NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32
The battle had been intense, but the task of extracting magic crystals from the heaps of monsters afterward was no less exhausting. Even though I had learned the skills for disassembling beasts and had some assistance, it was still incredibly cumbersome.
Fortunately, we had knives capable of cleanly cutting through flesh and bone without much resistance, but imagining doing this with a regular dagger makes the task seem absolutely tiresome. I would really prefer not to be drenched in sweat and covered in blood for reasons other than battle.
Lady Agrippina’s methods might have lacked in visual appeal, but they were highly efficient…
“Here, good job. Rorott, give him a treat.”
“Sure thing, good work!”
At Ursula’s prompting, Rorott blew her breath into her cupped hands as if scooping water, then sprinkled the faintly glowing green light over my body, which was stained with various bodily fluids. In an instant, I was cleaned of not only the monster’s blood but also my own perspiration. I had been hesitant to use the spell “[Purge]” on my body, but fairies evidently had the capability for such tasks. It felt as refreshing as stepping out of a bath, cleansing not just the physical grime but the mental fatigue as well.
“Wow… incredible! Thank you!”
“You worked hard, so thank you too!”
Rorott then dove onto my head, her fingers ruffling my hair, which now clean and comfortable, made me think that perhaps, if I were to ask for more assistance from fairies in the future, I should consider letting my hair grow a bit longer. It’s currently kept short for convenience, but maybe it’s worth reconsidering.
“Well then, I’ll take this fool with me.”
“Fool!?”
“Call me again soon, preferably on a night with a beautiful moon.”
Ursula grabbed Rorott by the scruff of her neck, who was still whining about wanting to play some more, and then they vanished into the void. At the same time, the previously bright vision returned to normal. Even with the “[Cat’s Eye]” enhancement, the hall grew notably dim.
Looking up, the sunlight streaming through the broken window was waning, tinged with the hues of twilight.
Yeah, it’s certainly a good thing I didn’t take that offer for enhanced vision; losing time perception would have been mentally unsettling.
I was aware I had spent a long time battling the corpses, but it appears I had underestimated just how much time it consumed. Following my orders, I informed Lady Agrippina through “[Voice Sending]” that I had finished the task. After a short moment, space rippled… and only a hand was extended, beckoning me with its fingers alone.
Cautiously gripping the edge, I pulled myself through, and after a brief flicker of darkness, I found myself inside a carriage.
“Good job. How did it go?”
Despite performing an undoubtedly incredible feat moments ago, the comment was made in a strikingly casual tone. Is everything alright? Am I still the same? And what about the logistics in this world? While carriages are still active as a primary means of transportation, this certainly isn’t the norm…
Within the carriage, elegantly decorated like a salon, Lady Agrippina sat gracefully on an armchair, sipping her tea. By her side, an extra bed had materialized from somewhere, where my princess was taking a nap.
Yes, they’re not at fault for this. Still, considering the risks I undertook, it would be nice if they showed a little more… empathy…
Alright, take a deep breath. She was surely observing my conduct the whole time, and Eliza must have chosen to stay quiet so as not to worry me. Since there’s no reason for concern, what can you do, right?
As I calmed myself through self-affirmation, the Master leaned on the armrest, propping her chin up, and flashed a smirk.
“Excellent, excellent. Well done. I like how you employed all available resources to ensure a safe mission. That’s exactly what I admire.”
“Hmm… thank you.”
Though sarcastic in tone, I’ve come to understand that this is her way of giving praise after enough time spent with her. She motioned for me to sit, and I pulled a nearby chair to settle down.
“Alright, explain now. What happened from your perspective, and how did it feel?”
While the casual treatment is appreciated, my first preference would be a change of clothes. Still, knowing she was observing the whole time, I’ll answer her request as requested. The client’s orders leave no room for complaint.
Sharing the details of discovering the mansion and the subsequent events, I presented the magic crystals alongside my kill score, and she nodded approvingly while inspecting one particularly large crystal extracted from the female ogre’s body. It was a magnificent crystal, far darker and more impressive compared to the irregularly shaped, seven-centimeter-wide stones. This one, resembling a finely cut opal, was fist-sized and had a commanding presence.
“Wonderful, wonderful. You’ve been a good child indeed. The directives seem to have been followed properly.”
“Directives?”
Tilting my head, she replied with a smile that I should properly associate with fairies, recalling her previous advice about approaching them with caution. Indeed, that evening, she mentioned fairies needed careful handling, hinting at deeper concerns.
“There was once an acquaintance from the same scholastic circle, a mage who contracted with fairies. They had beautiful blonde hair, like yours, with deep blue eyes, if I remember correctly.”
“Ah.”
“Their specialization was… something related to manipulating the metaphysical boundaries of magical entities, messing with the phases of living beings, or something… I think.”
While evaluating the crystals, she paused momentarily, trying to recall details but gave up shortly, waving it off with “Well, that part isn’t important”.
“She started off well with the fairies, but as her accomplishments grew, so did her arrogance.”
“One day, she just disappeared, the lab and everything,” she said with a nonchalant ease, as if recounting a runaway child’s tale. Being told such a horrifying story without being asked, and learning that when the dean’s detection spells found her as “no longer in this world,” was unnecessary.
Decided: absolutely no arrogance. I’ll approach this situation as if stepping into a honey trap.
“You’ve shown great diligence in carefully considering and making the right choices. Well done. Yes, yes, so let’s give you a bonus. I’ve earned some supplementary income as well.”
After inspecting the crystals, the Master nodded and made some gestures in the air. Spaces responded faintly, glowing as if writing appeared. Subtle but undoubtedly useful, but can non-mages read it too?
“Anyway, this big crystal is worth fifty libra.”
“Fifty!?”
The effort was indeed exhausting, but fifty libra!? Considering my old household’s annual income of around six drachmas, including my part-time earnings… wow.
“The others are the same as last time—two drachmas and fifty ass. The evaluation remains unchanged… and as for the bonus?”
I was already in awe at having earned close to a drachma in a single day, but hearing about the bonus made me tilt my head. Though I did as instructed, I didn’t think this warranted a bonus.
“That mansion—after sending a quick query, I found the owner hadn’t yet surrendered ownership rights. Though it’s been many generations, the current holder might not be aware of their obligations. However, ignorance is no excuse under imperial law.”
“Ah.”
The efficiency of a postal service that can reply within such a short time, and the land registry, is truly impressive. Even in my previous technological era, things rarely went this smoothly. And whether it’s the past or the present, ignorance doesn’t exempt one from punishment. Of course, that’s to be expected.
“So, the owner has the duty to manage that place properly. They must ensure monsters don’t set up camps, by demolition or by sending personnel. If unchecked, monsters would hinder the free trading lines highly valued by the Threefold Empire, would they not?”
“Ah, I see.”
You’re extorting them, and I get it. We kindly cleaned it up for them, but what might happen if the authorities find out? Somebody ought to cover our costs, don’t you think? This sounds like a yakuza-style negotiation.
“Therefore, as a token of gratitude, the total payment today would be two drachmas. Would you like cash, or should we allocate this to your tuition?”
…What was that now?
With the sheer magnitude of the amount, my brain nearly overheated, requiring significant time to process the offer…
【Tips】Nobility of the Threefold Empire enjoy a well-supported backing system, with comprehensive rights including tax levies, military power, and pensions paid by the state, but such privileges come with a substantial load of duties and responsibilities. Many who know better advise against becoming a knight if one seeks a lavish life, for the responsibilities carried by the nobility are indeed heavy.
Behind the partition, the apprentice awkwardly changed clothes in unstable motions, while Agrippina was deep in contemplation.
She had been watching. Agrippina had observed the entirety of Erih’s battle within the mansion.
The extent of his competence exceeded her expectations significantly. Beyond simply employing listed spells, he modified the incantations and formulas untaught for combat efficiency. The methods he devised to apply them showed remarkable creativity and thoughtful application.
To those who lack imagination, the spell “[Invisible Hand]” may seem like a meaningless, lowly magic used only for trivial tasks, sometimes even regarded as inferior to sorcery.
Yet, with a bit of creative thinking, its applications are extensive. Truly useless things in this world are more elusive than useful ones.
Holding objects from a distance to assassinate, blocking mouths for silent eliminations, and creating footholds or opportunities to exploit enemy openings—this was all evidence of thoughtful and practical adaptation of the spell. It embodied the principle of how usage determines utility.
Even his ability to halt projectiles indicates comprehension of its potential as a simple physical barrier, and his strategic application hints at an even broader understanding of its potential uses during combat.
Agrippina, from her relatively short lifespan by long-lived species standards, had learned through experience that clever and adaptable individuals often evolve into something greater. Thus, she raised her expectations slightly, considering him not just as a mere attendant but as a potentially more intriguing individual worth nurturing.
Though the Realm of the Threefold Empire came with its share of constraints, its system was relatively open compared to other nations. The dynasty of the Three Royal Houses and the Seven Electors have remained unbroken since the founding, but the noble houses and knight families serving them have experienced numerous rises and falls.
In this ebb and flow, many commoners were elevated to nobility to found illustrious military houses such as the Five Great Families and the Twelve Flag Knight Houses—numerous tales of rags-to-riches stories had emerged.
Perhaps, this particular young apprentice could become one of those stories, someone who might stir the world in fascinating ways. Such thoughts excited Agrippina immensely.
By nature, Agrippina was a lazy bystander—she consumed enjoyable tales without responsibility, much like an audience, and preferred to be as far from the stage as possible, not even touching the wings. Yet, she adored these tales, requiring the presence of remarkable individuals who would achieve great things.
She hoped this apprentice might one day contribute to such an exciting story, bringing more color to her opulent existence in leisure. Inviting him to her salon in the future and enjoying tea while listening to his tales would certainly be delightful.
What should be her next move? Teaching him history might be interesting; perhaps understanding the distinct national character of the Threefold Realm might spark some action in him, leading him to create something noteworthy.
Introducing him to new forms of magic might also be valuable. Given the alchemy set found in the mansion, it might lead to the creation of extraordinary weapons or medicines through his original thinking.
Ah yes, herbology could be useful too. It’s always been tedious to source herbs personally, and it could serve her well if he were trained thoroughly in this skill as a useful apprentice.
Considering these possibilities, Agrippina found herself more interested in nurturing this individual than teaching her dull yet slow-to-assimilate disciples. His abnormality intrigued her deeply.
If he were indeed twelve years old, how spectacular could he become once fully grown? With an almost dangerous excitement, Agrippina conjured a fresh cup of tea from the void. Her low chuckles fortunately went unheard by her apprentices and disciples…
【Tips】The authority to confer knighthood lies with the Three Royal Houses and the Seven Electors but lower-tier ennoblement rights are also granted generally to nobles who can elevate commoners into knights.
The rankings have gone absolutely wild and I’m astonished. How did it escalate to this?
The immense support has been overwhelming.
Grateful for the insights, recognizing areas that need further clarification has been extremely enlightening. Also, this guy really needs to cut down on typos…
The next update is scheduled for February 13th, 2019, at around 7:00 PM.