CH 343

I apologized to Adelaide-chan and Viscount Reiner on the ground.

No, I would never do that for no reason, even if I was forced to.

Even I have my own willpower and pride.

…But, if I caused a great deal of trouble and it’s the only way I can get across a dangerous bridge that could have turned into a major incident if I’m not careful, I’m willing to do it.

That’s not something that would hurt my pride. I did something wrong and I sincerely apologize for it. There’s nothing to be ashamed of…

…However, it would be bad for Viscount Reiner if word spread that he had made the head of another noble family, moreover, it’s Hime Miko at that, a national hero, apologize to him with her forehead on the floor.

So he turned blue and said, “No, please stop!”, “I don’t mind it at all! So I’m begging you, please stop!” And just like that, they forgave me. Aha ha ha!

Of course, Adelaide-chan also forgave me with a twitching face.

…I thought I heard muttering about some devil, but I’m sure it was just my imagination.

Now if only we could create a nice atmosphere like the “Society” on the New Continent, with the daughters of Counts and Marquises, without being too conscious of the hierarchy by peerage as much as possible…

******

“Mitsuha, what’s going on with this thing called ‘Supa Sento’?” (Iris)

Ah, here it comes, an inquiry from Iris-sama…

When I thought that we could somehow manage the cosmetics, here she comes at mach speed…

Mach Collider!!  (マッハ・コレダー！！)

A tourist facility is being built in the Bozes territory.

The plan is to make the port and shipyards the centerpiece of the project and make the Boses territory a tourist attraction to attract people and make money.

As part of that, we are preparing a “super public bath”, along with lodging facilities and restaurants.

Iris-sama, together with the Marquis, came promptly for its construction…

I explained it to her by saying it was ‘good for beauty and health’……

Together with the cosmetics, it was a gut-biting experience.

The Marquis is in it for the rum, while Beatrice-chan is eager to eat new dishes and sweets…

“Ye- yeah, the plan is going smoothly…” (Mitsuha)

……It’s a big fat lie.

I was busy with a lot of things, so it’s taking a long time!

But, well, it’s not like there’s no prospect at all.

If it’s a hot spring, it would be difficult to drill, and if it’s not self-flowing, it would have to be pumped out, etc.

This place is not a volcanic area, so we can’t expect volcanic hot springs or anything like that, and since it’s a non-volcanic hot spring, we would have to dig deep, very deep.

In Tokyo, it’s said that if you dig about 1,500 meters, you can find hot springs in most places. This is why there are signs saying “natural hot springs” on buildings in front of train stations in major cities.

That’s why, even around here, if you dig that deep… As if you can dig that deep here!

We neither have the modern boring technology nor the technology to pump water from such depths!

…That’s why I’ve been saying it’s not a hot spring from the beginning, but a “super public bath”.

It’s called “super,” but it’s just a public bath. A public bath!

So, it doesn’t matter whether it’s the temperature of the gushing water or the minerals contained in it… Wait, there’s no hot spring law here!

The public bath laws have no power here!

And since the word “super” is attached to it, it must function as an entertainment facility, not just a bathtub and washing area.

…Yes, the raison d’etre of super public baths, ‘entertainment and relaxation!’

And for that to happen, there has to be a lot of stuff in the bathroom.

Hot water, lukewarm water, regular baths, pouring baths, medicinal hot water pots, saunas, water-jet baths, and much more.

I wonder if the water-jet bath would be human-powered since we can’t use electricity.

Orphans and unemployed people can be made to wait in the bathroom, and by handing over tokens that have been purchased in advance, they will use a foot-operated machine that can produce a jet stream for a certain period of time…

The substitute currency tokens can also be used at other stores and facilities too…

Then there are training rooms, rest areas, restaurants, sweets shops, bars, and much more.

Prices are, of course, “touristy”.

Umumumu… Sounds lucrative.

The overall design should be considered in reference to Japanese super public bathhouses…

The building will be built with the technology here, and only a small part of the equipment inside will be made on Earth.

Of course, we don’t use rubber or plastic or anything like that, just leather, wood, and simple metal parts, so the repairs and such can be managed with the technology here.

I wonder if there’s a place that would take a job like that……

“…So, what’s the situation!” (Iris)

Ah, I was thinking to myself again.

But everyone in the Bozes family knows that I go into deep contemplation from time to time, so they won’t get mad at me.

“We are currently working on various internal facilities. Please be patient……” (Mitsuha)

Yeah, the cosmetics are going well, so Iris-sama is not that much in a hurry to rush the construction of the super public baths. I guess she just wanted to check on the status a bit since there has been no tangible progress.

The strong way to say it is… well, that’s just the way she is, I guess.

So if I explain properly, there’s nothing more to say.

Except when she’s in her rage mode, Iris-sama is not the kind of person to say anything too reckless or unreasonable.

“…And, as for rum and other alcoholic beverages…” (Marquis Bozes)

“That’s after the sugar cane cultivation gets on track!” (Mitsuha)

In a topic like this, Marquis-sama is more persistent than Iris-sama, who quickly steps back when he hears a satisfactory explanation…

I guess that’s not a bad idea, because I think about the management of the territory and the improvement of the lives of the people in the territory……

After all, the production of rum equals the production of sugar, and both smell of huge profit…

Well, let’s go little by little. Yeah, little by little……

******

…One day, a letter of appeal arrived at General Trade Mitsuha.

I see, you don’t know what I’m talking about, do you? Well, neither do I!

The poor, clumsy letters spelled out on a few wooden letters.

Although, no matter how much I want to call it a wooden letter…

Even though it’s not so cheap, paper is still prevalent there, parchment and all. Nowadays, wooden letters are already obsolete…

And the content of the letter is…

“Hey, what’s this about?” (Mitsuha)

Naturally, when I asked the person who brought it…

“It’s a direct appeal that went through formal procedures.” (Courier)

“Eeeeeh? A direct appeal is a barbaric act that ignores the rules, where a lowly and timid person ignores the procedure and directly passes the appeal to a very high person, isn’t it? Anyone who does so will be sentenced to death…” (Mitsuha)

“Eh? What are you talking about?” (Courier)

“Eh?” (Mitsuha)

“”Eeeh?””

Thanks, I guess. Although I’m not sure we’re on the same page.

“Anyway, I’ve certainly handed it over to you! Regarding the direct appeal, it’s forbidden to mention anything about the client. Therefore, I can’t say anything.

I don’t need a signature to confirm receipt or complete the request. That’s the way it is. And whether you read it or throw it away, that’s up to you.

Now then!” (Courier)

After saying that, the courier heads for the door.

“Ah, hey, wait a second!” (Mitsuha)

I tried to stop him by saying that, but I don’t think he’ll really wait for me.

Well, it’s just a formality.

Nevertheless…

The courier stopped and turned to face me.

And then…

“Please help those children, Hime Miko-sama…” (Courier)

After saying that, he bowed deeply and ran away.

It’s no secret that I don’t like to be treated as Hime Miko-sama, spoken in honorifics, and ridiculously polite, so the courier spoke to me normally.

That was the last time I saw him……

And what should I do? This direct appeal…

Okay, when in doubt, call for help!

“Summon! The know-it-all, Sabine-chan!!” (Mitsuha)