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TL: ALT
Chapter 53 – A Gift for Moye: Part 1
On November 1st, Wataru arrived in Southern Ship Town in the other world.
Since then, he and Buck had been doing fitting work on winter suits and coats, but they were still far from finished.
It had gotten quite cool in Japan, too, requiring long sleeves. However, the other world seemed to be getting even colder.
Unfortunately, Mariel and the others’ outfits showed less skin and had more fabric, but they looked good in anything thanks to their style and faces. Somehow, that felt like fashion, too.
While in Japan, Wataru bought several autumn outfits while getting advice.
Moving around in a group like this again drew a lot of attention.
They really needed to figure out a solution for Cloche’s appearance as soon as possible.
“So, this is the magistrate’s residence. It’s huge.”
“It doubles as an administrative facility, you see. The actual living quarters aren’t that large.”
“I see.”
“Yes, well, meeting people and dining together is part of the job, so there are many shared spaces. But life in a lord’s household like mine isn’t nearly as splendid and luxurious as people imagine…”
Mariel said this with a deeply felt expression.
Unlike Moye, one of the wealthiest nobles in the kingdom, Mariel was a noble who had fallen on hard times and was struggling to make ends meet.
It was hardly the life of leisure and comfort that commoners imagined.
Mariel had sensed this day would come, yet she had avoided coming here until now.
She simply couldn’t shake the desire to keep her distance from those in power.
Now that Moye had become the lord, however, it would be rude to continue avoiding greetings.
“Aire, Cloche. It’s good that you’re being cautious, but try not to be too obvious about it.”
“Yeah, no problem. I totally get that part. Not sure about Cloche, though.”
“Onee-sama! I’m perfectly capable, too! Honestly, I’m worried you might be rude!”
“Fufufu, that’s what she said, Aire.”
“I’m fine! I know when to joke and when not to. Besides, I’ve met him before. Isn’t this your first time meeting a noble, Cloche? Are you sure? Do you know how to greet them?”
“That’s utterly rude!” Aire huffed angrily.
It was true that Aire chose her targets carefully when she joked around.
She seemed innocent and carefree, but was actually quite thoughtful.
Whether by instinct or intellect, she understood the boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed.
Wataru understood that now, too, so he wasn’t worried about that aspect.
〇〇〇
Many people had requested an audience to celebrate the new lord’s ascension—or perhaps to build connections and open new possibilities. Yet, Wataru and his companions were granted an audience, bypassing those who were waiting.
Although Wataru had requested an audience beforehand, his priority was being recognized as an official merchant with approved goods to offer.
“Oh, Wataru. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Have you been well?”
“Yes, thank you for the other day. It was a great help. Things have been going smoothly since then.”
“No problem.”
“That official from back then was also very kind to me.”
“Ah, there were people like that, too…”
Moye seems to have little interest in August.
He had been helpful, but if asked to choose between his assistance and the relationship with Moye, Moye would clearly be the priority.
Deciding he had fulfilled the minimum obligation, Wataru got to the point.
“So, what brings you here today? Normally, I’d love to show you my collection, but I’m busy. I must hurry and finish my inspection to return to the capital.”
“I heard the news. You’ve become the deputy minister of the provincial government. Congratulations on your promotion. I brought a celebratory gift as well as a thank you for the other day.”
“Oh, I see. That sounds delightful. Did you find another kaleidoscope after that?”
“Yes, I asked the craftsman to make another one for me.”
“Is that so? I’m sorry to have troubled you. Mufufufu. Now, now, just look at this beauty.”
Moye was usually a gentleman in his speech and actions. He was stylish in appearance and an outstanding individual, both inside and out.
However, when he received the kaleidoscope from Wataru, a sly grin spread across his face, giving off the slightly unsettling aura unique to collectors.
Peering into the kaleidoscope, he looked almost like a boy lost in delight.
“It’s truly mysterious, isn’t it? The more you look, the more different shapes appear. No two are ever the same. It’s somehow akin to the appearance of a country or a town.”
It was a collection he once possessed, yet had to relinquish.
Though he gained sufficient status and tangible benefits in exchange, as a collector, he likely never truly wanted to part with it.
Moye, who had been radiating joy, suddenly snapped back to reality upon remembering Wataru and the others.
“Ahem. Well done. I’ll reward you later. Now that I’m the Lord of Kaleidoscopes, I can’t very well lack the original masterpiece.”
“Thank you. The noble world is quite demanding, isn’t it?”
“No, you did well.”
“Actually, today I brought Lord Moye something else—something extremely rare.”
“What! Not just a kaleidoscope?”
“Yes, it’s the supreme alcohol cup, brought from a distant foreign land.”
Wataru brought out a glass cup known as Edo Kiriko.
He carefully preserved it in a wooden box and placed it on the table with slow, deliberate movements.
With a soft clink, the Edo Kiriko was set down, catching the light and sparkling in the room.
Moye’s eyes widened at the glassware, and he stared at it intently, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the cup.
“What a beautiful container!”
“This is—”
“Wait! The solid weight of it, the beauty of its polished surface. Could this possibly be glass?”
“Correct.”
“But what about this transparency? How could such shapes, colors, and patterns be achieved? I-I can’t comprehend it! What artistry! It’s… magnificent!”
Glass is an extremely precious commodity in this world.
Moreover, it was all colored glass.
The mere existence of transparent glass captured Moye’s intense interest, and the kiriko glasswork possessed a jewel-like beauty.
Kiriko glasswork is one of Japan’s world-renowned crafts and is particularly famous for its Edo Kiriko and Satsuma Kiriko varieties.
Even Perry, who came to Japan during the Edo period, is said to have gasped in admiration at the kiriko glass. [T/N: Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794–1858) of the United States Navy, who was famous for his gunboat diplomacy during Japan’s closed country era.]
“Ooooooh, beautiful… So beautiful…”
The glass-making techniques that were introduced in Nagasaki are said to have reached Osaka around the mid-1700s, during the middle of the Edo period.
About half a century later, these techniques reached Edo, where they were refined and became the origin of Edo Kiriko.
“It seems you like it.”
“U-umu. Would you like to not only look at it, but also hold it and try using it?”
“Of course.”
Edo Kiriko is characterized by the dazzling light reflections and beautiful brilliance created by V-shaped cuts and hand polishing.
When filled with liquid, the patterns on the bottom appear to float up the sides, shining like jewels—a sight sometimes compared to a kaleidoscope.
It was a fitting gift for Moye.
“Mufu… Mufufufu… Hahahahahaha! This will be mine?!”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Nuhahahahahahaha!”
“Um…”
“Wahahahahahaha!”
“Hey…”
Wataru could only call out to him in a way that wouldn’t be rude.
Moye’s subordinates watched with resigned expressions, thinking, “Here we go again.” Wataru and the others could only remain silent until things calmed down.
Yuck. Suddenly, he wanted to go home.
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