Chapter 66: Periknen Territory
The seasons change, and spring has come.
The social season has returned, and the nobles have gathered in the capital.
This means that it’s almost been a year since the engagement was broken and the wedding day.
I had hired people to keep an eye on Duke Periknen’s family carriage since early spring, and I had seen my former parents, younger siblings, and Miss Ina enter Periknen’s Capital’s residence from the carriage.
Monarchy - S3 Ep2 - The Glorious Re...
Now, this is our house. From the entrance hall, climb the stairs to the second floor.
Next to me is Lex, escorted by him to the intermediate floor. There, I turn around and look down the hall from the other side of the handrail.
Lex clears his throat.
“Everyone gathered here.”
In the entrance hall, there are servants, Lord Oliver Algren and his disciples, Mr. Cremetti and his trusted subordinates, researchers and technicians (commoners) who were not well-off and hired by Lex, and Milcah-sama and her close aristocratic friends.
“Everyone from the Peltra family, A&V company, and our investors and partners.”
Many are looking up at us with intense eyes.
“We have been accumulating power in this town for over half a year, hiding the technology of creating magic stones. First of all, I would like to thank you for your cooperation and that this important secret has not been exposed.”
Lex performs a gentleman’s bow, placing his right hand on his chest and his left hand to the side.
I was standing next to him, picking at my skirt and folding my knees in the manner of a lady.
Fufu, I can’t face that way so I’m watching from the corner of my eye, but I can see that Lex’s actions are becoming more sophisticated.
Applause erupted.
Standing up in a synchronized breath, when Lex raises his hand, it stops.
“And the reason we are here today is to talk about our future. Vilhelmina.”
I step forward to Lex’s voice.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Now is the time for our activities to flourish.
I pointed to the desk placed on the dance floor and the two devices on top.
“My husband, Alex, developed this atmospheric magic element accumulator and high-density magic element crystallization device, in other words, Lex #4 and Mina #13. We have successfully mass-produced these. We will begin our activities using these in the Duchy of Periknen.
The Periknen family is coming here(to the capital), which means that the anomalies over their territory will be harder to recognize and take longer to deal with.
I raise my right hand above my head.
“The time of battle has come.”
The voices “Yes,” and “Oh,” were heard together.
Several days later.
The Adventurers’ Guild Request Board, Espova, Duchy of Periknen.
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・Request Name: Escort for Dungeon Research
・Requestor: Professor Plassa Klar, instructor at the Magic School
・Difficulty: D-Rank or higher (for a party)
・Priority: Low
・Request Period: Until the summer solstice, multiple requests possible
・Location: 2nd Floor of the North Espova Dungeon
・Requested Goods: None
・Reward: 10 silver coins per day for the party for 2 days
・Condition: Stay overnight in the safety area within the dungeon
・Note: During dungeon exploration, you will take a rest at the spot we want to investigate. You are free to do as you please with the monster materials you defeat.
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Today, there are strangely many request posters posted on the bulletin board. That’s what the male adventurer who thought so and peeped in saw.
“What’s this request? Hey, someone call the receptionist.
“Yes.”
A woman comes from the counter here.
“There are so many, but what is this?”
There are many similar escort requests posted on the wall, with different names and locations of the requester. For example, if it is on the 3rd floor of the dungeon, the daily rate is 15 silver coins, etc.
“A group of researchers who came from the capital city seem to be conducting a large-scale study of the dungeon and have requested its escort.”
“Hmmm, is it okay to do it as many times as you like?”
“The survey cannot be completed in one go, so they want to do it several times in the span of a few months.”
“Hee, I don’t really understand what researchers are.”
“What do you want to do?”
The man peels off the request poster.
“I’ll take it. Well, if I can get the monster’s magic stone and materials from here, it’s almost just a reward profit.”
“Yes, I think it’s a delicious request. Thank you very much!”
This year, the request enriched the pockets of adventurers in the Periknen Territory.
The clients placed inspection equipment shaped like trumpets in the safe zones, and thrust rods into the places with dense magic elements, which were called spring points by the adventurers. No one knew what they were doing, but they were positively accepted by the adventurers.
This was because they could use magic and their skills were better than those of inexperienced adventurers, and they paid well.
Also, the “A&V Simple Magic Appraisal Office” opened in the bustling streets of the ducal capital city and became popular, like the royal capital. The adventurers in this area also lined up because they could know their own magic and attributes for free.
The remaining officials and household orders in Periknen Territory recognized the movement, but did not feel any problems and only made a brief report to the Lord, adding a line to the regular report letter. And Lord Periknen always skimmed over the regular reports.
And that was the beginning of the end of Periknen Territory.