Volume 5 Chapter 19 The Mystery Of Human Connections
"Hehehe. It's a kotatsu."
Catherine smiled proudly, and Randy muttered, "You..."
"No, you..."
His words were unclear, and his expression was awkward.
"What? If you have something to say, just say it clearly──."
"Listen. It's not easy in some cultures where people wear shoes inside the house. A kotatsu is like a special table that lets you keep warm while eating and it'''s hard for people to accept this way of doing things."
Catherine pouted at Randy's exasperated face.
"Well, that's true, but, without proper sealing and insulation in homes, a kotatsu is better than an air conditioner, right?"
Catherine pointed at the kotatsu design, saying, "I'm thinking about a lot of things."
Well, this design was a bit different from a regular kotatsu. You could call it a high type, designed for use with chairs or sofas, fitting the culture of this world as Catherine said.
"I get what you're trying to say, but..."
Randy looked down at the design again, checking the details.
The design that can be used while sitting on a sofa or chair is obvious. There are also other details that show careful thought.
First, unlike a traditional Japanese kotatsu, the heat source is at the feet. Under the table, there's a board with a hole, and a heat source fits into it. It might make the foot space tight, but there's a note about the importance of keeping foot space clear. So, this board serves as both the heat source and a footrest.
Next is the design. The colors and shapes match the interior style of this world. With wood-patterned legs and a glass top, it gives a modern vibe.
Finally, the kotatsu blanket that makes it a kotatsu. There are notes about waterproofing and stain resistance. This alone shows that she considered using it with shoes on.
But that's not all. The several pages of warm designs are paired with marketing strategies.
Catchy phrases emphasizing energy efficiency and an introduction as a symbol of family gatherings. Demonstrations and events shown on camera.
After checking all that, Randy let out an impressed "Wow."
"Well, it's mostly a copy of Bracero and Mesa Camilla, though."
Catherine shrugged, and Randy tilted his head, asking, "Bracero? Huh?"
"Bracero and Mesa Camilla."
Catherine sighed and Randy said, "I don't know," while frowning. She explained that in southern Spain, in Andalusia, there is a special table called Mesa Camilla, which has a heating device similar to a kotatsu called Bracero.
"Wow. I didn't know that."
Randy, impressed, continued, "I thought it was a unique Japanese culture." He found it quite interesting that there was a kotatsu in Spain.
"There's also a kotatsu-like thing in Iran."
That was new to him. It seems that people in other parts of the world have come up with similar ideas as the Japanese. So, it's not a bad thought to see a demand for it in another world.
The idea isn't bad.
Focusing on home insulation and airtightness is good too.
And if you're Japanese, you definitely understand the magical power of a kotatsu.
It's well thought out. But that's why it's a shame. That's Randy's honest opinion.
If it was developed as a hobby for fun, he would fully support it. But if it's for business, there's a wall that can't be crossed with this direction.
Randy doesn't want to criticize other people's ideas too much. But if things stay like this, he can only see a future where it fails.
That said... that said. It's also true that a well-thought-out idea shouldn't just be dismissed as "bad." The knowledge and perspective that Randy didn't have should be praised.
So...
"What do you think..."
As Randy turned around with the blueprints, he saw Liz, surprised, asking, "Did you notice?"
The match was already over, and it seems Liz had quietly approached Randy while he was talking with Catherine and the others. Her surprised face looked a bit dissatisfied.
"I was watching closely."
"Even though you were facing the other way, right?"
Liz puffed her cheeks, and Randy joked, "I have eyes in the back of my head." He then mentioned how Liz had picked up a loose ball and connected it to Cecilia, leading to the game-winning play.
"...That's right."
For some reason, Liz looked dissatisfied, and Randy shrugged, saying,
"See? I told you. Anyway, what do you think? I heard it's Miss Catherine's idea."
Liz took the plans from Randy and looked at the designs and marketing strategy for a moment, then frowned. She tilted the plans a bit to share with Cecilia, who also made a similar frown.
"I think the idea is interesting, but..."
"It might be a bit difficult."
Seeing their frowns, Catherine raised her eyebrows and asked, "Why?"
"Well, there are several reasons..."
Randy started talking about the good points of this kotatsu plan.
He gets the concern about walking inside the house with shoes on. Sure, there are already many ideas out there, like thick carpets and warm boots, to keep your feet from getting cold, but it still gets cold sometimes.
Catherine probably understood this too, which is why she came up with the kotatsu idea. It can keep the air sealed and warm your feet efficiently.
"Then, isn't that good?"
Catherine pouted, and Annabelle nodded, saying, "I think it's good too..."
"Wait a minute. The problem is that the product's features and marketing don't match."
While the idea itself is interesting, Randy believed the biggest issue was that the kotatsu symbolizes family gatherings.
Keeping your feet warm is important. Floors made of wood or marble can get really cold in winter. That's why this design has a heat source at the bottom.
Since your feet get too cold, it heats from below instead of above. It's a sensible design, but that means you need to make sure there's enough space for your feet. If you want to gather as a family, the size will definitely need to be bigger.
"If it gets bigger, it will need more energy for the heat source. That means it will cost more, and you won't get much benefit from energy efficiency."
"That's true."
Catherine nodded reluctantly as she stared at her own plans.
"Also, while family gatherings do happen... they don't last long with a kotatsu and TV. You eat, chat a bit, and then go to sleep for tomorrow. That's the routine for regular people."
Nodding to Randy's words are Liz and Luke.
It's not that they don't hang out. But, it's also precious time, and they often eat and relax in front of the fireplace. In the limited space of the table, it might feel a bit cramped.
"And I have some bad news... we developed heated underwear during Winter vacation."
Catherine seems to understand what that means and whispers, "No way..." If heated socks come out, the kotatsu that warms feet will definitely struggle.
It's like always having a kotatsu stuck to your feet. No need to stick your feet under the table.
"So... does that mean this is no good?"
Catherine looks down sadly, and Randy shakes his head.
"I'm not saying it's no good."
Catherine and Annabelle tilt their heads, looking confused by Randy's words.
From behind Catherine, Leon runs up saying, "Saintly Lady, I've been waiting for you!"
"Perfect timing."
Randy smiles at Leon and waves him over, calling out to the clueless Leon.
"Oh, Sir Randolph. Hey there!"
Leon is still the laid-back knight, but that's probably good for Catherine. Randy, saying "Sorry about that," points to the plans in Catherine's hands.
"Leon, and Luke and Liz... without marketing, what do you all honestly think about this?"
The 3, called by Randy, look at each other and nod at the same time.
"I think it's good."
"Seems good, right?"
"It's really good, isn't it?"
They all say it in different ways, but everyone agrees it's "good," leaving Catherine wide-eyed and confused.
"I told you. The idea and the focus aren't bad. But if there's a problem, it's the marketing... especially, the targeting is off."
"Targeting?"
Catherine tilted her head, and Randy explained that the target was families. She probably couldn't shake off the Japanese idea of a kotatsu being a cozy gathering place.
But the goal was to warm up the feet efficiently and precisely.
"You do paperwork, right?"
"Well, yeah."
"Your feet get cold then."
Just from that, Catherine seemed to realize what Randy was getting at. "For individuals..." she murmured.
It's not a complicated topic. Liz, Luke, and Leon all have paperwork sometimes. But unlike a lady like Cecilia, not every office for knights or civil servants has a fireplace.
Even with carpets, their thickness often depends on status.
To deal with cold feet, they make efforts like wearing double socks or using blankets. Some even put heated stones at their feet, but that doesn't last long.
"For example... just putting this board inside the desk──"
"Or cover the entrance with cloth──"
"Exactly."
Randy nodded, and Catherine looked at the design again.
"Of course, you could make it in that shape and sell it. Being portable is a big advantage."
"Yeah, portable heating equipment seems to have a lot of demand."
For example, for desk work.
For example, for study desks.
For example, for light work in semi-indoor spaces like warehouses.
Of course, it can be used for hobbies too.
Being compact is very convenient compared to fireplaces or the large heating equipment Randy and the others are developing.
"If heated socks are made, they could become the biggest rival... but the market for heated items is still uncertain."
Liz nodded at Randy's words. They hadn't finished durability tests or strength tests yet. They didn't even know how long consumable items like socks would last.
"Personally, I think heated socks are only good for outdoor work or marching."
"Yeah, for me, it's just cold during office work, so I don't really need to be warm at other times."
Catherine nodded in agreement with Luke and Leon's words. Indeed, while moving around, the cold at her feet didn't bother her much, but once she stopped, she felt the chill to an almost unbearable degree. At times like this, heated socks would certainly be handy. However, heated socks remained warm continuously.
Of course, the heat would stop once a certain temperature was reached, but by then, some people might find themselves sweating at the feet.
"So... does that mean there's still a chance?"
"There's no chance but success! If it works for individuals, it might even create demand for family use."
"Exactly."
As the two nodded, Catherine tightened her lips, which were about to curve into a smile, and gripped the blueprint in her hands.
"Alright. Let's get started on the prototype!"
With Randy's call, the four others besides Catherine and Leon raised their fists and shouted, "Yeah!" But...
"Huh? Wait, what? Why...?"
Catherine, on the other hand, couldn't keep up with the situation. Even though she had decided to take this on herself, she couldn't understand why Liz and Randy were offering to help.
"Why? What do you mean 'why'...?"
"If we take it easy, winter will already be over," Cecilia pointed out.
Indeed, it was already February. While the northern regions would still be fine, the time when kotatsu would be needed around the royal capital and the southern areas wasn't going to last much longer.
"What's the matter? Don't tell me you're the type who wants to handle everything alone?"
As Randy started to lower his head, thinking he might have said something wrong, Catherine shook hers and said, "It's not that."
"Uh, but... what's in it for you guys to help me?"
Catherine tilted her head, puzzled, and Randy shook his in return, pointing to a line written on the blueprint.
"You are using Church-grown cotton... In other words, the Church cultivates and processes cotton on their estates, right?"
"Well, yeah, we make our own priestly garments and all..."
At Catherine's words, Randy and the others exchanged glances. They used cotton, made their own garments, and currently had some surplus manpower available.
"Miss Catherine, how about we hire the surplus Church workers to work with us?"
And so, the joint effort between the former villainess (and her master) and the former protagonist was officially set into motion.
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