Chapter 166

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Luciel sweated with shame at the unchanging silly praises filled with the Duke’s affection.

“You’re still wonderful too, Dad.”

Although the Duke was over forty years old, he still looked like he was in his thirties. Even now, when he goes to social parties, a few carriages could be filled with women who squeal at his appearance.

“I wanted to see you, I missed you very so much.”

“I wanted to see you too. Welcome home, Luciel.”

Luciel looked up at him and fell into his broad arms. When she felt her big Dad’s arms, she realized anew that she had finally returned home. The Duke also felt that the empty and lonely Castle that came to be because of Luciel’s vacancy was filled again with brimming life.

“I heard that your magic skills have improved significantly at the Tower. It’s unbelievable that you are already in the 5th circle. You are Bellstein’s pride, Luciel.”

It was widely known that Bellstein’s bloodline was good at magic, but everyone was surprised to hear that his daughter-in-law, Luciel, was good at magic.

In her childhood, interest in her increased because she had once received attention through a video sphere at the Imperial literary salon.

In particular, there were quite a few people who recognized Luciel in the city, so at first, it was burdensome, but now she was at ease.

In response to his compliment, Luciel smiled quietly.

“……I’ll be more diligent. I am confident in my fire magic thanks to my familiar, Phoenix.”

“Certainly, if you use Phoenix, you can cast fire spells over the ones of 5 circles.”

“Yes, but we must never tell Leoni about the Phoenix.”

“Hm? Why?”

“Leoni’s attribute is fire. I don’t want him to feel discouraged because of me.”

“I don’t think it would be like that if we take his personality into account.”

For a moment the Duke recalled his fiery son. He was like that since he was young, but as he grew up, he became even more assertive.

Luciel, who was quietly sitting with her back on the sofa, stretched out her upper body for a moment and said a question that came to mind.

“By the way, Dad, how’s everything I suggested going?”

Luciel was always thinking about Bellstein’s even while she was staying in the tower. Among them, the most important thing was to prepare a defense to protect the future Bellstein.

Luciel again suggested reinforcing the Black Wall, and the Duke also broke down some weakened walls after discussing it with Gillard and Gallius, and repairs were in progress.

I heard that Gallius was burdened by the great scope of construction, but that he was willing to take charge of it, considering his relationship with Luciel.

The construction was almost finished, and all that was left was to plant the sealing stones on the wall and cast magic shields.

“Of course. The construction of the Black Wall is almost finished, so it will be good to take a look around later.”

“Really?”

“However, there is still work to be done to strengthen the sealing stone and cast a denser and tighter magic shield. There was an attempt by Duke Theo to spill the Black Wall secrets to the prince. Albeit it failed.”

“Well… I’d like to help you directly with that.”

Luciel said with courage. Shield magic is high-level magic and consumes a lot of mana, so it took a long time and concentration for the mages to manage the existing shields.

“Well, I’ll talk about you at the Shield Central Management Office meeting soon.”

“Yes. There are things I learned while conducting research on my jewels with Sister Erika at the Tower. If I plant my jewel in the sealing stone, the barrier will be even stronger.”

Luciel said with a happy face and the Duke asked in surprise.

“The jewels you made?”

“Yes. In fact, I found out in the past that my jewels contain more mana than the highest grade magic stones.”

Luciel took out the magic scroll from her bag and showed him the recordings of the mana of the jewel.

There were also records of Luciel’s various experiments with Erika.

In the past, Luciel planted jewels to make the Water Dragon plants grow stronger and bigger, and when she gave jewels to the Phoenix rose, it took less time to succeed in the resurrection.

She also made her wand stronger through magic crafting.

With that in mind, Luciel became curious and tried other things as well.

It was whether or not other materials processed by magic could be strengthened by the power of jewels. If it were possible, it would have helped to strengthen the Black Wall, and it did.

When she planted the jewel into a small shield sealing stone that she commissioned Tion, the Chief of the Northern Tower, a stronger defense shield was built.

In particular, it was the most compatible with Obsidian.

“I knew right away that your jewels contain the power of elements and strong mana…….That’s amazing.”

He only vaguely knew they had strong powers, but he had never seen them in such detail before. He wasn’t going to ask any questions until Luciel told him directly.

The Duke looked at Luciel with astonished eyes.

“Could it definitely help reinforce the barrier?”

“It should. I’m just worried about using your jewels. They are made by consuming your emotions and mana. The barrier’s sealing stones require quite a number of stones, so a lot of your jewels will be consumed. I don’t want to trouble you.”

“There is no problem with mana. I’m taking Cicline’s mana supplements.”

Luciel replied with a smile. However, since the emotion that created the Obsidian was pain, the number might not be enough.

Because she never felt much pain in this life. It was fortunate, but at the same time, it was a pity when she needed them.

The Duke, who was examining the magic scroll on which the research was recorded, noticed that the Obsidian was a jewel made by pain, and his brow wrinkled.

“Luciel, how can I use the jewels made from your pain? I can not. This is on hold.”

“Ah……I’ll find a way to do that. I’m not the same as before. I’ve grown this much.”

“No, Luciel.”

Looking at the Duke’s stubborn expression, it seemed that Luciel would have to make some sort of countermeasure.

While thinking of first turning to another topic, Eva brought tea with corn scones at just the right time.

“I brought Darjeeling Tea and corn scones.”

“Thank you, Eva. I was about to get hungry……! Dad, it smells really good. Please, try it first.”

Luciel smiled and helped Eva put a lace-shaped tea coaster on the table, and offered the Duke a Darjeeling tea.

Having his heavy heart relieved by her delicate care, the Duke said.

“I will never see you suffer.”

“I will find another way. By the way, now that mithril mining is over half done, isn’t it time to try smelting?”

When Luciel brought up the story of mithril, the Duke groaned.

“Well, about that. I’ve tried inquiring, but most blacksmiths can’t handle mithril.”

“Dad, if that’s the case, you can leave it to the dwarf Rupdell.”

“I’ve already tried to contact him, but the crazy dwarf is on hold because he’s asking for too much money.”

In fact, rather than withholding, the situation was already at odds. The situation went so far, that now the dwarf would not give a second of his attention.

“……Did Dad go directly to negotiate?”

“That damned dwarf. He didn’t have enough words to swear at my ridiculous request, and he dared to trick me with a magic dice.”

Even if Luciel didn’t actually see their meeting, the image was clearly drawn in her mind.

The Duke, who had shaken his head, grunted with indignation as if he had remembered the events of that time once again.

“Well……It would have been nice if you had gone with Grandpa Gillard. What about sending another negotiator? Like Ellington, for example.”

They needed someone who was good at pushing and pulling in moderation, while gently accommodating others.

“My father was busy with work on the tower at the time, so he took me there and went back right away. Leaving only me and the dwarf…….”

‘It was the worst situation possible.’

Apparently, Rupdell and the Duke had very strong personalities, so both couldn’t be left together. Not one of them both would try to dumper their pride in front of the other.

Rupdell is stubborn and mischievous, but it was quite pitiful to see that if you try to please him a little bit, you will be able to seduce him very quickly.

No, maybe just maple cookies would do the job.

Luciel thought so while biting down on the savory corn scone.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s enough to find another blacksmith.”

“Um, no. I’ll go there once. I think it would be better to keep the relationship with Rupdell going strong.”

Rather, Luciel thought that Rupdell would be cooperative with Bellstein in the future……. It seemed like it was her own delusion. Or maybe he had some sort of reason.

At the same time, there were other things to discuss with him, so Luciel was about to visit anyway. She thought it would be good to contact Zerda first and go together. It seemed like the work with Claudia was over a long time ago.

As their conversation grew longer, Ellington knocked into the office.

“Have you both shared your news?”

“Yes, we were talking about work.”

“Oh, I have a report to give. I’m sorry to give you a story about work as soon as you arrive, Little Madam.”

“……Well, that’s a story I’d like to hear too.”

“Yes. It seems that Cavill recently purchased an island using the mansion as collateral. Do you think he’s trying to make one of the illegal businesses from the list which was previously organized by you?”

“I don’t think so. Cavill has no other place to borrow any more money, so…….”

Said Luciel, as she silently examined the Empire’s newspaper. On one side of the newspaper, there was news that the Empire’s first Wyverns race will be held next month.

‘It has begun. Imperial year 2033, and Black Scorpion number 320329.’

I was not sure about this one, so I didn’t summarize it in the documents I delivered. Reading the newspaper article, I can know for sure.

“Ellington, could you please tell me the latest whereabouts of Maximus von Cavill?”

“Maximus von Cavill, the eldest son of the Cavill family?”

“Yes. He’ll be making his big bucks in a few years and I have a plan to intercept it in advance. All we have to do is move first.”