CH 99

The mansion that Daniel bought near the capital has been attracting everyone’s attention since before.

[“I heard that Count Vliette commissioned the mansion to be built…Tsk.”]

[“Hasn’t the architect also been touched by the fog of Fall? Since he accepted the request for a large sum, there might be something involved.”]

People kicked their tongues at the mansion just because it was related to Count Vliette.

No matter how recent the trend is to value magic over divinity, the fog of Fall was the source of evil.

The power of darkness against the power of God.

A demonic energy that, if ingested, would turn someone into a ‘monster’.

Thinking that the mansion might have something to do with it, it didn’t sound good.

However, public opinion these days has changed 180 degrees from before.

“I heard that His Highness Grand Duke Prause bought that mansion?”

“Since Her Highness the Grand Duchess also repaired the divine power barrier, the bad energy in the mansion must have been resolved long ago.”

It was already known to everyone that Frey had repaired the Divine power barrier on behalf of the emperor.

Newspapers on Zelon’s side printed only irrelevant articles as if that had never happened, but word of mouth spread faster.

“My cousin, who lives near the border of the barrier, saw that Her Highness the Grand Duchess used divine powers herself.”

“What did your cousin say?”

“Don’t ask. After seeing that scene, when he bought things, he only bought them at Holt.”

In the end, only Grand Duke Prause and his wife were the only ones whose image improved due to the attack of the undead monsters.

Young people in the capital enjoyed the stories of the grand duke’s successes.

“Moving to the capital must mean you’re challenging the imperial throne, right?”

“I don’t know. These days, Gelon is a little… Prause wouldn’t have done such a dirty thing.”

The Duke of Gelon and the Magic Tower.

People in the capital, who have watched how close the two groups were, did not just look at Gelon as generously as before.

“His Highness the Crown Prince and Lady Lydia’s abilities are outstanding, but the Fog of Fall is a bit…”

“We all knew the Duke of Gelon was greedy, but I don’t think the Crown Prince would have allowed himself to be involved in such a thing.”

“You have a point, but… I’m worried that the last undead monsters that appeared are more violent than before.”

“Which family will have more strength to protect the people, we will know after this year’s flag battle.”

Flag battle.

As a kind of martial arts contest held at the end of the national festival every year, family flags were planted in a wide plain, and the family that secured more flags won.

The rules of the contest were not much different from children’s games.

However, the reason why the people as well as the nobility were enthusiastic about the battle for the flag was because it was a place where the strongest family and exceptional hero were decided.

“I saw in the Obelir Post. Grand Duke Prause will also appear to participate in the conference this year.”

“Gelon will be number 1 again this year, well. There is a monstrous magic swordsman, Sir Carlton….”

“We never know. Maybe Prause is hiding a terrifying weapon. From what I’ve heard, I hear he has a master.”

“Do you want to bet, one cooper? I’ll take Gelon’s side.”

People cheered and bet on families that were likely to make the Obelir Empire richer and stronger.

Soon, The founding conference festival was near.

* * *

Today, after visiting the Temple to inspect the divine power barrier, I had dinner with Daniel and two children.

“Daniel. Have you decided which knights will participate in the Flag battle?”

“Mostly. Luke will be leading the charge. We have to clearly show our presence this time to have an advantage in the future.”

The flag battle was different from general sporting events in that it was a family vs family competition.

Due to the land where undead monsters appeared, the Obelir Empire allows any family of a tolerable size to raise Knights.

‘For the common people, it’s a sporting event, but for the nobility, it’s a legitimate opportunity to showcase their military might.’

Like recruiting talented knights and putting them together for the flag battle and showing them for the first time.

Competent knights and family heads made a bet and promised to be the family who picked up the most flags.

In many ways, it was the perfect contest to show off the family’s power, to make sure no one could cross them.

‘Daniel seems to be aiming for that too.’

Prause had to make good use of this opportunity to show that he had the power to withstand Gelon.

“Luke is a master, so I think he will do well. I will also find a way for my family to win.”

There must be a way to bring down Gelon’s honor in a place where everyone’s attention is focused.

‘Gelon also sent magicians or wizards to the battle for the flag, so we might as well take advantage of that.’

While I was thinking about this and that, Damon and Arsene grasped the topic of conversation and their eyes lit up while holding their forks tightly.

“The Battle of the Flags…!”

“Hey, I’m going to cheer on Sir Carlton!”

The two said they loved stories of legendary knights and heroes. That’s why it seemed like they remembered what Wiz had told them about various sports stars in the capital.

‘Well, Is there anyone who doesn’t know Sir Carlton, a former magical swordsman of Gelon, who now serves as the prince’s escort?’

I had to deliver the sad news to the twinkling eyes.

“Well, we are going to cheer for the Flag battle.”

“Really?”

“But Sir Carlton is not on our side. Sir Carlton will try to take our flag.”

“Oh–”

“So which side is Sir Carlton on?”

“Sir Carlton belongs to Lydia’s grandfather’s family.”

“Hmm.”

It was natural that the children did not understand the complicated situation between the families.

It was also my role and Daniel’s role to protect them so that they wouldn’t have to do that.

I comforted the two of them and thought to myself.

‘I’m going to need some luck with Wiz and Lina right now to get them the 4th Awakening buff so they don’t get hurt.’

* * *

A similar view.

Sir Saxen, a mine developer in the West, was having a field day with customers who wanted to buy his mines.

“Well, as you know, the mining industry is booming these days. Thanks to Her Majesty the Grand Duchess, people of high rank are showing interest in mineral research.”

Saxen was talking softly like a good mine developer, but in fact, he was laughing at his customers.

‘Why are there so many idiots who think that if they buy a mine, they’ll all be like Her Highness?’

They all think they can write myths like Holt Top.

Saxen smirked.

‘Though I’m benefiting from the stupid guys.’

It was fashionable these days among immature young ladies and young men to purchase useless mines, dreaming of becoming the second Grand Duchess Prause.

As an opportunistic real estate agent, Saxen quickly bought up the mines of the west, which seemed to sell well.

If it was too expensive, it would be inaccessible, so he divided the mine into several zones, and advertisements were immediately published in newspapers.

[Divided sale of mines that once belonged to Grand Duchess Prause]

Rumors these days that customers feel a sense of trust when they put ‘Prause’ in front of an item seemed to be true.

A man and woman who didn’t look very wealthy came in and said they wanted to buy the mine right away.

“A beautiful lady and a wonderful gentleman. Please take your time thinking about it.”

Saxen was well aware of the theory that less affluent customers have less opportunity cost and will think long and hard about buying something.

He took advantage of that and made them feel comfortable.

“I want to buy a total of three areas, this part, this part, and this part.”

A woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat moved her hand without hesitation and selected three areas.

“oh…You picked a good area. Soon you will be able to produce quality crystals. I pray that your miners will be lucky to find a special mineral.”

Saxen smiled kindly and snorted inwardly.

He had already taken over the mine and hired miners to look inside the mine.

He has already dug up the best-quality crystals, so all he has left is the meager low-grade crystals.

‘It has no value or use, so I should sell it quickly.’

He refrained from laughing as he filled out the bill of sale.

“Then I’ll set the price like this… How would you like to pay?”

“Ah, I’ll pay at the top.”

The woman, Lina, took out a payment slip with the seal of Holt Merchant, and put it down on the table.

After checking the payment slip, Saxony’s eyes widened to the limit.

“Holt, Holt top….”

“yes. Then, I will deliver this bill of sale to the lord of the merchant.”

While Saxen was dumbfounded at the name of the Merchant, Illina smiled brightly and took the bill of sales.

“Shall we go, Sir Wiz?”

“Yes. I’ll just memorize this quickly.”

As Frey commanded, Wiz, who had come to purchase a mine containing ‘special ore’, had his eyes on the mountain range map once again.

The owner must have ordered it because she had an idea, but there was one question that could not be erased.

‘How can the owner guess the location of an SSS-level mineral that even I, the spirit of knowledge, didn’t know?’