The carriage rocked with a clattering rhythm.
Metal scraped against metal, sparks flew, and after a high-pitched screech, the force of inertia acting on my body ceased.
“Hmm… Steam locomotives have a charm of their own.”
Listening to the hiss of escaping steam, I stepped down from the locomotive onto the station platform.
I had taken the railway connecting the Willard Marquisate, where I was born, to Bern, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Lunoa.
When I thought of another world, I imagined a level of civilization around that of the Middle Ages. This world, however, was highly advanced. It had already undergone an Industrial Revolution and was in the midst of a population explosion.
Capitalism was in such a transitional stage that the continued existence of the aristocracy almost felt out of place.
“…All right. Before I meet Sister Shia, I need to stop by that place.”
I had spent twelve years in this other world.
Time had flown; I was already twelve.
“Lord Noah, I’ve been expecting you.”
“Hm?”
Just as I was about to set out for my destination, someone called to me from behind.
“Oh, Grandpa.”
I turned to find the old butler who had served House Willard for many years.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Not that long. I was here last week.”
“A week can be a long time. Lady Shia is waiting. I shall escort you to the residence.”
About two years earlier, Sister Shia had moved to a mansion in the royal capital, where she now worked.
The old butler had accompanied her.
“Actually, there’s somewhere I want to stop before I see Sister Shia.”
“I see. However, Lady Shia instructed me to bring you to the residence quickly.”
“I went to see her last week. There’s no need to hurry.”
For some reason, Sister Shia regularly summoned me to the royal capital.
Born with the earth attribute, I didn’t really have a place in House Willard. Being summoned to Sister Shia, who paid attention to me, was quite helpful compared with remaining in a household that treated the underachiever as though he didn’t exist.
Even so, being summoned week after week was a nuisance.
“Please tell her to wait. Sister Shia has work to do, doesn’t she?”
“No. She’s taken the day off.”
“Oh? Has she? Still, she must have plenty to do. I’m going to make a detour, so please go on ahead.”
After leaving the old butler with my request, I quickly set off alone.
“Hey. Are you open?”
I walked along the paved road and entered a shop.
“Oh! Lord Noah. We’ve been waiting for you.”
The man minding the shop hurried over as soon as I entered.
“How’s business?”
“It’s going well. Sales are excellent. The many novel dishes have thoroughly won over our customers.”
“That’s good to hear.”
The shop I had come to was a restaurant where I had turned recipes based on knowledge from my previous life into actual dishes, and which I operated.
This world’s level of civilization was advancing, but its cuisine hadn’t necessarily kept pace. The new dishes I created from my knowledge—quite different from its traditional fare—had been accepted by ordinary people as a new trend.
“Excellent. I’m glad to hear that. It gives me confidence.”
As I spoke with Lauren, the man I had entrusted with managing the shop, I moved into the back.
“What do you think? Could we expand into other countries?”
“That should be entirely possible. We receive many customers from abroad.”
“That’s good. If possible, I’d like to expand all the way to the New Continent.”
“The New Continent? A place like that?”
“That country will grow. I’m certain of it. For now, though, we should begin by opening more shops here at home.”
“Yes. Besides, if we’re to expand overseas, we’ll need to think of various dishes besides potatoes.”
“…This country really has nothing but potatoes.”
The Kingdom of Lunoa.
It reminded me of the German Empire from my previous life—especially the way potatoes were practically the only crop it produced.
“Ah, that reminds me. I arranged the meeting with the person you’ve been asking about.”
“…Really? I knew I could count on you. I’ll go and meet him later.”
I had begun my activities as a merchant two years earlier. My father wasn’t currently trying to drive me out of the house, but he could change his attitude at any time.
I had therefore branched out into various businesses in preparation for that possibility.
I had the advantage of knowledge from my previous life, but putting it to use was harder than I had expected. This world’s civilization was so advanced that most of what I knew was of little use.
Most of my knowledge was only superficial. So far, the only thing I had been able to make use of was my familiarity with foods I liked.
“Please be careful. The person you’re meeting is a merchant of death.”
“I know.”
If anything, my real strength was simply the status that came with being a noble’s son.
My usual method was to befriend merchants who approached me because of that status, and then conduct business with them.
“Sister Shia summoned me, so I’ll be going. I’ll come back later.”
“Yes. We’ll be waiting.”
“All right. I’ll leave things to you.”
Once I had finished the minimum checks I needed to make, I returned to the city.
“…Sigh.”
Then I remembered my final exchange with Lauren and sighed.
A merchant of death—in other words, an arms dealer. For anyone hoping to rise through business in this world, arms dealing was the hottest field at present. That was why I, too, had chosen to approach a merchant of death.
……
…………But the truth was, part of me was reluctant to do so.
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