TNM CH 91

Chapter 91

“Not too bad. But how did you find out about this and investigate it?”

I grabbed some other documents from the desk and handed them to Aden.

“I took a quick look at the nearby terrain when I visited Rippleton directly before. I remembered that and did some research, and just as I thought, I discovered a large vein of iron ore.”

Rippleton was the only territory with conscription rights.

The reason was to deal with the magical beasts that came pouring out of the Harmonia Mountains.

But having soldiers wasn’t the end of it.

They needed equipment to arm them, and the main material for that was iron.

“I had seen some data from Lord Nemir of Rippleton before. The biggest chunk of Rippleton’s expenses was for weapons and armor.”

I tapped my finger on the map over the area where the mine was presumed to be.

Aden’s eyes, which had been tinged with embarrassment just moments ago, were now filled with excitement and anticipation.

If iron mines were discovered and mining started, it could somewhat relieve the financial troubles that had been plaguing Rippleton.

“This mine could solve that. But the problem is that the surface ownership is Rippleton’s, but the ownership underneath is murky.”

Mines were usually in the mountains, and the mountains had owners.

But nobody wanted to claim Harmonia, so the nobles shifted all the rights to Rippleton.

“The mountain where the mine is presumed to be involves three territories. The ridiculous thing about imperial law is that if Rippleton starts digging tunnels and mining the iron, those territories can claim ownership, and there’s not much Rippleton can say about it.”

“That’s absurd. They just threw that land at Rippleton, and now they want to claim ownership because it’s useful?”

“It’s possible under imperial law. So before you start mining, you need to contact them and get a written agreement stating that they’re giving up ownership from the heavens to the earth.”

Because they hadn’t done that three years ago, Bozbourne had been able to manipulate Brilloxen.

“Then we need to hurry and send someone.”

“I’ve already sent someone.”

“…You’ve already acted?”

I smiled at the surprised Aden.

When things aren’t certain, you have to prepare to get the best results.

It might seem a bit rushed, but that was the only way to ensure they wouldn’t be late.

“I told Lord Nemir to make contact in a representative capacity. I heard you signed it… didn’t you see it?”

By the look on his face, he must not have seen it.

Or maybe he saw it and just brushed it off.

I thought maybe I should have explained it to him beforehand, but I hadn’t had the mental energy for that back then.

“So leave the contact with them to me, and Aden, we have a place to go together.”

Setting up a mine was going to be a tough and labor-intensive job, especially since this mine was in the beast-infested Harmonia.

“The Redboron Mountains aren’t as bad as Harmonia, but they’re famous for having a lot of magical beasts. A hundred lords found a mine here and set it up, and we can use that as a reference to proceed with Harmonia as well.”

“So you’re saying we have to go see it in person?”

“We could work without seeing it, but since we have a sample, there’s no reason to ignore it. Above all, it can help lower the risk. Brilloxen has never had experience breaking into a vein in a mountain with magical beasts.”

I took a step to the side, directing my gaze toward Aden as he looked over at the Redboron Mountains.

“Choose. Do you want to go check it out yourself, or should we send someone to check it out? That’s up to you.”

When considering which option is safer and less risky, the answer was pretty obvious.

* * *

“Where are you going, Master?”

Wilkins complained as he chased after Medea, who was darting around on her little legs without seeming to tire.

It had already been two hours of trailing Medea as she roamed the massive mansion.

‘Why does that old lady have such good stamina? Is she using magic or something?’

As a wizard who was bound to have poor stamina, Wilkins’ was below average.

Chasing Medea around had him almost drooling from exhaustion.

“Master…”

“Don’t you have anything to do? Why do you keep following me around?”

“I’m not following you! Can’t you just take care of what Sierra asked before she left?”

Before leaving the mansion, Sierra had asked him to interpret a letter supposedly left by Ezekiel Ross.

It was quite a lengthy letter written in runes.

Runes were the language of promises, and other wizards couldn’t interpret it.

The only one who could interpret that letter was Medea, who had been Ezekiel Ross’s master.

“I can interpret that idiot’s letter later. That’s not what’s important right now.”

If that’s not important, then what is?

Wilkins couldn’t understand why this old lady, who lived for interpreting magic books, would push that aside.

“So if you could just let me know what you’re trying to do, I can help. Just wait a moment…”

“You’re more annoying than a fly buzzing around. Just go away already.”

“A fly?!”

“I don’t need any help from your flailing hands, so go back.”

That old lady.

Wizards didn’t believe in gods, and of course, Wilkins didn’t either.

But there were times when, being around Medea, he desperately hoped that maybe, just maybe, there was a god out there.

‘If there is a god, please send a lightning bolt just for that old lady. I can’t stand living under her.’

“You have a face that looks like you’d welcome divine punishment.”

Wilkins avoided looking at Medea, who was narrowing her eyes at him.

With a sly smile, Medea snapped her fingers.

At that moment, Medea vanished.

For a moment, Wilkins stood there dumbfounded, mouth agape at what had just happened.

While he was distracted, Medea had slipped into the study that Sierra frequently visited.

As Medea slowly scanned the empty, quiet room, she shook her head.

“Not here either.”

She clicked her tongue and looked around.

For the last two days, she’d been wanting to get rid of this dirty feeling that had been bothering her.

It was an unpleasant sensation, like a disgusting smell wafting through her nose.

“There’s definitely a trace of dark magic here.”

What bothered Medea was the faint residue of dark magic.

Her foolish apprentice Wilkins was too weak to notice anything.

But Medea’s senses couldn’t be fooled.

Yet even she couldn’t pinpoint where it was coming from.

It would seem to get closer, then suddenly feel far away, then close again.

Even while tracing the traces with magic, they would suddenly vanish.

Medea couldn’t tolerate this disgusting trace that was ruining her mood.

Especially now that it was certain Flora had collapsed due to dark magic, finding another trace of dark magic was a dangerous omen.

“Ugh… ugh… are you here? What on earth are you doing here…?”

Wilkins appeared before Medea, who was still scanning the study.

Out of breath after using magic and completely exhausted, Medea shook her head in disappointment at his state.

“Couldn’t you use that nose of yours to find something other than just me?”

“Ugh… what are you talking about…?”

Totally useless.

With a look that said she had nothing more to say, Medea turned to leave.

This time, without using magic, she walked away, and Wilkins stumbled after her.

“Ma-master… let’s go together! Together!”

“You clingy little brat.”

As Medea snapped her fingers again, she vanished in an instant.

Wilkins, who had been following her, slumped down to the ground where she had been, letting out a hollow laugh.

“Someone do something about that old lady…”

The voice that filled the silent study sounded particularly sad and pitiful.

* * *

Sitting in a quiet, modest teahouse waiting for someone, Kestian noticed something and stood up.

A massive carriage that didn’t fit in with the street rolled up to the shop and came to a halt.

Two swords.

It was Bozbourne.

The one who stepped down from the carriage was Bellieta, dressed casually.

Kestian had deliberately chosen this quiet teahouse to avoid drawing attention, but it didn’t matter.

Bellieta stood out even without doing anything, and showing up with such a huge carriage made it impossible not to get noticed.

‘…She’s still so eccentric.’

“I came because you called me here…”

Bellieta slowly scanned the surroundings.

People who were staring at Belietta, who stood at the center of all the empire’s gossip and attention, hurriedly averted their gazes.

Once she finished checking, Bellieta turned her attention back to Kestian.

“Are you alone?”

“Did you expect there to be someone else?”

“It wouldn’t be strange. I thought there might be another reason you called me to such a gloomy place. Like, for example, Sierra.”

Kestian nodded at the shopkeeper to clear out the place.

Following Bellieta’s casual mention of Sierra’s name, Kestian sat down as well.

After sending away the people who had been spending time in the shop, only the two of them and Bellieta’s guards remained, and the atmosphere turned quiet.

Unlike when she entered, Bellieta now wore an uninterested expression and didn’t seem inclined to start the conversation.

‘So other than Sierra, she doesn’t care about anything else.’

Kestian sighed softly and shifted in his seat.

At that moment, the knights suddenly drew their swords and aimed them at Kestian.

Kestian frowned at the unexpected turn of events.

Bellieta seemed to have anticipated this and calmly raised her hand, signaling the knights to lower their swords before speaking.

“How long are you going to keep silent? Speak up. You didn’t come here without something to say.”

With a haughty and disdainful expression, she spoke as if she were addressing someone beneath her.

If she treated the legitimate heir of Palieva like this, how would she treat others?

Kestian couldn’t help but realize how Rubyche must have been treated at the tea party.

“If you have nothing to say, I’ll take my leave. I’m pressed for time too. Then this…”

“I’ve heard about my sister.”

Bellieta, who had been getting up, stopped and tilted her head.

“You did something childish. I can’t believe you would do something like that to Rubyche. I never thought a noble like you would engage in such pathetic antics usually reserved for children.”

His voice was calm but filled with a subtle anger.

Bellieta stared at the angry Kestian, her expression twisting into a strange smile before bursting into laughter.

She gave up standing and sat back down, laughing out loud and genuinely applauding Kestian as if she were impressed.