kscans

Chapter 159 - Episode 1: Middle Part - Escaping into Work

"Alfina… So, you are the Oracle of the Ancient Dragon Eye. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The Oracle of the Ancient Dragon Eye was a term I had never heard before. I glanced at Alfina, but she was also tilting her head in confusion.

"Hmm… Well, no matter. I am interested in your crystal, but right now, I am more concerned with what is happening here."

Whatever she read in our expressions, Maytyl gave a small smile. Then, her gaze shifted from Alfina back to me, and she began to edge closer again. No, I really wish you would talk to Alfina first. My plan to delegate the management of this far-too-troublesome human relationship to the right person is already in jeopardy.

"I trust you have an interesting story for me today, Ricardo. I have been so bored, confined to the manor since I arrived."

"Th, that depends on what you are prepared to offer, Princess Maytyl. Information should be exchanged between equals, would you not agree?"

Alfina’s murmur of "Ricardo…" caught my attention, but I first made a preemptive move against the potential spy. Seeing Noel’s situation, I knew I could not afford to be lax with information security. Even now, I had to assume she had arrived a step ahead of us to gather any intelligence she could.

Her communications with the Empire were likely being strictly managed at the ducal house where she was staying, but it would be impossible to prevent every leak.

"Oh my, such a formal way of speaking. We are going to be research partners, so do you not think you could be a little more relaxed?"

Well, during our first meeting, I was sort of representing the kingdom, and besides, I was half-mad because you had abducted Mia. I do not normally have such a complete disregard for my own safety.

"Princess Maytyl. Please consider your position… And, um, perhaps you are a little too close?"

Alfina, having rebooted, addressed Maytyl again. It seemed to me that her brows were slightly raised in displeasure. No, Alfina is a person of virtue, unlike me. Surely she can handle this.

"Ah, that is right. I heard that in the Kingdom, status is absolute. But do not worry about it. I am a captive. Besides, I am here because Ricardo invited me."

"Is that not somewhat incorrect? In the first place, you abducted Mia, which is why Ricardo-kun had to risk…"

The silver-blue-haired princess and the bright purple-haired imperial princess faced off. The air grew heavy. Well, this is easier to deal with than having her pull rank on me. But what about my plan?

"Well now. What are you going to do?" "What will you do, Senpai? Isn’t it time for the master strategist to make his move?"

No, it’s because I’m terrible at this sort of thing that I asked Alfina. Once you delegate a task, the basics of management dictate that you watch over it in silence…

Besides, it is not as if I have the skills to intervene between two girls on the verge of a squabble. I am not just chickening out. This is an accurate assessment of my own abilities.

"Oh, you’re all finally here. Come, come, let’s get started."

My savior was the voice of an old man from above. The master of the house was coming down from the second floor. There was none of the gravity you would expect from a great sage, a count, or even an elderly person. It was plain to see from his very footsteps to his expression that he was giddy with excitement.

For some reason, a tired-looking Leonard was behind him.

"Director. Please don’t go around carelessly revealing information…"

"I know, I know. It’s fine, I haven’t said anything about the tree rings."

He says he hasn’t said anything, but something just slipped out of his mouth. See, Maytyl’s eyes instantly flicked from Alfina to us. And Alfina’s face falls, having been ignored.

The piercing gazes of Rilka, Mia, and now Noel, were fixed on me. I suppose I have no choice.

"…W, well, why don’t we begin today’s meeting?"

I chose a tactical retreat. I would fall back to my own territory and regroup.

◇◇

We entered Fulsy’s room and took our seats. Unlike the last time I saw it, the room was tidy. Apparently, Mia and Noel had cleaned it after she returned. It seemed they had taken advantage of Fulsy’s emotional state upon her return.

I wonder how many days it will last, though. Unlike magic, the tidiness of this room is quite faithful to the second law of thermodynamics.

"By the way, Leonard-senpai, why are you here? Did the director make another unreasonable budget demand…?"

I asked Leonard, who had entered the room with us and was holding a pen like a scribe.

"I have been assigned to the Royal Magic Research Institute from the Chancellor’s Office."

"Is that so…"

At Leonard’s words, I could not help but look away. A promising young man, demoted because of Fulsy. My first impression of him was not great, but I felt a pang of guilt because he had gone through so much trouble liaising with the Chancellor’s Office about the research budget.

"Why are you looking at me with such pity? You know that the institute has an associated territory for its budget, right? It is in Kurtheite… the former territory of the Grand Duke of Kurtheite, which happens to be adjacent to my family’s land. Think of me as concurrently serving as its magistrate. As for the rest…"

"He is a minder from the Royal Palace. I won’t say for whom…"

Fulsy looked at me. Well, it is a perfectly natural measure. The Chancellor would obviously want to keep tabs on what Maytyl and I are up to.

"So, what is the agenda for today?"

"Yes, if you don’t decide on a course of action soon…"

Noel’s gaze was fixed on the two princesses sitting side by side. Alfina would try to speak to the unsociable Maytyl, only to be cut off with a word or two. And then Maytyl’s gaze would turn to me.

So it is not about Alfina personally. She is simply not interested in anything but sorcery.

"The territory north of the great river, between the Blood Mountains and the river itself, has become new land for the Kingdom. But as it stands, with wyverns flying about, it is of no use. Our goal is to combine the knowledge of magic and sorcery to make this place indispensable, not just for the Kingdom, but for the Empire as well."

I spread out a map. It was one that had been delivered along with the reparations. It was not very detailed. The first reason was likely that it was wyvern territory, and the second…

I placed my finger on the triangular plain wedged between the great river and the mountain range. Geographically, it was to the north-northeast of the Royal Capital.

"The ultimate goal is to build a city in this land to serve as a trade market for the Kingdom and the Empire, and as an observation base for the Blood Mountains. I will set aside the commercial aspects for now, but considering the recent abnormal fluctuations in the magic veins, observing the Blood Mountains is crucial."

My explanation was rather formal, full of justifications. Part of it was for Leonard’s benefit, but it was essential to appeal to both the Kingdom and the Empire by showing how useful the new territory could be. In a sense, we are surrounded by the Empire, the Kingdom, and magical beasts. Of course, I genuinely intend to make this place necessary for both nations. For our own self-preservation.

And the members gathered here are the ones needed to make that happen.

"The same old recklessness." "She’s starting another reckless venture…" "I’m worried that Ricardo-kun is going to do something reckless again…" "…"

Fulsy, Noel, and Alfina spoke. Mia was silent.

"Well, the objective is fine. So, what specifically are we going to do?"

Maytyl said.

"I have a few things in mind. But for now, I suppose the immediate goal is to use the director’s magic-measuring antenna and the Empire’s sorcery techniques to develop a method for obtaining more detailed information on the magic veins."

"Hmm, I have no objection to that," Fulsy said.

"As long as it’s something we can do," added Noel. Don’t worry, if you two can’t do it, I’m convinced no one can.

"That is why I am here. Of course, I will not give away knowledge or technology for free. It is strictly an exchange. For information that I find interesting. For example, about those two types of magic catalysts, and the method of drawing circuits with them."

Maytyl stated. I seem to recall her trying to get information from Noel for free just a little while ago.

"Unfortunately, topics directly related to such applications will have to wait until we have made more progress. First, I would like to align our information on the most basic of basics, the magic veins."

Magic and sorcery are the same in that they both use magical power. But my guess is that each has its own area of expertise. As Fulsy’s antenna demonstrates, we are superior in the precision and sensitivity of detecting magic. On the other hand, the Empire should know about magical domains that are difficult for the Kingdom to detect.

By combining these two fields of knowledge, we can advance our fundamental understanding of magic itself. In other words, we will start with basic research into the science of magic.