Chapter 156 About the Peerage
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Well, while my own unworthiness caused Sister Amelia some lonely memories, that makes me worry about one other person. The young lady Tina Duke Badcage, who has been cooperating with our shop but whom I haven’t seen at all lately.
I wrote a letter for the time being expressing my desire to meet, but she is currently extremely busy. Since it seems it will take a few days to clear some time, I should finish off the various tasks I’ve been shelving in the meantime.
The problem our shop faced when the war began and employees were conscripted was primarily a “significant drop in productivity.” However, it’s safe to say this was resolved by requesting cooperation from the Canarias Convent¹.
But as a result, I’ve ended up having to take in a “Sacred Artificer²,” and I also have to think about the production expansion plan at the convent that I heard from Amelia the other day.
Another thing I need to consider is the reward I won from Her Majesty the Queen. There are two main points here: whether or not to accept a peerage, and the construction of the “Ddo-Buddy Palace³.” To summarize, they are as follows:
- Accepting the Sacred Artificer
- Production expansion at the convent
- Receiving the peerage
- Construction of the Ddo-Buddy Palace
What can I say… that’s quite a lineup of words…. Even I tremble at the possibilities of adult magic tools.
Well, I suppose I can set aside the “Ddo-Buddy Palace,” as that looks to be a long-term project. Simply put, construction takes time, and the ones using the palace will be the adventurer elf Tania and her (planned) children. I can’t exactly push the plan forward on my own.
Regarding the Sacred Artificer and production expansion, I need to speak with the Archbishop, and for the peerage, I really want to hear what Tina has to say. Oh, and for the production expansion, should I also show my face at the Tasogare Merchant Guild⁴?
No, regarding the Sacred Artificer and the peerage, there was one more person I should talk to. Realizing that, I stop my hands, which were massaging the calves of Lily, my experimental slave.
”Did you think of something?” Lily asked.
”Yeah, I’m going to head out for a bit,” I said.
Lily’s entire body is already soft from over-massaging, and since her morning sickness has settled, it isn’t really necessary, but I just can’t seem to stop the habit.
”Nnn! Well then, Papa is going to go work hard now!” I said, acting silly.
”Yes, yes, please come home early,” Lily replied.
As I said that while burying my face in Lily’s belly, where a slight bulge could now be felt, she patted my head as if she didn’t mind it at all. I felt like living there forever, but I have to work hard just like I said….
And so, I arrived at the eastern side of the royal capital. It’s a certain mansion in a district where the upper class resides.
”Ma-ster! Let’s play!” I called out.
Yes, this is the alchemy workshop and home of Kogima Pigole-shi—my alchemy mentor who married a noblewoman with a strange fetish for investing.
”Papa, Kento-kun is here!” the boy shouted.
”Papa! It’s Kento!” the girl cried out.
As usual, the voices of the siblings, who are his wife’s children from a previous marriage, echoed through the house, followed by the sound of heavy thumping footsteps running around. Of course, I brought sweets for them too.
After that, the old man would usually show his face while pretending to be annoyed, and after we went through our usual routine, he would reluctantly invite me inside. Or so I thought….
”Welcome, Kento-kun. I’m sorry, but that man seems to be at a critical point in his research right now. I think he’ll come out staggering in a while, so please, come on up ahead of him,” the wife said.
The one who opened the door to greet me was the mistress of the house—a beauty far too good for the old man in looks alone, but in reality, quite a wild personality.
”Eh, is that so? If I’m intruding, I’ll come back another day…” I said.
”It’s fine. I was just thinking I needed to make him take a break or he’ll collapse,” she replied.
While wondering if there was a subject in my master’s current research that he would get so absorbed in, the wife invited me inside without seeming bothered.
Since they live frugally in order to invest massive amounts of money, I sat down on the sofa in the living room while looking at the furnishings that, as usual, didn’t look like those of a noble’s mansion.
”Papa was a no-go!” the boy said.
”No answer!” the girl added.
Soon the children returned and said this while competing to climb onto my lap. Incidentally, the youngest daughter, who has recently started talking more, was on the wife’s lap. Mimicking her older siblings, she said, “Papa, no-go,” cutely to her mother.
”So, what is your business today? He was sulking until a little while ago because you haven’t visited lately, you know?” she asked.
”Ah, I’m sorry…. Actually, Lily’s morning sickness was quite severe, so I was with her almost the whole time…” I said.
”Oh my, that must have been difficult. Is she alright now?” she asked.
”Yes, thanks to you,” I replied.
I had reported the pregnancy in a letter, but it’s true I hadn’t been able to talk about anything since then…. I’ve really been neglecting quite a few things more than I thought…. I should reflect on that.
”So, as I mentioned in my previous letter, I’ve been offered a peerage from Her Majesty the Queen, and I came to consult whether I should really accept it,” I said.
”Ah, I’ve heard the talk. In that case, I can speak about it in more detail. Since you’re here, feel free to ask anything,” the wife said.
”Thank you,” I replied.
While having my arms pulled, my cheeks pinched, and my sweets snatched away by the children, I explained the situation. For me, the wife’s perspective was the one I really wanted on this matter, so I was grateful.
After all, the Pigole family was originally a merchant house that bought its peerage with money. She would be far more knowledgeable about that kind of thing than my master, who only married into the family.
However, thinking about it this way, even though our paths are different, it feels like I’m following in my master’s footsteps…. My master who established himself as an alchemist, and me who established myself as a magic toolmaker.
We both found partners and had children. The days in that rundown workshop feel like a lie now. Well, I have quite a few more partners…. And now, a peerage.
Certainly, the sight of the old man now, having a family and appearing happy, is one role model, but there are so many similarities that it’s a bit embarrassing.
”Let’s see. Kento-kun, you aren’t being offered a position as a landed noble, but a rank as a court noble like us, right?” she asked.
”Yes, that’s right. I was hoping to learn about the obligations, customs, and the pros and cons of that area…” I said.
At my words, the wife hummed, putting her index finger to her chin as she thought. The youngest daughter, being bounced with her other hand, was cutely trying to bite her mother’s hand in dissatisfaction.
”Well, the big difference from a landed noble is, as the name suggests, whether or not you own territory,” she said.
”Right. Since I won’t have land, my income won’t be guaranteed unless I hold some kind of office at court, correct?” I asked.
”Exactly. Basically, you can think of it as an honorary title. As for difficult customs and social circles, nothing is expected of upstarts like us unless we desire it ourselves,” she said.
I suppose that means we should leave those things to the ‘real’ nobles with blue blood flowing in their veins from birth. Or rather, it’s more like ‘don’t come barging in on your own.’ If you want the status and social circles unique to nobility, then go learn proper behavior first—that kind of thing.
”There are some who obsess over behaving like nobles, but you aren’t particularly interested in that, are you, Kento-kun?” she asked.
”Hmm, for now, the feeling that it’s a hassle comes first. Aren’t there any more clear benefits?” I asked.
”That would be, of course, ‘not being looked down upon’! The treatment you receive from those around you will clearly change between being a common magic shop owner and a merchant who was granted a peerage by Her Majesty. Instances of being cheated or slighted by common merchants will vanish, and you’ll be able to stand firm against other nobles. This isn’t just within the Canaria Kingdom⁵, but also against neighboring countries. You already seem to have sales routes to other countries, but obtaining a peerage will make it easier to conduct business even more widely,” she explained.
Ah, that is attractive…. Even now, I have connections all over the place domestically, but if that extends to foreign countries, there’s nothing more helpful for a merchant. That’s probably the reason the Pigole family obtained a peerage too.
”The only problem is what kind of work Her Majesty will expect from Kento-kun…” the wife said troubleshootingly just as my feelings were leaning toward accepting.
Yes, that is the biggest problem.
Certainly, if it were a normal court noble, it would be as she just said. But in my case, there’s a high possibility that Her Majesty will use my noble status as a reason to order me to do all sorts of things. In fact, it’s almost certain.
”Technically, I’ve been told it’s fine if I just keep doing my work as I have been…” I said.
”Hmm, such prior promises ultimately depend on Her Majesty’s whim. Once you receive a peerage, you become liege and vassal, so basically, you cannot disobey orders. Of course, that doesn’t apply if you return the peerage, but the relationship would become the worst, and the benefits I mentioned would disappear. Conversely, Her Majesty probably won’t say anything too unreasonable as long as she feels you have value…” she explained.
”I won’t be able to negotiate from a position of strength anymore, will I? I’ll be forced to swallow any orders that are ‘acceptable’…” I said.
”That’s how it is,” she replied.
With the pros and cons laid out, I couldn’t help but fall into deep thought. The benefit of having clout is hard to discard, but it would be unbearable if orders like the recent conscription started flying in one after another. In the end, I feel like it depends on my relationship with the Queen.
While I was agonizing over it and receiving a barrage of punches and kicks from the children, I eventually heard the sound of a door opening in the distance followed by heavy footsteps.
”Hey… give me something to eat…” a voice called out.
The one who appeared was the old man Kogima, who had transformed into a ghostly figure with dark circles under his eyes and an overgrown, unkempt beard.
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Summary:
Kento reflects on several major projects, including his shop’s productivity and the rewards offered by the Queen. He visits his mentor Kogima to discuss whether he should accept a court peerage. Kogima’s wife explains the benefits of noble status for business, such as avoiding being slighted by other merchants and gaining international clout. However, she also warns that accepting the title creates a vassal bond, making it harder to refuse the Queen’s future demands. The chapter ends with a physically exhausted Kogima emerging from his research room.
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Character Insight:
Kento experiences a moment of self-reflection, realizing how much his life has mirrored his mentor’s—from a struggling alchemist/maker to a family man facing political elevation. His hesitation regarding the peerage shows his growth as a businessman; he isn’t blinded by the prestige but is wary of the ‘strings attached’ that come with royal favor. Meanwhile, Kogima’s state of utter exhaustion highlights his obsessive nature when it comes to alchemy, a trait Kento shares but manages with more domestic grounding.
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Behind the Scene:
The ‘court noble’ (Miyatei Kizoku) vs ‘landed noble’ (Ryochi Kizoku) distinction is a common trope in Japanese fantasy, often used to allow protagonists to gain social standing without the narrative burden of managing a specific territory or peasants.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Amelia – The Sister of the Church of Demon-Subjugating, who usually buys from Kento, has light blue hair.
• Tania – An Elf adventurer who, despite her race’s reputation for low sex drive, is secretly quite passionate. She initially seemed ‘wasted’ (emotionally dry) to her friend Raika, but was easily introduced to the pleasure-items sold at ‘Harvest.’ She is easily embarrassed and attempts to maintain a dignified facade, despite her recent, frequent purchases. She wears practical but light armor over a simple cloth tunic and short pants, highlighting her grace and agility. Her primary relationship is one of friendly senior-junior with Raika.
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Suu – Secretary for the Royal Capital Beast-person Mutual Aid Association and a cat beast-person. Sample No. 19 in Kento’s report. She steps up as the first witness for the defense.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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