Ch.50How to Spend Money

“This works.”

The aide looked at me and the parchment with a sour expression.

1,200 gold coins.

That was the amount written at the bottom of the parchment the aide was examining.

What kind of amount is this, you ask?

It’s the money earned from tourism in Amurtat over the course of one week.

That enormous sum of money was earned in just one week.

In short, the tourism business ‘I initiated’ was proceeding very successfully, which meant the aide who had been nitpicking about people’s reactions and budget concerns at every turn must now feel like a dog that had lost its chase.

I flashed a victorious smile at the aide, who could only furrow his already wrinkled face without saying a word.

“Hahaha! See?! I told you everything works out if you just listen to me!”

“Sigh…”

The aide pursed his lips and began looking through documents as if he didn’t want to talk to me. Finding it awkward to keep laughing alone, I sat back in my chair and started contemplating what I could do with 1,200 gold coins that would earn me a good reputation.

First of all, now that we could secure sustainable income through tourism, we could attempt projects with high maintenance costs. I should look into industries that require significant upkeep.

Hmm…

Ah, I had just the right thing.

“Aide?”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t we talk before about bringing in an Alchemist Guild?”

“Ah… yes, that’s right. The Adventurer’s Guild should have contacted us by now. The fact that they haven’t suggests they’re still sorting things out internally.”

“Are you telling me they still haven’t gathered a few alchemists after all this time?”

I replied with a furrowed expression.

The Adventurer’s Guild had been in Amurtat for over a year now, and they still couldn’t properly gather alchemists? This went beyond incompetence into the realm of deliberate negligence.

“There was a war, Your Highness. The Adventurer’s Guild was already at its administrative limit just gathering 20,000 adventurers.”

“Ah… right. That’s true.”

The war had been so unlike a war that I occasionally forgot it had happened at all.

How could a war end in a matter of hours, not even a day?

Since it was my first war, I had prepared everything including catapults and siege engines, but then the gates just opened by themselves.

“Well, if that’s the case, it can’t be helped. What about a Magic Tower then?”

“Ugh… a Magic Tower…”

The aide showed an immediate aversion to the words “Magic Tower.”

But I could understand his reaction, as I too had been burned many times by the forced events that Magic Towers triggered back when I played the game.

The destruction of a Magic Tower due to mana backflow was one thing, but having a tower suddenly turn into a dungeon without warning because one of the mages supposedly became a lich was the height of unfairness.

Nevertheless, the reason most players still tried to develop Magic Towers was that the benefits outweighed the losses from such events.

A Magic Tower is essentially an organization of mages. Just as people tend to settle in populated areas, mages tend to gravitate toward places with established Magic Towers.

Moreover, magic is a form of scholarship, and scholarship develops through exchange. Ambitious mages would reside in towers, becoming human magic copiers who train other mages and increase their numbers.

And most importantly, “artifacts.”

In this world, artifacts are magical items that “even ordinary people can use” (a very important factor), and naturally, only mages can create such items.

And that’s not all. Mages also make mana potions.

Mana potions are consumable artifacts created by imbuing “liquid” with “mana enchantment” magic.

“Magic Tower and Alchemist Guild. I’d like to invite both, but is it still too much?”

“I’m afraid so. It would be best to invite the Alchemist Guild first. After all, alchemists produce reagents that even mages use.”

“Then I suppose we’ll have to wait.”

“I’ll send someone to give the Adventurer’s Guild a ‘hint.'”

Here, “hint” meant raising hell.

The Adventurer’s Guild staff would be annoyed, but what could they do? If they harmed the messenger, their own heads would roll the same day.

Besides, it was a fact that they had promised to help bring in the Alchemist Guild but had neglected it until now.

Of course, they must have their own difficulties, but if I were to consider everyone’s circumstances, I should have given up on social interactions long ago.

Because as a ruler, I had little interest in the personal stories of my subordinates.

*

A month passed after that.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Allen, messenger of the Adventurer’s Guild. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

“Ah, yes. You came regarding the establishment of the Adventurer’s Guild. Welcome, Allen. May I expect good news this time as well?”

I know my reputation among the council members of the Adventurer’s Guild is good.

Having dealt with rulers who charge ahead without even considering their own mortality for decades, they probably see me as a proper gentleman simply because I’m “reasonable.”

And truthfully, despite my insistence, establishing an Alchemist Guild would certainly benefit the Amurtat branch of the Adventurer’s Guild.

Adventurers collect materials needed for alchemy, and alchemists provide healing potions, fire bombs, and all sorts of convenient items to the Adventurer’s Guild.

Currently, the Amurtat branch was in the position of buying surplus from the Fahrenheit Alchemist Guild, so attracting an Alchemist Guild was a long-cherished desire of the Adventurer’s Guild, if only for the sake of pride.

“Of course, Your Highness. Although we had to make quite a few concessions, our Adventurer’s Guild has secured a commitment from the Alchemist Guild to establish a branch in Amurtat.”

“Commitment. That’s a good word. So, what are the conditions?”

“Like the Adventurer’s Guild, they require land of a certain size. And similar to us, they demand the right to handle internal conflicts.”

“That much is acceptable. I grant permission.”

“Your Highness’s gracious decision is most appreciated.”

Land is essential for buildings and workshops, and the right to handle internal conflicts makes sense given the dangers of alchemy.

From explosives like gunpowder and dynamite to poisons like hydrochloric acid and cyanide, the nature of alchemy is such that without internal disciplinary authority, the guild might literally explode.

Besides, even if I grant them disciplinary rights, that’s only within the guild. If they commit crimes on the streets and get caught, they’ll face the unforgiving correction of the police.

And there were many other ways to keep the Alchemist Guild in check.

The most obvious was allowing people in but not materials. Without materials, alchemists would literally become unemployed, and since they don’t possess exceptional individual combat abilities, they would ultimately have to submit to me.

“So, when can they enter the city?”

“They said within a month after securing the commitment, but it will likely take longer. Alchemists need to bring all sorts of equipment…”

“Well, I can be lenient about delays. When there’s much to prepare, rushing only leads to mistakes. Tell the alchemists they need not hurry.”

“Your Highness is truly merciful. Oh, and I heard about your victory in the recent war. My congratulations are late. I sincerely congratulate you.”

“I’ve already received congratulations from the Adventurer’s Guild, so there’s no need for additional congratulations from you as the guild’s messenger, but thank you nonetheless. Is that all?”

“Yes, that is all. Then I shall take my leave.”

With those words, Allen bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Hmm… whenever I think about it, the messengers of the Adventurer’s Guild seem incredibly skilled at flattering rulers.

Is this what they call natural selection?

Perhaps all the messengers who didn’t flatter were beheaded, and only those with flattery skills that could put air purifiers to shame survived.

Anyway, I no longer need to worry about how to spend the money we’ve earned.

From now on, I’ll just have the pleasant task of spending money. As Allen departed, I began contemplating how to spend the money more effectively.

Of course, I could hear the aide sighing behind me, but I could cheerfully ignore that much.