Rising from the Slum City of Reincarnation in Another World ~ Gathering, Hunting, and Living a Slow Life by Eating

Chapter 141 Basket and rope

Well, it seems like food has been the only topic lately, so let’s switch things up a bit. Although it’s a rehash from a year ago, I’m thinking of resuming my basket weaving hobby.

Between moving to the café in Trieste City and then relocating back to the Lord’s Manor Hotel here in Eldania, I haven’t had much time to dedicate to basket weaving.

“So, I’ve decided to pick up basket weaving again.”

“Sounds like a good idea.”

“Yeah, that’s a nice plan.”

“Meow.”

Within the walls of Eldania Castle, there are still plenty of open spaces. These sunny areas tend to be covered in rampant ivy, much like the riverbank of the old Merlia.

“So, with spring around the corner, shall we gather some of that proliferating ivy?”

“Yes, let’s do it!”

“Count me in!”

“Meow.”

Everyone raised their hands in agreement. We’d gather the ivy, stripping away the leaves to work with the stems alone.

“You know, this alone can actually be sold.”

“This? Really?”

“Yes.”

The ivy stems, if left as they are, are in high demand as makeshift ropes. While they may not have the same strength as proper ropes, in a world without duct tape, they’re incredibly useful. They come in handy when fastening loads to backpacks or carriages. Ropes are considered one of the seven essential tools for adventurers. Even so, just selling them as is wouldn’t yield much.

“That’s where the baskets come in.”

“The ones you made before?”

“Exactly, Meow.”

I brought out the baskets I made last year. Most of them were sold, but I kept a few for personal use.

“See, when you organize them like this, they stack nicely.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.”

“I see now.”

“Meow, that’s amazing.”

I showed the baskets to the maids who had gathered during their break. They all seemed interested, so we decided to work on it together.

We wove the baskets using the ivy stems, just like weaving threads of a spider’s web, intertwining them vertically and horizontally. This is how the baskets took shape.

“Truly, you are remarkable, Lord Ed.”

“Hehe, well…”

I received praise from the maids. It’s quite heartwarming.

We worked together, carefully adjusting our weaving to match the example we had.

Although they are referred to as maids, they don’t work tirelessly throughout the day. There are times when they have plenty of free hours during the day. The staff count is also designed for peak occupancy, so when there are fewer guests, the workload decreases accordingly. They manage their time by tending to the garden or taking breaks.

However, rainy days prevent outdoor activities. That’s why this time, during their leisure hours, basket-making was encouraged.

And then, after a week had passed, I noticed that everyone in the castle had started making baskets during their free time, especially on rainy days. Everyone had time to spare. The carpentry work also takes a break on rainy days. Even the restaurant’s cook mentioned that around three o’clock is a quieter time between lunch and dinner rushes.

All these factors contributed to basket-making becoming a major trend.

“Behold, the Ed Baskets.”

“Ed Baskets!?”

“Yes, didn’t Lord Ed popularize them?”

“Well, I suppose that might be true…”

To my surprise, these standardized baskets were named ‘Ed Baskets.’

Everyone crafted them to match the example’s size.

Even with over twenty of these baskets stacked and lined up, there were still some left.

“You could sell them in the capital, you know.”

“Exactly, with a full load of goods from the capital to Trieste, there should be plenty of room on the return trip.”

“That’s a good point.”

The maids chimed in with agreement.

Indeed, many merchants load up their goods in the capital, sell them in Trieste, and return with earnings. However, it seemed like there might be an opportunity for even more profit by procuring Ed Baskets and selling them in the capital.

Unbeknownst to me, Ed Baskets had become a sought-after product of Eldania.

“As an extra item, this too.”

“What’s this?”

“It’s a rope.”

“Meow?”

Seeing the question mark hovering over Mnya’s head, I proceed to demonstrate by actually making it.

This isn’t just a makeshift rope; it’s a genuine one.

There are Zelkova trees planted along the road in front of the Lord’s Mansion Hotel.

More than twenty trees on both sides combined.

You might not be familiar with Zelkova trees. Imagine a slightly smaller version of a palm tree.

There are fibrous materials clinging to the tree.

By collecting and intertwining these fibers with my hands, they form a rope.