Since there are still a couple more days until my debut party, I decided to take a walk through royal capital's streets.
Of course, there was no way they would let me go alone.
In the carriage are Jane and Gin. The carriage driver is the butler James.
[Gin,Fukiba, where are we going?]
Jane asks.
Just in time. I want to try and see if I can talk to a god.
[I'd like to go to the church. I arrived safely at the royal capital, and I haven't been there since I was baptized]
[Indeed, Fukiba, you'd better thank the gods for giving you so many blessings]
[As for me, I want to go clothes shopping after the church!]
[Let's do that. James, will you take us to church first?]
(As you command, Miss.Jane)
The carriage advances. The view of the royal capital's city seen from the window is beautiful. It is said that the population of the royal capital is about 450,000. And about a million if you take into account the entire population of the Arizona kingdom. However, because the census of people is not firmly established in this world, there is no way to know the exact number for sure.
It took us almost 25 minutes to get to the church. As expected, the church in the royal capital is bigger than the church in Ensia territory.
I stopped the carriage and entered the church.
I made an offering to the sisters at the entrance and then I was guided to the place where you pray.
The front of the chapel is decorated with the Eight statues of the gods.
The one in the center is Skies, the God of Creation. Honestly, it doesn't look like him, though, it's not like I can say that I've met him.
I get down on my knees, and I start praying.
Then, a light covers the area.
As my eyes get used to it, I realize it's the same pure all white world I've been in before at my baptism.
There's a table in front, and as usual, the eight gods were sitting around.
[It's been a while since I've been here. Since I came to the royal capital, I wanted to thank you for my baptism. I was worried about whether I should come here, but I'm glad I did]
Fukiba bows his head and greets them.
[hohohohoo. You've finally arrived, Fukiba. I've been expecting you. Well, I've taken a good look at what you were doing]
[huh?...You were watching me?]
Fukiba asked suspiciously.
[humm. Like this]
A screen is projected on the table. There you can see my figure checking my status while I lay down on in bed, my fight in the adventurer's guild, and my fight with the orcs and goblins on the way to the royal capital. And the final touch, a flower in each hand while inside a carriage.
[Enough! Please, don't look at this!]
[Basically, the gods can only watch. Your behavior is so interesting that we can't help but want to watch you fukiba]
[Please, can you give me a privacy in my private life! Seriously]
[Well, don't say that. Reaper and Jason wanted to talk to you today]
Reaper, the God of Skill, began to speak as if he had been waiting for a while.
[Yes, yes. Listen to me, Young fukiba. There's not much entertainment in this world. Couldn't you create some way of entertainment from your past life?]
There is not much entertainment in this world. There's no concept of entertainment, so everyone goes to bed early, even all equiment in this world is not you can enjoy.
[All I can do is use my knowledge, after all, I've never built anything myself]
[I know that. Why don't you partner up with some merchant association and make it? You just need to offer the first one to Jason and it will be registered. That way it can't be duplicated]
I see, it's something similar to the patents in my world. The first product is given as an offering to Jason, the god of commerce, as to have it registered. There seems to be a punishment if you try to duplicate it afterward. I was going to ask him what kind of punishment, but when I saw Jason smile, I decided not to.
[I understand. If it's something simple to make like the game, then I think I can do it. I'll try to talk with some companies]
[hohoho. I'm looking forward to it]
repear and Jason nodded with a smile.
[That reminds me, there's something I want to ask. It's about my status, compared to the general public, what's it like?]
Fukiba asks honestly.
[Umu. You're already inhuman or like a demi-god. Although you still lack experience, you could say that among the human race you are the strongest? At this rate, you'll soon be a demigod?]
[De-Demi-god...?]
[Right now you're just like the divine beasts and divine dragons or other divine monsters, though you're already quite close]
Skies laughs.
I was already digging my grave without even knowing it!
[But you should know that there is a limit to what you can do on your own. Don't overdo it. It's about time for you to return. We hope to see you again soon]
Then I was surrounded by light again.
When I realized, I was back in the chapel.
I bowed to the statues of the eight gods.
Then I thanked the sisters and left the church.
[Fukiba, are you done thanking the gods?]
Jane asks.
[Yup. I already thanked the gods. I thanked them for all their blessings]
[Now, let's go look at some clothes! I'm looking forward to seeing the shops in royal capital]
After a short ride in the carriage, we headed for the commercial district.
[We have arrived, sir]
James, the coachman, called out to me.
We got out of the carriage and entered the shop. It was a store for the upper-class commoners. I like the fact that it doesn't have a noble-like appearance. Jane my mother took me through several floors to a store for women only.
[Eh. This place is for women only...]
It's painful to wait for them here while they buy.
As expected, it was uncomfortable, so I left the store for a moment.
There were several miscellaneous goods stores next to me, so I headed there.
As I was about to enter the store, I saw a familiar face. No, it would be more accurate to say that I saw familiar ears.
It's a face I haven't seen in a while.
[Oh! Jacob~!]
She is Jacob, a cat-eared boy who came to my debut party.
[Ehh? Ah! Young master Fukiba? Why are you here?]
Jacob looks flustered and happy to see fukiba and making an *waaa* sound.
Then a voice comes from the back of the store.
[Oi. Jacob. Did someone came to see you?]
A person from the store came out. His looks resembles Jacob's father,John, but a bit older.
[Oh. Are you an acquaintance of Jacob? What a lovely young master]
[Uncle, Young master Fukiba is an aristocrat!]
[Eehh!!! Please forgive me about this]
He bows his head politely.
[I'm sorry, Young master fukiba.]
Jacob apologizes with her cat ears down.
Hm~. his so...Cute..
[Don't worry about it. I'm alone. So it's normal that he didn't realize. I'm Fukiba Hanes Shino. I'm only Ensia's feudal lord's second son, so don't worry]
[...Young master fukiba... I'm terribly sorry about this]
He was almost on his knees when he apologizes.
[I really don't care about it. Rather, could I take a look around the store?]
[Yes! Please take a look Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Jacob's uncle, Lucas . My brother John is always taking care of me]
[That reminds me, why is Jacob in the royal capital? It's okay for you to not be in the merchant association in Ensia?]
I was curious about Jacob's reason for being here.
[I'm currently training at my uncle's shop in the royal capital. I came with my father when he came to replenish his stock]
[So it was like that? Then I guess I'll be seeing you around]
[Young master Fukiba, weren't you supposed to go back to your territory once your debut party was over?]
[That was my plan, but His Majesty conferred me a peerage and a mansion, so I plan to live there]
[So it was like that!!! Congratulations]
Jacob's eyes were glowing.
[Thank you. Please take care of me from now on]
I say that and then I look around the store. There are mainly miscellaneous goods, including wooden products.
If so, I might be able to do what I told the gods immediately.
My impression of Jacob's father is good, so if it's this company, I think I can trust them.
[Jacob, I have something to consult with you and your uncle. Is that okay?]
[Actually, I'd like to make an entertainment product. So I was wondering if you could produce and market it for me]
Lucas' face changes to a serious business face.
[Young master Fukiba, please let's go to the back. Let's have a meeting there]
Fukiba writes the contents on parchment. He draws a picture of eight squares by eight squares and writes, squares be 2 to 2.5 inches (5 to 6.5 centimeters), making an entire chess board 16 to 20 inches. Then I wrote other details.
[It's called chess. First, I want you to make a prototype. Once you register it as a commercial product, I want you to be in charge of marketing and selling it. What do you think about it?]
[Please, let me do it. If you entrust me with the production and marketing with just the idea, you'll have to pay me 25% of the sales, is that okay with you? This is a common percentage when contracting with the God of Trade. Thirty percent of it is for materials, ten percent for sales tax, twenty percent for shipping and handling, and twenty percent for our company's expenses ]
[That's plenty. Let me check the contract once the prototype is done. When the prototype is done I will explain to you the rules. I'll leave some money for the prototype as well]
Fukiba takes a gold coin out of his sachet.
[This is too much young master fukiba!!]
Lucas's returns it in a hurry.
[Think of this as an upfront investment. Once the prototype is done and confirmed, mass production will begin. You can use the money to fund that. But of course, I'll expect my investment back once it starts to pay off!]
Fukiba says with a smile.
[I understand! Please let me do it. I will do my best as the Petra company, and also as the brother of John]
[When it's ready, call the SHINO residence and I'll come to you]
Having said that, I left the store behind.
When I got to the carriage, Jane came out of the store with an angry look on her face. There were a lot of shopping bags.
[Seriously! Fukiba, you disappeared before we knew it! Even though I was going to have you look at my clothes]
[I want to see your clothes at home, MRS.Jane. After all, it's hard to tell if you don't try them. Please show me when we get home]
Fukiba replies with a smile.
[Seriously! Look forward to it when we get home, okay?]
With her mood fixed, Jane got into the carriage.
As expected, my mother is simple.