How a Two-Life Scoundrel Lives - Chapter 83
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 83】
“Ah, nothing much.”
“What does it say?”
“This temple contains magical materials that were stored in the Grand Academy Elkarim. They moved it to the academy for demon research purposes and sealed it away.”
“What kind of academy researches demons?”
“Don’t ask me about that. That’s what they’re saying.”
“Fair enough.”
“It seems this area was where a grand academy of magical civilization was located?”
“Hmm.”
Carlisle pondered for a moment.
The magical civilization Hadiyat?
It was a civilization never mentioned in the game [Overlord].
‘This is quite a variable.’
A civilization from 5,000 years ago…
“Young Master.”
“Yeah?”
“How about reporting this to His Grace the Grand Duke and proceeding with excavation work?”
“You want to excavate?”
Carlisle frowned at Maranello’s question.
“What do you think we’ll find inside?”
“Of course it’s dangerous, but it could be an opportunity to advance Dekaron’s magical level by several stages.”
“We are certainly terrible at magic.”
To put it nicely, they were terrible, but House Sigmund’s magical level was practically stone-age.
In the family’s entire history, they had never produced a single mage, and most retainers were knights, not mages.
Only swordsmanship, and more swordsmanship.
Being a house focused solely on martial prowess, their magical level was bound to be lacking.
Compared to House Belmark, the magical noble house among the 12 houses excluding the Royal Family, they were no different from monkeys.
“I’ll mention it to father once.”
“Very wise, Young Master.”
“Is there nothing else to look around?”
Carlisle asked Borodin.
“Yes, Young Master. There are no other unusual findings.”
“Then let’s go outside. I’ve been stuck in the mine shaft for two days now, so I’m feeling stuffy.”
“We shall escort you, Young Master.”
Carlisle’s group immediately took the cart and headed outside the mine shaft.
* * *
That afternoon.
About 500 soldiers and House Sigmund’s guard knights visited the Ironhammer tribe’s village.
“I can’t believe it.”
Grand Duke Guntram looked around and couldn’t hide his amazement.
He had never even dreamed that there would be a dwarf village in the Merel Mountain Range.
“You’ve arrived.”
“What’s going on here?”
“I thought I reported this to you, didn’t you come after receiving the report?”
“That’s true.”
“That’s all there is to it.”
“I see.”
“Ah, and this is…”
Carlisle introduced Borodin to Grand Duke Guntram.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Borodin, chief of the Ironhammer tribe. I am indebted to your son.”
“I am Guntram van Sigmund, lord of Dekaron.”
“I express infinite gratitude for coming to help our tribe.”
“Think nothing of it.”
“From now on, our Ironhammer tribe will fully cooperate with you and serve you for generations.”
“Hmm?”
“We received great kindness from your second son, so it’s only proper to do so. We dwarves are not a race that forgets favors.”
Grand Duke Guntram was unusually flustered.
He never thought he’d receive gratitude from dwarves in his lifetime, and the reason was because of his second son, that notorious troublemaker…
“I’m confused since I don’t know the details yet, but I understand for now. Our Dekaron and your Ironhammer tribe will work together in a friendly relationship from now on.”
Grand Duke Guntram treated Borodin and the Ironhammer tribe very courteously, despite his bewilderment.
And for good reason, being able to cooperate with dwarves meant tremendous economic and technological advancement.
Dwarves were natural craftsmen.
Being a race with excellent technical skills and labor force across almost all fields including metallurgy, alchemy, magic, craftsmanship, and architecture, receiving their help was no exaggeration to call a great blessing.
“Sir Maranello.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Grand Duke Guntram whispered to Maranello.
“Is all of this really that boy’s achievement?”
“How could there be any doubt?”
“Honestly speaking… I can hardly believe it.”
“Don’t they say people change when they overcome a life-or-death crisis?”
“There is such a saying.”
“Wouldn’t Young Master Carlisle be such a case?”
“Hmm.”
“I believe it’s proper for you to praise your son’s accomplishments without doubt.”
“I understand.”
Grand Duke Guntram completely trusted Maranello, so he acknowledged Carlisle’s achievements.
Moreover, having confirmed it with his own eyes, he couldn’t deny the facts.
“Well done.”
Grand Duke Guntram approached Carlisle and placed his hand on his shoulder.
“I never expected this, but you’ve accomplished something remarkable. Thanks to you, Dekaron will have breathing room.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Carlisle gave a slight bow as if it was nothing, then showed him a map marking the locations of the veins.
“This is where you are now, and here is the gold mine. And here is where large amounts of magic coal are buried.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I heard magic stone prices have risen a lot. The amount the Royal Family demands has also increased.”
“That’s right.”
“How about replacing the magic stones used for heating with magic coal, and selling the remainder or using it for taxes to send to the Royal Family?”
“…!”
“The reserves seem considerable, so it would be good to completely replace heating with magic coal instead of magic stones. We could export to other territories too. If I calculate roughly…”
Carlisle picked up a tree branch and listed on the ground Dekaron’s magic stone production, taxes to pay the Royal Family, the amount of magic stones used for heating every winter, and the reserves and production of magic coal.
“If you look roughly, magic stones used for heating can be completely replaced with magic coal, right? Looking at the reserves, even if we export to other territories or the Royal Family, we won’t need to burn magic stones for at least 200 years. This way, we can save tremendous amounts of magic stones consumed every winter… Why are you looking at me like that?”
Carlisle frowned at Grand Duke Guntram.
“You, boy.”
“Yes?”
“Are you truly my son?”
“….”
“If not….”
Carlisle’s heart nearly sank, but he gritted his teeth and decided to act shamelessly.
“It would be better if I weren’t. Then I wouldn’t have to fulfill my responsibilities and duties as a Sigmund.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Grand Duke Guntram also seemed to think he had spoken too harshly, so he apologized to Carlisle.
“If I offended you, I apologize. You seem so different that it feels a bit unfamiliar.”
“So you dislike it?”
Carlisle said with a sulky, venomous expression.
“Should I live like before?”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Of course not. I’m trying to live quietly for once, but it seems you don’t like it.”
“That’s not it.”
“Then from now on….”
“I’ll be careful not to say such things. Is that enough?”
“Hmm. Then I’ll watch and see.”
“….”
Grand Duke Guntram squeezed his eyes shut.
Trembling….
Seeing his eyelids twitch slightly, it was clear he was struggling to hold back.
“You have my sympathy, Your Grace.”
“I’ve long known that having no children is a blessing, but I didn’t know it would be to this extent.”
Grand Duke Guntram replied through gritted teeth to Maranello’s whisper.
However, even Grand Duke Guntram had no choice but to exercise patience in the face of his scoundrel second son’s threats.
If Carlisle returned to his old ways and started causing trouble again, he might become a parent who kills his own child with his own hands….
“Should we continue or not?”
“Do it.”
“First, let’s quickly increase magic coal production. There’s the tax issue, and there must be a reason why the Royal Family is also increasing their magic stone reserves.”
“Mm.”
“You never know. This winter might bring a historically harsh winter that freezes hundreds of thousands to death.”
“Are you talking about abnormal weather?”
“Yes.”
“And that’s the reason the Royal Family is increasing their magic stone reserves?”
“Something like that. Though I can’t be certain.”
“I’ll consider it positively.”
“Yes.”
Grand Duke Guntram didn’t make a hasty decision, and Carlisle didn’t find this strange.
He was the lord of Decaron.
He couldn’t simply buy and sell magic stones based on the words of a mere fool.
* * *
“They’re all too much.”
Alicia was dissatisfied with everything.
She had visited as the advance party of the Loren Family before Decaron’s victory commemoration event.
The Royal Family had intervened regarding the previous incident where Carlisle was falsely accused, and their decision was for the Loren Family to show sincerity to House Sigmund.
The Loren Family, who were mortal enemies and rivals of House Sigmund, were attending this victory commemoration event also because of the Royal Family’s recommendation—threat.
But when she actually arrived, the Northerners and House Sigmund thoroughly ignored her.
While Carlisle, the party involved in the incident, might be understandable, who would have known that Grand Duke Guntram, the lord of Decaron and head of House Sigmund, would thoroughly ignore her without even meeting her?
Thanks to this, Alicia had to hole up in the quarters provided by House Sigmund.
That wasn’t all.
Not only the servants and maids, but even the soldiers thoroughly ignored and shunned her and the knights from the Loren Family, treating them as if they didn’t exist.
They answered questions briefly, wouldn’t make eye contact, and when their eyes occasionally met, they would only glare with hostility-filled gazes.
The problem was that Alicia couldn’t even express her dissatisfaction.
For her, this place Decaron was the heart of enemy territory, and one wrong move could literally cost her her head.
Of course, House Sigmund wouldn’t neglect her protection unless they were fools, but….
‘Did I make a mistake coming here? I should have just not come.’
Alicia deeply regretted her choice to volunteer as the advance party.
‘If they would at least talk to me, I could do something.’
Alicia was having such thoughts and lamenting when.
“Young Lady.”
“Speak.”
“Sir Jeffrey requests an audience with you.”
“Jeffrey… the Grand Duke’s aide?”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
“Tell him to come in.”
Jeffrey was Grand Duke Guntram’s aide, and despite his young age, he was renowned as an outstanding knight with tremendous martial prowess and strategic mind.
“Welcome, Sir Jeffrey.”
“I greet the young lady of the Loren Family.”
Jeffrey gave a slight nod toward Alicia.
“So, what brings you to see me? The Northerners all treat me like I have the plague.”
“I’ve come to deliver His Grace the Grand Duke’s message.”
“What did His Grace say?”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
“Please speak. I’ll listen carefully.”
“Could you dismiss those around us for a moment?”
“Of course.”
“You all step out for a moment as well.”
Jeffrey sent out not only the knights of the Loren Family but also the knights of Decaron and all the servants and maids.
“Then, I’ll deliver His Grace the Grand Duke’s message.”
Jeffrey opened his mouth after confirming several times that no one was around.
“Young Lady.”
“Please speak.”
“Since you’ve come, you’re welcome, but please exercise restraint.”
“Just to deliver that message….”
Right then.
Swish, Jeffrey whispered in Alicia’s ear.
“This is His Grace the Grand Duke’s message, but it’s also your elder brother’s message.”
“Elder brother…?”
“It’s also a message from Young Master Caldor, your elder brother.”
“…!”
“I apologize for saying this, but I can assure you there’s nothing you can accomplish in Decaron.”
“No way.”
Alicia looked back at Jeffrey as if she couldn’t believe it.
‘N-no way. Grand Duke Guntram’s aide was Elder Brother’s person….’
Alicia shuddered as if she had been struck hard on the back of the head.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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