CH 381

I think while being rocked by the ship as it returns to Cien. Stefan must be very busy calling out here and there these days. I have given Stefan a serious order. That is an order to gather adventurers.

An adventurer is different from a so-called game or light novel adventurer. If the word “adventurer” is confusing, then “explorer” is a fine substitute. In other words, those who go out to sea, go south along the southern continent and investigate new worlds that we haven’t reached yet.

Why did I have to go through all that trouble in a hurry to get to the Blish Isles? This is to cross the Hulk Sea and Hermann Sea and reach the western ocean. And furthermore, we will confirm the unidentified continent south of the ocean, and aim for a new continent that may possibly exist.

Well, if the people of the Blish Isles were conquered just because I want to go to a new continent or a new world to discover, they might get angry… Not only that, but it was a state of war that lasted for a long time…

Anyway, I finally secured a route to the western ocean which I had longed for. There is still the problem of having to cross the Dell Strait from the Hulk Sea. I’m thinking that eventually, I’ll be able to return the former Prussian territory to the Kingdom of Frasia and freely go to the Hermann Sea. However, that was another matter, and even now I was able to secure a route to the western ocean.

Stefan was originally an adventurer or an explorer, and that kind of sense was strong in him. Therefore, I ordered Stefan to create a group of explorers for open sea research separate from the Navy. I didn’t force him to do this, but Stefan himself had a desire to do something like that from the beginning, so he was chosen.

Of course, the army and navy are gathered together for training. But what an expedition needs is more than just regular troops. The expedition may also have human resources suitable for the expedition. You can’t do it unless you’re a daredevil. It also requires a lot of knowledge.

I’ve taught them all I can, but I’ve never actually gone on an expedition. There will be points to take note of only when the time comes, and unexpected things will happen. I’m not a real explorer, so it’s impossible for me to know and tell you all the precautions in advance.

Even so, I risk their lives to gather people who can join the expedition and go out to investigate. And maybe… Stefan himself will go, too. Even though we weren’t in a particularly close relationship, and we weren’t together all the time… I have mixed feelings about someone who served so much near me and is about to embark on such a dangerous adventure.

But since I’m the one ordering the investigation, and if the person himself wants to go on an expedition… then I guess I shouldn’t say this feeling is of loneliness or anxiety. I hope he can come back safely. That’s it.

Well, he’s not leaving right now anyway. Right now we are in the stage of gathering people from the Knight’s Nation and the Blish Isles. Moreover, it is not possible to leave immediately because people have gathered. I also need galleon ship operation and ocean navigation training, so maybe after next year at the earliest.

The route going down to the south is expected to be difficult for surveys because there is a peninsula in the way. In that respect, I want to expect the north route. If this world is very similar to the Earth there must be “that” thing…

Modern Japanese people probably don’t understand why I’m thinking of moving north in such a misguided direction. Japanese people who are accustomed to the Mercator projection tend to think that if you are heading to the Americas from England or Spain, you should head straight west or southwest.

However, in reality, due to the currents and the islands along the way, if you want to cross the Atlantic Ocean, you can either go south from West Africa to Central America and the Caribbean Sea, or from England to the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, and Canada. The main route is the northern route.

If you know for sure that the Americas are there, and if you’re sure about the number of sailing days with the engines installed, then a straight transatlantic route would be fine. Many such routes are used today.

But it’s absurd to cross over a place without any supplies without knowing how many days it will take, even though you don’t really know what’s ahead. Also, unlike a ship that moves at a constant speed unless the power fails, a sailing ship slows down if the calm winds continue. The open ocean is rough and it’s not easy.

I would like to investigate both a route that goes over the peninsula to the southwest of Frasia, along the southern continent and a route that goes through the northern group of islands at the same time. I have confirmed that there are islands in the north that have not yet been unified this time. If you go there…

“Miss Flora, Cien has come into view.”

“Katharina……understood.”

While being rocked by the waves, Katharina called out to me as I was thinking while doing work that I could do on the ship. Apparently, we’ll be arriving in Cien soon.

The schedule is really tight this time. Normally, I would act with more leeway, but I used the time until the last minute to unify the Blish Isles and clean up after that… I don’t have much time to relax, but… I have to move as planned…

When we arrived at Cien, we got off the galleon ship. The ship we boarded is a regular flight that goes back and forth between the Blish Isles and the Caan Knighthood. A galleon ship escorts the carrack ships and makes regular round trips to handle logistics. It’s not a ship that was sent out for me, so it won’t move the way I want it to.

If it was my personal ship, I could have gone directly to Berne, the royal capital of Ploiss, without stopping at Cien, or even if I had stopped at Cien, I would have finished my errands and headed for Berne immediately. But now our ships are barely free because of the severe demand. I can’t just use one precious ship just for me.

Today we’ll spend the night in Cien, and after I’ve finished my business, I’ll head to Berne on another ship from Cien’s port tomorrow. There are also trade ships heading east from Cien to Steltin, Danzij, and Koenigsvelg.

Cien is now the terminus of the Hulk Sea trade in the east, and the gateway to the west towards the Blish Isles. Things that have been traded and collected in the Caanza Alliance are being transported to the Blish Isles through Cien.

That’s why the ship that brought us on board will load again, switch the composition of the fleet with other carrack ships, and head for the Blish Isles. If we want to go east, we should change to a trade ship in the Caanza Alliance and head for Berne.

“Then let’s go take a bath!”

Mikoto is really like this… she’s got underdeveloped feminine features, and maybe sexually speaking, Mikoto is more masculine about things? There may be a line such as hormones or physical composition… Mikoto’s libido is so straightforward and masculine, I don’t doubt it.

“I’m sorry, but I have a place to go. Please rest at the villa.”

“Eeh!? What’s going on?!! I’ve never heard of that!”

No, I told you, didn’t I? I’ve told you some of my plans. I told you I’d go to the lab when I got back to Cien. I wonder if Mikoto didn’t hear or just forgot. Everyone else didn’t look surprised.

“It’s not that big of a deal, so I’ll be right back.”

Actually, there are many things that I want to observe and check the results. But I can’t cover everything in one day. I’m leaving tomorrow so I can only do so much. I can’t show you the secret inside, so why don’t you wait at the villa? Even though I said that all the wives ended up heading to the research institute with me.

I have the wives wait in the waiting room and easily have a meeting with Eins and check the results. This is just a progress check, so it doesn’t take much time. Eins seems to want to talk to me about various things, but this time I cut it off with just the bare minimum because I don’t have time. He looked a little disappointed, but he seemed to have given up because he thought he couldn’t say anything unreasonable to me.

Rather than that, I came here this time because Anneliese was able to produce what I wanted. Originally, this place is different from Anneliese’s laboratory, but this time Annelies visited this facility as didn’t want to spend time going there. I can also see Eins, so it’s like killing two birds with one stone.

“Good afternoon, Lord Flora~.”

“Hello Anneliese,” I said. “It looks like you’ve come up with a sample.”

“Yes~. Here they are~.”

I received two types of powdered substances from Anneliese. One is baking soda and the other is citric acid. Baking soda is used industrially in various ways, so there was a certain amount of it before. However, whether the quality is food-safe is another matter. This is what I got to use for consumption.

And this time I had a hard time with the other thing, citric acid… While there were many things I couldn’t understand with my knowledge, I somehow managed to share my wisdom with Anneliese, and after trial and error, I finally managed to get into production.

If you have these two, you can make “that.” It’s something that most modern people would love.

“The ratio of the amount is still trial and error, and I can’t just give it to others as a finished sample, so let’s practice a little and make it here.”

“This is what I’ve tried so far and the finished product is like this~,” Anneliese said, handing me her notes.

I am grateful that I have a rough estimate. The wives are also here today, so why don’t we ask them to accompany us to verify the finished result for a while?

After returning to the villa, everyone finally took a bath. We’ll be having a big bathroom for ourselves for the first time in a while. I was looking forward to it, but something is wrong with everyone. I know why.

“Uu……, Kepu,” Mikoto hiccuped as she clutched her stomach.

I guess she’s trying to suppress it as much as possible, but it’s the first time it’s been too stimulating for her, so he can’t control it well. Normally, it would be bad manners, but this time it can’t be helped.

“It’s because you tasted that stuff,” I said.

“That’s why?! Uuu…”

She’s trying to speak as usual, but she covers her mouth again and turns away. She can’t stand it, so I’m going to serve small amounts… If you talk about it too much, it will be a pitiful result, so let’s not speak as much as possible.

“But that thing was amazing! It was my first time having anything like this!” Louisa said.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever had something this strong,” Claudia said.

Claudia may have drank beer in the Royal Guard Division. She’s not underage… but I guess it was too stimulating for the wives who don’t really like alcohol.

Well, other than Mikoto drinking too much and going “gepu, gepu,” there’s no particular problem. And if Mikoto is quiet, it’s a chance for me.

“Come on, then! Then I’ll wash you all tonight! Be prepared!” I yelled.

“Kyaa!” Louisa cried.

I wash Louisa’s body while Mikoto is quiet. This is this! The medium premium! Louisa is also the one among us who has something quite splendid! This touch! This volume! How wonderful!

“What’s wrong, Louisa? Aren’t you usually the one who does this to me?”

“Well, that’s…”

With a bright red face, Louisa shyly lowered his eyes and muttered. Louisa comes together with everyone to attack me, but she’s naturally a quiet person when she’s alone. No, her personality isn’t that quiet, but should I say that she’s holding back due to the difference in status between nobles and commoners? In the past, she was more open-minded, so she had a personality quite similar to Mikoto’s.

“Louisa… how long are you going to hold back? Your natural personality shouldn’t be like this, right? You were more active when we worked together on the farm a long time ago, weren’t you?”

“Because it was when I was a child…”

Well… A mischievous and masculine young girl can become a graceful and feminine woman when she grows up. Of course, there are some women who grow up to be naughty like they were when they were children…

“Isn’t it just Louisa who’s cheating here? I’m going to join you,” Claudia said.

“Hold!? Claudia!?”

Claudia washes me from behind while I wash Louisa.

“Wait a minute! Not over there! It tickles… ahaha!”

Laughter leaks out when the sensitive place is tickled.

“Come on, come on! How do you like my ‘technique’?” Claudia said.

“Ah!~ Hold! What are you all doing so happily ahead of us? Let me join!” Mikoto said.

“That’s not very nice, Mikoto-san. But would you like me to join you?” Alexandra said.

“Well then, Flora-sama, please excuse me,” Katharina said.

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“Huh?! In the end, it’s going to be the same as usual…, what~~the~~!”

I was supposed to be on the offensive today… but it goes without saying what happened after this.