On the table in the office, we unwrapped the package Ivan presented.
“This is a rapier.”
“To bring a rapier as soon as you decide to use a weapon other than a rapier, you’re filthy with the timing, Ivan.”
The contents of the package were ornately decorated rapiers. It was like something that would be stuck in a pile of gold coins in a dragon’s cave in a classic fantasy. It is unnecessarily flashy and dazzling.
“… … It is big and beautiful.”
Katyusha spit out a strange impression. I picked up my rapier and examined it. The center of gravity is subtle.
“How does Mustafa look?”
“Is beautiful. But weapons don’t need beauty.”
Complimenting but resolutely useless, Mustafa said.
“I agree. It must be more of a craft than a weapon.”
Katyusha agreed with that. However, the jewels studded here and there seemed to be a little concerned, and her gaze did not move away from the rapier.
“This is the first time I’ve seen the two agree. I agree too. still… … .”
I held the rapier high and inspected the state of the work. It was so delicate that it would not be outdated even if it was presented in the modern age where I lived. If it is put up for auction, I wonder if it will be kept in a museum for several billion won.
“It cost a lot of money. The state of the handwork is also good. I don’t know it as a weapon, but how much would it be worth considering as a craft or a treasured sword?”
“… … Because I am unfamiliar with jewels.”
“Uh, uh… … . hmm… … . sorry. I don’t know either.”
Since Mustafa didn’t know, I wanted to pretend to know somehow, but Katyusha, who seemed to fail, was a little cute. It’s good that I’m full of emotions these days.
“It’s okay because I don’t know either. What did you do to put it up for sale? You can hang it on the wall and decorate it or give it to Alexei.”
It was a treasured sword that Ivan probably made with all his available wealth, but sadly it was not very useful. I don’t really have a hobby of collecting treasure.
“It’s good to give it to the corps commander, but how about giving it to His Majesty the Emperor?”
“If it were that person, he’d get mad at me for making toys like this.”
“… … I agree. His Majesty the Emperor is such a person.”
When I said this, I felt a strange sense of intimacy, like parents who give carnations on Parents’ Day and ask for money instead of buying trash. The country thinks so too.
“Then, will you send Ivan a telegram of reconciliation?”
“I wasn’t even that angry in the first place. I honestly forgot.”
In fact, I thought Ivan was just an extra. Even in the original work, since he played the role of being beaten by Mikhail, he was a character that was rarely mentioned, so I assumed that he would be an insignificant nobleman.
“But if you dare to prove your usefulness like this, you have no choice but to use it.”
However, judging from the treasured sword he dedicated, it doesn’t seem to be the case.
“Katyusha, send Ivan a telegram to see you tomorrow. I’ll beg you in a slightly annoyed tone.”
It’s time to change weapons. Let’s try to pull it up to the spine as much as possible.
The next day, the rose garden.
I walked through the garden with Katyusha, just as I did when I met Alexei before. Mustafa let her rest in the palace because there was nothing good about her face showing up here and there.
“It’s a little easier without that blunt Amerian.”
Katyusha smiled very slightly and dissed Mustafa. If you’re blunt, I don’t think you’ll be pushed too far, I thought to myself.
“As an employee of mine, I would like you to be friendly.”
“… … I’ll try my best.”
I thought about it before, but there is no one who says he will try, but no one tries. It’s not that the relationship is so bad that I have to do something about it, though.
“First of all, it’s an order, so don’t set me up too much. Treating someone you think you need with a disliked attitude is also a rebellion against me.”
“yes. I will be careful.”
Katyusha answered bluntly. It was a familiar expressionless expression, but it seemed a little pouting. I wonder if I only talked about Mustafa too much, but there is a surprisingly delicate corner. It is fresh because it has never been seen in the original work.
“Ahhh! Welcome! I’ve been waiting for you, Crown Prince!”
After going around the rose garden with Kachu Sarang and heading inside, Ivan, who was sitting there, jumped up and greeted me with a haggard face.
“Did you wait long? I went round and round with the maid.”
“Ah, ah, no! Even waiting is an honor! It was a golden hour!”
Ivan sprang rhetoric with a skeleton-like figure that had no greasy impression from before. There is a hint of nervousness to the point of feeling sorry for him.
I sat in front of Ivan. And he looked at Ivan without a word. In the intended awkward silence, Ivan didn’t know what to do and rolled his eyes. Looking at it, I feel like a snake in front of a frog.
“My, how was my offering? It was something I did my best, but… … .”
“Ahh. well received.”
I smiled and replied to Ivan who asked me, unable to bear the silence.
“It didn’t look too bad for a wall decoration.”
And put a wedge in the relieved Ivan.
“Rice, wall… … . hahahaha… … .”
Ivan’s already pale face grew paler, as if it was a shock that an item he had spent so much money on was being treated as a wall decoration. I was afraid that I would fall asleep.
“Because the gift items are good and bad, and the rapier itself wasn’t very practical before. It would be as simple as penetrating you.”
“Hey, hey hey… … . that, really… … .”
Ivan’s face turned to death. This guy, his reaction is so funny that he inadvertently annoys me too much. I don’t think it was a role that got hit by Mikhail for nothing.
“But the level of perfection was high. The level of craftsmanship was also good. So, can you donate a weapon for me to use?”
“Again, again… … is it… … .”
Ivan’s face looked as if he had already died. It looks like he’s dressed up as a zombie.
“Excuse me… … . Because I spent more than half of my wealth just to match the sword I gave you this time… … . It is physically impossible to spend any more… … .”
After all, that treasured sword must have been exorbitantly expensive. What an exorbitant price it would be to say that Ivan, who was famous in society, had spent more than half of his fortune. I wasn’t paying attention to this at all.
“If you donate a weapon, I will tell my father that the story about you is a misunderstanding.”
At this point, it would be good to throw a suitable carrot. At my words, Ivan’s face became a bit like a living person.
“He was a very good person, a true subject who was more loyal to the emperor than anyone else.”
“Oh, oh oh… … .”
“I don’t know if it’s possible to increase one territory if I speak well.”
“Um… … !!”
And I regained my energy in a very understandable way. Maybe Ivan’s reaction was so funny that I wondered if he was famous in the social world.
“Well, if so… … . If you value actual combat, you won’t wear decorations or jewels… … I don’t think I’ll even be half-hearted about the treasured sword I presented this time… … .”
Ivan murmured and began to calculate desperately. And after a while
“yes! Please leave it to me!”
Her eyes twinkled and she declared gracefully. The appearance of a zombie a while ago was like a lie.
“okay. please do well First of all, it is a one-handed sword.”
“Is it a one-handed sword? It’s a stable and good weapon. I will prepare the finest one-handed sword.”
“okay. It would be nice to have a material that conducts electricity well. Like the rapier I use.”
“I’ll order it from the same material as His Majesty’s ax. It will be perfect for the Crown Prince to use.”
“okay. Please.”
“Please leave it to me as much as you like!”
The story about the one-handed sword flowed swiftly. But what’s important is what comes next.
“And the other one.”
“Are you talking about a shield?”
“It is a weapon that has never existed before.”
In the original work, firearms appeared in earnest about half a year after Eugene entered the knight academy.
“Hey, have you heard anything about the new weapon under development?”
“yes?”
I intend to get it in advance. Prototype or whatever.
“New weapon… … . Please wait a moment. I’ve heard it somewhere.”
He might be taken aback by the unexpected words, but Ivan strove as if he had heard something. I thought he was just an extra, but he was much more helpful than I thought.
“Oh, are you referring to the musket?”
“okay. That’s it! I know you well.”
I replied excitedly. Things are going smoothly!
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“However, I heard that it is close to a toy.”
But Ivan’s reaction was to pour cold water on me.
“It takes longer to reload than a bow, and it is said that it is a crude item that cannot even be loaded with magic power. A pathetic weapon that would be used by such a commoner… … .”
“You say I want it?”
And it annoyed me a little. Well, at this point, it’s in the development stage, so Ivan’s words are true, but if you’re in a bad mood, you’re in a bad mood.
“… … ! sorry! My, I said blasphemous words! Forgive me!”
“Okay. I don’t care. So, who is developing that weapon?”
I’d like to pour black tea on my head, but I decided to put up with it because it’s a big benefit just knowing that it’s under development. If you get angry over trivial things, you won’t achieve great things. Let the tea pour down my throat.
“Well, if that’s the case, then I know it well. This is Azmash Workshop. The sword I dedicated this time was also made there.”
“Hoo.”
Is it the workshop that did such outstanding craftsmanship? Confidence soared. At that level of skill, I should be able to create something useful with just a few improvements.
“That worked just fine. Then, shall we go together and try to guess?”
“Me, me anytime! Anywhere is fine as long as I can go with the Crown Prince!”
Ivan’s eyes twinkled, desperately showing his will. Perhaps he wanted to appeal to others that he and the prince had reconciled and, on the contrary, had become close friends by showing him walking around with me. thoughts are clearly visible.
“good. Then go right now.”
Then there is no delay. Let’s pick mulberries today. It takes quite a while to make a sword or gun anyway. It would be good to finish your order in advance.
“All right now? Oh no. No problem! Yes, let’s go!”
I got up with Ivan shouting like a taxi driver. Excitedly, Ivan said he would explain the destination, and in a hurry headed for the carriage parked outside.
“… … young master.”
“huh?”
As I was slowly walking towards the carriage, Katyusha started talking to me.
“Are you sure you want to tell Your Majesty about Ivan?”
And I asked questions as if I couldn’t stand it because I was worried.
After thinking for a while, I replied.
“… … If I tell you, you won’t even care?”
“I agree.”
Katyusha agreed with me.