Category: Island Maker: Tensei Shitara Slow Life Game deshita. Nonbiri shima o sodatemasu

At night, when I was in bed, I noticed a tapping sound on my window.

Did the squirrels come to play?

I was already sleepy, so I decided to leave it alone, but the tapping sound came again.

“Really….…?”

Being careful not to wake up Char, who was already asleep, I went over to the window with the magical lantern in one hand.

When I opened the curtains of the window where the sound came, my eyes met the owl’s large eyes, and I was so surprised that my heart jumped.

The owl doesn’t even blink, but stares at me with its round golden eyes. Then as if to break the silence, its yellow beak began to knock on the window again.

“Do you need help from me?”

“Hooho!”

When I held up the magic lantern, I saw that there was an envelope clutched in the owl’s sharp claws.

“You came to deliver the letter?”

“Hoohoo!”

Apparently, it was the right answer.

The owl stepped aside so I could open the window. It probably meant no harm. Deciding so, I slowly opened the window, then the owl dropped the letter and flew away right after.

Using an owl to deliver a letter is not something that a normal person can do.

Maybe it’s Lebon’s Sambabano?

I thought so, but when I looked at it, the sender was the cave art dealer, Farh Jarg. The address was written in round font, “Baron Cedie Dantes”. Looks like the message is for me. I was sleepy, so I thought I’d read the letter tomorrow, but if I didn’t read it right away, he might send a second or third owl.

I had no choice but to cut the envelope open and read the letter.

I would like to consult with Baron Cedie Dantes. I hope you will come as soon as possible. —Farh Jarg

It was such a short sentence, there were nothing else written on it.

What could it be that he had to call me in the middle of the night?

This is just a guess, but I don’t think it’s a big deal anyway. If it really matters, Farh Jarg will come by himself.

I can just go tomorrow. I decided so.

I folded the letter, put it in an envelope, sighed a little, and went back to asleep.

The next day.

I could have ignored it, but Farh Jarg is also a resident of the island of Gandalcia after all. Observing the courtesy of a neighbor, I took Char to Jarg’s shop in the cave.

“Hey! You’re late!”

That was the first thing he said.

“You are asking for my help and yet you still say that? If that’s your attitude, I’ll go home.”

When I tried to turn around, Farh Jarg immediately pleaded.

“O-oh, I’m just kidding, Baron. Don’t be so angry.”

This guy is really…….

“What do you need from me?”

“Actually, someone I know is in trouble, and I need you to help me.”

“How can I help?”

I can use fire magic, but I’m not that good at fighting.

“Well, listen to me first.”

“Alright then. I’ll decide whether to help or not after listening to the story.”

“Yes, yes, that’s fine.”

We sat down in the chair he offered and listened to Farh Jarg.

“Actually, one of our regular customers is a lady called the Night Queen, and she got into trouble.”

“What kind of trouble is it?”

“Her lover was kidnapped.”

Kidnapped? That’s not an easy matter….

“The Night Queen was living happily with her lover on the Night Island. But then a giant named Argo appeared. He also went to live on the island. Argo is a monster with a hundred eyes, but he fell in love with the beautiful young man who was the Queen’s lover.”

“So he kidnapped him?”

“Mm. That’s what happened.”

It’s a sad story to hear. It’s too bad to forcibly separate a couple who love each other.

“Argo is a monstrous monster, and his strength is comparable to that of Miss Char.”

“He’s as strong as me!?”

“Moreover, he closes each of his hundred eyes in turn to rest, so he’s never completely asleep. So it’s impossible to ambush him even while he’s sleeping. That’s where Baron comes in.”

Okay, now I understand why he asked for my help.

“So you mean, I should put Argo to sleep with the deep-sea flute. Is that it?”

“As expected of the Baron. Your mind is quick!”

“Don’t flatter me. I won’t kill anyone.”

“T-that, if you can take the young man out while Argo is sleeping, that’s fine. The Night Queen will take care of the rest.”

It’s pretty much that I’ll only have to put Argo to sleep, but it’s not entirely without danger.

Hmmm, what should I do…..?

As I struggled, Farh Jarg slapped his chest.

“Of course, I won’t ask you to do it for free. The Night Queen will reward you for that, and I, Jarg, will also give you generous reward!”

“You are going to give me a reward?”

“I’ll give you this statue of 「Strong Young Man」!”

Farh Jarg pointed to a marble statue that had been placed beside him.

“Come on, it’s a fake, isn’t it? If it’s real, it won’t be sticking its middle finger up.”

Why would he make something that is obviously a fake anyway?

Oh well, I guess it’s less sinful that way.

“A-anyways, help the princess of the night in her trouble. She’s a poor lady after all.”

“That’s fine with me, but how do I get to the Night Island?”

“Hey, Baron has never been to another island yet? Oh well, you can use the teleporter that connects special places like Gandalcia.”

That’s right!

I had completely forgotten that I could use a teleporter machine to go to a friend’s island at Island Maker. Apparently, this system works here as well. There are materials and plants on other people’s islands that I don’t have on my own island. There are items that could only be made with materials obtained from other islands as well.

If I help her lover, the Night Queen may give me such materials.

“By the way, where is the teleporter?”

Farh Jarg pointed to the ceiling.

“Upstairs?”

“No, no. It’s on the top of this mountain.”

Well, I’ve been so busy that I’ve neglected investigating the island. The summit is still unexplored till now.

Oh, there’s an alert on the status screen.

The conditions for the construction of mountain trails have been released. Condition: Listen to the story about the teleporter. What can be made: Mountain trails Description: A narrow path leading to the summit of Mt. Gandalcia. Points Required: 6

Alright. I’ll make the mountain trail and go to the Night Island in the afternoon.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Ever since I got my magic recorder, it’s been a lot easier for me to explore the cave. With this, I can go exploring alone. If I play it every 200 meters, all the monsters in the area will fall asleep.

Even Char, a Yellow Dragon who is the strongest species, could not resist the magical sound of this flute. Once she fall asleep, even Char won’t wake up for half an hour. As for a normal person, they would sleep for more than an hour.

It’s a really mysterious flute. Even with just the “Twinkle Twinkle Star” tune, everyone will fall asleep.

I wonder what would happen if I played a lullaby with this?

By the way, I came to the cave by myself today. Everyone had their own job, and Char is playing on the beach. With this flute, if she follows me exploring, I’ll only feel sorry for Char so I let her have fun for the day.

While playing the recorder, I walked slowly until I came to Farh Jarg’s shop in Area 2. There are no monsters around the art dealer’s shop. I then took the recorder out of my mouth and opened the door.

“You’ve got a really interesting stuff there huh. I almost fell asleep just hearing it from the distance.”

Farh Jarg groaned when he saw the recorder in my hand.

“Do you know this?”

“It’s the deep-sea flute, right? It’s a magical item that even the Archangel Michal-sama would fall asleep if he heard the sound of the flute.”

“Heh~, you sure know a lot.”

So the official name of this is the deep-sea flute huh.

“I’ve been an art dealer for 200 years after all. I’m very familiar with magic items.”

“Oh? I’ve got to improve my impression of you then.”

Farh Jarg arched his chest slightly.

“It seems that you have finally realized my greatness. Since you’re impressed, I will tell you the origin of that deep-sea flute.”

“Is there a story behind it?”

“Once upon a time, a sea god’s princess fell in love with a human man, who was a beautiful prince on a ship that was wrecked in a storm.”

Mm. There are similar stories in every world.

“But in the end, it’s a love between the sea god’s princess and a human.”

“Their love doesn’t come to fruition and it ended in a heartbreak?”

“That’s right. The prince is unaware of the feelings of the sea god’s princess and ends up marrying a human woman.”

That part is the same as the story I know….

“But what does that story have to do with the deep-sea flute?”

“The traumatized princess cried every day, day and night for so long that she could not sleep. Fearing that the precious princess might die if it continued, the sea god carved this flute out of the shell of a large clam that lived at the bottom of the deep sea. It is said that the princess was finally able to fall asleep when she heard the sound of this flute.”

“There was such a story huh. Thank you for telling me.”

After I thanked him, Farh Jarg immediately had a cunning look on his face.

“Why don’t you exchange the deep-sea flute for the paintings here? You can exchange it for three.”

I slowly scanned the paintings on the wall.

“Almost all of them are fake. This human figure has a weird stain on it, and this painting of the birth of the goddess has no trees.”

“Tch! I really don’t like clever-eyed kids.”

“I’m not going to sell this flute anyway. I’m going to explore Area 2 now.”

“Go! Go quickly. I don’t want to sleep yet.”

Passing by the art dealers’ shop, I entered the hinterland of Area 2. From here, the terrain changes randomly every time we enter. The items that come out also change each time.

I wonder what I can get today though.

As I walked, playing the twinkle twinkle star, I saw three goblins snoring and sleeping on the floor.

I tried not to step on them as I passed by. The good thing about this flute is that even if I make a mistake in the pitch, those around me will still fall asleep.

Oh! Isn’t that a colony of dungeon mushrooms?

And it’s truffle mushrooms, which are said to be even more delicious. I’m sure Lynn will be delighted. I think we can serve this much to the customers who come to the restaurant.

Just to be safe, I decided to play the “Choucho” before harvesting.

So-mi-mi♪ Fa-re-re♪ Do-re-mi-fa-so-so-so♪

I opened my bag and harvested a large amount of truffle mushrooms.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Even though I was busy with reconstruction after the typhoon, a strange guest came. He is an elderly man with a pointed chin, a crooked mouth, a mean looking eyes and he got an aura of someone you don’t want to get involved with.

“Pleasure to meet you. My name is Avon Shylock. I am a merchant from Belucca.”

Avon Shylock is the merchant Emma talked about before. He rose to power by bribing Alexei-oniisan, but I think he was exiled for tax evasion. And yet he still calls himself a merchant from Belucca. He’s pretty brazen.

I mean I get it, he can’t introduce himself as an exiled person after all.

I don’t need to hear out people like him, but it’s not a good idea to turn him away without asking any questions and incurring his wrath. I had no choice but to sit down with him at a table.

“I’m here today because I want to talk about the Magic Wand.”

“Oh….…”

“It’s a great product you see.”

What is Shylock-san’s aim?

“It’s not for sale. It’s a promotional item. It’s in a limited edition of 50 pieces and they are given away to customers who visited the beach.”

“Really!? Oh, what a shame!”

Shylock is getting all worked up.

“If it was me, I would have sold them for 15,000—no, 20,000 crown coins per piece each and it would still be sold out.”

“Well……”

“Why don’t you sell your wands to me? You’ll make a killing for sure.”

Don’t say it as if it’s for me.

I really don’t want to do business with people like him. If I were to do wholesale, I would have asked Emma-san a long time ago.

“I don’t want to do business for this one. Besides, the materials for the magic wand are scarce. Mass production is impossible.”

“What kind of materials do you mean?”

Shylock probed, but I didn’t fall into his tricks.

“It’s a secret.”

“Oh, what a waste. It can be sold for even a higher price!”

Shylock held his head, looking like it was the end of the world. He is somewhat theatrical.

“I am willing to work for the Baron. I’m sure we can make a great profit for it.”

Oi, it’s you who wants to make money from it….

I can’t put up with this farce forever. It’s time for him to leave.

“Shylock-san, you’ve been exiled from Belucca, haven’t you?”

“……Y-you knew?”

“Even though this is a remote island, rumors do reach here you see.”

“But that’s a misunderstanding. It’s Earl Dantes who is at fault!”

“Hoh~, my brother……?”

This person seemed to have forgotten that I’m also a member of the Dantes family.

I narrowed my eyes and stared at Shylock.

“T-that’s ……, but I’ve heard that Baron Dantes and Earl Dantes don’t get along.”

“That’s one thing, but this is another matter. It’s going to be difficult to do business with someone my brother has banished. What’s more, your crime was tax evasion, right? It’s impossible to trust you enough to suddenly entrust you with business. Please leave.”

“I see…… (Tsk. So cheeky for a kid.)”

Shylock clicked his tongue as he left.

I don’t think he should be showing his true nature in situation like this. Or maybe he already decided that there was no business between us, so he no longer wanted to cover up.

As I was drinking my cold tea, Emma came in.

“Oh, you’re here. What’s wrong?”

“It was such a terrible storm, I came to check on the status of the products.”

“Don’t worry, everything is ready for delivery the day after tomorrow. There was some damage, but there will be no problem with shipments for the next fiscal year onward.”

When I told her that, Emma looked relieved.

“By the way, I think I passed Shylock’s carriage earlier……”

Emma’s face changed from relief to worry again.

“He was here for a business meeting. But he could only end up leaving.”

Hearing my words, Emma breathed a sigh of relief.

“Well, I don’t like to speak ill of my peers, but he is a person who should not be approached.”

“I know. I don’t want to do business with people like him either. Besides, I already have the best business partner in the form of Emma-san.”

“That’s a relief then.”

We looked at each other and laughed.

This is also a business meeting, but I feel at ease when I’m dealing with Emma-san.

“By the way, why is it so cool here?”

Emma-san looked around the room curiously. The restaurant is equipped with an air conditioner using my points. I explained what an air conditioner is.

“We have the same thing installed in each guest rooms.”

“Oh~. This will make it feel comfortable in the summer then.”

“Mm. It’s the newest highlight of our Auberge.”

“I’m really amazed by everything on Gandalcia.”

“It’s still too early to be surprised. In fact, we’ve also added a new item, a jacuzzi.”

It needed 10 points for it.

“What is it?”

“It’s a bath with a lot of bubbles. It’s pretty relaxing. I’d love for you to try it Emma-san.”

“In that case, maybe I should come and visit for a non-business trip for the first time in a while?”

“Please do. I heard that drinking a chilled Chateau Gandarcia while soaking in a warm jacuzzi is the best.”

“Hoh~. Should I stay the night then?”

We looked at each other again and laughed.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Nowald-sensei came to see me. He looked unusually anxious.

“The barometer readings has dropped significantly. There is a possibility of a major storm in the evening.”

“Is it going to be such a terrible storm?”

“Mm. You better let the islanders know and prepare for it. We should reinforce the doors and windows with boards.”

That serious?

I can’t stay still like this then.

“Char please inform Lulu about this and help her in pulling up the boat.”

“Understood. What about you, Father?”

“I’m closing the beach. We have to evacuate the guests.”

We all started to move frantically.

First of all, I asked the customers on the beach to go home. People’s safety comes first after all. Kemoncy, who is incharge of beach house, looked up at the sky and with a confused look, he closes the shop.

“Is there really going to be a storm?”

“Since Nowald-sensei said so, then there’s no doubt about it. Make sure you reinforce the beach house as well.”

“Well……”

His daughter, Hermine scolded him for doubting what I was saying.

“Father! Young Master already said so, the storm is definitely coming. We need to be properly prepared!”

“O-oh, I know. Don’t yell at me so much……”

With Hermine here, there’s no need to worry.

“I’m going to Mio’s place. Make sure you don’t go outside at night.”

“Take care Young Master. Let us know if there is anything we can help you with.”

“Thank you, Hermine. But for tonight, I ask you to take care of your own safety first.”

After the last train trip, we hid the Magic Train in a tunnel. And then we reinforced the livestock shed doors, and by the time we are done, the sun is setting down.

A high-pitched wind is beginning to blow strongly from the sea. Thick clouds hung over the horizon, and even from here I could see that it was raining heavily over there.

“The lightning is flashing brightly.”

“Mm. Sigh. We have to give up vegetables…”

There are still some vegetables in the field that are about to be harvested, but it looks like there won’t be time to collect them. We have to reinforce the grape trellis no matter what first.

“Char, let’s use bamboo to reinforce them. Let’s finish it before that storm gets here.”

“Understood!”

Getting soaked by the rain that had started to fall, we somehow managed to finish the work before it got dark.

The storm hit the island of Gandalcia in earnest at night. The sound of the rain beating on the roof was so loud that it was impossible to have a proper conversation. The wind is also tremendous. 

There are broken trees here and there for sure.

Will apple and pear trees be okay?

If a fruit tree breaks, it will be a big blow to bottling production. I need to assess the damage once the rain stopped.

As I was thinking about this, Char climbed onto my lap.

“Char?”

“Father, don’t worry. I’m sure it will be fine.”

She put her little hand around my neck and hugged me gently.

“Mm, it will be as what Char says.”

“That’s right…… Zz, zz.”

Char fell asleep on my lap. The storm was getting worse, but I felt the Char’s warmth so my heart calmed down.

Dawn fell.

Thanks to Char, I have slept soundly.

“Father,  it’s a nice weather outside!”

The rain has completely stopped, and the sunlight is shining through the gaps in the shutters. When I went outside, I saw a clear, cloudless sky.

“Uwaa, the field is a mess!”

“Indeed….. our precious melons are ruined.”

The vines have also lost a lot of leaves. I guess this will not produce delicious grapes. The preparation of wine will have to wait for the next harvest.

But there’s no point in worrying about it. It’s time to check out the various parts of the island. Char and I quickly rode Silver to the beach.

Kemoncy and Hermine are already cleaning up the beach.

The situation here is in a mess too. There are all kinds of things washed up on the beach.

Wait…….

When I dig up my memory, there was an event called a typhoon at Island Maker as well. It is an event that no one enjoys, as it damages buildings and crops. But there is one good thing about it.

That’s the wreckage.

If you go to the beach the day after the storm, the odds of something rare washing up will increase significantly. Some of the items must have been rare items that could only be obtained there. 

Maybe this storm has brought me something good.

Alright, time to look for it!

I walked from one end of the beach to the other, picking up trash. Then, among the bundles of seaweed, there is something that glows white like a bone. When I sifted through the slimy seaweed and pulled it out, I realized it was a familiar instrument.

“Father, what did you find?”

“It’s a recorder.  It’s a type of flute.”

No mistake. This thing looks exactly like the soprano recorder I learned in elementary school.

“Can Father play the recorder?”

“Yes, for simple tunes.”

When I wiped it lightly, the sound came out easily.

“That’s amazing! Please play a song Father.”

“It’s been a long time though….…”

Did it start with Do–mi–fa–so?

I tried playing “When the Saints Go Marching in.” Thankfully, I was able to blow it out without making a mistake.

“How is it?”

Uh-…… Char has fallen asleep. I think it’s a cheerful song but then I guess it was boring for Char.

But—

Kemoncy and Hermine, who were working in the distance, are also sleeping!

Wait. Maybe this is a magic recorder!?

The typhoon caused a lot of trouble, but I might have gotten something good. I gently polished the white recorder I had just gotten with my handkerchief.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Eugenie came to attend Nowald-sensei’s alchemy lecture. However, the lectures are always about two hours long, and after that, we play together for the rest of the day.

Today we learned how to make Komeda from rough Komeda gemstones. Komeda is a material that can be used as a raw material for many things.

“Cedie, why don’t we go to the cave now? Let’s look for Komeda gemstones.”

“Okay. We can put what we learned today into practice right away.”

In addition to Char, there is also Gian, which is reassuring. I think it’s okay to go to the back of Area 2 today. 

We entered the cave in search of the Komeda gemstones.

“It’s a lot different from the last time I was here.”

“It’s a cave that changes its structure every time you enter after all. That is why we can collect different items each time.”

“Oh~. Ah, there’s a flower blooming over there.”

“It’s moonlight grass. It’s a plant that’s used in magical potions.”

In order not to damage the roots, I cut them off with a knife.

“What a beautiful flower.”

The flowers of the moonlight grass is in translucent silver color, with a deep blue hue at the base of the petals.

“It’s basically a tough flower, so you can put it in a vase for a while.”

“Oh, I’ll try that.”

Eugenie gently placed the moonlight flower in her bag.

Then we came to the back of Area 1. The structure of the cave changes every time you enter it, but the entrance and exit areas are always the same. It’s the same with Area 2.

“Behind this door is Area 2. The Komeda gemstones can be found in Area 2.”

“We have to stay alert though, right?.”

“You don’t have to be so nervous just yet. There are no monsters in front of or behind the door.”

“Oh. Then it’s like a little resting spot, isn’t it?”

“Mm, you can say that.”

After relaxing for a moment, I opened the door to the cave.

What’s going on here?

There’s a shop on the other side of the rock. The shop has an atmosphere similar to the antique shop I saw in Japan in my previous life.

Oh, there’s a signboard.

In black letters on a red background, it says “Farh Jarg’s Art Store”.

So this is the shop that Farh Jarg was talking about huh.

“Is there a shop in a place like this?”

“Actually, it’s a shop that I invested in. It’s the first time I’ve been here though. Come, let’s stop by for a minute.”

The other day he had been acting very timid, but the Farh Jarg who greeted us had returned to his previous arrogant attitude.

“Welcome, Cedie. Come and take a look at my many masterpieces. If you have the money, I recommend buying some. They’re all very valuable paintings. You rarely find them this cheap.”

Oh, an ukiyo-e print of “Kabuki Actor” for 1.2 million crown coins huh. Frankly, it’s an incredible bargain. But that’s only if this thing is real.

At the game Island Maker, I also collected all the masterpiece series of this. I’m not going to put up with this farce.

“Is this really worth 1.2 million crown coins? I think it’s not worth that much.”

“What!? Are you nitpicking on my goods?”

Farh Jarg is dressed in all red, and his angry face now is also bright red.

I’ve hit the nail on the head, and he’s trying to cover it up.

“Look, it’s weird how the eyebrows are drawn. Besides, a real kabuki actor would have higher eyebrows.”

“W-what are you trying to say……?”

“Same goes for this ‘The Young Man in Blue’. His bangs is too long.”

Farh Jarg stomped his feet in frustration.

“Damn it! I thought you are just a little brat. I underestimated you!”

“It’s well done for a fake though. I can buy ‘The Young Man in Blue’ for 10,000 crown coins.”

“Tsk. Okay, that price is fine.”

Fakes are interesting in their own way. I’ll hang this in my cottage.

“Make sure you have the real thing prepared next time.”

“Okay….…”

Leaving the frustrated Farh Jarg behind, we headed out to explore the cave again.

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A few days after exploring the cave with Eugenie, Alexei-oniisan came to visit me again.

“You’ve been coming by a lot lately Oniisan. What can I do for your visit today?”

“Of course it’s about the Magic Railway.”

He hadn’t given up yet……

“I was a bit childish the other day. Today I’ve come with a compromise.”

Alexei-oniisan handed me a piece of paper with all sorts of writing in it.

“What do you think? I think that should satisfy Cedie, right?”

I’m not satisfied at all.

I have to prepare 70% of the necessary magic stones, and the labor costs are completely on my own.

“I’ve said it many times. The magic railway cannot be made unless it is under the same conditions as Earl Simpson. I really can’t afford to take on your offer.”

“But there must still be a compromise!”

He’s trying to find a compromise from the beginning. Sigh. It’s really awkward to have someone you can’t talk properly with. And it’s even more troublesome when the other party is powerful person.

Seeing that I won’t relent, Alexei-oniisan start looking into the room with his arms crossed, but his eyes suddenly fell on the painting on the wall.

“The Young Man in Blue!? Why is there such a masterpiece here!?”

“Oh, that? It’s fake.”

I was honest with him, but he didn’t believe me.

“How ridiculous! My eyes won’t fool me! Where did you get this?”

“I bought it from a sprite art dealer named Farh Jarg.”

Alexei-oniisan’s eyes are glued to the painting. There is a color of desire floating in it.

“Okay, I’ll buy it from you.”

“Ah? Like I said, it’s fake.”

“Stop whining. Okay, I’ll give you 500,000 crown coins for this.”

As soon as he said that, he took out five gold coins from his pouch and laid them out on the table. He then starts to take the painting off the wall.

“No. I told you, it’s fake!”

“Hahaha, I’m a so-called noble appraiser and I’m not going to be fooled! I’ll buy it whether it’s fake or not.”

A noble appraiser?

It’s the first time I’ve heard of it. Oh well, this is too much trouble so I’ll just let him do what he wants.

“Uhahaha, I made some great purchase today. I’ll come again!”

Are you coming again!?

My eldest brother walked out with loud footsteps. Then I heard his cheerful voice outside.

“I’ll have some melon soft-serve ice cream on the way home. Uhahahaha!”

Uh-, Alexei-oniisan is getting used to the island. 

I don’t want him to get used to it though. I hope he doesn’t get angry when he finds out that it’s really a fake. Anyways, he will come to ask me to return the money eventually.

Or, does he really not realize that it is a fake?

Just how good is a noble appraiser anyway?

I stopped worrying about it, collected the gold coins on the table and put them in my pouch.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Early in the morning, I heard the mournful cry of the goat from outside.

Oh, maybe its leg was caught in the fence?

If left alone, it could lead to serious injury. So without changing clothes, I quickly ran out in my pajamas. However, the goat was fine. It’s just that it is weirdly jumping up and down inside the enclosure.

It looks fine, but why is it making such a displeased cry?

“There’s someone on its back!”

As Char pointed out, there is indeed a small child on the back of the goat.

No, that’s not a child.

He’s shorter than Char, but he is clearly a middle-aged man with a shaggy beard. Moreover, he is strangely dressed in red clothes and a red top hat. In other words, it’s a flashy uncle forcibly straddling the goat that doesn’t like its fur pulled off.

“Why are you riding my goat?”

The uncle in red cursed when his eyes met mine.

“I’m going to make this my goat. If you’re upset, come and catch me, you slow-witted brat!”

His look, with his tongue sticking out, is like the embodiment of meanness.

“The goat doesn’t like it. Get off there!”

“Come here if you can. Ble-ble-ble!”

The uncle pulls the goat’s fur, causing it to go on a rampage so I can’t keep up.

But Char crept up behind the strange uncle.

“Got you!”

After jumping on the back of the goat, Char picked up the uncle in red and gave him a suplex. His red top hat was crushed flat.

Uh-, is the uncle is okay?

“Father, I have caught the man in red.”

“Good job, Char. But is he okay?”

“Mm. He’s still alive.”

Rubbing the big bump on his head, the uncle got up.

“O-ouch. I didn’t expect that I, nicknamed the Red Meteor, will be caught by such a small brat….…”

“Char is a Yellow Dragon, the strongest species!”

“Tch, I’m really lucky that the other party was yellow dragon!”

Gripping his hair, the uncle looked frustrated.

“Who are you. Why are you bullying my goat?”

“I’m Farh Jarg, and I like to ride goats and sheep!”

What a troublesome uncle.

But the name Farh Jarg sounds familiar.

Hmmm. Where did I hear it again……?

“Can’t you ride a little more gently then?”

“Shut up! I ride how I want. I’m going to have this one.”

Oi, oi, I think he’s more selfish than Alexei-oniisan.

Char grabbed Farh Jarg who was shouting out loud.

“Jarg should go somewhere. Or else Char will throw you away with all my might!”

Hearing those words, even the domineering Jarg turned blue in the face.

“W-wait a second. If you do something like that, I’ll be sent all the way to the next city or even the city after that. Please don’t throw me.”

“Then, you won’t do anymore mischief?”

“T-that’s ….…”

I remember!

Farh Jarg is a sprite who also appeared in Island Maker and was known as a greedy art dealer. However, I’ve also heard that sprites can’t break their oaths.

“Swear by your honor, or Char will throw you beyond the horizon!”

“A-all right. I’m not going to mess with your goat again. Is that all right?”

“Char still can’t forgive you!”

Char is angry that the goat was hurt.

“Our goat has had its fur plucked. Char will also pluck Jarg’s beard.”

“Kid, please stop this Yellow Dragon. If you help me, I will take you to my shop!”

“Your shop is in the cave, isn’t it?”

“You are well informed. Yes, it’s just beyond the door to Area 2. It’s invisible to normal humans, but it will be visible to you, young man. So tell this girl not to throw me away.”

Hmm, what to do……?

I remember trying my best to collect all the art at Island Maker. However, there are some things I need to be careful about when it comes to Farh Jarg’s shop. Jarg’s shop sells one-of-a-kind masterpieces, but they also have a lot of fakes. 

“Okay. Char, forgive Farh Jarg.”

“Muu…… okay.”

Char agreed reluctantly.

“Alright then, let’s go to the shop right away.”

“Eh, it’s not possible that quickly. To make it visible to humans, we need to get everything ready, and that will cost money. That’s what we need to talk about first.”

Farh Jarg rubbed his hands together and smiled sheepishly.

“Can I ask for a loan of about 100,000 crown coins to open my shop?”

“What!? 100,000!?”

“Well, it’s a very prestigious shop.”

I’m not being scammed, am I?

But there are some really good pieces of art in Farh Jarg’s store…

“Okay, I can do that. But swear that it’s not a scam. Then I’ll put up the money.”

“Uu-, I swear……”

From the looks of it, he was definitely trying to scam me. But since he swore, the shop will definitely appear.

I decided to go there and look for an opportunity.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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At the auberge, Nowald-sensei came and talked to me. He seemed a little reserved though.

“Cedie, I’m sorry, but could you accompany me for a bit?”

“Of course. Sensei, how can I help you?”

“I want to explore the cave a bit. I want to get a Komeda gemstone.”

Komeda gemstone is an alchemy material that is used for a variety of things. But we’ve never found it in the cave before. It’s not a rare material though, so if we look hard for it, we should be able to find it.

Oh wait, maybe this has something to do with the level of the cave.

I then tried to trace the memories of my previous life. I can’t remember anything exactly, but I think the Komeda gemstone didn’t appear unless the cave level was 2 or higher.

I am always indebted to Sensei. Recently, he helped me make a birthday present for Claire too.

Alright, it’s decided.

I’ll raise the level of the cave to repay Nowald-sensei.

“I understand. Okay, let’s go together with Char this afternoon.”

“Yes, let’s do that. Thank you.”

Nowald-sensei looked happy as he leaves.

Now then, I’ll level up the cave before the afternoon.

By the way, here’s what my status looks like.

I’m now at level 7 and the number of points I can accumulate has increased to 70. The island level has also been raised to level 5, so there is nothing wrong with bringing the cave to level 2.

I only need 55 points to level up the cave so I have enough points for it.

I wonder what exactly will happen after I upgrade the cave to level 2 though.

Strong monsters won’t suddenly appear, right? In Island Maker…… I think new areas are added each time you level up.

If we go all the way to the end of Area 1, we should be able to see the door of the Area 2. The structure changes randomly every time we enter, but unless we go to Area 2, we won’t encounter dangerous monster so suddenly.

I had accumulated points, so I immediately raised the level of the cave.

After I leveled up the cave, the island also leveled up!

Thanks to this, the variety of things that can be exchanged with points has expanded.

Oh, and I can even get a crepe or oden stall!

It sounds interesting, but there is a shortage of manpower right now so I’ll save it for later.

Hmm, what is this?

A new message has arrived on my status screen.

A treasure map as a gift?

Oh, I remember! This is a reward for leveling up the cave.

The cave is usually a random structure, but if you enter with this map in hand, you’ll see the cave structure in the map. And at the location marked with an X on the map, there is a treasure chest.

While searching for Nowald-sensei’s Komeda gemstone, I’ll also get this treasure chest.

As planned, in the afternoon, I went to explore the cave with Nowald-sensei. Of course, Char is with us. It’s not just about combat power, but also because Char, who has a keen sense of five senses, is also excellent at searching for enemies.

“I’m going to look for Komeda gemstone with all my might!”

“And a treasure chest, by the way.”

“Whooa! Father, what’s in the treasure chest?”

“It’s something you can look forward to once you open it. Well, there are duds sometimes, but most of the time, there are useful items inside it.”

“Is there cheesecake?”

“Uh-, that’s not a useful item Char, that’s a delicious food.”

A piece of cheesecake is more precious to Char than a rare magic item.

Following the map, we came to the deepest part of Area 1. Once we go through the iron door in front of us, we will be in Area 2.

“The enemies are going to be a little more powerful from here, so be careful.”

In Area 2, the atmosphere of the cave changed a bit. In some places, decorations such as altars and reliefs have been added.

“The treasure chest is…… oh, this way.”

We checked the map as we proceeded.

Along the way, the monsters attacked us several times, but Char easily repelled them each time. I had prepared my special fire magic, but I haven’t had the chance to use it. Well, I don’t want to fight either, so it’s fine.

We quickly found the Komeda gemstone that Sensei wanted. As expected, it was an item that appeared in Area 2. And also, it looks like we can get a lot of new materials in Area 2, so there will be more things that can be made by alchemy in the future.

Then we’ve made it to our destination.

“Father, there’s a big treasure chest over there!”

In one corner of the cave was a rather big treasure chest. Well, rather than being big, it was long and thin.

Anyway, at this point, I was a little discouraged. That’s because in Island Maker, small treasure chests are more likely to contain better things. Still, there was no choice but to open it, so I lifted the lid of the treasure chest.

“The treasure is a hoe!”

As Char said, the content of the treasure chest is a hoe, a farming tool.

It’s a sturdy-looking hoe, but this treasure…..

To be honest, I was taken a back. Well, it’s a tool that can be used in the vegetable garden, so I’ll take it home.

I put my hand inside the treasure chest and lifted the hoe.

“Eh……?”

The moment I grabbed the handle of the hoe, power flowed into my hands!

Oh, this isn’t just a hoe!

If there’s a hoe that you can get as a reward at Island Maker, it’s the hoe of the goddess!

The goddess’s hoe is a magic item that can cultivate a large area with a single swing. I’m sure there were other things like the Goddess’s Watering Can and the Goddess’s Scythe, but this is one in that series.

There is no doubt that this will make farming much easier.

“Wow, I can plow 4 × 4 squares at once!”

“4 squares?”

Nowald-sensei tilts his head at my words.

“No, it’s nothing.”

After all, only I can see the grid.

I tried the hoe as soon as we got back to the cottage and it was very useful.

My happiness level also went up to 100%. This is a very good opportunity. I’ll plant the seeds right away. In three days’ time, it will be full of sparkling crops.

In this way, I spent the whole afternoon farming until the sun went down.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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It’s Claire’s birthday party.

Today, I’m dressed up for the party and I headed to the main house of the Dantes family alone.

In fact, I wanted to go with Eugenie, but she refused.

“Claire is the star of the show tonight, so let’s give her some face.”

That’s what she said. Eugenie doesn’t want to go with me and incur any unnecessary grudge. But I think Eugenie is overthinking it though.

I don’t think Claire likes me, in fact, I think she hates me.

Well, she hasn’t been as harsh as she used to be lately.

Looking at the nostalgic Dantes mansion, there was something that surged in my heart. This is the first time I’d come here since Father passed away.

As I entered through the front door, Claire recognized me and approached me.

“Oh, Cedie is here too?”

“Happy birthday Claire. But I think you should call me uncle, instead of Cedie, right?”

“Hmph! You’re being cheeky, Cedie.”

Claire, it’s you who is cheeky.

But tonight is Claire’s birthday party, so I won’t argue with her.

“Right. Here, it’s your birthday present.”

“Thank you.”

Claire’s face contorts as she receives it.

Is she disappointed?

“R-ring……”

“I made it from the pearl I found. It has an interesting mechanism in it.”

“W-why is it a ring!?”

Claire’s eyes bulged and then she glared at me. Even her voice is high-pitched, and she seemed to be very angry.

Still, even if she doesn’t like it, she doesn’t have to yell at me, right?

“There’s no deep meaning in it. It’s just that my alchemy teacher taught me how to make it, so it came to be this shape. Apparently, it is easier to imbue magic into a ring than a pendant.”

“…………”

Claire’s furious facial expression remained the same even after that explanation. Sigh. I’ll just explain how the star guide works and get a drink then.

“It’s called a star guide. When you cast magic through the ring, the pearl emits light and points you in the direction of Cygnus.”

While I was explaining, Claire was glaring at the ring with a furrowed brow.

“Are you listening?”

“….Heh? I’m listening! In other words, there is no deep meaning to this ring, right?”

“Hn? Yes, that’s right. What I’m saying is that it doesn’t have any meaning, but that there’s a hidden gimmick in it.”

As Claire was distracted, I had to explain again.

It was a grand birthday party, as you would expect from the Dantes family. Although Alexei-oniisan can be greedy, he doesn’t seem to mind spending money on things like this.

There were a number of familiar faces at the party. I also got to meet Paul-oniisan. I wanted to talk to Paul-oniisan, but I was lightly reprimanded.

“No, just go and dance with girls your age. This kind of event also serves as matchmaking you see.”

“No, it’s still too early for me.”

Paul-oniisan smiled wryly at me.

“Cedie is now the head of a Baronial family. Even if you are not interested in them, the people around you will not leave you alone. Besides, it’s good to enjoy life.”

“Even if you say that, I—”

“Or is there someone you like?”

“There is no such person.”

“Really? Well, I think you would look really good with Miss Eugenie.”

“Haha, stop it.”

I do like Eugenie, but I still don’t want to think about such things yet. She’s my best friend, and I think that’s fine for now.

The orchestra began to play waltz.

Well, I can dance. There’s no point in sitting around like this, so why don’t I just do as Paul-oniisan suggested? As the third son of the Dantes family, I can dance to the extent that I won’t be some embarrassment.

Now that I’m observing everyone, I found that Claire isn’t dancing with anyone. Maybe she’s not that interested. Anyways, I’ll leave Claire alone because she’ll probably say no even if I ask her.

Oh, there’s Eugenie over there.

Okay, I’ll invite her to a dance. After all, she’s the easiest person to invite.

“Eugenie, will you dance with me?”

“With pleasure.”

We had a lot of fun dancing to the music.

By the way, there is an unspoken rule that you can dance with the same person up to two music. It is considered impolite to dance to more than three music.

Eugenie complimented me on my steps.

“Oh, you’re better than before huh.”

“Really? Well, don’t tell anyone, but I had practiced my steps with Mary before I came.”

When the music ended, we bowed and left the dance floor.

Oh, Claire hasn’t danced with anyone yet.

She’s leaning back in her chair, glaring at me. Her image right now looks a lot like Alexei-oniisan.

What’s she so unhappy about when it’s her birthday?

With a small sigh, Eugenie began to say something ridiculous.

“Cedie, why don’t you invite Claire to a dance? I can’t watch her alone like that.”

“Eh? You two usually fight a lot, but you’re being really nice to Claire tonight.”

“It’s kind of like my chivalrous spirit. Besides, I need to give Claire a face for her birthday.”

“Ah? I don’t really get it though?”

“Come on, just go.”

Oh well, maybe I should just invite her out as a matter of courtesy…

I stood in front of Claire, who had a grumpy look on her face.

“Claire, will you dance with me?”

“With Cedie? Why do I have to dance with Cedie?”

I knew it. She’s mad after all.

“Oh, I’m not forcing you.”

“Wait!”

Despite her strong denial, Claire grabbed my hand tightly.

……Quite painful.

“Listen, if you step on my foot, I’ll blow you up!”

Since you didn’t like it, you don’t have to dance with me.

That’s what I’m thinking, but the music started playing. And once the music started, my body moved on its own. It’s the same with Claire, who leans on me and steps gracefully.

That’s impressive, it looks like she’d been practicing her dance a lot.

The star of the party was dancing, so we were the center of attention. Eventually, the music ended and the people gave us a warm round of applause.

I bowed my head lightly and tried to move away from Claire, but Claire acted unexpectedly.

“Not good at all. Let’s try again.”

“What do you mean? I think I danced well.”

“Shut up! Cedie has no consideration of me! Dance more lovingly to me.”

“Don’t be unreasonable. I’m trying to be considerate of you in my own way you know.”

“I don’t want to hear excuses. Look, the music has started.”

I was forcibly taken back to the dance floor and forced to dance to another music.

J-just what the hell is going on….

Still, I tried to lead the dance more carefully than before.

However…

“No, do it again.”

“Hey, stop being ridiculous. It’s taboo to dance with the same person three times. You know that rule, right?”

“I don’t know, I don’t care about that!”

“I don’t want people to think I’m stupid.”

“No one’s watching!”

You’re the center of attention!

“Anyway, do excuse me. I have business with the Viscount.”

I found an acquaintance and left the dance floor as if running away.

　✲✲✲

The party was a great success, and Claire was lying on the bed in her pajamas. Smiling, Claire stares at the pearl ring on her finger.

“Mou! Cedie’s such an idiot. Idiot, idiot!”

(Oh, why do you give me such a wonderful ring!

The dancing was great too, it was the best birthday party ever.

I guess I’ll have to make up my mind now.

I’m going to make some memories before the summer holidays are over!

I’m calling it Claire and Cedie’s Summer Memory Plan.

I’m going to make it an unforgettable summer!)

Then Claire’s high-pitched laughter continued into the night.         

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Claire’s birthday party is approaching. It’s depressing to see Alexei-oniisan and Claire, but I am ready to attend the event. Well, I think that since it’s a party with large number of nobles, big brother will not do anything unreasonable.

The venue is in the mansion in Belucca, so I’m a little happy to be able to go back home for the first time in a while. I guess I’ll just go and find some consolation in that.

However, now that I think of it, I don’t think there is any room left for me there….

Sigh, that makes me feel lonely after all.

I had prepared the pearl I found at the bottom of the beach as a present, but I think giving it to her just like that would be no good. So, I decided to try processing it a bit. For this matter, I think Nowald-sensei may be able to give me some good advice.

I decided to visit his alchemy workshop.

“I see. So you are processing the pearl to give as a birthday gift. How old is your niece, Cedie?”

“She’s thirteen years old, the same age as me. She’s my eldest brother’s daughter.”

“The material is pearl, right? Can you show it to me?”

I handed the pearl in my pouch to Sensei.

“This is truly magnificent. It is said that the value of a pearl is determined by its size, shape, layer thickness, blemish, color, and luster. This pearl is just perfect.”

Oh, I did not think it’s worth so much!

As expected of a pearl from Gandalcia island.

“Your niece must be very important to you if you’re giving her something like this.”

“W-well….…”

That’s not really the case, but I couldn’t help but be vague.

I just picked it up in the sand, so it’s practically 0 crown coins, and  I just didn’t want to bother thinking about it too much. However, since I am going to give it away as a gift, I want the other person to be happy.

Even if it’s Claire.

“Sensei, do you have any good ideas?”

“Her birthday is ten days later, right? Your niece’s star sign is Cygnus then.”

“That’s right.”

Just like in my past life, there is a constellation based on the month of birth here as well, it’s just that it is called as star sign.

By the way, my star sign is Virgo, but that’s irrelevant.

“Then how about making a star guide?”

A star guide is a magic item that emits a beam of light from a gemstone or pearl toward your birth star once you send magical power into it. It’s easier to understand if you imagine a laser pointer. Functionally wise, it is almost the same as that.

“This is a black pearl, so the beam should be green in color.”

“That sounds interesting. Okay, I’ll make a star guide and make it into a ring or a necklace.”

With the help of Sensei, I began to make star guide.

The gimmick of producing rays of light is not that difficult. All I have to do is use a magnifying glass to write up a minuscule magic formula and place it on a pearl pedestal.

“I think it’s a little plain for a thirteen-year-old to have.”

Sensei crosses his arms as he looks at the star guide I’m in the process of making.

Apparently, he already imagined the finished product and he did not like the result. Well, it’s true that pearls are a little plain on their own, but I think this is nice as it is.

“I think it doesn’t matter, Sensei. The gimmick is the important part of this item.”

“No, that’s not good. It would be better to have some jewels to decorate the sides.”

I think there are a lot of academic people who are perfectionist. Nowald-sensei is a typical example of this.

“Cedie, let’s go to the cave. We probably won’t find a diamond, but I’m sure we’ll find some crystals in no time.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. There’s a saying, hasten to do good things.”

That saying also exists in this world huh…….

Sensei is smiling happily. He really enjoys the process of moving forward toward his goals.

It is true that crystals are often found in caves.

But do I have to go that far for Claire?

“Cedie, let’s make something acceptable okay.”

When Sensei told me that, I changed my mind. It’s also for my own good.

“I understand. I’m going to call Char, then let’s head to the cave.”

We got ready and headed to the cave.

After about 30 minutes of exploring the cave, I spotted something gleaming in front of me. It’s not the light of a monster’s eye. There were small crystals embedded in the cave wall.

“Sensei, is this a crystal?”

“No, it’s topaz.”

Nowald-sensei, who was carefully examining the stone, told me.

It’s colorless and transparent, so it’s called clear topaz. It is similar to quartz crystal, but much harder. I thought it would be enough with a common crystal, but contrary to my expectations, it seems that I have found a good one.

“This is good, if you add topaz, the output of the star guide will increase drastically.”

Sensei said that with it added, the laser beam emitted from the pearl is even thicker and easier to see.

“Then I’ll take it to the craftsmen in Bern.”

I decided to leave the processing to the professionals. We didn’t explore deep that day, but turned back at the place where we got Topaz.

A few days later, the ring I had ordered and the processed topaz arrived. After attaching the star guide made from processed pearls to it, the gift is complete. Three small topazes were attached to each side of the large pearl to complete the ring.

I waited until night to see if the star guide worked properly.

I put the ring on the index finger of my left hand and let magic flow on it, then a green light from the pearl stretched out into the night sky. The light is heading straight for the Cygnus Star.

“It’s amazing! The ribbon of light is pointing straight at the stars!”

Char is overjoyed. Nowald-sensei seemed to be satisfied with the outcome too.

“The output is better than I expected. As expected of the pearl and topaz from Gandalcia.”

“This is also thanks to Sensei. Thank you.”

Knowing Claire, she might find fault with it again, but I’m happy because I’m satisfied with it.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Finally, the Magic Railway was opened to Lebon. Earl Simpson invested a considerable amount of money to rush the completion of the railroad tracks.

This will make things much more convenient.

Next will be the extension of the line from Lebon to Polymer.

Today is the opening ceremony of the railway in Lebon. The venue is at the station building built on the outskirts of town, and people were already crowded there.

It’s a simple but quaint station.

The walls are plastered with white and the reddish-brown roof tiles stand out against the blue sky. A kiosk was also built at the station on my advice. In addition to newspapers, we also had some of the island’s specialties, but today they were sold out in just five minutes.

This is also thanks to the effect of the ceremony.

Oh right, we also created a commemorative silver coin in collaboration with Earl Simpson.

It is a silver coin commemorating the opening of the Magic Railway, and is engraved with a picture of the Magic Train on the front and the coat of arms of the Simpson and Dantes Barons families on the back.

It uses 5,000 crown coins’ worth of silver.

Commemorative coins are probably unfamiliar to most people, but there were many who wanted one as well. We decided to sell it in a limited edition of 1,000 copies, but it also sold out in no time.

It seems that it even already has a premium and is being traded at a price of more than 6000 crown coins. I’ve also been getting a few inquiries from time to time about it.

The islanders were also presented with commemorative silver coins. Mio-san, as a railway employee, was particularly pleased and said she would treasure it for the rest of her life.

People cheered when the train driven by Mio-san pulled into the station.

Earl Simpson and I greeted the crowd and together, we cut the ribbon that hung at the turnstiles.

The memorable first train from Lebon to Gandalcia was so booked that ticket sales were sold by lottery. Well, there are only 30 seats, so it can’t be helped.

By the way, the fare from Lebon to Gandalcia is set at 200 crown coins. Normally, there is only one round trip per hour, but there are a lot of people today, so we decided to make three round trips.

“The train is departing from Lebon, passing through Kaido Station, and bound for Gandalcia Island. The doors are closing now.”

The Magic Railway departed as scheduled.

At the train station on the island of Gandalcia, we were ready to meet and greet them. The islanders are lined up in one place and are waiting for the first train. Even Silver and Lucio are in the line.

Speaking of Silver, he’d done a great job the other day. Some guppy poachers came to Gandalcia Island, but Silver somehow managed to capture them. Since he was able to avoid Alexei-oniisan’s magic attacks and fight back, average thieves are no match against him.

Since then, Silver has been roaming the island looking like a guard captain. According to Char, who is his interpreter, he wants to be called Captain Silver Season from now on.

Could it be that he had come to keep watch to make sure no suspicious people entered the island today?

It felt like I am being a bit cynical, but Silver is a smart horse, so I think it is not impossible.

✲✲✲　

Three days had passed since the opening ceremony, but the Magic Railway is still bustling. Excited by the sight of their first railway, customers were gather in the railway incessantly.

The first railway in Japan in the previous life was between Shinbashi and Yokohama. It was in the Meiji era, but I wondered if it was like this then too?

Entering the mountains of Gandal with the moon as a companion on the journey♪

When I came back from my morning patrol, I saw Lucio and Silver grazing side by side. Lucio and Silver are on good terms. As for their personalities, Lucio is quiet, and Silver is active. Lucio is more clingy. Well, Silver only clings to me or Char after all.

Silver patrols the island, and when there are bad guys, he happily defeats them. His specialty is a back kick. Even if his opponent is armed, he doesn’t mind, as he will block the attack with his horseshoe and then deliver a front kick.

Recently, I got a warhorse armor for Silver. He asked me for it. Through Char, he communicates what he wants.

It wasn’t on the list for points exchanged, but when I consulted with the others, Upa was able to get it from somewhere. He must have used some connections from his days in the military.

Silver has placed his armor on his wand and transform into battle mode when he needs to fight. His strength is so strong that both Char and Upa recognize him.

However, he has a kind side, and he even brings apples that grew in the forest as souvenirs for Lucio. They get along really well.

Silver’s catchphrase is, “If Alexei comes, I’ll blow him away.”

It’s a lot of trouble, so I’ll ask big brother not to come.

Just as I was thinking about that, Alexei-oniisan showed up. I really had a hard time stopping Silver, who is trying to kick him.

But I’m really surprised that Alexei-oniisan can show up on this island without a second thought. He sealed off the island before and he’s acting pretty shameless if it’s the right term for it.

Well, I’ve come to realize recently that Alexei-oniisan doesn’t seem to be trying to be mean to me.

But why did he do such things? Well, it’s simply because he was born selfish. Perhaps it was inevitable since he was born as the eldest son of a noble family that even the king was hesitant to go against with. It must be unbearable for the people around him, though.

So, I think because of that, he doesn’t seem to feel any remorse or shame.

Sigh, it’s really troublesome though.

“How can I help you today?”

“Hmm, before that, give me a glass of cold white wine. It’s too hot.”

There he is, he’s being brazen again today.

Even so, I am still dealing with the Earl of the neighboring territory. So in order not to be rude, I signaled to Upa and asked him to bring a glass of wine to him.

Brother Alexei, who drank the wine with gusto, asked for a second glass, and then he’s finally ready to talk.

“Mm, that’s really delicious.”

“Thank you very much for that.”

“Cedie, I’m here because of the magic railway. Do it to Belucca too.”

The topic was so sudden that I couldn’t quite take it in.

“If it’s done, the economy of Belucca will develop even more, and so will yours. It’s not a bad idea, isn’t it?”

It’s a condescending way to say it, but it’s not wrong. With the opening of the Magic Railway, the flow of people and goods will increase even more.

However, there are a few problems.

Especially if it is Alexei-oniisan…….

“Of course I don’t mind. But what about the funds for the extension of the railway track? I don’t have money to do it.”

“What!? Didn’t you build the railway tracks through Lebon?”

“It was funded by Earl Simpson.”

“Is that so……? That…. but this will be good for you, right? Can’t you do something about it?”

“This will be good for you” he says.

What a typical toxic brother. How dare he say that, when until recently, he had banned my business in the Dantes territory.

Alexei-oniisan is the type who gets increasingly arrogant, so I need to be clear about the money.

My goodness, I must have done something wrong in my past life to have to go through all this hardship at the age of thirteen.

“Alexei-oniisan, if you want to have a magic train to Belucca, you will have to pay for the tracks and stations. And also, we will have to split the cost of the magic stones required for operation.”

“What!?”

That’s not surprising you know!

When I explained how the profits would be divided, my eldest brother looked even more surprised.

“My share is so small!”

“Earl Simpson and I have come to terms with this division.”

“Is this kind of tyranny even allowed!?”

What a super dreadnought boomerang!

Alexei-oniisan got angry and left. Emma arrived just as he had left.

“I just passed Earl Dantes on the way here. Are you in trouble again?”

Emma looked worried.

I shrugged my shoulders and explained the purpose of my eldest brother’s visit.

“We, the merchants of Belucca, will be grateful if there will be Magic Train.”

“I’m sorry, but I think it’s going to be a long way off.”

With the amount of money offered by Alexei-oniisan, there’s no way we could build a magical railway.

“Oniisan is just too greedy.”

“Speaking of greedy, the most greedy merchant in Belucca was banished the other day.”

“Oh? Such incident happened huh.”

“It’s a merchant named Avon Shylock, who rose to power by bribing Earl Dantes.”

“He is giving bribes to Alexei-oniisan? How could he be caught then?”

Knowing Alexei-oniisan, I’m sure he would have gladly accepted the money and won’t exile him. Once he gets exiled, he won’t be able to take bribes on a regular basis.

“Well, you see, Shylock was lying about his income and he committed massive tax evasion.”

I see. That’s why my brother got angry. He hates having his income compromised.

“They had been on good terms up until then, but they had a big fight. Earl Dantes accused him of tax evasion, and Shylock seemed to think that since he had given a bribe, he should be given a little mercy. In the end, the Earl collected the back taxes and banished him.”

My goodness, what a troublesome bunch.

I really think they were both just as bad.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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