episode_0167

“The royal family came to visit?”

When I heard that a carriage with royal emblems had arrived near the city, my first suspicions arose.

Why on earth? What are you doing here? It was a question.

However, the doubt did not last long. Because of the tall magic tower clearly entering my field of vision.

“Ah… … . Is the princess coming?”

Considering that the princess showed great interest in building a branch of the alchemy school in my territory, it was natural that she would come visit.

Considering the distance from the capital, they may have set off immediately after receiving notification that the magic tower was completed. It was not possible to understand the person in great detail because the time spent face to face was not long, but due to the princess’s personality, it was considered 100% certain.

[If it’s a carriage with royal emblems, the princess must be riding it, right?]

[princess? Oh, the princess I mentioned last time who likes alchemy?]

Since they had briefly talked about the princess after returning from the capital, Amy spoke as if she remembered it right away.

[that’s right. I guess they contacted me to say that the Magic Tower was completed, so they came to see it in person. So, how long do you think it will take for the carriage to reach the city?]

[The carriage doesn’t move very fast, so it will take some time. It’s almost like walking, so it takes at least 30 to 40 minutes to get to the checkpoint.]

[I’ll be there soon, so can you take care of it without any problems?]

Amy grumbled, “It’s a bit inconvenient to meet a princess,” but she immediately started giving me various instructions in response to my request.

They instructed people around them to open the checkpoints set aside for nobles, and ordered them to bring in more estate soldiers and skeleton soldiers in the name of ensuring their safety since the visitors were royals.

Although Amy appeared like a mercenary, usually going out to play and receiving requests, she was definitely the lord’s wife. Of course he had that level of authority.

I noticed through the stigma that Amy was moving hard, and I walked towards the magic tower in front of me.

Normally, I would have gone out to greet the royal family when they visited, but since I still had time, I didn’t mind stopping by the Magic Tower first. Moreover, there was a reason to visit the Magic Tower depending on the royal family’s visit.

Anyway, as I entered the magic tower in front of me, the guards standing guard at the entrance spotted me and immediately opened the door. Since they were not only using humans as guards but also undead, there was no need to go through any procedures to verify that I was correct.

As I passed through the door of the magic tower that opened with a squeak and went inside, I saw an empty interior. It is as large as 8 floors, and this is because the number of alchemists who would use this place was not very large.

Since the number of alchemists brought from the capital was only about a dozen, it was natural that the eight-story magic tower was empty. Moreover, it looked even more empty because the researchers who were supposed to be collaborating with the alchemists had left to build the weaving mill.

“Lord!”

As I was looking at the empty first floor, I heard a voice calling me from somewhere and I turned my gaze. There were two alchemists sitting there, and as soon as I turned my head to meet their gazes, they appeared to be bowing their heads.

I already had to call in the alchemists, but I thought it worked out well, so I immediately ordered the two to call in all the other alchemists. Although the princess is coming, it was possible because my authority was the highest until she arrived here.

Anyway, as I waited for a while after giving instructions, about a dozen alchemists appeared one by one. I don’t know if it was because they were suddenly called in while they were doing alchemy, but there were a few people who looked sulky.

“The reason I called you this is not for any other reason, but because I have something to ask for your cooperation. I have to build a building this time, and I want to build a building using lime paste like when I built the Magic Tower. I’d like some help there. Of course, compensation for cooperation will be paid separately.”

“Compensation… … ! Just order anything!”

When it was said that compensation would be provided separately, all the alchemists nodded their heads. I briefly heard that a lot of the funds for alchemy had already been used up, and that seemed to be true.

Still, perhaps thanks to this, I was able to manipulate the alchemists as I wanted. Even now, there are people who go to the researchers right away and convince them that they will build a building.

“The researchers also have something to do right now, so we decided to cooperate a little more slowly. First of all, just three people, starting with the senior one, follow me.”

“Yes? Why are we… … ?”

The senior school member who was suddenly called in looked at me with a look of puzzlement, as if he had been planning to build a building and go do alchemy right away.

“It looks like the princess is coming. All I know is that the royal carriage is coming, but I don’t know who’s riding it yet. Still, there is a high possibility that the princess will come, right?”

“Ah, do you mean the head of the school is coming?”

A total of three alchemists, starting with the senior academy member, came straight to my side, probably thinking that they should leave if the princess was visiting, even if it was no one else.

Since there was nothing more to see at the Magic Tower, he immediately took the three alchemists and headed towards the south gate where the royal carriage would arrive.

By moving quickly along the wide road in the commercial district while riding a skeleton cart, they were able to arrive before the royal carriage reached the south gate.

“As of current time, the checkpoint at the South Gate is temporarily closed! Those who want to enter the city should use the west and east gates!”

It would have been easy to simply add more security, but it seemed like Amy was thinking that there might be an unexpected accident and was making greater preparations. Even if I am a noble, it would be a very big deal if a problem were to arise with the royal family in my territory.

It felt a little excessive, but it wasn’t a bad choice. Amy had enough authority to do that.

“Andrew!”

As I was watching the territory soldiers work hard to control those trying to enter the city, Amy, who seemed to have sensed my approach, came to my side.

“It looks like they decided to close the south gate altogether. good job. If an accident were to occur, it would be a big problem.”

“Accidents usually happen in places like this. How many cities did I enter and exit while working as a mercenary? Are you saying that among those who receive a contract, there are some who just wait in front of the checkpoint and stab them? I have also seen it myself.”

“… … Without even thinking about the future?”

“Those who are confident enough to run away, or those who have nothing to lose, do so.”

I thought that Amy coped well with what she said. Since they were royals, it was clear that there would be guards, so the probability of an actual accident occurring was significantly low, but the probability was not completely zero.

Anyway, thanks to Amy, I didn’t have to worry anymore, so I waited for the carriage with the royal emblem to approach.

Still, it seemed like it would still take more than ten minutes for the carriage to completely reach the city, so I turned my attention to the soldiers. I could see people trying to enter the city diligently diverting towards the west and east gates.

“People are good at following control.”

“Is it because you’re so used to skeletons? There aren’t many people who would think otherwise when they see that?”

I felt puzzled for a moment when I saw Amy talking as if she was pounding, but I soon understood. With skeletons glaring at me from the side, burning the green natural flowers, it was only natural for me to follow the controls unless I was extremely strong-hearted.

To me, I didn’t think of it as a skeleton that was nothing more than a useful tool, but to other people, it was like a symbol of fear. At least the residents of my territory showed somewhat familiar reactions.

“Large… … .”

Feeling embarrassed for no reason, I cleared my throat and turned my gaze towards the carriage again. As we got closer to the city, the carriage seemed a little bigger.

And, as I waited a little more leisurely, the carriage came up to where I was.

The carriage had a large royal emblem engraved on it, and was so large that as many as six horses pulled it. In addition, dozens of what appeared to be escort knights were protecting the area around the carriage.

Just by looking at it, it looked like you wouldn’t expect an ordinary person to be riding it.

In reality, the person riding was no ordinary person. As I expected, the princess, the head of the alchemy school and the daughter of the king, was on board.

The princess got off the carriage under the escort of her knights and smiled softly as she saw me waiting.

“It’s been a while. Viscount Steele. How have you been? I heard that they built a magic tower.”

Of course, there was a reason to smile. It seemed as if all his attention was already focused on alchemy, and he was talking about the Magic Tower. He even gave a subtle glance to the alchemists I brought with him.

Seeing that the princess seemed to still have a keen interest in alchemy, I nodded, even though I thought it was still the same.

“Thanks to the princess, I was doing well. It is true that the Magic Tower was built.”

“Magic Tower… … . I’m really curious how they made it.”

The princess shivered as if she wanted to see the magic tower right away.

“Princess. First of all, I think it would be best to tell you what you told me to convey.”

“Ah… … . Yes. Viscount Steele. Is there a place where we can have a comfortable conversation? It would be better if it was a place where we could have a quiet conversation.”

But the princess could not run straight to the magic tower. This is because the knight who seemed to be the leader of the escort knights reminded me of something I had obviously forgotten.

Of course, that didn’t mean that my feelings for the Magic Tower disappeared. There was a strong expression of deep regret on his face.

Seeing the princess like that, he shrugged his shoulders and guided her to the magic tower. This is because there was a space in the Magic Tower where one could have a quiet and comfortable conversation without anyone eavesdropping.

At the same time, it is possible to immediately satisfy the princess’s curiosity and make a good impression.

However, it seemed like it was a bit too much to make a good impression.

When everyone arrived at the magic tower in a carriage, the princess, who was looking at the magic tower as if she were possessed by something, let out a startling sound.

“Is this really a magic tower?”

“Yes. It is a magic tower for the school where the princess is the head of the school.”

“Viscount Steel. Do you have any plans to make the princess your wife?”

I couldn’t say anything with my mouth wide open at the sight of the princess who seemed like she could get married as long as she had this magic tower.

“Wow, princess!”

“… … sorry. I couldn’t control my joy when I saw the Magic Tower.”

Fortunately, the princess probably didn’t mean what she said, so she apologized to the guard knight who was startled, saying it was a mistake.

Looking at the gaze that seemed to be looking at dazzling gold and silver treasures, it seemed like he was sincere.

Of course, I couldn’t point that out, so I immediately moved towards the top floor of the magic tower, accompanied by the princess and her knights. It was a space that the alchemists had set aside for the princess, the head of the school, to use, and it was the perfect place for quiet conversation.