Chapter 81
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: There Are Engineers. (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Ah, have we come too late? If so, we'll come back tomorrow to properly greet you..."
The three men who had removed their robes had neatly trimmed beards and hair, but they didn't look particularly well-off.
Moreover, the way they kept wiping sweat from their foreheads or clearing their throats with dry coughs showed just how nervous they were, making them somehow pitiable.
"No, no. Please, have a seat here."
"Th-thank you."
"So, what brings you here like this? It doesn't seem like you're just here to ask a question..."
Kalim eyed the bundle of papers in their hands with a businesslike smile.
Based on his experience so far, this was undoubtedly some kind of business proposal.
Given their modest attire, they were probably from a small merchant group.
Dominic had always drilled into him that one should never judge people by their appearance. Kalim felt the same way.
'You can't tell if a pearl has been polished and placed in a display case or if it's still covered in mud, overlooked by everyone else.'
With the market and even the chief administrator sharing this mindset, a culture had emerged in Evergreen of not turning away those who brought proposals.
Whether it was a real pearl or just a stone could be determined after reading the proposal.
"W-well... We're actually from the Southern Magic Tower."
"...Oh, really?"
The three revealed their affiliation.
But Kalim's reaction was ambiguous—uncharacteristic for him.
And for good reason.
'Southern... Magic Tower? Does that even exist...? ...Well, it must.'
It was a magic tower so obscure that even Kalim had completely forgotten about it.
The magic towers on the continent weren't closely linked or mutually supportive.
Each pursued its own path, training successors and meddling in interests, making them rivals to one another.
With talented mages being limited, a tower's prestige depended on how well it secured them.
Like many fields in this world, mages were especially insular.
Unlike other disciplines where effort alone could take you to a certain level, magic was impossible to even begin without talent.
'Perot said it: Magic can only be started by the chosen few who also get lucky.'
There were two other fields that required innate talent to even start.
Spirit arts and the divine power wielded by priests.
The difference was that spirit users could awaken their abilities without a mentor, and those with divine power were revealed through oracles to the temples, who would come fetch them.
'But for magic, talent means nothing unless another mage discovers you.'
Even if you were born with it, without someone with mana to open the first channel, you'd never know you had it.
[Most manifest magical talent before age fifteen, but it can be later for some. Nobles and the wealthy can check yearly through mages or knights who've reached the realm, but you can't survey every commoner like that.]
Even those with talent mostly ended up as low-circle mages at 1-2 circles, so mass surveys weren't cost-effective.
'Makes sense. That's why it's not legislated.'
The capital magic tower, backed by astronomical profits from various businesses, conducted large-scale talent searches every few years. Plus, with affiliated mages teaching at academies, they scooped up promising seedlings, solidifying their reputation.
As Kalim's thoughts drifted, the mages from the Southern Magic Tower cleared their throats.
"Ahem. Well, our tower isn't exactly well-known..."
"No, not at all. My apologies. I never imagined mages would visit, so I wasn't mindful of etiquette."
The mood softened again at Kalim's apology.
"So, what brings the tower's representatives to our city?"
"Ah! Well... We have a proposal we'd like to show you..."
Ding-a-ling-.
"Why are the lights still on here? You all haven't gone home yet?"
"Mayor!"
The mages were about to explain when Dominic arrived right on cue.
He'd spent the afternoon lounging at the teahouse, now scouting for dinner companions.
'Ah. Wrong timing. Why's there still a petitioner at this hour?'
Kalim was thrilled, hoping Dominic would join the discussion, but Dominic regretted stumbling into an unexpected business meeting.
Clatter, crash!
"M-Mayor!"
"We've heard of your fame! We're from the Southern Magic Tower!"
"We're confident it'll be a great deal—just hear us out..."
The three mages scrambled to their feet, tripping over chairs in a display so undignified it hardly screamed "mage." For a first impression, it was hard to give them high marks.
"Right, well. Is this it?"
"Yes, yes! Mayor! This is what the Southern Magic Tower can provide to Evergreen..."
"I'll read it over. Give me a moment."
Dominic wanted to wrap this up fast and grab lamb skewers with Kalim.
'That place has great reviews... Lamb skewers and dark beer! Gotta finish quick and go!'
His habit of skimming numbers kicked in as he sped through the proposal.
'Any wordplay or tricks, Kalim'll catch later anyway.'
He left complex terms and legal nitpicks to Kalim, just calculating the profits.
Unaware of this, the mages exchanged glances, misreading his focus.
- He looks sloppy, but that face shows clear thinking! Not your average guy!
- Heard he's from commoner stock, but this intense concentration! Rumors weren't wrong.
- That reading speed—what is it? He looks early twenties, but acts like a veteran administrator with decades of paperwork.
Dominic set the papers down first.
Almost simultaneously, Kalim neatly stacked his copy.
'Fast.'
Unlike Dominic's number-skim, Kalim had pored over every detail, checking for errors or deceptions.
Tap, tap.
Kalim tapped the table twice to straighten the stack and slid it right.
'Profitable, right?'
Among Evergreen's administrators, these were standard signals.
Two taps: 'No funny business!' Sliding right: 'Profits for us—sign now.'
"So, the Southern Magic Tower wants a magic tool supply contract with our Evergreen?"
The mages' faces stiffened with tension.
"Yes, Mayor."
"Do you know most of Evergreen's magic tools come from the capital magic tower?"
"Of course. About seventy percent from the capital tower, the rest from assorted merchants and mercenary guilds."
"Do you know the volume we use?"
"...That's..."
Before Evergreen became a city, Perot—rivaling specialist enchanters—had introduced them to magic tools' conveniences.
Even now, Dominic wore eight: three rings, a brooch, necklace, belt buckle, dagger, bracelet.
City-wide, they were ubiquitous.
Perot's magic circles let cake with seasonal fruit cast two 1-circle spells, so residents splurged on tools as hobbies once they had cash.
To them, tools weren't weapons but lifestyle aids, closing the psychological gap to zero.
- Daddy, get me those jump-boosting magic shoes! Emily next door wears them!
- Argh, why won't this knife cut? Honey! Buy a sharpening-enchanted kitchen knife from the magic shop!
Such scenes became everyday in Evergreen homes!
Tourism ventures needed tools too, making total consumption massive—mostly low-circle spells, of course.
"The volume in Evergreen would overwhelm a provincial tower. And we need steady supply, not one-offs. The price tempts, but... do we really need to risk antagonizing the capital tower for the Southern one?"
Kalim was shocked.
Dominic usually rubber-stamped admins' calls, but despite two green lights, he was nixing it.
'He has a reason.'
Kalim trusted Dominic absolutely.
The mages panicked.
They'd slashed prices for competitiveness, but invoking the capital tower pushed beyond persuasion.
'What now...'
Only deeper cuts left—but they'd hit bottom. Impossible.
The mages bit their lips anxiously.
'Fail this, and the Southern Magic Tower might shut down.'
High-circle mages had fled to prestige towers; left were locals tied down or rejects.
'If we fall, the South's mage lineage ends...'
A sigh escaped.
A provincial tower closing meant local talents forever subservient or lost.
'Can't beg southern nobles anymore... Urk!'
They'd survived on patrons' aid...
[How about Evergreen? Your lifeline might be there.]
Recently, Count Sinclair—whom they'd begged for funds—suggested it, sparking hope they'd understand and help.
But the mayor pressed hard, distinguishing gains from losses.
With nothing more to offer, they despaired.
"Mages."
"Y-yes, Mayor..."
Their faces clouded with lost hope.
Dominic sighed inwardly at the sight.
'Not business-savvy types. Sigh. How do you sell like that, so naive.'
But he didn't mind.
He'd fleece them last, then let his smooth-talking admins handle future deals.
"Magic tools alone aren't tempting, but throw in people, and it changes everything."
"...Pardon?"
"What Evergreen needs most is people, after all."
"You mean...?"
Dominic grinned.
"Southern Magic Tower—aren't you due for a move?"
What's one magic tower in the village? No big deal.