Chapter 62

（It's long）

"Alright, Chelina, today I want to make something based on my hobby."

As usual, after finishing our meal at our regular spot with a view of the harbor and taking a break, I declared this to Chelina, who was dressed in red, without even greeting her.

By the way, my funds have changed due to breakfast and other expenses.

Remaining balance: 99,045,200 yen.

"What is it?"

Chelina, taken aback by my momentum, took half a step back.

"A bath."

"…Huh?"

"I'm going to take a bath!"

"A bath…?"

"Yes! I can't hold it any longer! Can I build one somewhere in your lab?!"

I can't stand it anymore with just the cleaning etheric tools!

"Well, sure, that's fine, but why a bath?"

"Because I want to take one. In other words, it's just a whim."

"…"

"It's decided."

"Ah…"

Is Chelina not interested in baths? Maybe she doesn't feel the need for one because she has cleaning etheric tools. But I need one.

With Chelina's permission, I headed to the guild in high spirits. Of course, Hagg and Yararai are coming with me.

"Are we making a stone oven today?"

"We're making that too. If we don't make something delicious, Hagg will kill me!"

"Haha! You got it right!"

He patted my back hard. I don't really want to understand that.

"First, we need to deal with the manure trade, right? Do you understand?"

Chelina, worried about my and Hagg's high spirits, called out to us multiple times.

When we arrived at the guild, we immediately started going through the documents. During this time, Hagg and Yararai were having tea in the guest room.

Yararai was asked to sit in a place where his voice could be heard if he shouted. This was Chelina's request.

While I was progressing with the paperwork, I was told that a customer had arrived, so I moved to another room.

The three of us who went to the room were me, Chelina, and her aide, Melvin.

When we entered the usual negotiation room, there was a balding man we hadn't seen before. He was Paul Marmore, the head of the Marmore guild. Well, he wasn't that grand a figure…

According to the information I got from Chelina beforehand, the Marmore guild has been around since the founding of the country, but in terms of scale, it's already on the verge of being a small guild. With only about 30 employees and 6 carriages, you can guess the situation.

Compared to the Veriello guild, 30 employees seem to be doing quite well to me.

The head of the Marmore guild was wiping his forehead with a handkerchief, drenched in sweat.

"Well, I came here after canceling all my plans at the sudden request of the Veriello lady. What could be so urgent? Surely, there's no problem with the bark processing we handle for you… No, no, we pay extra attention to the products we deliver to the Veriello guild…"

As soon as Chelina sat down in front of Marmore, he started talking in a torrent. He's a small-time guy. A low-level merchant. No wonder Chelina had no worries about the negotiation.

"That's not the case. There's a slight delay in delivery, but it's not yet time for me to intervene."

At that, Marmore jumped up from his chair by about 2 cm.

"No, that… Of course, we plan to improve the delay within a few days…"

"Recently, it must be difficult to secure workers."

"Haha… Haha…"

Indeed, he has a guilty conscience. But by bringing up the topic himself, it shows the skill of this merchant, Marmore.

"Since we don't have much time, let's get to the point. I understand that the Marmore guild handles the kingdom's unclean matter disposal, right?"

"Huh? Yes, we do that…"

"Envious, isn't it?"

Chelina nodded gently.

"Haha… For a lady of the Veriello family to joke. It's a business that runs at a loss. In the past, there were subsidies, so we could at least make a minimal profit, but I'm sure you can imagine the situation, right?"

His face clearly showed that he didn't understand the flow of the conversation. Easy to read, Mr. Marmore.

"What does the unclean matter disposal job entail?"

"There's no secret, so I can tell you… Is this the main topic?"

He frowned suspiciously. Chelina smiled and encouraged him to continue.

"In that case…"

He cleared his throat dramatically.

"Basically, there's the purification work of cleaning the unclean matter in the alleys with cleaning etheric tools, the collection of horse droppings and garbage on the main streets, and the disposal of these unclean matters outside the city walls. There's also some digging and filling of holes, but the first three are the main ongoing unclean matter disposal tasks."

"I see. How is the management of the unclean matter disposal site?"

"In the past, it was owned by the country, but a few years ago, we were forced to buy that area… Well, we got it at a low price, but who would want to buy such a dirty piece of land…"

He ended with a complaint.

Marmore's mood was sinking, but Chelina's was the opposite. She continued the conversation without showing it.

"From what I've heard, it seems that the Marmore guild is struggling with this job, isn't it?"

"To be honest, it's a job I'd like to abandon completely."

"I see."

Chelina beckoned me and whispered in my ear, which was a bit ticklish and itchy.

"This is an easier situation than I expected."

"Hey, maybe it's not the right time to ask, but what do you mean by 'cleaning the unclean matter in the alleys with etheric tools'?"

"That refers to the communal toilets used by ordinary households. There's usually one toilet for every 10 to 20 households. Some people have their own if they can use cleaning etheric tools."

"I see. So there are many public toilets, and the Marmore guild cleans them."

"That's right. It would be best if the Marmore guild continued to handle that business."

"Indeed, if we were to take it over, we wouldn't have the expertise or the manpower."

Chelina nodded and turned to Marmore with a smile.

"I've heard that the Marmore guild is currently short of funds and lacks workers."

"That's…"

Marmore, drenched in sweat. I wonder when she got that information…

"Can you continue the transactions as they are?"

Marmore looked down and wiped his sweat. He seemed speechless. …What a mean thing to do.

"However, we have built a good relationship with your guild over the years, and I want to continue a good relationship with the Marmore guild."

"What do you mean?!"

This time, he leaned forward eagerly.

"How about if our guild takes over the unclean matter disposal, which is a deficit department for the Marmore guild?"

"That would be very helpful for us, but is it okay for you?"

Marmore's eyes widened. He probably didn't understand why we would take over a deficit department.

"Since we lack the expertise, we can hire the people you currently employ, and we will increase their salaries slightly."

"I see, so you'll take over the personnel costs?"

"No, there are two more conditions."

"…What are they?"

Marmore's expression turned wary. Well, that's understandable.

"One is that we can freely handle the unclean matter after processing, and the other is that you sell all the land you own for the processing to us."

"Huh?!"

"But the land price will be 20% less than the purchase price, is that acceptable?"

"Of course!"

He answered without any thought. What a bad deal.

"I plan to start the procedures to transfer the kingdom's commission to us, but until it's finalized, you will continue to handle the job, and our guild will act as a subcontractor."

"No problem!"

Marmore, the head of the guild, started headbanging like at a heavy metal concert.

"Also, regarding the cleaning with etheric tools, we will continue to entrust it to the Marmore guild. Once the transfer procedures are complete, we will reverse the roles and become the main contractor."

"Thank you so much! Ah! With this, the guild can survive for another 10 years! I don't know how to thank the Veriello lady!"

He grabbed Chelina's hand and shook it repeatedly, almost snatching it away.

"We help each other in tough times. However, this negotiation must remain confidential until the transfer is finalized. Please continue as usual. However, we will complete the land transaction today and start using the land this afternoon."

"Understood! This will provide the operating funds… I won't have to let go of the workers…"

He held Chelina's hand, tears streaming down his face. He must have been struggling with the budget, as he was crying profusely.

He bowed repeatedly, showing his bald head, and left.

"We got not just the manure but the entire system."

"It's easier to keep it secret this way."

"Didn't you say it would be hard to keep it secret?"

"It's impossible to keep it completely secret, but in this form, no one will know what connects to what. No one in this country would think that unclean matter can become fertilizer."

It's used in some countries, though.

"That's fine, but will the food grown with it sell?"

"I think it will. Of course, we'll see the results first… People don't think something is harmful unless they notice it."

"That's a painful thing to hear."

I touched the cigarette in my pocket.

"Also, as Akira-sama and Yararai-sama said, if the greenery increases with the manure, more people will imitate it, and no one will oppose it. That's why this business must not fail."

"That's true… I had an idea, though."

"What is it?"

She turned to me with interest.

"It's the same as with charcoal and paper. I thought about publishing a how-to book."

"That's a good idea."

"But that's a last resort. I think the people of this world should solve the problems of this world, even if I can't explain it well. That's why I said I was being meddlesome before."

Chelina looked up at me silently.

"Seeds, once they take root, become part of this land, so it's fine… It's contradictory, I know."

I don't really understand what I'm doing. I just didn't like seeing food shortages, and it was hard to ignore them when I knew people. But I also thought it was wrong to change everything in the region with the knowledge given to me by God. It's a bit late to say this now, given the washi and charcoal, but I evaluated myself as contradictory.

Then Chelina gently took my hand.

"Akira-sama is kind. You can act for others when everyone else only sees themselves."

"…I'm doing it for myself."

I'm aware that it's just self-satisfaction.

"Your 'for yourself' seems to be based on the happiness of others."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"I see…"

I don't really understand myself. I act on impulse like a child. So I decided to stop thinking about it deeply. After all, it's just a child's shallow wisdom.

"Ahem, cough!"

Melvin started coughing dramatically next to us. From the outside, it probably looked like we were holding hands and staring at each other. …Physically, that's exactly what we were doing.

Before I could let go, Chelina released my hand as if she was throwing something away. That kind of treatment hurts…

"Let's have lunch a bit early!"

Without waiting for my answer, Chelina ran into the dining room.

…Melvin, don't glare at me. Please.

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