1.
Before making this request of the Emperor, based on what I had investigated...
The Dwarf Company had quite a diverse range of routes for procuring mana stones.
They scraped them together across several floors within the Tower, and dragged them in from anywhere they could reach outside it as well.
There were only two places with overwhelmingly high output, but the combined share from everywhere else could hardly be called insignificant.
In other words, losing Velua alone would not bring the Company down.
Not that I held a grudge against them, so it was not something I wanted anyway.
What did piss me off, though, was this.
"What a ridiculously easy racket you have going."
Every year, they signed a mining-rights contract with the Imperial Family, but in reality, there were no competitors for mana stones.
So an auction was held every year, and every time, the Company got them for dirt cheap.
It was not as though mana stones had no uses at all.
You could use them to power magic tools, for lighting, or for heating, among other things...
'The efficiency is atrocious.'
Burning something else of the same price would cost far less, so there was no reason to specifically buy mana stones to use.
In the end, they were only truly worth their price when made into Enchant Dust.
There were many sellers, but only one buyer.
What they had going was less a contract than a renewal process—a ridiculously easy racket.
It did not get any cheaper than this.
Hey, let me have a piece of the pie too.
For the long term, of course.
"Would you grant us a long-term contract?"
The Emperor raised the corner of his mouth before quietly speaking.
"Master Lionel."
Master.
It was the first time in my life I had ever heard that form of address.
Not in my previous life, naturally, and not in this one either—not yet.
But before I could even savor the title...
"The jewelry is remarkable, too."
The Emperor stepped closer.
"The size of the gemstones is remarkable, too."
"..."
"And the craftsmanship... is remarkable, too."
"..."
"Your confidence is remarkable as well."
The praise continued.
He casually placed a hand on my shoulder.
And then...
"But your ambitions are rather small, aren't they?"
The Emperor grinned wide enough to show his teeth.
"...Pardon?"
Small?
I had not expected to hear that.
What I had just asked for was for the Imperial Family to make an exception to its own contracts and rules solely in favor of the ducal house.
I had never imagined he would call that a small request.
"A long-term contract for the mining rights to the Velua Mountains."
Brush.
The Emperor lightly brushed my shoulder.
"It is an exceptional matter... but of course I can grant it."
The answer came far too easily.
"It is a mine we had to entrust to others because we lacked the manpower anyway."
The Emperor's response was much more casual than I had expected.
"However, a current contract is still a contract."
"Ah."
"How about we discuss it again beginning at the end of this year? You have my word."
I gave a slight nod.
There was nothing to be done about the current contract.
If he put his seal on it himself and then suddenly told the Company to pack up and leave, who would ever trust that contract?
My original plan had been for the end of this year anyway.
"Th-thank you."
"But do you need mana stones?"
The Emperor rested a hand on his chin and slowly studied me.
"Yes."
"There can hardly be any mana stones available on the market."
Yes, you have pinpointed it exactly.
I could scrape some together, but it would not be easy.
"That is true, but I believe it will be fine once the contract begins at the end of this year."
Mana stones might be scarce, but they were not completely nonexistent.
Besides, I thought I could manage somehow by making other things in the meantime.
"For imperial mining rights, one-tenth of the ore produced each year, and then one-tenth of that, must be sent to the Imperial Palace."
One-tenth of one-tenth... one percent of the total.
I did not know why he had to phrase it so complicatedly, but I was good at math, so this was no problem.
It might seem like an incomprehensible system, but perhaps it was only natural.
This was the Empire, after all.
The mountain range belonged to the Empire from the outset, and mining rights were simply a lease on it.
It was basically like rent.
"That is why the warehouses hold a great many mana stones."
"...!"
My thoughts began racing at once.
This system could not have been established yesterday. Whether for ten years or a hundred, the stones they never used would have piled up.
Thinking that far, I remembered when I had requested ore to make jewelry.
The Empire's warehouses had contained an absurd quantity of ore.
At the time, I had simply thought that was to be expected of the Imperial Palace.
So there had been a reason for it all.
Holy shit.
Then came his next words.
"Take those as well."
They were more than enough to surprise me.
"What good is it to leave stones piled up? They should be given to someone who will use them."
The Emperor patted my shoulder a couple of times.
"..."
I immediately bowed deeply.
"Thank you!"
Thanks. Overwhelming thanks.
With this, getting all of Dolores's equipment to at least +15 would proceed without much trouble.
Just wait, Dolores. Once everything is enhanced to +15, you might even be able to use Armament Haki.
Just as I was about to end the negotiations, thoroughly satisfied...
"...And?"
"Pardon?"
"...You mean that is all?"
The Emperor snorted as though dumbfounded.
"Hahaha."
He roughly pulled over a chair behind him and sat down.
"You will have to excuse me. I am at the age where every bone aches."
"That is perfectly all right."
The Emperor crossed his legs and faced me.
Maybe because I was short, but only seated did he finally meet my eye level.
"...It seems you still do not know precisely what you have done, do you?"
"What do you think, Duke Dolores?"
"...I believe it is because he is still young."
The Emperor asked with a smile.
Dolores bowed with a smiling face.
The atmosphere itself seemed fine.
Okay, I get it. I will ask for a little more, then.
Something light.
"I need an ultra hi—no, an excellent smelting-furnace facility."
Unable to bring myself to say an ultra-high-heat smelting furnace, I asked cautiously.
"Kuhahahaha!"
This time, he burst into booming laughter.
The princess, who had somehow slipped directly into my field of view, gracefully laughed as she covered her mouth.
"That is easy enough. Take one from the finest forge in the Imperial Palace. I will help have it dismantled."
The Emperor slapped his fist into his palm and added,
"No, if we simply provide the resources, would you build it yourself?"
What was this? It was that easy?
I had gotten a brief look at the Imperial Palace forge when we reclaimed the mine last time.
It was seriously no joke. So I wanted both the dismantling and the resources.
But that was not what mattered right now.
I cautiously opened my mouth.
"Um, having a permanent ironworks facility established in a ducal house..."
I mean, was that not politically complicated?
"His Majesty says it is all right."
The princess smiled and spoke before the Emperor could answer.
The Emperor nodded as well.
So that was how it was.
I nodded at her words.
"This is the first time I have ever met such an entertaining negotiating partner."
"..."
"I came prepared to have the pillars pulled out from beneath me, yet I shall become the first Emperor in the Empire's history to put my name on the line without losing any pillars."
I swallowed some of my indignation.
I had made some pretty big demands in my own way.
Honestly, was I wrong? Mining rights were a national-scale enterprise, weren't they?
A long-term contract was entirely outside the system—a complete irregularity.
I was demanding privilege upon privilege.
Nevertheless, it was clear that I had somehow missed the mark with my demands.
I needed to find out the exact going rate.
You could not name a price if you did not know the value.
There was only one person to ask at a time like this.
'Yuna, are you there?'
[I'm heree.]
Look it up and tell me quickly!!
[I'll dig through the Outer Tower community.]
Then an instant that felt like eternity passed.
[There are about three cases recorded in the annals.]
[First one.]
─────────────────
『Around Imperial Year 300.
The Emperor of the time is said to have staked his name and asked a general who led the Empire to victory in a northern campaign what he desired.
What the general received was the title of marquis, a fief, and an engagement to a princess.』
─────────────────
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
A title, land, and a princess?
[Next!]
─────────────────
『During the 400s of the Imperial Calendar.
The Emperor of the time staked his name and asked what was desired of the person who slew a demonic dragon that appeared in the south and burned three territories.
What he received was the title of duke and the territory that came with it. And an engagement to a princess.』
─────────────────
"..."
[Last one!]
─────────────────
『During the 500s of the Imperial Calendar.
When a tribe that worshiped a barbarian god of the north kidnapped a prince and princess, there was a hero who brought them both back.
The Emperor of the time staked his name and asked what he desired.
What he received was access to the Imperial Family's treasury. Permission to take any artifact he wished from those collected by emperors throughout history. And an engagement to a princess.』
─────────────────
[They seem to be pretty famous incidents~]
Ah, okay, that is enough.
I understand. I get it.
I roughly understood the weight of it now.
I had been completely off base.
In my case, it must have been something similar to that last example.
After all, it was like I had saved the lives of a prince and princess.
But I had only thought of around two things in my head.
So even if I tried to come up with something now, it would either be a ridiculous overreach or something pitifully small.
That was why, rather than forcing something out here right now...
"Forgive me, but..."
"Hm?"
"I truly cannot think of anything to request at present."
I answered honestly.
Publicly, I was thirteen years old.
I thought that would be enough to earn some understanding.
The Emperor watched me and gave a faint smile.
Somehow, it also seemed a little mischievous.
"Then would it be all right if I made a suggestion? It would be a famous and traditional arrangement, even historically speaking."
Right. It would be cleaner if he suggested something instead.
As long as it was not something like a princess.
Calling her something like a princess made me sound like a bit of an asshole, but I meant it purely.
What would be the point of me marrying a princess?
Beyond my view, I saw the princess's skirt twitch.
Her face turned red like before. Her skin was flushed with life.
Wait a minute.
Surely this man was not about to offer the princess...?
If the moment he said something along the lines of marrying the princess came here...
I would be caught between a rock and a hard place.
If I refused, I would obviously be crazy.
And accepting? At my age?
The instant the words left his mouth, there would be trouble.
I had the feeling that if I made one wrong move here, I would become Lionel the Married Man-for-Real.
So I quickly shook my head.
"Forgive me, but Your Majesty's proposal would be far too great an honor for someone as humble as myself...!"
"...Hm?"
"One week! I will absolutely tell Your Majesty within one week!"
The audience chamber fell a little quiet.
"Haha."
The Emperor nodded with a smile.
"What a pity."
Then he rose from his seat and held out his hand to me.
I hurriedly clasped it with both of mine.
It was large and thick.
Calluses marked it—the hand of someone who had gripped something for a long time.
A sword, most likely.
It was not the hand of a desk worker.
I bowed my head and spoke.
"Your grace is beyond measure."
"...Beyond measure? You say rather interesting things."
Ah, wait.
Was that a phrase from the Joseon era? I had slipped up without realizing it.
"Well, it truly is regrettable, but..."
Squeeze.
Strength entered the hand clasping mine.
"Think it over carefully for a week. I look forward to hearing interesting news from you."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
I bowed even deeper.
Then the Emperor released my hand.
I briefly looked past him.
The princess had already composed her expression, but...
Her tightly pressed lips,
Clench.
and the hand gripping her skirt had yet to relax.
2.
After leaving the Imperial Palace,
Dolores and I went to a quiet, private teahouse to talk.
I was hungry,
and my energy had been drained.
I felt like I was dying.
This was too exhausting. Politics were not for me.
Leaning halfway back in my chair, I spoke.
"I think I have expended too much mental energy, Dolores."
"...So have I."
Dolores placed a hand against her forehead as though what had just happened had left her dizzy.
"I never expected His Majesty to make such a proposal..."
"..."
Even Mama had not foreseen it at all.
Looking at history,
what I had done today... if we had to compare it, could count as saving a princess and prince.
But more than any of that, ultimately...
Whether to grant a reward or not was entirely up to the Emperor.
I could tell how dearly he cherished the princess and prince.
Surprisingly, I had been allowed to take the earrings back out with me.
'The payment has not yet been made, so take them with you.'
I wondered whether that was the Emperor's philosophy of trade.
'What if I accept them and then change my mind?'
But hearing him say that,
I instead found him trustworthy and felt relieved.
It sounded like he meant to keep business thoroughly separate.
In the end, the princess had returned only able to smack her lips in disappointment.
Slide.
Then Dolores scooped up a bite of cake and put it into my mouth.
Nom nom.
Sweet.
It felt as though my depleted sugar was being replenished.
"Did I perhaps commit any breach of etiquette...?"
I had squeezed out everything I could.
I had dragged out every scrap of etiquette I knew and did not know, all the way back to the Joseon era.
However...
"You were generally improper throughout."
This was insane.
I had been?
[There was so much to fix that I gave up halfway through.]
So even Yuna had given up.
"Fortunately, His Majesty appears to have taken your youth into consideration."
Being thirteen really was the best.
I wish I would not grow any older like this.
Slide.
Another bite of cake was scooped up.
I obediently opened my mouth.
Nom nom.
"But Lionel, what are you planning to use the mana stones for?"
Dolores and I had already finished discussing the mining matter on the way here.
Does mining not cost an enormous amount?
You might say that, but there was a reason the Empire simply took one percent of the minerals.
The mountain range itself, along with every piece of equipment installed there, belonged to the Imperial Family in the first place.
They lent us the land and the tools, so naturally they took a cut.
That meant the only thing to account for was labor costs.
And labor costs... honestly speaking,
were not a burden at all.
'Because I am planning to start making money soon, too.'
Wiping the cream from around my mouth, I looked at Dolores.
Then I slowly scanned her body from top to bottom.
Her ears, nape, fingers, wrists.
Her waist, thighs, stockings, ankles, stockings, feet.
Dolores's eyes widened.
"...?"
"Dolores."
"Yes."
This time, I took the fork from her, scooped up a large bite of cake,
and brought out the conclusion I had always had in mind.
"Equipment."
"Equipment?"
Slide.
I put it into her mouth.
"Nom..."
Dolores opened her eyes slightly and accepted the bite of my cake.
"I am going to enchant all of your equipment."
"...My equipment...?"
Her eyes widened as she asked.
This was where the point began.
"When you recover your health."
"..."
"You will have to climb the Tower again."
The clock of her Tower,
which the curse had taken away and stopped,
I intended to start turning again.
'Armament Haki Dolores.'
Hearing my ultimate goal, Dolores's eyes widened.
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