current hero. Assuming Lloyd-sama's age is sixty, since he's the senior disciple, there's no doubt he's in his sixties. The time he became a Bishop at a young age and gained fame was probably about thirty years ago. Magdalena-sama might have been before her adulthood.
"Later, go and greet him yourself. Our country shall also select several people to receive lectures and send them to Primordia."
"I understand. After returning home, I shall consult with His Majesty and inform Harris and Phillips."
Once the discussion between royalty was over, next was the talk about trade.
"How was it, Mary? Was there anything interesting?"
"Let's see. It seems monster-related items sell for a good price. Also, accessories and marble dyeing seem likely to become popular."
Magdalena-sama and Miana exchanged looks and looked proud. Apparently, the designs the two of them made were well-received.
"How about the Highway Cookies?"
"Unfortunately, regarding such food items, well..."
Sweets were an overwhelming defeat. Barely, the Highway Cookies received an evaluation of 'so-so'.
"Miana. Did you find anything?"
"Yes. The variety of sweets here is truly abundant. I think if we could get our hands on things made here, they would become immensely popular."
"Did you find out how to make them?"
"Just one. There was something being baked and sold at a stall, and when I was observing how to make it with Mother, the lady at the stall kindly taught me."
She took out and showed us a plate-shaped sweet with mesh-like holes sprinkled with sugar.
"You make a dough by mixing flour, butter, and eggs, and then you sandwich it between a flat iron plate and an iron plate with a mesh pattern like this and put it over a fire to bake both sides."
It's called a Gaufre.
When I tried it, it was indeed delicious!
The surface was crispy, but the inside was moist and soft, and the sweetness of the sugar stood out; the back of my cheeks were just... in trouble!
"Since it makes your mouth dry, it's just right to eat it while drinking warmed milk with a drop of honey."
Apparently, it becomes even more delicious if you add fruit juice to that milk. Apple and especially strawberry are said to be good.
"I think it will become a new menu item for the shop."
She concluded with words befitting the manager of Shop No. 4.
"Was there anything else?"
Eleanor-sama asked Mary again.
"After that, I suppose it would be Jeanne's magic water and scrolls. However, since the level of scrolls drops by two in Sertogne, they become difficult to handle. I think magic water is good because the effect lasts, so I wonder if it wouldn't be faster to just jump the magic water from the White Island."
Hmm, Eleanor-sama began to think.
We found out that water can be jumped. It might be better than making a magic circle here and charging it with high-level magic. Since the magic water itself is basic level, mass production on the White Island is easy. At first, we could either import it directly or use a high-level scroll to activate a basic-level magic circle to fill the tank, and after that, use a Teleportation Circle to jump the magic water and replenish it bit by bit.
"However, for that part, I think it would be better to have Finis support us."
The problem is that I am at my limit. If I go to Finis, I should be able to make a lot if I have one ball, even if it's basic level. If I go to Finis once, it will last for a year.
"Mother. When we return to Primordia, I shall propose it to Cadogan-sama myself."
Magdalena-sama said, and Mary added her opinion, and a conclusion was reached.
In the end, for the Class of 175, it was decided to import sweets and herbs and export accessories and marble dyeing. The sales partner was, surprisingly, someone under Duke Harmonia, and a business transaction with the Henry Party had apparently been established privately. Moreover, during the war, the hospital ship would transport them for free, so as usual, the freight was free. Duke Harmonia reportedly gave a special word of recommendation so that the customs would be handled as merchant's luggage. In that case, sufficient profit can be expected.
"It would be nice if we had a shop in this harbor. But Shop No. 5 in Primordia hasn't opened yet, so we'll just have to wait a little longer."
Mary, who had finally achieved a full-scale advance into the continent, said this and laughed.