<h4>Chapter 14 – LITHIA FAHLHEIT</h4>


    Lithia Fahlheit is the eldest daughter of the Fahlheit House. Her father, Nichs Fahlheit has worked as a soldier of Cline Kingdom for many years. A few years ago, when there was conflict with the bordering Seruroa Kingdom, he solved it without casualty and with such meritorious service, he was bestowed with the title of 《Ritter》.


    Originally, the prestigious title of 《Ritter》 was meant for a single generation, however the Cline Kingdom had an insufficient number of nobles, and so it was decided as a special case that the same title would be given to their children.


    「Haa, being a noble is really tiring…」


    A sigh escaped Lithia’s mouth. In any case, the perception of amoner would have already taken root to those given the education of a noble past the age of 10.


    And then the vige chief appeared, opening the door,


    「Well well, what do we have here? You are the new tax collector right? I am the vige chief, Gibbeku. I look forward to working with you from now on」


    The greetings were done. Lithia dismounted the horse and answered.


    「I am Lithia Fahlheit, I am responsible for the Kaina Vige area this year. I look forward to working with you too」


    「Come on in, please make yourself at home」


    The vige chief prompted Lithia. Tying the horse to the stable, she entered the vige chief’s home.


    She was guided to the table and sat down, his niece Barbara brought over tea. Being thirsty, Lithia drank it in one go. Barbara immediately ced down a second cup. This time Lithia drank it a little bit at a time.


    Having then taken a breather,


    「W-Well then vige chief, how has the harvest been this year?」


    she began her work. The vige chief is a serious person, she thought while,


    「That’s right… it’s been about average I think?」


    「Then you’ll be able pay the tax decidedst year, right? 」


    「Yes, that is alright」


    It’s been about the payment of tax until this year.


    「Well then, can you show me the vige situation and field now?」


    「Eh? Right now?」


    Hearing that, Lithia knitted her eyebrows,


    「I-Is there anything inconvenient with thet?」


    She tried to show her utmost dignity, but after stuttering, it was in vain.


    「No, I thought Fahlheit-sama might have been tired. Up till now, those that came did not do anything on the day they arrived and instead did their inspection the next day.」


    「Is that so? However, I am me. Please guide me around」


    「I understand」


    Thus, the vige chief guided her around the vige and fields.


    「This here is the wheat field. They sprout in Autumn」


    「It seems to be going well」


    And then the other crop fields.


    「The vegetables have already been harvested」


    Finally the storehouse.


    「Fun-fun, if there’s this much wheat, you’ll be able tost the winter even if you pay the tax」


    「Ee, I think we will be alright」


    「I’m relieved. Can I transport it tomorrow?」


    「T-Tomorrow is it? That can be done, but Fahlheit-sama, aren’t you tired?」


    The vige chief somehow noticed that Lithia was fatigued, but,


    「I am fine. Because this is my duty」


    She said and gave a forced smile, then a ball rolled towards her feet.


    「Ara? This is?」


    Lithia picked up the ball,


    「Aah! Onee-chan, thank you~! That is my ball!」


    saying that Kurt ran up to her,


    「Okay, here you go」


    Saying that she handed over the ball, but her line of sight was not directed to Kurt, but rather glued to the ball.


    「Fahlheit-sama?」


    Wondering what it is, Lithia asked the vige chief,


    「… vige chief, what is that round thing that child just then was ying with?」


    「Aa, that is a ball」


    「Ball?」


    「Ee, it is a thing to y with which Jin made」


    「Jin would be… that person from before?」


    「Ee, it was the person who had guided Fahlheit-sama here」


    「That person made this ball?」


    「Yes, that person was originally not from this vige, he lost his way and came here in Spring. It seems he’s a 《Magic Craftsman》 from a far away country and has served this vige well in various ways」


    「He is? A 《Magic Craftsman》?」


    「Yes」


    「Is that so…?」


    Lithia had be a little interested in Jin.


    「The merchant Rnd should be handling that item but…」


    「Rnd is it? I think I’ve heard of him. Recently there’s been some big talk about the merchant of that name from the Ran Firm.」


    「It is likely that person」


    「Is that so? Then I’ll verify it after returning to the capital」


    with the matter of the ball settled, the two left the field and went back to the vige.


    「Vige chief, that thing there is a pump right?」


    Along the way, Lithia noticed the water well pump.


    「Ee, that’s right. That is also something Jin made.」


    「!!」


    Lithia was surprised once again. Right now, not only in the capital, but in the surrounding viges as well, the pump was growing popr at a phenomenal rate. This was the driving force behind the rapid growth of the Ran Firm, but for it to havee from this… furthermore, to say it was Jin, a 《Magic Craftsman》 from a foreign country who made it. Her interest in Jin was growing more and more.


    「Well, with the work out of the way for today, please rx」


    Saying that, the vige chief had taken the Lithia to the hot spring. His niece, Barbara was already waiting there.


    「Vige chief, what is this ce?」


    「It is a hot spring」


    「Hot spring?」


    「Well, try entering. Barbara, I leave the rest to you」


    「Yes, oji-san」


    The vige chief entrusted the other party to Barbara and returned back to his house.


    「Now then, Fahlheit-sama, please enter」


    Saying that she invited her into the dressing room, prompting her to take off her clothes,


    「W-Why are you taking off your clothes!?」


    Lithia looking at it like it was iprehensible was a natural reaction. Barbaraughed,


    「I’m sorry for not clearly exining it. This is referred to as a hot spring, it’s a ce where warm water wells up. And because of that, anyone in the vige cane and soak in the hot water, recovering from fatigue」


    「Is it different from a normal bath?」


    「Ee, this uses hot water that wells up from underground. ording to Jin, a lot of heat has gathered under the Mountain of Death, and the underground water thates into contact with it heats up into hot water, was what he told me, but honestly I don’t really understand it well.」


    「So this is also Jin-san’s?」


    「Ee, he is the benefactor of this vige」


    After the talk, they soaked in the hot water.


    「Aa, this feels really good」


    With the tension finally gone, Lithia and Barbara both stretched within the hot spring.


    「Right?」


    The tax collector was now bathing, that is, it was quiet because the vigers were shut out with the exception of Barbara. The two sprawled themselves in the hot spring, and ced their heads on the edge of the hot spring. For a moment the presence of an old man appeared.


    「…」


    「Fahlheit-sama?」


    Lithia stared enviously at the two bulges attached to the chest of Barbara stretching next to her, but then pulled herself together and now had something else on her mind,


    「Where in the world did Jin-sane from?」


    she tried to ask,


    「Saa… I was told he was dragged by an 《Artifact》 that malfunctioned and thrown here. If I remember, his home country was called Japan. Do you know of it?」


    「Japan, no, never heard of it. Although, I’m not familiar with the geography of this continent 」


    Lithia was a new noble and being a tax collector was her first job which she told Barbara. 16 years old and 15 years old, the two were only different by 1 year, and they became good friends through their naked socialising.