Chapter 41

"Ah... hmm, ahn, there, ah... ah, that's... good..."

Tetra lets out a feverish moan.

I increase the force of my massage.

"Aah, hmm, ah... that's... too strong... haa..."

Tetra lets out a pained moan.

Her breathing becomes heavy, and she turns her head to look at me with moist eyes.

I never thought this cool girl would react like this...

It's quite amusing.

I increase the force even more.

"Haa, no... hmm, ah, kuuu ah!"

I lessen the force of my massage.

"Ah... harder... haaa!"

I trace Tetra's body with my fingers over her clothes.

Tetra's body shudders.

"You don't have to push yourself. Let's stop soon."

I say while running my fingers over Tetra's body.

Tetra writhes.

"...Don't tease me..."

She speaks to me in a sweet, pleading voice.

But, earlier...

"You said 'no,' right?"

"...You're mean... hmm, no, it's no, but it's not no..."

I don't understand what she means.

"So, what exactly are you saying?"

"Aah... harder..."

"Doesn't it hurt?"

Tetra's cheeks flush as she speaks.

"Ah... I like it when it hurts..."

What a troublesome girl.

I smirk and increase the force.

"Hia!... hmm, kuu ah... no... haa, fa..."

You just said 'no' a moment ago, didn't you?

"Cough... Don't stop... more... more..."

"What a demanding girl. Fine, if you can beg properly, I'll do it."

I tease her by running my fingers over her body.

Tetra writhes and speaks with heavy breaths.

"P-please... Tetra's... hmm, kha... massage... me..."

I can't hear you clearly...

I could make her say it again...

I look at Tetra.

She really looks in pain.

Her breathing is labored. It would be too cruel to tease her any further.

Fine, I'll do as you wish.

"Ah, here it comes... hmm, faa, haa... hmm, kuu ah, already... no, ah, ah, Aaaah!!"

Tetra's body trembles, her mouth half-open, and she looks up while panting.

Saliva drips from her lips, and she collapses on the floor.

The door opens almost simultaneously.

"What are you doing so early in the morning!!... Oh?"

"What's wrong?"

I remove my hand from Tetra's shoulder and turn to Soyon, who has entered.

"Um... what were you doing?"

"Massaging. You know, we organized the household register yesterday, and our shoulders got really stiff."

We were taking turns massaging each other's shoulders.

But the effort paid off, and we discovered that the population is 32,423.

Now we can collect taxes.

By the way, I had a contract to do the same for Baltro... What should I do?

It's such a hassle.

"So, what's up, Soyon?"

When I ask, Soyon's face turns red.

"Well... I... I made a mistake... No, that's not it! A letter from King Rosais came!!"

Soyon hands me a wooden tablet.

What's this?

"What does it say?"

"In summary, 'Teach me how to make paper quickly.'"

Since he's my vassal, I don't mind teaching him.

It depends on the compensation, though.

"Tetra, let's go."

"Mmm... more... more..."

When I shake Tetra, she writhes and speaks in a sweet, pleading voice.

What are you talking about?

You didn't massage my shoulders.

"...You're mean... haa..."

Tetra sits up, shakes her head, and stretches, making a cracking sound.

Tetra regains her composed expression and looks at me.

"Let's go."

"Clean up your drool first."

Tetra's face turns red as she wipes her lips.

"Alright, as written in the letter, teach me how to make paper."

"Understood. But can you make one promise?"

"What is it?"

I state my condition.

"First, give me wheat as compensation. And please don't mass-produce it immediately."

I'm counting on paper as a major source of income for the As territory.

I've already reduced the tax on wheat.

So, it wouldn't be good if the price drops due to mass production.

"I see... I understand your situation. I'll give you a one-year grace period."

A year... Ideally, I'd want two or three years...

But I guess it can't be helped.

I write down the method of making paper on a piece of paper and hand it to King Rosais.

He accepts it with satisfaction.

"By the way, do you know about iron smelting techniques?"

"Well, I can explain the principle, but I'm not sure if I can actually make it..."

"Teach me!!"

King Rosais leans forward.

I did a reduction experiment with iron oxide in science class in middle school, right?

I got a five, so I understand it. Not many people don't know about reduction reactions. If you've had proper compulsory education, you should know.

And I remember it being briefly mentioned in history class...

"Sure. But the knowledge I have is secondhand. I can't guarantee that it will work. Please consider that. And I want wheat as compensation."

"No problem. But the wheat will be given only if our blacksmiths succeed in iron smelting."

That's fair.

I really hope the blacksmiths succeed.

"Alright. First, prepare iron ore and charcoal."

Iron ore is made of iron oxide.

First, it needs to be reduced using charcoal.

"Then, a high temperature is required to produce iron..."

"I'm asking you to teach me the method."

You're so impatient.

"A bellows is used. The structure is simple, so..."

I explain the structure of the bellows to King Rosais.

It's hard to convey just with words.

"Then, extract the sponge iron, heat it, and hammer it to remove impurities."

This should produce iron.

This is the extent of my knowledge.

I'm not an expert in iron smelting.

It's not something we learn in school.

This is all I know.

Since they can make bronze, they should be able to make iron with this information.

"Alright. That's enough. I'll send the grain as soon as it's completed."

Good, now I can get the wheat.

"Also, teach me how to make the fire elixir."

Fire elixir?

Oh... You mean black powder.

"That material is limited. And I'm the only one who knows how to make it... I think it's dangerous for the method to spread."

"So you won't teach it?"

"That's right."

When I say this, King Rosais sighs.

"Then it can't be helped. Indeed, it would be troublesome if King Dorgal starts using it. For now, I'll be satisfied with iron."

Good.

It's a relief that he understands.

"Is your territory management going well? Your territory borders King Dorgal's."

"Well, it's going okay. I'm still not used to it, but thanks to Baltro's help, I'm managing."

Wait, now that I think about it, he didn't do anything...

"I see. That's good. Let me give you some advice."

Advice? King Rosais is giving advice...

"Listen. Maintain good relations with your neighbors. There are many who don't like you."

"Understood. I know."

Building relationships is important.

I tried hard to ingratiate myself at the previous wedding.

"Do you know that Baltro's child is about to be born?"

"Yes, I know."

I've advised Baltro to sterilize all the tools with boiling water and disinfect his hands with alcohol during childbirth.

This should significantly reduce the risk of puerperal fever.

"He will likely set up a celebration. Make sure to attend. It's a good idea to prepare gifts for all the nobles. Honey would be a good choice, I think."

I was planning to do that anyway...

What should I do about the gifts?

I can't prepare honey for everyone.

I need to think about it.

"One more thing."

"What is it?"

"Be careful with Rigar Dibel... The Dibel family. They are hostile towards you and have a bad reputation."

The Dibel family... If I remember correctly, they were the most powerful family in King Rosais' kingdom before I arrived.

I think their population is almost the same as the As family, which I govern.

I'd like to get along with them...

"But don't worry. I don't like the Dibel family either. Neither does Baltro. A third of the nobles are anti-Dibel. Do you understand what this means?"

In other words, he wants me to be the leader of the anti-Dibel faction?

I don't like conflicts...

But if they see me as an enemy, there's nothing I can do.

"I'll think about it."

"I don't think you need to think about it. It will happen naturally. Handle it well. I have high expectations for you..."

King Rosais looks at me.

What's with that look...

"My lifespan is only three years. I want you to achieve significant results within a year. No, I need you to."

"Significant results..."

A year...

Why does he want me to achieve something before he dies?

Because he can't control the Dibel family anymore?

Or...

"The defeat of King Verm, the method of iron smelting, the method of paper production. These are more than enough, but they are not enough. Achieve significant results in territory management. And protect your territory from King Dorgal. If you do, then..."

"...Understood. I will do my best."

What is he trying to say...

Three weeks later, a letter from King Rosais arrived.

It said that the iron smelting was successful.

However, the iron produced was very weak and not very useful.

Still, the fact that they were able to produce iron allowed them to invite a large number of Kirisian blacksmiths in exchange for a large amount of salt.

They probably thought that if left alone, they would eventually be able to produce decent iron, so they wanted to make a profit while they could.

Even though the iron is not very useful, it is still iron, and it allowed them to invite the Kirisians, so I'll give them some leeway.

They will send the wheat immediately.

I must repay this favor while I am still alive.

That's what the letter says.

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