Kays Translations

Chapter 111: Lucius’ Dream

Lucius was in the city to report the incident with Viscount Girard to the Ministry of Justice.

By the time the questioning ended, it was early afternoon, and the streets were busier than they had been in the morning.

Lucius walked alone down the main street.

As he approached the crowded market area, someone quietly fell into step beside him, blending in with the crowd.

He recognized the profile.

“Huh!? Sol!?”

The puppet Sol nodded silently.

“Why are you here? Weren’t you trapped in Viscount Girard’s castle?”

Lucius had just requested the return of the confiscated puppet from the Ministry of Justice earlier.

“I… got out…”

Since there was only one thread of magic thread connected, Lucius couldn’t sense Sol’s feelings, thoughts, or even location. Normally, a customs fee was required to leave the tower, but the puppet had exited on its own.

—If it can get out, it can get in by itself, too.

Lucius doubted Viscount Girard kept a close count of his puppets. As long as the customs fee was paid before returning to the territory, there shouldn’t be a problem.

But there was a concern.

“You didn’t break anything, did you?”

Just yesterday, he had a run-in with Viscount Girard. He certainly didn’t want to deal with property damage on top of that.

“I didn’t… break anything…”

Lucius breathed a sigh of relief. He had no idea that the one broken was Viscount Girard himself.

“That’s good. But what about the customs fee…”

Given his fallout with Viscount Girard, it was likely he’d need more than the 10,000 gold coins previously mentioned. Neither the Oridelv nor the Silverheart territories were wealthy enough to afford that sum easily.

—What to do about the money?

As Lucius and Sol walked together, a figure ran toward them from the opposite direction.

“That’s…”

He recognized the man as well.

“Alfred, what are you doing here?”

This was the man Lucius had appointed as acting lord of the Oridelv territory. They had parted ways two weeks ago at the tower, where Alfred was asked to handle the governance of the Oridelv territory.

They had communicated via the messaging spell until the day before, but Alfred hadn’t shown up yesterday, which had caused Lucius a bit of concern.

“I’ve been looking for you, Lucius-sama… Oh, and who is this lady?”

“This is Sol.”

Lucius introduced her.

“A beautiful lady indeed. I am Alfred, appointed as vice-captain by my lord, Lucius.”

Alfred bowed deeply and elegantly.

“…Alfred… same master.”

“Ah, so you are also a vassal of Lucius-sama?”

“I am… a puppet… for my master…”

“A puppet of Lucius-sama? What? Really?”

Alfred looked back and forth between Lucius and Sol, eyes wide.

“Sol, let’s not introduce yourself like that. People who don’t know about puppets will completely misunderstand.”

Sol nodded.

“Anyway, Alfred, what’s the matter?”

“Yes, sir.”

Alfred straightened his posture.

“Regarding the implantation of artificial cores in those without magic cores, it has been deemed safe up to the fifth class. While it is theoretically possible even at the third class, it is recommended to limit it to the fifth class to avoid any risks, as agreed upon by the Orléans family and the dwarves.”

Magic energy is tied to one’s spirit. There were concerns that those who had not been exposed to magic energy since birth might experience adverse reactions if suddenly infused with it.

Thus, Alfred had been tasked with determining the safe limit for this procedure.

“You could have told me this through the messaging spell. Why come in person?”

Alfred stood straight and firm.

“Given the potential impact on the future of Bulgia, you instructed me to deliver the results directly. So I hastened here.”

Alfred flashed a confident smile.

Of course.

—I never said that. Well, it’s important, but…

Alfred continued his report with pride as Lucius struggled to respond.

“Rest assured, the main point is the subsequent matter. Large projects require significant funds. I have secured new investments from several nobles. Among them is the leader of the eastern faction, Marquis Leelinz-Esta-Windsor, is among them.”

—Money.

Lucius turned around sharply.

Alfred appeared with news of investments just as Lucius was worrying about funds. It felt almost as if he had a spy following him, but there was no one behind him.

“What’s the matter, Lucius-sama?”

“Just wondering how you knew.”

“When it comes to matters involving you, my lord, I know everything.”

Alfred adjusted his collar, seemingly eager to prove himself as a capable vice-captain.

—Is this guy a mind reader?

Come to think of it, I’ve never heard about Alfred’s techniques. It makes me wonder if he has some kind of mind-reading ability.

Regardless, Alfred’s thinking is correct.

Sol, the first puppet, will be brought back to the territory after paying the customs fee. Once safety is confirmed, it would be better to invite the craftsmen from Kyrgyzstan to the territory to create more. This will require substantial funds for materials, lodging, and commissions.

After all, the plan is to distribute them to all the residents of the territory.

Moreover, it’s not just about creating the puppets. Management costs will also need to be added.

Residents who have never had magic power or techniques will now be able to use them. While this will bring progress in various fields, it will also likely lead to an increase in crime and accidents.

Considerations need to be made about how to maintain public order, who should be prioritized for higher-grade artificial cores and puppets, and whether non-offensive techniques can be chosen in the first place, among other concerns.

“Alfred, I need to discuss something with you.”

As Lucius walked through the streets of the royal capital, he reported on the incident involving the puppet and Viscount Girard.

Even Alfred, usually composed, listened with an unusually serious expression. As soon as Lucius finished reporting, Alfred spoke.

“Having a conflict with Viscount Girard… that’s unfortunate. He is the direct brother of Adelaide-sama, the leader of the western faction.”

“I understand that. But I couldn’t just let Melania die.”

Alfred sighed deeply.

“I expect that some form of punishment will be imposed on you, Lucius-sama.”

Armed clashes between lords are not unheard of. There are several levels to such conflicts. If it were a full-scale war with raised armies, the offending house would be eradicated. However, in a personal dispute without casualties, it usually ends with asset forfeiture.

Lucius drew his treasured sword from his left side and presented it.

“I’ve arranged with His Majesty to settle this matter by delivering three magic swords. I believe this should be sufficient to atone for my crime.”

“Three swords…”

Alfred frowned.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s just that from what you described, Viscount Girard was persistently provoking you to use force. Considering the two magic swords recently bestowed upon you, three magic swords seem too perfect a balance.”

“What do you mean?”

“Given your character, it’s clear you’d offer magic swords instead of parts of your territory or other assets. It might be overthinking, but it seems someone might be colluding with Viscount Girard to target your magic swords.”

Magic swords are certainly valuable, but there are other assets of equal worth. Would someone go to such lengths to obtain them?

—Or is there something specific about my magic swords?

This thought crossed his mind, but the situation remained unclear as if shrouded in fog.

Alfred, sensing his master’s unease, decided to end his admonishments. The focus should be on what to do next.

“What should we do about the puppets? There will be questions about using techniques from another country.”

“If you’re talking about other countries, the magic swords represent the techniques of the Republic. They were used in our kingdom in the past, though we lacked the technology to mass-produce them.”

“True. However, negotiations with the western region will likely be difficult. The northern and eastern nobles aside, the western nobles predominantly want to keep Kyrgyzstan under control.”

Lucius thought back to the members of the Arcanorum Trading Company.

They were typical of those who believed others existed solely for their benefit. Not only did they enrich themselves by exploiting others, but they also failed to provide fair compensation or proper treatment to the people of Kyrgyzstan.

“These techniques hold immense value. We must act not for the present, but with ten or twenty years into the future in mind. This will eventually change how the people of Kyrgyzstan are perceived.”

Lucius’s gaze was fixed on the future.

He envisioned a world where he could improve his domain and the lives of those around him.

Suddenly, Alfred raised his hands high in the middle of the main street.

“Divine Insight!”

Alfred suddenly began shouting in the middle of the road. All the citizens of the capital stopped in their tracks and stared curiously.

—Oh no…

Lucius quickly hid his face with his sleeve and distanced himself a bit, not wanting to be associated with Alfred.

However, Alfred turned toward Lucius with his arms outstretched.

“Lucius-sama! I, the humble Alfred, vow to serve you with all my might until the city of Burgia surpasses the capital! I will make your dream a reality, Lord Lucius!”

The citizens’ gazes shifted to Lucius.

“So that’s the master. Does he realize what it means to surpass the capital?”

“Hmm, Lucius, huh? It’s important to have ambition. A big dream is always better.”

“Being young is great. Keep it up, Lucius.”

“Come to think of it, I’ve been hearing the name Lucius a lot lately.”

He seemed to have been recognized as an eccentric who declared he would create a city surpassing the capital in the middle of the capital itself.

—My dream, huh…

Of course, it was the first time Lucius had heard of it.

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