Offer a Tribute and Become an Archmage - Chapter 146



Only Noblemtl

Episode 146.

“Technology, not miracles…”

Ronobe didn’t understand everything Yonterion said. However, not understanding everything meant that he could sympathize with some parts of it. He took comfort in that for now.

‘Then what Yonterion did wasn’t magic, it was just…’

Technology. It was said that by interpreting magic itself, one can use magic even though one is not a wizard.

‘Isn’t that even more awesome?’

Whatever it was, Yonterion showed his might by pressing down on the Count with one finger. Whether it was a miracle or a technique, it was a power that would be useful if learned! Whether it was a miracle or a trick, it was good to have the power.

‘If you have the strength…!’

There’s no need for wisdom. Just fucking click and hold everything! But as if he had read Ronobe’s thoughts, Yonterion looked down at Ronobe with eyes like he was looking at a bug and clicked his tongue.

[Tsk.]

“Oh, why…”

Because something was stinging, the voice crawled in like a mosquito for no reason.

[You, don’t be like me.]

“I like Yonterion.”

Yonterion flinched. He looked quite bewildered by the words that did not pass through his brain.

[… You don’t have to understand it right now. It means that you don’t have to study hard because you’re not smart anyway. Because half-baked wisdom only creates a framework.]

He tapped his head.

[Come and break the stone. Only then can you become a being worthy of being called a true wizard.]

“Oh, really. But you still have to explain it so that people can understand it! Isn’t it possible for technology to surpass miracles?”

[There is nothing more foolish than explaining the same thing twice. If you don’t understand, that’s fate.]

It seemed like he had no intention of teaching.

Ronobe shouted urgently.

“Do you really have to make fire with water?!”

[Don’t set limits for yourself, you idiot.]

“So! What do you mean by that?”

Yonterion sighed.

[You idiot. What do you think would happen if the ground suddenly collapsed?]

“The ground is collapsing? Then, it will fall.”

[Why do you think so?]

“That’s… because it’s a cliff.”

The ground suddenly disappeared? Then wouldn’t it be natural for it to fall? But Yonterion says that’s not the case.

[When the ground collapses, you don’t know whether you’re falling or rising. Because you have nowhere to put your feet.]

“…?”

That’s another weird sound.

A vague, ambiguous sound.

But the one who said that was not a simple fraud, but Yonterion. A bundle of wisdom that could turn miracles into simple techniques! A treasure trove of knowledge! That’s Yonterion!

“hmm…”

Let’s think about it deeply. Ronobe thought of space. If the ground suddenly disappeared and he fell into space, Ronobe wouldn’t fall due to the weightlessness. He would just fly or float. Then, it might not fall like Yonterion said.

But what does that mean?

Ronobe started having a headache.

[You are very knowledgeable in strange things. How do you know that the universe is weightless?]

“Um… a feeling?”

Yonterion stroked his chin. At the rather suspicious gaze, Ronobe unconsciously broke out in a cold sweat.

[They say the only people you can’t know are women and idiots, and that’s true.]

“What!?”

Yontirion held his stomach and laughed heartily at the sight of Ronobe jumping around like a salmon.

“So what does the collapse of the earth have to do with technology?”

[… What if you still don’t understand even after I’ve said it with my own mouth?]

“That’s why an explanation is needed.”

[… When the ground collapses, there is no distinction between up and down, so wherever you go, it is your path. No matter what you do or what you achieve, if you do not step on it, there are no limits. So, do not be bound by common sense, do not get caught up in principles, and create miracles.]

So, what he was saying was to work hard.

“Why are you saying it so difficult…”

Yonterion hit his forehead! He felt like he had given up on something.

[If it’s easy, it’s easy, if it’s difficult, it’s difficult. That’s what teaching is… Depending on how the listener interprets it, it’s different. Even if you recite the sutra to a deaf ear, it’s better than this…]

“What!?”

[So what did the Count say?]

Ronobe, who was about to lose his temper, suddenly remembered the Count’s words and swallowed his anger.

“He said he wanted to marry me?”

[Hmm, that’s the best suggestion the Count can make. It will be beneficial to her.]

Even from Yonterion’s perspective, it seems like the best thing the Count could do. Objectively speaking, Ronobe is a young man with a bright future. Even from the perspective of a normal magician, he is a young man with a promising future, and even from the perspective of a child of tribute, he is someone with surprisingly outstanding talent.

The Count probably didn’t consider this when he proposed marriage. There must be some secret about my family background, even aside from my physical condition.

“What should I do?”

[What can I do? You figure that out yourself. Are you asking about dating games now?]

“Oh, no. But marriage is a big deal! I’m still young!”

[You ugly bastard. At fifteen, you’re an adult. In the old days, you’d have three children at that age.]

“Wasn’t the old days of Yonterion around the ancient times?”

[Well, what does it matter?]

“It’s important!”

[No, it doesn’t matter. What matters is your life, which is starting to get tangled up here and there.]

“Huh!”

When I hear him say this, it feels a little more real.

It feels like an introduction where something starts to get more and more twisted.

‘I just want to be rich…’

I just want to live in peace with the people around me, but the scale keeps getting bigger. It just makes my heart feel heavy.

[Wizards with a mind as small as yours usually live in the forest or in caves, cut off from the world. Some even built villages underground.]

“I don’t want to do that…”

[If you don’t like the underground, how about the sky? If you look closely, you’ll find someone who created an island in the sky. This world is full of all kinds of idiots.]

“Sky Island! Is there such a thing?!”

[There was a fool like you. He became an island.]

“…? What are you talking about? Becoming an island.”

[Someday you will know what I mean.]

At this, Yonterion’s form turned into smoke and tried to disappear. Ronobe grabbed him urgently.

“You still haven’t given me the answer!”

[You can figure that out yourself now.]

Wheein. Ronobe opened his eyes at the same time as Yonterion disappeared.

Next to him was Benny, sound asleep. Ronobe caressed Benny’s cheek and sighed deeply.

“In the end, nothing was resolved…”

You should know that much and do it yourself.

It’s so easy to say it’s someone else’s business.

“What should I do…”

First of all, you have one year.

I think I need to think about it slowly.

‘I’ll tell my father too…’

If you can’t solve it on your own, you have no choice but to seek the wisdom of those around you.

‘Because Benny’s opinion is important too.’

*

The next day.

Ronobe walked to the place where Anna’s maple trees were. There was no particular reason. He was deeply troubled by the Count’s suggestion and went out for a walk. He was curious about how the maple trees had become totems and changed, and he was planning to take a look since he heard that people were flocking there.

“This is Ronnove Hopper, the one who collected the ice from Longton Castle! Let us raise a toast!”

“Wow!”

The priest’s maple. There were more people there than Ronobe had thought. As it turned out, Anna was right. Miracles are things that make people happy. Miracles that harm people are not miracles, they are misfortune.

“If it weren’t for Baron Hopper, I don’t know how many of our people would have shivered to death in the cold. Thank you!”

“On behalf of the Alovato family, I sincerely thank you! Now, everyone! For Baron Jun Hopper!”

“For the sake of it!!”

There were various patients.

There were many leprosy patients with burns or blistered skin near the tree. Since the maple leaves of the priest were slightly cool, patients with high body temperature were placed in the closest place.

Since then, patients have been flocking to the hospital due to war or various unknown diseases.

“Thank you. Thank you… sob.”

“If it weren’t for Baron Jun… our family wouldn’t be able to gather here!”

“Hey, please take this. It’s not expensive, but…”

“What is this?”

“Please accept my heart!”

Ronobe received thanks from everyone he met. Every time, he mentioned Anna’s name, saying that this miracle was not his but his master’s legacy, but people simply expressed their thanks as if it didn’t matter whether it was Anna or Ronobe.

“It doesn’t matter. Those who were just waiting for the day to die are recovering their bodies.”

The body of a dying husband, a dying wife, or a precious child is restored. The wounds are healed, life comes back, and they look at themselves, speak, and smile.

Just by looking at this, the patient’s guardians shed tears of joy and prayed for the tree that had achieved such a miracle.

“Is that why you became so clear?”

Even though Ronobe had been lying down for a month, I was a little taken aback by how everything changed in an instant, but I could understand why so many patients had gathered.

“I guess it will just keep growing. Just by sitting down, my body is recovering.”

It was Brin.

He was looking at this miraculous scene with his heart pounding.

“I am also a wizard. I cannot help but admire Baron Jun for creating such a miracle.”

“That’s too much praise. It was the Master’s intention, not mine. I just corrected him.”

“Was it so?”

“Yes, it was a will. You said that miracles should bring happiness. I just carried out those last words.”

“Good words.”

Brin nodded, watching faint smiles appear on the patients’ faces.

“But Baron Jun. There’s something I want to ask you…”

“Why is that?”

“I mean, the Blessed Ice Tree.”

“Blessed Ice Tree? Is that what the Master meant?”

“Yes, people call it the Blessing Tree. Didn’t you know?”

“I didn’t know. But why is that…”

“How long will this healing power last?”

“hmm…”

Brindo the Wizard. It seems he suddenly felt that the magical power that heals is not eternal.

Ronobe answered by quoting something he had once heard from Yonterion.

“There is nothing infinite in the world.”

“I see.”

The Alovato family will be making a huge income from this maple tree in the future, so it is only natural that its healing powers will continue for a long time.

‘Even though it’s torn, it’s a totem made with the soul of a wizard. It should last a long time.’

I think it might take a few years.

The larger the totem and the higher the quality of the soul, the longer the totem’s effects will last, as we already know from testing in the Sist. However, what the Allobato family wants is for it to last even longer.

‘They have no choice but to watch my every move.’

If Ronobe wanted to, he could create a cold wave that nothing could survive in. He must have changed his mind because the tree he was originally trying to melt turned into a fortune in an instant.

‘You’ll need my strength anyway.’

It’s not just Alovato.

If this rumor spreads throughout the kingdom, there will probably be chaos everywhere.

He asked me to make one for his territory too.

“You wouldn’t be trying to kidnap me, would you?”

That could be it. Wherever this is.

Isn’t this an ignorant era where romanticism is written and barbarism is read? It’s a world ruled by fools who regret cutting open the belly of the goose that lays the golden eggs. Those who have learned are smart. However, those who have not learned are relatively stupid and ignorant.

The ignorance of humans is so extreme and intense that it is possible for Ronobe to do things that are beyond his imagination.

‘I’m still weak.’

If it weren’t for Yonterion, Ronobe would still be too weak to do anything against the Count. He’s still a young child who’s far from being able to join the ranks of the powerful in this world. So it was burdensome to support such a huge reputation. You can see how he’s already terrified at the thought of various childless people in the kingdom targeting him.

‘What should I do?’

First of all, it is right to deal with the Alovato family.

“Lord Bryn. Could you make a pact with me. No, two… no! three?”

“Huh? Are you saying that all of a sudden?”

“Yes. If you don’t keep this, the tree’s blessings may go somewhere. Those who seek the Alovato estate will disappear, and winter will come again.”

“I will open my ears.”

First of all.

“Please hide my name.”

“Why? The Baron is the benefactor of our lands! That can’t be. If you’re worried about pressure from other nobles, don’t worry. They only need to know the name of Lord Anna, not the Baron.”

“Huh? Uh, how do you mean?”

“If the master, who was alone, saw his disciple, he could say that the tree had blossomed on its own. Then, the name of Sir Anna, not Baronet, would be higher.”

“Oh, oh!”

It’s even better.

I heard that he became the head of the family at a young age, and there was a reason for that.

My head worked better than I thought.

“What’s the second one?”

“Maple leaves are not eternal. They need my strength periodically. Yearly. So that…”

Ronobe rubbed his index finger and thumb.

Brin understood this perfectly.

“Of course it’s a hassle, so I should compensate you for your trouble.”

“Ahem! What price is it? What price is it between us? Th, what is it? I guess it would be enough to receive a little bit of neighborly affection.”

Aren’t we going to see each other often in the future?

This is definitely an appeal to emotion.

“Ah, affection. That’s good. Then, to what extent do you think about that affection…”

“Ahem, why are you asking such a thing? Isn’t it love? If you value me, you wouldn’t let me feel bad.”

The hardest thing in the world, moderately. Anything, as much as you can think of, was a fucking requirement. Brin’s facial muscles twitched a little uncomfortably.

“Okay… So this is the last one. What’s the third one?”

“This is also a personal request of mine.”

Ronobe called for workers, including architects, and young people to relocate the village.

“It’s because of the village that burned down.”

“Yes. But my last name is Hopper, so shouldn’t I rebuild it?”

“That is a fair point. It is simpler than the previous two agreements. I understand. Let’s find someone skilled. Those who will move… Is slaves okay?”

“Are you a slave?”

“They are called slaves, but they are people who decided to become slaves because it was hard to make a living. They each have a talent, so if you take them with you, they will be of great use.”

“Then please do so.”

Ronobe extended his hand to Brin.

“I guess we’ll be seeing each other often from now on.”

“Because it’s close. Please take good care of me.”

“It’s me. Please take good care of me.”

After shaking hands, Ronobé left the Allobato estate.

“I’m rich! Kyahahahahaha!”

Of course, the pockets were several times fuller than when they arrived.

End