All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 195

◈ Chapter 195

98. Don’t Fight in Someone Else’s Neighborhood – 1

“It’s been a while.”

The Forest Keeper greeted with a smile, and the Sword Saint also nodded slightly.

Ian, who had been watching them, sat down, and Marquis Herain, Haryun’s father, said,

“I was hesitant to come alone.”

“Did you think something would happen at the academy I manage?”

“Ah, no. It’s because I have to go somewhere else after this is over. You know, the railroad project. We’ve decided to connect it to our Salt Marquisate as well.”

Chrome nodded slightly.

“Because of that, there are many places to visit. There are many territories to cross to connect the Salt Marquisate and the railroad.”

To do that, they have to use the gate [a magical portal for transportation].

They can’t bring dozens of knights every time.

And they also have to use the land route, but the road isn’t necessarily safe.

“To be able to bring the Sword Saint and the Forest Keeper as escorts, you’re quite impressive.”

“It’s based on friendship and mutual interests. I wish you could have participated, though. Hahaha.”

When Chrome joked with a smile, Herain shook his head and immediately got to the point.

“Okay, first of all, this is the investment plan, and it’s also a business proposal.”

Ian, who received the report he handed over, quickly read it.

The railroad track development was being carried out entirely by the academy.

As such, orders for new tracks had to go through Ian.

“Is it possible to meet the demand?”

“It’s certainly possible to supply the quantity. If we fully utilize the workshop, we can produce the necessary amount within a year.”

“Oh, really? That’s a relief.”

First, they will build a railroad from the Salt Marquisate to Fredon Academy.

Afterward, they plan to connect additional railroads to connect with other locations.

While Herain was explaining the plan, the dishes came out.

However, everyone at this table didn’t even touch the food and only talked about business.

When the rough estimate and cost calculation were finished, Ian chuckled.

“By the way, I didn’t expect the Forest of Warriors to get involved in this project.”

“Even warriors have to make a living. There will inevitably be friction regarding railroad security and construction-related tasks. It would be beneficial to have warriors involved.”

The railroad installation project involved considerable financial interests.

Even if the Fredician Marquisate was leading it, unwanted parties could get involved.

From that point of view, cooperation with the Forest of Warriors was definitely a good idea.

When the Forest Keeper spoke in a gentle tone, Ian nodded and looked at the Sword Saint.

Even if the Forest of Warriors had a clear reason, why did the Sword Saint attend this meeting?

“I received a request from the World Tree Council. I also received a request to install a railroad in the Elf Forest.”

The Elf Forest is located at the northwest end of the continent and is quite remote.

As such, there was little development, and there was minimal interaction with the outside world.

“As a result, many elves are leaving the forest to live elsewhere. Due to the continuing population decline, the council has made a significant decision.”

“That’s the opening of the Elf Forest through the installation of the railroad.”

“Yes. By doing so, we are trying to further develop the Elf Forest. We hope that the number of elves remaining in the forest will increase.”

It’s not a bad idea.

Of course, there will be friction in the process, but wouldn’t that also be a driving force for growth?

“And the Elf Forest also wants to connect to Fredon Academy first.”

“You say ‘first,’ but the cost won’t be cheap.”

When Ian said with a smile, she glanced at Herain.

“The Salt Marquisate has decided to support it. In return, we have decided to monopolize the specialties from the Elf Forest for five years after the railroad is installed.”

“The Fredician Marquisate is installing the railroad. The Salt Marquisate is trying to take all the profits.”

Chrome said with dissatisfaction, as if the coordination on that part was not properly done.

Herain smiled at that.

“That’s how capital works.”

“Sword Saint, don’t do that and leave it to us.”

Herain and Chrome glared at each other.

Anyway, as the heads of famous merchant families on the continent, they seem to have quite a strong sense of competition.

Ian looked at them alternately and chuckled.

“Don’t fight here.”

“Ahem.”

“No, I didn’t intend to fight… Anyway, I want to discuss the coordination of this part and what needs to be done in the future.”

“Let’s do that.”

After about two hours of meetings and negotiations, the division of labor was completed.

The academy will produce the railroad tracks.

And develop vehicles with higher output than the current models.

And the Salt Marquisate and the Fredician Marquisate will handle capital and negotiations for each territory.

Chrome smiled with satisfaction as he reviewed the division of labor.

“Haha. I hope things go well as planned.”

“That’s what I’m saying. But in the beginning, the academy will be the center of logistics.”

“That can’t be helped. We also have to consider the monster materials that are processed and produced at the academy right now.”

“And I heard you made a mobile device that doesn’t use spirit veins [magical energy channels]?”

When Ian nodded, Chrome smiled.

“Because of that, the academy and its surroundings will develop quite a bit.”

“Are you dissatisfied?”

“I’m not, but if the academy becomes the center, there will be less competition for interests. I have to be satisfied with that.”

If they make another place the center of logistics, the competition for interests will be intense.

Thinking about that, it’s much better to develop the academy, which is a neutral zone and has high potential for development.

When Chrome said that, Herain smiled bitterly.

“Actually, I wanted to make the Salt Marquisate the center, but… if that happens, the royal family’s scrutiny will be severe.”

“And frankly speaking, the location of the Salt Marquisate isn’t ideal.”

“That’s true, but anyway, I enjoyed talking today. I’ll send you the data again.”

As they left with Haryun and Wildy, Ian looked around at the remaining people.

“Aren’t you two leaving?”

“Now that the first purpose of coming here is over, we need to discuss other business.”

“What is it?”

“These days, many monsters are carrying these around.”

What the Forest Keeper took out of his bag was a skull.

On the surface, it was not much different from an orc’s skull.

The unusual thing was that a pattern was engraved on the crown of the head.

The pattern was the symbol of Rubellin [likely a demonic or evil entity].

“I found something similar too.”

The Sword Saint also took out a horn from his bag.

“This is a Bycorn’s horn [a mythical creature with a cow’s body and a human face].”

“Yes.”

Ian looked alternately at the orc’s skull and the Bycorn’s horn, then picked up the skull and asked.

“Where did you get it?”

“I found an orc village on my way back to the Forest of Warriors.”

He thought it was just an ordinary orc village and approached it to clean it up.

But there was something strange.

In that village, there were not only orcs but also kobolds, goblins, and yagas [various types of monsters].

And they were making an altar and holding a memorial service.

“It’s the first time monsters have held a memorial service. Anyway, so I swept it away and brought it.”

Ian put down the skull and received the horn given by the Sword Saint.

“I’m a little different. A troll had this.”

“Is that so?”

“However… I caught the troll with this horn near the World Tree.”

Monsters cannot approach the World Tree.

Because they fear the enormous presence of the World Tree.

But the troll appeared near the World Tree as if he didn’t care about such things.

“I can’t approach the World Tree either. Fortunately, I caught him before he got near it, but when I caught him, something was strange.”

“What’s strange…?”

“Trolls recover from injuries on their own with high natural healing power. But that troll was different. He had an injury on his stomach.”

“So?”

“He desperately blocked the injured side during the battle. As if he had something hidden inside.”

So, when he caught the troll and checked the injured side, there was this horn inside the flesh.

“If you have this pattern, monsters can enter the World Tree. Is that something like that?”

“Well, it didn’t seem like that.”

So the Sword Saint also caught monsters with the elves and experimented.

He engraved the same pattern on the monster and sent it to the World Tree, but they were still afraid.

“So I kept it for now.”

Something strange was happening.

When the two mentioned things that had never happened before, Ian closed his eyes and thought, then nodded.

“I understand. Thank you for the information.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Ian, if you’re grateful, let’s have a sparring match sometime soon. The Sword Saint said he saw your strength.”

“I didn’t exactly spar with the Sword Saint, but… I understand. I’ll make time soon.”

Ian smiled and nodded, and the Forest Keeper was satisfied.

As even they left, Ian, left alone, stroked Myane [likely a familiar or pet] and muttered.

“Things are getting more and more interesting. Kirke, can you go through the Forest of Warriors when you go to the Empire this time?”

“Add it. Let’s see what’s going on there.”

Ian glanced at the bracelet on his wrist and said.

“Let’s go there too when we have time.”

* * *

After returning to the academy, Ian was absorbed in his work.

There was something he had to finish before going to the Empire.

He stayed in the reagent preparation room, skipping classes, and came out on the day the B class students left for the Empire.

“Are you working even on the day you leave? Are you so busy that you can’t go?”

“Worry about yourselves more than me.”

Ian handed over what he had brought with a nonchalant expression to the students who were discussing the travel route while looking at the map.

What was in the box he handed over was a bracelet.

“Bracelet?”

“Yeah, bracelet.”

Ian tapped dozens of bracelets placed next to him.

Haryun stepped forward and asked curiously, and Ian put it on his hand.

The back of the bracelet was shining like obsidian.

“What is it?”

“Put magic power or aura into it.”

-Tick! Ttiririk!

When he channeled magic power, blue letters flashed on the black part that shone like obsidian.

Haryun tilted his head when he saw it.

“Warp preparation complete? Destination Fredon Academy? Research and development area?”

“Press it one more time.”

-Ttididik!

With a small electronic sound, Haryun’s body disappeared.

And after a while.

The embarrassed man came running in a hurry.

“Why are you coming from there?!”

“Ian, is that what you said you made? Is that warp [teleportation]?”

When Wildy mentioned what he had heard from the Magic Tower, Ian nodded.

Ian handed out bracelets to all the bewildered students and said indifferently.

“It’s a warp bracelet. If you encounter a problem during the trip, use it to return to the academy. It’ll be better than dying.”

“…No, such a precious thing?”

“It’s also for testing a few functions, so don’t feel pressured. The manual is there, so operate it yourselves. Ah, if you don’t want to be a tester, tell me. I’ll take it back.”

“Who says I don’t want to?”

Everyone takes a bracelet one by one.

Ian, who saw it, said with his hands in his pockets.

“Then see you later at the Imperial Academy.”

Ian, who only said that, manipulated the bracelet, and his body disappeared in an instant.

All the students looked for him, but they couldn’t find any trace of Ian.

That’s because Ian.

“Is it here?”

A place that takes months to reach from the academy.

He was warped near the Forest of Warriors, where the warriors of the continent gather.