56 – The Wizard’s Tower (2)
Not long after the notification appeared, Kim Hyun-woo was able to face the middle-aged wizard who had come to his study.
“Nice to meet you, I am the light researcher, Onel.”
Kim Hyun-woo nodded his head as if to say, “I am a quite renowned wizard just by looking at my clothes,” and greeted him.
“Nice to meet you, Onel. I am Kim Hyun-woo, the lord of Rartania.”
With that brief introduction, their conversation began.
Although the time was only about 5 minutes, Kim Hyun-woo could easily grasp Onel’s disposition.
‘Quite arrogant, and proud of his magic.’
Onel seemed to have the exact disposition that Kim Hyun-woo had in mind for a wizard.
He had a great pride in his magic and showed an attitude of disdain towards those who could not perform magic, although not openly.
This was important even from the perspective of the Tower, despite having to tell a somewhat significant story.
“Ahem, anyway, the reason I have come all the way here today is because there is an unusual rumor circulating in the territory of Rartania.”
As Onel slowly finished their small talk and brought up the main topic, Kim Hyun-woo spoke as if he had been waiting.
“If it’s an unusual rumor, it must be about the labyrinth.”
“That’s right. I heard that in the labyrinth in the territory of Rartania, magic stones are endlessly produced… Is that true?”
“Yes, it is.”
“…Really?”
“Yes, unlike other territories, monsters continue to spawn in our Rartania territory.”
In response to Kim Hyun-woo’s nod, O’Nell glanced at him and spoke.
“Um, would it be possible to conduct an investigation?”
“It is possible to conduct an investigation, but that is a request that is a bit difficult for us to accommodate in our current relationship.”
In response to Kim Hyun-woo’s subtle refusal, O’Nell pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Actually, I came here today to talk about that very topic. If Lord Youngju’s words are true, I believe Matap could become a good partner with Lartania. What do you think?”
“I agree with that. However, I would like to form a closer relationship.”
“…A closer relationship?”
“Yes.”
Upon the magician’s words, Kim Hyun-woo sighed quietly, disguising his reaction.
“I anticipated this much.”
Kim Hyun-woo had predicted that Matap would come to the Labyrinth City and open up within a very short time.
Although it didn’t exist in the game, when he heard Adriah’s words, he knew that Matap was the same Matap from the fantasy world he was familiar with, and he also knew that they always needed a tremendous amount of magic stones.
“What’s important is from now on.”
Kim Hyun-woo grinned and cleared his throat.
“I would appreciate it if you could support me with some magic scrolls.”
He threw out the topic.
####
Magic scrolls are items created by wizards, allowing them to store magic on parchment and use it at any moment for a single time.
From Noble mtl dot com
There are two main characteristics of these magic scrolls: convenience and a killer price.
To give some perspective, Kim Hyun-woo found out that a simple but highly effective 1st circle magic scroll like Fireball costs more than 10 gold coins.
10 gold coins.
In today’s market, the price of a disposable item is ridiculously high, similar in price to 10 low-grade magic stones.
“…You want support for magic scrolls?”
“Yes, to be more precise, we would like support for fireball and binding scrolls, each costing around 3 gold coins. It would be great if we could get around 500 of each per month.”
“…What?”
Onel looked bewildered, as if feeling uncomfortable with Kim Hyunwoo’s proposition, which slashes 70% off the original price of the scrolls.
However, Kim Hyunwoo continued speaking.
“But if you agree to this deal, we will provide you with 1,000 low-grade magic stones every month.”
“…Really.”
Onel looked at Kim Hyunwoo with disbelief and said, “Are you seriously proposing this? No matter how I think about it, the Lord’s offer seems like a loss for us.”
Onel continued, “Just converting the scrolls you requested into money amounts to 10,000 gold coins. But you’re asking for them at 3,000 gold coins? And as compensation, you offer 1,000 low-grade magic stones?”
“Yes.”
“The value of 1,000 low-grade magic stones, even if we calculate generously, is around 1,200 gold coins. It doesn’t go up or down much no matter how we calculate.”
“That’s correct. In fact, it takes about one low-grade magic stone to make a fireball or binding scroll, so you could say it’s practically the cost price.”
“Knowing that, why-“
Seeing Onel’s irritated expression, Kim Hyunwoo spoke firmly.
“But, of course, what I propose is not just that.”
“…Not just that?”
“Yes. Didn’t I tell you? I want to establish a close relationship with Martap. Of course, I understand that what I just mentioned is not enough to establish a close relationship, let alone become good partners.”
Kim Hyun-woo said so and then smiled.
“So, let me add one more thing here. We are going to offer land.”
“…Land, you say?”
Kim Hyun-woo turned his gaze away from O’Nell and toward the 2nd castle wall, where construction was now underway, and continued speaking.
“As you know, our Lartania territory will develop in the future. Where money flows, people tend to gather.”
“So, you want us to see the value of the future, is that it?”
“Exactly, it’s the near future. The development of the Lartania territory will happen faster than you think.”
“Right now, the rumors haven’t spread properly, and the lower-grade mana stones are at their maximum production in the labyrinth, but what if we can break through the layers and start mining intermediate-grade mana stones?”
“…!”
“As O’Nell, who handles mana stones, knows, intermediate-grade mana stones have a different value from the start. When that time comes, perhaps many will make efforts to establish a relationship with our territory. And at that point-“
Kim Hyun-woo looked at O’Nell and continued.
“-The land of our territory, where you can obtain mana stones the fastest and cheapest, will be traded at an unimaginably high price. I am thinking of giving a small tax benefit for those who settle in my territory, specifically for mana stones.”
After hearing this, O’Nell pondered for a while.
“First, can I have some time? It seems like this is not something I can decide on my own.”
He said so and continued.
“Of course, that’s fine.”
Upon hearing Kim Hyun-woo’s words, O’Nell promptly left the study.
And then, about two hours later.
“…I will accept the proposal.”
“You’ve thought well. Then let’s share a little more detailed story.”
Kim Hyun-woo smiled.
####
While Kim Hyun-woo was talking with the members of Matap for a long time.
A little away from the Larutania territory, but not far from the territory of the Kalan Kingdom, there were wolves and the Banma tribe standing facing each other.
“…”
Unlike Lin, who had an emotionless expression, Merilda looked at her with a somewhat mocking expression.
In fact, this meeting was only made possible because Merilda had come looking for Lin.
Lin was just returning to the Kalan Kingdom, and Merilda was just following her.
Of course, there was a separate reason why she had followed Lin.
The reason was that Merilda had not been able to confirm whether Lin had been accepted by the owner of the Absolute Darkness or not.
More precisely, she had not been able to grasp how the situation had turned out.
What Merilda had seen was only that Lin had entered the Larutania territory and appeared in front of the owner.
She had not been able to grasp the inner situation because Lin might have been conscious of Merilda or might have been obscured by the darkness.
Although she had instinctively realized that the owner had not accepted Lin, seeing Lin leaving the Larutania territory, Merilda wanted to confirm it a little more clearly.
… She had guessed it, but she wanted to confirm her growing anxiety and inferiority in her heart.
So at this moment, Merilda smiled sincerely as if relieved.
Even if they did not particularly like each other, Lin and Merilda had spent several years together.
In other words, with her expression and actions, Merilda could clearly understand the situation.
“As expected-“
Lina, the fact that she was not accepted by her master.
As she realized this, Merilda, who had been motionless with slight tension, flicked her tail subtly.
At the same time, a smile formed on her lips.
“Ha.”
Darkness, the absolute ruler who chuckled at that sight, looked at Merilda with a disdainful expression and spoke.
“Do you believe that rejoicing in someone else’s misfortune is an innate trait that remains unchanged?”
“Don’t talk about others. Weren’t you the same? Did you forget about the last time when you came to steal my Executioner’s Blade from me? You always try to solve everything through plundering, as if you’re a demon hybrid or something.”
The two started scratching each other as naturally as breathing.
“So, you were the one abandoned by him!”
“What about you? Besides, you couldn’t handle your anger and destroyed all the gifts your master gave you!”
Gradually raising the intensity of their language, they began to speak.
“In the end, you were abandoned even when you went to find the Executioner’s Blade,”
“!”
“Why, did you think I wouldn’t know? Even if you hide in the darkness, you’re visible once you come out. How shocking it was to see you abandon the Executioner’s Blade!”
Merilda taunted Lina with a forced smile.
“Profit-!”
As Lina’s anger boiled up, she tried to reach into the darkness.
“Hoo, hoo-hoo. Well, think as you please. Even if you say those words, they won’t have any impact.”
Lina forced a relaxed smile that didn’t seem unaffected, even if you looked closely.
“I, personally, learned the way to seek forgiveness from him!”
So, he said.
“What…?”
At the moment, Meryl, frozen from head to tail, with a shocking expression, Lyn, as if catching victory just now, smiled and answered.
“Haven’t you heard? I heard the details ‘directly’ on how this body will be forgiven by him.”
“…Nonsense…!”
“Do you really think it’s nonsense?”
Now that Lyn seemed completely at ease, Meryl, realizing it was true, showed a shocked expression.
“So, say whatever you want. I’m going to do what I have to do from now on, so goodbye.”
Seeing her like that, Lyn, with a triumphant expression, turned around, but at that moment.
“Wait a minute! Tell me too!”
In response to Meryl’s shout, Lyn, seemingly incredulous but still smiling leisurely, replied.
“You’re shameless. Do you really think I’ll tell you? Well…”
Seeming to be thinking about something.
“…Fine, let’s consider it. If you do three somersaults in the air right now and bow down to me, letting me step on your head, I’ll think about it.”
She said with a smile.
After all, she knew.
She had been saying that it was better to die than to abandon her pride, and she prioritized her pride over death. But.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
?”
Contrary to her expectations, Merilda, after spinning three times in the air, landed perfectly in front of Lynn, as if she had been drawn in a picture, and immediately prostrated herself.
“Step on me. As much as you desire, freely.”
She spoke like that.
“…??”
Lynn wore a dazed expression.