Black Gold (10)

After spending a day in the detached palace, as the next day dawned, Richard appeared carrying a heavy load of luggage, accompanied by three women. Among them, the youngest-looking woman approached and bowed to me. It was a greeting that did not deviate from noble etiquette.

“I greet the master of the Ingrad Domain.”

“I am Diane of House Drin.”

“What is your relationship with Mr. Richard?”

“I am his mother.”

Thinking once again that this world was truly full of irony, I extended my hand and spoke.

“I am the Viscount of Ingrad. It seems you have made up your mind?”

“That is correct.”

“Since I heard that you would employ my daughters as well as Richard, I was able to decide.”

“I judged it wiser to enter as a vassal of a noble family with a certain future like yours, Viscount, rather than waste away writing mediocre prose or serving as a common maid.”

She felt quite firm. It was no different from proudly declaring she would become a ‘vassal.’ Thinking she was an interesting woman, I spoke.

“The actual contract will be signed at the domain, but becoming a ‘vassal’ will require a fair amount of effort.”

“Of course. That is exactly what I hope for.”

After acknowledging her, I was introduced to Richard’s two older sisters. The eldest, who had been working as a librarian, was named Lucia, and the second, who had been receiving training as a palace maid, was named Bella. Since it was our first meeting and we were moving immediately after introductions, everyone looked bewildered by the direction we were heading. Richard asked on their behalf.

“This is the way to the Imperial Palace; why… are we going here?”

“We plan to go straight to the domain via teleportation.”

“What?!”

Richard’s family was startled, and for good reason—teleportation was not a simple method of travel that just anyone could use.

“It is because I am a lord with permission for free movement.”

At those words, Richard’s family members were surprised again. Following me with faces full of disbelief, they finally stood before the teleportation magic circle and looked at me in shock. Just then, the Chief Attendant caught me before I could teleport.

“Before you depart, there was an order for you to come for a moment.”

“….Do you have something more to say?”

“You may hear that once you have an audience.”

After agreeing, I asked my party for their understanding. Richard was once again surprised by the fact that I was involved with the imperial family enough to have an audience with the Empress. Now turning pale, he glanced at Linda and Matilda; he likely wanted to ask them a few questions once I left. Still, I could not keep the Empress waiting, so I immediately moved with the Chief Attendant. Upon arriving at the Audience Chamber, I felt curious at the sight of several knights guarding the entrance.

“Is something happening?”

“You will know once you enter.”

I nodded and entered the Audience Chamber, only to find that the Empress was not alone.

“….I did not expect there to be someone here before me, Your Majesty.”

“No. You arrived just at the right time, so I was thinking it was fortunate.”

“Is something the matter?”

The atmosphere was serious. Furthermore, the attire of the three people inside was unfamiliar, which naturally made me curious. It was then.

“Is this the man called the Viscount of Ingrad?”

“Indeed. He is the person who quickly reported the current situation and delivered information.”

I was slightly surprised by the fact that the Empress did not speak down to this person. Then, I was shocked by the identity of the person who reached out to greet me.

“Nice to meet you, Viscount Ingrad. I am Isildur de Dradnos of Dradnos.”

Those who introduced themselves this way were usually high-ranking nobles or individuals representing a nation. Dradnos was another empire that divided the Central Continent in two. While it did not share a border with the Terakan Empire, it was located not too far away. Its national power was considerable, and being a country situated in mountainous terrain, it boasted many minerals, superior smelting methods, and a strong army. That was the extent of my knowledge, but I cautiously asked Isildur, who spoke like a representative of such a nation.

“My knowledge is shallow, but… might you be a member of the imperial family?”

It was unexpectedly the Empress who answered my question.

“He is the same as me. You should show proper etiquette.”

I was startled, and as he looked at me and laughed with an amused expression, I had to show respect and greet him to a degree that was not excessive.

“I did not expect to see you, whose rumors are widespread across the continent, but I think it turned out well thanks to this.”

“For what reason did you wish to meet me…?”

“The Master of Terakan contacted me because of the medicine you make. They asked if I would cooperate.”

I looked at the Empress first to understand the situation. Receiving my gaze, she handed a document to an attendant. When it was brought to me and I examined the contents, I felt a throbbing headache. ‘An alliance… Using the suspicious movements of the Demon Tribe as a pretext, the two empires intend to form an alliance. But an unofficial alliance? Is this not closer to cooperation than a literal alliance?’ The information written in the document was simple. It detailed the movements and scale of the Demon Tribe and the current war situation. It suggested cooperation under the guise of having to face the Demon Tribe if the front lines collapsed. Terakan would strive to maintain the Atoon Kingdom by ousting Jillien, who currently ruled Atoon. Dradnos would cooperate by preventing the collapse of the Mirkas Federation through sponsorship or direct support. ‘When the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold… is that it?’

“This is our intent. Therefore, I thought your help was necessary.”

“What must I do for you?”

“I want you to turn most of the medicine production toward healing agents.”

“If that happens, the losses I will incur will be unimaginably large.”

I had existing clients. They were telling me to throw away all those volumes and only make healing agents. Bluntly put, even for an Empress, this was an excessive instruction. The Empress could not be unaware of this. I could tell that the catalyst for this request lay with the Dradnos Empire; I intended to refuse if it was not reasonable. Sensing my aura, the Empress let out a sigh and spoke.

“I will pay double the price for the healing agents and provide compensation for the losses as well. It is a matter of life and death.”

“It is a matter of life and death for me as well. As I have mentioned before, I am a noble who is closer to a merchant. I acknowledge that you are offering a generous price, but there is a limit to the amount I can earn from healing agents, even if I receive double the price. Frankly, even with just the ‘Blessing of God’ currently being sold, if the same volume is sold, the profit I can earn is more than ten times that of healing agents. Please understand that if you ask me to endure a unilateral loss, I have no choice but to refuse.”

The Empress pressed her temples as if she had a headache. It was then that Emperor Isildur spoke to me.

“If we lose the war, what use will all the things you sell be in the end? Would not the title of the protagonist who led the war to victory be more plausible?”

I wanted to snap at him to stop talking nonsense. The Empire had no reason to fall anyway. I knew they were using Atoon and the Mirkas Federation as breakwaters because of the continuous loss of national power.

“I do not desire such fame. I can increase the production volume of healing agents, but an instruction to turn all production schedules only to healing agents is one I must refuse. Furthermore, I know it is specified in imperial law that a lord can refuse an order that could cause excessive damage. However, even if my conduct is displeasing, please look upon me with generosity.”

The atmosphere felt chilled. But what was wrong was wrong. However, at this moment, the Empress began to laugh. After laughing to herself for a long while, she spoke to Emperor Isildur.

“Did I not tell you? That he would refuse.”

“I see. It seems he is a ‘merchant’ who thinks of profit more than fame.”

“If that is the case, it is the same for us. Viscount Ingrad.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“If you increase production, how much is possible?”

It seemed they were testing me. Though I felt offended, I answered the question first.

“Up to five times the current amount is possible.”

“I see. Then increase the production volume to that extent.”

“The Empire will take all the volume and pay up to three times the price. Do you have any objections?”

Three times the original price was a pretty good price. And if the war could stabilize slightly through this, I could say it was not a loss for me at all.

“I shall do so.”

“I understand. I will send the contract with the Princess later. So, I hope you take preliminary measures. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Empress then gestured for me to leave; I could not help but feel subtly offended. She was likely acting authoritarian because the Emperor of another empire was right in front of her. Thinking that my resentment toward the Empress, who did not even glance at my hurt feelings, was only increasing for no reason, I had to turn back. ‘I need to prepare armaments quickly… This is quite unpleasant.’ I felt that having no power was truly sorrowful at times. I immediately returned to the place where the teleportation magic circle was. Since Linda and Matilda were looking at me with stiff expressions after sensing my mood, I left word that we should talk after moving and returned to the domain immediately.

When I told Linda and Matilda what happened with the Empress, their expressions became serious. Linda’s question followed.

“Is the war situation very bad?”

“It was a situation that could only get worse anyway. Whether it is Atoon or the Mirkas Federation….”

“The axis of power was somehow being maintained, but things started to go strangely because of that damned Prince.”

“What is the reason they only want healing agents?”

“They are probably trying to buy time.”

That was the only reason I could think of. Buying time. If I thought about it carefully, if the defensive lines of Atoon or the Mirkas Federation were breached, it was certain that it would not take long for the kingdoms themselves to collapse. But what if the Terakan or Dradnos Empires were in a state where no defenses were prepared at the locations that would become the borders? They would certainly struggle to maintain Atoon and the Mirkas Federation somehow. They would not want the imperial territory to be trampled before preparations were complete… When I spoke about that, Matilda and Linda said it could be so. Afterward, they decided on a course of increasing the production of healing agents themselves. Matilda then said we should also prepare. Matilda gave the reason.

“Although the Forest of the Demon Dragon is protecting us, I believe we cannot be said to be safe if the Demon Tribe pushes into the Ishtain Domain and that place becomes the front line.”

“Why is that?”

“I heard that because the Demon Tribe can fly, they sometimes infiltrate adjacent domains and cause trouble.”

At the thought that they would have to come toward our domain if that were truly the case, my head began to throb.

“We need to quickly increase the supply of iron ore…”

“Armament is important, but I think it is also important to prepare for enemies attacking from the air.”

At Linda’s words, my complicated head began to throb. Frankly, there were no personnel capable of long-range attacks in our domain. Everyone was just a physical-type beastkin through meat-bullet charges. There were a few avian beastkin who could fly, but I did not think they could handle the Demon Tribe on their own. So, while contemplating the need to manufacture defensive tools, I wondered if Richard coming to our domain was perhaps the pull of fate or something like that. I immediately picked up paper and began to draw several sketches from my memory. ‘To think that the memory of an army maintenance soldier would be helpful… But can I really make this?’ It was a moment of serious contemplation.