The Sword Genius of the Magic Empire - Chapter 91



Only Noblemtl

When I got off the subway, it was raining.

Between the raindrops falling from the gray sky, a vast city view spread out before my eyes in the distance.

Western part of Elseid. Commercial district.

Enoch lifted his head for a moment, keeping the hood of his robe pulled down to avoid the attention of those around him as usual.

A bustling city where huge glass-enclosed buildings fill the sky and cars race along gray asphalt roads.

The vast commercial district spread out before my eyes.

Enoch walked through the crowd.

Sirocco, who was looking around frantically from the side, followed along and exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow, this place is really amazing! The buildings are as tall as the cliffs of our tribal village. Is this the commercial district?”

“It’s still on the outskirts of a full-fledged commercial district.”

“Then why did you come all the way to the outskirts? Why not just come in the car you guys drive?”

Perhaps because of Sirocco’s bright voice as she ran around actively, people passing by glanced at her.

Fortunately, however, Shiroko was wearing the hood of his pitch-black robe, covering his ears and tail, which were characteristic of the water race.

The last time he went to the underworld, he saw him wearing a hood, so Lien must have gotten an extra one, because he had definitely got an extra robe that wasn’t in the closet at first.

The reason why the hood was pressed down on Sirocco was obvious.

“The family’s tactical vehicles or machine carriages are usually only used for official missions. And riding around in those would only attract attention.”

“Huh, do you like not being noticed?”

“When it’s needed like now.”

Shiroko glanced up from under his hood for a moment, then turned his head away without saying a word.

And then, for some reason, after that, she lost interest in looking around, and followed behind him relatively obediently.

It seemed like he was listening to what I had to say better than I thought.

“So, why are you here?”

“I have something to do.”

The reason Enoch, who had been focusing only on sword training at the training grounds until now, came here was obvious.

He held the thin ticket in his hand.

[SIG Industries: Artifact Customization Ticket]

A ticket torn from Dionil in Rhodes.

Enoch put it into his bosom.

Now that you’ve got it, it’s time to try it out yourself.

This is also part of the ‘reorganization’ that will be done during the break period.

Now that we have reached the stage where we will be recruiting other followers with Sirocco as our follower, we need to prepare to acquire exclusive mounts and artifacts.

The artifacts and magic items given as compensation by the stock merchants were of a high quality among the finished products, but they were not enough for magicians of level 10 or higher.

Some say that a craftsman is not picky about his tools, but Enoch could not agree with that at all.

‘A craftsman’s tools are usually already considered luxury goods.’

I had no intention of giving a low-level item to a 10th-grade follower and sending them into a brutal battle where life and death would be at stake.

That’s why I visited this commercial district in person.

What existed in the original certainly exists in this world. However, now that it has become reality, the process itself has also changed to be realistic.

The same goes for artifact customization tickets.

If the method has changed, you just need to find the changed method.

Enoch spotted a taxi parked in a back alley and approached it.

Originally, the outskirts of the commercial district were dark places, but they declined and disappeared.

Perhaps because of that influence, there were people who roamed around the area and illegally operated private taxi businesses.

Although it is far from the usual friendly service industry as the background is, it is a pretty good choice as a means of transportation to the commercial district right now.

As I got into the taxi, the man in the driver’s seat glanced at me.

“Commercial District. To the Sig Industries building.”

At the simple order, the driver glanced in the rearview mirror, then put the car into gear and drove off.

Kuuuuung… … .

Just then, a low boom was heard from far away.

Outside the window, far from the city, an intermittent roar could be heard.

Sirocco glanced in his direction and tugged at the sleeve of Enoch’s robe.

“Hey, what’s that sound?”

At that moment, a man’s voice was heard from the driver’s seat.

“Is this your first time passing by the area near the 37th outer perimeter? The response is refreshing.”

“Because I’m not from here.”

“Ah. Why are both the man and woman wearing robes pulled down so low? What a gloomy couple.”

He openly and shamelessly snickered.

The very act of hailing a taxi that provides such back-alley illegal services is a confident tone that suggests that one must hide one’s identity.

But at those words, Shiroko looked at me with fresh eyes from under the shade of her hood, smiled somewhat happily, and said.

“Huh~ Does it look like that?”

“no way.”

Enoch leaned back against the chair and changed the subject.

“What’s that loud noise? This is my first time here, so I’d like to know what’s going on here.”

“Your attitude towards asking questions is quite rude, sir.”

Enoch silently took out a few bills from inside his robe and thrust them into his hand.

The man who accepted it immediately burst into laughter and grinned.

“No, I guess I was wrong! This is a young man I really like. The problem with outsiders is that they are usually clueless.”

Kuuuung!

The man said, pointing again to the small echo of a distant explosion.

“One of Sig Industries’ distribution routes crosses Route 37. That’s why there are occasional commotions on the road outside.”

“Is this a clash with the company’s convoy?”

Although not as influential as stock speculation, some companies also exert a strong influence.

It is not uncommon for companies to operate PMCs (private military companies) together and have private soldiers of the companies themselves.

As expected, the man nodded.

“Yes. It’s the work of robbers called scavengers. They’re actually robbers, but they’re more like a gang.”

Enoch looked at the dilapidated city in the distance.

Even just listening to it, it was clear that Outsourcing was not an easy place even now, five years after the original work.

“If they’re under Sig Industries, they must be quite capable. Do you think the gang will ignore that and still attack?”

“Ha! Those guys from the outpost are not inferior in terms of skill. The weak ones among those living in the outpost are all dead or living as if they were dead.”

The man twisted the corners of his mouth as if he found it amusing.

“The gangs in the outskirts are armed groups made up of such people. There are many notorious black magicians, criminals, and wanted people. Of course, since they are mostly a ragtag group, the success rate of plundering is rock bottom.”

Enoch’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“A black magician. Is that so?”

The black magicians might be connected to the Vendetta. If you ever have to go to the Outer District, you might encounter such figures.

It’s not that it isn’t, but there are many people in the outsourcing industry who cannot get a foothold in the stock market for various reasons.

The man added, as if to verify the fact.

“You really don’t know anything about outsourcing. Outsourcing, regardless of the number in front, is a hotbed of each-for-himself. It’s famous as a garbage dump.”

“It’s sharp.”

“It’s true. I also came to know it naturally while doing various things there.”

The man shook his head with a bitter smile.

“The power of the remaining underworld in the city has been crippled by the Empire’s hundred-year suppression, but there are still rules that apply among them. The outer districts are still a lawless zone.”

Enoch nodded silently.

A place where human lives fly away like flies.

A rotten city where the law of the jungle does not apply.

Because that was an outpost.

“Do companies usually establish distribution channels in such areas?”

“What is it? That’s why SIG is considered a luxury brand among tactical manufacturers.”

He shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “How foolish.”

“They are also crazy stubborn about running a business. To that extent, they even open up distribution channels in such a way to meet deadlines. Is that the only way to become a large corporation, or is that how a large corporation acts?”

Enoch nodded slightly.

That wasn’t a wrong statement.

Customizing artifacts and equipment for each individual wizard is a delicate and highly advanced skill.

And only a very small number of companies, workshops, and master craftsmen were able to do so.

The man added as if he had just remembered something.

“Besides, Sig is especially known for setting quite demanding tests as sponsorship conditions.”

“test?”

“Yes. I heard that Dionil, a direct descendant of the Elseid family, also took the test and failed several times. He’s really arrogant.”

Enoch also nodded without saying anything. It was a company where even the direct line of stock experts directly conducted tests.

I knew about the power that the major corporations of the Magic Empire were showing off, but hearing it with my own ears was shocking.

“It’s an interesting company.”

“Need I say more? The business tycoons must be happy. They don’t have to show their full stomachs. That’s why they don’t know how scary that kind of outsourcing is.”

Enoch answered briefly.

“That’s a good question.”

“Kuhaha. It’s just the grumbling of a poor person who has nothing. Please don’t be so cruel to me.”

The man chuckled, sticking a thin cigarette in his mouth. Then he glanced in my direction.

“My name is Arcto. What’s your name?”

“Do you need a full name?”

Enoch replied curtly. He had his hood pulled down low to hide his face, so there was no reason to reveal his identity.

But in case something like this happens in the future, it might be a good idea to have a plausible alias or identity.

“What a tough guy.”

The man chuckled and shrugged his shoulders at those words.

The taxi soon came to a slow stop.

Before I knew it, the entrance to a full-fledged commercial district was spread out outside the car window.

Through the sound of the rain, outside the alley, buildings were packed tightly together and electronic billboards were shining brightly, painting the asphalt road with soft colors.

The man suddenly chuckled as he looked at the simple, sharp triangular logo of [Sig Industries] printed on the billboard on top of the building.

“Come to think of it, I heard that the youngest daughter of the Sig family is also a great beauty. I’d like to see her in person. People with good blood flowing through them are definitely different.”

Now there is not much context in the conversation.

There was no need to chat when there was no information to be gained. Enoch got out of the car with Scirocco without feeling that it was worth responding.

From behind, reflected in the rearview mirror, Arcto greeted me, puffing out a puff of cigarette smoke.

“Where, let’s meet again later if we get the chance.”

***

“It’s impossible.”

Enoch tilted his head.

The private reception counseling room of Sig Corporation. Enoch, who had taken off his hood because he didn’t need to worry about the eyes of those around him, tilted his head at the sharp rejection that came back.

“yes?”

“So, I’m very sorry, but… … . Due to company policy, it is very difficult to make an offer for custom-made magic tools to non-sponsors even if they have tickets.”

The stern-looking man in the suit answered with a voice that sounded just as stern as his appearance.

“This is because, as a rule, if someone who has not signed a personal sponsorship contract entrusts us with a custom order, the reservation priority will be lower. There are no exceptions.”

“If it’s a lower priority, what’s the period?”

“Let’s see… According to the schedule, you will have to wait about 1 year and 3 months from now. If we receive orders from those who signed sponsorship contracts in the meantime, it is highly likely that it will be delayed even further.”

“Even if you are a direct descendant of the stock market?”

“There are no exceptions to corporate policy, Enoch Elseid. Even if you sign a separate sponsorship contract, you will need to prove that you are a stable talent with a track record of several years.”

Enoch frowned slightly.

As expected, it’s a very picky company, just like I’d heard. But that’s why I found it understandable.

If a problem arises while hiring just anyone as a sponsor, it will only harm the company’s image, so it is not possible to sign a sponsorship contract in a flash.

“Okay, first of all, I understand.”

When Enoch decided that there was no way out here, he put his hood back on and went out of the private reception room.

Right in front of me, I saw Scirocco, who was absentmindedly looking around with his hood on, bump into someone who was hurriedly turning the corner.

“Ouch!”

“Haha!”

The opponent and Sirocco screamed softly at the same time.

And then Shiroko realized that the hood on his head had almost come off a little when he had just been hit, so he hurriedly pulled it back on.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! Are you okay?”

The person who collided with Sirocco appeared to be a woman.

She bowed her head slightly towards Shiroko and apologized. But even then, she seemed to hesitate a bit, as if she had noticed something from Shiroko when they had just bumped into each other.

“Yeah. It’s okay… … . Yeah!”

Enoch quickly pulled his hood up before he could even check who he had bumped into, grabbed Sirocco’s wrist, and fell back.

“let’s go.”

There were already people around looking this way.

As a member of the Suin tribe, Sirocco is not happy with the attention it receives. There is no need to reveal his identity to anyone other than business associates.

As I came out into the lobby of the building, Sirocco asked me something from the side.

“How was work?”

“They said to wait one year and three months.”

“Huh? 1 year and 3 months? I don’t know exactly, but isn’t that a long time?”

“I know.”

Of course, it would be right for the company to give the sponsors the convenience, but it would be too long to wait. And more than anything… … .

‘If this continues, there will be no route to continuously obtain high-quality artifacts.’

In addition to the support of the family that was deployed on missions as before, a route was needed to obtain the necessary equipment when needed privately.

But if things continue like this, it’s obvious that we’ll end up in vain.

An alternative was needed.

As Enoch sat in the lobby waiting room with his hood back on, thinking for a moment.

Shiroko, who was sitting next to me and munching on the guest snacks without paying any attention, offered me one.

“Don’t you want to eat this? It’s delicious.”

Enoch shook his head without even looking up.

Then, Shiroko made a slightly pouty expression and pushed the candy against my cheek.

“Ugh, you said you didn’t like anything I gave you. You?”

Still, he had no intention of eating. Enoch crossed his arms and sat lost in thought, leaving Sirocco to nibble the candy on his cheek.

at that time.

A commotion was heard from a corner of the living room. Everyone’s eyes were focused on one side.

“Uh, uh. Could that person be… … .”

“What brings the entrepreneur’s daughter here… …?”

Anyway, it probably has nothing to do with this. Just as Enoch was thinking that, he felt people’s gazes turning in his direction.

It looks like someone with a lot of attention is heading this way.

Suddenly, I realized that fact and raised my head, and the clear voice of a woman who had come close to me rang out.

“hey.”

A girl with cool-toned brown hair that reaches down to her waist. She wears a white blouse and a short skirt.

She was a mature beauty with a mature and sophisticated style, with calm eyes slightly upturned.

She looked to be around the same age as me, but she had the aura of a businessman’s daughter.

As Enoch looked at her without saying a word, a man in a suit who seemed to be a bodyguard stepped forward and spoke in a stiff manner as if introducing himself.

“This is Elena Sig. She is the youngest daughter of the Sig family and the daughter of the current group chairman.”

“It’s okay. I’ll talk to this person myself. He’s not dangerous or anyone to be wary of.”

She gestured lightly to her bodyguards. The guards hesitated for a moment, glanced at Enoch behind the hood of his robe, then stepped back.

Elena, who had been surrounded by security guards, approached me, put her hand on her chest, and introduced herself.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Elena Sig.”

Then she took a step closer and looked straight into my eyes. Her gaze was strangely eager.

“Let me get straight to the point.”

She said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“… … Enoch Elseid, is that right?”

***

A private sitting room with a luxurious red carpet on the floor and gorgeous oil paintings on the walls. A chandelier shining from the ceiling.

An interior that has a modern feel that suits the building, but at the same time looks very sophisticated, has been revealed.

As I sat down on the chair as instructed, Elena unexpectedly made herself some coffee. When I brought the coffee to my mouth, a fragrant smell tickled my nose.

“How does it smell? Does it suit your taste?”

Enoch nodded slightly.

But he was already turning his head to analyze his opponent. His eyes narrowed as he brought the cup to his lips.

Elena Sig.

The daughter of the CEO and president of Sig Industries.

This character also appeared in the original work.

Even if she found out who I was, what was the purpose of calling me here?

“I’m truly sorry for my rudeness earlier.”

But Enoch’s understanding of her intentions seemed meaningless, and she put her hand on her cheek and sighed deeply.

“illustration?”

“I just heard about what happened at the reception desk.”

She said, putting her coffee on the table.

“It may be a bit embarrassing for me to say this, but one of the weaknesses of our company is that we have very rigid policies. We are far from aggressive marketing, even as part of our brand building.”

“It sounds like you don’t like the company’s policies.”

“Of course. If I take over the management, I will try to fix it from the beginning.”

She said that and came towards me.

“Of course, he’s so handsome.”

Snap.

At that moment, for some reason, I felt Shiroko, who was picking up some snacks for the customers next to me, glancing at me with a fresh gaze.

But Elena paid no attention and came over to the long sofa next to me and whispered with a sly expression.

“With your looks, your direct lineage to the Elseid family, and your recent popularity, it seems like anyone would think you should be the first to make a sponsorship offer… … Do you have any interest in becoming our company’s advertising model?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline for now.”

Enoch shook his head.

I wasn’t particularly pleased with the position.

I already care about what other people think, so filming an advertisement to get people to pay attention to me is useless.

After hearing that, she seemed even more interested and sat down next to the reception sofa where I was sitting.

While Enoch was momentarily puzzled by such an abrupt action, Elena slowly leaned her butt closer.

“Wow, you’re more humble than I thought. I don’t think you’re someone who doesn’t know your own worth.”

She covered her mouth slightly and smiled seductively.

Contrary to her somewhat cold appearance, her attitude towards me somehow seemed quite friendly.

Enoch tilted his head expressionlessly.

“… … So, how did you know me?”

I don’t know if reports of his visit have already come in, but even so, he would have been wearing a hood outside the individual reception area.

Elena answered lightly.

“It’s all thanks to Sirocco, who bumped into me earlier!”

She looked back at Shiroko, who was glancing over at her with cookie crumbs on her cheek.

“When they bumped into each other and the hood of their robes slightly fell off, I saw cute wolf ears on top of their heads.”

Elena looked at the wolf ears flinching above Sirocco’s head with a slightly ecstatic expression. It was such a pure reaction that it was hard to think of it as pretense.

“Even though you’re a Suin tribe, you don’t seem to mind at all.”

“Wow, how could someone so pretty be considered threatening? Besides, the media has been buzzing with stories about the Suin people lately.”

“… … .”

“But among the people, only one person came directly to Elseid. If that person is accompanying you, then surely… … .”

Elena smiled faintly in this direction.

“Right?”

A look of strangely clear goodwill.

Facing it, Enoch nodded.

“I understand how you found out.”

“Ah, thank goodness! I was actually a little worried that you might think I was a weirdo.”

As Elena spoke like that, unconsciously, she leaned her head closer to me. Her light brown eyes sparkled before my eyes.

“It’s a little embarrassing, but I know a lot about Enoch’s reputation and activities. To be honest, I’m also very interested in Enoch!”

She spoke honestly.

“I’m a fan!”

It seems like I’ve gained some new fans.

Enoch looked at her expressionlessly.

Elena’s overt display of kindness must have worked to his good reputation.

If you look at it this way, the reputation built up until now wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The fact that one of the power brokers of that arrogant luxury goods manufacturer is taking such a keen interest in us is a very meritorious thing.

Enoch slowly returned to the main topic.

“So. Why did you bring me here?”

“I’m sure Enoch would understand. Due to my family circumstances, I’m trying to gain recognition from my father and the board of directors as the next CEO!”

“It seems like they are both receiving similar treatment.”

“That’s right. I’m also motivated by Enoch’s rumors. That’s how much I want to have my first experience with Enoch.”

She leaned over, resting her hands on the sofa. As she approached, the fresh scent of her cool-toned brown hair tickled my nose.

“therefore…….”

Elena looked up with her eyes wide open, her cheeks flushed.

“Enoch, would you accept my personal sponsorship contract?”