NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17
Even a wasteland can suddenly turn into a grand city if there’s something special about it.
Like the barren mining town of Detroit from the American West or the desert-like LA that had gold.
My territory, Bio Village, also needs something special like those cities had.
And so, I chose seaweed.
“The village is too small to make salt, and we don’t really have any special competitiveness compared to rock salt.”
In the fantasy novels of this world, saying “Sea salt is amazing!” only works in places like Korea, China, or Japan, where rock salt isn’t available.
Because in Northeast Asia, getting salt meant boiling seawater after much hard work.
In our Albania Continent, massive salt mines are everywhere, so claiming that sea salt is particularly productive is hard to affirm.
On the other hand, seaweed can maintain a monopoly for quite a while.
Stealing farming technology isn’t easy either.
Besides, once you start harvesting, you can get tons of it every year at a low price, sitting on a money pile with a quick return on investment.
“Just like those disgusting lowland folks who are teachers to that country — selling seaweed endlessly…”
While lost in thought, someone tapped my shoulder.
Turning around, there stood the Duke.
“Your Grace.”
“What are you pondering so deeply? You’re not thinking about the newly acquired maid, are you?”
The Duke isn’t someone who’d be idle enough to dig into my maid situation.
But when he visits this mansion, I obviously brought Chloe along, and someone among the butlers probably relayed that information.
Just seeing this shows that my priority in his eyes is quite high.
“Now you’re finally acting like a boy of your age.”
There are probably three reasons why the Duke makes such jokes.
First, he genuinely feels a fair amount of closeness to me and wants to tease me.
Second, it expresses that, and lastly, he wants the servants in the mansion to know just how much I value this Fabio person.
Especially the last reason is the most important.
‘This story will spread like wildfire throughout the Duke’s faction tonight.’
Therefore, I must never take these jokes seriously.
Although it would be considered sexual harassment by 21st-century standards, here, it’s the Duke’s compassionate consideration.
“I’ve never even held hands with a girl, but being around such a beauty has led me to…”
“Why does a man have so many worries? Back in my day…”
The Duke imparted advice that it’s better to take a lad like me to bed for about three minutes and lay him down.
I’m not some saint, and honestly, it’s not like I’m devoid of temptation.
Chloe is mine, and I have the power and money to do so.
But I have no intention of doing that.
Using power to force myself upon the weak feels off for me as a 21st-century Korean.
‘This is a line I absolutely must uphold.’
“I apologize, Fabio. Seeing young friends like you reminds me of my youth.”
“Thank you for your concern. The reason I came to see you, Your Grace, is that I found a special herb from the East in our village and wanted to present it to you.”
I handed a box, outrageously luxurious for holding dried seaweed.
Upon receiving it, the Duke’s eyes widened immediately.
Wealthy old men seem to light up at anything that’s good for health, no matter the world.
“It doesn’t look that impressive. Isn’t it just dried hay?”
“I thought so too. However, this seaweed closely resembles a mysterious herb from the East noted in my family’s archives. So, I even experimented with its medicinal effects.”
At the same time, I pulled out a somewhat worn piece of paper with hasty scribbles of a book.
But I didn’t show the content.
A man like the Duke will likely catch on quickly.
What I should demonstrate right now is this:
That I can deceive even a person who knows me well, like the Duke, with meticulous lies.
Honestly, I’d want to keep this hidden from the Duke too, but prioritizing the Duke’s trust over my profit seems wiser.
Later, I plan to become a big shot that even the Duke, or the Emperor, can’t casually mess with.
Right now, my life is flimsy as a fly without the Duke’s protection.
Just the guys from the Blacksmith Guild would be itching to kill me, you know.
“Here are the results of the effectiveness experiment conducted with 30 women in Bio Village.”
After reading the report I handed over, the Duke’s eyes widened even more.
Then, his hand trembled slightly.
“None of them died? Is this true?”
“Yes, it is.”
In fact, seaweed doesn’t have any effects to reduce maternal mortality during childbirth.
Mothers who eat it during postpartum recovery just get healed faster.
However, those unaware of this would see the experiment’s result and the unfamiliar herb from the East and think this:
‘Eating seaweed prevents mothers from dying.’
If it could prevent the risk of death during childbirth, which terrifies nobles, wealthy folk, and serfs alike, they would go crazy over it.
“Having a child through love is quite a natural thing. However, we must prevent tragedies that happen during childbirth as much as possible.”
My main customers, the nobles and wealthy merchants, are highly unlikely to have married out of love.
Every marriage with a noble lady is merely a long-term affiliation between families.
But this long-term bond is like a lifeline among surviving nobles.
Now imagine the wife, the symbol of that bond, dying in childbirth.
The catastrophic loss of a political investment like that would be sheer tragedy.
The Duke wore a slightly bitter expression at my words.
“My daughter, Elra, who married Count Pecorino, passed away giving birth to Deus. It’s a common occurrence for any noble, as someone’s wife or someone nearby ends up in such unfortunate events. Giving birth is a blessing from Deus, but the risks are just as high.”
“My condolences, Your Grace.”
“Elra’s passing was when you were still a toddler. Don’t dwell on it too much.”
The Duke, a man in his sixties, likely had a daughter in her forties if alive.
But if she died twenty years ago… she must have passed away in her prime.
The Visconti Duke briefly fell into sadness but soon smiled.
“If the efficacy of this wondrous concoction from the East is true, it will sell like hotcakes. The fear of a wife dying during childbirth is, in some respects, scarier than a plague. If we can prevent that, would money really matter?”
As long as there’s a guarantee of prevention, nobles would invest a fortune to ensure the health of their wives.
Because losing a wife can mean losing the strongest marital alliance securing their family.
“Surely, what kind of man can’t even invest that much in his wife?”
Nobles on our continent are a bit unique.
Even if they marry for a political alliance rather than love, when seen in society with their legitimate wives, they all pretend to cherish them greatly.
Because it looks more splendid.
The postpartum recovery center I intend to create will likely run on a similar sentiment.
“I too shall purchase this Eastern herb. How much for it?”
“Five servings for one gold coin.”
Dried seaweed amounts to roughly 10 grams.
“This outstanding remedy costs merely one gold coin for five servings? That’s just 10 pounds!”
“I’m not selling it at a special price just for you, Your Grace.”
Our village folks saw seaweed as a seaweed nuisance and even avoided it during famines.
Thus, in reality, the cost price, if I exaggerate a little, is 0 won.
However, add in all those marketing strategies and slight stats distortions…
‘To the Duke, even five gold coins will seem cheap.’
Unlike the fabulously wealthy Duke, relatively poor nobles might think differently.
But at the very least, no noble or merchant would skimp on seaweed when birthing a child.
Now that I see their reactions clearly, it’s time to reveal the truth.
“Your Grace, in fact, this seaweed isn’t a particularly special herb. It’s merely a common seaweed that grows attached to rocks by the seaside.”
A considerable fury gathered on the Duke’s face.
“But its medicinal effects are entirely true. Furthermore, in the East, they actually consume this as medicine for mothers.”
“You’re not denying the truth that you didn’t lie?”
“I told you my life motto is to live long and prosper. I know my station well, and I have no intention to lie to you, Your Grace. That’s why I’m revealing my trade secrets right now.”
I aim to earn a lot of money for a long time.
So I can finally fondle Chloe and live the upper-class life I couldn’t enjoy back in Korea.
Furthermore, if I wish to see how far I can rise with my abilities, living long is a must.
“Seaweed is an excellent remedy for postpartum recovery. And to prevent maternal deaths, both the attending physician and the mother must thoroughly clean the surrounding area.”
Most causes of maternal deaths during childbirth in medieval times stemmed from infections like puerperal fever in unsanitary conditions.
“That’s why the scriptures repeatedly mandate cleansing the body. Because cleanliness is beneficial.”
Most illnesses can be avoided just by keeping clean.
This is a truth proven by modern medicine.
“I ran experiments in my territory to see if these teachings align, and the results have been a great success. Therefore, I ask for your support.”
The Duke chuckled softly upon hearing my words.
“How do you wish me to help?”
“Simply mention to the nobles that they can come to the hospital I’m building. If things go wrong, I’ll take responsibility with my life.”
The current probability of mothers dying during childbirth is about 10%.
Even just lowering that to around 8% will make our hospital get a brilliant reputation.
Why? Because that 2% appears massively significant to those giving birth.
But what if it decreases to around 1%?
Not attending our hospital would make one ridiculed.
“I propose to give the very first noble you recommend for free consultation and help with the entire childbirth process. Also, I’ll charge 40% less for seaweed and such.”
The noble who receives the introduction would have increased odds of surviving childbirth and all sorts of luxury treatments free of charge.
That noble would thus carry a hefty political debt to the Duke.
This attractive offer must strike the Duke, who is keen to topple Sforza.
“Let me ask you just one thing.”
The Duke stared into my eyes.
“Do you sincerely mean to wager your life?”
“Yes.”
“Fine, but do it this way.”
The Duke began drafting a contract right there and then.
“If anything goes wrong, you won’t need to sacrifice your life. However, you must devote your life and soul to me. For the endless glory of the Visconti Duke family.”
“Serving Your Grace to the best of my ability is my duty as a vassal.”
And I promptly signed the document right on the spot.
Then the Duke sent his cousin’s daughter to the hospital I built.
Of course, she gave birth safely.
Nobles, who are quite interested in childbirth matters, began to get excited over the news.