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Chapter 7 – Four Liquor Vessels and the Reactions of Etgar and Moye
It had been a while since Wataru had visited the royal capital.
Although he could travel instantly through the gate, his activities were centered around Osaka or his base in Southern Ship Town.
The royal capital could be broadly divided into two areas: one where commoners lived and another where nobles resided.
Wataru and his companions walked through the noble district, which was separated from the other area by city walls.
There was no need to put on airs this time, so they weren’t using an expensive rented carriage.
The major difference from the commoner district was that each building was a stately mansion, and there were no traditional shops.
“Basically, nobles don’t go to shops themselves. Their personal merchants come to them, and if they want something made, they summon the craftsmen. The shops probably expand their warehouses instead of dedicating space to storefronts.”
“That’s a whole different world from mine.”
“I believe you could enter if you truly wished to, Master.”
“Give me a break. Nobles have their own troubles, I suppose. Hearing Mariel’s stories and seeing how Lord Moye lives… I couldn’t imitate that.”
Wataru had no intention of taking on the responsibilities of a noble.
Whether the various privileges that came with that responsibility held any appeal was a difficult question. More than anything, he disliked the loss of freedom it entailed.
“Well, we agreed to meet in the capital, but this is an incredibly grand mansion.”
“The duke’s family owns extensive grounds within the capital.”
“I smell a seasoned hand.”
“As expected of the military-oriented Rosen family. One can’t let their guard down.”
The Rosen family’s mansion was situated in the central part of the noble district, near the royal castle. Its size and grandeur were commensurate with its location.
Well-trained soldiers stood at attention before the imposing gate.
When Wataru and the others announced their names, they were immediately allowed inside, likely because word had already been passed.
They were led into the reception room, a spacious area.
For nobles, meeting people must constitute most of their work—even Lord Moye was no exception. In any case, the reception room was vast and magnificent.
The spacious table and chairs were meticulously crafted from beautiful materials and adorned with elegant decorations. They were a pleasure to behold and comfortable to the touch.
Paintings adorned the walls, and sculptures and other artworks were arranged to delight visitors’ eyes.
A tall man was conversing with Lord Moye in the room.
It was obvious at a glance that it was Etgar.
He radiated a clear presence.
His defining features were his silky blond hair, sharp gaze, and full goatee, which had grown long enough to reach his chest.
He had a broad frame and was clearly very well-trained.
His flashy attire, adorned with glittering embroidery in near-primary colors, was likely the current fashion in this country.
Wataru’s best suit should be finished soon, but it isn’t ready yet.
Even though he wore a suit today, the colors were subdued by the standards of this country.
Aire and Cloche stood like attendants, quietly alert to their surroundings. Now that they had established a connection with Lord Moye, the tension felt less intense than when they had approached him without any prior link.
“Duke, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Wataru, Lord Moye’s official merchant.”
“So you are Wataru. I hear you supply rare goods to Lord Moye. I hope today brings a favorable transaction as well.”
His voice must have been honed through countless shouts during training and on the battlefield.
It resonated powerfully.
The sound reverberated through Wataru’s body.
“I look forward to seeing what you bring,” Moye said.
“I cannot promise it will meet your expectations, but I have prepared the finest goods I could muster.”
“Excuse me.”
As Wataru bowed, Mariel stepped forward.
Taking the packages Cloche had been carrying, she began arranging them one by one on the table.
“I understand the duke favors fine liquors, so I’ve prepared items to complement them. First, the vessels. I’ve brought four types: lacquerware, silverware, pewterware, and copperware.”
“These are all different in material and shape. Each is beautiful, aren’t they?”
“Hey, Wataru. You brought more variety than you did with me!”
“Fufu, what’s that supposed to mean? It looks like you only have one!”
Etgar gazed at the four drinking vessels arranged before him with keen interest.
Moye seemed displeased that there was more variety than he had.
“With Lord Moye, I could anticipate your preferences and prepare accordingly. Unfortunately, I couldn’t obtain detailed information about the duke, so I had to gather these with great effort.”
“Is that so… Damn it, I’m jealous. I want one too!”
What a child.
Moye really is just like Moye-Moye.
Wataru thought he was starting to get the vibe here.
Suppressing his inner dissatisfaction, Wataru began explaining the vessels.
“This is lacquerware. Look at the beautiful, glossy grain. It’s not just hollowed-out wood. The surface is coated with multiple layers of a special sap called lacquer.”
“I thought it was simple, but it’s surprisingly profound. Hmm, it gives off a warm impression. The even grain pattern resembles the tree rings themselves.”
“Yes, only a small amount can be made from a single tree.”
“I’m really taking a liking to this!”
“I’m not so sure. My tastes just don’t align with Lord Etgar’s.”
“Hmph. Just the idle chatter of someone who loves flashy things and can’t see the essence of things.”
If left alone, they’d likely start arguing.
Moye should be here to protect Wataru, but it’s unclear who’s actually looking after him this way.
“Next, I’ll explain. This is silverware. Techniques like hammering the silver surface (forging) and carving through it (engraving) create its delicate beauty. Drinking from silverware is said to enhance the flavor due to the composition of the vessel, making it a prized item among drinkers.”
“Hmm, we have silver tableware too, but this look is unique! It’s not smooth on purpose, with added patterns? The inside is polished so well that you can see your reflection!”
“Yes, some artisans apply lacquer or layer other alloys, but this time, we’ve made pieces using only silver.”
Etgar, observing it intently, let out a sigh of admiration.
Moye, watching beside him, lifted his hips and stared at the silverware, his eyes shining brightly.
“Wataru! I like this one too! It’s a truly fine vessel!”
“Lord Moye, since this is a business deal with the duke, I can’t comply with such a request.”
“Guh! Are you just not interested? Can I take it then!?”
“No, this piece has a rather profound charm in its rough, unpolished surface. I’m sorry, Lord Moye, but I’d like to keep it.”
“Gnnnnuununnn!”
Moye writhed and let out a sound like a ferocious dog.
The power dynamic wasn’t such that he could take it by force.
But he wanted it. His attitude conveyed his intense desire.
Etgar gazed at Moye with amused, almost delighted eyes.
These two have quite a dynamic.
Best not to get too deeply involved.
Wataru continued with the next introduction.
“Next is pewterware. This tin-based metal is soft and offers a pleasant mouthfeel, as well as softening the flavor of liquor.”
“It feels cold to the touch.”
“Yes, tin conducts heat quickly, making it excellent for chilling liquor.”
“The craftsmanship is superb, too! Beautiful!”
“Lord Moye, I’m afraid I’ve taken a liking to this one, too.”
“Guh…”
Osaka’s pewterware is one of the city’s traditional crafts, having been produced since the Edo period, alongside Sakai-made cutlery.
It is said to produce about seventy percent of Japan’s pewterware.
This time, he prepared pieces decorated with a hammered finish technique, where the surface is hammered to create a textured pattern.
“Finally, we have copperware. Copper can be mixed with tin or silver, as mentioned earlier, and its color can change remarkably depending on the mixture. This time, we’ve prepared liquor vessels made purely of copper. Their deep indigo color should complement any liquor’s color.”
“A subdued, elegant color. This one suits my taste best of all!”
“You like them all, don’t you!”
“Fuhahaha, it’s because the products are excellent! Forgive me!”
Another major feature of copperware is its high thermal conductivity.
Among metals, copper conducts heat exceptionally quickly and evenly.
This rapid heat transfer is a significant reason why chefs use copper frying pans.
“Hey, Wataru! Don’t you have one for me?!
“……My apologies. This is the only one available.”
“Nwaaaaah! This is ridiculous! How could this happen?!”
While it’s unfortunate to see Moye in distress, unlike sugar, Wataru never intended to sell these in bulk.
People find value in something precisely because it’s rare.
There’s a big difference between being the only one in the world and being one of two.
“Now then, since you enjoy liquor, I’ve prepared some drinking vessels.”
“Indeed, these are all rare and splendid pieces. I have various vessels myself, but I’ve never seen any like these.”
“Thank you.”
Sorry, Moye. It was good having you here.
For a collector, nothing stirs the desire for exclusivity quite like seeing someone else react with such intense longing that it borders on agony.
In a way, Moye was providing the most powerful support possible. Wataru thought he’d have to thank Moye properly another time.
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