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

The bride and groom were lovely. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince looked sincere, and Her Royal Highness Princess Granadal is a very beautiful person.

She looked great in her pure white dress.

I think. Well, to be honest, we are too far away to get a good view.

The table we were at is quite far back. So, my interest quickly shifted to the dishes served in the table. And as expected, the royal palace’s dishes are luxurious. High-quality luxurious ingredients were used generously, and the variety, quantity and quality of the food are all very satisfying. There are things that are only prepared by the court chefs.

But I don’t think Lynn’s cooking is to be outdone. 

Actually, if I had to choose, I would say Lynn’s cooking is more delicious. I can’t describe it well, but I feel the warmth, flexibility and potential in her dishes. It’s exciting and relaxing, stimulating yet calming.

That’s how that taste is.

“Cedie, take a look.”

When Eugenie pointed out to me, I looked at the upper seat, and there was a buzz in the place.

“Did something happen?”

“Have you not noticed? Look, the waiters are pouring the wine.”

“Château Gandalcia Special……”

There are only 100 bottles of Chateau Gandarcia Special, so there probably aren’t enough for all the guests. It appears that it is only available to royalty and high-ranking aristocrats.

Even from a distance, I can see how people who put the glass of wine on their mouths are amazed at how delicious it is. There is a quiet whisper, and I can see people checking the labels from here.

“Congratulations, Cedie! I think everyone liked it. Maybe this will lead to more wine orders?”

“I hope so. But I don’t want them to want it too much.”

There’s no telling when the grapes to be harvested are sparkling grapes after all. 

However, if everyone buys Gandalcian wine, the salaries of the islanders will increase. I also need buy ship and build railways, so I need money for that.

This time, the sales are 12 million crown coins, but if I want to get railways and ships, it’s not enough at all.

Well, I have no choice but to work hard.

I put foie gras on the veal fillet steak and put my fork on the choux pastry-wrapped dish. 

✲✲✲

My days in the capital have flown by, and today is the day we will return to Gandalcia.

We decided to take a ship using the canal to a place called Netan City. It’s faster and much easier than going down the road. And thanks to the sales of wine, my pockets are warm.

As I packed up my things and thanked Earl Simpson, I had a visitor.

It was Viscount Terbert who came. This person is the head of the Imperial Household and the person who recommended Gandalcian wine for the reception.

“It was good to see the Viscount before I returned to Findas. I wanted to thank you once again. Thank you very much.”

“Oh, no worries. Well, I’m glad I made it in time for your departure. Will you come to the palace with me now?”

“To the palace? But the ship’s departure time is approaching….…”

If we miss this, the ticket I bought will be wasted. In addition to the three of us, me, Char and Upa, I also paid for Lucio and the wagon in advance.

Viscount Tervet added apologetically.

“I shouldn’t say this out loud, but His Majesty the King wants to meet you.”

“His Majesty?”

“Yes. His Majesty has really taken a liking to your wine.”

It’s not an atmosphere where I can say no then……

I really want to go home as soon as possible, but if I say selfishly, I may cause trouble to those around me if I decline here.

“Sure, I’ll go with you.”

I quietly followed Viscount Terbert to the royal palace. We are not led to the audience room but to a small living room. Today, it is not an official business, but a very private meeting, so this must be a place for that.

When I went inside the room, I was greeted by His Majesty the King who is sitting on a large sofa. His stomach is popping out, his head with little hair is shining, but his face is smooth and healthy-looking.

I must say, he looked youthful for a man on his sixties.

“You’re Cedie Dantès huh. Hmm, your eyes look like Lugorn’s.”

Lugorn Dantes is my grandfather. Grandfather had served at the royal court.

“Lugorn was my supervisor when I was the crown prince, and he used to scold me for a lot of things.”

“I- I’m honored to hear that.”

“Well, Lugorn was strict at times, but he was also easy-going. The two of us often escaped from the court and drank in the tavern in the city. He was often scolded by the Chancellor at the time. Hahahaha!”

Grandpa…….

“Sit there. We can’t talk if you stand still there.”

His Majesty offered me a chair and treated me to tea and sweets.

“I called you because I had a favor to ask Cedie.”

“If there’s anything I can help Your Majesty with, please let me know.”

“Very well. I am talking about last night’s wine.”

As expected, it’s about the wine. 

I was kind of expecting it.

I couldn’t imagine any other reason why they would go out of their way to summon me, a mere local lord, to the palace.

“What do you think? I’d like you to sell me a few bottles a year.”

“Of course, I would like to send some to Your Majesty but….”

Earl Simpson, Viscount Terbert and their other associates have already placed orders worth 120,000 crown coins.

“Pardon me Your Majesty. The next batch is already sold out, and I currently don’t know when the next shipment will be….”

If we can harvest sparkling grapes, we can ship them in about 12 days.

“One or two bottles would be fine. Is there anything you can do to accommodate that? Don’t worry, I won’t make you suffer.”

“I understand. Then, I’ll present my own bottle to Your Majesty.”

“Really!? Hoho, in that case, I will have to reward Cedie in exchange. All right, I’ll give you the title of baron.”

“Huh? In return for the wine?”

“That’s how much that wine is worth. In return, I want you to give me priority when you are selling it in the future.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

I wasn’t interested in titles, but when I think about it, there are many benefits to it. The most important is the toll tax. Travelers must pay a toll tax at each checkpoint set by the government. However, this is not the case with the aristocracy. If it is up to one horse-drawn carriage, there is no customs duty on luggage. This benefit is quite significant.

“Thank you very much, Your Majesty. I’m so honored. I’ll send the wine as soon as I get back to my territory.”

“Good, good. I’m looking forward to it.”

Thus, a second Dantes family was born in the kingdom of Floodland. 

One is the original Earl Dantes family. The family’s coat of arms is two wolves guarding a crown surmounted by a rose.

The other is the Baron Dantes family, a branch family. My coat of arms are two thrushes perched on a hazel tree.

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

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Today is the wedding day.

Since only a few dignitaries will participate in the ceremony, I will be attending from the reception. The venue was set up in a large hall in the palace, and it is said that there are about 500 participants. After changing into my best clothes, I escorted Eugenie down the corridor leading to the venue.

“There are a lot of foreign guests too.”

There are many guests walking around wearing unfamiliar traditional costumes.

“It’s the marriage of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince after all so it’s only natural.”

Dantes’ mansion is magnificent, but this place feels more prestigious. My hometown, Beluca, is a port town, so perhaps its free-spirited atmosphere is reflected in the architecture.

Compared to that, I get the impression that the capital is much more formal.

“Are you the type of person who wants to have a big wedding for yourself?”

“Hmm… I wonder. I’m not really interested in the grandeur. I’d be happy if my parents and someone close to me celebrates it with me. I think that’s enough for me.”

It was a very Eugenie answer.

Just before entering the reception hall, I met a familiar face. 

To be honest, he wasn’t someone I wanted to meet, but perhaps this was fate…

I tried to pass by pretending not to notice, but the other party noticed me.

“……Cedie?”

“Hello, Alexei-oniisan.”

Alexei-oniisan, dressed in a luxurious formal attire, looks at me with his eyes showing disbelief. 　

“Weren’t you on the island?”

“I was invited to the reception, so I came.”

“But how……?”

I asked Char to dig a tunnel for me.

I answered in my mind. Of course I’m not good-natured enough to tell him that honestly. I just keep on smiling politely.

I guess he is now feeling frustrated that he couldn’t lock me up and take over the management of the winery. Alexei-oniisan’s temples are twitching.

“Big Brother, it’s time for the reception to begin. Let’s go to our seats.”

The seating order at the wedding reception is completely different depending on your status. My brother, who is an Earl, is close to the bride and groom, but I, who have no title, sits at the bottom.

I am very grateful for that arrangement. Nothing good would come from staying with my brother any longer after all.

I bowed politely to Alexei-oniisan and walked towards my seat.

Seeing us, the waiters led us to our table. 

A middle-aged couple sits right next to us. They don’t seem to be used to this kind of occasion, and they looked a little nervous.

Since we are sharing the same table, I want to make sure that we are comfortable with each other.

I greeted them politely.

“My name is CedieDantes, Lord of Gandalcia. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The gentleman immediately stood up and shook hands with me.

“My name is Baron Togonov. Nice to meet you.”

The baron is slender and his wife is a well-dressed lady.

“Speaking of Dantes, are you a relative of Earl Dantes?”

“Earl Alexei is my brother.”

He is mean, though!

“Oh my, I’m honored to have made the acquaintance of such an incredible person. Although I’m a baron, I’m just a newly emerging aristocrat…”

I wish he didn’t have to be so subservient.

“Don’t be too polite. I’m just a nobleman with no title. I presented wine made on my estate to this reception today. His Highness the Crown Prince liked the wine, so he invited me to come. I’m not in a position where I could be in a place like this normally.”

“You’re so humble. It’s amazing that you can make wine that pleases His Highness!”

Baron Togonov was impressed. He then added,

“In contrast, I pretty much bought my title with money. By chance, tin was mined in the mountains on my territory, and I made my fortune with it.”

“Tin? That’s a very useful metal.”

I’ve learned a lot about minerals from Nowald-sensei. Tin is a relatively soft metal that is easy to process. It also has a low melting point of about 232 degrees Celsius. 

“Yes. Thanks to that, we’re making a profit. Recently, we’ve been making something called tinplate, which is made by coating steel sheets with tin, and we are selling them as a building material.”

“Wait a minute, tinplate you say?”

“Do you know about it Dantès-san?”

If I’m not mistaken, tinplate is the material used to make cans, right?

“Uhm, excuse me for a moment.”

I secretly opened the status board. They can’t see it, so they don’t know what I’m doing. I flicked through the status board to find what I wanted.

I’m sure I’ve seen it before…….

Can sealer: A machine used to pack canned food Points Required: 6

Yes, this is it!

If I can have a tin can and a lid, I can make canned food in Gandalcia. Bottling has the disadvantage of being heavy and fragile, but canned food solves that problem.

“Does Baron Togonov also do metal processing?”

“Of course. I’m happy to cater anything you want to make.”

Our conversation was interrupted by the entry of His Majesty the King, the father of the groom. As the subjects left their seats in unison, Baron Togonov slipped his business card into my hand discreetly.

“If you have any questions, please contact me any time.”

“Thank you.”

An unexpected development occurred in an unexpected place. 

As I bowed to His Majesty, I couldn’t hide my big smile.

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

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As I was looking at my status screen, I heard a rattling sound coming from the direction of the tunnel, and Lucio appeared with a wagon. It is Upa who is holding Lucio’s bridle.

“Mio informed me that the tunnel is open. I guess we can now head out.”

“Yes, we can indeed go now…. But Upa, are you going with us?”

“I won’t let you say no this time. The capital is far away, and there might be robbers along the way. If I’m with you guys, I can prevent any unnecessary trouble from happening.”

Upa carries a long sword on his back and is already ready to travel.

Hmmm…. Perhaps with the tough-looking Upa around, fewer people will try to bother us indeed.

“But it’s still too early, right? It’s still before dawn you know.”

“That’s better. This way, we can leave without being seen by the guys at the checkpoint. We can make Earl Dantes think we’re still on the island.”

Knowing my brother, it’s possible that he might come to interfere with the delivery. He probably wouldn’t send troops into another territory, but he might have them pretend to be ruffians and launch an attack on us.

In that case, we should indeed leave immediately.

Everything is ready, and the wagon is loaded with wine and our luggage.

“Okay~, Char will carry the wagon to the main road!”

This is in the forest, so we really have to do that. 

Char lightly lifted the wagon with all our luggage in her shoulders and starts walking forward. Lucio, who is looking grumpy from just waking up, follows after her.

“Well then, everyone, we’re going.”

I said goodbye to everyone and started walking through the forest where the pigeons began to chirp. 

The weather continued to be fine and our trip went well. We arrived in the capital in two days without any major problems. Normally, it would take three days, but thanks to Char, we arrived earlier. For most of the journey, Char pulled the wagon.

She even carried the tired Lucio and placed him on the wagon, and the passers-by were very surprised by that scene. 

Well, it’s to be expected because a little girl is carrying an adult donkey with ease. It’s usually the other way around after all.

“Father, there are a lot of human presence!”

Char, who is walking cheerfully in front, told me excitedly.

“Well, we are almost at the Capital after all.”

“Ooh~! There are countless people in the Capital.”

“That’s right. Char can tell huh.”

“All the different voices, all the different smells, I can feel them all!”

“Char, it’s about time you took turn pulling the wagon with Lucio. If we keep going like this, a bunch of curious onlookers will start gathering around us.”

If there is a young girl pulling a wagon with a donkey on it, onlookers may gather and we may not be able to move forward.

After walking for a while, the walls of the city finally came into view. It is Luidas, the capital of the Kingdom of Floodland. The population is about 30,000.

The main industry here are the magic stones produced from huge dungeons. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Luidas. 

It was two years ago that my late father brought me here. At that time, I was told, “When you turn 16, you have to make yourself known to the high society.” But then my father passed away, and those plans fell apart.

Well, it would be wrong to expect anything from Alexei-oniisan.

You never know what life will bring. Just like now, someone like me even gets invited to a Royal wedding reception.

We went straight to Earl Simpson’s villa. When we arrived at the Simpson villa, we are greeted by Eugenie and Earl Simpson. While we are in the Capital, we are supposed to stay here.

“Welcome, Cedie. You’ve finally arrived.”

“Thank you. Well, we arrived a day ahead of schedule.”

Earl Simpson laughs and appeases us.

“Eugie has been worried about you for a long time. She’s been hanging out by the window all day, looking for you.”

“Father! I’m not sitting at the window all day!”

Eugenie puffed out her cheeks, but I’m sure she was worried about me. 

Earl Simpson then asks me.

“Did your trip go well?”

“Yes. We didn’t have any trouble, except when we were leaving.”

“When you are leaving? What happened?”

I explained to Earl Simpson what had happened between me and Alexei-oniisan.

“And so, I dug a tunnel that leads to your territory, please forgive me.”

“No, no. I don’t mind that, don’t worry about it. I’ll go and check it out some time.”

“I’ll accompany you then. Also, I have a suggestion for you.”

“Oh, a suggestion? Since Cedie is suggesting it, it must be something interesting, isn’t it?”

“Actually, there is such a thing called Magic Railway……”

That afternoon, I explained the concept of the railways to Earl Simpson and Eugenie. 

We rested at the villa of Earl Simpson and delivered the wine to the royal palace before evening. I’ve finally lifted a weight off my shoulders after fulfilling my big task. 

With nothing in particular to do, we just wandered around the streets, taking in the sights in the Capital. Then we arrived at Deckels Square.

The plaza is packed with street performers and onlookers, kiosks selling newspapers and cigarettes, and food stalls. There are many such squares in the capital.

“Father, it smells so good.”

Char sniffs around as she moves her arms restlessly. She must be excited to see such food stalls for the first time.

“What do you want to eat? You’ve worked so hard, so I’ll buy you anything as a reward.”

“Uoooh! Hmmm….which one should I choose? There are so many, I can’t decide!”

As we looked around, we heard a cheerful voice calling out to us.

“Welcome, welcome! Would you like a donut? Donuts are the newest sweet at Luidas!”

They are frying donuts at his food stall. However, it is not the ring shape one that I was familiar with in my previous life. They are small lumps of donuts.

It’s looks like……, yes, satur andagi!

I think it’s a snack from Okinawa.

“Father, Char wants to eat donuts!”

“Okay. I’d like to try it too, so let’s buy some.”

As I approached, the man at the stall raised his hand happily.

“Welcome, my boy. Would you like a donut?”

“I’ll buy two. Do you sell only one type here?”

When I asked him that, the uncle looked puzzled.

“A donut is a donut. There aren’t any different kind.”

“……Is that so?”

In my memory of my past life, there were all kinds of donuts. Some had a chewy texture, some had cream in between, and some had some mysterious golden grains sprinkled on them.

As if his interest was piqued, the uncle asks,

“When you said other type…. what other donuts are there?”

“Well, let me think…… uhm, how about one with jam inside?”

I think it’s called jelly donuts. 

When I was a kid in my previous life, there was a time when I thought that jelly donut is a donut with jelly inside. But the jelly wasn’t jelly at all, it was jam.

If you put jelly in a donut, it will melt while it is frying.

“Donuts and jam……”

The uncle listens to me and thinks deeply.

“Uhm, I want two donuts.”

“Oh! My apologies.”

He handed us a donut on a skewer. 

It tastes kind of nostalgic. It’s crunchy on the outside, sweet, greasy —a truly sinful taste.

Char gobbled it down with glee.

“By the way, boy, do you have any other ideas?”

“Hmm…… how about drizzling cinnamon sugar, lemon-flavored sugar coating, or custard cream in between?”

That seems to be easy to do. Chocolate is a luxury item, so it would be impossible to serve it at a food stall. It will no longer be a price that ordinary people can afford.

“I see. I learned a lot. Thank you very much.”

The man thanked me, then he handed me and Charles another donut as a free gift.

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

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The residents of the island gathered in the restaurant of the auberge to discuss what to do next. The first thing that needs to be solved is the wine to be delivered to the Royal Palace.

Upa raised his hand to speak.

“We can break through the blockade with a surprise attack. I’ll do it alone at dawn.”

When I scouted the checkpoint earlier, I found that there were about ten soldiers stationed there. With them lighting up a bonfire, they will be keeping a tight guard at night too for sure.

Sigh. It’s really a nuisance.

It would be difficult for customers to go to the auberge with them like that.

There are barricades set up, but Upa can break through it easily. However, that doesn’t mean I should allow a surprise attack.

“I reject the idea of combat. I don’t want to make a big deal out of this, and I don’t want to hurt the hired soldiers.”

Some of the soldiers were familiar faces. They are the people with whom I had exchanged words many times during my stay at Dantes’ mansion.

I don’t think they’re doing this because they want to either.

This time, Lynn proposes,

“No matter how domineering Earl Dantes is, he can’t attack the daughter of the Simpson family, right?”

“That’s true. But Eugenie is already in the Capital now, and she probably can’t come here.”

She is already staying in the Capital to join the party as my partner. We’re supposed to meet over there.

“Mmm, Mmm……muu….”

Char seemed a bit tense.

“Char, are you not feeling well?”

“No, it’s not that. I thought that if I molt, I would be able to grow. If I grow up, I should be able to fly.”

“Hey, you don’t have to push yourself too hard.”

Nowald-sensei nodded to my words.

“Yes. It is said that it will take at least 50 years for a dragon to be able to fly, so don’t be so impatient.”

“B-but if Char can’t fly, Father will be in trouble.”

“Thank you. It’s very kind of you, Char.”

“It is Father who is kind. It was Father who helped Char when I was exhausted from digging a hole.”

Mmm, right, there was such a thing.

When I first met her, she looked like a small lizard, but now she has grown so much.

“Char has grown up thanks to Father, but I still can’t fly. Char is useless……”

I put my arm around Char’s shoulders as she now looked very dejected.

“Don’t say such stupid things. You are always helping me out, you know. Char helps me get rid of large rocks in the fields every day and you also carry heavy loads at times. I won’t find such a good girl in the world.”

“Muuu…. no need to comfort me, Father. A dragon that can’t fly is nothing…… In any case, Char is the strongest species that can only dig holes. Uuh-, Char can only dig holes….”

Then, the depressed Char suddenly looked up.

“The hole!”

“What’s the matter, Char?”

“Father, please come!”

She grabbed my hand and ran out of the auberge. Everyone then followed behind.

Char pulled me to the cellar where the wine and the other items are stored.

“Char, what do you mean? What are you planning to do?”

“We’re going to dig this hole!”

This large hole has a gentle slope of about 100 meters and then the road becomes flat after that. After another 50 meters on the flat road, you will reach a dead end. The dead-end is probably under the sea. But the wind is always blowing in through the gaps in the rocks that block the hole.

I’m guessing that it leads somewhere on the mainland, but I haven’t investigated it yet.

“If we get rid of these rocks, we should be able to get to the other side.”

The island is located on the border between the Dantes’ and Simpson’s territory.

Then….. if this area extends towards Simpson’s territory, we may be able to pass through without entering the Dantes territory!

“But isn’t it dangerous?”

“Char is good at digging holes so let me do it! Father look. This is how I dig a hole and harden it with earth magic.”

Char smashes the rocks with her hands and then she hardens the ground and the area they fell from with earth magic.

Nowald-sensei checked the solid wall and ground.

“What an incredible magic. With this level of hardness, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Hmm, this may be the only way to deliver the wine in time for the reception.…

“Alright. I’ll leave this to Char.”

“Yes. Leave it to me, Father!”

Char got to work.

“Upa and Lulu get ready for the trip, and Medoc and Pino, continue to label and load the wine. Dawsill and Cawsill, please help Char. Lynn and Mary, you two should make a late-night snack for everyone.”

Nowald-sensei put his hand on my shoulder.

“Let’s make a magic lantern. Even if the tunnel is connected, it will be dangerous if the area remains dark.”

With that, everyone got to work.

Char is even working fiercely. Her dragon claw is used to shatter the rocks and harden the place. She has already dug about a kilometer now.

Me, Nowald-sensei, and Mio-san set up magic lanterns every 50 meters. It’s an unreliable light in such a pitch-black tunnel, but it’s still better than nothing.

“I think we need at least one every 20 meters.”

“Yes, but there’s no other way at the moment, Sensei.”

As I am attaching the magic lantern I had just made to the wall, I heard Char’s voice from the depths of the tunnel.

“Father, please come!”

I rushed over and saw Char standing in the middle of the tunnel.

“What’s wrong?”

“Look.” She then pointed in front and then she added, “When I removed the rock, there was a path there already.”

The space in front of her was not dug by Char. Perhaps there was a tunnel here a long time ago, but it was forgotten over the years.

“Let’s keep going. Be careful though.”

“It’s okay, there’s no sign of monsters here. There’s no sound of water leaking either.”

Dragon Eye and Dragon Ear have formidable powers after all.

If that’s the case, there’s nothing to worry about.

As I walked along the road while illuminating it with a magic lantern, I came to a dead end again after about 300 meters. The large rocks blocking the path are the same as before.

Nowald-sensei is checking while looking at the map.

“It’s about time we reach land. Probably somewhere in Simpson territory. But it is hard to say for sure without a measuring instrument.”

“Hmm. Okay. Let’s just keep going!”

Without showing the slightest signs of fatigue, Char tackled the large rock. The tiny gaps from the rock became a big hole and then the hole quickly widens, becoming large enough for people and wagon to pass through.

A little while later, I felt a particularly strong gust of wind brush against my cheek. And then Char exclaimed,

“It’s connected! We made it!”

It seems that the tunnel had been finally completed.

So where did it lead to?

When I went outside, I found a rocky mountain surrounded by forests. I head to the vantage point to check, and I found a bonfire swaying in the distance.

That’s the light at the checkpoint.

It seems that this is about halfway between the bridge and Lebon.

When I was able to confirm my current location, the status board suddenly opened.

Railways and Subway Construction

Some of the conditions for the construction of railways and subways had been unlocked. Condition: Restoration of the undersea tunnel, Island Level 3 or higher, Securing one driver. Description: Allows you to operate a train from Gandalcia Island to the mainland. Points Required: 40 Funds Needed: 20,000,000 crown coins

I remember now!

In my previous life, there was a form of public transportation called trains. It’s like a box that runs on the railway tracks. I think I used to use it for commuting to school and work. I had completely forgotten about it.

Come to think of it, I’ve heard that railways will be implemented in Island Maker 2.

I don’t think I’ve played Island Maker 2, but is a magic railway effective in this world?

If a station is built in this place, it will be convenient to come to Gandalcia.

If I discuss this well to Earl Simpson, I might be able to open a railway line to Lebon.

That would be a lot more convenient then.

I don’t have enough money right now, but if I can get the money from selling wine, I can create railway tracks in the future.

I re-read the explanation screen in fascination.

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

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With the wedding reception day fast approaching, we are busy preparing the shipment of the wine. All the wine has been bottled, and we are now inside the cellar (the big hole we found before) packing the wine into the crates while attaching labels in them. The bottle must not be damaged during transportation, so we took great care in packing them.

“If Lucio is tired, Char will pull it!”

It takes three days to get to the Capital, so I’m grateful for Char’s presence. No matter how much she pulls the wagon, Char never gets tired.

However, since she looks like a five-year-old, I am afraid that I will be suspected of child abuse.

There’s also a worry that Char might get carried away and go too fast. This is also a reason why we put plenty of cushioning material in the crates.

We will finally leave for the capital tomorrow. The plan is to arrive two days before the reception, but we are still running on a tight schedule. We have to finish packing by the end of the evening.

While I am busy working with Medoc and Pino, a pale-faced Mary rushed into the cellar.

“Young Master Cedie, it’s bad! Alexei-sama is here again!”

“Huh? He is here again?”

Oh dear, what could he want at a time like this when I’m so busy?

Don’t tell me…. Is it the matter of  selling the island again?

This is no longer Dantes’ territory, so please don’t say anything capricious. Sigh. I didn’t want to waste time entertaining him, but I had no choice but to see him.

I left the work to Medoc and Pino and went back to the cottage. At the cottage, Alexei-oniisan was waiting for me in a standing position with his arms crossed. He is even tapping his feet, indicating his impatience.

And there it came, his greeting is an incomprehensible remark.

“So, Cedie, have you learned your lesson well?”

“Huh? Learn from what? I don’t really get what you mean……”

“I’m talking about business. You must have had some trouble getting a trade in the Dantes territory, right?”

“Well, that’s true….…”

I couldn’t deliver the product to Emma, who has been kind to me.

Perhaps satisfied with my answer, my brother smiled broadly.

“Hmph, it’s your fault for being stubborn! But you’re still my lovely little brother. I’ll even let you do business in the Dantes territory again if you like. And I’m not asking you to sell the island again.”

“Really?”

I don’t remember being fond of him, but I have no complaints if I could resume my business with Emma.

—However, his next words were very unacceptable.

“In return, you have to sell me the management rights of the winery.”

So it was that huh……

Alexei-oniisan must have heard rumors of Gandalcia’s vintage wine somewhere. And that’s why he started asking for something so outrageous.

“I decline.”

“What!?”

My brother was surprised.

Goodness! He did not even think I’ll refuse?

That’s more surprising, you know!

Well, now that our father has passed away, my brother can do whatever he wants. In this country where the nobility has a lot of power, even the king wouldn’t go against a wealthy earl head-on.

“I’m not asking you to give up the whole island, I’m just asking you to sell me the rights to the winery.”

“No thanks. There’s nothing in it for me.”

When I refused outright, my brother threatened me in a low voice.

“Are you sure? If you don’t sell me the management rights, I’ll not only stop you from doing business in Dantes territory, but I will also ban you from entering Dantes territory in the future.”

“What do you mean?”

“I will have you arrested the moment you enter Dantes territory. I have already set up a checkpoint at the entrance to the island. Once you cross the bridge, you are already in Dantes territory.”

What the hell are you trying to do, brother?

The graves of father and mother is in Belucca!

Plus, it will be difficult to run the auberge if he does that!

Gandalcia’s food self-sufficiency rate is high, but not everything can be covered on the island. If this will be the case, we have no choice but to take a boat to Lebon for the time being then.

“Oh right. By the way, we’re also going to have a blockade in the sea as well.”

“How tyrannical of you!”

“No, no. I’m just sending out a warship to protect my territorial waters. If any of your boats come in, I’ll fire at it, so be prepared to be sunk.”

Oh my God!

What a lunatic!

I never thought he’d go that far.

“So, are you willing to sell the management rights to me now?”

“……Let me think about it for a while.”

Alexei-oniisan nods with a relaxed smile.

“Okay, think about it carefully. There’s only one answer to it anyway. Hahaha!”

With his shoulders shaking as he laughs, Alexei-oniisan walked out of the cottage.

Hmmm, this is going to be a big problem….

The main problem is that if things continued like this, we wouldn’t be able to deliver the wine to the Royal Palace. If we could use a boat, we could have gone to the port of Lebon and rent a wagon there,  but I never thought that the sea would be blockaded as well.

There was a sound of thumping footsteps and Dawsill came rushing in.

“Young Master! The entrance to the bridge has been blocked!”

Lulu also came.

“There’s a big ship moored off the coast and it’s watching us.”

Although her tone is as laid-back as usual, I know Lulu is frightened.

My brother really wants to take the winery away from me.

Ugh, I’ve broken the record for the lowest level of happiness.

I have to deliver the wine for the wedding reception at all costs, but I can’t come up with good idea on my own.

Alright, I’ll ask for everyone’s opinion.

“Dawsill, Lulu, please help me call everyone on the island and have them gather in the Auberge’s dining room.”

We split up and went around to call the islanders.

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

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A letter arrived from Earl Simpson.

Greetings, Cedie. How is life on the island? It seems that I will continue to live in the Capital for now. I’m going to miss Findas. I kept my promise to you and gathered my wine-loving friends for an auction of the Gandalcian wine. First of all, I asked them to drink a glass of your regular wine, and everyone in attendance was surprised. They said they couldn’t believe that it could only be bought for 5,000 crown coins. Orders are coming in right away. Can you wholesale two barrels of red wine and two barrels of white wine through the Polymer merchant?

Earl Simpson’s letter began like that.

“Thanks to the Earl, we have sold more wine.”

“Yes, but the important things should be written in the later part. Hurry up and continue reading it!”

“O-okay, uhm……”

Now, onto the main topic. At the auction that evening, Gandalcia’s vintage wine was also served. There were 12 participants, so each person only got one sip. But the results were fantastic. Everyone was so surprised and excited that they all came to me excitedly. Questions like, “Is there any more of this?” and “How can I buy it?” were bombarded to me. I wish I could have shown you their frenzy. I explained that it is a special wine and is limited to 100 bottles. As you’ve been honest with me, I’ve also told them that there might be another 100 more in the next month or the month after that. As a result of discussions based on such a premise, it was decided that your wine can be sold at 120,000 crown coins per bottle. I want to make it clear that we have no ulterior motives regarding this price. We believe we are offering an honest price that is appropriate for the quality of the wine. Of course, if you are dissatisfied, you can re-evaluate the price.

I looked up from the letter.

“120,000 crowns per bottle…. At this price, I might be able to buy a small ship someday. Hmm, I need to hurry up and build a wharf.”

“That’s good to hear. But there’s more to the letter, right?”

“Yes, yes, I’m going to read it now.”

Now, I wrote earlier that it’s “the main topic”, but the real main topic is from here. Viscount Terbert was also present at the auction. He is an old friend of mine, the head of the Imperial Household Office. The Imperial Household Office is the government office that coordinates the daily routines and ceremonies of the Imperial Court, and is also in charge of food. Viscount Terbert had approached me about serving your vintage wine to the guests at the upcoming wedding reception of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. What do you think?

“T-this is huge! I didn’t expect Gandalcia’s wine will be served at a Royal reception.”

“That’s amazing, Cedie. As your best friend, I am very proud of you!”

I wrote a letter of approval on the spot.

I also need to prepare for the shipment right away.

“Don’t worry, I’ll ride Gian. Rest assured that I will deliver the letter directly to father.”

“I’m counting on you. We will also get ready for shipping.”

There are only about ten days left until the wedding reception. If we don’t deliver it as soon as the bottling is finished, we won’t be able to make it in time.

In order to share the joy and gain their cooperation, I reported this to everyone on the island. Everyone on the island was delighted to see the Gandalcian wine served at the royal wedding reception.

Medoc and Pino were so moved that they started crying.

“Now I might be able to buy the ship I’ve always wanted.”

If we have a ship, shipping will be that much easier.

“Leave the ship to me.”

Lulu puffed out her chest.

“Yes, I’ll be counting on Lulu as the captain.”

“Ah, but if the ship is too big, I can’t handle it.”

“I can’t buy a ship that big. What more, the pier is still small…”

With that in mind, I first upgraded the pier to a wharf. I spent a lot of money, but I have no regrets if I think of this as an upfront investment.

Possible to Build: Wharf (small) Description: A wharf that can accommodate small ship. Required points: 10 Funds required: 400,000 crown coins

The water isn’t very deep, but it’s an impressive wharf made of stone and concrete. The passage is very wide, and even Lucio with a wagon attached to him can easily enter and turn around. In the future, it would be convenient to build a warehouse near the wharf.

All that’s left to do is buy a ship with the money from selling the wine. I don’t have enough money to build a new ship at the moment, but I can buy a good second-hand one.

My goal only grew more and more.

✲✲✲

Three days later, Eugenie delivered a reply from Earl Simpson. According to the letter, they want the wine to be delivered by the day before the reception. Moreover, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who tasted it, liked the wine so much that I was invited to the reception.

He asked me to go to the Royal Palace and participate in the reception.

“Rumors of Cedie’s wine are starting to circulate in the Capital.”

“Yeah. B-but this is very surprising! I never expected such thing to happen….”

“Oh my~, where is the normally calm Cedie?”

“That’s to be expected you know. Even though I’m from the Earl’s family, I, the third son, never thought of going to the royal palace.”

I thought that if I were to visit the Imperial Palace, I would only come there when I was a little older.…

I don’t think it’s a problem because I’ve learned all the etiquette, but I’m a little nervous.

“Father gave me this too.”

Eugenie handed me a wine label.

It was specially designed by court painter, Nanchara-san, for the wedding reception of the Crown Prince. It depicts the bride and groom embracing each other under a hazel tree. In the kingdom of Floodland, the hazel tree is considered a symbol of good fortune.

Moreover, although it is small, it even contains the words “Château Gandalcia Special”.

I need to have to hurry up and put up the label today.

Then I read the note that came with it.

“Uhm, it says…… 『This hazel crest is a gift from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to Cedie-kun. He has asked you to use it as your family crest.』”

“That’s incredible!”

It is a great honor to be a subject of the Kingdom of Floodland. From now on, two thrushes perched on a hazel tree is the emblem of Gandalcia.

“By the way, Eugenie, I have one request.”

“Oh, what is it?”

“Actually, my partner and I have been both invited to the wedding reception. So, if you don’t mind, would you like to join me as my partner?”

Eugenie covered her mouth with her small hand.

“Cedie……”

“Uh-, is it no good?”

“No. Eugenie Simpson graciously accepts your invitation to be your partner.”

I took Eugenie’s hand and bowed deeply.

　　　✲✲✲

On the morning of his departure for the capital, Alexei was reading the newspaper while drinking his breakfast coffee.

After a quick look at the economic and political aspects, he moved to the horse racing article he is looking forward to.

“Look at it, Sebastian. Yoko Minato is in third place. As expected, my prediction was correct. I told you she would definitely win, didn’t I?”

“As expected from the Earl. You really have a keen eye.”

The horse he had his eye on won a prize on the big stage, and Alexei was in a good mood.

“By the way, the Findas news agency is full of advertisements these days. What is this soap for shaving? What’s so great about it smelling like lavender?”

Alexei’s hand, which was flipping through the newspaper while talking softly, stopped. Alexei’s gaze focused on the lower part of the cultural section. It is the section where articles that were generally not that important were printed.

“W-what the hell is this!?”

While appeasing the furious Alexei, Sebastian also read the content of the newspaper with his eyes.

It says,

『A special wine to be feasted on at the wedding reception of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince: Chateau Gandalcia Special』

Sebastian was surprised to find this headline as well.

“Is it Cedie-sama’s winery?”

“That’s right! It says it’s a personal recommendation from Viscount Terbert of the Imperial Household Office.”

“Speaking of Viscount Terbert, he is one of our country’s leading gourmet, isn’t he?”

Alexei went through the draft without saying anything, and then he left his seat abruptly.

“I’m going to Cedie’s place! Get the carriage ready.”

Sebastian sighed and bowed deeply.

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

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Spring is in full swing.

A calm and warm wind is blowing on the island of Gandalcia.

The cherry blossoms are so pretty…….

At Island Maker, the cherry blossoms blooms only at this time of year. Same is true here on Gandalcia Island, where Yoshino cherry trees are in bloom. You won’t find this kind of cherry blossom in Findas region.

This is definitely a game world after all.

As the temperature rose day by day, we developed a new cold dessert. It’s made from the muskmelon I grew in the fields. We split the muskmelon in half, scoop out the seeds and filled the inside with soft serve ice cream.

It was nothing special, it just reminded me of something I saw on TV in my previous life while harvesting the muskmelons. I want to eat that, so I decided to try it with the muskmelon.

It seems that my obsession with food transcends time and space.

I immediately asked Lynn to create a soft-serve ice cream.

“Oh~, I love this. This is it!”

The large melon was split in half, so it’s very impressive. No one can’t resist the luxury of eating a melon full of juice with soft-serve ice cream.

“Father is a genius! Charlotte loves you more than ever!”

Char is also eating with great relish. She has already finished one and started working on her second serving.

“It has a great visual impact and tastes great. Let’s try to sell it in the restaurant.”

Lynn liked it as well so she added it in the menu.

It was well received by the citizens of Lebon. It became so popular that customers came for it every day.

These days, Gandalcia is a bit of a date spot. Not only couples but also families often come here. Everyone comes for the cherry blossoms and melon soft serve ice cream.

I also set up a sausage stall so that they could eat while watching the cherry blossoms, and it was another great success. Well, I guess it is to be expected as the sausages made at Paul-oniisan’s ranch are delicious.

I am also satisfied that tourism revenue had increased a little. This will enable me to raise everyone’s salary.

At this rate, should I prepare the beach so that the guests can go swimming in summer?

If I install toilet and bath, customers will surely be pleased.

Mmm, my goals are just getting bigger huh.

Bottling and wine production are also going well. Alexei-oniisan has made it impossible for me to do business in the Dantes’ territory, but sales in the Simpson territory are growing.

I thought about expanding the vineyards because sales are going in great direction, but I decided not to. Because there is not enough manpower. Medoc and Pino are both hard working, but it’s not a good idea to add more work to them. Gandalcia is not a black company after all.

I think it’s best to keep it at this scale and not be too greedy. Grapes can be harvested in three days, so brewing can be done every three days. The number of barrels is increasing one after another too.

The sparkling grapes haven’t grown since then though. I am sure that they will eventually produce sparkling fruit again though. At that time, I’ll make the best wine again and make everyone happy.

In this way, my life is very fulfilling.

　　　✲✲✲

Earl Dantes, who was drinking tea in his office, suddenly remembered and questioned Sebastian, the head butler.

“Speaking of which, did Cedie say anything about his bottled goods? I suppose it’s about time he got out of business in Dantes territory, right?”

Alexei thinks that if he interferes with Cedie’s business transaction with Emma, Cedie will give up his rights to the island. If that happens, it’s a done deal. But he is not a bad guy either. He didn’t want to have bad rumors, so as an older brother, he plans to let Cedie go to school in the Capital.

Regardless of what others think of him, Alexei doesn’t consider himself a bad person.

That’s how naive this man’s self-esteem is.

Back to his question, Sebastian’s reply was not a good one.

“A-about that, it seems that Cedie-sama has found a way to sell it in Simpson territory….…”

“Tsk! With Earl Simpson?”

Alexei spat these words out, but he has enough sense to know that he couldn’t complain to Earl Simpson.

“If I’d known it would have been like this, I should have just bought the goods at a lower price instead of trying to take the island away. Tsk, I made a mistake.”

Sebastian desperately tries to calm down Alexei, who is getting gloomy.

“That does not matter, right? Anyways, the sales of the bottled goods are insignificant compared to the sales of our wine.”

“Mmm, that’s true.”

In fact, compared to the scale of Earl Dantes’ business, the sales of Gandalcia were insignificant.

Alexei rubbed his face with the palm of his hand, as if to calm his mind.

“Very well, let’s leave Cedie alone for now. By the way, are the wine sales going well?”

“Yes…. but there is a slight decline in sales.”

“What do you mean?”

“Wine shipment to the Simpson territory has decreased. Just one or two merchants bought our wine compared to before.… We’re currently investigating, but it seems that a good wine is coming in from somewhere.”

Alexei knows that the quality of the wine produced in his territory is not the best. Still, he said,

“Continue to aim to expand our sales channels.”

Alexei crossed his arms sullenly.

　　　✲✲✲

I am studying ores when Eugenie came with Gian. Her cheeks were a little flushed and she looked a little excited.

I wonder what happened?

“Hi, Eugenie. Welcome. There’s a cherry pickled in Kirsch, do you want to try some?”

It is very tasty when eaten with whipped cream. Pickled cherries in kirsch is a new product in the food processing plant and it is Cawsill’s favorite at the moment. Cawsill even gained a little weight from eating too much of this.

But Eugenie had no time for that.

“I’ll have that later. But more importantly, Cedie, I’ve got a letter from my father who’s in the Capital. Here, this is for you.”

The letter she handed to me read, “To Mr. Cedie Dantes“

“The Earl’s handwriting is very nice.”

“Don’t bother with that, just read the letter quickly! The outline was written in the letter addressed to me, but it seems like something serious has happened.”

At Eugenie’s urging, I opened the envelope and read the letter.

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

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In the vineyard, clusters of dark grapes are waiting to be harvested.

I see.

Now it was clear why the two of them were so surprised.

The grapes this time are sparkling. It’s the same as the grass in the pasture. This is what happens when the grapes are of particularly good quality.

“Cedie-sama, what is going on with these grapes?”

“Hmm…maybe it is vintage year?”

On Gandalcia, we can harvest in three days, so I guess it should be called vintage week?

No, it’s not that often that special crops are harvested….

In that case, should it be vintage month?

It will be interesting to see how much of a difference there is. I couldn’t taste the grass, but I’m grateful to be able to try the grapes directly.

“Let’s taste it.”

The moment I picked one grain, the juice in it burst out.

Hoh~, this looks promising….

I put the grape in my mouth, careful not to let any more juice drip out.

Delicious!

The sweetness and aroma are much better than the previous grapes.

“The juice is thicker than usual……”

Even the taciturn Pino has a smile on her lips.

“If we make wine with these grapes, I’m sure that it will be much more delicious! Let’s do it today!”

All of us nodded in agreement.

✲✲✲

After nine days, the aging of the wine prepared with sparkling grapes was completed. I did not taste it this time, so I don’t know how it turned out yet. This batch was stored in the large hole, so it matured perfectly.

I decided to take it out of the barrel today.

I don’t know where they heard it from, but the islanders are all here. What’s more, each one had their own wine glass in one hand. Nowald-sensei and Lulu also came with them.

“Guys, what’s going on? Why are you all holding a wine glass?”

I pretended not to understand, so Upa spoke on behalf of the others.

“Cedie, don’t be so mean. We all heard you’ve made some amazing wine this time. We are not asking for a glass full, just let us have a taste, well, just half a sip. That’s it!”

I stopped teasing them.

“I’m kidding. Of course we’re all going to taste it. I think this one is going to be amazing.”

I used a long dropper to pour wine into everyone’s glasses.

“Well then, let’s toast to the prosperity of the island and everyone’s health with some vintage wine!”

The wine turned out just as expected, no, it’s even better than I expected.

“Oi oi oi, how can we put a price on this!”

Upa covers his forehead with his left hand and shakes his head.

It looked like he is very tangled.

Lynn is super excited too.

“This is an exquisite delicacy that you might not even find in a high-end restaurant in the Capital!!”

“Really? Then, how about 10,000 crown coins for one bottle?”

When I suggested that, it was denied by everyone in the room except for Char.

“Eh~, what should be the appropriate price then?”

“Hmm, how about asking a wealthy person for advice? Someone who knows a lot about wine could give you a fair price.”

I see. What Lynn said is reasonable.

But who is this rich man?

Alexei-oniisan is rich, but I think if I showed him something like this, it would be taken from me for sure. He’s such an unreasonable Earl, who says what’s mine is mine and what’s my brother’s is mine as well.

Wait…. Speaking of an Earl, there’s also Earl Simpson, Eugenie’s father!

Earl Simpson is a fair man, and I’m sure he’ll give me a fair price for it. I’ve also heard from Eugenie that he knows a lot about wine. Conveniently, this afternoon, Eugenie will be here to attend Nowald-sensei’s lecture.

When she goes home, I will ask Gian to take me with them.

After Nowald-sensei’s lecture, Eugenie and I went to Earl Simpson’s house.

“Father is picky about wine but I’m sure he’ll appreciate Cedie’s wine. He complimented your wine when he had it last time.”

“This one is better than the one before.”

I am confident, but I am still nervous in front of the Earl.

When I was ushered into the waiting room, I honestly confessed to Earl Simpson that I was worried about the price of the wine so I am here to ask his opinion.

“You priced the wine we had last time at 5,000 crown coins? I think that’s too cheap.”

“Well…. then I suggested that we price this one at 10,000 crown coins this time, but the manager and the head chef at the auberge objected to it. They said that 10,000 crowns was too cheap.”

“Hoh~, so this one is more than that huh.”

“I have come here to ask the Earl, who is a wine connoisseur, to make a decision, so please help me.”

Earl Simpson gave a wry smile.

“It’s still bright outside, but with you asking me this way, I can’t say no then. Alright, let me have a sip.”

The Earl asked for a wine glass. As the Doritos, the head butler, opened the cork with graceful dexterity, the Earl said to him,

“Just a little. I still have some afternoon work to do.”

Earl Simpson is a modest man, so he doesn’t go to work while drunk. I’m sure he turned a blind eye to his principles for me.

A small mouthful of wine was placed in front of the Earl.

“Hmm, it got a nice color, reminiscent of a beautiful garnet.”

After saying that, the Earl brings the wine glass closer to his nose and enjoys the aroma coming from the wine.

“This is……”

Surprised, the Earl shook the glass wine, swirled the wine around and then he brought the wine glass closer to his nose again.

“Excellent!”

So far, the review looks good.

I nervously watched the Earl’s movements. Earl Simpson also looks nervous, but was I imagining it?

Oh, the Earl is trembling as he puts the glass of wine into his mouth.

Sure enough, this one is indeed a fine wine huh.

“Doritos, pour me some more. More than before is fine.”

After taking another sip of the wine that Butler Doritos had poured, the Earl turned to me.

“I get why the manager and the head chef at your place rejected your price. There’s no way this wine is worth 10,000 crown coins. I can’t even imagine how much it would actually cost.”

“Is it really that good?”

“It tastes better than even the vintages of Chateau Priabec, which is said to be the best in the world. If word gets out, any wine lover will definitely want this.”

Earl Simpson drank the last drop regretfully.

“Cedie, you brought me two bottles of wine today, right?”

“Yes, I brought it with me with the intention of giving them to the Earl.”

“Thank you. However, I’m thinking of taking one of these to the Capital.”

“Ah? Taking it to the Capital…. uhm, what are you planning to do with it?”

“I’m going to have my acquaintances try it and get their opinions as well. Everyone will be happy to drink it for sure. We can hold a private auction there. I’ll raise the price as much as I can, so you can look forward to it.”

Earl Simpson winked playfully.

“By the way, how much of this wine do you have in stock?”

“It’s about a hundred and sixty bottles, but I’d like to keep some of them. I want to give some to my second brother, Paul-oniisan as well. I can only sell a little over 100 bottles.”

“Hahaha, Cedie-kun is indeed not a greedy one. Oh, let me tell you, vintages from Chateau Priavec can go a million a bottle.”

“That much!?”

“Yes. So, are you sure you’re only going to sell 100 bottles?”

“That’s right. I’ll only sell 100 bottles.”

Money is important, but the happy faces of Upa and the others and my brother are even more important.

“Understood. Then I’ll leave the packing of the wine to you. I swear on my pride that I won’t disappoint you.”

I think it’s better to leave this to the Earl. But I do feel bad asking him to go to that length for my wine.

“….But, I think you don’t need to go all the way to the Capital for me after all.”

“No, I have an errand to run anyway. You must have heard it, haven’t you? The wedding of His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, is coming up. There’s a lot of things to do to prepare for that.”

Come to think of it, I think I read it in the newspaper.

Oh-, then since it’s just a side trip, there’s no need to be shy, I guess.

I decided to leave the matter of selling the wine to Earl Simpson and then I went back to Gandalcia.

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

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I took Char to Paul-oniisan’s ranch.

Paul-oniisan was surprised to see Lucio the donkey, who has regained his youth.

“It’s the donkey you bought on our ranch, right?”

“Yes. Lucio has been working hard in the island.”

“That’s good to hear. But…… is it really that Lucio?”

“It’s definitely Lucio. Seems like the climate on the island suits him very well so he is feeling better.”

“Heen!”

Lucio neighed energetically and grinned. When he was here, he looked like an exhausted old man, but these days, Lucio has a lot of expression.

I won’t tell Paul-oniisan about the sparkling grass just yet. The next time I harvest some, I want to feed it to the horses on the ranch and surprise him at that time.

I’m sure he’ll be delighted.

“By the way, why are you here today?”

“The wine has finished aging, so I brought you some for you to drink.”

“Huh? Is it already aged? Cedie’s territory is truly a mysterious place. Come on in and have a rest first. I’ll give Charlotte a drink of freshly squeezed milk.”

“Thank you, uncle!”

I decided to stay at my brother’s house that night. We had a big steak for dinner. Char is overjoyed and she even ate two thick steaks.

“This is really delicious. Even at Dantes’ mansion, wine of this quality rarely appears on the table.”

“Really?”

“Cedie is still a child after all so you probably don’t know it, but the only time you can drink something like this is during special occasions.”

As I thought, this seems to be a good wine.

“By the way, how much is this one?”

“Five thousand crown coins.”

In my opinion, this is a pretty ambitious price. At first, I am thinking of setting it to 3,000 crown coins, but Lynn and Upa both said that it was too cheap, so we came up with this price in the end.

“Five thousand crown coins!?”

“Uh-, was it expensive?”

“No. I mean, I’d like to order ten red wine and ten white, is that okay?”

“Yes, it’s in stock, so it’s fine. We’ll be able to deliver it tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.”

I can ask Mio and Lucio to do the delivery. Since he’s my brother, I’ll give him a discount on the delivery fee.

Hmm…. wine sells well after all.

In my brother’s place alone, I already earned 100,000 crown coins.

But…. is it really okay?

“Paul-oniisan, is 100,000 crown coins too high for you?”

“Not really. A hundred thousand crown coins is cheap you see. A friend of mine would probably pay ten thousand crown coins per bottle.”

“Oh~. Ah right, you can’t resell it.”

“Don’t worry, it’s a waste to resell them. I’ll consume it all for myself.”

My brother seemed to like the wine very much, he kept pouring himself refills while eating his thick steak.

✲✲✲

The next day, as we left the ranch, Paul-oniisan gave us a large chunk of prosciutto.

“Don’t forget the wine.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll arrange it as soon as I get back.”

Paul-oniisan is usually a cool guy, but today he made such reminder. I guess it means that he really likes the wine so much.

We said goodbye to Paul-oniisan and then we headed back to Gandalcia.

When we arrived at the island, I immediately arranged for the delivery of the wine to Paul-oniisan’s place as promised.

Mio and I loaded the wagon with crates of wine.

“Deliver ten red and ten white bottles to Paul-oniisan. He already paid for them. Then please deliver two bottles of each wine as present to Earl Simpson as well.”

“Understood. What about the Polymer Grocery store?”

She is talking about the company where we wholesaled the bottled goods at the processing plant.

“Lulu will go there by boat. As for Sambabano in Lebon, I’ll go there myself to share some to them.”

I’ll also give wine to the witches of Sambabano who shared the grapes with me.

If we distribute them in this way, we may find new sales channels. Medoc and Pinot are doing their best, so we have a lot of wine in stock. I want to sell a lot of it and build a new facility.

My goal is to buy a small boat with sails. Then once the sales channels are all set and I have accumulated some funds, I’ll upgrade the pier into a harbor.

Anyways, for today, we continue tending to the fields. After that, it’s time to improve the roads. I’m going to build a paved road to where the fruit trees are growing. I also have to get to Sambano before dark.

Well, there are a lot of work to be done today huh.

✲✲✲

I must have been a little tired, so the next morning, I overslept a little.

“Cedie-sama, Cedie-sama! It’s bad!”

Eh?

Medoc is calling me outside.

Did something happen?

I already told the siblings not to be surprised by the little things.

I rubbed my eyelids as I walked outside.

“Good morning, Cedie-sama.”

“Good morning……”

Oh yes, Pino, who is usually very shy got used to it a little and started greeting me as well.

Pino has great strength, so she’s a big help at the winery. She even lifts the heavy harvest baskets with ease. In addition, she got a sensitive tongue so she can clearly tell the difference in taste. Medoc is also good at calculations, so I think I really got some rare talents.

“Morning. What’s the matter with you being so flustered this early in the morning?”

“There’s a situation in the vineyard!”

“Huh? Was it that big rocks suddenly appeared? Then Char can—”

“No, it’s not that Cedie-sama. Just go with us for a bit.”

Pulled by the Medoc, we headed to the vineyards.

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

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The siblings, who were recommended by Masciolini-san, came.

The older brother’s name is Medoc. He has a gentle face with slender build. However, his personality is cheerful, and he is quite talkative. As for his younger sister, Pino, she bears no resemblance to him at all. She has a cute face, but she must be over 180 centimeters tall. She even has a muscular build. She is more muscular than Dawsill and Cawsill. She is extremely shy though. Her face is bright red during the interview.

As soon as I interviewed the two of them, the alert on my status screen lit up.

Oh, for the first time in a long time, my level has improved.

Not only that, but the island’s level is now level 3!

And since I leveled up, I am now able to build new facilities.

Small Winery Creation

All unlock conditions had been lifted! Condition: – Install a fermentation tank and press. (Completed) – Hire two employees. (Completed) Required points: 8

Thanks to the arrival of Medoc and Pino, a small winery can now be built.

“You guys are hired!”

“E-eh? ……W-what about the interview?”

“That’s it. Both of you seem like a good citizen.”

The fact that my status reacted suggests that both of them are worthy of staying in Gandalcia Island.

I built the winery on the opposite side of the cottage, placing it between the vineyards.

“W-what’s that?”

Medoc was so surprised that he had a big reaction.

“……”

Pino on the other hand is trembling silently. Even as she trembles, she still holds tightly onto the hem of Medoc’s shirt.

Hmm, she must be relying on her brother.

“Gandalcia is an island of wonders. That one just now was my magic. It’s a magic exclusive to this island. You will see more things like that so don’t be scared.”

“U-understood……”

The winery also had an employee room, so I decided to let them use it. The room is like a studio apartment so it’s not particularly spacious. Still, there is a shared kitchen and toilet, so there will be no inconvenience.

“You can put your luggage down first then I’ll introduce you to the rest of the islanders. I’ll also guide you to the location of the hot spring.”

“Hot spring?”

“………”

“There is a hot spring on the island, and the islanders can use it freely.”

The two of them were stunned.

“What’s the matter, both of you?”

“I-, we are just surprised at how well we are being treated! The salary is better than Massolini-san’s, and we never thought we’d be given a private room.”

Oh, right. All servants in this world have a shared room. They can’t get a private room unless they rise to a substantial position. Even in Dantes’ mansion, there is only one private room and it is allotted to Sebastian, the head butler.

If you look at it that way, this place is really a blessing.

I’m even willing to give them a raise if sales increase.

I toured the siblings to the hot spring and then I introduced the brother and sister to everyone on the island.

After that, we proceeded on arranging the winery.

Char played a big role in moving the items in the barn. We had to carry the brewing equipment from the barn to the winery, and Char carried most of it. A barrel of wine with a hundred and thirty liters of wine was also carried by Char, lifted only by one hand.

Seeing this, Medoc and Pino are once again surprised.

“W-who is that little girl?”

“She looks like a little girl, but she’s actually a yellow dragon.”

“It is the strongest species!”

“Ah?”

Right. So don’t be surprised everytime.

“Work at the winery starts tomorrow. For now, let’s start with harvesting the grapes. Then tonight, we’re having a welcome party at the auberge, so I’ll come and get you when the time is right.”

I told them to relax in their room after harvesting the grapes and then I went to Lynn to discuss the welcome party.

✲✲✲

Half a month has passed.

Medoc and Pino have also gotten used to life on the island, and they are doing their job very well. They are both hard workers. Medoc is quick-witted and is good at math. His sister, Pino, is a strong woman, and even Dawsill can’t seem to match her in terms of physical strength.

Our wine stocks are now steadily growing.

That’s right.

Even though the amount of wine brewed at one time is small, about 130~150 liters of wine is made once every three days. The winery is too small, so the barrels are stored in the large hole that we found earlier. Char and Lucio the donkey, are active in transporting the bottles there.

By the way, Lucio has been rejuvenated since he came to this island. He is now energetic enough to pass as a teenage donkey.

Well, the sparkling grass is indeed out of the norm. When it grows again, I’ll feed it to the horses on the Paul-oniisan’s ranch to surprise him.

When I went to the auberge, Lynn and Upa were making a fuss.

I thought they were fighting, but apparently not.

What’s going on?

“What’s the matter with you two? The customers during lunch hour are supposed to arrive soon you know.”

“Cedie! There’s no time for that. Just what on earth is going on with this?!”

Lynn is pointing at the bottle of wine in the table. It was the wine that has been left aging in that large hole. I carried some that are 15 days old to serve at the restaurant.

Was there something wrong?

“Don’t tell me…. is it moldy?”

“No, not that. This one is ridiculously delicious!”

“Yes. This wine is comparable to the Château Goat, which is said to be the best wine.”

Upa, who likes to drink, tilts his glass further.

“Oh-, it’s that good?”

It may have something to do with the half-month aging period and the fact that it was stored in that large hole, which is quite a cool place.

Hmmm, I’ll send some to Paul-oniisan and Earl Simpson too then. Oh, and I will send a couple of samples to Masciolini-san who ordered our wine.

“That’s good then. Oh right, I’m going out for a bit.”

“What? Where are you going? You can’t go far by yourself!”

Once again, Upa gets worried.

“I’m going to Paul-oniisan’s place. Don’t worry, I’m going to take Char with me. If it’s going to be late, we will stay over there.”

Hearing that, Char smiled brightly. She is very happy because she likes to go out.

We tied the wagon to Lucio, got on it, and then we set off.

　　　✲✲✲

In the study of the mansion, Alexei was looking through the papers. Beside him is Sebastian, the head butler.

“Is the wine shipment going well?”

“Yes, it’s going well. Our inventory is also selling well, so this month’s sales exceeded 2 million crown coins.”

“Good. I stretched myself a little bit, but I made the right decision by buying the winery.”

Hearing Sebastian’s report, Alexei nodded in satisfaction.

He is thinking of buying a new horse again. His dream is for his horse to win at the racecourse in the Capital. He is willing to spend as much money as he wants to make that happen.

“Continue to expand our sales channels. Got it?”

Sebastian bowed deeply.

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

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