Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 374

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

Reincarnated as a Legendary Talent Genius of a Noble Family Episode 374

272. Usage Fee Exemption

We head toward ‘Mount Ariella’ for now.

And Mount Ariella is located near a city called ‘Pex’, before entering the desert.

So we need to go to ‘Pex’ first, but the journey itself isn’t difficult.

That’s because Pex is a city with a teleport platform installed.

“Teleport platforms are definitely convenient. It’s just that the usage fees are incredibly expensive.”

Priscilla is right.

Currently, cities with teleport platforms installed can be counted on one hand even in the Empire.

Pex only has one installed because it’s essentially the end of the ‘western cities’.

Other ambiguous cities naturally don’t have teleport platforms installed.

The enormous costs involved, and the maintenance expenses are also considerable.

That’s why places like the Grik Trading Company have grown by traveling throughout the Empire and delivering goods everywhere.

By the way, I heard Big Sister is researching ways to dramatically reduce the installation costs and maintenance fees for teleport platforms.

I hope it goes well.

“There, I can see it.”

We headed toward the teleport platform we had used before.

The clean interior is impressive, befitting a place with such expensive equipment installed.

By the way, the platform is managed by the Imperial Palace.

Perhaps that’s why.

“Lord Dane Sogress, greetings. Welcome to the Capital teleport platform.”

They immediately recognize me and even guide me to a reception room.

“What, is Dane a celebrity now?”

“He became a celebrity a long time ago, Teacher Leila.”

“Well, considering how many times he’s been to the Imperial Palace.”

We received quite generous treatment in the reception room.

It takes time to preheat the platform with mana, and they brought refreshments for us to rest comfortably in the meantime.

“Please come this way.”

The wait wasn’t long.

The platform, preheated with mana, reveals itself before us.

“It’s magnificent to see again.”

As Leila observes, it’s truly enormous in size.

A space large enough to rival any decent hall is completely filled with all sorts of devices.

Right in the center.

If you stand and wait on that floor engraved with complex magic circles and coated several times, you’ll be transported elsewhere in the blink of an eye.

A total of 8 people in our large group.

Including Karnas and Chiron, that’s 10 living beings.

Plus the Mini Golem, which is artificially created rather than a living being.

“I wonder if Arcana operated with something much smaller and more efficient than this?”

That was Altur’s muttering, who has seemed excited ever since hearing the word Arcana.

“Probably so.”

I recalled what I had read in books.

Due to the nature of spatial movement, it was strictly controlled, but the Arcana people used simple teleport devices for authorized personnel or areas.

Their size wasn’t as massive as mountains like this, but rather appropriately sized.

They even say portable development was in progress.

I suddenly had this thought.

If Arcana’s technologies were reproduced in the current era, would everyone really be happy about it?

Items based on those principles—or more precisely, based on the efficiency of my special mana stones and principles found in books—are already being developed by Big Sister.

Though nothing has been released to the market yet, it will happen soon…

When that time comes, will everyone really be able to enjoy these things as expected?

It’s a problem that requires some consideration.

That’s why we need to approach it more carefully.

“Lord Dane Sogress, the platform is ready. The destination has been set to Pex as you requested.”

“Thank you.”

“By the way, the usage fee is exempted.”

I tilted my head at those words.

“We haven’t paid yet.”

“Ah. Strictly speaking, it has already been paid.”

One person came to mind.

“So… His Majesty the Emperor paid for it.”

I thought so.

“His Majesty the Emperor issued an edict to exempt usage fees for all national facilities that Lord Dane Sogress uses.”

“Since when?”

“Since yesterday.”

Coincidentally, that was the day of the Academy’s closing ceremony.

I turned my head to look at Benatio.

Benatio looking at me while acting with an innocent expression.

By the way, that fellow is also coming on this adventure.

As a guest member of the club or something.

Did that fellow’s report reach the Emperor’s ears?

Well, it doesn’t matter.

“I am deeply grateful for this grace.”

“I’m quite envious. To think His Majesty the Emperor favors you so much.”

It would be nice if that favor were just a little less.

“What? So Dane gets usage fee exemption?”

“I’m jealous. Wow, national facility usage fee exemption means… everything’s free, right?”

“Professors, my wish is to visit the Imperial fitness room. I heard only the Knight Order can use it.”

Fortunately, this favor was pretty decent.

“His Majesty the Emperor also said to exempt usage fees for all personnel using facilities together with Lord Dane Sogress.”

“Oh!”

“Really?”

“Yes. Usage fees for everyone here are exempted.”

“Wow!”

It was going to come out of the club funds anyway, but saving money is always good.

With the saved money, I should work harder on decorating more of the Academy grounds next semester.

“Then, everyone please step onto the platform. Ah, Priest, you must take this shielding device. You can return it to the platform representative when you arrive in Pex.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

We stepped onto the platform like that.

Under His Majesty the Emperor’s unexpected grace.

Good things are good things.

The usage fee exemption is definitely appreciated.

Since it’s a national facility anyway, usage records are clearly kept, so if the purpose were to monitor me, there would be no need to exempt the usage fees.

“Finally departing.”

“I’m so excited!”

“Jenna, everyone’s like that the first few times.”

“Ernest, you say that, but you seem the most excited?”

The sound of the platform operating can be heard among the voices of the excited fellows.

Woooooong!

I felt the mana enveloping me and closed my eyes.

Pekus.

A city not far from the desert.

A place where greenery and sand coexist.

Goggles to block the occasional sandstorms and sand winds that blow in.

Turbans to maintain body temperature and also block sand.

And long clothes to block the harsh sunlight and keep out the cold at night.

This is the basic attire in Pekus, and it’s clothing that travelers visiting Pekus for the first time must soon become accustomed to.

Pekus is therefore a fascinating city.

All people who come here eventually become “Pekus-ized” as they live, stay, and sometimes spread Pekus’s unique culture.

To put it positively, the city has a strong character; to put it negatively, the city’s distinctiveness is excessive.

All of this was thanks to the desert located not far away.

More precisely, it was because of the desert that was “getting closer.”

“Captain, the observation team is returning.”

City Guard Captain Ransel looked beyond the wall with an anxious expression.

Not far away.

A group of observers could be seen returning, kicking up dust clouds.

“Let’s go down.”

Thirty years since dedicating himself to this city’s guard.

There had been good times and bad times during that period, but he had never been this anxious.

And this wasn’t anxiety that had developed recently, but a long-standing anxiety that had begun about a year ago.

‘I hope it hasn’t gotten faster today.’

As always, with the same thoughts, Ransel descended below the observation tower and had to hear the inevitable report.

“Captain Ransel, here are the measurement results.”

It had expanded further.

And at an even faster rate.

“The speed has been increasing recently. At this rate, we’ll be able to see the desert’s boundary from Pekus’s observation tower within a few months.”

Ransel swallowed hard.

Looking at the measurements, it seemed about 1.5 times faster than last month.

It was gradually accelerating.

“At this rate, Pekus will be buried under sand dunes.”

Desertification.

That was precisely the biggest problem the city of Pekus was currently facing.

The desert was expanding its territory at a terrifying pace.

“The city will die. Or adapt to it.”

Merchants no longer set up outdoor stalls.

Sales of goggles and turbans had increased due to the frequent sandstorms, but conversely, the number of travelers visiting Pekus had decreased.

Water was also scarce.

The harvest from farmland within Pekus was gradually decreasing, and frequent sandstorms often ruined crops.

Everything was slowly crumbling.

“What about the investigation team?”

“They’re currently searching near Ariella Mountain.”

“Hmm. There’s probably no place harder to find anything than there.”

“It’s an incomprehensible place.”

Ariella Mountain.

A mountain where exploration of certain areas was impossible, making it impossible to ever complete a full map.

Located between the desert’s boundary and Pekus, it could be the cause of desertification.

But there were no results.

After all, no one had conquered Ariella Mountain during all the long years past.

“And all the saplings we planted before… they look like they’ll wither and die.”

“…”

Of course, Pekus had made every effort to prevent desertification.

The sapling planting just mentioned was one of those efforts.

But due to too much salt in the soil, they often withered and died.

‘In the end, do we just have to watch like this…’

City Guard Captain Ransel was born and raised here in Pekus.

Pekus was his pride.

He showed kindness to foreigners and provided reassurance to Pekus residents.

He had repelled monsters dozens of times.

But couldn’t he stop just that desert sand?

“Captain, reporting.”

Then a voice was heard.

“This morning we arrested three travelers from the north for assault.”

“Northerners again. Did they cause trouble demanding ice? Such weak fellows.”

While Ransel clicked his tongue, the report continued.

“And we received a report about visitors from the teleport platform.”

“The teleport platform?”

Everyone used it occasionally, but recently platform usage had completely stopped.

Fortunately, the Imperial Palace was managing it, but watching quietly, those money-eating facilities seemed like they’d be better off not existing.

Anyway, someone had visited.

Wait.

If they came by platform, had the Imperial Palace finally sent someone to investigate the desertification?

Despite sending people to the capital several times, there had been no particular response.

“Yes. Dane Sogress and 9 others visited from the capital.”

But it wasn’t the Imperial Palace, it was someone else.

“The Sogress County?”

A family that anyone in this empire would naturally know.

What business could they suddenly have?

From a family powerful enough to be second to none in the empire?

Wait, Dane Sogress?

“That genius boy?”

“That’s right.”

“Huh.”

Then fortunately, since it said “and 9 others,” it didn’t seem like the entire family had come.

If that were the case, it would have said Aken Sogress or Lily Sogress and 9 others, not Dane Sogress.

“What’s the purpose of the visit?”

Whether using the platform or passing through the city’s main gate, there had to be a purpose for visiting.

Since they came all the way to this western region with nothing to see, there must be some purpose.

“They said they’re visiting Ariella Mountain.”

“…What?”

But it was an unexpected purpose for visiting.

“According to the documents sent from the platform… they came to ‘explore.'”

Ransel doubted his ears.

Explore Ariella Mountain?

It wasn’t impossible, but… right now an investigation team was dispatched to investigate desertification.

No, setting that aside, a member of one of the empire’s most prominent families had visited Pekus.

As guard captain, he should go and greet them.

“I’ll head there right now.”

“Oh, and.”

Here, the soldier’s report was added.

“The young lady of the Termion Ducal House, Lady Leila Termion, is also with them.”

“….”

What kind of day is today.

The heirs of the two most powerful families in the Empire are visiting Pekus.

Ransel gave additional orders while thinking he should meet them first.

“Report to the mayor as well.”

“Understood.”

The mayor of Pekus.

A person whose contributions to this city are questionable at best.

But there’s nothing to be done about it, is there.

“Moving out immediately.”

Ransel moved with heavy footsteps.

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