Children of the Holy Emperor - Chapter 416



Only Noblemtl

416. Lee Seong-jin’s Exploration Journal (5)

The flame felt very alien to Schmidt.

Judging by the way the magic was slowly rising, its source was undoubtedly the soul of a demon. However, there was something strange about the way it took on a physical form.

‘I don’t see any direct targets of that demon’s contract nearby!’

There are two main ways in which demons manifest in other dimensions.

One is to descend by borrowing the body of a contractor, and the other is to reveal oneself in person by consuming a huge amount of causality.

But to be considered as being mediated by a contractor, the flame was too pure a form of energy. It was truly a blazing flame itself.

If you do that, it means that you are emitting a strong magical energy that can clearly materialize your own energy, but if you look closely, it doesn’t seem to be the case.

In fact, the amount of magical energy that guy was emitting was extremely insignificant.

‘Could it be… that during the process of materialization, a slightly different law, perhaps the law of the world of rules, intervened?’

It felt as if something was blocking the way, as if the causal relationship necessary for existence had been strangely bypassed.

But Schmidt’s thoughts didn’t continue there. The tiny flame began to roar at him.

[What a rude guy! How dare you, without even knowing the subject, call this great Demon King ‘this’?!]

That guy who’s not even a handful of feet away, where on earth does that confidence come from?

Schmidt’s thoughts were clearly reflected in his expression. The flames were now flying like sparks, making his body tremble.

[Hey, look at that arrogant expression! Can’t you show some manners? You can’t even take care of yourself, and you’re a half-ass who makes and sells lists of your own kind!]

The shout brought Schmidt back to his senses.

Wait! How does that evil… no, ‘fairy’ know about the ‘List of Contracts’?

“…lowering?”

Only Prince Mores can explain this whole situation. But when Schmidt looked back at the prince, he became even more confused.

I hadn’t noticed it until now because I was so absorbed in the strange flames, but the magical energy that Prince Mores had been emitting was quite strange.

It is truly amazing how a human body can withstand such a thick concentration of magic energy.

‘I felt like the magic was weak before, but it wasn’t to this extent… …!’

Of course, Schmidt has also heard several unbelievable rumors recently.

Prince Mores is said to be an apostle who has undergone trials from the Lord, or rather, he was actually blessed by an ancient fairy.

but-

‘Even so, you’re saying that you managed to survive in the zodiac without any problems? How on earth did you do that?’

Unlike the astonished Schmidt, Prince Mores was far too relaxed. He glanced around the display case on one side of his office and, with a carefree air, pulled out a plate from the display case. It was a precious porcelain plate from Brittany with a gold-plated border.

“This is good. Would you like to sit here for a moment?”

As soon as the prince’s words fell-

[Hehehe.]

The suspicious flame, as if it had been waiting, landed on the plate in a flash.

It was like looking at a well-trained pet. It was such a pitiful sight, considering all the talk about the Demon King and all.

“lowering…….”

“Don’t say anything, Branch Manager.”

“However, your majesty… … .”

“This is my business. So don’t worry about it anymore and let’s just do our job.”

No, even if I told you not to worry about it, it wouldn’t be easy…

As Schmidt glanced sideways at the flames comfortably perched on the plate, the creature shouted at Schmidt again in a triumphant manner.

[Wahahaha! I really like this plate! Isn’t it a really pretty thing, worthy of the great Demon King? This is perfect, Banpoon! As a token of my respect and obedience, I willingly allow you to offer this plate as an offering to the great Demon King!]

Schmidt’s brow furrowed.

I can’t just give up on that tiny thing.

* * *

Owen was treated with honor as a guest of honor by the Merchant Guild, along with Marsain.

As soon as I sat down at the seat personally guided by the branch manager, his secretary quickly brought in warm tea and snacks. It was on a par with the treatment Mores received.

‘You said Schmidt. I thought he was stubborn and bleak, but he’s actually more sympathetic than he looks.’

Owen thought about this while munching on a cookie.

He was not the biological son of the King, but Lord Masain was completely removed from the line of succession to the throne. Both of them were in a position where they were easily looked down upon by the merchants who were usually pursuing their own interests.

‘… Or is this all thanks to Mores?’

Owen looked at Mores, who was absorbed in the story.

– “Just pretend you don’t know him, Branch Manager.” – “However, Your Majesty. That… No, the fairy must have been referring to herself… … .” – “Oh! You misheard.” – Judging from Mores’s appearance, it seems that the two were quite close friends even in normal times.

‘Well, so you’re going to take charge of Mores’ business and manage it?’

In fact, if you look into the inside story, it might be because the two of them belong to the ‘Children of the Holy Emperor’, who the demons are most afraid of being associated with. Of course, Owen had no way of knowing that fact now.

“Here, I have selected some businesses that are suitable for Your Majesty to invest in. Please take your time and review them.”

As Mores said, the branch manager soon brought Owen a neatly organized folder.

A detailed map of the continent with roads and a variety of business plans grouped by sector.

‘Hmm. Anyway, I don’t know even if I look… … .’

Owen, who had picked up the dense stack of documents, felt a strong temptation to immediately close them. However, somehow, Mores’s gaze, looking back at him, was fierce.

“… … .”

Owen forced himself to look at the papers with their superficial writing. Judging by the way he looked at them, he had a feeling that Mores would ask him about the contents later.

After struggling like that for a while, Masain, who couldn’t stand to watch anymore, came up to me and gave me some advice.

“Here, how about the copper mine? They say the tunnel maintenance is progressing quite well, so I guess we can expect some pretty high profits starting next year?”

“Oh! Do you also know a lot about business, brother?”

When Owen smiled, Martha smiled brightly.

“Actually, I don’t know either. Isn’t the salmon business, which was expected to be the least profitable among the plans of the Hana Mores, already on track? Then, what more can I say about the prospects of the other businesses that were expected to be good from the beginning?”

“Oh, I see.”

Whatever you choose, I guess you’ll get at least your initial investment.

‘Okay. Let’s leave the details aside and just take a look at the types.’

Owen, who felt much more relaxed, instead of wrestling with the files, pricked up his ears to the conversation going on next to him.

At that time, Mores was in the middle of listening to the branch manager’s business report.

“The maintenance of the copper mine is progressing steadily. I was worried that people would avoid it since it had been abandoned for a long time, but since the maintenance was set generously, people eventually gathered.”

“I see.”

“The logging operation is already running smoothly. We are already selling some of the timber to the Cypriot shipyard, and as soon as the land route is secured, we plan to expand the supply to the entire northern part of the country. We will be able to hire more refugees.”

“Okay. Anyway, don’t skimp on hiring and compensation. We’ve already saved a lot of money by securing the low-temperature carriage.”

Mores, who responded like that, seemed like a seasoned businessman. The more I looked at him, the more new aspects there were.

“You said that several villages have formed around the workplace? How is public safety maintained?”

“We have sufficient security personnel assigned to the workplace. In the case of villages, I heard that the settled refugees have organized their own vigilante groups.”

Then Mores tilts his head for a moment, then gives additional instructions.

“Then let’s open small shops in those villages run by the merchants. First, sell daily necessities cheaply, and make sure that equipment repairs are as cheap as possible. We’ll monopolize the village market.”

“…yes?”

“Oh, and don’t forget to add more security personnel to guard the sales office.”

Then, Branch Manager Schmidt looked dumbfounded.

“No, your Majesty. Where is the market that can be preempted in that shantytown? It’s just a waste of security personnel… … .”

“… … .”

“Huh, no way! Is it because of the village’s security… …?”

But when he receives Mores’s tired gaze, he soon sighs and lowers his head.

“Yes, I understand. I will do as you command. I wonder why you are so anxious to give to the northern refugees… .”

Hmm, I’m not sure, but it seems like something serious.

As I was blankly watching Mores work, Martha turned to Owen and smiled proudly.

-How is it? Our little lord has grown up to be such a great man.

An expression that reveals such thoughts without filter.

Owen felt a little strange. Before he left for the Southern Front, Sir Marsain had always been gazing at the Pearl Palace from a distance.

“…hmm?”

Step by step.

At that moment, Mores, who had been handing over the report without hesitation, suddenly frowns.

“But, branch manager.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Why is the importation of grain from the South still lagging? Didn’t we expect it to be the first of our ventures to yield profits?”

Then, Branch Manager Schmidt showed an embarrassed expression.

“The lords I asked for cooperation are not responding very favorably. They are threatening to give us no way out unless we double the magic tax.”

Owen looked back at Marsain and asked.

“Brother. What on earth is magic tax?”

“It’s a tax levied on the number of horses pulling a carriage. I don’t know for sure, but I heard that merchants traveling to the north pay a separate horsepower tax for each territory.”

“Oh, I see.”

There are so many strange taxes out there.

In any case, it seemed certain that this ‘horsepower tax’ was having a negative effect on Mores’ business. The guy’s face suddenly turned murderous.

“Why on earth? Didn’t you already say that you would pay more in magic power than the market price? And in the long run, it’s a structure that will greatly benefit their territory?”

“I don’t know the reason for that, Your Majesty.”

Schmidt answered, seeming embarrassed.

Castile, Milo, Benso, Cavour, and Daciano.

The five of them are the nobles of the old royalist faction who currently reign like kings in various parts of the North. Perhaps because they smelled something lucrative, they all gave Schmidt’s proposal a cold response.

But Mores, who had been lost in thought for a moment, opened his mouth softly.

“… Wasn’t it by chance that the Marquis of Daciano was leading that atmosphere?”

Then, Branch Manager Schmidt looked at Mores in surprise.

“Yes, that is correct, Your Majesty. The Marquis of Daciano’s attitude is too harsh. How did you know that?”

“Yeah. I see.”

Mores’ eyes darken.

At that moment, Owen unconsciously straightened his posture at the eerie presence of a guy he was seeing for the first time.

‘That guy… … .’

I could tell intuitively that Mores was really angry.

The funny thing is, Owen had never noticed what it looked like when Mores was really angry, despite all the fights he had had with him.

“I guess I’ll have to change my schedule a bit.”

Mores’s cool gray eyes glow with an eerie silvery light.

“Once all my business trips are over, I should stop by Dasi Anoryeong right away.”