Building A Human Empire By Creating A Clan [EN]: Chapter 16

I dismounted and walked into the forest.

My intention was to gather as many wild legumes hidden within the forest as possible, stuffing them into my pockets.

Since it was early spring, I anticipated it would be difficult to find them before they sprouted, but Calliope performed admirably.

With her exceptional keenness, she unearthed legumes that the rest of the group had missed.

“This is a poisonous plant.”

“······.”

Calliope stared silently at the poisonous plant in her hand before tearing it into small pieces and discarding it nearby.

I sensed her thoughts wavering strongly.

Her overflowing enthusiasm, even if it meant occasionally including non-legumes, was a minor issue.

The bag quickly filled up and bulged against the horse’s side.

As I looked at it with satisfaction, Kisler cautiously spoke up.

“What is Earl Dorin’s reason for wanting to fight you, Lord?”

The stated reason is that I killed Anton.

However, that is a misunderstanding, and it doesn’t seem sufficient to start a territory war.

Kisler knew this, which is why he asked me.

“It’s probably because of the mine.”

“The mine?”

Kisler was startled and leaned back.

He looked more surprised than when he saw the alfalfa.

“Do you know the name of the mountain range north of Olympus?”

“I’ve heard it called the Gray Mountains.”

“That’s right. The Gray Mountains are the longest and richest mountain range in this world because gold is buried there.”

“Are you saying there’s a gold mine?”

Is it just a gold mine?

There were mines for silver, copper, iron, salt, and everything else.

The mountain range spanning my territory is presumed to have numerous gold veins.

This information was realized by comparing the map from the representative system with my memories.

You might think it’s convenient or contrived, but it’s true.

The developers intended it.

– The development is too one-sided.

The great disaster that begins with the offensive of other races.

This development, which starts in the latter half and heads towards the ending, was always one-sided.

The player becomes the defender and blocks, and the other races become the attackers and swarm in.

Reflecting on the freedom of Deus Ex, the defense-oriented approach was stale.

The developers were dissatisfied with it and made the Great Plains very fertile.

To the point where players couldn’t resist the desire to occupy the Great Plains, a land flowing with milk and honey.

‘The Great Plains, located on the border between human and other races’ civilizations. The side that occupies it first gains a significant advantage, making it hard to ignore. The developers were aiming for that. To make players actively advance out of the human civilization and clash with other races.’

The developers’ intention hit the mark.

Even looking at me, I established a base in the Great Plains while being restricted by the representative system.

“How does the Earl know about that?”

“Long before you were confined to the village, the other races walked around and learned what was on this land. And they distributed it among themselves.”

“Is, is that so? Then… I’m really sorry, Lord, but how did you…?”

How was I able to take over the land even after the existence of the gold mine was revealed?

It was a simple reason.

Gold had little value to them.

“Humans are the only race that uses gold as the standard for currency value. If you made currency out of iron and gave it to a world with gold, silver, and copper, how valuable would it be?”

“It wouldn’t be worthless, but…”

“It wouldn’t be of great value.”

They would rather melt copper and use it as currency.

“It’s the same. To elves or dwarves, gold is inferior to orichalcum [a mythical metal] or mithril [another mythical metal]. Iron at least has practicality, but gold is even worse than iron.”

If human civilization also possessed orichalcum or mithril smelting techniques, the treatment of gold would be very different from what it is now.

If they could handle this metal, which is more beautiful, practical, and rare than gold.

However, if there are veins but you can’t mine them, what value is there?

It’s no different from a shiny stone.

Just like gold was to Native Americans.

“It’s strange that Earl Dorin is targeting a village of only about 200 people. If someone doesn’t know the value of the Great Plains, they would usually neglect and ignore it like Seureddet. The fact that he insists on ownership and declares war without even protesting the death of one of his retainers means there is more value than that.”

“Even if we defeat the Earl, if that fact is conveyed to other nobles… they won’t stand still.”

“That’s right. It’s worthless to other races, but invaluable to humans. After this fight is over, I will go see that mine.”

Kisler sighed.

Unlike with the alfalfa, it wasn’t a reaction of holding a treasure.

‘A gold mine is too much of a treasure for a territory with only 5,000 people. To others, it’s no different than leaving a vault wide open. Even if we beat the Earl, not a single lord will be scared and cautious.’

Kisler’s sigh was probably a sigh about the storms to come.

“Edar.”

Calliope, who was leading the group, stopped walking.

I closed my mouth and looked in the direction Calliope was pointing.

I could only see a forest with no path.

“Is it the Earl?”

Calliope nodded slightly.

“How many are there?”

“51. All are heavily armed and riding horses.”

“No infantry?”

“No.”

“It seems he only brought retainers.”

It was a reasonable judgment.

Even if I combined all my territory residents, I wouldn’t get even a hundred conscripts.

Even if I gathered a hundred people, it was obvious they wouldn’t be properly armed.

On top of that, it was a flatland with no defensive measures like walls.

‘If I gather mercenaries or conscripts, I can gather thousands, but the north is barren compared to the Great Plains. If I overdo it to get this small village, the losses will be greater. It’s better to quickly overwhelm them with the mobility of knights.’

“Griff, use illusion magic.”

Griff stretched his right hand forward.

Magic rose, and the ears of Calliope, Griff, Van, and the three familiars turned pointed like elves.

“Float the familiar and connect the vision too.”

A kite emerged from his sleeve and soared.

As the kite rose high and became invisible, I closed my eyes for a moment.

“Connected.”

When I opened my eyes, the vision changed.

The scenery seen from the kite was visible.

Scanning the scenery, a group of knights on horseback could be seen between the tall trees.

At the front was a man wearing unusually ornate armor.

He was talking about something, and his attitude was quite irritable.

【Lv. 29】

Strength worked more strongly than any cause in this world.

Looking at his level, I was convinced that he was Earl John Dorin.

“Calliope, can you hit them?”

Instead of answering, Calliope notched an arrow on the bowstring.

“How many arrows do we have?”

‘26.’

There was a familiar created with a bow among the familiars, so I borrowed it.

Because arrows could not be made in Olympus, the number was very small.

A quantity that could barely catch half of the group if each arrow was accurately aimed.

‘Considering Calliope’s strength, throwing stones would be enough to catch them all. But that wouldn’t feel like an elf. I need to show them using arrows to some extent, so they think elves killed them, which will make things more interesting.’

“Don’t target the Earl or anyone who seems to be on par with him. Kill the rest.”

“Understood.”

The arrow was shot through the gaps in the dense forest.