Episode 77

The ground was prepared, the arena opened, and one by one, the knights honed their bodies.

“Are you really going to include this in the festival?”

“Yes.”

I decided to introduce the games we played at the orphanage to the festival.

“Jousting, throwing objects to hit targets, and various other physical activities we had at the orphanage. We’re incorporating them into the festival as a form of ‘gambling’.”

“And the currency for that is…”

“This token, ‘Somnus Gold’, a currency only used at the festival.”

I took out a round wooden piece with a Somnus flower embedded in the middle.

“A special item worth 100 gold each, to be used as currency at the festival.”

“……”

“Rest assured. It’s just for fun at the festival. Production has already started, and promotion is underway.”

“Alright. I know that. The reason I called you today is…”

“Did Butler Malcolm have a word with you?”

“……”

The reason my father called me while I was busy preparing for the festival.

“You may speak freely.”

“‘Are you really going to spend such a budget on your lordship’s child’s play?’ he said.”

“You’re really telling it like it is.”

“Malcolm wouldn’t say such a thing in front of you.”

That’s true.

No one in the mansion would dare say such things directly to me.

“‘Your lordship seems to think that just because something worked well at the orphanage, everything will succeed, but the world isn’t so forgiving,’ he said.”

Even if they did speak, they did so in a roundabout way, and presenting it to me was always through a sanitized version of any harsh criticism.

“Grey. This is-”

“Is that so? According to Sir Robert, ‘That fool Grey is squandering the Margrave’s estate with his foolishness’.”

“……Who said that?”

“It’s too late to go after them. Appropriate measures have already been taken. Instead.”

I shrugged lightly and shook the Somnus Gold again.

“While we’re on the subject, we need to see how this Somnus Gold will be used.”

“Watching?”

“Yes. Currently, Gibraltar’s territory is bustling with merchants coming from outside.”

Gibraltar was hosting a light-hearted festival.

It’s not a grand party with nobles, but a festival featuring a night market on the streets and various events, attracting merchants.

“We’ve already sent news to neighboring territories about the festival date.”

“Trading companies from Seville and Malaga arrived this morning and submitted their commercial activity permits.”

Merchants went wherever there’s money to be made.

“Malcolm was talking to them about the use of the festival currency and settlement. Is this really okay?”

“Worrying about the estate’s assets, no doubt. Butler Malcolm is truly a loyal servant.”

That’s not sarcasm; I meant it sincerely.

“All transactions at the festival will be conducted in Somnus Gold, and when the collected Somnus Gold is submitted to the count’s estate, an equivalent amount of gold will be paid.”

My father rubbed his forehead.

“I can already picture a dozen scenarios.”

“In what way?”

“Merchants playing tricks.”

My father spread three fingers.

“Inflating achievements.”

“Bringing in Somnus Gold not earned from selling goods but asking for it to be settled.”

“Currency forgery.”

“Some merchants will cut wood chips and attach Somnus flowers to them.”

“…Using real gold secretly.”

“Initially, they would prefer to trade with real gold anyway, to avoid the hassle.”

There might be various other shallow tricks by merchants, but-

“It sounds like you actually want to see that happen.”

“Yes.”

In fact, that’s exactly what I wished for.

“Aren’t you curious? To what extent humans will creatively play tricks for their own profit.”

“Since it’s not gold, we can’t judge them for committing a crime with it.”

“I’m aware. I’m prepared to take the loss, and it will be covered from my own pocket.”

“…I understand you want to experiment with the merchants, but what exactly are you aiming for with this?”

My father tapped the pile of plans I had submitted, which lay in front of him.

“Do you really think everything will go as you anticipate?”

“Not everything. I can’t predict the future.”

“But you have listed ‘all possible scenarios’ you can think of at the bottom of this proposal.”

“Yes.”

Based on my experience as the traitor, Margrave Grey.

“If everything written here happens, it would be another opportunity for me to prove myself to you.”

I have listed all possible scenarios I could think of where merchants might try to exploit this ‘fake currency’ to cheat Gibraltar.

“And if there are ingenious and creative ways I haven’t thought of?”

“Such individuals should be kept close.”

“Yes.”

Was there someone outside the realm of possibilities?

It’s one or the other.

“A being beyond the ideas of a genius.”

A being surpassing the long experience and accumulated data of the infamous traitor, Margrave Grey.

“Or, a genius surpassing genius Grey.”

Or someone with a natural talent in commerce - different from my case, a specialty of the Kingdom of Nostrum.

“The former is a criminal deserving execution, but the latter is a hero who must be recruited.”

“A hero of commerce, then?”

“Such a being might appear. When the empire’s currency comes in and the whole country owes a debt to the empire, a hero who can erase all that debt at once.”

“I didn’t expect ‘heroic omnipotence’ to come from your mouth.”

“It’s a joke. Just hoping.”

I didn’t believe in heroes.

All those heroes were killed by the emperor.

“You never know. Like throwing a net with Ethan Cesar and catching a big fish.”

“That would truly be a stroke of luck, so your aim is the former.”

Eventually, my father took out the seal.

“Fine. If there are bugs crawling under the bed, and if those bugs are the biting kind, there’s no harm in exterminating them.”

Thud.

“But remember,”

My father gave his approval.

“In the end, you will be considered a fool, and the jackals will…”

“Think of me as an easy target to exploit.”

“…….”

“Just as a mosquito views a human as a dumb giant, not realizing the human is aware of its presence, waiting with tension at the bitten spot.”

“Those who cling to the strong are easier to handle than the weak who believe they are smarter than the strong.”

All of this was both an investment and bait.

“To uncover the parasites that cling to Grey Gibraltar and suck the blood of Gibraltar, I am willing to wade into the muck.”

“…….”

“While this process may dirty the house, that’s why I’m living separately, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Thanks to living apart in the orphanage for some time now… people say you’re a child left out.”

The reality was to divert attention away from the two princesses.

Also, to train privately, far from my father.

“…Grey, it’s not my place to say.”

“Does it seem like the thoughtless act of a child to you?”

“…….”

“Does it seem like a child, ignoring adults, thinking they’re a genius, and acting arrogantly?”

I was well aware of what people thought of all these actions.

“It might be disappointing for the person directly involved, but that’s why more is said behind the back.”

“Grey.”

“What do you think, Father?”

“I think it’s lacking.”

My father spoke gravely.

“After all, catching mosquitoes won’t allow you to catch a vampire.”

“It feels like the comparison just got significantly bigger.”

“Catching a few minnows and then jumping into the sea with a net will only make you food for the Kraken. Or eaten by sharks.”

“…….”

My father glanced at the box where the muskets were kept.

“Can we really face the empire with this? I don’t know much about this area to help, so I can only trust and support you…”

Even if my father trusted me, he couldn’t ignore what the surrounding vassals say.

“They think of your actions as child’s play.”

“The child’s play of a 13-year-old.”

“That’s why I’m worried about you. You-”

“If you think I’ll be hurt, you’re greatly mistaken.”

I was fine.

“Rather, it’s better. They’ll come sniffing the blood from the wounds, sucking the blood and feeling safe.”

Such reactions were part of the plan, serving as a perfect smokescreen to conceal the truth.

“Unaware that the blood contains poison.”

“Grey.”

“Father. I believe that’s true poisoning.”

Not killing instantly.

“The moment you realize you’ve been unknowingly poisoned and suddenly drop dead.”

A small amount of poison accumulates, piling up, until it’s too late to do anything.

“While trapped in a dream-like illusion, not even realizing you’re dying.”

Even if the quick-witted parasites secretly fled, it would be too late by then.

“Trapped in a dream forever, not realizing that their real selves are already dead.”

Late at night.

“Ah, it’s so damn noisy.”

Relying on the light of a mana stone with Light magic, Arshen Gilalrus was annoyed by the noise outside as he rapidly moved his quill pen.

“To think they’d disturb the concentration of this great mage just to earn a measly sum. Tsk…”

Outside the window.

Despite the late hour, people were busily moving around.

They were securing wooden pillars to the ground to prevent them from falling, spreading tents above, and assembling stalls below.

“All day long, those trash who can’t even earn more than my daily wage by selling items at inflated prices dare to interrupt my precious research time… Tsk tsk.”

He’d like to scream out loud if he could, but that’s not an option.

“It’s the order of the Margrave of Gibraltar! Merchants, you have one hour to complete the setup! If you make noise late into the evening, I’ll arrest you for noise pollution!”

“Your voice is louder, you low-ranking knight with nothing but a loud voice.”

Arshen muttered quietly, not to be heard, in response to the booming voice coming from outside.

“Damn. How much time is left? 1 hour? Ah, this is driving me crazy.”

He knew that the reason he’s here was actually because of the festival.

The lodging and even the travel expenses are not out of his own pocket but were supported by the Margrave of Gibraltar. If he successfully completed the job, he’d even receive a bonus from Duke Morgania.

To fire off fireworks magic towards the night sky on the festival day for 5 million (+ bonus), it’s imperative not to disturb the festival.

“Sigh…”

But this presented a problem.

The ideas and basic theories detailed on this parchment could be worth not 5 million but 500 million—a technology of invaluable worth that can’t be quantified.

“If it weren’t for the contract…”

Knock knock knock.

Suddenly, there was a knock from outside.

“…….”

Arshen hurriedly tidied up the desk, then got up with a sly smile and approached the door.

Creak.

“Ah, hello.”

As the door opened, a woman with slightly faded gray hair holding a basket of flowers was waiting outside.

“Gray hair, brown eyes… Right.”

“Th-thank you for your patronage…!”

An out-of-place, worn peasant dress for a hotel setting.

Yet, somewhat peculiarly, a woman wearing a pink scarf around her neck.

A certain type of human, known only to those who know.

“Um… Mr. Gilalrus?”

“Yes.”

“I, I’m Mayen, here to sell flowers…”

“Come in.”

Gilalrus licked his lips and let Mayen inside.

Creak, click.

As the door closed, Gilalrus placed his hand on Mayen’s waist, guiding her towards the bed.

“First-”

Suddenly.

“Uh…?!”

Mayen suddenly attacked Arshen from behind.

“Cough, gurk…! Hey…! Such rough play wasn’t requested, uh?!”

The moment Arshen tried to resist while falling onto the bed, his eyes widened at something being forced into his mouth.

“You won’t be able to use magic. If you resist, you’ll die.”

“Uh, uhuh…!”

Beyond the flowing gray hair.

“You’ll have to become my shadow for a day tomorrow. So…”

“El, Elf?!”

Pointy ears seemed to flicker into view.

“Haah. Look at you, trying to resist as a mage. No choice. I didn’t want to use this.”

Mayen extracted something from between her breasts and swiftly positioned her hand, shaped like a clamp, over Arshen’s face.

“From now on, you’ll become one of my kin.”

“Uh, uhuh!!”

Brown eyes gradually began to redden.

“Still, I’ll give you a good experience before you die as a human. Ah.”

Smoothly.

“It’s probably just a dream, though.”

As Mayen’s fingers twitched lightly, white powder drifted from her fingertips towards Arshen’s nose.

The day of the festival dawned.