Day 2.
　The second day is more of a sightseeing tour.

　Our first stop was the port.

　"Our Rezad is mainly a base for transporting salt from the Adelnian peninsula and wheat and olives that come from the harvest in Rezad's farmland to the home country of Cilicia. All the products from this area are gathered in Clarice, and two-thirds of them are exported to the Persis Empire. Nowadays, I make a lot of money from paper as well as salt.

　The senator smiles and explains to me, smiling.　
　I can tell that he's checking my mood at key points.

　It occurred to me that, in a monarchy, a king's foreign policy changes completely depending on his mood, so it's not so easy to be careful.
　You can build a good relationship with them by encouraging them to do the same.


　Are Clarice's ships the only ships docked in this harbor?
　''No, the ships of the city-states that are members of the Western Union, which is allied with Clarice, often use this port. Ships from Alto and Telbai also stop in here occasionally. Supply is sometimes due to shipwrecks, though. Also, on rare occasions, Persis and Pofenian ships stop by.

　Hmm, so they're not so bad together that they destroy trade or anything.
　It seems that we export quite a bit of salt and agricultural products to the Persis Empire as well.

　It seems that our economic ties are quite strong.


　Suddenly I see a group of naked men.
　All of them are shackled. They're slaves.

　Where do you suppose they get these slaves?
　'That's ... probably Gallia. There are colonies in Gaul, too.

　When I look around, I see slaves in many places.
　There are also a number of slaves in King Rosais' country, but the ratio is not as high as here. Our country is mainly a home-grown farmer.

　I'm sure there were no mines in Rezad, so they probably make them work on farms and row boats.

　In terms of race, there are very many white people.
　When I think of slaves, I think of black people, but I don't see any black slaves. There were merchants, though.

　'By the way, I'd like to buy a couple of ships.
　A ship?　With all due respect ... there is no sea in the land of King Rosais, is there?

　We don't have one. But we don't use it in the ocean.

　"We want to use it on the river. We have a lot of rivers in this country. A boat on the water is not the same as a boat on the river, but...?　Even for the quintessential Lesado.

　I said a little provocatively, and the senator replied in a slightly pissed off tone of voice.

　'Yes, we do. We use water transportation in our own country, too, you know. How many ships are you asking for?
　Well about fifty for now. Let's put it to the test. By the way, I'd like to hire a shipwright. In case we ever need to make repairs.

　When I said that, the senator promised to keep recruiting.
　Anyway, we're recruiting, recruiting.


　Did he say he wanted to see the farm next?
　I will. I look forward to working with you.





　Ains observed this new king who had been a longtime associate of his.
　He listens with interest to the senator's explanation.

　Ains has a good feeling for this young man, Alms.
　After all, he has paid back his debts. And that's including interest for twenty-five years.

　I was astonished.

　At first Ains thought that Almus was interested in Cilician culture.
　Many leading Adelnians prefer Cilician culture.

　For those of us who grew up in Adelnian culture, which was rigid in its simplicity and, at worst, impoverished, the opulent and delicate culture of Cilicia was a very attractive transfer for us.

　So Ains had sculptures, paintings, and lapidary works of art ready and waiting for them.

　The young man, however, didn't pay any attention to such things, but looked at the ships, the farmland and the roads with great interest.
　This surprised me.

　Ains was not a fan of farming.
　This could be said of any country in the west, but there are two parties in Rezad and Clarice: the Coastal Party, which focuses on trade, and the Plain Party, which focuses on agriculture.
　Naturally, Ains is the Coastal Party.

　I don't know why Almus is so eager to learn about agriculture from the point of view of Ains of the Coastal Party.

　And he always wants to hire a Cilician in that way.
　Well, Rezad doesn't forbid the movement of people, so as long as the artisans go to King Rosais' country on their own, there's no problem.
　If it's a military secret as important as ironware and can be bought and sold, but not roads or farmland.


　'Isn't this the bubbling fruit from the bath?
　Almus let out an excited sound.
　Ains ran up to Almus.

　'These are salpo berries, aren't they?'
　"Sarpo?

　Alms asked Ains back.

　'I use it to wash my body and stuff. It has a reputation in Cilicia for making my hair and skin smooth. Do you like it?'
　Yeah. I'd love to have it. I mean, trees and professional managers, I'd like the whole thing.

　Alms stuffed himself into Ains' arms as if he was going to take a bite.
　Ains is a little confused. He wondered if he wanted it that badly.

　'Well how about we negotiate?　There are people who have built up a few salpo specialty farms. To those people, we can ask them to move in exchange for land and other things.
　I'd love it if you could introduce me.

　Alms gripped Ains' hand tightly.

　'Yes, and by the way, could you give me that sponge?
　Are you a sponge?　All right. I'll get you a souvenir.

　It's expensive, but it's a small price to pay for the good graces of a king.




　'A wonderful number of books.'
　Thank you for the compliment. "There are 30,000 volumes in the Rezad. It's the biggest in Adelunia.

　I look around the library.
　Most of the books seem to be made of papyrus. I don't see any of our paper. Well, it's a pain in the ass to copy them.

　Where's the biggest library in the world, by the way?
　'....I believe the Imperial Library in Jamsheed, Persis, had the largest collection of twenty-five hundred thousand volumes. The largest in Cilicia is the Clarice National Library with one hundred thousand volumes.

　I believe the Library of Alexandria was about 700,000 volumes, right?
　That's pretty big when you think about it. The Library of Persis.

　I wish we had a library like this in my country. By the way how much would you charge for a copy of the manuscript?
　Are you talking about labor costs?

　As far as I was told, the concept of copyright didn't seem to exist, after all.
　The book is written for the purpose of spreading one's ideas, so he said he would rather welcome a manuscript.

　The cost is paper and labor for the manuscript. Well, that's very expensive.

　I suppose so. When the situation in the country settles down, I'll ask for help. Is that alright?
　'Yes. Anytime.

　The senator replies with a smile.

　'Well, let's head to the temple next. Hey, Tetra. Let's go?
　Um ... you go ahead. I'll meet up with you later.

　Tetra was glued to the book. 'It can't be helped.

　'So let's just leave him alone and move on.
　Do you mind?
　How long will it take you to get there?

　I said jokingly.





　Julia was eagerly admiring the temple and having a heated discussion with the head priest.
　Unfortunately, I'm not that interested in religion.

　Therefore, I'm bored out of my mind.

　'How is religion organized in Cilicia?
　'In our country, religion is organized. We keep it as separate as possible from politics. The main god of Clarice is the god of commerce and gold, so the priests work to make money, too. Well, it's a business in the name of donations.

　
　Are you okay with corruption and all that?
　There's a sense that it's more of a reopening.

　Polytheism is often a loose thing, but from what I've heard, Clarice seems to be more of a sludge than a loose thing.


　As I was talking with Ains, Julia came back.
　Behind her, several priests are holding golden statues.

　'Hey, Alms. They said if you donate ten gold coins, they'll give you a seance.
　'Is that gilded thing a god?　Well, a dozen gold coins would be nice.

　I don't think a golden statue is going to make me feel better about my money, but I guess it's a matter of temperament.
　The price is very reasonable compared to the huge, stupidly large Buddha that Emperor Shomu made.

　By the way, spirits are very cheap. But is it such a thing? It is a religion.
　If the need arises, you can make something like that out of wood.

　Long live the idolatry.

　What a weird gold color!
　Tetra blurted out.
　'I've been here since the beginning.

　He just got home. He said he was going to give me this.
　He has a bunch of papyrus paper in his hand.
　I wonder if he trumped up the waste, or if he gave me a look at the tetra, which doesn't move with the lever...




　You're not going to leave me, are you?
　It's okay, he's not a kid.

　I tell Ains, and he sighs.
　Shopping, even under the guise of wanting to tour the market, was allowed under the watchful eye and escort of several senators.

　They're working with my desire to hide my identity.


　'It's a wide open road nonetheless,'
　Well, you can't get a carriage through unless it's as wide as this.

　The road is divided into a driveway and a sidewalk, and I'm walking on the sidewalk.
　A number of carriages pass by on the roadway.

　There was also a drainage outlet on the sidewalk.
　It looks like the structure is designed to prevent rainwater from pooling. Okay, let's pull the road crew out too.


　"But there's all kinds of stuff in there too ... what's this?
　I spot a green sphere that looks familiar.
　That's....

　Melon?
　You have melons too? We'll grow them in our own country.

　I like sweet melons, don't I?

　"Melons are not sweet.　Well, it's slightly sweeter than a cucumber.
　Is that right?
　But I'm pretty sure melons and watermelons are vegetables.

　Because they are both cucurbitaceae, so it's not funny that the primitive species taste the same.
　But if you breed it, you can make a musk melon, you know.

　I want to make a musk melon before I die. Is that impossible?


　On the way we find a precious metals store.
　It's a solid store, and inside a slave who appears to be a combat slave stands with a weapon.
　His face is scary. The muscles are also great.
　It's a good security measure just by being there.

　Is there anything you two would like to buy?
　There is a gold ring on their ring finger.
　This ring is not so much an engagement ring as it is a sign that you are a married woman or an adult woman.

　And this ring becomes a seal.
　In short, is this the proof that you have become a family member?　Or should I say, I have two rings on my ring finger.

　By the way, I have two rings on my ring finger. You can tell at a glance that they are bastards.

　Anyway, we didn't buy an engagement ring or wedding ring equivalent in Japan.
　They didn't really ask for it, and there was no such custom on the Adelunian Peninsula.

　But it's a good opportunity. I can now buy a hundred or two rings.


　"Well, I'm done here.
　Tetra picked up a hairpiece with a ruby in it.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it stand out. Then I'll take this one.
　Julia picked up a hairpiece with an emerald inlaid in it.

　I see. So let's buy these two and ... and this one as well.
　I picked up two pearl earrings and handed them to the clerk along with my hairpiece.

　I asked Ron and Gram, who were following me as my bodyguards, "Are you guys sure you don't want to buy them?
　'You guys don't have to buy them?　To Seo-yeon and Lulu.

　They shook their heads when they heard that.
　'I've ordered it for the wedding. It's custom made.'
　And Roseward is going to be angry.
　I certainly don't feel sorry for shopping without Roseward, who is home alone.

　Huh?　Speaking of which, when is their wedding?

　Now that things have calmed down, I think it's time to do it.
　Ron replied.
　'Right. You'll call me too, right?

　We should do something for a wedding present.
　I should order one without telling anyone. We'll have it made to order.





　Dinner is finished and I finish my bath.
　The day is coming to an end.

　Me, Julia, Tetra, Ial, Bartolo, Ron and Gram gathered in our room.

　''Well, let's put together a plan for tomorrow's diplomatic negotiations. Policy.