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Vol 02 Episode 41 The method

「Ah… mmm, ah, there, ah… ah, that’s good…」

Tetra let out a feverish voice. I increased the strength of my movements.

「Ah, mmm, like that… it’s too strong… hyaa」

Tetra said in an agitated voice. Breathing roughly, she looked back at me staring with moist eyes.

To think the usually cool Tetra would react like this… It’s quite interesting.

I further strengthened the force in my fingers.

「Hyaa! Stop… mmm, ah, kuuah!」

I lessened a little the strength of my movements.

「Ah… stronger… hyaaa!」

I traced Tetra’s body with my fingers over her clothes. Tetra shivered with pleasure.

「You don’t have to push yourself. Shall we stop soon?」

I said, while my fingers crawled over her body.

Tetra writhed.

「…Don’t tease me…」

Tetra tried to appeal to me with a sexy voice.

But, just a moment ago…

「Didn’t you ask me to stop earlier?」

「…Meanie… nhfa, mmm, don’t embarrass me…」

I don’t understand what that means.

「What do you mean by that?」

「Ahh… caress me harder…」

「It hurts, doesn’t it?」

Tetra answered my question while blushing.

「Ah… it feels better when it hurts…」

What I’m going to do with you…

I smirked and increased the strength of my movements.

「Hyah!… Nkuuah… stop… hah, fua…」

She just said ‘stop’, right?

「Fuu… don’t stop… do it more…」

「What a willful girl. Fine. If you can beg nicely, I’ll give it to you.」

I said, teasing her with my fingers. Tetra responded while gasping for breath and writhing.

「Please… give it to me… Nnh, kuhah… caress… me… there!」

I could barely hear her… I could make her say it again, but…

I take a look at Tetra. She truly seems to be suffering. Her breathing is labored too. It would be too cruel to tease her any further.

Can’t be helped. I’ll do as she wishes.

「Ah, here it comes… Nnnaah, faah, hah… nkuuah, no more… I can’t take it, ah, ahhhh!!」

Tetra’s body shook violently, gasping with her mouth half open, looking upwards. Drool dripped from her lips as she lay exhausted on the bed.

The door opened almost at the same time.

「What are you doing so early in the morning!!… Huh?」

「What’s wrong?」

I removed my hand from Tetra’s shoulders and turned towards Soyon who just entered.

「Um… what were you doing?」

「It’s a massage. See, we organized the family register yesterday, right? Our shoulders ended up all stiff because of that.」

We took turns massaging each other’s shoulders.

All the paperwork was exhausting but the effort was worth it. We discovered that the population numbers thirty-two thousand four hundred twenty-three. Now we can begin to collect taxes properly.

Speaking of which, I made a deal with Bartolo to do this in his territory too… What should I do? I didn’t expect it to be such a hassle.

「So, what brings you here, Soyon?」

When I asked, Soyon’s face turned bright red.

「No… that is… I misunderstood… no, that’s not it! A letter has arrived from King Rosais!!」

Saying so, Soyon handed me a wooden tablet.

What does he want?

「What does it say?」

「In summary, it says, ‘Hurry up and teach us how to make paper.’」

Now that I’m his subject, I don’t mind teaching him, but I will need some sort of compensation.

「Tetra. Let’s go.」

「Uuuhn… I want more…」

Tetra writhed and let out a sweet voice after I shook her awake.

What are you saying? I still haven’t even gotten my turn yet.

「…Meanie… sigh…」

Tetra sat up, shaking her head left and right. She stretched with crackling sounds and turned to me with a composed expression.

「Okay, let’s go.」

「Wipe off your drool first.」

Tetra, with her face blushing, wiped the drool on her lips.

◇

「Now, as I wrote in the letter, teach us how to make paper.」

「Understood. But could you promise me one thing?」

「What is it?」

I stated my condition.

「First, as compensation, please provide us with wheat. And could you refrain from mass-producing it immediately?」

I’m counting on paper as a major source of income for the Aris territory. I have already lowered the taxes on the wheat after all.

So, it wouldn’t be good if King Rosais flooded the market with paper and the price dropped.

「I see… I understand your situation well. I’ll give you a grace period of one year.」

One year, huh… I’d prefer two or three years if possible… But it can’t be helped.

I wrote down the method for making paper and handed it to King Rosais. King Rosais received it with satisfaction.

「By the way, do you know anything about iron-making technology?」

「Uh, I might not be able to make it, but I do understand the principle, at least…」

「Teach me!!」

King Rosais leaned forward eagerly.

Well, I did an experiment on reducing iron oxide back in middle school science class. I got full marks, so I know the basics at least. Anyone who has received a proper compulsory education would know what a reduction reaction is, I think.

And I also remember something from history lessons too…

「Yes, but all I know is from what I’ve heard. So, I can’t guarantee that it can be made successfully. Please consider that. And as compensation, I’d like wheat.」

「No problem. However, you will only receive the payment once our blacksmiths succeed.」

Well, that’s only natural. I hope the blacksmiths succeed in smelting proper iron.

「Understood. First, you need to prepare iron ore and charcoal.」

Iron ore is made of iron oxide. First, it must be reduced using charcoal.

「And, to produce iron, a high temperature is needed…」

「I’m telling you to teach me that method.」

How impatient.

「It seems you need a tool called ‘bellows’. Well… its structure should be simple to make…」

I taught King Rosais about the structure of a bellows.

It’s hard to convey with words alone.

「Then, once the iron ore is melted you extract the spongy mass of iron remaining and hammer it to remove impurities.」

That should be the basic method to produce iron. That’s all I know. I’m not an expert in smelting techniques, after all. It’s not something taught in school classes either.

That’s as much as I understand. Since they can make bronze, teaching them this much should be enough for them to be able to make it.

「Hmm. That’s sufficient. As soon as it’s completed, I’ll send the grain right away.」

Good, I was able to acquire a considerable amount of wheat with this.

「Also, teach me how to make the fire medicine.」

Fire medicine? Ah… he means black powder.

「The ingredients necessary to make it limit our ability to mass produce the black powder. Besides, I’m the only one who knows how to make it… I believe it’s dangerous for the method to become widespread.」

「So you’re saying you won’t teach us how to make it?」

「That’s right.」

Upon saying that, King Rosais sighed.

「If that’s the case, it can’t be helped. Indeed, it would be troublesome if King Domorgal started using it. For now, I will have to be content with the iron-producing method.」

That’s a relief. It’s really helpful that he’s understanding and didn’t try to force me to teach him the method.

「How’s managing your territory going? Your land borders King Domorgal’s, after all.」

「Well, it’s going alright. Still getting the hang of it, but thanks to Bartolo’s help, we’re managing.」

Huh? Now that I think about it, I don’t remember that guy ever helping with anything…

「I see. That’s good then. Let me give you some advice.」

Advice? Direct advice from King Rosais, huh…

「Listen well. Make sure to keep good relations with your neighbors. There are many patricians who aren’t pleased with you receiving the Aris territory.」

「Yes, I understand.」

Building human relationships is important. I did make an effort to curry the favor of influential patricians at my wedding.

「You know Bartolo is about to have a child, right?」

「Yes, I’m aware.」

I’ve advised Bartolo to sterilize all tools used during childbirth with boiling water and to disinfect their hands with alcohol. This should significantly reduce the risk of death from puerperal fever.

「He’ll likely hold a celebration. Make sure to attend. It would be wise to prepare gifts for all the patricians present. Using honey as a gift may be a good idea.」

I was going to, even if you didn’t tell me… What should I prepare for the gifts? It’s impossible to prepare honey for everyone. I’ll have to think about it.

「One more thing.」

「What would that be?」

「Be wary of Rigal Dibel… patriarch of the Dibel Family. That man views you as an enemy. And he’s not someone with a good reputation.」

The Dibel Family… If I remember correctly, they were the most powerful family in King Rosais’ Country before I arrived. Their territory’s population is almost the same as the population of my territory.

I would prefer to get along…

「But don’t worry. I do not like the Dibel Family. Bartolo also doesn’t like them. One-third of the patricians are anti-Dibel Family. Do you understand what this means?」

So, you’re suggesting I become the leader against the Dibel family? I dislike conflicts…

If they see me as an enemy, there might be no helping it.

「I’ll consider it.」

「You might not need to think too hard; it will naturally happen. Navigate this wisely. I have high expectations of you…」

King Rosais fixed his gaze on me.

What’s with that look…

「My life has at most three more years. That’s why I want you to achieve something significant within the next year. No, I order you to.」

「A significant achievement, you say…」

Within the next year, huh… Why does he want me to have achievements before he dies? Is it because he fears losing control over the Dibel family? Or…

「The subjugation of King Ferme, the method for iron-making, the papermaking process… Normally, these would be more than enough, but it’s still not sufficient. Achieve great success in managing your territory. And protect it from King Domorgal. If you do that much, then…」

「Understood. I will make an effort.」

What exactly is he trying to say…

◇

Three weeks later, a letter arrived from King Rosais.

It said that they had succeeded in making iron. However, its strength was very low and it wasn’t of much use.

Still, being able to make iron allowed them to invite a Kirisian blacksmith in exchange for a large quantity of salt. Probably they thought it was better to profit while they could, assuming that eventually, we would manage to produce decent iron on our own.

‘Even though it’s not very useful, iron is still iron, and being able to invite the Kirisian people because of this is worth considering. I’ll send the wheat immediately. I will definitely repay this favor while I am still alive.’

That’s what was written.

Well, as long as I get the wheat, I have no complaints.