Translator Corner
This is
Yukkuri demasu...
DISCLAIMER: I
don’t guarantee that I translate 100% correct....So helping hand is welcome!
ALSO IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW.
The Translator:
Yukkuri Oniisan
The Editor:
Slightly
Chapter 24:
Desperate Financial Situation
In a room
made from stone and illuminated by candle light, Nelson was sitting on a chair
as he stared intensely at the large map of his domain that was unrolled atop of
his desk work.
On the left
side of the desk, his wife Zirconia scanned the parchment she held in her right
hand.
Zirconia
was wearing only a light red tunic in a relaxed manner, while Nelson was wearing
a collared patterned shirt and high quality trousers, furthermore a pale brown
mantle. This was his attire that he always put on when he was dealing with a visitor.
This room
was Nelson’s office. It was the same room where he received the report about
Grisea Village from Isaac a few days ago.
It was just
past noon, outside the sun violently asserted its place in the sky however,
since this room didn’t have windows, the sunlight couldn’t be felt.
On the
corner of the desk were several unfolded sheets of documents containing things like
the latest information within the territory or the report on the trend of another
country that Zirconia had pulled off from the shelf.
「The
completion of the north side of the protective wall is about 60%[1]. The east and west side are
about 40%. The south side was maybe about 30%, I think.」(Zirconia)
Zirconia
said this while she placed the parchment in her hand onto the pile of other
documents on the corner of the desk.
「Will the
completion of the protective wall be finished just before the armistice treaty is
expired?」(Nelson)
Murmured
Nelson, to which Zirconia replied with a nod, “That’s right.”
「Since the
fief population was increased by thousands every year because of the
immigration from the other lords’ fief, I think the protective wall will be
finished in time based on our manpower. But only if Gregorn territory in the
west and Fraise territory in the south send food aids, and the royal family gives
tax exemption and support by sending money, that is.」(Zirconia)
「....... You think we can continue?」(Nelson)
Nelson raised his face from staring at the map and looked at Zirconia who
stood in front of him.
Zirconia who received Nelson’s gaze, took several sheets of documents from
the pile on the desk corner and lined them up in front of Nelson.
「Food aids from Fraise[2] territory have increased
to some extent. However, food aids from Gregorn territory have undergone a
sudden reduction.」(Zirconia)
Nelson examine the documents that were lined up, and just like what
Zirconia had explained, food aids from Gregorn territory had underwent a sudden
reduction.
The reason for the sudden reduction was attached to the document. It looks
like a famine had breakout on Gregorn territory.
「Dias-dono also has hardships....As for this, there is no other choice than to
return the people from construction works back into food production.....」 (Nelson)
From the day the armistice treaty with Balveile was signed into effect until
the present day, for Nelson’s territory rather than agricultural reclamation,
their domestic affairs were more focused in building construction works like
fortresses alongside the border with Balveile or the protective wall surrounding
Isteria.
Although the situation had gone comparatively well up until last year, this
year’s drought brought large scale famine due to food shortage in the territory.
For the last several months, by imperial edict, the other territories were sending
food aids to Nelson’s territory.
Even normally, Isteria received the food for the inflated population for no
additional compensation from the other fiefs. However the current outbreak of
severe famine was on such an unprecedented scale, that the food amount became
insufficient.
Nevertheless, with the recently diminished food aids from Gregorn
territory, it was a situation where a judgment should be made about whether or
not there should be a change on the first policy about putting construction
works of defense facilities as its topmost priority.
「That’s true...... However, we can’t decrease the personnel that are
assigned on the border fortress, since without the fortress we can’t stop a large
army from Balveile. On the contrary, besides the fortress that is being
constructed now, we need at least 2 more of them. If we don’t send additional
personnel, we might end up with hellish scene 4 years from now.」(Zirconia)
Reading the documents, Nelson couldn’t help to spit out his complaining
words. Then after hearing Zirconia words, he let out a long sigh.
「Though I treasure that opinion, if we do such things, then even before the
war with Balveile recommences, our territory will be already turned into a
starving hell, since there is a devastating food shortage. Given that in the
next year thousands of people from another fief will come, if it’s become impossible
for them to support themselves, won’t they lose everything? Besides, there is a
possibility that before armistice treaty expires, a peace agreement might be
signed.」(Nelson)
「...... Can we increase the food import from Craylutz[3]?」(Zirconia)
「I already check the preliminary calculation. Even assuming we increase the
amount of lumber production and copper or tin mining for export and exchanged
them to import a large amount of food, in the long term we can expect the
shortage of material goods albeit temporarily. Besides, even if we buy that
food as a temporary measure, if on the next time there is a drought occurred
just like this time, we won’t be able to survive. If we cut the forest indiscriminately,
it might be not recover enough even if the rain seasons came. I understand Zil’s
words, but if by any chance the war restart and by that time we don’t have
food, there will be no point. Please consent with me in this」(Nelson)
Hearing Nelson words, Zirconia closed her eyes and thought over it for
while. She let out a small sigh and opened her eyes.
「As for the cause of putting off domestic affairs of territory and instead
prioritizing preparation for war.... it is my responsibility.」(Zirconia)
After entering an armistice treaty with Balveile, Isteria territory pressed
forward a policy that put military preparation at the fore, like constructing
defensive positions or increasing army strength sufficiency rather than its
domestic affairs.
Nelson himself wanted to put food production or reconstruction support as
the first priority of his territory, however, it was his wife Zirconia who
firmly advocated that they ought to increase their war preparations.
Of course, the other leaders in Isteria territory including Nelson......
excluding military personnel, everyone was completely against it, however, Zirconia
stubbornly advocated it herself and didn’t concede on it.
After all, Zirconia persistently explained that considering Balveile’s war
potential and its ability to continue the war, if by the time the armistice
treaty expired and the territory army scale hadn’t changed it would be disastrous.
Because of this, the majority of people who opposed her at first, reluctantly
consented because Nelson gave his agreement.
Thanks to this the military budget increased drastically at first, however
Zirconia herself thought that this amount was still not enough.
「No, Zil’s claim is justified. Besides, up until now famine has occurred
several times, but this harsh famine is the first. I think that this famine
maybe as bad as the famine some century ago. This is outside what you can
predict.」(Nelson)
Every year, in Arcadian nations, small scale famines or floods happened
frequently, however presently he large scale famine was something happening for
the first time in hundreds of years.
If they had put the first priority on domestic affair, the current
situation might be more or less preferable, but either way every place might
still have suffered large damage.
「That’s true.... But I regret that I couldn’t come out with some
countermeasure beforehand. Furthermore, if the famine is this terrible, then just
like the legend, Greysior-sama might appear and rescue us.」[4](Zirconia)
As Zirconia said this somewhat jokingly, Nelson leaned his back on the back
of the chair he sat on and made a bitter smile.
「Oioi[5], if it’s that story, then
the feudal lord would be killed by the peasants, right? Spare me from that....」(Nelson)
Zirconia slipped out a chuckle at Nelson who made a bitter smile as she
took out a sheet with information about Balveile from the piled up documents on
the desk’s corner.
「You will be fine. You are different from the one in the legend, since
Isteria house never did something that could incurs peasants’ enmity. Leaving
that aside, can you take a look at this?」(Zirconia)
Nelson received the document presented to him and quickly looked over it
roughly, and with a small furrow in his brow he groaned.
「They negotiated a peace with some of the barbarians?...... This is not
good. This is really not good.」(Nelson)
What does “Barbarians” mean? It is a generic name for the tribes that
inhabited the region located north of Balveile.
The tribes of the so called Barbarians didn’t tand united in their actions,
fellow tribes frequently had territorial conflicts with each other, and they
almost had no concept that can be called a nation.
As the aftereffects of those territorial conflicts, the Barbarians
descended to Balveile with the intention to attack and take over Balveile’s
territory for their own to live in. For the last ten years, Balveile was plagued
by this.
However, recently Balveile had succeeded in negotiating a peace with some
parts of Barbarians tribes.
「Yes, with the lessening of threat from the north, they could launch an
invasion on the countries in the southern Arcadia without worry. In the
previous war Balveile was fighting on two fronts, so the next war will be
considerably severe for us.」(Zirconia)
「If they could gain total control of us, in the south is the Ocean. Without the
need to be worried about their rear, they could turn their whole attention to
the nearby continent..... I understand. We will maintain the number of
personnel in border fortress construction at status quo. I will also work out a
solution as quick as possible to allocate the needed personnel to construct
another fortress. However, the city’s defense wall construction will cease
completely and the people who worked in the construction would be turned to
food production. Please inform this to the military officer, Zil. I will tell
the civil officials.」(Nelson)
Hearing those words, Zirconia smiled sweetly.
「Thank you. We will not lose easily if there is a fortress. Please leave the
rest to me.」(Zirconia)
After Zirconia said this, she bended at the waist and kissed Nelson.
Receiving Zil’s reply like this, Nelson made a wry smile in mild surprise.
「Good grief, I don’t know for what reason I am referred as Arcadian’s
Shield. Rather shouldn’t it better for Zil to be called that?」(Nelson)
「What are you saying? I couldn’t handle domestic affairs, military affairs, and
diplomacy at the same time. If only by military affairs, we wouldn’t be able to
protect the country. That’s why that nickname suits Anata[6] more.」(Zirconia)
Zirconia said that and smiled
once again to Nelson before saying see you later and left the room.
Nelson stared at the door that
Zirconia passed when she left the room for awhile, took a deep breath for a
moment to psyche himself, and began to write instructional documents for his
subordinates.
✦✧✦✧
At the time Nelson and Zirconia were busy with their work, Kazura and
Valetta were squatting down together in the residence’s garden. They were
giving fertilizer to the peppermint seedling plant pots.
Nearby those two were paper bags of empty plant pots and herb seed bags that
Kazura had purchased in Japan.
「Before it was dried, it already had a nice scent. It’s different from the
herb tea that we drank yesterday, this is somehow cool and refreshing.」(Valetta)
While Valetta was putting fertilizer with gardening shovel in the
peppermint plant pots her nose twitched from their unique scent.
「Even if they are not dried, they can already be used to make tea as is. The
tea made from this is also delicious.」(Kazura)
For confirming if there was transformation on the fertilizer effect, he orchased
2 types of herbs. Only the peppermints received fertilizer, while the lemongrasses
were left as they were.
With doing so, he could compare each growth to the other.
Kazura confirmed that Valetta had finished putting the fertilizer on the
peppermint, and then he took out empty plant pots and herb seed bags from the
paper bag.
「Now then, the next work is planting these seeds.」(Kazura)
「Ah, let me put the soil.」(Valetta)
Although for the growth condition experiment using only seedlings were
sufficient, but since he had bought a lot of seeds, he decided to raise them all
at the same time in this place.
There were different kinds of seeds; the ones that were raised in the pot
would receive fertilizer, while the ones that were planted on the ground
wouldn’t.
Assuming that if by any chance the seeds, which were planted in the ground,
had massive growth, he had make some kind of flower bed with wood boards so
they wouldn’t spread out excessively. The more he raised it the more he could
harvest. So, if it had explosive growth, Kazura would feel happy, since if it
was possible he wanted to share the harvest with the other villagers.
「Hmm... There are few seeds that could be planted in the summer. Only basil
and arugula[7], huh?」(Kazura)
He look at the reference chart of planting season description on the seed
bags while sorting the seed bags that could be planted.
Most of the seeds had planting season of between April to May, or from
September to October. There were few seeds that could be planted on August.
「Kazura-san, it was written on this paper that Rosemary or Lemongrass can be
planted in summer as long as they are under the cool shade.」(Valetta)
When Kazura was going to open the basil seeds bag, Valetta who had read the
paper that mentioned the herb raising method that she took from the paper bag,
picked up the rosemary and lemongrass seed bags on the ground.
「Eh, seriously?」(Kazura)
「Yes, it’s written in here.」(Valetta)
He took a peek on the paper from beside Valetta, surely enough it was written
in beautiful handwritten letter 「It’s a seed that
can grow in the summer as long as they are under cool shade.」
「Oh, it’s true..... How should I put it, since when was Valetta-san able to read
my country letter so well like this? Isn’t it just 10 days after you started to
begin learning it?」(Kazura)
「Fufu[8], the more I learn it the
more I remember, because it will be enjoyable to be able read books that
Kazura-san brought, I stay up during the night a little to learn. Are you
surprised?」(Valetta)
Hearing Valetta’s words, Kazura was astonished in his heart.
What an awe-inspiring learning ability, to be able read the letters she
never seen before in just 10 days.
Anyhow, Japanese language’s was written with a mixed of hiragana, Kanji and
katakana, so it was difficult to understand.[9]
If she didn’t had a very good memory and on top of that, a motivation to
learn, then it wouldn’t be possible for her to learn it on such short time.
「Ah, it maybe that, your motivation is higher than others, huh?」(Kazura)
「My motivation is higher than
others.」(Valetta)
Although they were talking over this, those 2 people side by side
diligently put the fertilizer on the plant pots. They also till the dug up soil
on the shaded part of garden.
While they were talking about herbs or village, they continued their work
leisurely. In the middle of their talk, incidentally Valetta turned her face to
Kazura.
「Kazura-san」(Valetta)
「Hm?」(Kazura)
「Somehow, this is very fun.」(Valetta)
「Yes, this is fun.」(Kazura)
And like that, those 2 people smiled together, once again they were talking
while continued their work planting the seed.
✦✧✦✧
On the night of the same day.
Like usual Kazura was together with Valin and Valetta surrounding the hearth
for dinner.
The menu for this evening was rice with dried plum, and stir fried
vegetables, mushroom, and sausage (from the canned food that Kazura brought).
The meal companion was a beverage of herb tea with German chamomile as the
base.
「Then, I wonder if by any chance the herbs planted today will greatly grown?」(Valin)
「If it matched with this country soil then I think perhaps it will grow with
amazing vigor. But well, since it’s just like grass I believe it will grow
normally.」(Kazura)
The subject of the conversation was the herbs that Kazura and Valetta had planted
this noon.
Last night, Valin didn’t received a detailed explanation about planting
herbs, so while they were eating, they were also talking about it.
「Since it was something that Kazura brought, I think it will grow
splendidly.」(Valetta)
「Yes, that’s true.」(Valin)
As he looked at two people who enjoyed drinking herb tea, Kazura made a wry
smile.
Although Kazura was certain that the crops that received the fertilizer he
had brought would have sudden growth, it doesn’t mean that it would certainly
apply to the herbs that he had brought over his time.
However, well, even if the herbs had sudden growth like the crops in this
world, since herbs weren’t that different from common grass they could easily
grow up.
「Ah, that’s right, I brought something good for Valin-san. Please wait a
moment.」(Kazura)
Kazura said that and then stood up, before returning to his room.
Then he quickly came back with his objective item in his hand, the sake.
The label was written with 「Masumi – Pure
Rice, Very Special Brew.」[10]
Masumi is a local sake from the Nagano prefecture, but somehow it was sold
at a supermarket in Gunma, so Kazura bought it.[11]
Kazura wasn’t really that strong in drinking alcohol, so he chose Masumi
that was relatively easy to drink.
「Thank you for waiting. This is an alcoholic drink from my country, but can Valin-san
drink alcohol?」(Kazura)
「Oow, it’s alcohol! Of course I can drink it!」(Valin)
Hearing the word “alcoholic drink”, the delighted Valin had a very wide
smile.
It seemed like he really loved alcoholic drink.
「That’s good. I’m sorry if it doesn’t suit your taste, but how about we drink
a little bit first?」(Kazura)
Hearing what Kazura had said, the water inside Valin’s cup was emptied in
one gulp.
Kazura opened the bottles cap, made a small smile to Valin who quickly
presented his cup, and poured down the sake in an amount just enough for one
gulp in the cup.
「Because it will be dangerous if it had undesirable effect on the body, for
now please drink only one gulp. If there is no problem then we can continue
drinking.」(Kazura)
「Yea, is that so? Them just one gulp..... Hm! This is tasty!!」(Valin)
Valin who taste the sake, he suddenly perceived and thought highly of the
taste with great joy.
「Oh, is it tasty? Then that’s good. Well then, let’s observe if there is a
chance for awhile.」
Kazura said this while withdrawing the bottle. Valin had an expression of someone
who completely dissatisfied.
「No, I’m fine. Absolutely fine. I’m certainly fine so then please another
cup....」(Valin)
「Father, no!」(Valetta)
「No, but...」(Valin)
「No.」(Valetta)
「....... Uuuh....」 (Valin)
Valin became sulky after being flatly denied by Valetta’s words. Seeing
this spectacle, Kazura who frantically endured the urge to burst into laughter,
distracted himself by drinking herb tea.
「By the way, what kind of alcoholic drink is drunk in this village?」
The one who answered Kazura’s question was Valetta instead of Valin who was
staring at the bottle beside Kazura.
「Although I don’t drink alcohol since I will feeling sick after just
drinking a little, there is an alcoholic drink that’s gentle and has a good
smell. If it’s a festival, then everyone will drink the ones that are purchased
from the city.」(Valetta)
「Yes, although it’s different from alcoholic drink that Kazura brought, the
alcohol that we drink isn’t white colored. This is also tastier. In addition, I
heard about alcoholic drinks that are made from fruit that consumed by the
nobles.」(Valin)
Kazura nodded in comprehension about their stories.
Though he had already thought that this world also had alcoholic beverages,
it appeared that unrefined alcoholic drink and brewed liquor did exist.
As to what had been describe before, Kazura was not really strong in
drinking alcohol, but if there was an opportunity he liked to taste a gulp of
them.
「I see, if there is an opportunity I’d like to taste a gulp.」(Kazura)
「Yes, if that time comes, certainly Kazura-san could drink it..... Then, is
the time good now? One more cup.....」 (Valin)
「Still, no!」(Valetta)
「......」 (Valin)
Thus, Kazura saw Valetta and Valin arguing back and forth like this that
was repeating about every minute until the 60th times. At the last
moment when Valin was getting teary eyes, the ban was lifed. Now, Valin finally
could be able to receive a half cup of sake.
However, while seeing Valin drinking sake delightfully,....
「(I think half a cup is enough, after this let’s wait for about 2 hours.)」(Kazura)
Kazura had decided to set this devilishly long interval, but Valin, who was
entranced by sake, didn’t know about this.
☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽
Don’t expect
too much action. Please remember that this is a Slice of Life story after all...
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM TRANSLATOR YUKKURI ONIISAN:
Also, I want to make an announcement: I have one week long
out of town assignment from Wednesday, 14 October 2015 to Tuesday, 20 October
2015. So no translation on this time period.
I will resume
the usual translation on Wednesday, 21 October 2015.
If I’m lucky,
I can finish it on Friday or Saturday. So cross your fingers.
So, until
then, I’m sorry for the inconvenience.
Oh yeah. I
don’t intent to drop any translations; I only went out of town for one week....
So don’t worry.
[1] The original Japanese raw use “X tenths” term or X/10,
not percentage or x/100. Since percentage had been known since Ancient Rome,
let’s just go with this until it contradict the raw.
[2] フライス Furaisu ➔ Fraise
[3] クレイラッツ kureirattsu ➔ Craylutz
[4] *cue drum beat* Kazura!!! *cue end*
[5] Hey, wait a minute, etc. In other words, an
interjection used to attract attention from conversation partner
[6] 貴方 or 貴男Anata: Dear, an endearing way for a wife to refer a
husband
[7] It’s “Rucola” for the Italian reader, “Rocket” for UK
English reader, “Roquette” for the French reader. It’s latin name is Eruca sativa.
[8] Giggling laughing sound.
[9] YOU WERE RIGHT! Reading Japanese IS hard....
[10] Hoo... Boy... The Real Label read: 真澄―純米大吟醸. 真澄 = Masumi: Perfectly clear,
crystal clear. This is the Brand Name. 純米大吟醸 = Junmai Daiginjou, Pure Rice, Very Special Brew: A
type of特定名称酒 Tokutei
Meishoushu or Special designation sake. read this for
more information about sake designation.
[11] It’s real sake made by Miyasaka Brewing Company (宮坂醸造株式会社). Click here for more
information: www.masumi.co.jp/english/. I read that
you can buy it in USA (somewhere), if you are interested in trying. I wonder if
Susukinokuro-sensei will get paid for this sake endorsement.
arigatou~!
ReplyDeleteDON'T LEAVE US ONII-SAMA! YOUR IMOUTO NEEDS YOU!
ReplyDeleteLooks like Nelson is in dire straights.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the new chapter! Have a great trip!
ReplyDeleteI don't really expect action, I'm curious about how Nelson&Co will react to the potato crops, waterwheel and everything else. If they'll meet Kazura, will the daughter's hand be offered to him? Will she accept because of possible jewels? What about the officer (Ivan?) when he finds out?
ReplyDeleteAh, be safe on your journey!
Time to hit the raws
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the chapter!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chapter. As David point it out, I am curios too about those things. Have a good trip.
ReplyDeletewell if the seeds grow explosively better than even the plants that originate there then that would mean that Kazura's seed planted inside of Valetta would produce an offspring that would experience great growth. if the seedlings themselves don't do any bit better than normal but the seeds do, then that would explain a lot.
ReplyDeleteThere is a single difference between the two worlds, and that seems to be some kind of rejuvinating force. On earth a tree wont rely on such a force to grow and is self-sufficient. On the other worlda tree would seem to be dependent on that energy. If you take a highly efficient plant to that world it will definitely grow like crazy. If you took a plant from that world and brought it to earth it would probably wither and die because it would require that energy. Its likely to be mana or something similar.
DeleteThanks for the chapter. Have a good trip.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Nelson is in dire straights.
ReplyDeletech 25 is still in editing,,
ReplyDeletei wonder if u can post unedited ver.. ?
The chapter is 33% edited. So just let us wait for the editor to edit the rest 66%
DeleteIf by the the time I have finished chapter 26 (its relatively short btw) then I'll post the edited part and together with the unedited chapter 25.
Just wait for it patiently... After all this blog isn't called Yukkuri (slowly) for no reason... :D
Am I the only one who is annoyed by the fact how he is researching the growth rate/effect of other worldly products in this "medieval" world? If he wants to experiment with it than he needs in total 4 test groups when using both plants peppermint and lemongrass. Two groups are peppermint and lemongrass both getting the fertilizer the other two groups are again peppermint and lemongrass but this time without fertilizer.
ReplyDeleteOne can't research the effect with just using fertilizer on peppermint and not using it on lemongrass since one cannot be sure of the possible effects originated of the specific plant ... reading something like that - I had to cry! And now I need a hug.
damn it...i wanted to be able to read japanese in 10 days...
ReplyDeleteand if the novel had even the slight bit of action, kazura would already be looooong dead...