Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 405: A Busy Deputy
After enjoying their shopping trip, Tauro and Zion headed toward the former mayor’s residence.
Zion was wearing the cute blue one-piece dress they had purchased, designed to accommodate beastfolk ears and tails.
At the gate, Tauro presented his territorial-inspector certificate and explained the purpose of the visit.
“T-Territorial Inspector! Please enter!”
The guard was startled that such a young boy held the office, but immediately opened the gate.
A maid led Tauro and Zion into a reception room. She apologized and explained that the deputy was occupied, asking them to wait.
“It seems he’s even busier than I expected,” Tauro said.
“Yes. I saw someone running through the corridor with an armful of documents,” Zion replied. “Everyone appears overwhelmed.”
The tension inside the residence made the pressure on the temporary administration obvious.
After a short wait, the deputy hurried into the room.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, Tauro-sama. My lord has told me about you.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt your work. I came to discuss the Flaming Crab cultivation facility.”
“That would be an enormous help,” the deputy said with visible relief. “None of us has attempted anything like this before. We don’t know what kind of enclosure to build, how the crabs should be raised, or at what stage they can safely be shipped.”
He leaned forward as though clinging to Tauro’s arrival.
“Begin by using earth magic to create a hardened foundation beneath the entire enclosure,” Tauro explained. “Flaming Crabs can burrow, so the ground itself must be reinforced or they’ll escape underneath the walls.”
The deputy repeatedly murmured, “I see,” while taking detailed notes.
Once the facility design was clear, Tauro moved on to the actual cultivation process.
Flaming Crabs reproduced quickly, so their population would increase even without complicated intervention. The greatest problem was their oversized left claw—the weapon that allowed an adult specimen to launch fireballs.
“Remove the left claw once while each crab is still growing,” Tauro instructed. “Doing so won’t kill it. The claw normally becomes large enough to produce fireballs only after maturity, and cutting it during growth delays that development.”
“Before shipping an adult crab, remove the left claw again as a precaution. Then bind the right claw and the legs so it can be transported alive without injuring anyone.”
Tauro had hunted so many Flaming Crabs during his previous stay in Caxart that he had become thoroughly familiar with their behavior and anatomy.
His explanation filled nearly every gap that had prevented the deputy and his subordinates from finalizing the project.
“Thank you! We can finally proceed with the facility plans,” the deputy said, his broad face breaking into a relieved smile.
The exhaustion around his eyes showed that he had been working with little sleep.
“There’s also the new crop called the soy-sauce-fruit plant,” Tauro added.
“You know about that as well?”
Count Graunewald had sent the unknown seeds without detailed cultivation instructions, leaving the deputy uncertain where to plant them.
“They should be grown close to the salt lake,” Tauro said.
“Close to the lake? Would the soil and wind not cause salt damage?”
It was a reasonable concern. Ordinary farmland near a salt lake could be ruined by saline water or salt carried on the wind.
For precisely that reason, the administration had already rejected the lakeside sites.
“That won’t be a problem. The plant requires strongly saline soil. Please establish the fields near the lake.”
“Is that so? There’s plenty of unused land there, so we can select a location immediately. That solves another major problem.”
The deputy’s shoulders visibly relaxed.
He had been ordered to begin both monster cultivation and the production of an unknown crop—two projects far outside his previous experience.
“I should’ve left proper instructions before departing Caxart,” Tauro said. “I’m sorry.”
“Please raise your head, Tauro-sama. Now that these two uncertainties have been resolved, the work can proceed smoothly. You have my sincere gratitude.”
The deputy handed his notes to an attendant and immediately gave several instructions.
“I’m glad I could help. Is my father currently in the territorial capital?” Tauro asked.
“Yes. Count Graunewald should be there at present, although he’s extremely busy.”
The deputy hesitated before continuing.
“I’d be grateful if a permanent mayor for Caxart could be appointed soon. I don’t mean to complain. I previously handled clerical work for His Excellency, and this is my first appointment as a deputy administrator. There are many matters in which I lack experience.”
His temporary appointment had clearly been made with little preparation.
“My father also seemed to be struggling to choose a suitable candidate,” Tauro said. “I’ll speak to him the next time we meet.”
“Until a decision is made, I’ll continue fulfilling these duties to the best of my ability. Please convey my respects to His Excellency.”
The deputy seemed almost alarmed by Tauro’s apologetic manner and renewed his determination.
After discussing several additional administrative matters, Tauro and Zion left the residence.
“He’s an earnest and decent man,” Tauro said as they walked. “I want to help settle the mayoral appointment quickly. My father has been having difficulty selecting the right person, so the deputy may otherwise remain trapped in this position for some time.”
“Will we go to the territorial capital next, Tauro-sama?” Zion asked.
“The territorial capital…” Tauro considered the suggestion. “Yes, that may be best. We don’t have to remain based in Caxart. I’ll discuss it with Ankh and Ragune when we return.”
With their next destination taking shape, they headed back to the inn.