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“Mitsuha, we’ll head to the capital . Make preparations immediately . ”
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“Huh………”
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Suddenly appearing at the Yamano Viscounty residence and saying so was the familiar Earl Boses . The Viscounty’s servants are no longer concerned by the sudden visits of the Boses family . Even when it’s the Earl himself .
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Are they accustomed or do they think that “Mitsuha-sama is even greater”…
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“It’s the social season, and since the number of bandits hasn’t been reduced much yet, we’ll go to the capital together for safety”
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“Eh, a year hasn’t passed yet…”
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“There are several social seasons in a year . There’s no reason it would be limited to once”
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“Ehh, is that how it is!?”
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Mitsuha was surprised by the Earl’s words because she thought it was definitely once a year .
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“Um, right now, it’s an important time for the territory… I have to pass on this trip to the capital . ”
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“What are you saying! What are you going to do if you are absent during your first social season after becoming a noble? Even when everyone wants to talk with Mitsuha…… . ”
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“No, that’s why I don’t want to”, thought Mitsuha .
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However, that didn’t seem to draw any sympathy from the Earl .
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“Even though this is why I said I’ll lend you a vassal…… We’ll depart from the territory the day after tomorrow . If you don’t hurry up, Iris and Beatrice will come to pick you up”
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“Eeh…… . ”
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Apparently, it seems the Earl absolutely can’t back out either . Because of the hierarchy in the house .
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However, it’s not possible to be away from the territory for a long period right now . It’s an important time .
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She can come back as soon as she reaches the capital . It’s not like she’ll always be around the Earl and others . For the people here, it was better if they thought “she didn’t go to the capital and is simply frequently absent doing business . ”
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There won’t be anyone trying to confirm whether Mitsuha was in the capital or in the Viscounty during that period . Everyone in the Earl’s family will meet Mitsuha every few days in the capital so it’s unlikely anyone would needlessly confirm .
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However, the eight days during the move will hurt . No, there will be a cart loaded with luggage and it’ll move slowly emphasizing on ride quality, so it will take more time than in the case of a carriage……
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“Um, I’ll come by myself later …”
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“No! I told you that the bandits haven’t been reduced yet! And if we don’t go together then there’s no mean… No…”
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The Earl spoke ambiguously after making a sound argument .
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Apparently, it seems they wanted to talk with Mitsuha about various things the ten days of travel . The Earl or maybe Iris-sama, with Beatrice-chan, and Theodore-kun . (伯爵様か、もしくはイリス様、ベアトリスちゃんに、テオドール君とかが。)
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However, she can’t leave the territory unattended that long .
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“It’s going to continue to be a problem from now on and the Earl should be okay” so Mitsuha resolved .
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“Earl, there’s a little secret I have to tell you”
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Hearing that, Mitsuha cleared the room and give the Earl who stopped his voice an explanation .
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“If truth be told, I seem to have considerable talent in terms of magic, when I use the secret art of “crossing”, if it’s me alone or if it’s a small amount of luggage, there isn’t as much of a burden . I can quickly recover if it’s that much…
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However, if this becomes exposed, people forcing the use of “crossing” to start negotiations and trade with their home countries will appear without fail and the demand will definitely escalate accordingly . And that’ll soon exceed my limit . So I reported the burden to be considerably greater .
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In other words, if I am alone, I can instantly go to my place in the capital by “crossing”, so I’ll manage the territory here until I can go”
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“Huh……”
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The Earl is surprised .
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But that felt more like a response to Mitsuha revealing it rather than from Mitsuha’s ability . Perhaps, it was natural that he had expected that much .
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Actually, Mitsuha also thought that the Earl probably had suspicions .
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“Umm……”
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The Earl was in trouble . Now that the sound arguments of “safety on the road” and “can’t be late for the start of the social season” has been sealed, It’s hard to say “no” because he’s fully aware how important managing the territory is . However, having the Boses family monopolize Mitsuha for ten days was too attractive .
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Of course “what wisdom can be drawn out”, is a part of it but the interaction with his wife and children also has great meaning . More than anything, his wife and children strongly desire it .
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They planned to join with his firstborn son, Alexis, and there was the hope that it would go well with either one of his sons .
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However, he also understands the importance of managing the territory and wants to put emphasis on that, and there’s also that she confided a secret out of trust for him . He couldn’t be insensitive to those feelings .
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“Mumumu … … . ”
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After worrying for a while, the Earl finally made a decision and said .
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“I understand . I’ll persuade Iris and Beatrice somehow . Instead, you have to arrive earlier and greet us when we arrive at the capital, I don’t have confidence I can explain to the two anything other than saying ‘she already left’…… . ”
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Mitsuha nods and sees the Earl off .
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However, the words the Earl said while returning, “This will be a big favor…”, she couldn’t agree with .
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(That, is a problem in the Earl’s household, isn’t it none of my concern . )
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Anyway, if they leave the day after tomorrow, it seems that the number of usable days is ten if early, about twelve to thirteen if late . There will be various unexpected obstacles, like weather, carriage breakdowns, bandits, and landslides, traveling for the people in this world will naturally have uncertain elements .
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(Well, I guess I should go in around nine days…)
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In the meantime, Mitsuha thought what needs to be done in the capital .
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First of all, securing a chef . Because the son of the eatery decided to work at the eatery after learning Yamano cooking, a chef for the Viscount residence is needed . Otherwise, the current lone chef will collapse .
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Also, a woodworker or shipbuilder .
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Probably, there won’t be any shipbuilders . The demand is too little, and there’s no way those not around here facing the sea would be at the capital far from the sea .
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And so, she advances the territory’s plans in a hurry before time gets taken by the capital .
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Starting the trial production of soy sauce, miso, and tofu . If it’s just starting, everyone in the villages can do their best with trial and error . I’ll go watch from time to time .
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Also, the cultivation of wasabi begins . It’s necessary for fish dishes and it can be used for other dishes too . Its sterilization effect improves the preservation of processed foods . I might find it if I looked for it even in this world, but I brought it from Japan because that would be troublesome . Not land wasabi (hill wasabi), but water wasabi (mountain stream wasabi) . Starting with root division rather than from a seed . Grown on the foothills on the sides of a mountain stream on the upper reaches of a river . A wasabi that likes beautiful running water .
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And so, because the practice training on the ship received from the small country was over, we finally tried dragnet fishing . Since it’s the first time, it was a better catch than I thought . Even with many catches, it’s troublesome to process so let’s not do this very often until the market expands . They’re migratory fish, so it’s unlikely we’ll end up “catching everything” though .
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We made it a little cheaper and began a big fish sale, dried and salted fish are being produced, pickled with salt from the salt field, which finally began production . I bought some for Pez-san who came just in time to peddle for selling them in the capital . I also sold salt . It’s for investigating how much we can sell, so the amount is only a little . It’s a small salt field so there’s not a lot of production anyway . I also want to check the merchants’ response to rock salt .
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I talked with Pez-san who currently leads three carriages about whether if he can increase them to about five . He seems to be earning quite a lot of money from Japanese goods and is considering increasing the number of trades .
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Well, Japanese goods are only being sold little by little, but if you strike well with noble customers you ought to have a good business . Although I don’t do it myself because it is troublesome .
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I don’t want to directly advertise to nor negotiate with nobles . I’m fine with only the customers at the store .
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My own store in the capital is thoroughly for pushing Earth’s products… *cough *cough, it is a store that markets high price and low quantity, we do not handle things with short expiration dates and things sold in large quantities, and articles from this world . With some exceptions . …… Also, it’s only open for a few days .
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Besides, the territory’s economy will collapse in an instant if I die, because that’ll hurt my conscience, I want to make the territory’s economy function all on its own completely without my involvement .
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As soon as possible, there has to be sufficient profit for Pez-san just from domestic production without Japanese products . Introducing good things like homemade handicraft or light industry…… . Once again, things like processed foods, textiles, general goods, and papermaking…… .
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While doing this and that, nine days passed in an instant .
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From today on, for the people of the territory, it will be “Because I going around here and there inspecting and doing a survey, I’m absent” . For the people of the capital let’s say “Because I am busy negotiating with various places to sell products from the territory, I’m absent from the store . ”
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There’s also the need to manage my house in Japan and “appeal that I’m living properly”, and it’ll be bad if I don’t do something about the ‘what job I have’ matter . Let try saying “it’s a small import business”, like “I sell these traditional folk goods, furniture, and swords as antiques” . Something like taxes and registration seems troublesome… Better yet, let’s change my address to out of the country…, wait, no no . I have to protect that house .
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Besides, it seems about time the big countries come up with some approach .
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They’re not countries that’ll remain silent while small countries take all the delicious spots, probably . Well, I think they’ll come via the captain according to the rules that were decided .
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…… Oh, troublesome! The territory, the capital, Japan, and the captain place with the big countries… I can’t deal with something like a four-front war!
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“… Hey, Mitsuha-neesama, don’t you want to leave the shop to me?”
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Aaah, a whisper of the devil!
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“Sa, Sabine-chan, what do you mean…”
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Having quickly gotten wind that Mitsuha is staying in the kingdom, Sabine-chan said as soon as she arrived at the store to the trembling Mitsuha .
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In my short-term capital visits, I haven’t encounter Sabine-chan . Appearing to be frequently coming to the capital would be strange and I can’t do my job if she sticks closely around me .
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“But neesama, the store is always closed . I can open it and be the salesperson . I also learned to operate the Debude, and what if I manage the third floor too . I’m fine with living here . ”
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Is, is that your motive~! You just want to freely use the DVD player and resources here, Sabine-chan!!
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On the first floor, the DVDs, refrigerator, microwave oven, gas range, oven, the shower in the bath, the fan in the heater……
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Also, looks like she has also noticed the existence of the resources on the third floor .
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No wonder, because all this is on the first floor, one can easily imagine that there will also be a lot on the third floor, which is a private space .
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However…… .
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“B . but, what if some strange customers come and give you a hard time…”
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“Ahaha, Do you think there will be people who give the store of the “Princess Shrine Maiden of Thunder” a hard time? Besides, of course, I won’t be alone, but working together with an escort like a lady’s maid retainer . If not, I won’t be able to watch the Debude at ease don’t you agree . ”
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She’s going serious, this girl!
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No, but, that might be ok…
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I don’t want to leave it to an unknown person, but if it’s Sabine-chan… …, No, don’t be deceived, me!!
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What general shop owner makes a princess tend to the store!
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Also, the third floor will instantly be consumed if that is done, the teleportation will immediately be exposed if I disappear or materialize in the store .
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However, if I leave the shop in someone else’s care it would be quite easier……
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“Ha, haha, I, I’ll think about it… . ”
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“Tsk” Sabine clicks her tongues at Mitsuha who managed to overcome the temptation .
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And, right then, a child from city’s orphanage rushed in .
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“Himemiko-sama, I’m here!”
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“I already told you to stop calling me that!”
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While scolding, Mitsuha hands over the reward and sweets as a bonus .
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In their free time when not being helpers at the institution’s vegetable garden and raising poultry, the children at orphanages will voluntarily do errand runner like work . Mitsuha has occasionally asked children to do tasks and this was one of those times . The content of the request is “to watch the outer gate of the town and inform me as soon as the Boses Earldom carriage comes . ” She had drawn the Earl’s family crest and handed it over so he’ll know at a glance if he see their carriage .
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There are a lot of orphans who want to receive the requests of Mitsuha who always gives sweets aside from the reward . No, before that, it seemed to be an honor to have “received the request of Himemiko-sama”, and among orphans the competition was high .
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After the boy received the reward and sweets, he said his thanks and ran away . Probably to send notice to the Boses residence in the capital . Although it hasn’t been particularly requested, if he informs that “Earl Boses’ carriage has reached the neighborhood, Himemiko-sama will come soon”, he could possibly get a reasonable reward . In particular, the value of the information that Mitsuha will also come will be high . If you miss a rare making money opportunity, you can’t be called a first-class orphan .
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“…… No, what’s a ‘first-class orphan’”, it was Mitsuha that didn’t not think that . (……いや、『一流の孤児』って何やねん、と思わなくもないミツハであったが。)
(tl note: there’s a double negative with なく and ない)
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Anyway, close the shop, and head toward the Boses residence in the capital . The group riding a cart isn’t very fast but even so, there’s not much time considering the orphan boy’s travel time .
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Like I promised the Earl, I greet them “appealing that I came to the capital ahead of time” and if I don’t, the Earl’s position will be in danger .
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And, Sabine-chan followed for some reason .
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Ah, come to think of it, Beatrice-chan is your friend .
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