Chapter 275: Personnel Announcements that Surprised Even Murcia
A short while later, Murcia arrived at Seatoh Village. He arrived in ten days, which was earlier than originally scheduled. When I heard the news and went to the castle gate to welcome him, a slightly haggard-looking Murcia was waving his hand with teary eyes.
“Van!”
“Brother Murcia!”
It was a touching reunion. Murcia passed through the castle gate happily, then took something out and held it up to show me.
“It was your birthday recently, wasn’t it?”
“Eh? You’re giving me something?”
Overjoyed by the unexpected words, I checked what was presented before me. It was white powder, brown powder, and the like.
“What is this?”
When I asked that, Murcia nodded with a smile.
“Believe it or not, I stocked up on a large amount of seasonings and ingredients with a long shelf life through the Kingdom of Yelenetta. You like to eat, don’t you Van? I actually wanted to bring cooked dishes, but they wouldn’t have survived the long journey.”
Murcia said this with a good-natured smile. Since most seasonings are imported, the price is surprisingly high. It appeared they were also loaded onto the carriage behind him, so it must have cost an amount comparable to exchanging gold bars.
However, unfortunately, I just purchased a massive amount from Apollo of the Merchant Guild recently. I most likely bought them at a far cheaper price than what Murcia paid.
That said, I was very happy with Murcia’s sentiments, so I accepted them with a heartfelt smile.
“Thank you very much! Till, can you make pancakes with this?”
“Yes! I will prepare them immediately!”
I selected the seasonings I saw before and handed them to Till. After over a week of trial and error, Till had succeeded in developing delicious pancakes. As expected of the culinary researcher our Seatoh Village boasts of. The fact that she fails often is her charm point.
Hearing that exchange, Murcia tilted his head and spoke.
“Huh? Did you know about these seasonings? Imports and exports with the Kingdom of Yelenetta shouldn’t be very active yet.”
“Urk.”
That sound inadvertently slipped from my mouth at Murcia’s words. In the end, Murcia found out, but I managed to convey that seasonings are precious and I was happy to have the stock.
And so, we all returned to the lord’s manor, ate Till’s special pancakes, and laughed together.
“This is delicious!”
It was delicious enough to make Murcia’s eyes pop out. Well, since sweets are rare in the frontier, just having sweets for the first time in a while would be incredibly pleasing. However, Till’s pancakes this time were a huge success. Furthermore, I was happy that she went all out with the toppings. She had piled on whipped cream with reduced sweetness and fruit pulp.
“No, this is splendid!”
“…It is quite good.”
“Dee and Esparda like sweet things too, don’t you? Despite how you look.”
“I prefer meat, though! Wahahahaha!”
Along with Arte and Khamsin, Dee and Esparda were also eating the pancakes happily. My cheeks relaxed at the atmosphere of a family reunion after such a long time.
“Hmm, this is tasty.”
“Yes, to the point that I have never eaten anything like it before.”
“…It is delicious, but this isn’t the Last Supper, is it? We’re okay, right?”
Well, Panamera, Talga, and Freightliner were mixed into the family reunion. Freightliner was shedding tears at the deliciousness, but this atmosphere might be just right for discussing complicated matters.
“Now then, please listen while you eat. I will propose our future policy.”
When I announced that, Panamera and Talga narrowed their eyes sharply. Belatedly, Murcia also straightened his posture. Looking around at them, I opened my mouth.
“Umm, for the time being, the future policy involves the stability of the territory and cooperation with Viscount Panamera’s territory.”
“It’s Count. Count.”
“Ah, I apologize. Count Panamera.”
“Hmph.”
Panamera puffed out her ample chest in a good mood after making the correction. Only Khamsin offered a small applause, but the others just nodded shallowly.
“Now then, pulling ourselves together… First, regarding the nearby Adventurer Town. Prince Freightliner, who is a hostage, will become the magistrate there, and three of Esparda’s disciples will assist him. Also, the Esparda Chivalric Order will have no Knight Commander for a while, and will have two Vice Commanders. And one Assistant Knight Commander.”
“R-Really, I’m the magistrate…?”
Talga looked more worried than Freightliner, who muttered that anxiously.
“Even if he is a former one, appointing royalty of an enemy nation as magistrate… Is that safe?”
At Talga’s words, Panamera raised one corner of her mouth and furrowed her brows.
“He might betray us. No, he might secretly divert the enormous wealth gathered in this Seatoh Village to the Kingdom of Yelenetta… Now, are the countermeasures for those possibilities sufficient?”
“I-I won’t betray you!”
Freightliner answered Panamera’s question first, sounding like he was screaming. However, his answer was ignored.
“Van. I am worried about that as well.”
Murcia quietly agreed with Panamera’s words. Nevertheless, this was a necessary deployment. I decided to answer somewhat exaggeratedly to reassure everyone.
“It will be fine. The three subordinates of Prince Freightliner are disciples of this Esparda. If he tries to embezzle anything clumsily, it will immediately reach Esparda’s and my ears. Also, all weapons in the Adventurer Town will only face three directions. In other words, they cannot attack in the direction of Seatoh Village. On the contrary, Seatoh Village can destroy the Adventurer Town in an instant.”
“In an instant…!?”
Freightliner gasped at my explanation. Panamera snorted, looking sideways at Freightliner, who began to tremble so hard he was making rattling sounds.
“I see. Hearing that makes it seem reassuring. Besides, it is a more meaningful use than just confining him as a mere hostage.”
“Yes. Next is Fortress city Murcia; I would like to ask Brother Murcia to continue as magistrate there as before. Regarding the Chivalric Order, we will continue to employ everyone who has been hired as Brother Murcia’s private army. However, since we anticipate a large influx of immigrants into Fortress city Murcia in the future, I will dispatch three of Esparda’s disciples there as well.”
“…I-I think I might want a few more civil officials. Also, I think we’ll need even more supplies from now on…”
When I announced the structural change for Fortress city Murcia, Murcia, the magistrate, smiled in a troubled manner. Indeed, since it was composed mostly of the Chivalric Order and adventurers, Murcia’s hardships must be extraordinary. However, unfortunately, Seatoh Village was also suffering from a labor shortage.
“From now on, the Bell & Rango Trading Company will set up a permanent store in Fortress city Murcia. We will also recruit volunteers from Seatoh Village who work as carpenters, blacksmiths, farmers, and foresters to migrate there. Many peddlers and adventurers will be coming and going, and since Seatoh Village will pay for all funds necessary for purchases, there is no need to worry about money.”
“…I’m grateful for that, but what about civil officials?”
“…………Sorry, brother.”
I apologized as sincerely and earnestly as possible. I am sending three of Esparda’s disciples, including Emira. They should possess more capability than Murcia imagines. However, it is fine for now since it is mostly knights, but once immigrants increase, it will likely become terrifyingly chaotic.
I have no choice but to have Esparda train new disciples immediately. So, please don’t die until then, Brother Murcia.
