Intermission: Young Merchant and Orphanage Children
When I went to an orphanage on an errand of my employer, I saw little children playing cards . Those cards are exactly like the learning cards that I've made . However, the designs are slightly different .
"Hey, you guys, where did you get those cards?" "Tsui-niichan made it . " "You're wrong, it was Yuni-ane who got it from her boyfriend . " "Etai-niichan drew the pictures . " "Tsui-niichan shaved the tree you know?" "Yuni-ane taught us how to play . "
The children answered my question in hoots . If you say it like that, I won't be able to hear it . Since the children began to quarrel, I arbitrated them in a hurry . After asking for many times, I understand that, "They got the cards from the lover of the child called Yuni", "The child called Tsui supplied raw materials like wood blocks, ink, and brushes . ", and "The child called Etai drew the pictures . "
Since the learning card, including the prototype were bought by that merchant boy, he's probably the lover of that Yuni . The intelligent looking girl who was with her is probably Yuni . I guess the children that he wanted to teach are this orphanage's kids huh .
That reminds me, the children said something that piqued me .
"What is the way to play?"
There's nothing like way to play for the cards I've made . You read the letter, and check the back of the card to see if you're correct, that's what the item only is .
"Like this!" "You line them up . " "In turns . " "You guess the letter right~" "It becomes yours . "
The children speaks of in rapid succession . The "I want to tell"-thought overflow . I patiently listen to the children's words, and arrange them in my head .
You put 100 cards with the letter sides on top on the [Field], and if you can read the letter correctly to match the picture on the back, it become yours . The missed cards are sent to the [Graveyard], and if there are no more cards on the [Field], the cards on the [Graveyard] are put back on the [Field], and the play resumes . When the cards are all gone from the [Field], and the [Graveyard], the one who holds the most cards becomes [Scholar]--the winner .
"Amazing, to think of such play . " "That's right, Yuni-ane is amazing~" "Didn't she say the amazing one was Aisa?" "You're wrong, it's Tarisa . " "Wasn't it Maisa?"
I want to meet this child called Yuni . I ask if I can meet Yuni or the other two children .
"Yuni-ane is working . " "Tsui-niichan is also training right?" "What about Etai-niichan?" "In his room?" "No, the elder said he was going to work in the field today . " "Gabo field?" "No, he said mustard spinach . " "Then, he's at the red roof place . " "Uncle, I'll guide you there!"
U, uncle . Even though I'm still 20 years old . While feeling hurt by the children's words, I follow them by hand .
◇
The children lead me to the place where 20 boys who are about 10 years older than the one who've lead me here are working in the fields .
The eldest-looking muscular boy looks suspiciously at me who've been guided by the children .
"Hey, nice to meet you, I'm a merchant called Neisen . " "What business does Merchant-sama want? Since the crops are the lord-sama's properties, we wont's sell it without permission y'know?"
I notice slightly sarcastic accent from his [Merchant], and [Sama] . I didn't come here to pick a fight with a child .
"It's not like that . I wanted to meet Etai-kun, and these children guided me . " "Etai is under that tree, fainting . Since he's useless, you can take him if you have some business . You kids, come here . "
I thank the boy and go toward Etai-kun . The children are caught by the boy, and got themselves to help weed the grass . While slightly waving to the children, I talk to Etai-kun .
"Etai-kun, can I talk with you for a bit?" " . . . Who? Are you?" "Nice to meet you, I'm a merchant called Neisen . " "Haa, merchant-san, what are you . . . . "
Looks like Etai-kun isn't good with conversations .
"Actually, it's about the picture you've drawn on the learning cards . " "Those are interesting right!" "Yup, the child who thought that play is amazing . " "Everyone plays it all night . " "Did no one quarrel?" "Anyone who does will be made to have the last turn . " "I see, that's a good decision . However, it's hard to wait your turns with just two learning cards sets right . "
"No, we have four sets now . "
I wasn't able to hide my surprise . It's only been eight days since the [Learning Cards] have been sold . To only take four days to make one set! Even though the painter whom I asked to produce the commercial cards took half a month to create one set . . .
"Did you draw it yourself?" "No . "
I breath a slight sigh of relief with that words . The reason was because it took several people to shorten the time . However, that thought is negated with the next words .
"I made the first two sets myself, but the other set was made with the help of other kids who were good at drawing . Thanks to that, we made one in a day . "
◇
"Theo, Shual, Olio . This person has something to talk about . "
Etai-kun leads me to a hut with three boys and girls . I promptly do self-introduction and get down to business .
"Can you guys draw pictures as good as Etai-kun?" "That's right . "
"Not as good as Etai-ani . " "Etai-niichan taught me~"
After each of them draws a picture, I start the talk .
"I want to employ you guys . " "I haven't properly learned the letters you know?" "Is it my b, body?!" "My breasts are still small, do you want to make me your mistress?"
I deny the children's off--the-mark replies, and I explain in detail . I'm the original maker of this learning cards, and I want to spread it all over Shiga kingdom, not only in Seryuu city, so in order to make a lot of the learning cards, I'm going to employ them .
"How much will you give? Will you give one penny for one set?" "You, that's too greedy . " "That's right, that'll become several copper coins in one month . " "How many will it become?"
The children's wages depend on their works, but the market price is around 1-2 copper coins in a month . In case of living-in, they normally don't get wages . I tell the children who have begun to count with their fingers the answer .
"If you can make 30 sets in one month, then that'll be 30 pennies, or six coins in copper coins . " "Four of us can make 40 sets . " "Then that'll be eight copper coins . Each person gets two copper coins . " "Amazing, that's about the same as Yuni-neechan . " "It's true, amazing . " "However, do we have that much materials?" "I wonder if we can ask Tsui-niichan~?"
The children are fast to become excited, and depressed . I don't intend to make them work that cheap, but since I don't have the fund for the start up, I'll compensate them later for the margin .
"I will prepare the materials of course . " "Really?!" "Then, I'll make many . " "Un, I'll work hard~"
Among the children who are in high spirit, Etai-kun alone looks gloomy .
"But, is it fine to do it without permissions from Yuni and Tsui-niichan?" "Oh right, they're the children who have brought the card, taught the play, and suggested the cards' production aren't they . " "Un . " "Do you know where they work at? I'll go and ask them . If I can't meet them, I'll go back at midnight . "
I go out of the orphanage after hearing the workplaces of Yuni-chan and Tsui-kun . Since I've acquired informal consents from Etai-kun and the other children, I'll talk about it with the remaining two children . I must respect the fellowship of the children .
◇
First, I go to the Gate Inn where Yuni-chan is working . I have to persuade the girl as she's the one who created the idea of the play . If I just put a separate manual for that play, it'll surely sell .
"Okay . "
I got permission from the inn's girl to talk to Yuni during her work, and the she readily replied it . The girl is different than my expectation . She's not that intelligent-looking beautiful girl, but an extremely common girl .
"The one who thought that play isn't me . It's by my friend called Arisa . " "Where should I go to meet her?" "She's gone to the labyrinth city . " "I see, this is troubling . " "It's alright, that Arisa would say strange things like [There is no border for play] and would give you the permission . "
That girl called Arisa seems like she has a hearty personality .
Since that girl has promised to send Yuni-chan a letter when she's arrived at the labyrinth city, I ask her to write this matter for the permission in the reply letter . It's going to be an approval after the fact, but let's work hard as to prevent it becoming a dispute . Of course I won't be breaking any law even if I use it on my own accord, but to just use other's people idea like that, it's something frowned upon among merchants . Normally, the merchant guild becomes the mediator .
When I tell Yuni-chan that I will send the reply together with her letter, she accept while looking wholeheartedly happy .
◇
Lastly, I go toward the wood processing plant where Tsui-kun is working . It's directly after the gate on the east street since it's related to woods transport .
"Okay . "
I talked to him who's just taken a break, and he answered readily like Yuni-chan . He replies while playing with the thin shaved wood wastes on his feet .
"It was originally things that Yuni brought anyway, I only got the woods since I wanted one for myself . I'd hate it if you're selling the the cards that are in the orphanage, but if you're selling newly made ones, I don't have any problem . Moreover, you're going to take Etai who's having problem getting works under your care right? It's impossible for that guy to become a soldier or a transporter after all . "
He's unexpectedly quite responsible .
"I won't do anything bad to that boy Etai . " "Un, that guy is good at drawing pictures, but if you leave him alone, he'll draw until he collapses . "
Tsui-kun nods that he wants me to tell him to be careful . I should make an upper limit for the number of sets made in a month . If I don't put a limit, those children look like they'll work until they collapse .
When I see the plane and the thin shaved woods that Tsui-kun is holding, I remember certain words .
『What kind of idea are you going to make next? The demands seem to be there, it's the price afterward . Search for cheap materials, or way for cheap mass-production, the various trial-and-errors are fun right . 』
I ruminate those words while staring at the wood chips .
"That's right, this is it . "
I involuntarily stand up and shouts, the foremen on this place gather their eyes on me . However, the excited me with the newly found idea doesn't mind those stares, and go negotiate with the boss-san . The thing that I've thought at this time takes form after half a year . At this time, I thought of using the plywood made from wood chips and glue as the material for the cards, that wouldn't have happened without the great efforts and experiences of boss-san, and tsui-kun .
Learning cards that are made with latticed wood chips glued to become plywoods are worth 2 silver coins, it becomes souvenirs for people who visit this city for the labyrinth, and becomes well-known .
However, that's a story for later .
Until that, the days of making normal learning cards with wood blocks and barely scrap by to return the cost of the material continue for a while . At this day, the best I can imagine is the figures of Etai and the others who are flustered for seeing a small bag full of copper coins at the end of the month .
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login