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Chapter 32 – Friend’s Marriage
The next day, I visited Sumina and Andre’s village with Rolo.
The village girl noticed immediately and waved at me.
She is definitely Sumina’s friend.
I also waved lightly as I headed towards Corcas’ house.
Once again, compared to other villages, this village is quite wealthy and has a large population.
I think it’s amazing that even when people are sent to war, they don’t really seem exhausted.
When I headed to Sumina’s house, for some reason Corcas seemed to have already known of my arrival, and the head of the family himself greeted me.
…How did you know?
I tilted my head a little, but decided not to worry about it.
Actually, it’s pretty easy to do. Apparently the farmer noticed me and the village girl waving, and ran ahead to let the Corcas know.
[Varian-sama, congratulations on your victory.]
[Thank you, Corcas-dono, I am humbled to be greeted by the head of the family himself.]
I got off my horse and left it to Rolo.
I’m tall, and when Corcas stood in front of me, I could see his bald scalp, which made me want to laugh.
Sumina couldn’t speak because Corcas, the head of the family, was doing the greeting, so she seemed to be holding back…To be honest, I could care less about her father. I want to start flirting with Sumina as soon as possible.
[Now, let’s have a victory feast. Today, we’ll kill a wild goat.]
[No, no, there’s no need to go that far. The war with Bazelard isn’t over yet, so let’s just talk about it among ourselves.]
Hearing my words, Corcas seemed to be filled with joy.
It’s probably because I implicitly said, “I’m here for Sumina”.
Corcas, a wealthy commoner, was seeking knighthood and wanted connections with the Earl’s family.
If I, the second son of the Earl, marry his daughter Sumina, his ambitions will advance greatly.
…Honestly, banquets are a pain…
That’s what I thought as I stared at Corcas’ bald head.
============
I was too naive.
For underestimating and disrespecting village society.
It’s not wrong to say that in a rural village, when you say “kin”, everyone is a relative.
It’s a closed space with no gaps for outsiders to enter.
……How did this happen……?
Everyone made a fuss while drinking beer with no foam and eating wild goat hotpot.
Goat soup with only salty taste is quite addictive, but it’s delicious once you get used to it. I think I like it better than donkeys.
The reason there aren’t many men in their prime working age was probably because they’re participating in the expeditionary force with Andre’s older brother.
However, even though the army was complaining about not having enough food, this village still seemed to have some leeway.
The main reason for this is that it was in summer. Of course, this wouldn’t happen in winter.
The food situation in winter is harsh no matter where you go.
Starvation and freezing to death are common things that occur everywhere.
[Tell me the story, Varian-sama! I heard from Andre that you were at the forefront of the battle!]
An elderly farmer asked me to tell him about the battlefield.
Then, another man stood up and said, [It was amazing] with saliva flying out of his mouth in excitement.
[I was following behind him! He took down 100 Bazelard’s fuckers!]
Apparently, there were others besides Andre who participated in the defense battle earlier.
He used his body language to liven up the conversation.
In that case, I decided to jump in and talk about my experiences on the battlefield.
This is Sumina’s hometown.
If possible, I would like to get along with the residents.
[The enemy was approaching… Bazelard had 10,000 men, while we only had several hundreds, and we were at an overwhelming disadvantage… Arrows were raining down from the enemy!]
I spoke fluently and paced my conversations with gestures.
Both adults and children love heroic stories.
[When I saw those arrows, I was so scared that I couldn’t move and hid behind my shield… But, Andre wasn’t scared! He cut the arrows away with his sword and kept moving forward…]
I told the villagers about the last war with some exaggeration.
It’s especially fun because everyone will be very happy if Andre’s activity level is increased by about 100 times.
The children looked at Andre with sparkling respect and wow-ing him.
By the way, Andre didn’t even use a sword that much, but it doesn’t really matter.
Because this is a “story”.
[As I fell down in the enemy camp, the enemy’s axe approached… But, at that moment! The enemy’s ax flew into the air. It was Andre! Andre attacked the enemy’s big man…]
Rolo was drinking beer with a grin on his face, while Andre timidly tried to say that it was all exaggeration while having a strained look on his face.
If Andre’s older brother was on the expedition, he might have laughed out loud, but it was cute to see his father, Corcas, happily mingling with the children.
After the conversation had settled down, I left my seat and said, [I’m going to pee].
When I looked at Sumina, she also left her seat.
Her movements were so awkward that the women beside her laughed.
We left the banquet and sat side by side in the shade of a tree.
[You liar. There’s no way my brother is that brave.]
From the very beginning, Sumina accused me of lying… It seemed like she had something very important to say.
[I’m not lying, Andre is brave…I might have exaggerated it a bit.]
We exchanged glances and laughed.
[Show me.]
Sumina moved to my front and made a serious face, but since there was no subject, I didn’t understand.
[What?]
[Your injuries. I heard from my brother that Varian-sama was also injured.]
I laughed and said, [It’s no big deal], but Sumina kept insisting, so I took off my shirt.
[I guess this is it… Well, there are a lot of details…]
When I showed her the arrow wound, Sumina gently licked it.
This is extremely primitive, but it is a treatment.
Animals lick their wounds because saliva contains ingredients that disinfect and heal wounds.
I’m sure everyone has memories of unconsciously licking the scratches on their fingers.
It is an instinct that heals wounds.
I just hugged Sumina and whispered in her ear, [Let’s go to the barn].
There was no one looking for us after we disappeared from the party.
=============
We left the village when the sun was about to set.
[I thought you haven’t finished yet…well, kept me waiting.]
Sumina and I got more excited than we expected and ended up making Rolo wait.
Rolo just laughed, [Hahaha].
[I’m sorry… I’m sure Rolo wanted to meet Millet too.]
[Nah, I’ll see her tomorrow.]
Rolo is truly a “good guy”.
Although we are in the position of master and slave, he is my best friend.
[You see, Millet’s parents…. They want me to meet them.]
[Huh? Are you gonna greet them? Perhaps you don’t know Alban-san…?]
Alban is Millet’s grandfather. He is also a merchant who frequents the Lioncoeur mansion.
By the way, Millet’s father is an itinerant merchant and thus has no acquaintance with us.
Itinerant merchants are merchants who form caravans and travel from town to town.
He is also an indispensable presence for poor Lioncoeur.
[No, that’s not true, Millet is also 17 years old…she’s at marriageable age, right?]
[…..it is…]
Rolo hesitated at my words.
Rolo, who can read, write, and calculate, is invited by Alban to be Millet’s husband.
There are very few people in this era who can read, write, and calculate.
Rolo, who is also excellent in martial arts, is actually a bundle of special skills.
I can’t even imagine how much it would cost if I bought someone like him as a slave.
Of course, from the perspective of Rolo, who is a slave, being a freed slave and becoming the son-in-law of a wealthy merchant family is the perfect situation.
And above all, he likes Millet.
Normally, there is nothing to be confused about.
[I want to serve Varian-sama… so…]
[Ah, that’s why you mention all this. You want to ask them to let you marry Millet despite remaining my subordinate.]
That’s right, I prepared sugar for that purpose.
In my backpack, I have the original beet sugar and the recently improved beet sugar, each in a 30cm unglazed pot about 7 minutes old.
Although there are still quality issues, the value of sugar alone is immeasurable.
If this doesn’t work, it probably won’t work no matter what we bring with us.
==========
[This is….?]
[It’s sugar. Taste it.]
The next day, I had a business meeting with Alban through Millet.
Of course, in secret.
[Sweet…! This is actually sugar.]
Alban is a thin old man in his 60s, with a bald head and cloudy white eyes due to cataracts, but he has a calm and collected appearance.
He licked the sugar and couldn’t hide his surprised look.
[Where did you get this… it’s hardly distributed in Lioncoeur.]
[I made it. With alchemy.]
Alban muttered, [Oh my god].
Alchemy was not popular in this era, but its existence was known from ancient times as a way to turn base metals into gold.
[Sugar… with alchemy.]
[Yes. for a fact, there’s sugar here.]
Alban grimaced.
It’s hard to believe that a 14-year-old young man can do alchemy, but sugar exists right in front of his eyes.
It seems like he is struggling with how to accept this fact.
It’s not like I was bluffing by posing as an alchemist, but creating sugar from sugar beet can only be explained to the people of this continent as “alchemy”.
Even if I explain it poorly, they won’t understand, so calling me an alchemist would be more understandable.
[I want to trade this in secret… I can make sugar on a regular basis, but I don’t want people to know it’s me who made it.]
[That’s… I understand.]
Alban nodded at my words.
Alchemists, mystics, etc., if done poorly, could be treated as heretics by the church.
[In exchange for selling this to Alban-san, I would like you to do me one favor.]
[Well, if that’s all there is to it…I’ll listen.]
Alban’s eyes narrowed with strength.
It must be the eyes of a merchant who is judging me.
[I want you to marry your granddaughter MIllet to Rolo… but Rolo will remain my subordinate.]
[Oh, that one.]
Alban seemed to be caught off guard by the unexpected proposal.
He must have thought that he needed to put up with an impossible task for a young nobleman.
[Millet and Rolo love each other, and I want them to get married. But, I can’t let Rolo go either.]
[However, it’ll be a problem for us. Millet is the only child our family has… my son only has Millet.]
I nodded and said, [That makes sense].
Alban is rich.
Rich people care about what happens to their wealth…even after their death.
In that respect, there is not much difference in modern times.
[Their two eldest childrens will definitely join Mr. Alban’s mechant family…. What do you think?]
[Hahaha, how old do you think I am? I’m already 64.]
I stared at Alban.
[300 ducats.]
Alban suddenly mentioned an amount of money.
[It’s sugar, 300 ducats for two jars. This is our first time doing business, so I’ll keep it cheap… I don’t know how much sugar produced through alchemy will be worth. I’ll look at the reputation and reconsider the price.]
I can’t judge whether 300 ducats are cheap or not, but… well, I guess they are.
By the way, if you hire a mercenary to escort you on a trip, their daily allowance will be around 20 to 40 ducats, including meals.
[We have a deal then.]
[Yes, I will approve my granddaughter’s marriage… However.]
Alban spoke out strongly.
I gulped.
[Have their firstborn join my merchant family. And please let me continue trading sugar.]
Alban held out his right hand.
I gripped it tightly.
The deal is closed.
[Rolo! Millet! Are you listening!?]
When I called out to the door, the two of them entered the room shyly.
[Congratulations, let’s have a wedding when Basil returns.]
Alban grinned. It wasn’t the same merchant’s face as before, but a nice old man’s face.
By the way, Basil seems to be the name of Millet’s father.
[Grandpa…thank you.]
Millet responded to Alban with a big smile.
As usual, she has outrageous breasts.
[Please thank Varian-sama… Rolo-kun, I have never seen someone like Varian-sama before, and as a son-in-law, it will be of great benefit to our family if you follow Varian-sama. I look forward to it.]
[Yes, thank you!]
Rolo responded loudly to Alban’s words.
========
In the early winter of this year, Rolo and Millet got married.
With this, Rolo is freed from his slave status and becomes a freed slave.
I had no intention of accepting the money to free Rolo, but Alban stubbornly refused to budge, and in the end I ended up receiving 30,000 ducats in installments… I feel a bit uneasy, as if there was a price attached to our friendship.
I didn’t like it, but I’m sorry to Rolo if I got too stubborn and the story went on.
I forced myself to accept it, likening it to something like a betrothal gift.
I’m still confused by the differences in values around this.
Rolo left the slave tenement and started living in Alban’s store and residence.
By the way, the building is not owned by Alban, who is a free citizen, but is a rented house.
Since he is so rich, I think it would be a good idea to get citizenship quickly, but it seems that it would be more convenient for itinerant merchants not to be tied to a land.
Itinerant merchants go to various places…there are probably many.
Later, Alban laughed and said, [At this rate, it looks like we’ll have great-grandchildren soon].
Apparently Rolo and Millet don’t hold back now that they live together, and they hold “wrestling matches” every night.
The best thing is that the husband and wife are on good terms.
Behind the scenes where they were living happily together, I whispered to Alban, [Rolo and Millet are helping make sugar without even knowing it].
In short, I threatened him that if he betrayed me, Rolo and Millet would be taken along with him.
In fact, I have purchased sugar beets from Millet through Rolo. It’s not a lie at all.
Alban’s face became stiff, and sugar began to be traded for 500 ducats per two jars.
Nega Translations 