The Extra Prince Sets Out To Conquer The World

I entered the doll storage and approached Sillua, who was diligently repairing the damaged cores, and asked,

“Take it slow. There’s still plenty of time.”

It seemed like the full-scale monster waves were about to start, but given the current timing, it was still early for the ones inhabiting the upper-middle parts of the mountain to awaken.

In the Bastille Mountains, the higher up the mountain, the stronger the monsters that inhabited it, except for certain great demon beasts.

“Mmm, but it’s pitiful to leave them like this.”

Sillua gently stroked a crude doll in a spider-like shape.

Unlike actual spiders, it was smooth and angular, so it didn’t elicit disgust.

No, rather, it had an appearance that stimulated a man’s fantasy, like a near-future robotic weapon.

“I’ll help too.”

“Ah, then could you re-engrave the magic circle on this plate engraved with a magic circle?”

Sillua pointed to a steel plate that looked like the magic circle had been erased due to a strong impact.

“Alright.”

I sat down and re-engraved the magic circle with Abasael’s magic engraving pen.

Most of the damaged parts of the dolls were due to external factors such as joint damage, outer skeleton loss, magic line severance, etc.

The number of cases where the driving magic circle or core deep inside the doll was broken did not exceed 100.

Even the broken core parts were defects caused by long-term lack of maintenance or overload from forcibly outputting power beyond the proper output without adhering to it.

It must have been the work of mages, as there were mages even in Blantzbarg, known as the land of warriors.

“Come to think of it, did the mages not mess around, saying they’ll help with the repairs?”

At my question, Sillua answered while infusing magic power into the core.

“The Zillians drove them out.”

To mages, a magical tool made by a sage was literally a treasure that couldn’t be bought even with a thousand gold coins.

Yet the reason the core parts of the dolls were intact was because they were protected inside Geor’s locking mechanism.

The locking mechanism was made by Geor, so it couldn’t be unlocked without knowing his magic system.

If one was familiar enough with Geor’s magic system to unlock the locking mechanism, there wasn’t much to learn from the magic core or driving magic circle.

“But can’t we still improve the core’s performance?”

At Sillua’s question, I firmly shook my head.

“The current performance is sufficient. Increasing the performance will only worsen the efficiency.”

When I first disassembled and checked the dolls, I stopped Sillua from not only repairing but also upgrading the cores.

Increasing the performance here was like riding a sports car instead of a small compact car when mainly traveling through narrow alleys.

I don’t know how much Blantzbarg’s budget is, but if they require more magic stones to increase performance, the number of operable dolls will decrease, making it worse than not doing it.

“But it’s too old.”

Of course, since the design of the core was completed 30 years ago, there were now ways to increase performance while lowering efficiency.

Even so, as the dolls’ bodies were supply models, there was a limit to how much the core’s performance could be endured, so the efficiency wouldn’t be as high as the core’s upgrade.

“Still no. It’s just right the way it is.”

If Demiway tried to mass-produce the dolls himself and cut out the locking mechanism, there was a risk of the technology leaking.

If it was the Sword Demon, he could sufficiently do it even if he didn’t know about magic.

Now, he was one of the strongest among the successive marquises, and he wouldn’t do such a thing considering Geor’s favors, but his mind could change later when he’s old.

Geor seemed to have put a compromised specification core and driving magic circle in the dolls considering that.

“The teacher must have had his own thoughts for using this, so even if you want to upgrade, endure it.”

Sillua didn’t seem to know since she hadn’t experienced the ways of the world yet, but for the advancement of the world, the basics should be released, but the superior technology should be monopolized.

If I recklessly release technology, thinking it’s fine to this extent, and my enemy gobbles up that technology, becomes stronger, and tries to kill me, how infuriating would that be?

This is a matter of survival.

“Okay…”

At my firm words, Sillua became discouraged and only fixed the broken parts.

Someday, a time will come when the core used in these dolls becomes common basic magic.

Then, at that time, we can use something of a level we can’t use now.

I don’t know if it will be decades later, centuries later, or overturning my expectations and be a few years later.

That’s how the world advances.

Seeing the discouraged Sillua, I said,

“If you want to make it that much, make a doll for me. I do want to see the level of a doll you’ve poured everything you have into.”

Even if Sillua inherited all of Geor’s magic power and knowledge, it would be difficult for her to make dolls like Geor right away.

Originally, people make mistakes in the arithmetic learned in elementary school until they take the college entrance exam.

Sillua only knows it as knowledge, so she’ll make more mistakes in application.

At my request, Sillua put down the core she was fiddling with and stood up.

“I’ll make the best doll for you, oppa!”

And she immediately took out magic paper and started making diagrams for doll production.

No, finish what you were doing first.

I chuckled and picked up the core Sillua put down and finished repairing it.

While I repaired the core parts, the Zillian series swiftly disassembled the dolls, replaced the damaged parts, and reassembled them.

“Zillian Original, give me the list of parts used for replacement.”

“Yes, Vice-Master. Here it is.”

I mentally calculated the materials used to make the parts.

I planned to charge Demiway for labor costs.

Of course, it was fine to melt down the broken parts and use them separately, but I should receive this much.

As I drew magic circles with my right hand and wrote invoices with my left hand, Precia and Gilbert, who had finished the battle, returned.

It hasn’t even been 20 minutes, but they came back quickly.

*****

Demiway skimmed through the report on tracking the location of the Red Eyes reported by the Special Forces and asked the Special Forces Captain,

“You said you found traces of hibernation near Turtle Rock, how did that go?”

At Demiway’s question, the Special Forces Captain checked the report and answered,

“Yes, there was a cave in that area. We found thirty red bear-type monsters inside, and as they had not yet awakened from hibernation, we immediately disposed of them on the spot.”

The Special Forces of Blantzbarg were also tasked with dealing with monsters still in hibernation until the temperature rose enough for them to move.

They had to deal with as many monsters as possible during this time when not all monsters had awakened in order to safely spend the spring.

“Well done. What about the materials?”

“After collecting the hides, bear gall bladder with medicinal effects, magic stones, and some magic materials, we sent them to the blacksmith, medical unit, and magic combat unit respectively. Unfortunately, the meat was too large in volume and weight, so they had to discard it.”

Demiway nodded at the Special Forces Captain’s answer.

“Tell them to work a bit harder.”

“Yes, understood.”

Even now, the Special Forces were roaming the mountains with the Rangers.

Then, a knocking sound was heard from outside.

Knock knock!

“Come in.”

As Demiway gave permission, a young Chiliarch guarding the outer walls entered and saluted.

“Loyalty! I visited because I have something to report to the Commander.”

At the young man’s words, Demiway put down the documents he was reading and said,

“Is it a report related to the enemy invasion alarm that rang earlier? Zulat.”

At Demiway’s question, Chiliarch Zulat nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. Today at 10:15 AM, about 1,200 lizard-type monster hordes migrated south and reached the fortress. Here is the report.”

After handing the report to Demiway, Zulat continued reporting.

“Outside the fortress, our three Centurion units engaged in battle with about 1,200 monsters. As a result of the battle, 1,023 enemy monsters were killed, about 200 fled, and our forces suffered no casualties except for 4 minor injuries.”

“Three-eyed lizards, quite ferocious ones.”

Flipping through the report and checking the information, Demiway stopped at a noticeable paragraph.

“…As soon as the alarm rang, two royal knights rushed out first and blocked the chokepoints at the barricades outside the castle, killing about 350?”

“Yes, according to the report, Royal Knight Gilbert killed about 100, and Precia killed about 250.”

After finishing reading the report, Demiway stroked his chin as if intrigued.

“Saying they would do knight training wasn’t just empty words. They’ll be useful. But where is the other one who only has a mouth?”

“According to Centurion Hans, he went to the doll storage to repair the dolls after morning training. And…”

Zulat handed over one more document.

“Royal Knight Yuan asked Centurion Hans to deliver the repair details and invoice for the combat dolls.”

Seeing the repair details, Demiway narrowed his brows but soon sighed and took out the quarterly budget statement from his desk drawer.

It was the repair details for as many as six thousand dolls.

Most were materials that were easy to obtain, such as steel or copper, but the amount was considerable when combined.

Moreover, as expensive materials like gold and silver were used, even in small amounts, the amount to be paid easily exceeded the budget range.

Still, Demiway couldn’t say anything to them.

It wasn’t simply because he was in a position to ask for repairs and maintenance.

Even roughly calculating the details, they could charge two to three times more under the pretext of processing costs, but they only demanded a slight additional labor cost on top of the material cost.

Honestly, it was a very conscientious pricing.

“There’s nowhere to get money from.”

But expensive is still expensive.

It was a time when money and supplies were already scarce.

There were things stockpiled in the fall and winter, but considering the variable called the Red Eyes, they couldn’t be used recklessly.

At Demiway’s sigh, the Special Forces Captain carefully brought up,

“Still, since we’re providing them convenience, should I try negotiating to lower the price?”

At the Special Forces Captain’s words, Demiway narrowed his brows.

“Just providing accommodations and meals won’t make them lower the price. If I try to recklessly reduce it, they’ll try to push me as a shameless ingrate, mentioning favors. I’ll directly negotiate with them later. I’ll have to do installment payments.”

Recalling Yuan, who skillfully scratched his inner thoughts in a short meeting, he clicked his tongue and asked,

“Come to think of it, it’s about time for the messenger who went to the capital to return, any news?”

At Demiway’s question, Zulat shook his head.

“Even at the earliest, it seems they’ll arrive tomorrow.”

“I see. To think I’d be waiting for Horazon, that reckless fellow.”

At Demiway’s words, Zulat carefully asked,

“Commander. But once the doll repairs are finished, is the Sword Guard really necessary?”

The need for Horazon was to fill Demiway’s absence.

If Geor’s dolls were there, they thought they could fill the Sword Demon’s place, albeit not perfectly.

At his words, Demiway chuckled.

“Why? Are you also hurt in your pride to make a pitiful sound to the weakened central?”

“That’s not it…”

Zulat trailed off.

He said it wasn’t, but his true feelings weren’t so.

To the young man, protecting the territory, people, and even the entire kingdom from the Bastille Mountains was a source of pride and self-esteem.

Demiway also knew that fact, so he quietly called the young Chiliarch.

“Chiliarch Zulat di Blantzbarg.”

“Yes! Commander, Your Excellency!”

Zulat tensed up at the call of the commander and his father.

Seeing his son like that, Demiway spoke seriously.

“Dolls are just dolls. Magic dolls without the assistance of a dollmaster can replace soldiers at best, but they cannot replace me, Demiway di Blantzbarg.”

“…I apologize. This lieutenant had a futile thought.”

At his son’s apology, Demiway nodded.

“It’s fine if you understand. If you wish not to make a pitiful sound to central, work tirelessly. You just need to strive so that you can fill my absence.”

As Zulat was about to give a resolute answer, someone hurriedly opened the door to the commander’s office and entered.

“Commander! The messenger who went to the capital has just arrived!”

At that sound, Demiway jumped up from his seat.