CH 62

It wasn’t just one human who pushed in with a loud noise. No, technically, they weren’t even human beings.

Thump, thump!

They burst into the tower with a bang, and it was…….

“Is this the stone that keeps the temperature constant?!”

The speaker was a dwarf.

“D-dwarf……?”

The sudden appearance of a foreign race caused everyone in the tower hall to stiffen.

[Strange to see a dwarf here.]

It was no wonder, as dwarves rarely ventured out of their village.

They were brash and stubborn in their craftsmanship, and if they disagreed with your beliefs, it didn’t matter if you were a noble or royalty.

However, the weapons and artwork they produced in various fields were far superior to those made by humans, and they were the best craftsmen anyone could hope to trade with.

And a dwarf like that, coming to the unveiling of a new magic tool?

A group of dwarves walked to the front of the stage, their short legs moving in long strides as they stared at the tools on display with grim faces.

They had been the center of much of the attention earlier.

The crowd naturally assumed that the dwarves must have made a mistake.

But then.

“Hey, wizard, give me five!”

“I’ll take ten!”

“How are we supposed to buy them if you guys just randomly buy them all? Get lost! Give me twenty!”

Holding out their pockets for the money, the dwarves shouted, “Give it to me!” at the top of their lungs.

The rookie wizard who had been substituted due to the fact that he was a newcomer had the misfortune of facing the dwarves alone.

The wizard fumbled, ducked his head, and tried to respond by the book.

“Oh, I’m still demonstrating, and sales will begin after–”

“Eh?!”

“I-I’ll give it to you!”

Just like that, the demonstration was canceled.

What followed was a scene of one-sided hoarding.

“Money will rot! Take what you want!”

“Get out of the way! Don’t push! I need that to make the ‘Greatest Mithril Armor on Earth’!”

“What’s your name, I need it to make the ‘strongest adamant shield in the world’! Give me more!”

The dwarves competed with each other to see who could make the strongest thing, and I watched with amusement from afar.

‘I also sent them some tools to try out with their favorite beer.’

I figured a race as crafty as the dwarves would recognize the value of that tool. Their work would be affected by the slightest change in temperature.

And the result is…… as you can see, a huge success!

Unfortunately for the dwarves, the tool we’re selling now is actually a degraded version of the one originally invented by Isis.

To keep the unit cost down, we’ve used smaller gems that aren’t in high demand.

They contained only enough magic power to last a season.

It could be recharged and reused by a wizard, but after a few uses, the vessel, the magic stone, would reach the end of its life and could no longer be used.

‘It’s a sales ploy to make it more accessible.’

If you make a tool with a good quality gemstone, it will last for a long time, but commoners can’t even begin to dream of it.

Although there is a disadvantage of having to buy a new one afterwards, the market value of being able to buy it right away is quite high.

As a seller, I could make more money if I had a steady stream of sales rather than a one-off.

However, not everything worked out as I had hoped.

In addition to the dwarves, I promoted the tools in one more location, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Of course, the dwarves alone seemed to be able to buy all the tools I had prepared, but it was still disappointing.

At that point, the area in front of the stage was bustling, so much so that I almost didn’t notice people in different outfits approaching the stage.

They weren’t dressed in the fine fabrics and ornate decorations of the nobles who had come to observe, but in plain clothes.

They were commoners.

“Is that the magic tool that’s supposed to beat the heat……?”

“They must have sold out.”

“I just came back from the market; it must be late.”

“It’s a shame, I thought I’d finally be able to sleep cool at night.”

At the same time as I was sending out the prototypes to the dwarven villages, I was also scattering flyers and prototypes among the vendors in the capital market.

’You’re here!’

I thought they weren’t interested because they didn’t show up during the demonstration, but they were late because of business hours.

The dwarves and the merchants. I was hoping to catch one or the other, but both groups came.

But by the time the merchants arrived, the dwarves had scattered their pockets and bought all the tools, so there was nothing left.

“…… Let’s go back.”

“Damn it. Let’s go.”

It was at that time that the merchants were about to leave the Mage’s Tower in vain.

Suddenly, one of the dwarves gave a shout.

“Hey, is this your best?!”

“……?”

The thunderous shout echoed through the tower, causing his fellow dwarves, the nobles, and the outgoing commoners to turn around, wide-eyed.

“What if you buy them all, you ignorant creatures? Buy one less so everyone else can have one too!”

The other dwarves, who had been eager to buy at least one more, coughed in vain.

Hmmm.

“One, maybe…….”

“I’ll give in.”

The commoners who had been lured by the dwarves’ goodwill turned back and hugged each of the tools they’d offered.

“Th, thank you, Dwarves.”

“What. We’re just helping out!”

It was a heartwarming sight. Everyone who wanted them could buy them, and there was no one who couldn’t afford them.

I whispered to Raeyan, muffling my voice as best I could.

“Raeyan. I’m rich, right?”

“You’ll get paid after the sale is in full swing, but–”

“I knew you’d agree, Raeyan.”

“…….”

I’m rich. Not rich yet, but potentially rich!

[Keep it up–.]

As usual, Greed had taken a bite.

Even though it was not yet time to sell, the wizard Elby’s tools were all sold.

Sold out!

[I’ll have to diet for a month. Grrr.]

I glanced around with a sense of pride as I listened to the dragon belch of Greed in the background.

The nobles who had witnessed this spectacle from start to finish had their mouths agape.

“That, what?”

Dwarves scrambling to buy as much as they could.

A tool that even the commoners, who thought magic was expensive and didn’t care for it, would come and buy.

It was proof of the tool’s potential.

***

~ Translation by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at rainofsnow.com ~

The first tool released by the rookie wizard Elby was an instant hit.

They were now being sold at the Magic Tower, and the commoners who had heard the rumors had come in droves.

In addition to that, as I expected, people who can’t keep their homes climate-controlled, in other words, the lesser nobility, are buying them in a frenzy.

It was a daily sell-out, so much so that the mages of the tower, under the command of the tower’s lord, Isis, worked every day to make Elby’s tools, but even they could not keep up with the insane demand.

The wizards pinched the bridge of their noses and, unlike before, Isis was in good spirits.

“Kahaha! You should have seen it. How refreshing it was to see everyone’s jaws drop and stare at this fella!”

“Wow, I hope you like it, Isis, the greatest wizard of all.”

Isis stroked his chin and averted his gaze, as if embarrassed by my unbridled admiration.

“Of course. Who invented it.”

“None other than Isis, the greatest magician of our time.”

“You always pick and choose what sounds good.”

Now, that’s called being good at having a social life.

Isis told me that all the wizards in the tower knew that Elby was the lord of the tower.

But when he invented a tool that wasn’t up to their standards, they mocked him, wondering if any of them would sell.

‘And you sold them all, didn’t you?’

I had every reason to feel good.

I argued back eagerly, then turned to Isis.

“Do you have anything to say to me?”

After a day’s worth of flattery, it was time to hear why he had called me. 

Suddenly, the smile on Isis’s cute face disappeared.

“I called you here because I can’t decide on my own.”

“Decide what?”

“The distribution exclusivity agreement.”

“Oh, a contract.”

An exclusive contract for the distribution of magic tools.

Not every tool invented by wizards was under contract. Contracts could only be signed if several masters and guilds offered to distribute a tool that was deemed to have merit.

It was a monopoly on distribution, except for sales at the tower.

The main advantage was that they could be sold in the branches of the guilds all over the country. Of course, a certain percentage would be taken by the top of the contract.

‘By the way, would the master of the tower be able to negotiate the contract well?’

I stared at Isis.

Fluffy pink hair. Petite frame. Cute face with a hint of frustration…….

“Why do you look at me like that?”

“Oh, nothing.”

It was the reward for a fraudulent contract. I’m ashamed to give it away.

Being careful not to reveal my true feelings, I smiled as if I knew nothing.

Isis watched me through narrowed eyes before returning to the subject at hand.

“So, I’ve been offered an exclusive contract. Quite a few.”

“Wow, congratulations.”

“The first offer is from the Duke of Angellus.”

“Ugh.”

I hate Angellus.

“My second offer, Count Hicklemeyer.”

“Hicklemeyer?”

I’ve heard that name before.

Ah, I racked my brain, then remembered where I’d heard it.

Felix Hicklmeyer.

The man who had been Duke Severus’ representative at the Temple of Ishtar, his chamberlain and aide.

In other words, my cousin.

“Do you know him?”

“No.”

If you’re asking if I know him, no. I might know him, but he wouldn’t know me.

“Then there’s Dove, Jourdain, and Salon Top. There’s more, but those are the five places to sign with.”

I’d heard of them all, except for Felix Hicklemeyer.

“Count Hicklmeyer owns a shop?”

“He owns a big one abroad, and I hear he’s starting one in Wallentian.”

I would have to find out more, but if Isis was right, it was a large one.

“As you might expect, this fella is a genius at magic, but terrible at contracts and stuff.”

“How’s your magic tower running……?”

“The kids downstairs take care of it.”

How could a man with so much magical talent put a human with no practical skills in charge of a tower?

I pitied Isis’s men.

“Anyway, I’m going to hear the terms and decide, and I was wondering if you’d like to come along.”

“Can I?”

My eyes widened. I had never heard of an investor being involved in an exclusivity deal before. Even if I were the only investor, it would be an unusual treat to be invited along.

But Isis was unperturbed.

“Of course. You’re special.”

I’m special?

It was the first time I’d ever heard that from anyone.

Everyone who had ever met me had treated me like I was worthless.

I pursed my lips and forced my voice to come out.

“Because I’m my mother’s daughter?”

“That’s part of it, but it’s not the only reason.”

Isis’s blue eyes took in my reflection.

“Because for some reason, when I look at you, I feel like I’ve known you for a long time. Strangely.”

Isis stared at my face. As if trying to find out why. But I had never met Isis before.

I wondered if there was a trace of her in my face.

Then he smiled and asked again, “So, are you coming with me?”

“Yes. But there’s a problem.”

“What problem?”

“Wizard Elby is someone who doesn’t exist. What are you going to do?”

Isis shrugged, as if that was the least of his concerns.

“Disguise, of course.”

How on earth would he disguise himself?

Somehow, with my anxiety rising, Isis smirked and announced.

“Our first opponent will be… the Angellus!”