I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 111

‘Rauf? More than that?’
I perked up at Lucian’s words.
‘That’s where the iron mines are too!’
Ever since the Crest Mine came under Baron Oldman’s name, I’d been investigating all the iron mines in the Heishal Empire, so it was a familiar place name.
Unlike Fepol, which produced iron from a massive mountain range, Rauf extracted iron from small rocky hills.
‘But the density of the iron mined there is higher, right? In the annual iron ore quality assessments we receive, it comes out at the same grade as the Fepol Mountain Range or even higher.’
However, Rauf’s iron mines were completely overshadowed by the size and reputation of the nearby Fepol Mountain Range, making it a place only those with a certain level of knowledge in the iron mining industry would know about.
In other words—.
‘Uncle Lucian is interested in the iron mining industry to the point of knowing industry insiders’ favorite iron sources!’
I turned my head to look at Lucian. Our eyes met, and he sent me a questioning gaze.
“Rauf? More than that? Does that mean Rauf is better than the Fepol Mountain Range?”
“Oh, Berry heard that. I was just muttering to myself.”
“I heard it too! Rauf is better? What do you mean?”
Jeffrey’s interjection made it sound like he was praising my hearing.
Lucian seemed burdened by the bright, eager eyes Jeffrey and I were giving him, and after hesitating, he spoke.
“It’s nothing special… I just happen to be interested in minerals. The iron from the rocky hills of Rauf is a bit harder than that from Fepol. If you’re making swords, it would be better to use Rauf’s iron as material rather than Fepol’s. It doesn’t break as easily.”
“Really?! Uh, um—. Sister Berry! I’m going first!”
At Lucian’s words, Jeffrey hurried back the way he came, calling for Father and shouting that we should use Rauf’s iron instead of the Fepol Mountain Range. His voice echoed all the way to us.
“Ahem, well.”
Lucian cleared his throat at the sound.
That expression—a subtle sense of satisfaction at having pleased the other person with his recommendation.
“…Diplomat Lucian!”
“Hmm?”
“Which is better—buying something slightly expensive but extremely durable, or buying something reasonably priced but just durable?”
“Something? For example?”
“Well… like the iron from the Fepol Mountain Range and the iron from Rauf that you just mentioned~”
At the example I gave, Lucian answered immediately, as if there was nothing to deliberate about.

***

“Even if it costs a bit more, it’s better to buy Rauf’s iron. Good things are hard to come by.”

The next morning.
In my room at Stone House, I chuckled to myself, recalling what Lucian had said yesterday.
‘I should propose an iron supply deal to the Alexis Duchy in Baron Oldman’s name!’
The Alexis Duchy of the Edencia Kingdom was renowned for its wealth.
Large families often procured iron through separate supply contracts or by purchasing iron mines outright, so this proposal would surely appeal to Lucian, who had such keen interest in quality iron.
‘He’ll definitely love the iron from Crest Mine.’
With each passing day, the new ore vein was yielding increasingly superior quality iron.
When the other me went on an educational field trip to Crest Mine, the mine manager had certainly said as much.

– The iron produced from the new ore vein is of such exceptional quality that the entire iron mining industry is in an uproar.

A grin spread across my face.
I was lost in imagining a successful transaction when—
Tap. Tap.
The sound of something pecking at the window made me rush over, and Jack Jack had brought a letter from Baltar.
“He said he has a proposal for Baron Oldman.”
“Baltar? Oh, interesting. What’s this about? Do I need to reply immediately? I have to head to class soon.”
“No. He’ll come collect the reply tomorrow. Anything else?”
“Nothing at all.”
“Then I’m off.”
“Yes.”
After seeing Jack Jack off, I unfolded the letter Baltar had sent.

———-
If iron of such superior quality floods the market, it will invite suspicion.
Crest Mine has geological limitations, after all.
Until the extraction of perfect metal proceeds smoothly,
I suggest that initial sales be based on the mid-grade standard of the iron ore being produced.
I propose selling iron that falls within a margin of error of approximately five percent from that standard.
Even so, what reaches the market will be upper to highest grade iron.
———-

***

‘Ugh.’
He had a point.
Originally, the iron produced at Crest Mine was precisely average quality—neither exceptional nor poor.
If I sold iron of such superior quality that the entire industry buzzed about discovering a new vein, suspicion would inevitably fall on what lay hidden within the mine.
‘Besides, in my other memories, there were people who suspected Crest Mine’s windfall wasn’t ordinary.’
However, that was when the mine’s owner was Count Trabel, someone no one dared touch, and no one knew of adamantite’s existence.
‘But things are different now. There’s a real possibility that someone might underestimate Baron Oldman and covet the mine, or notice that Baltar is trying to extract adamantite.’
Drilling deep into a new vein was time-consuming work. We had to proceed while conducting repairs to prevent the tunnels from collapsing.
Fortunately, the Dwarves worked several times faster than humans, so Baltar said we could reach the adamantite before the year ended.
So selling mid-grade iron until we could stably extract adamantite seemed like a sound strategy—
‘But I doubt Uncle Lucian would drool over mid-grade quality.’
The problem was that Baron Oldman’s iron ore wouldn’t look appetizing to my intended trading partner.
‘Should I set aside a few pieces of premium iron and claim I prepared them specially for the diplomat? No, just because Father received a 30 billion cona investment doesn’t mean I can trust him.’
I was lost in thought, my cheek pressed against the desk.
Calips pulled up a chair beside me and sat down, regarding me with a pitying expression.
“Hey.”
“What.”
I couldn’t lose. I shot back immediately without lifting my cheek, and Calips flinched.
If he was going to be like that, why did he always pick fights? I asked him directly.
“Calips, you’ve been sitting next to me a lot lately. Are you bored?”
“What, what are you talking about? Aren’t you supposed to be studying?”
“It’s break time. What do you want?”
“Want to go shoe shopping?”
“Huh?”
I blinked. Shoe shopping?
“At Sapphire House?”
“No. Goldport. That shoe brand store I showed you last time.”
Wow. That was surprising. Calips was actually suggesting I go outside the Trabel Estate with him.
I sat up and looked around. The Twins and Ciel were nowhere to be seen.
“…What are you doing?”
“I was wondering if you were messing with me. Why suddenly?”
“What’s the point of messing with you? You lived as a commoner, so you’ve never even seen expensive shoes. I’m going to show you.”
“Hmm…”
I thought he might be doing me a favor, but his barely concealed wicked expression told me otherwise.
Since he couldn’t torment me with studying last time, he’d apparently thought up a different method.
‘Calips doesn’t seem like the type to buy me shoes—’
The fact that he said he’d just show me made his scheme transparent. He must have remembered when I mentioned the Head Maid of Sapphire House’s shoes were pretty.
‘He’s going to act like he’ll buy them, then only buy his own. He wants to see me jealous?’
Honestly, his thinking was so childish.
Rather than play along with Calips’s scheme, it would be more productive to think about what conditions Aunt Mariane should present to Baron Oldman—
“Really? I’m in!”
Calips’s expression brightened like a fish taking the bait, and I flashed him a smile.
“But is it okay if I bring the other kids too?”
“…Other kids?”
“Yeah!”

***

“…This is a field trip.”
In front of the Education Hall.
Calips’s face twisted into a grimace at the throng of students.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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