The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 84

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

Chapter 84
The nobility quickly set their minds to work. As they weighed what would benefit them and what would harm them, they proved themselves more calculating and self-serving than anyone else in the room.
War with Analeor was an unavoidable future. The tensions between Tirneys and Analeor had only grown sharper, and sooner or later a proper conflict would erupt.
If Analeor were subjugated, the imperial household would claim the vast spoils of war. Those who had actively cooperated with the Crown would have some reward to show for it.
But if they lost a war with Analeor, the nobility would lose everything. More than the commoners, and far more brutally.
In the end, they had no choice but to assume victory in the coming war. Defeat was unthinkable.
When they won the war, it was obvious that the Crown Prince would claim the greatest glory. Lucas would gain even greater power. To dismiss his proposal without serious consideration was out of the question.
To move two steps forward, one must step back once.
That was the thought that filled every nobleman’s mind in unison.
“Your Highness, if you would tell us specifically how much funding is required…”
Duke Fugger was the first to bow his head. The other nobles followed suit, forcing strained smiles as they fixed their gazes intently on Lucas.
The establishment of an Educational Institution for all—this was how it began.
* * *
The contents of the meeting spread through the palace walls in no time. Rachel could not have failed to hear of it. She covered her mouth with both hands, unable to hide her shock.
‘Lucas would resort to such a method…’
She fell into deep thought as she learned what Lucas had offered the nobility and what he had gained in return.
While securing the funding was truly welcome, the realization that the war with Analeor was drawing near only gave her a headache.
‘I wish I could avoid war altogether.’
It was only natural—who would want war? Rachel was certainly no exception.
‘I want to see Lucas, but… I’m afraid he may have given away far too much.’
Rachel bit her lip. Of course, building an Educational Institution was something she herself had wanted. But separate from that, she worried whether Lucas had conceded too much.
The Forest Logging Rights were one thing, but the Gold Mine Extraction Rights were a genuine cause for concern. She feared the Emperor might seize upon this to make further demands of Lucas.
“Has Lucas arrived at the palace yet?”
Rachel asked her maid.
“Yes, word just came that he has arrived.”
When she had asked earlier, she’d been told he hadn’t. So he had finally come. Rachel rose hastily from her seat and made for where Lucas was.
All the way to the Crown Prince’s Palace, her mind was nothing but turmoil. Rachel arrived at the palace without even realizing how quickly she was walking.
“Rachel.”
Lucas, who had been strolling through the Garden, caught sight of her. He greeted her with a gentle smile.
“Lucas.”
Rachel let out a soft sigh. Not for any other reason—she simply didn’t know where to begin.
“I heard the nobles’ meeting has ended.”
“And I suspect you’ve learned what took place there as well.”
Rachel nodded in response to his words.
“I’m truly glad the Educational Institution will be built. Thank you.”
First, she needed to convey her gratitude. Rachel thanked him with a slight bow of her head.
“But…”
Gratitude was gratitude, yet she needed to speak her mind. But as Rachel opened her mouth, her voice grew quieter.
“The things you’ve offered the nobility are far from trivial, I believe.”
Soon Rachel laid bare her thoughts, hoping he would understand the depths of her concern.
“The gold mines of Analeor you promised to the nobility are among the most prized on the continent, as far as I know. I understand you chose them to secure the necessary funding, but even so…”
Rachel could not finish her sentence. She lowered her head.
“I fear the Emperor may take issue with this.”
She knew well that her and Lucas’s intentions were aligned. Yet she had no desire whatsoever to cause him any harm. For that reason, Rachel only grew smaller and smaller.
“Rachel.”
Lucas called to her. Rachel slowly lifted her head.
“You needn’t worry so much.”
“But I can’t help but worry in a situation like this. The Emperor envies and resents you, after all.”
“Whether his envy and resentment are aimed at me or not, it makes no difference to me.”
Lucas looked at Rachel as if the matter were entirely unremarkable. His clear gaze held absolute certainty.
“What do you mean by that…?”
“There are ways to sidestep any unreasonable demands the Emperor might make, so you needn’t worry.”
Lucas smiled warmly at Rachel. She gazed at him as if enchanted.
“Did you know that the mining of the three most prominent gold mines of Analeor is already nearly complete?”
“What…?”
“Analeor has been deliberately hiding this fact out of fear that gold prices might fluctuate. Yet the truth is undeniable—the mining is essentially finished.”
The mining was nearly complete? Rachel had known nothing of this. She stared at Lucas with wide eyes.
What good were exhausted mines to divide among the nobility? They would gain next to nothing. Lucas had known this all along, offering them a tempting bait that was worth far less than it appeared.
“To efficiently extract the small amount of gold that remains, the power of mages is required. Analeor is secretly sending mages to the mines to continue extraction.”
This, too, was something Rachel had not known. She remained silent, listening only to what Lucas had to tell her.
“The nobles of Tirneys who receive the gold mines of Analeor will need to hire mages themselves. But high-minded noble mages won’t simply go to work at another noble’s command. In the end, they’ll have to turn to commoner mages.”
Lucas was right. Arrogant noble mages wouldn’t move easily under the direction of other nobles. If that were the case, only commoner mages remained.
“I’ll employ the commoner mages by giving them substantial sums of money, or benefits equivalent to that. When that happens, the power of commoner mages will grow even stronger, won’t it?”
Rachel listened quietly to Lucas’s words, then nodded slowly.
He was right. What commoner mages needed most to elevate their status was financial security and recognition from the nobility. Lucas had obtained both of these things through this single transaction—without a shred of noble resistance.
‘How far ahead was he looking?’
She already knew that Lucas was a man who looked far into the distance. But now, faced with the reality of the situation, she found herself amazed by him anew.
To think she’d been planning to sulk at him without understanding any of this. Rachel bit her lip in embarrassment.
“My thinking was too short-sighted.”
Rachel spoke her thoughts aloud at once.
‘But the Emperor’s grievance still hasn’t been resolved.’
If Lucas told the Emperor the truth about the mines, the Emperor would immediately inform the nobles of the fact. If that happened, Lucas would come under immediate attack.
Rachel was gripped by worry.
“How do you plan to evade the Emperor?”
Rachel asked carefully. Then Lucas opened his mouth as if it were no great matter.
“I’ll argue strongly that what we gain from educating commoners is greater than what we lose in mines.”
“How do you intend to make that argument?”
“I’ll persuade him that we’ll include Imperial Mythology in the education of commoners. If commoners study Imperial Mythology properly, their loyalty to the Crown will grow even stronger. An Emperor who blindly reveres the Sun God will certainly be drawn to that argument.”
Lucas took Rachel’s hand as if to say there was nothing to worry about. His warmth reached her palm.
Everything will be fine.
It was as though Lucas were saying just that. Everything will be fine—of course it will.
Rachel smiled softly, thinking nothing of the tempestuous future bearing down upon them.

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