A few weeks had passed since I sent a letter to my father, and one day, in response to the letter, a craftsman arrived along with it.
“Nice to meet you, Duke Baltia,” said the craftsman.
“Ah, thank you for coming,” I replied.
In the reception room were the craftsman who had come to design, the workshop manager, Jakob from the Golden Sheep Trading Company, me, and the knights standing nearby.
“Well then, let’s take a look right away,” the craftsman said.
He pulled out the blueprints from his pocket and spread them out on the desk.
Everyone leaned over to take a look. It seems to be designed to draw from the source. If we plan to make renovations or expand later, this seems like a good approach.
However…
“That was quick,” I remarked.
I was surprised to see that the design had already been somewhat completed on the very day the craftsman arrived. The craftsman, however, looked unsurprised, as if it were only natural.
“Well, these are mostly based on past projects, so we were able to reuse elements. There may be some adjustments for the local conditions, but overall, this is the plan,” the craftsman explained.
It seems the quick work was due to reusing past data. With such a solid track record, I can trust him.
“By the way, I want to build a new structure here,” I added.
“What kind of structure are you thinking of?” he asked.
“A hot spring facility that uses a lot of wood,” I said.
I pointed to a part of the blueprint and looked at the craftsman’s expression.
The craftsman’s face showed a troubled look.
“Does that mean… you want to use wood for the bath tubs as well?” he asked.
I nodded as if to say, “Exactly.”
“The building part can probably be managed, but if you use wood for the baths, it’ll rot, and it will absorb moisture, making it difficult,” he explained.
“I see…” I responded.
It’s tough when an expert says something is difficult. I suppose a normal noble might insist on it anyway, though.
But if that’s the case…
“Then, how about building a wooden hut at the entrance and leaving the bath area with only a fence around it, removing the roof?” I suggested.
If it’s not possible, I still want an open-air bath!
I think an open-air bath should be technically feasible… probably.
“That can be done, but…” the craftsman replied, seemingly confused about why I would want to do such a thing.
The workshop manager placed a hand on the craftsman’s shoulder.
“That’s just how he is,” the manager explained.
The craftsman looked somewhat confused but nodded as if accepting it.
Hey, I understand that the workshop manager, being old friends, knows me well, but it feels a little hurtful that he gave up so easily, doesn’t it?
“Then, we’ll proceed with that plan. As for materials and manpower…” I started.
“As for materials, please consult Jakob from the Golden Sheep Trading Company. We’ll take care of the finances and manpower,” I said, gesturing to Jakob, who was sitting nearby.
Jakob slightly rose from his seat and extended his right hand.
“I’m Jakob from the Golden Sheep Trading Company. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” the craftsman said, shaking his hand.
“Leave the rest to us. The workshop manager will handle the manpower, Jakob will handle the materials, and the design is in your hands. If anything comes up, please report it to us,” I instructed.
“Understood, my lord,” they all agreed, nodding.
Well, I suppose I can leave it to them, and it should be fine. There won’t be much for a beginner like me to do.
I left the reception room.
