Chapter 78. What you need for war (6) Busy Busy.
This time, I visited the workshop where Pei An was researching.
His workshop is not located in the magic tower, but in the mountains not far from the capital.
Because he's a wizard, why is he setting up in a mountain like this?
Let me ask that question.
“no. These days, only old people set up workshops in places like this.”
Dia, who accompanied me, shook her head.
“These days, young wizards prefer the city to the mountains.”
“okay?”
In the past, it was said that it was considered normal to set up a studio in a forest or mountain rather than a city with many people and concentrate on research because of security or the crooked spirit unique to wizards.
“On top of that, if you set up a workshop in a city these days, you can easily get most of the materials.”
“….There is a reason for that.”
Even wizards have a generation gap.
“I also prefer the city to the mountains. There is nothing to eat in a place like this.”
“.... ah. that's me too ....
Huh? for that reason?”
As we climbed the mountain while having such a conversation, Dia, who was walking in front of us, finally stopped.
“It will be here.” She tapped the floor with the staff she was holding and said.
The guards are watching, saying they don't know why.
I guess so.
Now, with the naked eye, there is nothing here.
However, if you look closely, you can see that mana is spread out unnaturally.
“Are you here?”
I asked, pretending not to know, and Dia nodded.
“This is inside.”
“No?”
I don't know anything
As I said, if you look at it generally, it's just a mountain with nothing.
“Please wait a moment.”
Dia pointed at the staff in the air and cast an incantation.
A dispel is being cast to interfere with a certain magic spell.
After a while, in the forest where there should be nothing! It seemed that there was noise, and then some spaces were cracked and a workshop could be seen in it.
In case someone doesn't find out that it's not a wizard's workshop, we put all kinds of protective barriers beyond our mansion in the barriers that hinder visual and sensory perception.
The only thing Dia did was remove the visual barrier.
“It must be an application of illusion.”
However, not all wizards can see through.
It means that Dia's sense of seeing magic is very detailed.
Incidentally, I can see through the barrier to that extent, too.
If it were me, I wouldn't need a dispel.
Tear wildly with your bare hands.
I could hear the soldiers gasping for breath.
.... Should I pretend to be surprised?
oh my gosh
.... Aww, that's awkward.
“Anyway, let that old man come out.”
Only the visual barrier was erased, but the other barriers remain, so it is difficult to enter without contacting them from this side.
Of course, it means that it is difficult because I do not want to break it.
When I informed that the VIP customer had arrived, the elderly wizard came out and greeted me.
“Arel. See you after a long time.”
“What are you thinking about? You've been talking hard through the communication tool all this time.”
Only when ordering stuff.
“Hasn’t that also been rare for the past few months?”
“We wizards are now able to produce most magical tools.”
Thanks to my generous support.
Still, I still have a long way to go to catch up with that inspiration.
Still, in the long run, won't I remain a good customer who guarantees that inspiration's old age?
“Hoo. Is that so?”
Faian seemed a little interested in the growth of our mages.
“Next time, would you like to send my disciples to help?”
“Arthur, Arthur. Can you see the ulterior motive?”
It has already been rumored that I give magicians access to magic books without restrictions and support their research.
Recently, I had to hire more people for the second round, but this time more wizards gathered and I had to struggle to recruit them, but that's okay.
“Hmm. indeed. The lady over there...
“This is Dia Lekki.”
Dia calmly introduced her name to Fian.
Apparently, this is the first time they've met each other in person.
“It’s quite good. It's only the visual barrier, but I can't believe I can count backwards in that short amount of time. As expected.”
“It’s thanks to Arell-nim.”
At the praise of the 7th class master, Dia turns the ball to me as if it were natural.
Dia, who said this, recently became a 5th class master.
In my eyes, it wouldn't be long before I surpassed the 6th class.
“by the way. Why did you want to see this old man in person?”
“ah? It's nothing special, there's something I want to buy.”
“I should have sent it anytime if you used the communication tool as usual.”
“That's a bit of a headache this time around.”
It's something I have to come and ask for.
Feian's eyes narrowed when he intuited that it was different from the magic tools he usually shouted at.
“Which one?”
“Magic Stone.”
“Hmm.”
“That too is grade A in purity. I want to get them in bulk.”
“It is under the jurisdiction of the Mage Tower.”
I know.
Basically, canma crystals from monsters or mines are purchased and handled from the Mage Tower.
And if you ask the magic tower, they will sell it.
“But the Magic Tower probably won’t sell it to me.”
In particular, because of the use I need magic crystals for, they are even more reluctant to do business with me.
“Are you talking about Arel’s request?”
I shook my head when Fei An, who was well aware of what my request was, asked with a wry smile.
“okay. Are you going to use it for war?”
He immediately guessed what I wanted the magic stone for.
“Even this old man has already heard rumors. indeed. It seems to be true that Arel-nim would come in person.”
“I have no intention of saying anything else about rumors, so I'll just say this. don't misunderstand All I need is magic stones to defend our territory in case of emergency.”
I nailed it firmly for once.
He is heavy-mouthed, but the line must be drawn.
The last thing I want is for the perfect defense of the territory, and there is no other meaning than that.
“Come to think of it, how does the Magic Tower come out?”
“I think it might be involved.”
The mage tower belonging to each country is a facility that will inevitably be attacked as a priority if a war breaks out.
Because the magician's power is strong.
In particular, in war, depending on the utilization, it is no different from a wide-area killing weapon.
If an army of the size of the Three Kingdoms Alliance invades, will they also participate in the war?
“Then you won’t even try to sell magic stones to me.”
It may not be possible if it is a low-grade magic stone, but if it is a high-purity magic stone, basically, it will not be easy to trade unless it is requested by the royal palace.
That alone is enough to be a factor that exerts great power in war.
“But why did you ask that old man like this?”
“I pretend not to know, but I can get enough of your connections.”
Although he set up a studio in a mountain village like this, he is a wizard with enough influence.
If you borrow his connections, you should be able to trade magic stones to some extent.
“And you actually made it that way.”
“...that's a really good ear.”
Fei An smiled softly.
Dia was perplexed by the subtle fluctuations in mana.
“It's a joke. But if you buy it from me, it will be expensive.”
“are you okay. You know my specialty, right?”
Gold coin gold coin gold coin gold coin combo.
I will continue to beat you with gold coins until you give me the goods.
And even though it's annoying, if you don't get it through a backdoor deal, even if you spend a little more money, later the Mage's Tower might interfere with it for some reason.
The way the world works is that there are times when dealing behind the scenes is more convenient.
This old man has a heavy mouth, so he can be trusted.
People's mouths tend to feel heavy when they get their share.
Especially an old man who has survived such a long time.
“All right. But will it take time?”
“I am considering that.”
I'm sure that's why I'll find a quality magic stone that I'm satisfied with.
“By the way, then you don’t even need magic tools, do you? Oops, in this case, it must be a tool for a specific purpose.”
What he means is that he will use it as a weapon, not just a magic tool.
How much am I really going to go overboard and sell it?
Be satisfied with the money you stole the magic stones from.
Even if you really die, you go there to pack money and go.
“We will develop what we need in our manor. All we need this time is that material.”
“okay. I will also watch with interest.”
Fei'an chuckled and promised to send me whatever I asked for.
After that, we discussed how much to pay, but the old man was very greedy, so we had to pay a rather high price.
When the business was over and he left the workshop, all barriers, including the visual barrier that Dia had dispelled, started working again.
“Arell? Is it okay to spend that much money?”
Dia, who had been watching politely until now, asks a question.
Dia stumbled slightly on the spot when she heard how much I had agreed to pay the old man.
It's because the amount beyond imagination came and went.
She, who has been calm in everything so far, showed signs of genuine fear in front of money.
Yes, money is scary.
money is power
“Aren’t you paying too much?”
“No problem. In the first place, that amount was expected enough.”
In the first place, our product is so popular that this amount is not a small expense, but it is not fatal.
In particular, there is a huge amount of money coming in from abroad for paper, beverages, and recipes.
Even after paying a considerable amount in taxes to the royal palace, there was enough left over.
“I wonder how much it is?”
When I smiled mischievously, Dia seemed to be conflicted for a moment, then nodded slightly.
When I beckoned her to come closer, Dia obediently showed her face.
“….that’s about it.”
I gave the approximate amount so that only she could hear it.
Dia is silent for a moment.
“I'll just forget about that.”
I gave up on the idea.
Its enormous assets make even a 5th class master wizard shut up.
Confused, in a low voice, “How much is my… salary… and… how many badges?”
It is a phenomenon that occurs when a child who is quick to calculate why is so flustered that even if he understands it, his mind cannot follow it.
Before my 40th reincarnation, there was a time when I lived the world with that feeling.
I feel kind of happy.
Yes, that feeling is what makes a person grow.
But it's Dia, isn't it?
The property I mentioned does not include the property of the Queen's mother's family that I robbed last time.
.... Although she did not inform.
.... You shouldn't even know in the first place.
I just smiled happily.
As soon as I returned to Peian's workshop, I revealed the blueprints of items to be completed before the war to our exclusive wizards.
“.... this is?”
“We need to prepare it so that it can be used, at least until the war begins.”
It is not easy to tell when the war will start, but the fact that the schedule will never be sufficient made the wizards' complexions darken.
“this.... Should we prepare ourselves?”
“I'm sorry, but this cannot be entrusted to wizards belonging to other territories or outsiders.
It's dangerous.”
“We understood the risk. However... will he be able to guess...
The wizard shudders in fear of working overtime.
I ordered with a smile.
“Find it somehow. That way we can protect this territory.”
Yes, you guys have been off work for a while.
Let me show you what real overtime and holiday work is all about.
I don't care if you call me a bad employer.
This is for the peace of my honey sucking life.
Don't worry, the allowance is expensive.
Well, congratulations to the nerds.
The peace of the territory is up to you.
I sincerely comforted them.
Originally, peace is the law that gongdori protects.