Chapter 155: The Color Blue
“Oh. Things are steadily coming together.”
On the island, timber and other materials were being transported and stacked in the barn.
“In addition, anything that can be left out in the rain is being moved closer to the site,” Kin said as we walked around, listening to his explanation.
Although most of the work was still in the preparatory stages of processing stone and timber, it was clear that progress was being made. The collapsed walls had been removed, and repairs on the original fortress’s dock had begun.
We had also repaired the island’s pier, but it was easier to bring in heavy items directly. Since we were planning to utilize the intact walls and floors, the construction period should be shorter than starting from scratch. We kept the daily wages low but offered higher performance-based rewards, hoping the craftsmen would work quickly and efficiently to earn more.
“We’re having the residents build stone walls in the designated areas.”
The island was mostly composed of white limestone cliffs, with volcanic ash forming a layer of soil on top. There were few flat areas, so we were having them build stone retaining walls to stabilize the slopes and create level ground.
There were hardly any trees, so we couldn’t expect much leaf mold, but the soil was nutrient-rich and well-draining. No wonder there were so many vineyards around here. Still, I wanted to ensure we could at least be self-sufficient, so we needed to work hard on transforming the land.
I also wanted a big tree for the view from my house.
“By the way, what about all that glass in Barn Ten…?”
“Oh, that’s for the windows. The red cloth attached indicates where it should be used.”
We had locked the barn containing the glass for safety.
“With that size and minimal distortion, it must have cost a fortune.”
“What kind of capital do you have…?”
I had worked hard to make it.
“Spending money is fine, but summer here can get unbearably hot, you know?”
“That won’t be a problem.”
As Silver said, the windows in our buildings were small and had shutters. They seemed more for ventilation than for letting in sunlight. It was likely that larger panes of glass couldn’t be made.
However, the glass we had produced had excellent insulation properties. Moreover, the glass that Van helped with was not only insulated but also stronger than stone walls—an unfair advantage. The red cloth was a marker for Van’s glass.
I had been thinking about building a greenhouse at home, but that seemed unlikely now. Well, if I installed a fireplace inside, it might stay warm? I would think about it later. In any case, the island was warm enough that a greenhouse wasn’t necessary.
“We’re ahead of schedule, and there are plenty of craftsmen.”
“We plan to assign tasks by section to prevent any blueprints from falling into the hands of bandits later.”
“After the handover, we can put up grates to block off the pathways.”
No need to be that strict.
“Thank you, here’s your reward.”
I handed over some coins and a bag of sweets, thinking how fitting it was for someone in the sneaking profession.
As usual, Silver ignored the coin bag and quickly secured the bag of sweets. Today’s treat was sesame stick pies.
“Is it possible to double this amount of sweets?”
Kin asked with a slightly puzzled smile.
“What? Eating too much will make you fat, you know?”
I was against replacing meals with sweets.
“After sharing one, Auro seemed to want a taste too.”
“I can’t tell if it’s good or not yet, but I’m intrigued. You can lower my share of the reward a bit.”
“You can lower mine by the same amount.”
Ah, so it was for both of them. I had intended to give them both a share all along, but I had noticed that Silver was monopolizing it.
“That much is fine.”
I reached into my shoulder bag and pulled out the sweets.
“There are two bags, so share one with the island’s children.”
So far, everything was going according to plan, aside from a few things speeding up—this was a good sign.
“What are you going to do next?”
“I’m going to return to Naruadeid, take a little stroll, and buy some fabric. I want to make summer clothes.”
“I’ll come with you.”
For some reason, Silver insisted on tagging along, arranging for the boatman. Well, he was just an old man from the village.
“I’m not sure I can resist my own gluttony.”
Hey, be an adult!
It seemed he was trying to resist the temptation of the sweets meant for the children. Kin looked quite conflicted too.
We walked through Naruadeid with Silver. It was supposed to be reluctantly, but he seemed to know the place inside and out, guiding me without missing a beat.
Impressive. I felt like someone with Spirit Possession had baked cookies could easily bribe him.
The current trends were materials for dresses and shoes, jewelry, and food. Apparently, some hero had requested them, and neighboring countries were trying to curry favor by procuring them.
As a result, rare fabrics and lace were priced sky-high, but ordinary cloth was reasonably priced and available in various types.
“This blue over here is dull.”
“Only Spirit Possessed dyers can produce vibrant blue. If you know of any vivid dyes, you could make a fortune.”
Silver’s demeanor changed when in public, speaking politely and even carrying my things.
“Is that so?”
“Lapis lazuli, which produces the blue used in paintings, is more expensive than gold, and the figures draped in blue in those paintings are mostly nobles. While vibrant blue clothing is coveted, the blue used in paintings cannot be used as fabric dye due to being a mineral, and there are few dyers capable of dyeing it, making it even rarer.”
When dyed by a Spirit Possessed dyer, even the current dull blue could become a brilliantly vibrant blue, making it incredibly expensive.
Moreover, it seemed that the church had a monopoly on those dyers. Each spirit had a color associated with it, and they were particular about those colors. Most of the time, they dyed fabrics exclusively for the garments of high-ranking church officials, making them even less available in the market.
“Well, I did see solid indigo for sale.”
It turned out he had assumed the solidified indigo was a mineral. He had never thought of using it as a fabric dye. The solid form was likely for easier transport.
“Spreading indigo might affect that dyer’s income.”
“No. If a Spirit Possessed dyer uses that indigo, they can create something even better.”
I see.
But it seemed troublesome when organizations like the church got involved. Adventurers and nobles were allowed vibrant colors, so it should be fine, right? It felt like the idea that commoners weren’t allowed was just a facade; the real reason was that they couldn’t afford it.
Still, it’s scary how assumptions can be! I mean, they should have researched what to import first. Even potatoes were still strongly associated with ornamental flowers.