Rebirth in a Ruined Nation! The Life of a New Strategist Starting From Now - Chapter 50

The Genius, Drew

We proceeded straight to Drew after finishing our conversation finished. I brought Luluria’s letter from my room as well.

Luluria had meticulously written the tar’s effects and costs, as well as her knowledge of how much of it could be used on how many roads. It was very helpful information.

I plan to have Drew create a rough estimate of the cost based on Luluria’s letter and then have Nelfia relay that number to the King.

“Is this where we’ll part ways for now, Nelfia?”

When I asked her that, she tilted her head confusedly, then her eyes lit up for a few moments as if she finally realized where my words came from.

“Certainly, this is the end of my work as your assistant in the canned food project. I forgot to mention this but Sazabi and I will be helping with the canned food factory for now.”

“Really?”

“Yes. That’s why, Roa-sama, I’d like to continue working under you.”

“Huh!? Well, I’d be grateful if you could keep helping me, but establishing a new factory will be a lot of work. Is it really fine for you to also continue helping me?”

It would be helpful to have Nelfia, an exceptional court official who was also the King’s secretary and could speak directly to the King, but would it be really fine to burden her with additional work?

“Of course. I’m used to working on several things at once. We had disclosed the process for making the canned food, so I and Sazabi will merely serve as advisors to the factory. A different person has been arranged to take charge of the factory. Also, it will be more convenient for me to stay your subordinate since I will be able to contact you, Roa-sama, the person with the most knowledge about canned food easily, when there is a problem in the factory’s canned food production.”

“Well, if it’s like that, then I have no objection.”

“Thank you. Then, I’ll continue to be in your care, Roa-sama.”

“Likewise, Nelfia.”

That was our conversation as we walked to Drew’s department office. Drew was the only person in her department, thus this ‘department office’ was more like Drew’s room. In fact, she lived in this department office, so the office was really Drew’s room.

“Drew. Are you inside?”

I knocked but received no response. This was typical of her. I opened the door while kept calling Drew.

We heard a faint “Urgh…” sound from the back of the room filled with junk, so we hurriedly went inside and discovered Drew slumped over her desk making a strange groan.

“Drew!? Are you okay!?”

“I…just….haven’t…eaten…for a while…I’m…fine…”

I exchanged glances with Nelfia, and we both began to move.  I asked Nelfia to look after Drew while I went to get some food.

I dashed to another office near Drew’s room, where a court official immediately said she would prepare something good for digestion and left as if she was used to it. Wait, did this happen all the time?

I handed over the food preparation to the court official and returned to Drew’s room with only a bottle of milk. When I walked into the room, I saw Drew giggling creepily while being cared for by Nelfia. Has she finally gone insane?

Anyway, she poured the milk down her throat aggressively, and after she burped, she pointed to a jar.

“Look!”

It was…not a normal jar. But I was probably the only person in the entire continent who realized how amazing was this jar.

On the edge of that jar, there were grooves.

There was a lid with similar grooves on its edge next to that jar.

This kind of jar could seal food more securely than a cork. Various countries expended a lot of money and resources after canned food was invented to finally create a jar with this design. 

I didn’t know how to make it, so I didn’t even consider making it.

But Drew made it entirely on her own?

The Genius, Drew.

I thought of this messy-haired woman who was drinking her milk as an amazing person from the bottom of my heart.

***

While Drew ate, I told Nerfia about how amazing this jar was. Nerufia didn’t understand at first, but when she heard that there was no cork or wax needed and the lids were reusable, her eyes widened in amazement.

“This might be an even more incredible invention than canned food itself!” I explained to Nelfia

“As expected, you understand it~~.” Drew, who was looking much better than before, commented.

“I have no doubt that this jar will greatly increase the shelf life of canned food.” (Roa)

“Then we’ll have to consider increasing the production of this kind of jar. First, it was tar, and now this; I really can’t take my eyes off geniuses like you two.” (Nelfia)

Nelfia sighed deeply, with her hands resting on her cheek. Sorry to disappoint you, Nelfia, but my ‘invention’ was borrowed from others. I wasn’t a real genius like Drew.

“Drew. Is this jar difficult to make?” (Nelfia)

“No, it’s not that difficult. I’ll tell you how to do it.” (Drew)

“Can you then quickly write down the method for making this jar on paper? So I can bring it up to the King along with the matter of tar.”

“Tar? What’s tar?” (Drew)

I explained about tar to Drew.

“That’s an interesting material…So as long as you have this letter, you can buy them? Yeah, it’ll be fine.” (Drew)

“Wait, you already finished calculating the cost?” (Roa)

“Yup. If it’s only this much, I can calculate it instantly.”

“….Then I’ll go seek an audience with the King. See you later.”

Nelfia, who instantly obtained another job like mass manufacturing of new jars and giving a report on the importation of tar for the road construction, on top of the canned food project after meeting me and Drew, left the room in a bit of a rush.

As a result, Drew, who was eating a loaf of bread soaked in soup, and I were the only ones left in the room.

“Drew, if you have any spare time, there’s something I’d like you to make.”

“Something you want me to make!? What is it!? Tell me quick!”

Drew responded excitedly after hearing my request.