The Fallen Lady Must Have That Arrogant Flavor
The Totem of Abundance?
“You actually know about them? As expected, someone who lives close to nature really is on another level!”
When I recognized the totem, Maron shook her deer horns with delight, visibly thrilled.
“I knew it! I knew the young master had a broad range of knowledge.”
Well, my hometown was South Korea, after all. In a country where even a single trip to a folk village would surround you with wooden guardian posts, there was no way I wouldn’t know about totems.
“Still, what exactly is its effect? The only totems I know are the ones used for praying for abundance or warding off disasters.”
“If a totem can grant abundance and drive away calamity, then it has already fulfilled its role. What more could you want?”
“Huh.”
She had a point. After all, totemism itself began with prayers for abundance and the expulsion of misfortune.
“The one I made this time is a Totem of Abundance. It’s especially good at increasing crop yield and shortening the growth cycle.”
“Yield I understand, but what do you mean by growth cycle?”
“It lets you harvest twice in a single year!”
“That’s just double cropping…”
No, wait. It wasn’t quite the same as the usual double-cropping system where you harvest rice and then plant barley for winter. The agricultural methods of this world were based on single-cropping like in the West, and what Maron was describing was…
“You mean we can harvest wheat twice? We could do the same with grapes, and if we grew sugar beets… we could dominate the sugar market…”
It wasn’t impossible. The thing that made it possible was this very totem Maron had brought.
“Maron.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“How long does it take to make one of these totems?”
“If I work hard, I should be able to carve one every three days or so?”
Three days per totem. My mind quickly ran the numbers.
“Twenty in fifty days.”
“Huh?”
“If you make twenty within fifty days and another hundred by early next spring, I’ll remove the choker from your neck the moment the delivery is complete.”
“Really?”
“Of course. How could I refuse when a druid is offering to make and distribute that many totems herself?”
“Then I’ll make them quickly. It feels gross having to wear this even when I wash.”
Maron. It was a little concerning that I couldn’t read how deep a druid’s thoughts truly ran, but if she was this cooperative, there was no need for a slave brand. In fact, it might be better to move straight to building trust after removing the brand. While it lacked the coercive power of a slave brand, we still had the official orphan contract in place.
“I’ll bring them to you as soon as they’re finished. See you later, young master.”
“Alright. Take care, Maron.”
Once Maron left, I felt someone flinch nearby. Only then did I turn my gaze to find Constanze staring at me with her mouth agape, looking utterly stunned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Why… why…”
“What?”
“Why are you already removing her slave brand? I don’t want to be a slave either. It’s not like I’m doing this because I like it…”
“She’s happy that I’m removing hers too. Though it won’t happen until early next year at the earliest.”
“No, that’s not what I mean. Why are you giving her a firm promise?”
With her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, Constanze glared at me with eyes full of venom. She was clearly sulking. She had just made me french fries earlier, yet her attitude flipped so quickly.
“The condition is always the same, Constanze. If you produce sufficient results, I’ll remove your slave brand immediately.”
“What’s the difference between me and her?”
“The totem Maron just brought convinced me. If we can implement double cropping on our territory’s scale and harvest twice a year, the profitability will be overwhelming.”
“Ah… so it’s about money?”
“Yes, it’s about money. Maron presented a solution to our territory’s financial problems. It would be nice if you could come up with something too.”
Constanze was allowed to sulk. Her body might be developing quickly, but she was still a thirteen-year-old kid. However, I was an adult. Instead of teasing a sulking child, I gently gave her a hint about the direction she should take.
“You haven’t even started proper research yet. It might be good to jot down ideas during your rest days. Don’t rush too much just for results.”
“Amethyst.”
“Hm?”
“Get me a hundred amethysts and ten lab rats. If I need more, I’ll ask for them later. Also, I won’t do any maid duties except for your meal shifts. I’ll just give progress reports on the side.”
“You already have a research topic in mind?”
“Of course. I am the sole remaining daughter of the Eisner magic house, after all.”
I hadn’t expected such an intense reaction. Perhaps it was because I had gently pressed down on the noble pride that had only just begun to sprout again. This level of motivation was perfect. I was very pleased.
“I’ll have them ready by tomorrow. For today, go back early and work on your research plan. You can skip dinner duty.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I did say I would support anything you wanted to do. That’s the contract we have.”
Right now she was sulking, confused by how I granted every request while still keeping her on edge. But if I taught her with utmost sincerity, she would eventually realize her gratitude toward me and repent. Especially someone of Constanze’s type. This was something I had already confirmed through the hundreds of Rank R orphans I had personally raised. My prediction would not miss the mark.
“Then… I’m going?”
“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”
“You’re really letting me go?”
“Good luck.”
Like a small angry dog trembling all over and wary of me, Constanze backed out of the office without once taking her eyes off me.
“I can see exactly what you’re thinking. Clear as day.”
I could already picture what would happen next. And it was about time I started paying attention to something other than Constanze.
“I’ll have to start wrestling with the real puppy soon…”
Karin. From what I heard, she hadn’t taken a single step out of her room and was only devouring the steaks the maids brought her. It had already been over two weeks since I brought the girls here.
“I’ll go see her on the exact two-week mark.”
I needed to prepare myself properly for a hierarchy duel with a wolf beastman. I would face her with full preparation.
Back in her room, Constanze thought to herself.
“This is unfair.”
It really was unfair. She had gone out of her way to make him french fries, even getting help from the other maids to prepare the sauce. He had eaten her very first attempt at cooking, yet he hadn’t given her any real praise. And yet he promised to release that druid’s slave contract just because she brought back a few wooden carvings?
“Fine. I’ll prove myself.”
Muttering to herself, Constanze stared at the room directly across from hers—the room of the wolf beastman Karin, who hadn’t come out for several days.
“I’ve already gotten ahead of one of them, haven’t I? As a mage, I’m quick with calculations. With one already out of the running, only one remains.”
“My pride won’t allow me to stay like this. I will definitely be freed before that druid. No matter what.”
Having made up her mind, Constanze began her experiments the moment the items she had requested arrived the next day.
“Amethyst is the optimal gemstone for storing the mana of black mages.”
Just like its dark color, it had an excellent affinity with black magic, which focused on destructive power. And the fact that it could store a black mage’s mana meant that, in theory, it was also possible to create a structure that allowed one to retrieve and use that mana as needed. That was precisely why automated magic artillery batteries were installed as a matter of course in strategically vital locations.
“I’ve never succeeded in making one before, but…”
With her current mood, she felt she could succeed before long. She was so angry that her breath came in short gasps, veins stood out in her eyes, and her mind was spinning at full speed. Yes, it was the feeling of a competitive spirit being ignited. A clear sense of purpose—to absolutely crush that druid—had set her fighting spirit ablaze.
“I am the last remaining heir of the Eisner Count family.”
No. I am the officially recognized Margrave Eisner. Even if I am wearing a maid uniform in a place like this, the talent engraved in my bloodline has not gone anywhere.
“I will prove it.”
With renewed resolve, Constanze imagined a certain scene. The Arnold Barony was always troubled by demi-humans, after all. In the border regions with demi-human territories—especially in areas frequently raided—numerous automated magic artillery batteries of her own creation would be installed. They would open fire on the demi-humans attempting to plunder, and the late-arriving guards, along with Fabian and the druid, would stare in awe at the charred corpses of the invaders.
And from behind them—
“I would appear, dressed in elegant black mage robes.”
The clothes she had asked Fabian to order in that specific design would be finished soon. Then, wearing them, she would step out behind a stunned Fabian and say, ‘Did you see? This is the power possessed by a black mage of the Eisner family.’
Then, as long as they had eyes, they would have no choice but to chant the name of Constanze Eisner.
“Hah, really. There’s no need to praise me that much.”
Constanze was drinking her own imaginary kimchi soup by the bowlful.
-Squeak. Squeak squeak.
As if mocking her, or perhaps cheering her on, the lab rats she had received squeaked in response. Little by little, life here was starting to feel familiar.