NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: Touring the Domain!
At the Clothes Shop
“Yessssssss! It’s so easy to wear, so comfortable to move in, it’s the best everrrrrrrr!”
In the end, Rahmu’s outfit ended up being exactly as he requested: a nipple-exposing Chinese dress.
I told him it was indecent and to stop, but then he started to cry with big, watery eyes, so I couldn’t help it. I just can’t stand seeing my comrades sad, you know…!
“(Well, it’s him who’ll be embarrassed about it when he grows up, not me. More importantly,) I’m sorry, Martha, for making you create something so strange.”
Even though I finished it off with my [Creation Art Formula], it was Martha from the clothes shop who did the measuring and cutting, and ended up making the risqué Chinese dress. I’m really sorry…?
“…I see, to receive His Excellency’s… we need to go this far…! In our admiration, we female soldiers have… ugh…!”
“Martha?”
She seems to be muttering something regretfully. Wait, is Martha angry?
“…It’s Martha.”
“Ah, my apologies, Your Excellency! Um, through making this garment, I’ve learned a great deal!”
“Is that so?”
Wow, Martha is such a mature person.
Even though she must have some thoughts about being made to create erotic clothing, she takes it as experience.
She’s a rare sensible person, and I must praise her highly for that!
“Excellent work, Martha. As long as you’re the shopkeeper, our domain will continue to be filled with the finest clothes. Please, stay by my side forever and ever.”
“Yes, Sir!♡”
Martha responded with a crisp salute.
…And at the same time, from beneath the counter that hid her lower half, came the sound of liquid splashing.
Did she spill some fabric dye, perhaps?
◆ ◇ ◆
In the City Streets at Noon
“Wow, this ‘hamburger’ thing is delicious! Especially this meat in the middle, what is this?!”
“Ufufu, that would be a hamburger steak. It’s made by mixing together different types of leftover meat, a creation by His Excellency to allow for a delicious yet affordable meal♡”
“His Excellency is amazinggggg!”
After leaving the clothes shop, Nina and I were feeding Rahmu as we showed him around the town.
“It’s like we’re a family with a child, isn’t it♡”
Don’t be silly.
“Rahmu, you’ve used the restroom already, right?”
“Yeah, it was amazing! The water flows at the bottom, so it doesn’t smell at all! The Empire’s technology is amazing!”
“No, no, toilets like that are unique to this domain! It was also something His Excellency created!”
Ah, the flush toilets.
Well, it’s not exactly a lever you turn, but the water is constantly flowing at the bottom.
When building up the domain, I modified the land beneath the houses’ toilets to connect smoothly with a nearby river.
This meant no need for pit latrines.
“Moreover, His Excellency produced a large quantity of toilet paper from the surrounding trees, so aftercare is not a problem. And with the creation of several large public baths, where water supply and drainage can be controlled by turning a valve, everyone can stay sparkling clean!”
“This is an amazing domain!”
Well, cleanliness is important.
One of the first things I struggled with after being reincarnated in this world was the lack of hygiene.
With a value system akin to the Middle Ages, basically everyone stank.
“I hate dirtiness. That’s why the baths are basically free for everyone.”
“How do you manage the cost? It seems like it would use a lot of firewood to heat the water!”
“No need for that. I created pipes underground with [Creation Art Formula] and tapped into natural gas.”
“Gas???”
“It’s a combustible gas.”
The civilization level of this world is essentially medieval crap.
Therefore, no one has thought to tap into the natural gas deep underground, and it’s only in my domain that we’re utilizing it like this.
“During battles, many comrades would die from wounds festering due to unclean conditions. Eventually, I plan to extend gas pipes to each household, making it even easier for everyone to bathe.”
“I don’t fully understand, but that’s way too amazing…! In Rahmu’s country, the common people can barely afford to bathe in water…!”
“Normally, that’s the case in the Empire as well. However, Alvatros’ domain is different! What do you think, Rahmu? Isn’t this appealing enough?”
“It is! It’s the best place for girls!”
Glad to hear you like it.
“We’re also focusing on improving cuisine. Thanks to the gas we’ve introduced to various restaurants, they can serve hot meals anytime.”
“Ufufu, His Excellency said ‘hot meals’! How cute!♡”
…
I silently pull Nina’s cheek. Don’t make fun of your superior, you.
“Ow! But being touched by His Excellency makes me so happy!”
What’s with that?
“Really, this girl… Anyway, back to the topic, I’ve also introduced some of my own creations to the restaurant menus.”
“Like this hamburger? It’s incredibly delicious!”
“Yes. There’s also ‘shiitake dashi,’ which we mix with eggs to make an omelet, and ‘white sauce’ made from butter, flour, and milk for cream stew, among others.”
“I don’t really get it, but it sounds absolutely delicious!?”
Of course, it’s tastier than what they’re used to eating here.
This world has a rich variety of natural ingredients, but the cooking methods are quite basic.
Cooking is essentially “quick to prepare, eat, and replenish,” as if that’s the only concept.
“Long wars have had their toll. There’s no time to experiment with cooking, so without change, we’re headed straight for a future like Britain’s…”
“Britain? Is that some kind of dish? Is it delicious?”
“Well, fish and chips are good, but herring pie is a disaster. Anyway, we’re putting effort into not just hygiene but also cuisine. Next, I’ll have Rahmu taste test at several shops.”
“Yayyy!”
Children’s tastes are honest, after all.
And since Rahmu is technically a lady from a border domain, her opinion will be valuable, different from some kid who finds everything tasty.
“Hmm, with all this, I think many people will visit. Do we need to innovate further?”
“I think so too, Your Excellency, don’t you?”
The convict girls give their opinion.
I appreciate their assessment as the lord, but we need to go a step further.
“Indeed. I think those who visit the domain will be satisfied. But my goal is to satisfy those who haven’t visited.”
“Satisfy those who haven’t visited…!?”
Yes.
“Meaning, ‘souvenirs.’ Those who visit can buy them to take back, and those who receive them will be thoroughly pleased, wishing to visit the domain themselves. We need such wonderful souvenirs.”
In other words, a specialty product.
Considering this world’s transportation conditions, it should be something that doesn’t spoil or get damaged easily and can be taken back home.
“I seeee. Hmm… sorry, but Rahmu can’t think of anything…!”
“That’s fine. Don’t worry, it’s a significant aspect of the domain’s development, and I didn’t expect an easy answer.”
What should we do then? Just as I was pondering, Nina suddenly clapped her hands with a “That’s it!”
“Why not go on a tour of the city, like we’re doing now with Rahmu?”
“What do you mean?”
I’m regularly wandering around the city for work, but…?
“Oh, I don’t mean Alvatros’ domain. —We should go on a reporting trip to the neighboring ‘Shurehito domain’!”
Oh, to Jean-Jacques von Shurehito, the border lord’s place! That’s an excellent idea!
“That’s a brilliant idea, Nina! Let’s plan to leave tomorrow!”
“Yes! Rahmu is going too!”
—Thus, I decided to visit Shurehito’s place, taking along two girls wanted in other countries for war crimes!
Yayyyy!