What Words Bind Together

Author: Iwashi-zukushi
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3388fm/52/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

“Haa… it has become a tremendous thing.
Well, we shall do that as that.
Asha, you said ‘one,’ which means there are others as well?”

Oh, as expected of the Demon King; even in that situation she had remembered properly.
Lately it has become thoroughly amusing, but she really is an excellent king, I think.

“As expected of Your Majesty, thank you.
In fact, once we could print, there was something I wanted to do.
I wanted to distribute printed matter on how to wash one’s hands, and what it means, and so on.”

To be honest, this had been the greatest aim.
With the spread of baths, this town’s cleanliness had risen all at once.
But even so, it cannot yet be called sufficient.
Especially hands, which touch all sorts of things: however much you wash them, it is never too much.
No, I said a little too much, but as a feeling it is that sort of thing.

So I had wanted to make it known properly, once.
Regrettably, this island’s residents will probably keep increasing. To teach those girls efficiently as well.

“I see. Indeed, if there were such a thing, the meaning would be easy to understand, and how to actually do it would be easy to convey as well.”
“It is as you say.”

To be honest, soap is spreading at a considerable pace.
After all, once one has known the goodness of clean clothes and hair, humans apparently try to maintain it.
Now that using it is recognized as a good thing, I think the significance of washing hands will also be easy to convey.

“Also, there are various small things I would like people to take care with, season by season, in the matter of keeping healthy.
I had been thinking I would like to send those out regularly.”
“And this, this time, is just the thing for that.”

Nearest at hand: replenishing water in summer.
If one does not replenish the moisture of the sweat that goes out, in the worst case one gets heatstroke.

“Especially people like Nora who work beside fire have to replenish water properly, you know?”
“Is that so. I have been fine even in summer until now, though.”
“I-I see… then, among the other dwarves, were there those who fell ill in summer?”
“…Now that you say it, there were, yes, a fair number.”

I-I see, so Nora’s stamina and vitality were a cheat as well?
But ordinary dwarves were apparently within the range of common sense.
Then it might be all right to write content aimed at the dwarves.
That aside, I have to caution her.

“Nora, just because you have been fine until now, you must not overdo it, all right?”
“I don’t want to worry Doctor Asha, so it cannot be helped.
I’ll keep an eye on the other dwarves as well.”

She promised. If it is Nora, she will surely keep it properly.

Summer has other cautions, but winter is winter: how to warm the body is important.
Who was it who said to guard the five necks—neck, wrists, and ankles?
In fact, keeping the neck, wrists, and ankles warm is highly effective. Other places where thick blood vessels run, in general, as well.
I want to deliver that sort of knowledge.

“I see. That does indeed seem effective.”
“Your Majesty, and if it is notices—”
“Mm. There is the means of distributing notices from the country on paper.”

Truly, these two are amazing… from only this much information they arrive at that sort of place.
Even in modern Japan, the official gazette and notices from local governments were distributed.
The significance of various official information being distributed in a form that remains in one’s hands is surely large.
Especially in this world… I think there are things one lost without knowing, because one did not know.
If we can reduce that even a little. Information is power, I think.

“If it is to be distributed over the whole of the land, ingenuity will be needed… having the featherfolk do it would be best, perhaps.”
“The Harpyiai have no hands… ah, if we make distribution points in each city and have several of them carry boxes with the matter as far as there, it might be all right.”
“One will need a person responsible for taking it together as well… shall I leave it to Gerda or so.”

The Demon King and Lady Grace’s exchange of opinions does not stop.
Gerda, whose work seems about to increase in a place she does not know: I am sorry I cannot stop it…

That aside. How to put it: this positive, or rather, this power of planning that creates, these two excel at, I suppose.
They hold a vision of we can do this, we want to do this, and drop it to a level that can actually be carried out.
Surely that is the sort of quality a person who stands above needs.

“We will have to think of the information to put in the notices as well. What information the people need… we must examine it carefully.”
“Mm. I would like to put the duties they ought to fulfill and their deadlines as well, but more than that, we must put information that benefits them.
Otherwise they will not feel like reading.”

That they think this far as well is amazing… not only the convenience of those above, but how to get people to read it… they can think of the receiving side as well.
Often the convenience of the receiving side and the sending side come apart.

“For example, poems in praise of Grace, or words spinning my feelings for Grace—how would that be?”
“Your Majesty. I have told you many times to restrain your lovesick talk, have I not?
What manner of thinking is it to go beyond holding back and send it to the entire people.”

Th-that she says this sort of thing now and then is part of her charm, right? Surely.
From there Lady Grace’s lecture began at length, and the Demon King bowed low.
But at the end Lady Grace.

“Those words, please let me hear them at night, when we are alone.”

She goes and says that… with a thoroughly adorable smile.
Already, from the side of those watching, one can only say it was a feast.
Or rather, perhaps this was only a lovers’ quarrel in front of us?
No, not only, but… no, well, I do not mind, you know?

While I was thinking that, Lady Grace spilled a small smile.

“But if various things start moving all at once, it is dizzying as well.
It is fulfilling, so it is desirable, but.”
“Is it not well? In exchange for us becoming busy, the people’s lives improve.”
“Fufu, that is so as well.”

Lady Grace a little bewildered, the Demon King dauntless. Both of them look as if they are enjoying it, though.
Listening to the exchange, I thought, wait?
Have they perhaps not noticed?

“Um, Your Majesty, Lady Grace, may I speak?”
“Nn, what is it?”

Prompted by the Demon King, I continued.

“Then, though I am unworthy, I shall say it.
That the talk has spread all at once like this is solely the fruit of you two having educated the people until now so that they could read letters.
After all, if few of the people can read letters, even making distributed matter would have little effect.”

Yes, these measures are planned on the premise that everyone can read letters above a certain degree.
If few can read, in the end someone would have to read it aloud for them, so these measures would not hold.

“The seeds you two sowed with patience have sprouted now, surely.”

When I added that one more word, the Demon King and Lady Grace caught their breath.
Then Lady Grace pressed her mouth and looked down. The Demon King drew her in and rubbed her shoulder.

Surely there had been hardship and conflict of a degree I cannot even imagine.
If those have been rewarded with a single result coming out, being overcome is only natural.
Beside us Dorothea is crying in sympathy as well, and Nora and Lady Dominas look deeply moved.
…Ah, bad, I have gone a little misty as well.

Dorothea suddenly turned her gaze on me as I was looking at the two of them.

“Asha, it is that sort of place, with you.”
“Eh, th-this sort of place??”

Dorothea’s tone was a little scolding… eh, did I say something to be spoken to like that…??

At any rate. From here, the information coming and going in this country began to increase explosively.