Chapter 341: Dyeing and Fields
Soleil had a few things he wanted to confirm with me, beyond just complaints about the noise. Kiel laid out some documents in front of me, and I answered Soleil’s questions. I expressed my hopes, but left the practical details and coordination with others entirely to them.
While we were at it, Soleil also wrapped up discussions about hiring workers for the Spirit’s Branch and purchasing ink and pens for drawing magic circles. His efficiency was impressive.
Orlando looked like someone frightened by a poltergeist, but for now, the Spirit’s Branch seemed peaceful.
Having confirmed that the new residents were settling in, I returned to the castle. I parted ways with Soleil and Kiel, and headed to check out the indigo dyeing area. Auro was following me, but I decided not to worry about it.
Indigo balls and raw silk were being transported to the dyeing workshop built within the castle walls from the Southern Tower.
The Southern Tower had a pier, or rather a dock, on the fortress side. Inside the tower, there were stairs, a pulley for lifting cargo, and storage areas.
Come to think of it, I had planned to build a waterwheel here. I should do it later tonight to make it easier to lift cargo up. The dock is situated above a natural cave, or rather, a crack in the cliff, so adding a waterwheel or gears here would definitely look cool.
I want to add gears for no reason! No, I mean, to make lifting cargo more efficient. Even though there’s a pulley, it’s still manual labor.
By the way, there’s already a proper waterwheel made by a craftsman for grinding grain. We rely heavily on imports for most things, including wheat, but we grind it ourselves. I purchase wheat, firewood, salt, and sugar under my name as the lord and sell them at a fixed price.
It’s not that buying individually is prohibited, but since I buy in bulk to keep prices down, it’s effectively a monopoly. I quietly source firewood from the fortress city that has the Demon Forest.
Near the entrance of the dyeing workshop, there were walls set up to obscure the view. They weren’t unsightly; rather, they blended into the garden design in front of my tower.
When I explained that the indigo dyeing liquid is made in pots buried in the ground, I was reminded of the olive oil storage in the basement of my barn. The same type of pots were lined up within the castle walls. It was correct, but it felt off at first; now, however, they were blue, and the oddness had faded.
Since their hands were stained blue, it was easy to tell who was involved in the dyeing process, but it was still a secret operation. It required adjustments based on temperature and humidity, and involved a lot of patience and strength as they dipped and squeezed repeatedly. I hoped they would do their best.
I got to see the beautifully dyed threads, ranging from pale indigo to deep navy, and they were stunningly vibrant. The raw silk was glossy and beautiful, and the cotton threads were evenly dyed.
The beautifully dyed threads would be delivered to the weavers to become fabric. I had also set up a weaving workshop, but it seemed many people were weaving at home as well.
The reputation of the products was good, and it seemed there was a ridiculous price and a waiting list for purchases, so it was likely a hit for the island’s industry. Soleil had a somewhat mischievous grin, so I was sure of it.
This was also my monopoly as the lord, but I didn’t want to create a surprising gap between this and other businesses, so I planned to give back a little to the workers while also investing in the town’s development.
This included stockpiling for emergencies, repair costs for cobblestones and other things, and making hospitals and schools free of charge.
Even so, perhaps because the wages were better than elsewhere, or maybe they were inspired by the blue fabric, there were whispers of skilled weavers wanting to move here.
I planned to give a monetary reward to those who dyed beautifully and those who wove beautiful fabric, so I hoped they would strive to improve.
After checking around the castle walls, my next destination was the fields. But wait, there’s a guard at the entrance to the fields…
“There’s an intruder trying to sneak in,” Auro said with a smile, noticing my gaze.
“A vegetable thief is out—wait, is it a changeling?”
The vegetables being grown here were hybrids developed by crossbreeding with those from the Pantry. Thanks to the spirits that came to play with the water, even the changelings had a hint of flavor, or perhaps even a normal taste.
“Yes. Naturally, the contract includes a clause against stealing the master’s goods. However, in a typical household, snacking in the kitchen is generally tolerated. They eat in such small amounts, like insects.”
My employees…! It sounds like I’m not feeding them well enough! They’ve got to be getting snacks!
“The fields are still in the testing phase, and if they’re allowed to ravage it, it won’t yield more…”
I was the one who brought in what I grew in the mountains to increase the yield here.
“That’s true, but it doesn’t affect the individual plants, so there’s no problem with the work. It’s really less than a single sheet’s worth—more like they’re enjoying a little snack rather than actually eating.”
So it’s not the same as normal hunger? It’s like sneaking into the kitchen at night without getting caught by your parents?
“When I confirm who snuck in, I carry out the punishment of withholding snacks, but they’re getting better and better at it.”
What are they getting better at!? Sneaking in!?