Chapter 45: 37

Small change: changing ‘head butler’ to ‘chief officer’. It’s a pretty vague word.

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(Hm. He seems so-so)

I couldn’t feel any impressive magical power from the boy.
However, for an unhired magician wasn’t he still quite usable?

To have made things of this level, he most likely practiced construction magic to its limits.
No, but I don’t feel a hierarchical relation between him and Aria.
It’s possible that he simply made the raw materials, while Aria and the others did the actual assembly, minimizing the use of magic.

There was an adventure nicknamed “Fortifier” who managed to do as much by building a castle in one night.

“Sorry for making you come out. What’s your name?”
“My name is Lain. It is an honor to meet the Lady Margravine.”

I expected an adventurer-like attitude, but he was unexpectedly courteous.
In spite of how he looked, he might just be quite high in years.

“I heard you made this house on your own, thank you for grinding your bones for Aria.”
“Not at all. Even if I weren’t here, they would have surely made something of this level in due time.”
“?? I see, are you getting along with Aria and the others?”
“I am treated very well by them.”

Sure enough, he admits that Aria would have managed to do the same.
If someone like Aria, who was incapable with magic could still have made this, then his assistance with magic must have been minimal.

Regardless, he must have knowledge of architecture.
On the most part, he must simply be directing Aria and the rest.

“Margravine Floria, could you allow Lain to become a resident of this village?”
“…He doesn’t seem to have malicious intent, so why not. Aria, you should aim to learn a lot from him.”
“Yes.”

Aria pats her chest as if relieved.
It seems that they had a good relationship.
If this is the case, it should be fine to leave the village in Aria’s hands.

As I begin preparing to leave, the chief officer approaches me.

“Alicia-sama, about the buying and selling of goods and increasing residents…”

He begins whispering into my ear.
I see.
They’d brought a male immigrant candidate.

Since there was a chance that food stocks run short due to increase in residents, he suggested buying any products this village had, in exchange for food supplies.

Aria wasn’t the type to accept charity from me.
If I didn’t bring up buying of products before selling food, she might start pouting and turn away her ears.

“That reminds me, since I’m here, why don’t I buy some magic stones off of you? Could you bring them for me?”
“Yes. I shall bring them at once.”

Aria goes to the back, and brings back magic stones.
There were more than I expected, and there was even a single giant stone mixed in the middle.

To think there was a monster which could drop a large stone like that.
It must have been really strong.
I could now sympathize with the prospective male residents I’d brought with me, who’s faces twitched after seeing a harsher environment than they expected.

“Also, I would be grateful if you could also buy this.”

Saying so, Aria brings out a small vial with green liquid inside it.

“What is this?”
“It is an extract of earth attribute, taken from a magical substance.”

“Wha-!? This is…”

I had heard of this before.
It’s taken from the most special substances out all substances possessing magic.
Further, it could only be extracted by skilled alchemists, and was an indispensable ingredient for making medicines.

You could even feel its magical power leaking slightly from the vial.

“…Was this, made here, in this village?”
“? Yes that is so. We have plenty of ingredients too. Lain was curious as to whether it would sell or not so…”

It seems that this was also made by that boy called Lain.
He may be a well-experienced alchemist, after all.

Maybe he moved near the Demon Forest, just for the sake of his research.
If so, he’s a very rare find.

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Even if that’s not the case, this “earth liquid” is indispensable for repairing armors and weapons which store magic.
It was a strategic item, which could decide victory and defeat.

Right now, there was a tense atmosphere between hostile factions in the kingdom.
I’d like to place him under my influence at all costs.

I take a peek towards Aria.

(It would be troubling for Aria, but it can’t be helped)

He was just that important.
I couldn’t imagine how much she was paying to keep him here.

(I’ll make sure to reward her hard work)

I resolve myself and look towards Aria.

“Alright. Since I can’t confirm whether this is the real deal by myself, I’ll buy one of these off of you. It would be helpful if you could prepare more by my next visit.”

“Thank you very much.”

Aria bows her head.
She seemed really happy.
The results of her actions were approved by me, giving her an ideal outcome.
Of course she would be happy.

Still, it must’ve been difficult managing to fill a single bottle.
They seem willing to give it their all though.
On our side, we need to confirm whether this is usable in alchemy, so the more we have the better.

If it’s real, it would be more valuable than all the magic stones combined that I’m buying from her.

“Today was a fruitful day. The next time I visit would be in spring, so take care till then.”
“Yes. I look forward to your visit.”

I look around at the men I brought.
Each of them was someone I’d considered placing in this village, but their faces looked withered.
Almost like a prisoner waiting for its death sentence.

I couldn’t be so cruel as to do that now.
If they cause any trouble for our alchemist, Lain or something, and end up upsetting him, then Aria’s hard work would all go down the drain.

“All of you, prepare to head home. We’ll plan on reaching the town today itself!”

I take everyone I brought with me, back to the territory.
The men all take an obvious sigh in relief, and the chief officer looked at me with a quizzical eye.

***

“Was that really fine?”

As soon as the village was out of our sight, the chief officer spoke up.

“Was what fine?”

“Not placing any men in that village. All its land would then be named in that Lain boy’s name…”
“Oh, you mean that.”

I take out the vial I’d bought from Aria, from my bosom.

“An alchemist capable of making this has just settled in. Why would I want to upset him by forcing people onto him?”
“Is this really that precious? I saw you hand over quite a handsome amount for it.”
“I couldn’t tell if it’s real or not, but yes. Depending on its purity, one is enough to build a house in the territory.”

The chief officer widens his eyes in astonishment.
It’s been a long time since I saw his face like that, so that alone made this trip worth it.

“He must be an amazing magician.”
“Not amazing necessarily, but a handy one nonetheless. Even I couldn’t make something like this.”
“…Will it be useful for the Third Prince?”
“Well, it’s better than nothing.”

If the Second Prince wins, this country will certainly be ruined.
That’s why I favored the Third Prince.

I’m not sure how capable that alchemist actually is, but it’s better to have him under our wing than to not have him at all.
It’s another matter even if he leaves, but if he ends up allying with our enemies, it’d be really regretful.

“In any case, that village will be of crucial importance to the Margravate*, so exercise caution.”
“Very well.”

The tax revenue of that village is by far the largest, since it’s the closest to the Demon Forest.
And this time, an alchemist of great skill has made it his home.
Next year’s harvest might be even better than this one’s.

I hold the vial in my hand in front of the sun.
I had a feeling that that boy was going to cause big disturbances.

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