Children of the Holy Emperor - Chapter 449



Only Noblemtl

449. Dachion (6)

After arriving at the village of Tere, things went much more smoothly.

First, Seongjin found Oliver loitering in front of the inn and asked him a question out of the blue.

“Hey, you. Do you happen to have the ‘Junior Merchant Business License’ issued by the palace?”

Then Oliver turned around with his eyes wide open.

“Yes? Oh, yes. That’s right, but who are you?”

“You want to sell herbs you’ve collected in the countryside? You’ll probably also be dealing in teosinte seeds, which are hard to find in the north.”

“Huh? Yes, that’s right! But how on earth do you… …?”

“But you haven’t been making much money so far, have you? That’s why you were thinking about setting up a stall in front of the inn.”

“omg?!”

Oliver gasped in shock. Just by looking at her, she seemed to have seen right into his mind, and he was just amazed at how she was rambling on about his circumstances.

Seongjin quickly added before the young man’s head could return to its rational state.

“Oh, by the way, I’ll tell you in advance, but unfortunately that plan will fail. The owner wouldn’t even blink at a simple seat. He’s no ordinary person.”

“Huh? No, then what should I do now… …!”

“What should we do? The palace investment will be completely lost. You should just go back to the countryside and work hard at farming again.”

Then the innocent country boy fell to his knees on the floor and screamed.

“Ah, ah, no! I promised Lilian that I would definitely return as a prize winner! I can’t even farm in my hometown anymore! I emptied all my assets for this trip!”

Seongjin was dumbfounded.

Look at this guy. What on earth did he believe in that he put all his money into a promise that had no end in sight? Isn’t this guy a guy who’s going to get in big trouble?

‘I don’t know who that ‘Lilian’ is, but seeing her disposing of her assets without any plan, I wonder if she has already given up on you.’

But there was no other way. In order to combat the spread of the weaklings, there was no choice but to beat up this poor fellow and turn him into a proper merchant.

Ugh! Sob!

Seongjin looked at the young man shedding tears in despair with pity, waited for his crying to subside, and then gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

“But don’t worry. Thank goodness you found me here. You’re so lucky.”

“Sob sob! But I’ve been asking this all along, but who are you?”

“That’s not really a big deal. The important thing is that I have some knowledge of business and have connections with great companies like Bertran & Lee.”

“Is that true? Sniff!”

“Well, that’s not all. I also have the means to make your Teosinte the most popular tea on the continent.”

Jjang.

Seongjin took out a shining gold coin from his pocket and thrust it in front of the still half-doubting young man’s nose.

“Enough talking, let me prove it first. Hand over all your belongings and do as I say. I guarantee that all your herbs will be gone by the end of the day.”

“… … !”

“This is a proposal that is not bad at all for you. Even if it fails to sell out, I will take responsibility for the remaining herbs and purchase them at a high price.”

The eyes of the young man who was staring at the gold coins as if possessed are soon filled with the light of hope.

He stared at Seongjin with tearful eyes, then fell face down on the floor and shouted.

“What the heck! Who are you really? Are you the great sage who is said to be famous in the Benso Marquisate? Or are you an angel sent by the Lord to save me, a poor man?”

Hmm? No, no matter what, angels are a bit… … .

As Sungjin awkwardly avoided his ardent gaze, the Demon King threw a spark onto the lampshade as if he was displeased.

[Wow… Lee Sung-jin, you conman without a conscience… … .]

At the same time, it seemed like he heard a small sigh in his head, but it was only Sungjin’s imagination.

Of course.

* * *

The work to create the Miracle Teosinte MK2 was progressing smoothly.

There was no need for further experiments such as mixing herbs or adjusting the proportions, since most of the results were already known.

So, Seongjin’s worries continued in a slightly different direction.

“I was thinking of selling it first, but… … .”

To distribute teosinte on a large scale, a more fundamental solution was needed than the simple trick of mixing the potion into tea.

Is it possible to maintain the effects of Teosinte with only a small amount of stamina potion?

‘No. If you can’t change the seeds you’re dealing with, it’s more correct to say that long-term sales are impossible.’

Of course, there was no room for things like improving seeds. But for some reason, Sungjin was able to intuitively realize what the solution to all these problems was.

as soon as-

“Father, please help me.”

[… … .]

“No, no. This is really, really important for the continent. Don’t just sigh like that. Okay?”

Why not?

Ever since the Holy Emperor had explained to him about Dacianus, and since he had somehow managed to send Sungjin back to the past, Sungjin had been acutely aware of the feeling of his power, which he had been suppressing for the sake of karma, being released and spreading out in all directions without any obstacles.

For such a saint, nothing is impossible anymore.

‘I believe in you! There is a way to do everything, right?’

I listened with vague anticipation, and after a while, a somewhat vague answer came back to me.

[… First, let’s gather all the teosinte seeds in one place.]

“Yes, Father!”

[Then, after sprinkling the potions you have evenly over it, spread it out in a sunny place to dry well, and put both hands… … .]

“Yep!”

[… Don’t laugh and concentrate, Mores. This is how to make a simple flame barrier. If you learn it well now, you will be able to use it later when you need it.]

“Oh, yes! Of course! I’m concentrating!”

So when all preparations were complete, the Holy Emperor performed the miracle himself in Seongjin’s mind.

Hwaaak-!

The essence of Teosinte changes as it is enveloped in a white halo. The mysterious process reminds Sungjin of the scene where Sunghwang once cured General Bruno of his gray plague.

A strong will moves, countless causes and effects gather, and the axes of time and space shake individually.

After twisting the laws of the world several times, the bright light finally disappeared and what was left before Seongjin’s eyes was-

“wow……!”

It was a completely new type of teosinte, radiating a brilliant golden sheen!

“Father, this is… … .”

When Seongjin carefully lifted up one of the teosinte and asked, Seonghwang explained in a soft voice.

[Tell the merchant to grow them well. Perhaps he can obtain seeds with the same effect.]

So, are you saying that the seeds’ genes themselves have changed?

“No, what on earth did you do to Teosinte? How could such a transformation be possible in such a short time?”

[It’s nothing, Mores. I just spread a simple salt barrier and melded the seeds with the laws of the psychic world.]

“… … .”

[Actually, didn’t you get the feel of it to some extent?]

It certainly was. It was a different feeling from when I was watching Director Bruno’s treatment process.

The vivid movement of the idea, the clear intention felt within it. I felt as if the entire process of the miracle that Seonghwang had caused was completely recorded in my head.

‘Is it because my father is in the salt crystal?’

Why? This feeling wasn’t completely unfamiliar. It felt very familiar and nostalgic.

“Anyway, if it turns out like this, the story will be completely different?”

Seongjin raised the corners of his lips.

At first, I thought I’d get involved in Oliver’s business and make a little money from the royalties.

but-

“Shouldn’t we really be ripping off some of the guarantees? After all, we’re the ones providing everything from the seeds to the business plan.”

It was a doomed business anyway. Oliver had no choice. Sungjin made a plan on his own, smiling happily.

‘Okay. Should I add Masain’s name to this contract? Although he is a member of the Seonghwang family, he is a palace knight and has no opportunity to make money privately.’

Seongjin, who had finished everything perfectly, called Martha and Owen with a confident look on his face.

“You are opening a stall and doing business? Your Majesty?”

Naturally, the opposition from Lord Marsain was not insignificant.

“That is not acceptable! As a member of the Seonghwang family, please maintain your dignity!”

But Sungjin had enough reasons to convince him.

“Calm down, Sir Marsain. As you know, the people of the North are gradually becoming addicted to the medicine. How miserable is this?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I know that too, but… … .”

“Wasn’t our special task force working to dig up the roots of the distribution of the medicinal tea and free the people from the clutches of the medicinal tea?”

“… … .”

“And leading the Demon Task Force is the ‘noble duty’ that I have chosen. In other words, this is a mission that I must carry out as a member of the Seonghwang family.”

But Sir Marsain did not back down easily.

“But Your Majesty. That is no reason for Your Majesty to do business yourself. Rather, shouldn’t you be putting all your efforts into rooting out the Repentance Sect?”

Tsk tsk.

Seongjin wiggled his fingers and clicked his tongue.

“You know one thing and don’t know the other. If we just distribute new cars, we can keep most of the penitents’ clutches at bay.”

“However, your majesty… … .”

“Besides, this is also for Sister Amelia.”

As the princess’s name came out of Seongjin’s mouth, Masain also listened with a trembling face.

“Listen, those who hold the ‘Jun Top Business License’ are the seeds of hope that Sister Amelia has sent to the North. If they can properly take root and grow on their own, what could be better for the continent’s economy?”

“… … .”

“It would benefit the Empire, and it would help the poor northerners. It’s all for the greater good, Sir Marsain.”

Marsain raised one eyebrow. The meaning was summarized as follows.

-Your Majesty? Your Majesty? No way?

However, there was no particular flaw in the explanation Sungjin gave. In the end, he started to organize the wooden planks for the demo with a displeased expression.

But that wasn’t the end of Masain’s suffering.

“Okay, if you understand, please sign here, Sir Marsain?”

“…What is this, Your Majesty?”

“Huh? It’s a simple contract. It says that the profits from the technology you provide will be split evenly in half.”

“Huh? The technology I provided, what is that… … .”

“Oh! Don’t try to dig too deep. Just trust me and sign, because it’s good. Hurry up.”

“… … .”

And so, in front of Teres’ Inn, another spectacular Teosinte launching event took place. Under a more elaborate and splendid fireworks show, with a product of even greater quality.

“Wow! This is a miracle from God!”

“Here! Here, give me a bag of teosinte too!”

“Get out of the way! I was first in line!”

Business was booming. Teosinte sold out much earlier, and Oliver was crying tears of joy as he stroked his full pockets.

And just like before, Sungjin found Seonghwang’s party at the end of the gathered crowd.

A very familiar and welcome sight, riding on the back of a Barsha Savage with a thick hood pulled over his head.

Seongjin was delighted and tried to shout.

‘Father… …!’

But the next moment, Sungjin was overcome by an unprecedented sense of discomfort and froze in place.

‘…uh?’

The presence of a small light still shining in his head, and another father staring at him from beyond the crowd.

Seongjin’s eyes, which had been blinking slowly, soon grew wide in shock.

‘Father… is there again?’

Click!

In that moment, the sound of two worlds colliding rang out in my head again.