Chapter 405: A Busy Deputy

　After enjoying a day of shopping, Tauro and his friends headed to the town mayor’s residence with Zion, who was wearing the cute blue beastman one-piece dress they had purchased.

　When I arrived at the town mayor’s residence, I showed the gatekeeper my certificate as an inspector of the territory and explained my business.

“This is, Territorial Inspector! Please come in!”

　The gatekeeper, surprised by the child Tauro’s title, opened the gate and let him through onto the premises.

　Once inside the mayor’s mansion, a maid ushered him into the reception room.

　

　The maid told them that the deputy was busy at the moment and asked them to wait a moment.

“…… looks like It’s a lot more work than I thought.”

　Tauro turns to Zion.

“Yes. ……. I saw someone running by with papers, they seemed pretty busy.”

　Zion agreed with Tauro, also sensing the busy tension.

　While they were having this conversation, after a short while the deputy appeared.

“I am sorry to have kept you waiting, Tauro-san. I have heard about you from my lord.”

“Sorry to bother you when you’re busy. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about the flaming crab farm.”

“Actually, this is the first time we’ve done this, so we’re still feeling our way around and not sure what kind of facilities we should build, how to cultivate them, and how grown they should be before shipping them out… What should we do?”

　The deputy probably wanted to hear from Tauro, the one who came up with the idea.

　The deputy asked Tauro, clinging to him.

“Now, from the facility side, please start by using earth magic to create a foundation underground. Flame crabs can also burrow underground, so you will need to use earth magic to harden the groun as well–“

　Tauro began to explain everything in detail to the deputy.

　The deputy said, “I see!” and began taking notes.

　After a complete explanation of the facilities, the next step is on how to farm the crabs. These Flame Crabs have a strong reproductive ability, so there is no problem even if they are left alone for a certain period of time.

　However, the important thing here is the Flame Crab’s greatest weapon, and its most troublesome, its large left claw.

“—Please cut off these scissors once during the growth process. Don’t worry, it won’t kill you. Normally, the left scissors will grow large and be able to send fireballs when they reach adulthood, but this is not possible while they’re still growing. By cutting them off in the process, it takes time for them to grow back, so they are mostly harmless during that time. You can cut them off again before shipping, just to be sure, and then tie up the right scissors and legs so that the creature can be shipped safely alive—”

　Tauro had hunted so many Flame Crabs while he was in the city of Caxart that he had grown sick of them, so he was very familiar with their ecology.

　Tauro was able to supplement what the deputy and his subordinates did not understand and were feeling their way around.

“I see! Thank you very much! Now we can move forward with the aquaculture facility plans!”

　The deputy smiled with his bearish face.

　It’s clear that he’s been working hard without sleep for a while now.

“Oh, and there’s also a new crop, called the ‘soy sauce fruit’—“

“You know about that, too?!”

　The deputy was not sure of what to do when he was handed this unknown seed by his lord, Count Graunewald.

“This one is best grown near a salt lake.”

“Next to a salt lake? Won’t that expose them to salt damage?”

　The deputy had a point.

　In fact, choosing to grow crops near a salt lake as a location is difficult because the fields can be damaged by salt-laden lake water entering the fields or by exposure of the fields to salty winds.

　The lord of the manor, Count Grauniut, had recommended the seeds of an unknown crop, so they were considering locations, but they were surprised at the suggestion to plant them near the salt lake, which they had initially ruled out.

“There’s no need to worry about that. Actually, this plant can only grow in that kind of land, so please place it near the salt lake.”

“Is that so? ─ ─ If it is by the salt lake, there is plenty of land available, so we can find a suitable site right away! That’s a big help!”

　The deputy  also felt relieved.

　He must have been anxious about trying aquaculture, a field they had no experience in, and cultivating unknown plants.

　He was visibly relieved.

“I should have said something before I left too, I’m sorry.”

　Tauro apologized to the deputy when he saw him like that.

“No, please look up, Tauro-sama. Now that the two difficult issues have been resolved, my work will progress smoothly. Thank you very much!”

　The deputy thanked him from the bottom of his heart, handed the note to his servant, and immediately got to work.

“That’s good to hear. By the way, is my father in the capital now?”

　Tauro asked where his father was.

“Yes. I believe he is currently in the capital. The lord is quite busy. I would also appreciate it if he could appoint a mayor for this city of Caxart as soon as possible. …… Ah, sorry, it’s not that I’m complaining, but I used to do clerical work for my lord, and this is my first time as a deputy so I’m at a bit of a loss.”

　It seemed that the deputy had indeed been appointed on short notice.

“I see …… My father also seemed to be having some trouble with the appointment. I’ll let him know next time I see him.”

　Tauro apologized on behalf of his father.

“Until the decision is made, I will do my best to fulfill my duties as a deputy, and I ask that you please convey my best regards to him!”

　The deputy was intimidated by Tauro’s humble attitude and renewed his resolve.

　Afterwards, Tauro discussed some business matters with the deputy before leaving the mayor’s residence.

 “The deputy, he’s just a nice, earnest man, and I’d like to help him decide on the next town Mayor as soon as possible. My father seemed to be having a hard time choosing the right candidate, so it may be some time before he can get back to his clerical work. ……”

　Tauro was worried about the deputy.

“ Tauro-sama, will you be heading to the capital next?’

　zion asked, wondering what I was thinking.

“The capital? …… I guess so. It might be a good idea to go ……. We don’t have to stick to this place as a base. I’ll bring it up with Ankh and ragune when we get back.”

　Tauro agreed with zion’s words and returned to the inn.

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