Once the prototype of the chess was finished, I started pointing out the rough parts while explaining the rules.
Chess is a game that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. The rules are easy to understand but the game is deep.
a board game of strategic skill for two players, played on a checkered board. Each player begins the game with sixteen pieces that are moved and used to capture opposing pieces according to precise rules. The object is to put the opponent's king under a direct attack from which escape is impossible ( checkmate ).
[This is amazing! I'm one hundred percent sure this will be popular.]
Even Jacob is excited. Lucas also nodded.
[First, let's register the finished product. That way no one will be able to duplicate it. However, we only have a Five-year period, after that, anyone, even the other merchant associations will be able to create their own product]
Just like the patent duration law in my world. I think Five years is enough to introduce the game as much as possible to the market.
[Yes, that's fine for me. Also, when you are producing it, you can create two versions, one for the commoners and another for the nobility. After all, what nobles and merchants want most are luxury items. Instead, I'd like to keep the price low enough so that everyone will be able to afford that of the commoners. After all, the purpose is to spread entertainment. Let's start with 70 sets for the nobility and 5,000 sets for the commoners. And from there, we will produce them according to demand]
Lucas's frowns.
[We may not have enough funds to go that far in this company. Assuming the selling price is one large silver coin for the nobility and one silver coin for the commoners, then the production cost... Well..]
As expected Lucas is also thinking about the money it will take.
[If we consider the cost of the product which is 25%, then, it is 2 or 3 silver coins for a total of 145/150 silver coins to produce the noble version, while the version for the commoners is 4 large copper coins for a total of 4000 large copper coins to produce the version for the commoners, that's four gold coins and five large silver coins]
fukiba quickly replies.
[Young master fukiba, you're amazingly quick even to calculate!]
Jacob's eyes shine with a glow as she looks at me respectfully.
Mr. Lucas is also impressed.
[Young master fukiba, this petra merchant company cannot raise that much. If we use all our funds for this project, we will be unable to replace our other goods]
Lucas replies apologetically.
[That's not a problem. I'll provide the initial investment funds. After all, even if I keep it, I have no plan at the moment]
Having said that, I put ten gold coins from my bag on the desk.
[This much!! Thank you, Young master fukiba. Petra merchant association will do our best to make it happen]
[It's okay. There will be no problem as long as you give me back my investment once it starts selling. This is just an upfront investment]
[I understand Young master fukiba. First, let's write a contract and dedicate the finished product to the God of Commerce]
Having said that, Lucas starts writing the contract in a parchment. There will be three copies of the contract, one for Licas, one for me, and finally, one that we will offer to the God of Commerce.
Most companies have simple altars where the God of commerce is worshipped, and of course, the Petra company has one too. It's like the shrines from my previous life. Once the finished prototype of the chess game is placed on the altar, Petra begins to pray.
The altar glows for a moment, and then the contract and the chess game disappear.
[WhOoo!!]
Fukiba couldn't help but let his voice out..
[In this way, by offering the contract, we make an oath to ensure that we will keep it]
[Thank you for showing me. Then, I entrust you with the production. I'd like to be able to start selling in a month. Ah, leave at least ten of the luxurious versions to me, I'll buy them. I'll give them to the royal family as well]
[R-R-royal family you said!? I understand. I will use all the power of the merchant association to do it]
Lucas's face pales when he hears it's for the royal family.
It will trouble me if you don't do your best, after all, a god entrusted me with this.
That the product is gone, does that mean it went to where that God is? It would be nice if everyone enjoyed it.
That's what fukiba thought.
In fact, when it was sold a month later, it was so popular that it had to be mass-produced in very large quantities.
Even so, production couldn't keep up, and everyone was screaming with joy.
But that's a story for another time.
○◎○◎○
At the Shino mansion in the royal capital, Fukiba was trying on clothes for his debut party.
The participants were, those of the company, Jane, his big brother Gin, Cicily, and the leading act, me.
It seems like a waste of time to tailor a one-time outfit, however, it seems that the debut party of a five-year-old nobleman is more important than the debut party of a five-year-old going to school for the first time.
After all, every nobleman wants to marry his daughter off to the son of someone influential, intelligent, and good-looking. And since the country has a polygamous system, every nobleman has several concubines. There are also political marriages as well as factions, so everything is too troublesome. The point is, everyone wants to spit on such a person when this one turns five.
By the way, it seems that my father, who has two wives, belongs to the few nobles who have few. It seems that when he was young he was forced into numerous marriages with the daughters of other nobles. This was to be expected since, despite living on the borders of the country, he was a high-ranking noble. Although it is said that he declined each time.
There were many invitations from factions, but Jake, as a margrave, remains neutral. He had said that he could not be bothered by clashes between factions when he was in direct contact with neighboring countries not knowing when a war might start.
In fukiba's case, he is considered to be in the margrave count's faction.
Then it suddenly came to my mind.
His Majesty and Duke Andrew.
I shook my head to erase those images. I don't feel like they're going to involve me with their factions.
Even though I have memories of my past life, I'm still a high school student and five years old. Even my combined age, it's not much.
I don't feel like I can win against a hundred battle-hardened royalty and duke.
Just when I was thinking about this, a voice calls me.
[Fukiba! Are you listening properly?]
It's Gin. She matched various sets of fabrics by their colors.
[I'm sorry. I was just thinking about something,Big bro..]
[Seriously! Fukiba, I asked you if this white blue fabric would match your black hair!]
I took another look at the fabric and it's a white blue or rather a white color, but it gives a nice feeling.
[My favorite is the color that Big brother Gin chose for me!]
If I praise her, my brother Gin starts smiling.
[Then, can you use this fabric as a base to make it?]
Jane asks again.
[I received your order. I'll definitely make clothes that suit you, Young master fukiba.]
The merchant nodded and left.
The clothes I asked him to tailor were made in a few days. There were only three days left until my debut party.
The clothes were very good, and it only needed a few changes once I tried them.
[Now Fukiba won't have to be embarrassed going anywhere in these clothes]
my big brother Gin assured me.
That makes me think, didn't Gin have a debut party a few years ago too?
But when I asked her if there was someone suitable for her in her same age, she replied that there really wasn't one.
According to my brother Gin, a suitable husband for her is »someone who is not inferior to his little brother Fukiba«
or so she said.
Though I get the feeling there's no such person.
In the meantime, time has passed and the day of the debut party in the royal capital has arrived.