kscans

Chapter 189 - A Rare Wood's Welcome 3. The Dawn of Rosewood Trinkets (Part 2)

Yuri, being an Otherworlder, did not know this, but in this world, hanging a small pouch from one's waist was itself a rarity. Nobles had their attendants carry their luggage, and commoners would typically stuff everything into a single cloth bag. Why go to the trouble of hanging something from your waist? Incidentally, in this world, the concept of a "pocket" built into clothing did not yet exist. The use of a "pochette," which shares the same origin, was common. Furthermore, if you were to hang something from a belt, it was quicker to use a hook of some kind. The idea of turning the stopper itself into an accessory, like a netsuke, had apparently never emerged.

Putting those circumstances aside, Yuri's answer was...

"Yes. So it would be for small items you want to show off."

""Hmm...""

I see. That, they could understand. But then again, the kind of small items one would want to show off...

"...It's not like those guys have anything like that..."

Adon seemed to be lost in thought, but Ems flatly rejected Yuri's proposal.

"In that case, the only other thing I can think of is business cards."

""Business cards?""

Business cards did exist in this world. However, they were not the disposable paper items seen in his previous life's Japan, but rather plates of precious metal that were not intended for distribution. They also served as a form of identification.

"It's an interesting proposal, but..."

"Putting aside whether those guys would even use business cards, a plate of that size isn't so easily..."

"No, it doesn't have to be a plate."

Yuri told the two men, who tilted their heads in unison. What if they were to glue Rosewood shavings onto both sides of a sturdy piece of paper? This idea, incidentally, was based on knowledge from his past life that he recalled when previously making particle board and cardboard.

This time, the two men were truly astonished by Yuri's proposal. After a moment, Ems rebooted and picked up some wood shavings from the floor.

"...Choosing the right glue and applying it might be an issue, but... it's not a bad idea... no, more importantly..."

Ems eventually looked up, his eyes gleaming as he stared at Yuri.

"...Hey, this could be used on... not just paper, but on boards too, right...?"

It seemed Ems was not a workshop owner for nothing. He had arrived at the idea of decorative veneer all by himself.

"Of course, it can be done with regular boards, but you understand that it could lead to accusations of fraud, right? Even if you have no such intention, Ems-san, there's no telling what will happen if it's resold."

At Yuri's point, Ems hummed and fell into deep thought. Adon also shot a troubled look. It seemed they realized that while the idea was brilliant, it could also become a source of trouble.

"Ah, and also... regarding the use you mentioned earlier, how about a nameplate?"

""A nameplate?""

"Yes. You post it by the door of your house."

"A Rosewood business card by the door?"

"Won't it get swiped?"

"Even with someone else's name written all over it?"

Now that they thought about it, he had a point. It would be useless even if stolen. At most, it would be a minor harassment.

"A piece of paper with wood shavings glued to it won't be worth much, even if it is Rosewood. They'd just buy a new one and be done with it."

"...True. It wouldn't even be good for harassment."

Adon and Ems began to discuss the details of a nameplate utilizing Rosewood shavings, which Yuri would have preferred to call kyōgi, but he kept quiet to avoid the hassle of explaining its origins.

(Ah... is this going to take a while...?)

Yuri, the originator of the idea, was now left to the side, and he felt a little regretful.