TN: Please read my translations only on my website nyx-translation.com since I never give my permission to any site to host my translations. And if you like my translations, please support this site on Ko-fi, and join our Patreon to read up to 12 chapters ahead for this novel!
Enjoy~
TL: ALT
Chapter 24 – Moye’s Astonishment
What will Wataru show Moye this time?
Moye was looking forward to their meeting.
When they first met, he hadn’t expected anything.
For Moye, who had seen rare items from every era and place, truly unusual and intriguing things were rare.
He thought it was just another master who cared about his slaves and wanted to recover a former slave’s belongings.
That impression was swiftly overturned, leaving Moye utterly astonished.
Ever since then, Moye couldn’t take his eyes off Wataru’s merchandise.
One after another, Wataru brought forth countless rare items—things Moye had never seen or heard of before.
Wataru never revealed his origins, but he seemed to come from a foreign land brimming with novelty.
Now, Wataru placed a glass object on the table with a shape Moye had never seen before.
Five pieces, each a different size, resembled two upside-down funnels joined together.
Inside the glass was beautiful sand.
The color of the sand differed for each size.
The utterly transparent, crystal-clear glass was beautiful, but its meaning was unclear.
Still, this was a gift from Wataru, who had repeatedly defied Moye’s expectations.
He wouldn’t make the mistake of underestimating it at first glance.
“What is this?”
“These are hourglasses.”
“Hourglasses? Hmm. I’ve heard of sundials and water clocks. Can you actually measure time with these?”
“Yes, you can. I understand that you use sundials to tell the time and live by a rough sense of time synchronized with the town bells. That’s why waiting for long periods at meetings is normal.”
“So that’s not how it works?”
Even the extremely busy Moye has a much more relaxed sense of time than modern Japanese people do.
For meetings that decide matters of national importance and that bring many people together, some degree of time coordination is done.
Even so, if someone was delayed by business and the minimum number was reached, the meeting would proceed. Those arriving late would then have to catch up on the proceedings.
“In my country, this hourglass can measure units of five minutes. Mariel.”
“Yes, Lord Moye. Excuse me. I will turn this hourglass upside down.”
“Hmm… The sand flows through the narrow central tube bit by bit.”
“Yes, this spot is commonly called the ‘wasp’s waist.’ The sand always flows at a constant rate. The time it takes for all the sand to flow out is always the same.”
“Oh…! I see.”
“Sand from higher up falls downward. This difference in size allows the hourglass to measure minutes with precision.”
Moye looked at the hourglass.
Indeed, being able to measure consistent time would be convenient for planning and executing various tasks.
It would be especially useful for tracking progress during training.
That said, a sundial could technically do the same.
Short durations are tricky to grasp.
“The beauty of this hourglass is that you can visually see, at a glance, how much time remains.”
“So you can compare the workload to the remaining time and gauge your pace.”
“And the fact that it’s enjoyable to watch is also important.”
It’s just sand trickling down silently.
The upper container is packed with sand that gradually decreases in volume, while the lower container slowly fills and increases in height.
Sssshhh… sssshhh…
“Huh!? By the time I realized it, I found myself staring at the sand, completely absorbed. What is this!? It’s just sand falling, yet it’s fun! Surprisingly fun!” Moye thought to himself.
But time passes quickly when you watch it while chatting.
Not a single grain of sand remained in the upper container.
Ah, it’s over.
A sense of loneliness welled up in his chest.
“Hm, it’s finished.”
“Yes, now please turn it upside down. As long as you don’t handle it roughly, the top, bottom, and frame are made of wood, so it’s fine.”
“Oh! So this is how you flip the hourglass over and over.”
“Yes, this one measures five minutes, but we also have three-, ten-, and thirty-minute versions, as well as a one-hour version.”
“I see. You choose based on the task.”
“Just select the hourglass that matches your rough estimate for the job at hand, then give it a flip.”
“Hmmm. Like this. Flip it. Oh! It’s quite good to turn multiple at once, too!”
This is indeed quite good.
It’s also easy to show others.
“I’ll show this to Etgar,” Moye thought.
He seems idle, leaving all the work to his subordinates. Because he’s idle, he’ll surely become engrossed staring blankly at this hourglass.
Moye grinned, already picturing the frustrated look on Etgar’s face.
“Next is this one.”
“Water inside a square, transparent glass? There’s something with a peculiar hue. Almost like ink, but…”
“Your keen eye is impressive. This uses special ink. Please turn it upside down yourself.”
“Uh, umm…”
At Wataru’s prompting, Moye turned it upside down.
Then, from the bottom, through the wasp-like waist, glossy red ink droplets began to rise one after another.
“This is an oil clock, isn’t it?”
“I see! It’s delightful to watch! Just watching those little droplets bubble up and pop somehow cleanses the soul!”
“Place a light behind it and look.”
“Whoa! The inside reflects the light, sparkling and shining like stars. Pop, pop, puff, puff, pop, pop, pop, pop. Oh, how mysterious. I understand the simple mechanism, yet I’m drawn to it and can’t look away.”
Poko poko puku puku poko poko puku poku poku poku…
“Huh!? I’ve lost track of time again, mesmerized by it. No, but this…!”
“I believe it’s a masterpiece that allows you to enjoy each fleeting moment, not just measure time.”
“Mm-hmm! Excellent! Excellent!”
The hourglass is captivating, but this oil clock delights the eyes even more.
Moye’s eyes sparkled like a child’s as he was mesmerized by the oil’s rising glow.
The way the tiny droplets swayed, moved, popped, and bubbled was utterly fascinating.
He could not only admire it himself but also show it off to the connoisseurs in the royal capital.
Moye couldn’t help but break into a smile as he imagined the future.
“This clock is exceptional because it enables the most efficient way of working for the human body.”
“Oh? What do you mean? Explain it in detail.”
“Yes, just as an exceptional warrior like Aire cannot fight without rest or a Black Wolf like Cloche cannot run to the ends of the earth without breaks, sustained excellence requires them. This holds true not only for physical labor, but also for mental work.”
“Indeed. I, too, feel my mind grow foggy when I push myself for too long. Lately, when that happens, I’ve taken to drinking the coffee you brought.”
“Thank you for your patronage.”
At first, the coffee tasted bitter, like medicine. But as Moye grew accustomed to it, he began to appreciate its peculiar flavor. Before he knew it, he was hooked.
The aroma tickling his nostrils was delightful, and the hidden sweetness within the bitterness was delicious. It cleared his head wonderfully.
The only problem was that it was a bit too expensive.
“I recommend using this hourglass to separate your work hours from your rest hours. It’s terribly presumptuous of me, but you are extremely busy. That busyness will likely continue. Occasionally watch the flowing sand to rest your mind and body.”
“Hmm…”
“What? This fellow wasn’t just entertaining me with rare goods; he was actually concerned for my well-being!”
To Moye, Wataru had been nothing more than a merchant bringing in novelty items. Yet, for the first time, Moye felt genuine warmth and curiosity toward Wataru himself.
What kind of man was he?
Why had he suddenly appeared in Southern Ship Town?
Compared to other masters, he seemed to take a particular interest in slaves. What brought him joy?
What would please this man most, making him eager to bring in new rare items?
Using people well means giving them what they desire.
Give status to someone who craves money, and they won’t be pleased.
Give great wealth to someone who desires power or status, and they won’t be pleased.
The official merchant position was intended for Wataru, but even more so for Moye.
So, what does this man desire?
He sought a slave’s sword, the safety of his slave’s parents, and an item that would grant him the ability to transform and conceal his slave’s identity.
As Moye began to ponder these matters, he broke into a broad smile and shouted.
“Indeed! As splendid as ever! I am satisfied!”
If you like my translations, please support me on Ko-Fi and subscribe my Patreon to read up to 12 chapters ahead for this novel!