Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Chapter 73. The herb transportation right coming out from the Menisd ducal house many merchant unions aiming because becomes big money if only catching.

Despite the strict condition of having to build trust with the ducal house for at least over 5 years to participate in the competition, as many as ten merchant unions submitted challenge letters.

The Plata Merchant Union didn't interact with the Menisd Duke for over 5 years, but became able to participate in the bid as the price of me informing the cause of the plague to the Menisd Duke before.

As soon as arriving at the hall the competition is held, I looked for Milsy the Plata Merchant Union head.

Milsy was sitting among other merchant union heads, and the expression was dark whether because of the words heard around.

“A young girl just coming in and out in such an important seat. Wonder if knows the merchant union's work properly.”

“Plata Merchant Union. A merchant union stuck in the south suddenly popping out.”

“From the beginning does the Plata Merchant Union have the qualification to participate in this competition?”

Some serious ones saved words, but still the gaze not kind whether because of the sudden competitor's appearance.

“Milsy.”

At my call Milsy's expression brightened and approached toward me.

“Madam!”

If level of participating in this competition no one who doesn't know my status.

Because of the status of Duchess couldn't say whatever but the gaze toward me was stinging.

“Surprised receiving contact from Madam! Our merchant union still small scale and no connection with the Menisd Duke, didn't even think could participate in this competition... really with Madam the more knowing only amazing matters! Too amazing, Madam! This time what magic did you use?”

“Using magic. Just helped the Menisd Duke a bit.”

“Still! Madam would say a bit, but clearly big help like did to me. I also now can understand a bit what Madam says.”

Then, a big laughing sound came from the table the Bidon Merchant Union group is gathered.

Milsy startled and looked back toward the Bidon Merchant Union.

Seeing the expression didn't seem simply surprised at the laughing sound.

“What did those people say?”

Milsy rolled her eyes without saying anything.

Seeing the anxious expression, probably heard quite severe sounds before I came.

“Don't care about the words those people do. Winning in this competition will be us.”

If the Menisd Duke no way not picking the card we put out.

Then the Bidon Merchant Union head snorted and said something to the people beside.

The distance far so not heard what words, but Blackie with bright ears conveyed instead.[Master, that person said people who never did proper transportation once acting arrogant. If a woman quietly do housework at home not coming out for nothing and muddying the water.]

What, at a glance didn't seem would praise us.

Lus also has quite good ears, fortunate didn't come together.

If so those guys might have become like Adol on the day first arriving at the Menisd ducal castle now.

“Milsy.”

“Y-yes!”

“Trembling?”

“No! Because Madam said I'll win, not trembling even one!”

Milsy tightly clenched both fists and shook her head.

“I always trust Madam. Because what Madam says all comes true.”

“Right. We just have to do well what prepared.”

After a moment, the Menisd Duke arrived.

The Menisd Duke whose work fortune burst these days anyway appeared dragging shoes and sat on the chair drooping like seaweed.

Meeting eyes with me blinked and acknowledged, but because of the nature of the competition didn't separately talk.

“Then shall we start.”

At the Menisd Duke's words the competition betting the herb transportation right started.

Each stepped forward and enthusiastically explained how to transport the herbs and the advantages when choosing their merchant union.

“The carriages our Bidon Merchant Union operates are reputed for being fast. Especially our merchant union concentrated on reducing the horse's stamina consumption by placing bases in each region.”

“Then doesn't the cost go a lot?”

“The cost might be a bit expensive, but instead can transport the herbs that much faster. Since there are also herbs sensitive to time we think can cope well with such situations!”

“Right?”

The Menisd Duke memoed something.

Slightly seeing beside the content about the Bidon Merchant Union written in tiny letters ‘want to go home’ written in letters ten times bigger.

Here is home yet don't know where trying to go.

“Our Porin Merchant Union will serve at a cheap price other merchant unions can't follow!”

“But isn't it too slow?”

“Our merchant union appropriately balanced the cost and speed...”

Finally the Plata Merchant Union's turn came.

Milsy who is first such a big competition seemed trembling a lot.

But meeting eyes with me once recovered calmness.

Milsy took a big deep breath, and opened her mouth.

“Our Plata Merchant Union proposes a transportation method using the Grin River.”

At the words Grin River the merchant group started murmuring.

The Menisd Duke who was drooping on the chair seeming bored also pulled the upper body forward and showed an interesting air.

“Saying the Plata Merchant Union made a boat that comes and goes the Grin River?”

Despite the Menisd Duke's question Milsy answered without trembling.

“Yes. The Duchess Valfruga trusted and supported our merchant union, and thanks to that could make the Grin Ship that comes and goes the Grin River.”

Milsy continued the words slowly but calmly.

“If using the Grin Ship can transport the herbs at a much faster speed than other merchant unions, at a much more reasonable price. In the case of Silange grass said the medicinal effect starts dropping after one week from harvesting and after one month can't use as herb anymore. We have confidence to transport anywhere in the Empire within 5 days.”

“Is that Grin Ship usable right now? Worried about stability.”

At the Menisd Duke's sharp point Milsy looked at me.

I stood up from the seat and said.

“I'll answer that.”

“The Duchess?”

The Menisd Duke's eyes shone interestingly.

“We rode the Grin Ship from the Valfruga ducal house to the Menisd ducal house and came here. There's the boat we rode so if wanting can show right now. Is this level proof?”

“Wondered how came from the north to here that quickly...”

Ending the Plata Merchant Union as the last all merchant unions' introductions ended, and the Menisd Duke left the seat to talk with the vassals.

Some merchants continuously glanced this side whether wanting to ask about the Grin Ship, but whether because I was there didn't approach.

Not long after the Menisd Duke revealed his appearance again.

The result was our victory as expected.

Among the merchants showing mostly understanding appearances the Bidon Merchant Union head roughly raised his body.

“Th-this isn't fair! We dedicated to the Menisd ducal house for 5 years to participate in this competition! But that place called Plata Merchant Union didn't do anything!”

“To make the Plata Merchant Union participate the Valfruga ducal house showed big dedication to us to the extent of leaping over 5 years of time. From the beginning the 5 years of time is time to prove trust and dedication to the Menisd ducal house, isn't it?”

Despite the quite kind Menisd Duke's answer the Bidon Merchant Union head showed an appearance of not understanding.

“What nonsense that...!”

“Hey.”

The Menisd Duke cut the Bidon Merchant Union head's words in a voice dripping annoyance.

“The person who sets the rules here is me.”

At the Menisd Duke's words the Bidon Merchant Union head's mouth closed at once.

Seeing the cool Duke's eyes seemed came to senses then.

Since the Duke says that if not completely stopping transactions with the Menisd ducal house.

The Menisd Duke approached me and held out his hand.

“Congratulations, Duchess. When saying only give a chance to participate in the competition wondered what thinking, but planned like this from the beginning, right?”

I held the Duke's hand and shook and said.

“Not a transaction the Duke loses either.”

“Know. So chose your merchant union.”

One of the biggest contracts the Menisd ducal house proceeds was just concluded.

If a person with even a little interest in the Empire's situation no way missing this news.

Like that the Grin Ship revealed its appearance flashily.* * *Returning to the north for a while was enormously busy.

For now, people became a fuss because of the Grin Ship.

Made a lot of boats in advance, but couldn't follow people's demand at all.

At Butcher's words of good to make secret organization bases along the river the secret organization base addition was also in progress.

And thanks to the Menisd Duke leading the recovered mages and handling the demonic beasts' corpses in the Tragia Plain, could start plain development in earnest.

This wasn't the end.

“Madam, what plan for this year's founding festival?”

At Treon's question I stuck my head out from the gap of the documents and asked.

“Founding festival? Ah, already that time?”

The Empire's founding festival was held once every 5 years.

If saying founding festival feels like simply a festival of eating and drinking, but the flower of the founding festival was separate.

Exactly the family competition!

There's the meaning of honoring the hero who repelled the Demon King, but simply put just competition between families competing in various fields. The four great ducal houses always occupied the overall 1st, 2nd, 3rd side by side, and the Valfruga ducal house...

“5 years ago held before I came, right? How was the grade then?”

At my question Treon calmly answered.

“Ah, at that time didn't participate at all.”

“...”

“Already did last three times before that... rather than being publicly humiliated again not participating better, isn't it? No money to go to the capital all together either.”

Treon's eye area became moistly wet.

“Really fortunate Madam came to our family. I still think pushing Madam and the Duke's marriage is my life's best choice.”

As much as ranks are assigned competing between families, nothing better than this to raise the family's honor.

I looked at Treon and declared.

“Butler.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Our this time goal is unconditionally 1st place.”

Like that exchanging stories about the founding festival with Treon aiming for 1st place Lus looked for me.

“I'll briefly see other administrators' work and come so the two talk.”

But Treon who ordinarily would have listened to the story together quickly exited the room.

“No, no need to go out necessarily... Lus, what matter with you? Not the time to practice swordsmanship now?”

Lus sat on the desk and saw the documents I was looking into until just now.

“Have something to say.”

“What words?”

Lus dyed the ear tips red and said.

“Let's date with me this Saturday, older sister.”