Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The Silver Mine of Nadir Mountain
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The next day.
Eugene met with the merchant guild leader, Gardye, and introduced Delmondo as his cousin who would manage the territory on his behalf going forward.
Having lived for ages as a vampire, Delmondo had a neat appearance, and more importantly, as a former administrator of the Roman Empire, he was well-educated and eloquent.
With Eugene sitting right beside him, Delmondo had no choice but to be exceedingly humble, half by choice and half by necessity—and that won him favor with Guild Leader Gardye.
“To possess such deep knowledge yet remain so humble and charismatic. As expected of Lord Eugene’s kin, Lord Delmondo.”
“What are you saying! That’s not true at all!”
“Huh?”
Gardye tilted his head, wondering if he should deny it so vehemently, even shouting.
‘Oh no!’
Realizing his mistake, Delmondo hurriedly added an explanation.
“Because! Lord Eugene is like the full moon that illuminates the dark night. Compared to him, I’m a feeble existence not even worth a firefly. No, even comparing myself to him is an insult and irreverence.”
Delmondo’s words were both sincere and the plain truth.
There was that level of difference—or perhaps even greater—between an Origin and an ordinary vampire.
“Haha! Aren’t you undervaluing yourself too much, Lord Delmondo?”
“It’s the truth. And though we’re distant kin, my relationship with Lord Eugene is no different from master and servant. Thus, his orders are a sacred duty I must fulfill without fail.”
“Hmm!”
Gardye nodded repeatedly, his face full of admiration.
The Delmondo he saw was a rare talent.
Not to mention his demeanor, his common sense and scholarship were unmistakably those of nobility, and from their conversation so far, his practical skills seemed exceptionally strong as well.
Yet here was such a talent treating his sixth cousin not merely as kin, but thoroughly as a lord and superior.
Delmondo was impressive in his own right, but Gardye found himself admiring Eugene anew.
‘Having Lord Galpredic under him as well. What a knight—not just in combat prowess, but in selecting and managing outstanding talents.’
Knights were typically skilled only in battle, hopeless at administration or management.
They excelled at employing soldiers on the battlefield but were inept at employing people for territory governance.
Yet Knight Eugene was different.
Gardye was meeting a knight who possessed overwhelming martial might and the eye for talent for the first time.
‘If only he’d come to our city first. What a shame.’
Looking at the crest of Maren City engraved on Eugene’s breastplate, Gardye smacked his lips in regret.
A knight like Eugene would surely have made his mark even in the chaotic Kalsbaegin Peninsula...
‘No, it might not be too late!’
His mind flashing with realization, Gardye quickly turned his thoughts.
‘Lord Eugene is a knight soon to be enfeoffed as a lord. Yet he continues his contract with the Feilin Merchant Group, which means he seeks both wealth and honor, right? In that case...’
Having organized his thoughts in an instant, Gardye spoke in a subtle tone.
“By the way, Lord Eugene. If I may be so bold, would it be alright for me to make a proposal? It’s nothing detrimental to you—in fact, it could be a fine opportunity.”
“A fine opportunity?”
“Yes. By any chance, do you plan to expand your territory further on the peninsula?”
“Hmm.”
Having acquired his territory more by half-chance than design, Eugene couldn’t answer immediately.
But Gardye took that as a cue to explain more, swallowing dryly before continuing swiftly.
“It’s just one mountain, even if expanded. It’s about ten kilometers from the border of the territory you’ve acquired.”
“A mountain? Is there really a need to take a mountain?”
“There’s a silver mine in that mountain.”
“Kieeeek!?”
Mirian, who had been lounging disinterestedly in the leather pouch until then, shrieked and tried to leap out.
Eugene casually tightened the stopper and said,
“If there’s a silver mine in the mountain, it must have an owner already, right? You’re not suggesting we wage a territory war, are you?”
“Heavens, no! Of course not!”
Faced with Eugene’s cold gaze, Gardye hurriedly waved both hands.
“Until a few years ago, it had a legitimate owner. It was Viscount Bemos, the lord of Paranan Village that you’ve taken under your wing. But the viscount died, and even the steward, Lord Marcelo, was overwhelmed just tending to the village.”
“Hmm. So it’s essentially ownerless now? But I doubt other lords or nobles left a silver mine alone.”
“Haha! Viscount Bemos’s father was none other than Marquis Archibald himself. No matter his fall from grace, no noble has openly seized a silver mine gifted by a great noble of the kingdom to his youngest son.”
“Indeed, it wouldn’t be honorable. But more than that, it’s probably hard to manage, and if someone unifies the peninsula later, they’d have to relinquish it anyway, right?”
The lord-level nobles Eugene had seen and dealt with were arrogant and overly proud, but as highly educated men, most were sharp-minded.
After all, it was exceedingly difficult for the dim-witted to overcome their siblings’ challenges and become lords.
Even in the tiny Tiwin territory, the quick-witted Kamara had ultimately become lord, hadn’t he?
The same would hold for the lords of the Kalsbaegin Peninsula.
No matter how tyrannical and fallen they were, they couldn’t arbitrarily devour a mine long held by the marquis’s house that had ruled the peninsula for ages.
No fool would ignore the far greater backlash to come.
“As expected! Truly insightful.”
Greatly impressed by Eugene’s response, Gardye continued in an even humbler tone.
“But to those ignorant of propriety and honor, isn’t it an enticing prize? Thus, fools have...”
The mountain’s ownership had changed a whopping seven times in two years.
Moreover, all the deceased “former owners” were bandits or mercenary captains, and the current one was the same.
Those who had coveted the poisoned silver mine, destined to be seized by others eventually, were all ignorant fools who hadn’t considered the points Eugene raised.
“Normally, I wouldn’t presume to mention it, but you’ve already secured the neighboring lords’ consent, haven’t you? And you’ve even acquired an excellent steward to represent you.”
“True.”
“So it just hit me! With you, Lord Eugene, claiming the silver mine and incorporating it into your territory would raise no issues. And if you acquire the silver mine, we could provide support for development and maintenance...”
“Just assign a decent merchant overseer. We march tomorrow.”
“As expected! Truly insightful!”
Gardye’s thick lips stretched to his ears.
“Kieek! Silver! Rich! Tycoon! Kiiiiieeeeek!”
The spirit’s mouth seemed split in a gleeful grin as well.
* * *
“How is it?”
Romari asked, her eyes sparkling unusually.
“Kieek!? For a nerd, you’ve got some skills? I think she picked the wrong profession. She’d have been better as a painter than a mage.”
Even Mirian grumbled that she couldn’t have made Eugene’s crest herself—Romari’s creation was that excellent.
A dragon with a black body and fiery red eyes spreading its wings over crossed polearms in an ‘X’—the crest was intensely striking and intimidating.
“You’ve got quite the knack for this. Almost artisan level. Well done.”
“You flatter me.”
Swallowing the words that it stemmed more from a mage’s keen inspiration than mere handiwork, Romari smiled shyly.
It felt wonderful to receive proper praise and recognition, perhaps for the first time.
‘Huh!? What am I thinking?’
Snapping to her senses upon realizing she wouldn’t mind joining Eugene’s service as a mage, Romari shook her head.
‘I can’t fall for a place like this. I’ve suffered endlessly for over a month without proper research.’
Reaffirming that vampires were seductive undead geniuses at beguiling people regardless of time or place, Romari cautiously said,
“Then, you’ll consider my contribution in this subjugation enough for a share? Then the promised reward...”
“Take whatever’s appropriate.”
“Thank you!”
“Oh, and you’ll have to return to Maren alone. I’ve got business and will head back later.”
“Huh? Oh, yes!”
Momentarily puzzled, Romari bobbed her head vigorously upon realizing it meant more time for chimera research.
“Sh-should I pack my things first?”
“Do that. I’ll assign a few soldiers, so manage the byproducts properly on the ship.”
“Yes!”
“Oh right. You know some alchemy too?”
Romari, about to dash off excitedly, paused.
“W-well, it’s a basic study for mages. Especially for chimera creation, handling various minerals is essential.”
“Oh? Then you can refine silver too?”
“Y-yes...”
Sensing something ominous, Romari eyed Eugene warily.
“Perfect. I might be getting a silver mine soon. Having a mage around would be better, right? For refining and all...”
“I’ll set up a lab the moment we return to Maren. Mages surpass dwarves at extracting silver from ore. Especially our Pigment Shadow School—our silver-handling techniques are the best, as chimera research and creation is our goal. Leave it to me!”
Hah, hah. Romari panted heavily, her desires plain.
Eugene was surprised, but it was a natural reaction.
Mages ventured into the world precisely because they couldn’t afford rare, expensive materials.
Moreover, silver—alongside gold and mercury—was one of the minerals mages used most, and for the Pigment Shadow School focused on monster control and chimera creation, it was utterly indispensable.
Hearing her employer might have a silver mine, Romari’s eyes couldn’t help but roll.
“Hah, hah. Please... please let me handle the silver refining. I’ll devote everything I have to you, Lord Eugene.”
“No need for everything. Anyway, got it.”
“Yes! Haa...”
“Huhu! The nerd’s gotten a taste for money now too. Look at those eyes! She’s hooked on silver for life!”
It seemed a bit different, but hard to argue otherwise.
* * *
That evening.
Having sent Delmondo and Romari ahead to their destinations, Eugene summoned Galpredic and the ten-man captains.
They were greatly surprised to hear Eugene say he wouldn’t return to Maren but would take Nadir Mountain instead.
But soon their eyes blazed with greed as they eagerly spat their support.
“The difference between a lord with a mine or mana crystal vein and one without is night and day. I unconditionally support the master. What about you lot?”
Galpredic’s fierce gaze whipped around.
In no position to defy anyway, and with eyes already spinning at the mention of a silver mine, the captains replied without hesitation.
“Just give the order.”
“Once you claim the Nadir Mountain silver mine, Lord, you’ll be a true lord in name and fact! Truth be told, that silver mine is why I occupied Ronan Village... Oops!”
Overjoyed, Luidrian blurted his true intent before realizing his slip and clamping his mouth shut.
But Eugene and Galpredic weren’t ones to miss it.
“You just said something interesting. Was occupying Ronan Village because of that silver mine?”
“Uh... yes. Actually, not just me—all those you defeated were eyeing the Nadir Mountain silver mine.”
“That explains it.”
Even for the chaotic Kalsbaegin Peninsula, armed raiders appearing two or three times a day was excessive—but it made sense if silver was involved.
“Among Marquis Archibald’s direct heirs, Viscount Bemos was the only one who died. Other regions are still in turmoil with his children fighting each other, drawing in nearby lords and cities.”
“But this area is remote, and everyone’s wary of Mopern City’s eyes, so small fry like you lot got to play around?”
“Y-yes...”
If another knight had said it, he’d have exploded in rage, but since it was Galpredic, Luidrian scratched his head awkwardly.
“You thought securing a couple villages first would let you advance to Nadir Mountain and become lord?”
“Yes.”
“Not wrong, per se. Of course, you lot would’ve been dead within months if you’d taken it.”
“What do you mean by that...?”
“Tsk tsk.”
As Galpredic clicked his tongue, Eugene—who now understood the ways of the world—said coldly,
“You think Archibald’s direct line would leave a silver mine owned by their brother alone forever? With a rootless mercenary without even honor playing lord?”
“...!”
“Guys like you would’ve been devoured no matter who took ownership.”
He wouldn’t have known before, but now Eugene understood.
Claiming lordship and land rights without legitimacy or qualifications was futile.
Strength, fame, forces, lineage.
Only one possessing all could rise from brigand to mercenary, mercenary to knight, knight to lord—that was reality.
(To be continued in the next chapter)