The situation in the lower town that I had been worried about seemed to have ended without any particular problems, and I let out a sigh of relief. However, from what I had heard, just accepting this year's merchants had already pushed things to the limit. Increasing the number of trading partners next year would be difficult. There was no way that luxurious inns and their staff could be prepared in just one year to handle the extra merchants who would come next year.
...Maybe I should consider selling the method for making Linzhang and hair ornaments.
The next morning, the Gray Priests really did set out at the crack of dawn, harvesting vegetables from the fields and packing them into luggage.
While they did that, I ate breakfast. Today's menu featured soup and salad made with fresh vegetables just harvested from the small temple's fields, and bacon brought from Ehrenfest was promptly sliced and fried.
For bread that
"This morning's soup and jam were both delicious. It's thanks to the vegetables everyone grew."
"Since the area around this small temple is filled with Lady
According to Toll, the land around the small temple was more fertile than Hasse, which was just across a narrow river. I planned to pour plenty of Magic Power into the magic stone in the prayer room so that delicious vegetables would grow next year as well.
After finishing breakfast, I saw off the carriage heading back to Ehrenfest. Inside the carriage headed for the orphanage were the rotating Gray Priests, the vegetables Toll and the others had harvested, printed materials made in Hasse, and settlement documents from the small temple.
I gave Father and the Soldiers their customary travel expenses and requested their escort to the
"Winter will bring deep snow, and disposing of garbage will become difficult. That is exactly why I ask that you please be careful to prevent the lower town from being in a terrible state when spring arrives."
"Yes. A roof is currently being built so that garbage can be disposed of even when snow piles up. After that, it's just a matter of everyone's cooperation. We will patrol as much as possible. We Soldiers are working year-round."
Remembering Father working out in the snow, I nodded slightly. I could rest easy leaving the lower town in Father and the others' hands. After receiving the Soldiers' salute and returning it, the carriage began to rattle away.
After watching the carriage grow smaller in the distance, it was my turn to depart. I needed to head to Hasse's winter lodge and confirm the tax collector's work.
While I caught sight of Monica and
"Nora, the Winter Preparations here are all set, correct?"
"Yes. We've arranged things so that the residents of Hasse can cooperate on Winter Preparations. We can't keep relying on the Plantin Company forever."
It was thanks to the Plantin Company's mediation up to this point, but by providing money and labor from the small temple, it seemed they had built a good cooperative relationship with Hasse. I would thank
"Lady Rozemyne, preparations are complete."
"Then, Nora. I'm leaving the rest to you. Since the small temple is gradually changing, the Priests who came from Ehrenfest's orphanage will be confused. Please teach them how to live. At the same time, have them reexamine their own lives to make sure they haven't strayed too far from temple life. If they change too much, it will be difficult for them when they go to Ehrenfest's orphanage."
"Yes, I understand."
Since Monica and the others were ready for the next lodging destination, I boarded the Lesserbus with
Monica and the others would rendezvous with the tax collector's Attendants at the winter lodge and move to today's lodging, while I would confirm the tax collector's work in Hasse and then travel by riding beast.
"Monica, let's meet up later."
"Yes, Lady Rozemyne."
After seeing off Monica and the others departing from Hasse's winter lodge, I went around to the plaza under Richt's guidance. There, I watched the tax collector's work of moving harvests to the castle.
A large cloth bearing a magic circle was spread out on the stage where the ceremony had been performed, and taxed goods were placed on it one after another. In an instant, large quantities of goods vanished in a flash of light, transported to the castle. Some of those goods were mine.
"Richt, I hear the residents of Hasse have been helping with the small temple's Winter Preparations as well? The Gray Priests were raised in the temple and are unfamiliar with worldly matters, so it's a great help to have them teach us practical living skills."
"We've also been receiving payment and allowing gathering near the small temple, so..."
Richt smiled. We're even, his expression said.
The forest surrounding the small temple, rich with my Magic Power, supposedly bore abundant fruits. And attracted by that abundance, animals came as well. It was apparently an ideal place for hunting.
"Hasse wishes to continue building a good relationship with the small temple."
"Yes, I look forward to it."
By the time I exchanged smiles with Richt, the tax collector had finished his work.
"Lady Rozemyne, let us head to the next town."
"Yes."
We flew through the sky on riding beasts, moving to the next winter lodge. After performing the ceremony and finishing the tax collection the next morning, we moved on again.
Conversations with the tax collector along the way were mainly about this year's harvest and
...Yes, I sometimes felt anxious too. Perhaps it was precisely because he was so capable that he was frightening. He was saying things like wanting to make my research his life's work.
To summarize the tax collector's words: Hartmut listens to his master, so please keep a firm hold on his reins. Come to think of it,
"Hartmut is very capable, so if you keep him by your side as a retainer, he's quite useful."
"Yes. His adaptability is high, or rather, he's flexible..."
Remembering how quickly Hartmut had settled in and started working at the temple, I said this, and the tax collector's eyes widened slightly.
"The stubborn Hartmut, who rarely changes his own thinking based on others' words, appears that way to you, Lady Rozemyne? That is likely because he is determined and actively trying to serve you by adapting however necessary."
The word "fanatic" that briefly floated through my mind felt vaguely ominous, so I crumpled it up and tossed it aside. Hartmut was apparently a far more loyal retainer than I had realized.
...Maybe I should give him some kind of reward.
He had been envious of the writing boards that Fran and the others had, and perhaps it would be nice for my own retainers to have matching items as well. While pondering these thoughts, I fell ill partway through the journey and bedridden for a time, but I finished the Harvest Festivals in my directly controlled territories.
To report that I had finished the Harvest Festivals in my directly controlled territories, I returned to the Temple first. There, I fell ill again.
Having collapsed during the Harvest Festival, I was apparently the last to return.
"Chief Priest, I will be heading to
"If you are going to Groschel, you should contact
When the Chief Priest pointed this out, I slapped my palm in realization. I had planned to go from the Temple in my capacity as High Priest, treating it as an extension of the ceremony, staying in the detached building and picking up just the Gutenbergs. However, going to Groschel might mean a face-to-face meeting with Giebe Groschel.
Giebe Groschel, Brünhilde's father, was a dyed-in-the-wool Noble, so without someone as an intermediary, it would be difficult to handle both conversation and matters that arose. My mother or Brünhilde's presence was essential.
"This is Rozemyne. The Harvest Festival in my directly controlled territories is finished, and I will now be heading to Groschel."
When I contacted Mother through an Ordinance, I received an immediate reply. After making various preparations and bringing along civil officials, the departure was set for three days later.
Once the date was decided, I contacted Brünhilde to inform her of the trip to Groschel and ask whether she wished to accompany us. Brünhilde was a minor, but Groschel was her hometown, so there was no problem.
"Chief Priest, this time you will be conducting the Harvest Festival as well, correct? Since you are going in a religious capacity as High Priest, is it acceptable for Hartmut and the other apprentice civil officials to accompany you? Last time they accompanied us for printing-related matters."
For religious ceremonies, the lord's retainers were unnecessary. However, if acting as a Noble and as part of the ruling family, retainers were needed. Having an exceptional position was truly troublesome.
"Bring them along regardless. In your directly controlled territories it may be one thing, but in Groschel, it's unclear which role will be required."
Following the Chief Priest's words, I decided to bring retainers for both roles.
Fran and Monica, and Hugo as a personal chef. Since we would be staying at a Noble's residence where their own chef would be available, and if staying at the detached building as High Priest we would need a chef, having just Hugo would suffice.
As promised, three days later I dressed in the ceremonial attire of a High Priest and headed for Groschel. As I had mentioned before, Groschel was a second Ehrenfest. To accommodate the Princess of
Unlike my directly controlled territories, there was no winter lodge to be found in Groschel, and unlike Ilkner, Commoners did not gather near the lord's residence for ceremonies. Even glancing from above, I couldn't tell where the ceremony was being held.
...I should have been here for the Dedication Ceremony before, but that was just handing a small Holy Cup to the Giebe, and moreover, the Chief Priest had handled it swiftly by going from the detached building to the Giebe's residence, so I had hardly been involved at all.
"Do you know where the ceremony will be held?"
"No. Tax collection takes place at the Giebe's residence, so I am unaware of the ceremony location."
In a Giebe's territory, the tax collector apparently completed his work without ever leaving the residence. He received medals registered by Priests at the ceremony site, and the harvests were transferred from those already collected by the Giebe.
"Giebe Groschel, where is the location for the ceremony? Please guide me there. This is my first time visiting this land during the Harvest Festival."
"...The ceremony location?"
Giebe Groschel repeated the question with a puzzled expression, rubbing his chin with one hand while giving a small wave with the other to summon an Attendant, to whom he whispered something.
Shortly afterward, a junior civil official-looking person hurried over.
"I-I will guide you."
"The others can discuss printing matters."
As High Priest, I headed to the ceremony, while the civil officials related to the printing industry entered the residence. I told my retainers that since they had nothing to do with the ceremony, they should stay in the residence as well, but Hartmut alone insisted on accompanying me.
"There are not many opportunities to witness Lady Rozemyne's blessings with my own eyes. Furthermore, since Groschel has no temple, there is no restriction on entering the residence. Am I not correct?"
I ended up taking Hartmut along with Fran and Monica. We were heading to the lower town, which Nobles avoided, but since he seemed to be enjoying himself, there was no reason to stop him.
I needed Hugo to cook. I asked a junior Noble to take me to the detached building where the Gutenbergs were supposed to be living, but the interior was empty and nobody was there.
...Why?
I couldn't help but glare at the junior Noble, wondering if something had happened to
"Where are my Gutenbergs?"
"They are living in the lower town. The detached building here seems too far, and they requested to move their residence to the lower town..."
The flustered junior Noble explained that the daily commute was difficult, so they had asked to live somewhere closer to the workshops in the lower town. He insisted earnestly that they had absolutely not been harmed or forcibly relocated.
"I see. Then please guide me to the ceremony location. Hugo and Monica, please prepare to stay here tonight."
Even though the Gutenbergs were staying in the lower town, Fran and Monica, as Priests, had to stay at the detached building. They needed time for cleaning and cooking.
After leaving Hugo and Monica at the detached building, I followed behind the junior Noble riding a riding beast and boarded the Lesserbus with Fran, Angelica, and Hartmut, heading for the plaza where the ceremony would be held. It seemed the location was roughly equivalent to the Central Plaza in Ehrenfest's lower town.
"...There are so few people."
Those hoping for
I spotted the faces of the Gutenbergs among the gathered crowd. Seeing them looking healthy and with nothing amiss, the anxiety inside me dissipated.
"Then, I will take my leave here."
Having completed just the guide duty, the junior Noble retreated as though he absolutely could not stay in the lower town. He probably didn't want to remain in a dirty, smelly lower town.
Even I couldn't help but grimace at the familiar smell of the lower town. No matter how used to it you thought you were, a bad smell was still a bad smell.
"Hartmut, please stand over there with Angelica. Do not interfere with the ceremony."
While Fran struggled alone—registering children for Baptism Ceremonies, verifying those participating in coming-of-age ceremonies and Star Binding ceremonies—Hartmut, who had been apprenticing under his tax collector uncle, stepped up beside her and began helping.
"I cannot possibly trouble Lord Hartmut with this..."
"Don't worry. I know how to handle the medals."
Meanwhile, I read the Holy Book picture book to the children, told them stories of the gods, had them offer prayers, and gave my blessings.
"Wind Goddess
A yellow light—the precious color of the Wind Goddess Schutzaria—flew from my ring, sparkling as it danced down. For me, and during the Harvest Festivals in my directly controlled territories, this had become a familiar sight—the light of blessings. But in Groschel, that was not the case.
"Whoa!? What is that!?"
"So cool!"
Reacting as though they were seeing a blessing for the first time, the children's reactions reminded me that this was indeed the first time I was giving blessings on Giebe territory.
The family members gathered around also had stunned expressions. Among them, Gil, who had been standing with the Gutenbergs, proudly puffed out his chest and called out in a loud voice.
"See? I told you, didn't I? I wasn't lying. Lady Rozemyne is a real saint who can give true blessings, and I am Lady Rozemyne's Attendant!"
Perhaps from spending time in the lower town, Gil's manner of speaking had become rather rough.
I thought he had really gotten used to the lower town, while Fran frowned, saying, "To call himself Lady Rozemyne's Attendant with such vulgar language..." Re-educating him after returning to the Temple was going to be quite a task.
Perhaps because voices were echoing that it was a true blessing, a crowd of onlookers began to gather. By the time I finished the adult blessings and moved on to the Star Binding ceremony blessings, the crowd had grown considerably.
"The legend of the saint has certainly spread," Hartmut said, looking pleased. He seemed genuinely happy and delighted to have witnessed the moment the saint legend spread. It was something I couldn't quite understand.
"I'm really not doing anything special, though."
The Magic Power used for blessings in ceremonies like this wasn't particularly great. It was not much different from the greetings given to Nobles whose rings glowed.
However, Hartmut slowly shook his head.
"The fact that you can use your Magic Power to give blessings to Commoners who cannot offer blessings in return is what makes it remarkable."
Hartmut's words made me keenly aware once again of the deep, wide chasm that existed between Nobles and myself.
Although it was called a Harvest Festival, it was not like the rural harvests in Ehrenfest's lower town. At Groschel's Harvest Festival, after the ceremony, neighbors apparently held celebratory banquets, and people departed in small groups.
As the crowd in the plaza gradually thinned, I beckoned to the Gutenbergs. Gil was the first to come running.
"Did you call for me, Lady Rozemyne?"
It seemed his speech hadn't completely fallen apart after all. I smiled slightly and said, "Tonight, please stay at the detached building. I want to talk to you," and he replied, "We'll head over immediately." Since they had known I would be coming for the Harvest Festival, they apparently already had their travel preparations in order.
"Then let's load everyone up and head there by riding beast."
I summoned the Lesserbus at the plaza and climbed aboard. I then went around to where the Gutenbergs were staying, intending to pick them up one by one. However, the Gray Priests refused to board the Lesserbus.
"Once we've changed clothes, we'd like to hear your report. If we're having dinner at the Giebe's residence, there won't be much time, so please board quickly."
"We are not in a state where we can appear before Lady Rozemyne without first cleansing ourselves and changing. To ride on a riding beast..."
The Gray Priests gathered in front of the Lesserbus and said this. Living in the lower town may have made them less concerned about it, but in front of me, they were utterly self-conscious.
"...I understand. There's no time. I'll clean everyone all at once."
"Huh?"
I had the luggage loaded onto the Lesserbus and gathered the Gutenbergs in one place. Lutz, Gil,
"Everyone, please pinch your noses and close your eyes."
Saying this, I drew my Stab and channeled Magic Power into it.
"Lady Rozemyne, please moderate it this time!"
"Wassen."
This time I managed to moderate it properly. Water appeared in a size just fitting the Gutenbergs and vanished in a few seconds.
The Gutenbergs, suddenly plunged into water, had apparently opened their eyes and mouths despite pinching their noses, and several of them were coughing and sputtering. But now everyone was clean. Incidentally, the area where the Wassen had hit was now spotlessly white underfoot.
"There. That should do it. Please board."
When I urged them, the Gutenbergs boarded the Lesserbus with bewildered expressions. I heard Lutz mutter, "So this is how the lower town got clean." Absolutely correct.
Upon returning to the detached building, the Gutenbergs were bustling about—changing clothes, discussing sleeping arrangements for the night.
I had Monica change me from my ceremony attire into Noble clothing. Once I finished talking with the Gutenbergs, I should contact Brünhilde through an Ordinance.
"How was your activity in Groschel?"
Since it was no different from Ehrenfest's lower town, there was virtually no interaction with Nobles, and because I had initially intimidated the craftsmen into compliance, work had apparently progressed smoothly.
"There were no real problems."
"...The Gray Priests were somewhat overwhelmed, though."
"Eh?"
Until the spring when Entwickeln and Wassen would transform it, the craftsmen who had been living in the dirty lower town had gotten by fine, but for the Gray Priests, who had grown up in the cleaned temple, the filth and stench had been extremely difficult to adjust to.
Ilkner had a small population and used waste as fertilizer for farmland, so the smell had not been particularly noticeable.
"...Well, we've gotten used to it by now, I suppose."
The Gray Priests said this with slight dissatisfaction. Perhaps from being thrown into the lower town where emotions had to be expressed directly to be understood, their feelings and words had become much easier to read.
"In
"We're close though, so I've been discussing housing them at our workshop over winter. Could you get the Giebe's permission?"
Hearing Zack and Johan's words from their visit to the blacksmith workshop, I nodded.
Having learned the lesson from Haldenzel, Johan had made an effort to increase communication, and Zack had skillfully mediated, which had apparently allowed them to build a good relationship of trust with the Groschel craftsmen.
"I taught the woodworking workshop how to build printing presses. Of course, it will be a joint effort with the blacksmith workshop, but there were no particular problems on that end."
"How about the ink workshop?"
"Yes!"
When
"Please, Heidi, just be quiet. ...In the ink workshop, making black ink was no problem, but when we tried to make colored inks, some of the materials couldn't be sourced locally. We've been testing with several materials found around Groschel, and research into colors has begun."
"Thank you, Josef."
Since black ink worked fine, printing itself was apparently possible. It seemed there was nothing to do but have them continue researching here.
"That leaves the papermaking workshop, I suppose?"
"...The papermaking business didn't go very well."
Lutz said this, his shoulders drooping slightly. Gil and the Gray Priests exchanged glances and let out slow sighs. Then they produced paper made in Groschel. Compared to the paper made in Ehrenfest, the quality was indeed inferior. At a glance, it looked like straw paper.
"Why?"
"...The water is dirty. The paper didn't turn out well."
Ehrenfest's western river was quite polluted, but the narrow tributaries that looped through the forest and converged were clean. Paper was made using water drawn from those streams.
Ilkner's water had been very clean, probably thanks to its rural location. There had been no need to worry about water quality.
"We could either bring in clean water or purify the dirty water... This is a problem that craftsmen can't solve on their own. I should speak with Giebe Groschel about it."
I finished going through all the reports. As I was reviewing the notes from our discussions, I noticed Lutz and Gil exchange a glance. After a moment, they both grinned and turned toward me.
"We would like to present this to Lady Rozemyne."
"It's a book made in Groschel to demonstrate how printing works. It's thin and has little content, so it wouldn't sell as a product for Nobles, but we think Lady Rozemyne will enjoy it."
It was made from paper brought from Ehrenfest, so the quality was not bad. It looked like the same kind of books I always saw. Just much thinner.
I tilted my head at the words "wouldn't sell" and leafed through it casually. I skimmed through the contents, reading here and there, and was surprised.
I looked up sharply, turning my gaze to Lutz and Gil. The two were smiling proudly.
The book contained stories passed down in the lower town, compiled from tales that the two of them had heard from the Groschel craftsmen.
It was certainly not the kind of content that would whet a Noble's purchasing appetite. But for me, who had been planning the Grimm Project to collect stories from various regions, this was an incredibly important and delightful surprise gift.
"If we spread printing like this and then collect stories from each region, stories from everywhere will gather. Someday, we want Commoners to be able to read books freely too, right?"
Lutz grinned. "You wanted this, didn't you?" his face said. "See, she's happy," Gil puffed his chest out.
I naturally broke into a smile in response to these two who so clearly brought me joy.
"This is wonderful, Lutz, Gil!"
"The money we used to collect the stories, we'll send you a bill for that. ...Half of it."
When Lutz said, "We'll only charge half since we'll be printing through Plantin Company eventually," I nodded vigorously.
...That's fine! I'd pay even the full amount! Bring it on!