Chapter 84
The 8 representatives of the coastal commerce city Eight-Lake were truly diverse
Men and women, some looking over 80 years old, while others not even 10.
If I was to pick one attribute that was common amongst these people…
“Looks like I was worried for nothing. I’ve seen him before in Altein. He’s the actual winner.”
“Magician of the next generation, what is your purpose for visiting us in this corner of the world?”
They were all unexpectedly curious about my sudden visit.
Yeah.
It was my turn now.
I had to amplify their curiosity.
“I came to make a deal.”
“……A deal?”
“Yes. I want to sell the products of Ardell in Eight-Lake.”
“……”
However, it seemed just my original purpose wasn’t enough to increase their curiosity by much.
“This… So you haven’t visited us as the next-generational magician…… but rather as the young master of House Ardell.”
“Ardell……? I feel like I’ve heard of them before. No. 3, where was that?”
“It’s located in the southern part of the small nation of Radian, No. 6.”
“Ah ha…… I remember now. It’s that countryside territory that wanted to sell ki-trout and sweet potatoes. I think the lord of that territory had visited us before…… No. 8, did that deal go through that day?”
“We declined. 8 to 0. Unanimous decision.”
“The reason?”
“It wasn’t worth it. They only wanted to set up a stall.”
“Is that so? Then I guess the talk ends here.”
“……”
Private and public matters.
I could definitely feel their intentions to draw that line.
Even though I held both the nickname of next-generational magician and the title of Young Master of House Ardell, even though there was no difference between them…
“If the next-generational magician had visited Eight-Lake, we would have welcomed you with open arms…… What a shame.”
They were completely looking at me as only the Young Master of House Ardell.
As the young master of a poor countryside territory that only wanted to steal their money.
It was a frightening dichotomy that was a little difficult for me to understand, but they seemed to understand it immediately.
Were merchants always like this?
“I don’t have any other goals…… but you didn’t even hear out my proposal yet.”
“Then let’s hear it now. Let’s see how amusing your proposal you brought to us is…… However, if it isn’t much different to what we talked about just then, it’ll be good for you to not expect any favorable outcome, even if you are the next-generational magician who had garnered the attention of the Crown Prince.”
“I hope it’s at least amusing.”
I recollected my breath and started talking.
“I want to buy weapons. As many as possible.”
* * *
Ki-trout, sweet potatoes, wheat.
These high-quality products that Ardell was so proud of… No one would’ve expected someone nicknamed the next-generational magician to do a sales pitch for them.
No.
They might have actually expected me to beg.
However, the words that left my mouth…
“Weapons?”
“By weapons, could you be more specific?”
“Swords, shields, spears, horse armor, siege engines, axes…… Anything is fine. I want to buy as much as possible.”
“How much is your ‘as much as possible’?”
“For now, about 30 thousand gold worth. If the deal goes through nicely, I have plans to buy them in the long term as well.”
“……”
This unexpected story was definitely enough to fill the curiosity of these scrupulous people.
“30 thousand gold? Are you preparing for war?”
30 thousand gold.
It was about the same amount of gold as the average territory earned in a year.
But using all this money just to buy weapons?
Unless it was preparing for war or a large-scale monster subjugation, what did a little territory like Ardell need all these weapons for?
However, I knew something.
I felt it strongly during that incident with the trade city of Monzo.
Power brings both wealth and peace.
Weapons were always needed, and if possible, I wanted to lay the groundwork with Eight-Lake through this deal.
This time, I didn’t just want a simple market.
I wanted a deal.
Between the 8 representatives, the one with thin eyes, No. 8, spoke up.
“I do not doubt the truth about your offer to us…… but does Ardell have the money? From what I know, Ardell’s current situation is quite unfavorable……”
I took out three sacks of gold from my bag.
“Each with a hundred coins worth 100 gold each. A total of 30 thousand gold.”
“……”
As No.8 flicked his finger, one of the servants who was observing nearby came and opened the sacks to check, and afterward, the servant nodded.
With that, the attitude of No. 8 changed instantly.
“A precious guest has visited us from Ardell. Young Master, please take a seat.”
“……”
Now, they were telling me to sit down.
However, before I sat down, I asked them one thing.
“From what I know, the 8 representatives of Eight-Lake are all in charge of different areas…… so who’s the one in charge of weapons?”
Hearing my question, No. 8 pointed toward the woman seated at the head of the table.
“No. 1 is the one who has accumulated the most wealth in Eight-Lake. She deals with metals, weapons, multiple types of produce, and even ships.”
“……”
However, this was a bit unexpected.
The woman called No.1 was just a kid.
She looked as if she just turned 10-years-old, making her even younger than Ruina.
However, she was far from the innocent and lively personality of Ruina.
“I’m No.1, Cecilia Baltraze. I am in charge of weapons in Eight-Lake.”
“……I am Ruin Ardell.”
How could I explain this……?
It was quite odd.
How could a 10-year-old child exude such seriousness with her gaze alone?
When I was 10, all I had in mind was the innocent dream to become a great magician while holding onto my great talent.
Compared to that, Cecilia’s gaze was deeper and more mature than most adults, and the aura she radiated was uncanny.
* * *C
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Translator – Jreaming
Proofreader – Artethrax
* * *c
“What is it that you want to tell me?”
But for this 10-year-old to be the representative among representatives of Eight-Lake……
What life did Cecilia live till now?
These simple curiosities came to mind, but it would be bad manners to ask now.
“I want to ask you how long it would take to procure all the weapons.”
“Since it’s too sudden of an offer, there isn’t enough to satisfy the amount currently. However, if you give us about 3 months, we can prepare enough to get all the weapons and transport them safely to the territory of Ardell.”
3 months?
Well, I would already be back at the academy by then.
“You can prepare it within 6 months. But I have one condition.”
“A condition…… What is it?”
“Please consider accepting Ardell’s produce into Eight-Lake.”
“……”
As I revealed my true intentions, a few of the representatives started to show that they were thinking, ‘so it’s like that’.
However, for now, the mood was leaning more toward acceptance than denial.
Everyone waited for No.1’s decision, and Cecilia took a moment before speaking.
“Does that condition also apply to future weapon deals?”
“It may, or it may not.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you ask before if we’re preparing for war?”
“Yes. We did.”
“You’re correct. We’re planning on subjugating the monsters in the vicinity of Ardell. Acquiring weapons is only the first step.”
I collected my breath again.
Now we were in the real deal.
“Even if Ardell’s products won’t bring great profit to Eight-Lake right now, I hope that you can see into the long term. After succeeding in the subjugation and growing larger than now, and after our trust has bonded stronger—”
An appeal to emotion.
However, No. 1 wasn’t like a normal child, her mercantile skills second to none.
“We’re all merchants. We move with profit. However, you’re telling us to gamble on an uncertain future?”
“……”
Yeah.
These were merchants who only thought of the profits in the short term.
However, these merchants failed to notice one thing.
“Is it really uncertain?”
“……”
The person they were negotiating with was the magician that would lead the next generation.
This confidence, this overwhelming confidence, may look like arrogance.
But was it truly just arrogance?
At my words, Cecilia thought for a little and then nodded approvingly.
“Yes. The success rate of your monster subjugation is very high since you’re a great magician.”
“……”
“However, to promise a long-term deal with Ardell, there is still one problem left.”
“A problem?”
“This may be the biggest problem here. Don’t you know that there isn’t a trade route connecting Eight-Lake and Ardell?”
The trade route to move the goods.
Yeah.
There wasn’t a road between Eight-Lake and Ardell.
However, wasn’t there an unofficial road?
“You just need to travel over South Mountain.”
“……”
South Mountain.
The mountain range Irene and I got over ourselves.
If we made a base and road here, it was a problem that anyone could solve.
However, something was off.
“Hm. Ehem…”
“Sir. I’ll tell you what we call ‘that’ mountain range here.”
It was as if I said a taboo word.
As soon as the words ‘South Mountain’ were said, the mood changed in a peculiar way.
Everyone dodged the name ‘South Mountain’ deliberately and recommended me to refrain from saying it.
This was all because of Cecilia.
“……”
Her expression had frozen and turned very pale.
Was there a problem?
“Looks like I’ve said something unwanted. I apologize.”
I hurriedly apologized to Cecilia, but she didn’t speak. This silence went on for a while.
She was definitely holding something back.
A sadness.
No.
It was past a damning sadness
It was closer to rage.
After organizing her emotions, she slowly opened her mouth.
“Going over South Mountain? No. That is impossible. The devil lives there.”
“……”
The devil of South Mountain, and this uncharacteristic 10-year-old representative.
An image started to draw itself in my mind……
Cecilia didn’t hide her outright fury toward this devil.
“Last night, I traversed over that mountain range.”
“……Liar.”
“No. I’m not lying. I met someone on that mountain.”
That quest item that was stored in my bag the whole time.
I pulled it out and asked,
“Is this perhaps the devil you’re talking about?”
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“……!”
Cecilia’s eyes shook as she saw the mane, and a status window appeared in front of my eyes.
——
