Chapter 235: (Self Edited) Returning Home

When the ship arrived in Suomi, Lily-senpai and Shamu were waiting there.“Yuri-kun!” (Lily)

“Yuri!” (Shamu)

The return voyage took 10 days due to unfavorable winds. It had been almost a month since I last saw them.

“Welcome back. Thank you for your hard work on your long journey.” (Lily)

“I’m back.” (Yuri)

We exchanged greetings at the pier, where the scent of the sea breeze lingered. Lily-senpai handed me a wax-sealed envelope.

“Myaro-chan asked me to give this to you.” (Lily)

“Myaro did?” (Yuri)

I broke the seal and opened the letter.

‘I see.’

The second sheet was an instruction sheet listing the destinations and food distribution ratios.

‘This must be the supplement document mentioned.’

“Hey!” (Yuri)

I called out to one of the Hou Household’s soldiers disembarking from the ship.

“Sorry, but could you take this paper to that white-haired man over there?” (Yuri)

I handed him the supplement document.

“He’s a well-built man. Do you know who I mean?” (Yuri)

“Is he the one wearing the sleeveless outfit that looks cold?” (??)

“Yes, that’s him. I’m counting on you.” (Yuri)

As I handed over the document, the soldier ran off as if he were flying. Separating the documents like this was likely a measure to prevent bad rumors from spreading if the food import failed. I didn’t want any unusual activities to arise within the country, so I kept my departure a secret from all but a trusted few.

‘Now, at last, the food would fill the citizens’ stomachs, and the series of crises would come to an end.’

“Lily-senpai, I brought you a souvenir.” (Yuri)

I handed a wrapped small box to Lily-senpai.

“What? What is it?” (Lily)

“It’s not much, really.” (Yuri)

“Can I open it?” (Lily)

“Of course.” (Yuri)

At my words, Lily-senpai carefully untied the ribbon and opened the box. Inside was an ivory hair ornament with a delicate cream tint. The multiple layers of blooming flowers pattern was beautiful.

“Wow…!” (Lily)

Lily-senpai’s face lit up.

“I’m so happy, I’ll cherish it.” (Lily)

She held it close to her chest. Seeing her so delighted made the choice worthwhile.

“I’m glad you like it.” (Yuri)

“Hey, hey.” (Shamu)

At that moment, I felt a tug on the hem of my jacket. I looked down to see Shamu smiling up at me. She was urging me with her smiling face.

“Of course, I have something for you too, Shamu.” (Yuri)

“I knew it.” (Shamu)

I handed Shamu a box.

“Go ahead, open it.” (Yuri)

“Okay.” (Shamu)

Shamu eagerly began to open the box.

“Uh… what’s this?” (Shamu)

“It’s an ivory pen. It’s easy to write with.” (Yuri)

‘I actually tried using it myself, and the nib on the other end is surprisingly well developed. Although it’s a dip pen rather than a fountain pen, it’s easier to write with than this one. Actually, this one uses a quill pen.’

“….”(Shamu)

Shamu looked visibly disappointed.

‘Uh-oh.’

“Uh… Yuri-kun, this is…” (Lily)

Lily-senpai looked a bit surprised.

‘Uhm, maybe the pen wasn’t a good idea.’

“I thought something like this would be better for Shamu…” (Yuri)

I whispered an excuse.

“You shouldn’t… she’s a girl after all…” (Lily)

She scolded me gently.

‘I messed up. I thought about swapping the gift with the one I got for Satsuki-san, but that was also a writing tool. I’m in trouble. I just didn’t think Shamu would want an ornament… I’ve seen her wearing them when Satsuki-san makes her, but never on her own. That’s why I don’t think she will use it…’

“Haha… no, it’s okay… thank you.” (Shamu)

‘Looks like I really blew it.’

“Sorry, I’ll make it up to you…” (Yuri)

“It’s fine…” (Shamu)

‘She’s pretty upset. More sad than angry, actually. It hurts to see her like this. The real issue was probably not the gift itself but that I gave Lily-senpai an ornament first. If I had given Shamu the pen at a different time and place, she might have been happy with it. I really messed up.’

“Huh!?” (Lily)

Lily-senpai suddenly let out a surprised exclamation.

“Oh, sorry Shamu… but Yuri-kun, who is that girl… uh, what? What’s going on?” (Lily)

Lily-senpai was looking at a girl who had just stepped off the ship onto the pier. I didn’t need to look to know who it was, but I turned around to confirm, it was indeed Temi.

“She’s a girl from a distant southern country.” (Yuri)

“Is her skin color naturally like that? No way, right?” (Lily) sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ɴøᴠel Fɪre.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

“In the Tai Nyan palace chronicles, there’s a mention of a black-skinned Kuran maid, right?” (Shamu)

‘Black people appear in the famous texts from the Shantilla Great Empire era. Those palace chronicles are highly regarded and have been translated into modern Shan. They are also studied as ancient Shan texts in educational institutions. During the Shantilla Great Empire era, Shantinon was an international trade city, so although rare, there were black people there. It wasn’t as though dragons were entirely foreign to us. Even back then, they were memorable, so it’s no wonder they were often written about.’

“Oh yeah, they did mention them. Wow, so that girl really does have dark skin… I thought it was just a story from a book.” (Lily)

“She was being sold as a slave, so I freed her. I plan to have her work here.” (Yuri)

“Hm… It’s kind of sad, but it’s probably better than being bought and forced to work.” (Lily)

“…Is this okay?” (Shamu)

Shamu asked.

“Being exposed to curious stares might be tough.” (Lily)

“That’s not what I meant. Isn’t the generation of vitamins from ultraviolet exposure a selective pressure for humans? Isn’t she more suited to living in low-latitude regions with strong sunlight?” (Shamu)

“…You’re right.” (Yuri)

I had completely forgotten.

‘Humans with darker skin can block sunlight at the surface of their skin. Sunlight can be harmful and, if it penetrates deeply, it can damage body tissues. This can result in sunburn, inflammation, and in the long term, skin cancer. However, Vitamin D, which is essential for calcium absorption, is produced when skin is exposed to ultraviolet light. In high-latitude regions, sunlight strikes the Earth at an angle, so the amount of ultraviolet light is relatively low from the start.

In low-latitude regions where the sun is intense, dark skin is necessary to protect the body, but here, this heavy protection could be a disadvantage. The dark skin might block too much ultraviolet light, potentially leading to a Vitamin D deficiency. While it might not be a problem in summer, it could be an issue in winter. Additionally, it might be unsuitable for her to live too far north.’

“Well… I’ll make sure she eats plenty of fish and gets enough sunlight…”(Yuri)

‘Temi’s skin is dark, but not as dark as obsidian. It’s more of a brownish-gray, so I don’t think she’ll suffer from severe deficiencies.’

“Is she intelligent?” (Shamu)

“Yes, she’s quite capable.” (Yuri)

When taught by Eisa-sensei, she quickly picked up several words and demonstrated an excellent memory. She also learned two-digit addition after being taught some basic arithmetic.

“She’s definitely above average.” (Yuri)

“What kind of work do you plan to have her do?” (Shamu)

“Well… for now, I’ll leave her with the Hou Household and maybe have her do maid work.” (Yuri)

‘I mean, why would you ask such a thing?’

“Then, can I have that girl as a souvenir?” (Shamu)

‘Huh? That was a rather unsettling thing to say.’

“She’s a human being.” (Yuri)

‘Should I start teaching her that humans are not objects and that slavery is wrong?’

“I’ll train her from scratch to be my assistant. If she doesn’t show promise, I’ll return her.” (Shamu)

‘Uh…’

“Why? It doesn’t have to be her.” (Yuri)

“I like her unique appearance. And if she’s unaware of the risk of vitamin deficiency, she won’t be able to manage her lifestyle properly, right?” (Shamu)

“Well… if you want her that badly, I’ll talk to her. But as of now, she can’t communicate.” (Yuri)

“If she’s intelligent, she’ll learn quickly, I’m sure.” (Shamu)

‘That’s debatable. Anyway, she hasn’t learned Telor yet, and it might be better to keep her away from it entirely. If she decides to leave and settles in a Telor-speaking region, it would be problematic. That’s a concern. However, although black people are not as discriminated against as Shan people, they are still marginalized in Telor-speaking regions. As international relations grow, the education provided to the people of Shyalta will spread to some extent.

If the situation deteriorates to the point where letting her go abroad means a certain loss of skills and knowledge, I might have to consider restricting her freedom, though I’d rather not. The image of a black person in the northern scientific stronghold gives it a university-like feel, which is kind of nice.’

“Alright, I’ll talk to her.” (Yuri)

“Please do.” (Shamu)

I went back to the ship and spoke with Temi.

“Temi, would you like to work for the girl over there?”

When I asked, Temi shook her head vigorously.

“No?” (Yuri)

“It’s not… no.” (Temi)

‘Well, she probably prefers being with a girl closer to her age. Although they’re not that close in age…’

I took her hand and led her to Shamu, who crouched down in front of Temi.

“Would you like to work for me?” (Shamu)

“I work.” (Temi)

‘She’s going to work. Hmm, I’m worried.’

“Shamu, are you serious…?” (Lily)

Lily-senpai looked worried.

“I am serious. For a long, I’ve wanted a little sis—no, I mean, I needed an assistant for experiments.” (Shamu)

‘Did she almost say “little sister” just now? Oi oi. I’m anxious.’

—

After that, I rode White Sunset I had entrusted to Shibu to return to Sibyaku the same day. I tied White Sunset at the royal castle, hurried up the stairs, and entered Myaro’s office.

“Oh?” (Irene)

There, instead of the usual secretary, was a woman who had previously been called Irene and was the steward of the Gudanvier family.

“Hey.” (Yuri)

When I greeted her, Irene gently placed her index finger in front of her mouth. It probably meant to keep quiet.

“Please, this way. I’ve been instructed to let you in anytime.” (Irene)

Saying so, she opened the door leading to Myaro’s office. As prompted, I entered, but there was no one sitting at the desk.

“Huh!? Yuri—! Kyaa!!” (Myaro)

Bang! There was a crashing sound as something fell. Looking over, I saw Myaro in a rather indecent state. Myaro had managed to fall over on the ground with both legs in her pants and was exposing an indecent sight. In fact, her white panties are visible between her legs.

‘This is my first time seeing Myaro’s pants. The well-shaped line from the buttocks to the thighs gives a different aesthetic fetishism compared to enormous breasts.’

“Ouch… get out quickly, please!” (Myaro)

Myaro said while covering his pants with both hands.

“Sorry.” (Yuri)

I passed through the door again and exited the room. Irene was holding the doorknob, and for some reason, she had a serious expression for some reason.

“Why did you let me through?” (Yuri)

“It’s my way of showing loyalty and filial piety. What do you think? She’s surprisingly cute, isn’t she?” (Irene)

‘What kind of loyalty and filial piety is that? Also, she hasn’t closed the door and it’s been wide open this whole time. Close it already.’

“I know she’s cute without you telling me.” (Yuri)

“Is she waiting for your help?” (Irene)

I didn’t respond and waited for Myaro to appear from behind the door. After a while, Myaro peeked his head out from the other side.

She must have been changing as she was about to finish her work and return from the castle. She was dressed in attire closer to casual wear.

‘Was Irene here to welcome her lord?’

“Ah, Irene, I told you to stop.” (Myaro)

“I didn’t hear you.” (Irene)

“I said if you did it again, I’d cut your pay. I’ll really reduce your salary.” (Myaro)

“Please. I’m not in need of money.” (Irene)

‘This person is troublesome. I sympathize with Myaro.’

“Yuri-kun, please come in. And please forget what just happened.” (Myaro)

‘Forget it? Even if told, it’s not something easily forgotten.’

I entered, and the door closed with a bang behind me.

“Really, that person… It’s not the time to joke around!” (Myaro)

Myaro seemed quite angry, raising her voice so it could be heard outside.

“It was about the ration system.” (Yuri)

“That’s right! We’re on the brink here… and yet…” (Myaro)

Myaro was still visibly flustered, his face flushed red.

“I’ve loaded up a ship full of supplies. As per instructions, we’re reloading them onto medium-sized ships to distribute to various places.” (Yuri)

“Oh… is that so…” (Myaro)

Upon hearing my report, Myaro’s face suddenly relaxed, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Understandably so. Myaro held the lives of not just the capital but almost the entire nation in his hands. If food rationing had reached its limits, people would have starved to death.

“So, how will this turn out? Is it going to lead to war?” (Myaro)

‘If food trade was refused, securing food was the top priority, so eagles would be used to extort the victim. In that case, it would naturally be a state of war.’

“It didn’t come to that. We managed to negotiate a treaty. I brought a senior council member with me. They’ll attend the coronation.” (Yuri)

“Oh… I’m glad to hear that.” (Myaro)

Myaro sighed in relief. It seemed they had narrowly averted a crisis.

“That’s a relief.” (Myaro)

“And what about Angelica Sacrament? Did she manage to escape?” (Yuri)

“Yes, unfortunately.” (Myaro)

‘Not that it’s unfortunate, really. As a royal, she’ll likely find another branch of the family to bring back.’

“It seems she thoroughly scouted the country’s roads. She took the back roads, seemingly expecting defeat.” (Myaro)

“A woman of that caliber must have ambitions. She’s probably aiming to become king.” (Yuri)

“Reports from Soim’s light cavalry were favorable. She must be quite a character. Fleeing without a fight is rather ominous.” (Myaro)

“Well, fleeing does make things easier. Poor Alfred, though.” (Yuri)

‘Fleeing doesn’t paint a good picture. At best, we might use her and Epitaph together.’

“Also, here’s a gift.” (Yuri)

I placed a small box in front of Myaro.

“Oh, what’s this? May I open it?” (Myaro)

“Sure.” (Yuri)

Myaro opened the box. Inside should be the ivory-handled pen, similar to the one I gave to Shamu.

“Wow, ivory. Thank you so much. It’s beautiful… I’ll cherish it.” (Myaro)

She genuinely seemed pleased.

‘I guess the timing was just off…’