Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Mine
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"Are you talking about vagabonds?"
Those who wandered without settling down anywhere.
Some chose that life, but most had no choice.
"What do you think? From what I know, there are plenty of vagabonds in the Empire."
"If we explain the situation here, some will come. However..."
"However?"
"Among them are criminals and bandits. Of course, most are just people who couldn't pay their taxes."
Bringing in vagabonds meant bringing in bad apples too.
It was certainly a concern.
"Don't the mercenary guilds have records on serious criminals?"
"They probably do. Most have bounties posted at the territory level."
Using the mercenary guild, we could screen out the hardcore criminals.
As for the rest...
We'd have to turn a blind eye as long as they didn't cause trouble.
There was no way to dig up every petty crime anyway.
And I had something to rely on.
If we took in vagabonds as 'farmers'?
We could boost their loyalty.
'Plus, we have the militia, mercenaries, slave soldiers, and hunters...'
We weren't weak enough to be pushed around by petty criminals.
I gathered my thoughts and spoke.
"Let's accept the vagabonds."
"Understood."
"Agreeing right away? You think this is the right call too?"
"We can't grow without taking risks."
With the main issue settled,
I brought up another topic.
"How are things with the Silnia Merchant Group?"
"Thanks to Iron Village, we should win handily."
The competing goods were
grains, weapons, armor, and monster byproducts.
We had the edge in grains from the start.
I was the only one producing food on Monster Island at scale.
Weapons and armor were the problem.
We had no advantage there.
Whether Island Merchant Group or Silnia,
they both bought from the continent and sold in Frontier territory.
But the mines were developed, and things changed.
Weapons and armor from Iron were cheaper.
The reason was the same as with grains.
No Callas territory tolls, which made up a big chunk of the price.
"I'll leave securing the Frontier market to you."
"I will dominate Frontier for certain."
"Careful with your words—someone might misunderstand. Add 'market' to it."
Russell bowed his head with a resolute expression.
Just like Hans before heading to battle.
.
.
Russell left Iron Village without sleeping a wink.
He even rejected my suggestion to rest, saying every minute counted as money.
On the way back after seeing him off.
I spotted a ballista being moved out of the village.
Several artisans were struggling to transport it.
"Is it done?"
"Master."
"Greetings, Master."
"Yeah, yeah, enough greetings. How's the ballista?"
The one who looked like the lead stepped forward.
I looked around, but Dve wasn't there.
He must have gone to rest after teaching them.
He strictly kept to his three-hour limit.
"It's our first finished product. We pre-made the body, so it went quickly."
"I see. Shall we check the performance?"
The lead artisan scratched his head.
"It's not quite ready for high expectations."
"It's fine. It's fine."
Iron Village clearing.
Thud...
The large bolt fired from the ballista hit the ground.
"Hm..."
I hadn't expected much from the first one.
But this was still disappointing.
'A bowstring with 71 completion shouldn't have this little power.'
We had actually tested prototypes.
It was definitely 71 points of elasticity.
But this...
'Just good designs aren't enough.'
Designs are just one step in making the product.
The artisans who turn designs into reality.
Their skill needed to catch up.
'It'll take time. At least we have Dve.'
"Don't get discouraged, everyone! The next ballista will be better."
The artisans, who had been watching my reaction, brightened up.
"We'll work hard!"
"We'll make better ballistae!"
I encouraged the artisans and left the clearing.
Day by day, the ballista's performance improved bit by bit.
I selected only the slave artisans with the best handiwork.
Dve taught them for three hours.
The rest of the time, they made bowstrings.
Theory for three hours, practice for seven.
'Their skills can't help but grow.'
A month passed,
and the ballistae became usable.
'Still lacking, but not unusable.'
If anything, it was better than nothing.
Iron Village was developing,
and ballista performance improving,
when
a letter arrived.
I finished reading the letter and set it down on the desk.
"So the day has finally come."
Frontier's third child.
Second son after me.
The islanders expected it.
That on Gibson's coming-of-age day, Frontier's Heir would change.
"Human predictions are often futile. How could anyone predict the future?"
Knock. Knock.
The door opened, and Hans entered.
"You called, Heir?"
"Prepare the elite slave soldiers. We're heading to the heart of Frontier."
"Understood!"
Hans left the room with crisp steps.
'No invitation? Makes me want to go even more...'
Invitation or not, I had every right to attend.
As Frontier's Heir and Gibson's brother.
I took out a blank sheet of paper and picked up a pen.
I wrote the first line.
**
**
East River.
School.
Campbell, the school principal, was busy as always today.
"Have you selected the school sites?"
"We've secured Terra, but not Alf yet."
"When was Alf completed, and you still haven't found a site?!"
His grandson had entrusted him not just with River School, but Terra and Alf Schools too.
Recalling the letter that arrived days ago, wrinkles deepened on his forehead.
"Has the person we sent to Iron Village returned?"
"Not yet."
While the principal's office buzzed with activity,
the door burst open.
"Principal Campbell!"
"What now?"
"A letter from Elwin-nim..."
"Again...?"
Letters from his grandson were supposed to bring joy.
No, they should.
But...
Lately, with all the work they brought, not so much.
"Sigh... What does it say this time? Hm?"
It wasn't work-related.
"He's passing through here? Meet if there's time? Haha! Of course we'll see our grandson!! Everyone, keep working!!"
Campbell left the principal's office.
The bridge connecting East River and West River.
He stood there, waiting for his grandson.
He saw his grandson approaching on horseback.
"He usually takes a carriage, but on horseback, he looks so gallant."
Blood will tell.
"Hahaha!! A true heir to Campbell's blood!! Hahaha!! Ha... ha?"
Campbell's laughter gradually faded,
and by the end, his mouth hung open in silence.
Clop. Clop.
Clop. Clop.
Elwin arrived and dismounted.
"Grandfather, long time no see."
"Y... yeah, long time. But what's all that? Planning a war?"
He glanced at the soldiers lined up behind Elwin.
"Needed them. Time's tight, so I have to head out right away. See you on the way back."
Elwin mounted his horse.
Then led over a thousand soldiers through East River.
"He's our grandson, but too cool. Right?"
Campbell asked the staff beside him.
"Of course. Truly impressive."
Campbell's eyes grew misty.
He recalled when Elwin first came to East River.
Haggard face, dirty clothes.
He looked more like a fugitive than Frontier's Heir.
That grandson had become a gallant Heir.
Who would dare look down on Elwin now?
"Our grandson is amazing. Your mother must be happy in heaven too."
He wiped the tears running down his cheeks.
Then, a soldier hurried from where Elwin had gone.
He held a letter.
"Heh heh, did our grandson have more to say? The meeting was too short."
The moment he opened the letter,
"Y... you little rascal!!"
Just one line.
**
**
Frontier Northwest.
Frontline.
Command tent.
The Frontier Viscount read the letter.
The Viscount looked at another paper on the desk.
Gibson's coming-of-age invitation.
"You there!"
"Yes, Viscount!"
The adjutant entered.
"Current situation?"
"Leisurely."
"Leisurely?"
"S-sorry!"
Frontier Frontline.
A place where battles with monsters erupted dozens of times a day.
It didn't suit the word.
"Situation?"
"With the troll border troops joining, the... situation has improved."
The adjutant almost said 'leisurely' again but switched words.
"Troops left at the troll border?"
"Just scouts. Less than 10% of before."
Frontier Territory bordered monster areas.
Goblins to the south, ogres and higher monsters to the north.
Southern goblins and orcs were left to the militia.
But the troll border was different.
Elite troops were stationed there.
90% of those had joined the northwest frontline defense.
Because Elwin secured the troll area.
"Then I can step away briefly? To attend my son's ceremony."
"Of course! No worries!"
The adjutant saluted and left.
Alone, the Viscount wore an odd expression.
"This feeling. It's been a while."
He had always been the defender.
Fighting monsters several times a day.
But today reminded him of the past.
When his father was alive.
"Did Father feel this way too?"
He had started at goblin and orc areas.
Defending them, gradually advancing to trolls and ogres.
As his feats grew, his father's burden lessened.
Just like now.