As
usual expect mistranslation! Also this is not a literal translation....
Translator:
Yukkuri Oniisan
Editor:
Nao Sou
Chapter 11: Noble and Honor Student
In the middle of a room that was dimly illuminated by candles, a man in his prime age with neat and short brown hair was facing
a large work desk and reading the report that was written on the parchment in
his hand.
Reading the report, His expression became stern. One
can predict that the content was inauspicious.
On the top of the desk was a stack of parchment
similar to what the man held on his hand and on the side of that stack was a
quill pen that was put inside a small ceramic vessel that contained black ink.
In Japanese term, the room size was 16 tatamis wide.
It only furnished with minimal furniture. A desk, a chair, a shelf and a large
rug from stitched animal pelt. Not one expensive articles could be seen.
(1 Tatami Wide is equal to 0.604997277512 square meter, 16 tatami = ~9,7 square meter. Quite wide.)
(1 Tatami Wide is equal to 0.604997277512 square meter, 16 tatami = ~9,7 square meter. Quite wide.)
When the man was pondering the report, a knocking
sound can be heard from the door.
「This
is Isaac. I just returned from Grisea Village.」
「Enter.」
The man put down the parchment in his hand, while Isaac, that held a parchment in his right hand, asked permission and entered the room. Isaac then presented his parchment to the man.
「Nelson-sama,
about the state of Grisea Village, the situation that Nelson-sama worried for
did not happened. On the contrary, by building water channel in the village,
there is no longer any need to worry about water.」
「......
what do you say?」
The man that read the report ---- Nelson --- raised
his face to Isaac direction and skim he report on the parchment that he
received.
Nelson had a puzzled expression when reading it. Isaac
wondered if something was wrong and made a slight movement while still standing
upright.
「According
to this the water channel had water flowing inside it, is that true?」
「Yes.
With certainty, there is water flowing in it. The water channel is connected to
a reservoir, and the reservoir is half full with water.」
「Impossible.」
Hearing Isaac answer, Nelson changed his glance from
the parchment to Isaac.
Receiving this sharp glance, even if he doesn’t think
that he had done something wrong, Isaac back was wet with cold sweat.
「Ho-however, It had been confirmed with my own eyes, so it can’t be possibly wrong
and........」
「Isaac,
do you know what is the distance of that village from the river? Also do you know
about the terrain surrounding that river?」
「......
No, I ask for your forgiveness.」
「...... is that so?」
Nelson stood up and pulled out two large parchments
from the shelf on the wall.
「Let
see. Why it is impossible for the water to flow in the water channel? Let me
explain. It is good to start memorizing the
geography.」
Nelson tapped the shoulder of Isaac who hung his head
and then he spreaded out the two parchments.
Drawn on the first sheet was the map of Grisea Village
area that he governed. The second one was a map of an area that was a little
farther from the village. The aqueduct in the village and the point where it
was predicted to be connected to the river was also drawn.
「Listen,
first of all the distance of Grisea Village to the river, for an adult it will
take fourth Koku (about 30 minutes) to walk there. In addition, because of the
prolonged drought there is little food, the able body man was diminished
because of the previous war so the manpower was lacking. There almost no bronze
tools in the village.」
(TL note: Koku is a Chinese derived time unit. It’s about 2 hour long.)
Nelson confirmed with Isaac if he understood until this
point. His answer was positive, so Nelson continued his explanation.
「Although
it wasn’t stated in the report, when did the rain fell, but you had visit the Grisea
village about........ 1 month ago. Sometime after that, the rain fell and then they
desperately build water channel? Well it’s not a story that I don’t understand.
However.......」
When Nelson said that, he pointed his finger at the
river that was drawn on the map.
「If the
water surface in this river and this water channel had the same attitude that
is. Unfortunately, this water surface in this river is too low for it to flow
to the water channel. Even if you put the water channel further at the upstream,
the upstream river was distant from the village and there were many hills
between them.」
「Wha.......?
Then that water, where does it come from......?」
Hearing Nelson's explanation, Isaac looked over the map
and groaned.
Isaac had personally seen the water flowing in the
water channel with his own eyes, so it was a fact. He had thought that it was
certain that the water channel was dug to the river.
But that river cannot flow to the water channel.
As far as can be seen on the map, there were no other
water sources near the village, where the water come from, he really doesn’t
had the slightest idea.
For water channel flow to cut through the hill or
detour around the big hill was impossible if you realistically considered the
available time or manpower.
「That’s
what I still don’t understand...... Well, If we investigate the water channel
then I will understand.」
「That’s
right, then tomorrow once again I will go to Grisea Village.」
To Isaac that was in high spirit, Nelson shook his
head.
「You
should do your other tasks. Moreover, the availability of water at Grisea
Village is not a bad news, so, now we will just pend the matter of where are the
water sources for another time. Even if we go to Grisea Village now, it will
take a full day. We don’t have time for conducting another investigation.」
「.....
Yes. I ask for your forgiveness.」
Isaac dropped his shoulders. Because of his lack of
attention, another cause of concern appeared in Nelson’s domain.
When Nelson saw Isaac's expression, he once again lightly
tapped Isaac shoulder to ease his tension.
「Do
not worry so much. The number of your visit to Grisea Village can still be
counted with one hand. Besides, it’s not a bad news. Rather it was good one.
You can understand the local geography now. Isn’t this considered a good
ending?」
「But,
even if this time all ends well, when I think that because of my mistake
something that cannot be undone happened, then....」
Isaac get further discouraged, so Nelson sighed in
disappointment and changed the conversation
topic.
「By
the way, how is Rize recently? Do you both get along well?」
「Eh!?
N-No, nothing important happening, Sir!」
Hearing that sudden question, Issac become flustered
and hurriedly answered.
Seeing that Isaac's response, Nelson was sighing
exaggeratedly.
「Hear
me Isaac, you can’t turn my daughter's face with this. Although I don’t know what
her preference in men is, I am certain it is a person who can attack and seize
the fort at the same time.」
「.....
Nelson-sama’s daughter, ojou-sama is nicknamed Arcadian’s Shield. I think her
fort is nothing less than impregnable stronghold.」
「Wahahahaha. What a wise choice of words! Surely that girl fort
is worthy of that moniker!」
To the Nelson that was laughing hard, Isaac can only
said,
「No,
That is not joke, but the truth....」
And drop his shoulders once again.
✦✧✦✧
On the other hand, at the same time, in the residence
of the Grisea Village ‘s chief, Valin. Surrounding the hearth, with firewood
crackling under the flame, was Kazura, Valetta, and Valin. The three of them was
talking about the crops and the taxation.
(TL: the poor guy
was always referred as village chief by the author, so I changed that and
typing Village Chief was time consuming)
「I
see. So, every two or three months, you send tribute of crops as tax. Does the
Noble trade it with other areas to change it into money?」
「Yes,
because that money was for the tribute to the Royal Family, if the tax are not
collected, then he will get reprimand from the Royal Family. But if you receive
permission from the Royal Family, it’s possible to pay the tribute with crops
or other goods directly instead of money.」
「Fumufumu. Valetta-san is knowledgeable. I admire you.」
Hearing Kazura compliment, Valetta face became a
little blushed, she then smiled.
「Father
has told me various things. Since I’m a village chief’s daughter, if I don’t have education to some extent, I can’t guide the villagers.」
(Need help on this line: 村長の娘であるからには、ある程度の学がなければ村の人たちに示しがつきませんから)
「Yes,
even if she’s my daughter, Valetta is a very smart girl. Even if she came from a
small village like this one, she could served under the the nobles like
Nelson-sama. So, I think that i was better for her to had a proper education, even if it was only
for little, however ...」
Hearing Valin’s word, Valetta turned her face to him and
smiled sweetly.
「Uun,
no. I like this village so I don’t want to leave it. Moreover, if I left, this
house will immediately be covered with dust. After one month, father will be
buried under masses of dusts.」
「Wait
a minute, Valetta. What cruel words. No matter how you see it, Father can
clean the house too.」
Valin said this while gazing at Valetta with a warm
eyes.
Maybe, Valetta worried if Valin living alone in this
house.
Seeing this two person, Kazura’s heart becoming warmer and he thought「To
had such strong filial love, she was a devoted daughter.」
(ED: And so Valetta slowly trapped Kazura in her webs of moe...) (TL: So true brother, so true...)
「So then err... The tax for this time is 8 tenths of the previous tribute, right?」
(ED: And so Valetta slowly trapped Kazura in her webs of moe...) (TL: So true brother, so true...)
「So then err... The tax for this time is 8 tenths of the previous tribute, right?」
「Yes.
It was Isaac’s instruction yesterday. The proper tribute was in crops, however, the potato in the fields have not full-grown. Also, the fields for growing
the beans for the tribute were repurposed for the planting of quick growing
plant that the village will use as food.」
Kazura nodded and understand a little why the tribute
changed into timber.
Remembering the lumbering work progress when they built
the aqueduct, there will be no problem for timber this time.
He didn’t know how much timber was needed for the
previous tribute, but with the Axes and Saw he had brought, it surely would not become
a problematic task.
「Have you ever pay taxes more than the instructed amount?」
(Thanks for the kind anon who pointed this out?)
To Kazura’s question, Valetta
nod.
「Yes. Although I don’t know about the other village, in case that the harvest of crops is above expectation, or in case we had gathered a large number of fire wood, then after selling it to the city,
part of the money could be collected as an addition for the tribute.」
「Ee? Why?」
「Nelson-sama decide the taxes while properly thinking about
our livelihood, so if there is some trouble
in the village he could actively grant assistance. But this current famine, as
expected, it looks like it is impossible.」
「Oo, he sounds like a nice Lord.」
Kazura nod and feel respect to
Nelson when he heard Valetta’s answer.
If he had not taken his position
as a considerable good governor, then Nelson back wouldn’t need to be burdened.
(ED: I believe this is something towards the lines of "You scratch my back, I scratch ours. Since Nelson made things easy for the villagers, they would make things easy for him.) (TL: I agree... I weak with Japan idiom...)
(ED: I believe this is something towards the lines of "You scratch my back, I scratch ours. Since Nelson made things easy for the villagers, they would make things easy for him.) (TL: I agree... I weak with Japan idiom...)
It doesn’t mean that everyone would repay the favor for his kindness, there are, after all, villages that falsify the harvest report
for their own comfort, or so what Kazura had heard from Valin at the dinner.
(TLC needed: かなりの善政を敷いているようではあるが、それ故にナルソンの負う苦労は半端なものではないだろう。
優しくしていても全てのものが恩に報いるわけではないだろうし、夕食時に村長から聞いたように、収穫量をごまかして自分達だけ楽をしようという村も必ず出てくるのだ。)
If you are too kind, then they
become spoiled. If you are too strict, then they would rebelled.
In this world too, government was
something complicated.
「Therefore, like now, the time when tax revenue keeps decreasing, we somehow want to pay more to Nelson-sama. Surely Nelson-sama has
difficulties paying the taxes to Royal Family.」
「I see...... So, not only you want to give tribute of the requested timber, if possible you also wanted to give crops for the tribute. Then, at this moment, how many fields that
was planted with potatoes?」
「The potatoes fields are only 2 tenths since
the other fields completely withered because of the drought.」
「2 Tenths, huh? Hmm....」
Nelson's territory of Grisea
Village can be considered an Honor Student, because it somehow want to pay the
tax in larger amount than necessary. (This is the first time Kazura heard the name of the
village from Valin.)
「(There is no time to increase the number of potato seedlings
now, but maybe we can increase the quality of the potato?)」
Though it was easier to bring
a large amount of crops from Japan, but this world food had great difference in
taste and shape. If there was suddenly there a large quantity of new variety of crops
in the tribute, it would be highly suspicious.
Kazura thought that, for now, there is no need to worry about the timber, so let's concentrate in growing the
crops as much as possible so it can be used as a tax tribute.
「Ano, can I inspect the potato fields tomorrow? I
want to see the condition of the remaining potatoes.」
「Oh, you want to inspect? Thank you very much.」
「E? Y, Yes. For the time being, I will only look.....」
Wondering why Valin
suddenly bowed and thanked him, Kazura was puzzled in his heart.
「Then, do you want to go to sleep? The sun had set for
some time.」
「Ah, is that so? Should I sleep then?」
By Valetta’s voice, the
discussion of that night was over. The three of them will visit the fields tomorrow.
☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽
Thanks for the chapter Yukkuri oniisan!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the translation.
ReplyDeleteThanks
ReplyDeleteWhy do you keep saying takarafuji? it's takarakuji... :/
ReplyDeleteWahahaha.. How I could I made such mistake that?
DeleteMaybe because it's more rhythmical... (since takarakuji and takarafuji, after the liquid 'r' sounds it's easier to followed by a fricative than a stop...)
Fixed thanks.... (Oh yeah I misspelled your name as Laryvde not Larvydefor the same reason, after a liquid 'r' was a fricative 'v'...)
Blame my phonology tendency to turn stops syllables into fricative after a liquid sound!
Thank you
ReplyDeletenext chapter : go back to Japan, buy tons of fertilizer and spread them over fields...I hope the story won't progress like this :P
ReplyDeleteOh this is very nice, thank you very much :)
ReplyDeleteIt's an enjoyable slice of life story. Thanks. By the way, how many chapters are there in the web novel?
ReplyDeletePer 8 August 2015 there is 120 Chapter...
ReplyDeleteWith my translation pacing, I need about 500 days to complete them all....... lets hope that RL wont disturb my sliw translate progress....
「By the way, the amount of taxes, did you pay more than was necessary?」
ReplyDelete(Need help in this one: 提示されたものよりも多く租税を払うことってあるんですか? Did I get it right?)
Nope. The more accurate translations are:
Have you ever pay more taxes than the instructed amount?
Thanks for pointing this out
DeleteSo in this world the nobility has an understanding of topographical maps and such but no clue about water wheels? Also why would such a backward village have wooden houses? Such a village should be at the level of building with Cob. Weird weird weird.
ReplyDeleteBecause of war there's regress... Also, that guy saied that the villagers doesn't have bronze stuff and there's something like white peace... So I suppose that not only the populace was affected by forced labor, even womens participared in the war, there was famine... And I suppose that even metal thing were collected to be used in war.
DeleteThank for the translating.
ReplyDeleteBecause all that talk about moe ... When i had read about ,,her fort is impregnable" and from the context ... That supposed relationship between the daughter and the blodlnd guy I've i've taught that it was a perverted joke.. Hope I'm wrong.
im·preg·na·ble (imˈpreɡnəb(ə)l/)
DeleteWord class: adjective
Definition 1. adjective: impregnable
(of a fortified position) unable to be captured or broken into.
"an impregnable wall of solid sandstone"
synonyms: invulnerable, impenetrable, unassailable, inviolable, secure, strong, well fortified, well defended;
antonyms: vulnerable
Definition 2.
unable to be defeated or destroyed; unassailable.
"the case against Hastings would have been almost impregnable"
synonyms: unassailable, unbeatable, undefeatable, unshakable, invincible, unconquerable, invulnerable
"he displayed a calm, impregnable certainty"
antonyms: shaky, vulnerable
It means no one have ever successfully court her.... as if an impregnable fortress....
I see, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThe translator is barely literate; this translation is no longer worth reading.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your patrpnage. I hope you like your stay.
DeleteI don't like the fact that he isn't thinking about anything that may come to his health... He should atleast carry a gun with him at all times since who knows what can happen. Not just for malicious humans either he may encounter a wild animal of sorts so he's just being way too careless...
ReplyDeleteBe careful of night attacks, Kazura ~~
ReplyDelete村長の娘であるからには、ある程度の学がなければ村の人たちに示しがつきませんから <-- As the village chief's daughter, it would set a bad example for the rest of the villagers if I don't at least have some knowledge (on the matter).
ReplyDelete(maybe on the governmental issues, i.e. the royal tribute system, since the village chief is the leader in the village, he should know how the tribute system works, and by extension so does his daughter, by learning from her dad)