episode_0036

Eri Astranor stared blankly at a corner of the office where the two had just been.

It’s been about 3 years since I felt I was getting tired of magic…

Eri was completely fed up with the wizards who only focused on who could use the biggest fireball, as if they were churning out spells in a factory.

She loved magic, but she thought the way it was done now was different.

In that case, it might be a good idea to try a little change of pace.

With that in mind, I accepted Kane’s offer.

Because you can’t spend all your time being lazy.

“Eri. Are those guys gone?”

“Ah, uh… … I left a little while ago.”

Eri answered leisurely to the voice heard from outside.

Squeak-

The person who opened the door and came in was a shaggy-haired man named Veden, who gave off a gloomy vibe.

He is a distant relative of hers, a collateral branch of the Astranor family.

Her magical abilities are just average by Eri’s standards, but they are excessive compared to her abilities.

She didn’t like the way he subtly looked down on Eri just because she was a year younger.

I especially don’t like the part where he pretends to be friendly in front of others, thinking he’s hiding it well.

“Eri. So, have you thought about what I said?”

“Uh… What was it about… … ?”

“Ah- That’s right!”

Beden began to tell his story excitedly.

Eri closed her ears and left him alone.

I vaguely remember what Beden said last time.

He came up with the brilliant idea of engraving a magic circle on the wand itself.

So when I asked how he was going to carve it, he said that if I gave him the investment money, he would use that money to start experimenting now.

I was so shocked that I didn’t even want to respond.

“Scrolls are just inconvenient to carry around! Anyway, our wizards carry wands, so if you engrave it here, any wizard will buy it!”

“Oh, oh oh… … .”

Eri gave a vague answer.

If you implant magic into your wand, you must use only the magic that was implanted.

If you use another magic while holding a staff with magic implanted in it, the two magics will clash.

If you’ve ever tried it, you’ll notice something strange right away.

When casting two spells at the same time, wizards usually omit the wand as a medium.

Otherwise, the two spells you cast could become entangled, leading to a backflow of magical power.

This was a fact known to all advanced magicians who used two magics simultaneously.

Of course, I also learn.

The Academy and Magic Tower tell you what happens when two types of magic collide, but you either forgot about it or you didn’t consider it at all.

If not, then perhaps he had no idea, and Beden thought his idea was quite extraordinary.

That’s why I’m like that, because I only have people around me who support me.

After all, nobles must be wary of praise.

Otherwise, you’ll just end up looking for the easy way out.

“How about it? As long as you have the funds of the Astranoor family, I’m ready at any time, Eri!”

“That seems like a really good idea… … .”

“Then, do you want to invest?”

“Um… But I think I should ask my parents too… ”

“Eri! You are the head of the Astra Nor family! This is something you should decide.”

“Since I’m still the next head of the household… … Then, can you at least make a business plan for me?”

“If that’s the case… Just wait a minute.”

Beden immediately left the office.

It looks like you’re going to start writing a business plan now.

I might stay up all night because I’m so excited.

After all, the first time is always the most enjoyable.

Of course, Eri has no intention of reading it.

It just gently teases Beden’s desires and makes him spin around in the same spot until he falls over from exhaustion.

Rather than calling it a petty revenge, it has to do with Eri’s nature of not being able to outright refuse.

It was Veden who tried to manipulate Eri as he pleased by only seeing that one side of her, so he had to bear the full brunt of this.

—

“… So. What happened today? I don’t remember calling you? ”

“Merchen. I need something.”

“Suddenly?”

After parting ways with Eri, I headed straight to Merhen’s house.

The reason is, of course, to obtain the magic stone mines needed to create the shape memory tablets.

“You need a magic stone mine. The bigger the better.”

“… Did you leave it to me?”

“Good story for you too.”

I explained about the shape memory tablet.

“That’s okay, but… … Is that investment recoverable?”

“You can sell it by raising the unit price.”

“Then what about demand? If it’s like you said, if a lot of people spend, it’ll make money.”

“That part is separate. Is there a mine other than that?”

“Of course… but you’re giving me money, right?”

“Merhen. What does it mean to be a good friend?”

“… … ? Are you asking for something for free again?”

I looked at her in silence, then opened my mouth because I thought this wasn’t it.

“Instead of the rights you promised to give up last time, you will receive the mine.”

“… Are you talking about the herb field in the eastern part of the empire? ”

“Yeah. Don’t you have the rights you said you’d give me?”

“Of course that’s true… … . Okay, then. But you shouldn’t say anything else later?”

“Okay.”

“If that’s the case… I’ll give you one of the mines in my family.”

Although the Calderon family also has mines, most of the mines that produce magical stones imbued with magic power have been completed.

Of course, you can buy it with money, but there is a world of difference between having a place to dig for it and not having one.

If the price is not right, having the option to buy it yourself can also help you negotiate the price more advantageously.

“Okay. Sign here, and I’ll empty the mine within a week. The rest is up to you.”

“Yeah.”

I looked over the contract Merhen had handed me.

I looked for any possible toxicity clauses, but found nothing unusual.

As soon as I signed the contract, Merhen immediately handed it over to his adjutant, Hakan.

The two of them talked back and forth, and then Hakan left the room.

“It’ll take about two weeks. I think the mine collapsed once. We’ll fix it.”

“You can take your time. It’s not urgent.”

With this, the most important magic stone is ready.

Since Eri was given a piece of paper with the general principles of the Magic Engineering Stone Tablet written on it, it shouldn’t take long for the spell to be completed.

Considering her aptitude and nature, this would suit her better than magic that strikes and destroys.

It would be a shame to only use the magic that allows you to do anything with your imagination in battle.

“Merhen. How’s the royal family? Is the trial going well?”

“It’s going smoothly. It looks like Goldwin is doing something behind the scenes… But for now, I’m just keeping an eye on it.”

“What is it?”

“Goldwin. I think that bastard is recruiting a vassal who is going to be tried behind the scenes. He’s going around telling people to stick to him in exchange for messing up the trial.”

“… Is that possible?”

“Most vassals who have joined forces with the evil spirit will have a hard time avoiding extreme punishment, so they will probably do it as a condition for their survival. From Goldwin’s perspective, he will regret losing one vassal position. Plus, it seems like he is trying to keep me in check.”

The palace’s vassals consist of a total of 100 nobles.

Of these, 52 vassals support the current emperor, leaving a total of 48 seats.

Among them, there are 22 vassals loyal to Goldwin.

The rest were either neutral or stragglers.

However, if all 20 positions are filled by Merhen’s people through the achievement of expelling 20 vassals and arresting those who were in collusion with the evil spirit, then Goldwin will also feel very burdened.

It seemed like Goldwin was taking a bit of a risk because he had to keep it in check.

“How much time is left for the trial?”

“So far, a total of 8 people have been tried, but the trials of the remaining 12 are pending.”

“What’s the situation? Do you think things will go as Goldwin thinks?”

“Considering the atmosphere of the royal family… It must be difficult. Isn’t it the last struggle? However.”

Merhen rolled her eyes as if she had no shame.

“I think it’ll take a little more time.”

“It’s different from what you said.”

“That’s right…! I didn’t know this would happen… … .”

Merhen lowered her head weakly.

She seems to be putting in some effort, but it doesn’t seem to be going well.

“Can’t you get rid of Goldwin?”

“If that’s the case, I should’ve done it a long time ago. This time, it seems there’s no one involved. It’s really lucky that he escaped like a ghost after doing so many dirty things behind the scenes.”

“Is that so.”

“Still, when this is over, there will be 20 people on my side. Most of the royal family has seen Goldwin being stubborn, so if I just take the position, it will be advantageous.”

Politics isn’t something that can be achieved just by raising your voice.

The more people on your side, the more powerful your speech becomes, but that only applies when there is trust.

Goldwin has now told too many lies whose intentions are obvious to anyone who looks at them.

I should have just done it in moderation and gotten out of there. People can’t always act the way they want.

One day, Goldwin will hit the ground and regret it.

Because of this misjudgment, he lost a significant portion of his future power.

“Oh, and about your family member. He’s going to be on trial soon. His name is… Greymore? Is that him?”

“That’s right.”

“It’s not like I’m sacrificing people or anything… I think it’ll probably end with a fine. Don’t worry too much.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Really? You seem to care quite a bit. Anyway, it’ll start soon, so if you want to see it, go. If not, you can wait here.”

Well, I have to do my job, so that’s why I do that.

As I’ve been wandering around dungeons lately, I’ve found myself with quite a bit of work to do.

I can’t possibly handle it alone.

“Let’s wait here.”

I plan to take him as soon as Greymore’s trial is over.

He must have had a hard time too, so I guess it’s okay to provide this level of service.

Because he’ll have to go through some hardships in the future too.