Chapter 805: Whether one likes it or not, prosperity
The tavern’s midday bustle was indeed quite something, just as Savory had said. It’s no exaggeration to call late summer the peak season for visitors to Polka. Originally, it took time for hot spring visitors to reach Polka; from distant parts of the country, a one-way trip required over a month. That was by shared carriage; walking took even longer. And since people arriving in summer gear would face treacherous snow on the return journey, once this season passed, they had to choose: head south or spend the winter here. They must either prepare full snow-trek gear, join a caravan with the grit to travel through snow, or fight for one of the few shared carriage seats……considering that effort, staying here where lodging is cheap and waiting for next year’s thaw becomes a realistic option. Naturally, few people have that kind of leeway in life. Even if one relied on Polka’s sacred spring due to hardship, only the children of nobility or retired elders could afford to be so carefree as to spend an extra half-year idling away with a smile. This season marks the last bustle.
“This year we had more hot spring guests than usual. Quite a few came from Celesta and Renfangas too”
The innkeeper’s wife pulled in the signboard, preparing to close up, wearing a troubled yet amused smile that seemed like a 「Happy Problem」.
“Usually you don’t get many guests from so far away?”
“Maybe a few groups each year, I suppose. Sometimes we don’t get any at all”
“……I suppose it’s thanks to Minister Ashton and Duke Gardner’s efforts. To strengthen ties with the elven territories”
“Who knows what those bigwigs are thinking. But honestly, I was relieved that dark elf lady opened her shop. It meant we could tell customers, 「We’ve got that option too」. It’s a shame to make diners wait outside”
“So further improvements to the shop feel urgent……”
“I think that’s something for the Baron to consider, not Andy. Besides, it’s precisely because we’re busiest now that we can’t predict if we’ll balance things out during winter”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right”
In winter, Isaac and the crossbowmen visit, bringing even more life to the town……though it could still be seen as merely incidental. Whether it’s something the town’s shops can count on every year is hard to judge.
“Honestly, with Andy and Marie back, and the elves walking around town……it’s exciting how everything’s happening all at once. But the tricky part is figuring out what’s just a passing phase and what’s different. Should we hire more waitstaff? Or should we just go ahead and renovate this place too……my husband and I talk about it every night”
“Ah……”
We’re just stoking the fire of the town’s development. But for places like this tavern and inn, directly exposed to that heat, and for all the other shops dealing with increased customers and residents, it must be hard to judge how much they can handle within their own capacity, or what investments are worthwhile. For us too, the large-scale development we know is coming isn’t for Polka itself, but for the new town. It’s certain that labor will be brought in for the new town’s construction, but how much? Whether it’s enough to justify shopkeepers changing their approach? That’s impossible to say for sure. Signs of development unprecedented in this remote backwater. It shouldn’t be a bad thing, but the decision is a tough call. Fortunately, in Polka, even if we work a bit too hard, we’re far from facing a fate like death from overwork. Our strength is that we can push ourselves a little, then think about it later…….
“So, Andy…….”
Thud. The tavern owner’s wife slammed her hand on the counter and glared at me with a half-smile.
“I’d really prefer it if you refrained from doing things like impregnating our precious assets, Savory-chan and Cute-chan, and then letting them quit, you know?”
“……That’s a matter I can’t definitively say either way”
“There are plenty of others, right? Savory-chan is an elf, so holding off for three or four years won’t make her past her prime. And Cute-chan…isn’t it a bit early to get her pregnant?”
“I think that’s debatable! They’re different species!”
Cute is 15……no, maybe 16? Honestly, even by Trot standards, she’s not at an age where having kids would be considered unreasonable. Whether someone a full generation older like me should just go for it without hesitation is a bit debatable. I don’t actually know if cat beasts really have higher fertility than humans, but considering that Azel and Rizel, who are the same age as Cute, were casually sent messages saying go ahead and impregnate me, it’s definitely not an age where it’s absolutely forbidden in that colony. At least, I think. Seeing me getting a bit desperate like that, Gloria-san, sitting next to me, offered some backup.
“Also, elf wombs are stubborn, so it’s not like you can just stick it in and get pregnant right away, you know?”
“Please refrain from such vulgar language……”
“I’m in the same line of work as Cosmos”
Even though her appearance had been refined, making her look several years younger (by human standards) and giving her a look that suited the phrase 「Youthful Maiden」, Gloria-san apparently hadn’t abandoned her pride as a prostitute.
“Honestly, I do take pills if I have them, but I don’t take contraception that seriously. I’ve been screwing around for decades and never had a single child”
“There are pills that prevent pregnancy just by taking them?”
“Of course there are. Dark elves didn’t have much influence in Harmonium, but we did get those kinds of drugs from them”
Well, I suppose so. Since Hilda can get by with just a flick of her fingers, there’s no reason for us to use them.
“I just feel it’s a bit much to interfere when girls like that are seriously trying to conceive. Maybe today was their chance, and they missed it. Who knows how many years it’ll be before their next opportunity……”
“For being so hard to get pregnant, there sure seem to be a lot of half elves around”
“For the two who want it, it’s hard to conceive, while the opposite happens with one shot……well, that’s not limited to interspecies relations, is it?”
“True”
Raped but not impregnated, so they’ll take that disgraceful fact to the grave……there must be quite a few elves like that. If half elves are the result of pregnancies that couldn’t be hidden, then it makes them seem far more common than they actually are. Well, there are half elves like Anzeros, born from parents who truly loved each other.
“Above all, a land that hinders young people from having children has no future”
“Should Andy really be included in that category……and you too, for that matter. How many are there? Shouldn’t we rein it in a bit?”
“No matter how many kids are born, I’ve got two clan chiefs from the Northern Forest wrapped around my little finger. I’ll never run out of wet nurses. Besides, the forest is full of women with no children of their own, just sitting around with nothing to do”
“At this rate, you’ll probably impregnate every single one of those wet nurses”
“Huh? Isn’t that a good thing? They’re the ones struggling to have children.”
“……I just don’t get elf sensibilities”
Gloria seemed perfectly unfazed, but I don’t see the point in just having more of my kids. Wait, Irina said the risks of inbreeding could be handled with the purple clan magic techniques, so maybe it’s not such a big deal……? No, no, no. Honestly, with opinions still split on whether to recognize Anzeros as part of the white bloodline, the idea of half elves thriving is just insane. But……hmm. By the way, I haven’t really sensed it before, but am I really that popular in the forest? Are there really that many elf girls besides Fennel who’d do it if you asked? No, I’m genuinely curious!
“Master, Master! That’s not true, so snap out of it. Gloria-san only said there are candidates for wet nurse”
“Uwa”
Savory whispers into my ear, clinging to me from behind as I sit at the counter.
“D, Did I say something out loud?”
“When you make that ambiguous face—part happy, part annoyed—and start acting all suspicious, it’s pretty obvious what you’re thinking”
“You make it sound so simple, but starting with denying your thoughts like that is a pretty specialized skill!”
Savory’s become quite the performer in her own twisted way.
“If I get pregnant, I’ll send someone from my place to take my place, so don’t worry, landlady♪”
“Nyaa”
“Cute’s place has a replacement too, right?”
Cute raises both hands and Savory nods in agreement. Wait, who’s the replacement? ……Well, Savory could probably just swap places with Oregano. The tailor can probably mind the shop even while seated. Cute……emm, maybe Marone could take over? Though you could also say Marone just hasn’t settled on a permanent position yet.
“I just don’t get why you want this little rascal’s child so badly……”
“Is that so?”
“Proper couples feel they must have children to maintain appearances, but that’s not your situation, is it?”
“From my perspective, that kind of thinking feels more jarring”
Savory clung to me from behind, as if seeking comfort, and pressed a finger to her lips.
“Wanting a child with the person you love isn’t something you decide based on appearances”
“…………”
The tavern owner’s wife wore an indescribable expression. ……It was a kind of valid point, I suppose. Wanting to carry the child of the one you love within your own womb. For a woman, it’s a life-or-death matter, an instinctive desire that often makes her cast aside cheap social conventions to pursue it. Female slaves are too honest and carefree about it, which is why women of the wife’s generation can’t help but want to nag them. ……Cute’s expression grew even more serious.
“Besides, in a place like our colony, if Master isn’t a total pervert like that, you’d die”
“……You’d die?”
The wife also went serious. She looked like she was thinking, What is she talking about? ……Probably, she hasn’t heard much detail about the current state of the cat beast colony or my breeding festival. Though I’d be troubled if she had.
“Ah, that… …yeah, you’d definitely die.”
Gloria nodded. Well, I think it’s more like you can’t keep an erection with just average perversion, but you don’t actually die?
“……A colony where you die unless you’re incredibly perverted……no, forget it. I don’t want to hear it. Or rather, I’d be in trouble if you tried to make me understand”
“No, here, it’s rather essential that the landlady at least sides with Master”
“Nyaa”
“Can you seriously give me a break!?”
To rescue the screaming wife, Gloria and I decided to work together to get Savory and Cute out of the tavern and head to the cat beast house. ……The wife probably won’t thank us……or rather, she’ll probably be furious about how far we intend to corrupt young girls. It’d be awkward enough if an aunt you’ve known since childhood started giving you that kind of gentle look in that department. Plus, doing that would take all day.
“Our job isn’t to preach about the greatness of his dick, it’s to get laid!”
“W, Well, I thought it might be necessary for smoother future you know”
“Nyaa”
Gloria-san, who firmly tells the delusional Savory and Cute off, is dependable.