Shop 37.1

Test

Chapter 37.1. The Bodyguard In The Wilderness! (Note: The exclamation mark is crucial!)

For about two days after that, nothing particularly eventful happened. 

Dealing with Hug's nightly demands for tonkatsu was annoying, but... 

Also, Narnia kept showing up in my room every night, asking if she could join. 

If you don't have money, don't do it. 

Hagg seems to have grasped that too, as he no longer generously treats me as he did on the first day. 

If I receive the materials cost, I might consider doing it, but the amount I can afford for a child is not enough.

He and Yaralai exchange insults every time they meet, but it hasn't escalated to a physical fight. 

It was busy but peaceful days.

————

On that day, the prototypes of paper and charcoal were finally completed. 

Chernina and I canceled all afternoon appointments and moved to the city's outskirts, once outside the city walls.

The location is along the river that flows east to west, south of the city. 

After leaving the east gate of the city wall, we headed south along the castle wall, reaching the river. 

To be precise, there seems to be a place along the river where you can receive rafts, pull them up, and dry the wood. 

I could see a pile of large logs from a distance, but our destination seemed to be a few kilometers east along the river.

It's enough to recognize that it's reasonably far from the city.

"What's this place?"

I got off the carriage, surprised to see large huts lined up.

"This is a property owned by the Veliero Trading Company. Officially, it's a processing facility for river fish."

"Fish processing, huh..."

I squinted my eyes and walked around the huts. 

There was no smell of fish here compared to Chernina's company area, and more importantly, there was no sign of a single dried sardine.

But there are no sardines in the river.

What's more intriguing is that the huts are exceptionally sturdy, built with dried bricks and thick timber. 

Four sharp-eyed, armed individuals equipped with spears and swords were present. 

They weren't soldiers from the city entrance or the occasional patrols of the national army. 

They seemed to be private soldiers, as no fool would assign the task of guarding fish to individuals who looked unusually strong.

"So, what's the real purpose?"

"It's an experimental site for our Veliero Trading Company... I mean, for me."

Probably.

Melvin shoots me a blaming look. As Chernina, as always, carelessly leaks the company's secrets.

It won't change anything even if you glare at me.

"Although we had no choice but to build the charcoal kiln outside, we immediately covered it with a fence. We had the materials, after all. Not that we need to hide it. Anyone approaching from this clear vantage point would be immediately noticeable."

They must have considered all that when choosing this place.

"Well then, Dauro. Let's hear the report."

Entering the largest hut, Dauro, a slightly chubby middle-aged artisan, was waiting inside.

"Miss, please have a seat over there."

I was guided to a chair in the back, and Dauro promptly placed a large sheet of paper on the table.

"It's about the size of parchment paper. But being completely square is excellent."

"Yeah. I had a bit of trouble grasping the process of making paper, and we struggled with the need for transparent water, but we managed to make all the tools on the first day."

"So, mass production of the tools is possible?"

"Endless."

"I see. However, is this paper..."

Chernina pinched and pulled a paper slightly larger than the desk.

"There's still plenty of room for improvement, especially in the choice of plants used. This one is made from easily obtainable wood from down the river, so it's inexpensive."

"How much for this?"

"Sell it for 10,000 yen per sheet, including the cost of the tools, and it will be profitable."

"...What did you say?"

Chernina slowly raised her head.

"The overall production cost of the tools is less than a million yen. With this, we've already made about a hundred sheets as practice. Although we've only completed about ten due to a shortage of space for sun drying. These are the ones I cut into A4 and A3 sizes."

What Dauro took out were sheets of washi cut into A4 and A3 sizes.

Thick and uneven, but being able to produce this much material in a few days is impressive. It will probably make thin washi in no time.

"The larger one here is close in size to the letters on circulating parchment paper."

"Yeah. It's best to sell it in this 'A3' size and sell the uncut maximum size. Cut into A4, and bind it like this for sale. Someone get a pen and ink."

Before I could look around, Melvin quickly placed a quill and ink on the table from the shelf. The ink bottle is made of pottery.

"...It's a bit scratchy, but the ink flows really well."

"Chernina, the ink should be dry in no time. Try stacking another sheet."

"This is... amazing. Ink on parchment paper takes quite a while to dry."

Knowing that Chernina struggled when working with parchment paper, I tried to help. It seems to be well-received.

"Uniform size, good writing feel, and easy to use. Moreover, the price is significantly lower. Dauro, how much would this A4 sheet eventually cost?"

"Ten yen per sheet is more than enough for a substantial profit. If the research progresses, we might even be able to sell it for one yen per sheet within a year, don't you think?"

It was Melvin, not Chernina, who was shocked by the meaning of that.

"Overwhelmingly cheap and high-quality compared to parchment paper, and it doesn't take up much space... This will undoubtedly sell."

"Miss, there's one thing you're mistaken about."

"Is there a problem?"

"Claiming high quality for something like this is a bit troublesome. Moreover, if I get another 7 days, I can show you a product that will make you laugh at this paper. 

I've only just begun to understand the secrets of papermaking."

Dauro grinned.