The Story Of The Second Son Of The Baron Family [EN]: Chapter 105

My wife and I strolled through the territory. Unlike the times when I was guided by someone to see the sights, she was the guide this time, and I was the tourist. Unlike the Draggnil territory, which had nothing to see, the Zeke territory, befitting its reputation as one of the best territories in the Empire, had quite a few attractions worth visiting. In particular, there were many places those learning the sword would want to visit at least once, as if proving that it was a family of swordsmen for generations.

‘You look happy.’

She seemed quite happy whenever she had a new experience. When she encountered the sea for the first time, and even now, when she took the lead and guided me around. Given her status, she would usually be guided by someone, not be the one guiding.

Thanks to her, I was able to wander around the territory, making memories while also pursuing my original goal of exploration. Of course, I mostly wandered around the bustling areas, so I couldn’t achieve any noticeable results.

However, the Zeke territory was vast. Moreover, the Roche Mountains, which stretched along the southeastern border of the Empire, had veins that could potentially contain ore. I failed a few times, but as they say, there’s no tree that won’t fall after ten strikes [meaning persistence pays off].

“What did you do?”

“I found a mine.”

“…Really?”

“Why would I lie to you, brother?”

When we reunited, he told me that he had heard the rumors and was expecting it, but when I told him that I had actually found a mine, he seemed surprised, as if he hadn’t expected it.

“Wh-where is it? No, what’s buried there?”

“It’s iron. If you go northeast, you’ll find a small mountain range connected to the Roche Mountains. You’ll have to dig a little deep, but considering the reserves, the initial investment costs won’t even matter.”

“…Really? We had something so great buried in our territory?”

“Do you know how many times you’ve said ‘really’ already?”

“I’ve only said it twice. Twice.”

He blinked his eyes for a while as if he couldn’t believe it, and then got up from his seat. If what I said was true, it wasn’t something to be confirmed verbally. Even if he couldn’t start mining right away and see the iron with his own eyes, it was his job as a lord to at least confirm the location.

Especially if the mineral buried in the ground was iron. It was the most important strategic material, so scarce that exports were strictly prohibited. There was nothing more important than having a mine with such great reserves.

“It’s here.”

“Here?”

“Yes. To be exact, if you dig vertically about 2km from here, it will appear.”

Sigurd didn’t just dismiss my words. It would be different if it were just the words of a random magician, but I was in a position where I wouldn’t make false statements, and there was no reason for me to do so. Moreover, news had come that full-scale mining had begun at the mine I had discovered first, so there was enough reason to start work. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to produce results before I left for the capital, but if the work proceeded without any accidents, it would be of great help.

“Then we’ll be on our way.”

“Already?”

“There are many people waiting for me in the capital. I’ll stop by again when I’ve finished all my work.”

“If you put it that way, I can’t stop you. I hope you come with three people instead of two next time.”

“We’ll meet at least once before that.”

#

Returning to the capital after a long journey, countless documents were piled up in front of me like a mountain. Not only documents but also practical tasks. The intensity of the work was so tough that the comfortable trip I had taken felt like a dream.

But it wasn’t bad. The fact that work was pouring in for me was proof that preparations were steadily progressing. However, there were things that bothered me.

‘When are you going to start?’

Since ancient times, monsters have been the enemy of humans. An enemy that can never coexist. As such, conquering the land of monsters, which can be said to be a paradise for monsters, is by no means an easy task. With the introduction of Glory [a powerful magical artifact or technology], the Empire’s power had skyrocketed, but even so, it was a great undertaking that the Empire could only attempt with all its might.

As such, the preparation process for a full-scale start was bound to be complex and lengthy. However, the Emperor was only arming himself and his subordinate nobles with Glory, and showed no other actions.

‘You’re not thinking of breaking your promise now, are you?’

The Emperor made a promise to me. I promised to show him surprising results, and he promised that the first place to showcase those results would be the land of monsters.

That’s why I completed Titan [likely a powerful creation or project] and presented results that would surprise not only the Emperor but the entire Empire and the continent. I kept my promise, and now it was the Emperor’s turn to keep his promise. But there was still no sign that the promise would be kept.

Of course, I don’t fail to understand the Emperor’s position. A large-scale war was inevitable, requiring a lengthy preliminary preparation process. If it failed, it would be fortunate if it ended with the entire Empire faltering.

However, on the contrary, there were not many spoils to be gained even if it succeeded. At best, it would be cold, barren land where it was not easy for people to live, and by-products that could be obtained from the corpses of monsters.

If the Emperor was an absolute monarch wielding all authority, it would be different, but the power of the nobles was strong, so he had to persuade them, and they would only be willing to take risks if there was a return. How many people would be willing to endure high risk and low return?

‘But that’s your problem.’

I can give you some help. The high risk remains, but I had the key to raise the low return to a middle return. But that was only if the Emperor made an effort first. If he has no intention of fulfilling his promise with me.

‘I hope that’s not the case.’

It was ambiguous. If I were alone, I wouldn’t need to think long. But somehow, I was holding too much in my arms. So much that I couldn’t move my body carelessly. If the Emperor doesn’t keep his promise, what can I do to punish him or make him keep his promise?

‘Shutting down all the cores?’

That alone was not enough. It was also dangerous. Glory was no longer just a story between me and the Emperor. Returning to my homeland, which could be called the last resort, was even more dangerous.

‘I need to watch a little longer…’

Be prepared, there’s no harm in preparing early, even in the event of an emergency.

#

Around the time Renil was having these possible worries, the Emperor had not forgotten his promise. Rather, he was closer to working to fulfill that promise, and had no intention of glossing over it.

Even if he, as the Emperor of the Empire, could gloss over most things, Renil’s position was not so easy to suppress with authority.

The successor to the current Magic Tower Lord, Gadel Freed, who will lead the Empire’s magic world in the future, and one of only two 7-circle mages in the Empire. Even though it was a verbal promise, breaking it would make it clear that it would be virtually impossible to seek the Magic Tower’s cooperation in the Emperor’s future actions.

‘It’s a headache.’

Of course, the Emperor didn’t just blurt out words. Having learned royal studies from a young age, how could he not know the importance of a single word?

Conquering the land of monsters was also necessary for the Empire. Compared to about ten years ago, it is a little better now, but even so, if there is a bottomless pit, everyone would point to the Terra Barrier [a magical barrier protecting the Empire], as the cost is not insignificant.

However, giving up easily was not an option, as giving up the Terra Barrier was no different from handing over the entire northern part of the Empire to the monsters.

So, I couldn’t abandon it even if it would cause greater losses, so I couldn’t abandon it even if I maintained it.

Even though I was maintaining it, I was used to it and couldn’t feel it, but every year, countless supplies and lives were disappearing, and even though I was sorry for the supplies that disappeared every year, I was so used to it that I wasn’t willing to contribute to the conquest even if it meant enduring huge losses.

Therefore, it was necessary to give them something in order to gain their cooperation, but there was nothing suitable. As everyone knows, there was not much to be gained by conquering the land of monsters. As the Emperor, who was looking at the entire Empire, there was enough merit, but as individual nobles who only had to look after their territories, well, maintaining the status quo would seem like a much better option.

‘I want to sweep them all away, but…’

The lifelong dream of his father, the late Emperor, was absolute power. Why wouldn’t he be greedy? When he had to be mindful of the nobles, even though he was called the Emperor, he felt like overturning everything. So now might be the right time.

By prioritizing the placement of Glory to the Imperial Knights and the nobles who followed him, the central government could gain tremendous power. If only a few conditions were met, and if he was lucky, he might be able to fulfill the dream that had been the wish of successive Emperors for generations.

But if he failed, the Empire would never be able to fulfill the dream of an absolute monarchy again. So it was still too early. The power of the Emperor’s faction had to become stronger, and the power of the nobles had to weaken.

‘It’s not the time yet.’

That’s why, when he met Renil to let him know that he had not forgotten his promise and that he was also making an effort, he smiled after seeing the map he had handed over. If this information was true, and if things went according to the scenario he had planned, he thought he would be able to overcome this situation more easily than he thought.

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