I made a trash bin with a lid. It was just a standard bin designed to keep the trash out of sight and hold in the smell. Naturally, you had to open the lid by hand, which made things a bit difficult if you were carrying garbage in both hands.
That’s when I remembered those pedal-operated bins. The mechanism wasn't all that complex, so I decided to give it a try. I wanted to make sure the bin didn't wobble when you stepped on the pedal, and I prioritized the durability of the mechanism. As a result, the finished product ended up being quite large and heavy.
I installed it in a spare room in the mansion to test it out. When I stepped on the pedal, the lid flipped up. When I let go, it snapped shut. Not bad at all. I figured the High Ogre Maids would appreciate the convenience, so I showed it to them. Unfortunately, I’d been naive.
Plastic garbage bags didn’t exist in this world. Consequently, trash was tossed directly into the bin. When it came time to empty it, the bin had to be carried, mechanism and all, to the disposal area where the slimes lived. The pedal mechanism added a lot of extra weight, making it a chore to transport. While the High Ogre Maids wouldn't mind the weight, carrying the trash out was one of the chores we gave the children. It couldn't be too heavy for them.
They also pointed out that cleaning the bin would be a hassle. Since the lid was integrated with the body, washing it was awkward. Again, this was a chore for the kids, so ease of cleaning was a must. My thinking had been shallow.
I truly realized the blessing that was plastic garbage bags. Was the pedal bin a failure? No, I couldn't give up yet. Humanity progressed because people refused to quit.
I had an idea for an improvement. It wasn't anything revolutionary; I just needed to make a slightly smaller bin to fit inside the main one. I’d simply use that inner bin in place of a plastic bag. That should make it easy to empty and wash.
"How about this?" I asked.
They replied that moving the inner bin around without a lid would be a problem. Odors would leak out. I’d forgotten the lid’s primary purpose. Fine, then—I'd just prepare a lid for the inner bucket, too. Normally, the lid would sit behind the main bin, and they’d only pop it on when it was time to carry the inner bin out.
"How’s this?"
"I feel a little weird using my foot to open it, but it certainly is easier," one maid remarked.
"Once you get used to this, opening a lid by hand feels like a chore."
"I'd almost like all our trash bins to be replaced with these."
The reputation was so good that they asked for more. They wanted the first ones installed in the mansion's kitchen, where trash was bound to accumulate. For the time being, I made three and set them up. It was a good thing to be appreciated, but since the mechanism was a novelty, a lot of adults started visiting the kitchen just to step on the pedals. I needed to hurry with the mass production.
Also, this wasn't really a problem, but the Intelligence Boxes in the kitchen started viewing the bins as rivals. The maids told me the Boxes had been working harder than usual lately, which was a nice side effect.
By the time the pedal bins had spread through the village and earned the nickname "Pakapaka," Michael-san paid us a visit. He was here to invite me to an auction. I’d heard the previous auction in Village Five had been put together on a nightmare schedule. Michael-san was worried people might think that was how all auctions worked, so he was formally inviting me to a "proper" one.
I’d heard talk of this for a while, so I wasn't flustered, but I thought the timing was a bit further off.
"The Main Auction is scheduled for the middle of next spring in the Royal Capital," Michael-san explained. "However, the exhibition of the auction items is already in motion."
That was nearly a year away, but apparently, they needed time to recruit more items. Michael-san planned to take a caravan through about ten different cities to drum up interest.
I told him I’d consult with the villagers and put forward a few items. When I asked if I could leave the paperwork to him, he readily agreed. He wanted the items by summer if possible, though he mentioned there were ways to transport things even if I was late.
"Actually, I have another request," he added. "Would you be willing to come and offer some encouragement to the caravan staff before they set out?"
I didn't mind, but I wondered if that was standard procedure. He explained that having an influential figure visit would raise the prestige of the whole endeavor. I suggested the Demon King might be a better choice, but Michael-san noted that if I came, the rest of the Demon Kingdom’s dignitaries would follow suit.
Then his tone shifted. "Also... this is a bit difficult to say, but Lady Prada is the representative for Village Five. And since Joro is helping with the caravan, Beton will be coming along as an escort. It’s not that I don’t trust them, but... I’d appreciate it if they were reminded that the Village Head is keeping an eye on them."
Prada and Beton, huh? I didn't think of them as troublemakers, exactly, but they certainly had histories. I couldn't blame Michael-san for being cautious. I agreed to find time to visit the caravan. He promised to reward me with seafood, which I was happy to hear.
After Michael-san left, Lu dropped by. She’d overheard the conversation. "Are you really going to go offer encouragement?" she asked.
I told her I would, and that I'd take guards.
"I'm not worried about that," she said. "But if you're going to the capital, I want you to check on Alfred and the others."
Of course. I wanted to see the kids, as well as Gol, Sil, and Bron. Lu mentioned that Tia and Ann were worried, so she asked me to keep a particularly close eye on Tiselle and Torain. That was true; I’d have to check on them carefully. The report letters said there were no problems, but...
Oh, come to think of it, what happened with that one matter? The Head of the Selection Council. He was a relative of the Demon King, and there were rumors about him being involved with anti-establishment types. I’d been keeping an eye on it since Ifuls mentioned it in Shashato, but I’d been busy with Torain and ended up leaving the investigation to Lu and Tia.
"He’s no problem at all," Lu replied.
"Really?"
"It seems he just tricked the anti-establishment group into paying his way so he could get a free trip to the capital. He’s been having the time of his life in Village Five and Shashato. Apparently, he even blended into the crowd and participated in the parade."
Well, I suppose it's not a crime to enjoy a parade.
"I was planning to report on him after investigating his relationship with the Demon King a bit more, but if you're curious, I'll hurry it up."
"No, don't worry about it. I was just wondering. Take your time."
"Understood. Well, I expect the Demon King will be bringing him here soon anyway, so I'll have the details ready before then."
He was coming to the village? Then we’d have to give him a proper welcome.
"Exactly," Lu laughed. "We'll welcome him just like we always do."
Conversation at the Time of Trash Bin Installation
Angel Race: "Would it be unacceptable to have an arm-only Golem open the lid for us?" High Elf: "Why don't we just open it with magic and be done with it?" Dwarf: "Not everyone can use magic, you know." Civil Official Girls: "You step on it... and it opens. This is actually kind of fun." Beastman Race: "You shouldn't just keep flapping it open and shut for no reason. But... let me try it just one more time." Mountain Elf: "It's popular just because you step on it? Had we lost sight of this kind of simplicity?" High Ogre Maid: "Safety is also important. At least this won't explode."