The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The Toilet Problem and Trust

“Toilet, you say?”

“Yes, for the time being, we won’t be installing individual toilets. Instead, we plan to set up shared toilets at certain intervals. Will that be difficult?”

In the game’s story, only the hard mode requires you to go directly to the rural areas, while most of the plot takes place within the royal palace.

The royal palace has access to clean water through magic stones and a well-maintained sewer system, so such topics never came up in the game. However, for those living in this world, it’s an unavoidable issue—the matter of toilets.

Except for the royal palace and the mansions of great nobles, the state of toilets in this world is very poor. It is common practice to relieve oneself in a bucket or chamber pot and then throw the waste out the window.

From both my previous life and Melfina’s memories, this habit was a definite no-go. It’s a problem we want to solve during the winter, which is the off-season for farming.

“Given that it’s the lord’s idea, I assume there’s some reasoning behind it. May I ask what that is?”

“Master, that’s quite rude.”

“Shut up. If we don’t understand the needs properly, we can’t meet them, especially for someone like her.”

Ricardo’s apprentice hunched his shoulders in embarrassment. His reaction was almost pitiful.

“I’m glad you’re concerned about the intention behind it.”

It’s generally understood that craftsmen will make whatever is requested without questioning its use. Ricardo initially had that attitude, but after receiving various orders, he gradually began to ask why and for what purpose.

“First of all, human waste is extremely unsanitary.”

“Well, it does smell, for sure.”

“In densely populated cities with cobblestone streets, the smell in summer can be unbearable.”

“Bad odors aren’t the only problem. Decomposing waste can cause various diseases, contaminate water, leading to stomach illnesses, and attract pests like rats and insects. Moreover, it’s incredibly wasteful.”

“I somewhat understand the disease part, but wasteful?”

Human waste is either used as pig feed or washed away by rain. The pigs, in turn, defecate everywhere, and since the sewage system is underdeveloped, the waste just gets diluted and spreads around.

In other words, the current situation is that waste is simply being indiscriminately discarded around human habitats.

“I’d like to hear your opinions on this. Ricardo, you know I’ve been making fertilizer, right?”

“Yes, it’s the reason for the great harvests in the Enkar region. I heard you collect straw, animal bones, and food scraps to make it.”

“What if I told you that the same could be done with human waste? Would you be opposed to eating food grown with such fertilizer?”

Fertilizer made from cow manure exists in this world and is used in some areas, but human waste is merely discarded as a nuisance.

However, in my previous life, fertilizer made from human waste had been used since ancient times.

In the Edo period, farmers who wanted to buy waste directly, night soil dealers who purchased and resold it, and tenement owners who profited greatly from selling waste to the highest bidder all demonstrated how valuable this fertilizer was.

At Melfina’s question, Ricardo and Ed widened their eyes and then groaned.

“Vegetables grown with urine and feces…”

“Honestly, knowing that, I might have some reservations.”

Their voices were hesitant, clearly expressing discomfort.

“Even though waste is currently just thrown around, stepped on, or even falls on people’s heads?”

“Stepping in it is unpleasant, and if it falls on my head, I’d be furious and demand compensation. It’s definitely something we don’t want to touch or deal with.”

Given the situation, even if we build toilets, the waste would either end up being dumped in the mountains or discharged into rivers. Many people would likely refuse to do the job of transporting it.

We need to address the waste issue before the next warm season, and although this job is essential, I don’t want to force people into doing something they dislike.

As I was pondering this, Marie, who was sitting next to Melfina, raised her hand.

“Lady Melfina, how about testing this in the former serf settlement?”

“I don’t mind testing it, but why the settlement instead of Enkar Village?”

“The former serf settlement was the first area to start making Lady Melfina’s fertilizer. They trust what you do the most. Though this might be a delicate topic for you, the former serfs are used to dealing with waste, and they wouldn’t mind transferring it from communal toilets to compost.”

“How about using the waste-based fertilizer for the settlement’s subsistence farming for now? Like we did with the craftsmen, if we provide it for free or at a low cost for the first few years, many households will want to use it. Once the effectiveness is proven and demand increases, people will naturally become more cooperative with the toilet project.”

Cedric, standing behind, added to Marie’s suggestion.

“Well… I feel uneasy about taking advantage of the vulnerable position of the settlement’s people…”

“No, rather, I think they’d be happy to help Lady Melfina. They adore you and believe that it will improve their living conditions.”

That trust is heavy, but also heartwarming. I want to live up to it.

“Alright, I’ll ask Nido about it later. Ricardo, regarding the construction of the toilets… Ricardo?”

“Oh, sorry… It’s just, as a master craftsman, I’m sometimes called to work in noble mansions in the capital. But having so many people give their opinions and then having a lord who actually listens and incorporates them is something I’m not used to.”

“If you get used to working with the lord here, you’ll have to be very diligent in the capital.”

Ed, the apprentice, nodded seriously at Ricardo’s words.

“I think getting help from others for areas where you’re lacking will lead to better results.”

“There are many who don’t understand that.”

Ricardo said in a strangely heavy tone, then clapped his hands on his knees.

“Now that we’ve decided, please tell me what kind of toilets we need to build and what specifications they should have.”

“Basically, we’ll dig a deep hole and line the inside to prevent water seepage. We’ll place a toilet seat on top and surround it with walls to ensure privacy. For now, we’ll start with public toilets to get people used to designated spots, but eventually, we aim to have one in every household.”

“If we build individual toilets later, they might be added onto existing buildings.”

“For public toilets, we’ll need to make them large and install multiple seats to avoid conflicts over waiting times.”

“So, does this mean the waste will be collected from these holes?”

“No, we’ll enlarge the hole horizontally so waste can be collected from outside the toilet. The collected waste will be put into large jars or barrels and then moved to another hole in the ground, which will be covered. In summer, it should be usable as fertilizer in about two months, but in winter, we’ll have to experiment and see.”

“Lady Melfina, the fertilizer made with straw required aeration, right? Won’t that be difficult with these holes?”

“For fertilizer made from human waste, that’s not necessary. Just leaving it for a while will make it usable.”

Fertilizer made with straw, bone meal, and food scraps, known as bokashi, uses aerobic bacteria for fermentation. In contrast, night soil fertilizer relies on anaerobic bacteria, which thrive without air.

“Is it absolutely necessary to store it? Wouldn’t it be more efficient to use it immediately after collection?”

“Remember how the straw-based fertilizer would heat up during fermentation? The same happens with the waste-based fertilizer. That heat kills harmful pests and pathogens, so it’s a crucial process.”

Additionally, it’s important to ensure that the waste is not sealed too tightly to avoid gas buildup and possible explosions. It should also be diluted with water before use, which needs to be clearly communicated.

Ricardo, who had been quietly listening, stroked his chin and nodded once, and said.

“Hmm.”

“Since this is our first attempt, we’ll start with a prototype, but from what I hear, it doesn’t seem impossible.”

Ricardo said.

“But where did Lady Melfina acquire such knowledge? I also had a tutor and learned about noble etiquette, but I never encountered such topics.”

Marie asked, causing a momentary startle, but I quickly suppressed it and smiled.

“I only learned simple things like manners, dance, and basic arithmetic from my tutor. I gained this knowledge from books I purchased and libraries I visited. I suppose I had a bit more curiosity than other young ladies.”

“Is that so? That’s wonderful.”

“As expected of the marquis’s daughter.”

Cedric added with praise. However, using knowledge from my previous life, mostly gleaned from games, manga, and novels rather than actual experience, made the compliments a bit uncomfortable.

“It would be great if we could ensure everyone uses the designated toilets. Changing long-standing habits quickly is challenging, so it might take some time.” I

said.

“If you, Lady Melfina, say so, everyone will follow.”

Marie reassured me.

“Besides, people are starting to get used to changing old habits rapidly.”

Cedric added cheerfully. Despite their encouragement, I knew it wouldn’t be easy.

“Ricardo, installing this many toilets will be a big job, but I’m counting on you.”

“Having work is an honor for a craftsman. We’ll do our best, my lady.”

Ricardo said with a confident smile.

It was some time later that I heard villagers were eagerly using the newly constructed toilets and that we were making daily trips to empty them until enough had been built to meet the demand.