Chapter 811: Trash Can and Auction Invitation
A trash can with a lid.
It is an ordinary trash can that suppresses odors and makes trash unseen.
Yeah, that kind trash can.
Of course, the lid needs to be opened if you’re going to throw something there.
However, it’s a little inconvenient to open the lid when you are holding trash with both hands.
Then, I remembered the trash can whose lid can be opened when you step on a pedal.
The mechanism is not so difficult so I made one.
The trash can should not move position when the pedal is stepped on so I made it considering the strength of the mechanism. In the end, I made a big and heavy trash can.
I set it up in an empty room of the mansion.
I step on the pedal and the lid opens.
When I take my foot off the pedal, the lid closes.
Oh, not bad.
This will please the oni maids.
That’s what I thought when I showed it to the oni maids…..
But I was na?ve.
There are no plastic garbage bags in this world.
Therefore, garbage is directly put into the garbage cans.
The trash in the trash cans must be taken to the garbage dump where the slimes are.
In other words, the lid opener mechanism made the trash can heavier which made it inconvenient to carry.
The oni maids would not mind the weight but taking the trash from the trash cans to the dump site is one of the children’s chores.
It shouldn’t be heavy.
Also, the trash can need to be cleaned after the trash is thrown away.
Therefore, it was pointed out that it is difficult to wash if the lid is part of the trash can.
And cleaning trash cans is also the children’s chore.
I don’t want it to be hard to wash.
Mou. I was not thinking straight.
Then, I realized how much I appreciate plastic trash bags.
Is the trash can whose lid can be opened if you step on a pedal a failure?
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No, I must not give up.
Humanity developed because they did not give up.
Thus, I only need to develop it.
Fufufu.
I already have an idea for improvement.
And it’s not so difficult.
I just need to fit a smaller trash can to fit in this one.
Instead of plastic garbage bags, just use a garbage can.
It will be easier to take out the trash and wash it.
How about now!
……
They don’t want to move it without the lid.
It’s smelly after all.
I mustn’t forget the original purpose of the lid.
Okay, let’s get a lid for the smaller trash can.
The lid for the smaller trash can can be placed behind the trash can for everyday use.
You only need to take it out when you’re going to throw the trash away.
How’s that?
「I’m a little uncomfortable opening it with my foot but……it’s definitely easier.」
「Once you get used to it, opening the lid by hand feels like a hassle.」
「I wish all trash cans are like that.」
The product was well received by the oni maids and they wanted to increase their numbers.
They want to install some in the kitchen of the mansion.
That place inevitably generates garbage.
For the time being, I made three of them and installed them in the kitchen of my residence.
It’s good that they are happy with it.
The problem was that many adults came to the kitchen to pedal the lids as if it was a weird new game.
We need to make more trash cans.
Also, although this is not a problem, the intelligence boxes working at the kitchen treated the trash cans as rivals.
The oni maids praised the boxes for their recent hard work.
That’s a good thing.
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When the trash cans, whose lids can be opened with a pedal, became popular in the village, they were called pakapaka.
That’s when Michael-san came to Big Tree Village.
He came here to invite me to an auction.
We had held an auction in Village Five before but I heard that was an unreasonably scheduled auction.
An auction is something that is planned and invitations are sent formally so it will take a long time unlike the previous one. This auction will be done to show how auctions are supposed to be.
That’s a well planned and long scheduled auction for me, are you saying that the previous one was rushed?
「Yes, it is. This auction is scheduled for mid-spring next year in the royal capital. Also, the exhibition will be progressing soon until the time of auction comes.」
Mid spring next year? That’s about a year away, right?
Also, does the exhibition really need to be that long?
「That’s because we will also be accepting bids for the auction items.」
Ah, so you’re not going to show all items from the start?
「There’s that and in addition, we will form a trading caravan that will go around various places to show the auctioned items and seek more auction participants. In the previous auction, we only managed to do that in Village Five. This time, we plan to visit around 10 cities.」
Heh.
「Thus, I’m hoping that village chief can offer some items for the auction as well.」
Ah, I have no problem with that.
I’ll discuss it with everyone and put them up for the auction.
Would it be alright if I leave the rest after that to Michael-san?
「Please, leave it to me. When summer arrives, the auction merchant caravan will start moving so if possible, get them ready by then. Well, even if it is late, we have means to transport them so there is no need to hurry.」
That helps.
「No no, actually, the auction item exhibition aside, I have a favor to ask you.」
A favor?
「Yes, I was wondering if you could give a speech before the caravan departs.」
I don’t mind giving a speech but…..
Is that really necessary?
「Not really. However, it would be helpful if influential people come as the level of the auction and the caravan will increase.」
If that is the case, wouldn’t it be better to ask the demon king or someone like him instead of me?
「If village chief comes, we will have all the heavyweights of the kingdom there. And I hate to say this but……」
?
「Prada-sama will be part of the auction caravan as the one in charge of Village Five. Joro-shi will be cooperating with the caravan too so Beton-san will be accompanying them as an escort. Prada-sama and Beton-san. It’s not that I don’t trust them but I hope village chief can remind them that you’re keeping an eye on them……」
I see.
Prada and Beton-san huh.
I don’t really consider the two of them as troublemakers but it’s true that they caused some trouble.
It is understandable for Michael-san to be wary of them.
Understood.
I’ll schedule a visit to the caravan.
「Thank you very much and sorry for the trouble. I’ll thank you with some seafood.」
I’ll be waiting for them.
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After Michael-san left, Loo arrived.
「I heard you were going to give them a speech.」
Yeah, there’s no problem with that, right?
I’m going to make sure that I’m escorted by the right people.
「I’m not worried about that. If you’re going to the royal capital, please go check on Alfred and the others.」
Yes, of course.
Alfred, Ursa, Tiselle, and Torain.
Ah, I should check on Gol, Sil, and Bron too.
「Tier and Ann are worried so please focus on Tiselle and Torain this time.」
Right.
I must focus on the two of them.
For now, according to the report letter I received, there’s no problem……
Ah, by the way, what happened to that one?
Ehto, the top guy of the elective parliament.
It seems that he is a relative of the demon king but there are people involved who are dissatisfied with the current status quo.
I had heard about this from Governor Ifrus of Shashaato City during the parade outside the village and he had warned me about it. However, I had this thing with Torain so I ended up leaving it to Loo and Tier.
「Him? Not a problem.」
Really?
「He just wanted to get those who were dissatisfied with the current situation pay up for the travel expenses to the royal capital. He is currently himself in Village Five and Shashaato City.」
Ehto.
「I heard that he even participated in the parade with the residents of Shashaato City.」
……
W-well, I guess he’s not bothered with my participation in the parade, right?
「I was going to make a report on him after I’d done a little more research on his relationship with the demon king but if you’re curious, I’ll hurry it up.」
Ah, I don’t mind, you don’t have to.
I’m just wondering what happened.
Take your time.
「Understood. Well, I’m sure the demon king himself will bring him to this village soon so I’ll prepare it before he comes.」
He’s coming to the village.
Then, we should welcome him.
「Ahahaha, let’s give him the usual welcome.」
Of course.
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Conversation about the trash can after installation.
Angels: Can’t we just let a one arm golem to open the lid?
High Elves: Why can’t we just use magic to open it?
Dwarves: Not everyone of us can use magic.
Civil Servant Girls: Step……open. It’s kind of fun.
Beastkins: Don’t make it flap unnecessarily. Let me make it flap for you.
Mountain Elf: It became popular just because you can step on it……did we lose to simplicity?
Oni Maid: What makes it better is that it’s safe and doesn’t explode.