Chapter 4 (1/2)
Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax
「Ossan, Beco a Freeloader」
After three days of traveling along the highway
Zeros' heart started to soar when he caught sight of the town through the carriage's
Surviving in a forest for one week bu into the bandits
Then he came into contact with Creston and Selestina and their pair of knights
The first signs of human society Zeros had come across in this world laid at the foot of the mountain
“This is… Santol? It’s larger than I expected”
“Well, it's the largest city within our territory, and an i hub In terms of scale, it matches the capital”
“Is that a river? It seems that shi+p distribution is prosperous as well”
“You’ll reach the capital in teeks if you sail on the Auras River Thanks to the wind currents, it’s faster than the overland trip”
Santol prospered as a trading hub because it rested in a valley between theriver
In addition to its natural fortifications, the city could be said to be an inable fortress
Even though ht over the city, it had never been captured On the contrary: so much enemy blood had been spilled here that another name for the city was 【Blood Stained City】
Of course, as the city was invaluable to the country'sit to fall was too much of a risk
In addition, all the kings who decided to attack Santol were labeled inco to capture the city despite their losses, as the saying goes 『Only foolish kings attacked Santol』
However, the inhabitants of the city emphasized security and order, and the city itself was fa the safest place in the world
Such was the dual fame and infamy of the city 【Santol】
“The city gate is at the foot of this mountain, then ill head to my villa”
“You’re retired? Won’t I have to meet the current duke?”
“What? Such a wondrous ician as yourself wishes to bow before a duke?”
“Honestly, I don’t really want totoo much attention”
“You really don’t seem to like those in power Rather, it seems that you detest them”
“It's only natural for people to fulfill their duties, but those who force others to act while being far away are the ones I detest Wouldn’t you be resentful if the one forcing you to act didn’t even reveal themselves?”
“My son is like that I see…… it is for the best that you don’t s are handled poorly”
He didn’t want to rasp Zeros' full capabilities
Above all else, he needed this ood idea tounnecessary shackles
As long as Zeros ith them, Selestina would s more in his retirement
Everything was for the sake of his grandchild
“Okay…… reduce the fire a little more……”
Selestina was seriously training her mana operation with the 『Torch』spell
For the sake of controlling large fireballs, she eakening the fla it
It was as if her shackles had been cast off, and she was now absorbed by the ic that had once been impossible for her
She sees sheof happiness in her expression
“Speaking of which, there is the land I promised you It’s quite the lovely place…”
“Since I will be doing ic research, the basics necessary for self-sufficiency should be fine A commutable distance from the town is desirable, but I understand if that is a bit selfish on my part……”
“What? Even though I am retired, you did save an archduke, you know? I don’t mind if it is merely that much”
Although it was a reward, Zeros still felt like he was pushi+ng it On the other hand, he needed that land
Though he was an uprooted person, he wanted enough land to support a decent-sized family
“By the here can I sell a large nuoblin village and had to annihilate it……”
“Sensei…… did the place you got lost in happen to bethe 【Dark Forest of Fafuran】?”
“The forest was also filled with orcs Noup Hahaha”
“To survive in such a miasma ridden place and come back alive…… Obviously, you’re on a completely different level than those of this country… I’m speechless”
The dark forest sprawled along the Fafuran highway
The nu the forest and the potent miasma diminished one’s chance of survival
It was a dangerous area people were said to never return from
“It would be best to sell the ic stones to a specialty shop I’m acquainted with, how many do you have?”
“Hmm? There are far too many to count? Let’s say more than a hundred of them”
“A hundred? You can’t get that oblins around here”
Magic stones could be acquired froh mana concentrations
Or, by defeating a considerably powerful monster
Monsters with oblins, there was a difference of strength between them
The goblins of the Fafuran were equivalent in strength to the hobgoblins of the surrounding area
Zeros ability to single-handedly destroy an entire village of the
“This specialty shop…… is it the kind of place to produce ical tools?”
“Yes Magic stones are indispensable in creating ic items, so they are in constant demand”
“Then the ic stone of a wyvern……”
“You could play around with that kind of money for quite soic in them The royal family would desire such an object”
“……In that case it would be better to keep it for myself”
“It’s versatile Do you also create ic tools?”
“Sometimes I don’t have a facility at thethe field”
A great sage shouldn’t be doing dirty work
The problem hether or not it was possible to produce the items, whose recipes had been stored in his head, in this neorld
The s doasn’t an issue
The raved in his mind, so it was probably possible to create the items
That way of thinking would annoy a true craftsman
“…… Probably shouldn’t sell the stuff Ithemselves……”
“Sensei…… you seem to inconvenience others”
A great sage was a nuisance to a regular craftsman
Zeros had always thought of things in terms of hobbies and interest, but most on the Net would consider what he has done insane
The influence his knowledge had on this world would be unfathomable if he could replicate his work in reality
He desired a peaceful life, so he had no desire to create a powerful ic tool
The carriage finally entered Santol
There was a brief check at the gate, but since the Lord’s chest was engraved on the carriage, they were allowed to pass without issues
“A…… it's common to surround cities alls, but this on another scale”
“This is a key location with , ouldn’t we protect it? nobles such as myself must protect the people”
“Just how ht tax or sleep with other people's wives……”
“There are cases like that in our country The leader of the court ician…… such deplorable acts”
“Scu? Can the people not live without the royal family or the nobility?”
“It is because they are extraordinary Or at least, that’s what I thought before I met you, sensei They are just selfish and simple-minded people”
When Creston had been looking for an excellent ician who appeared asked for a considerable a ic
It’d been a nondescript, naed to save Selestina when all others had failed
Moreover, said ician was extremely talented and hadn’t demanded any power in return
Ittoto the powerful while truhed at when cohts they could only dream of
“I wonder if Tina can reach such heights as well……”
“It will take a considerable amount of effort and talent Can one hold on to that passion, until they die?”
“I see However, her efforts won’t be in vain, will they?”
“Naturally At least, she will becoician rote that textbook”
Zeros and Creston continued to think about Selestina’s future as the carriage travelled through the town
All the streets were made of brick and plaster and the citizen went about their daily routine
Occasionally, a e accompanied by mercenaries would pass by
It was a large city, but the was carriage heading towards a forested area for some reason
“There’s a forest in this city?”
“Ahead is a steep, rocky cliff The forest surrounds this area…… within the center of it”
“A natural fortress…… Protected by two barriers, the rear is protected by a steep cliff and the distance from the river makes a frontal attack is too risky What about the merchandise that comes by shi+p?”
“The shi+ps are lifted with a pulley and then led along a designated passage afterwards The h this land after all”
“It seems that the poor would rebel if you raised their taxes”
“It’s fine so long as I don’t succureed I wouldn’t dream of it”
Many a the nobility considered the tax money their own
There were also a few savvy ed to obtain power and a life of luxury
In any case, it appeared that Solisthea's Archduke was operating a healthy province
“The proble in his power It has allowed hishis hands on his servants’ daughters”
“I have no right to judge the worth of anotherdesires”
“Honestly, I have no idea how randchildren I actually have Even with just the fifty cases I know of, it is getting out of hand”
“I see bloodshed in that inheritance dispute……Shouldn’t his will declare a successor? Things will become rather messy otherwise”
“I don’t knoho they are, but occasionally people coed to take care of things without leaving any evidence behind”
The current duke was a player in another sense
Alar involved in that domestic conflict
“The villa is co into view”
“Oh…… a ht the day would co in a noble’s mansion”
Creston’s villa resembled a small castle
You could make out a balcony or two, but there were no decorative sculptures or golden pieces to be seen
Crossing the drawbridge over theinto another world
The calm atmosphere appropriate for a castle in a forest blanketed the area
“Is that a gard…… no, it’s a field?”
“Most of the vegetable are grown self-sufficiently We purchase most of the meat from outside, but chickens are raised in another location”
“Impressive Luxurious meals are a waste of money, and this must certainly improve the commoners’ opinion of you The avaricious should emulate these practices”
“The lifestyle of an aristocrat is rather expensiveYou need a lot of money to maintain a territory and even more to keep up appearances”
“I’d really like to show this place to the people who keep saying ‘hand over your gold immediately’”
The castle wasn’t very large despite what the duke said, and arden was taken up by the field
Zeros found this place desirable
There was a certain virtue in not being tied up in power plays until you die
“Tina, we’ve arrived”
“Huh? Already? But I still have some mana left…”
“Can you carry your luggage yourself? The servants seem rather busy”
“I understand, grandfather”
His discipline was surprisingly harsh
However, it was rather funny to watch, considering he was a former archduke
“We shall prepare a room for you We need to discuss your future”
“As a tutor? I’ll teach her as much as I can, but it’s up to her whether or not she follows my instructions”
“It will be fine You don’t appear to be hostile, and I have no intentions to bind you”
“That is a situation I would like to avoid”
Aa wyvern was unheard of and would be a valuable military asset
A ht to live freely
Pressuring him needed to be avoided at all cost, lest he was pushed to join an enemy country
Creston hi of their power balance was taboo
“Speaking of which, you don’t seem to carry a wand, do you?”
“I do not, this ring acts as a medium so I have no need for one I can also use a sword if necessary”
“With a ring…… Is that ring made of mythril?”
“No, froer than mythril and it’s ic conductivity is the highest a all materials
Well, since it is just mythril that has been altered in the belly of a ht”
Metalgrads
It was amonster that lived in volcanic areas, and it was famous for the various metals within its body
Although the ore it ate strengthened its scales and increased its resistance to weapons, the true danger it represented lied in the fact that it was a type of dragon
In addition, it was a territorial type of monster that would kill any intruders without mercy