Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: A Trap for the Mages
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In many works of fiction, mages appear—people who wield mysterious powers.
But the way they're treated in those worlds varies wildly.
They might be rejected and hunted like in witch hunts, or so rare that they're honored on par with nobles and royalty.
In Ice Flower, they're closer to the latter: favored rather than shunned.
'Feels like a modern scam job.'
The key difference? Mages are a profession you can't reach through effort alone.
You need an innate talent to embrace and wield that mysterious power called mana.
That's why mages receive such preferential treatment.
The rarity of innate talent, the expertise from years of accumulated knowledge and experience, and the immense value they create through magic.
Which is why demanding exorbitant fees to hire them is practically common sense in this world.
'But this is ridiculous.'
Even so, asking for three times last year's rate defied all reason.
I could admit that various factors might justify some increase over previous years.
But everyone here knew it wasn't worth three times the price.
Alf seemed aware of that too, his face etched with distress.
"......Tell me the details of the contract."
"Ah, yes. The moment we're hired, the Mage Association will provide all the supplies needed for the de-icing work. I'll be accompanied by three 1st Grade Mages, and we'll begin clearing the roads across Winterguard Territory."
Mage ranks grow stronger as the numbers increase.
In other words, 1st Grade means rookies fresh out of training.
'This guy's a 4th Grade Mage. One 4th Grade and three 1st Grades...'
No matter that they're mages—or that this man is 4th Grade—those four couldn't possibly cover every road in the territory quickly.
The territory was simply too vast, and those three rookies would inevitably become a massive bottleneck.
It was as good as openly declaring they planned to rip us off.
"Sir Gordon, even so, these terms are far too harsh..."
"Hold on. I'm speaking to the Grand Duke right now. Who does a mere butler think he is, butting in?"
He even went so far as to insult Alf.
I opened my mouth calmly, as if unperturbed.
"Even so, three times doesn't seem right."
"Ah, I've heard the rumors about Winterguard's situation. But this pricing is truly the bare minimum. The supplies needed for de-icing have been completely cut off, so demand has skyrocketed, driving up prices."
With that, Gordon suddenly pulled another document from his robes.
"......Still, I've pulled some strings with the Association to secure alternative terms. Would you like to take a look?"
I examined the paper he handed over.
[Exclusive Supply Contract for Monster Byproducts Within Winterguard Territory]
'Ha.'
So this was the real goal.
The three-times fee he'd dangled earlier was just bait to reel in this exclusive supply right.
Present sky-high costs to a cash-strapped Winterguard Territory, then offer this "generous" exclusive deal as if doing them a favor?
With no immediate payout required, they'd stamp it in a heartbeat.
......That is, if it were the frenzy-afflicted Cassius.
'Can't let this slide.'
This wasn't something we could just reject and move on from.
We needed to address it head-on—to ensure neither this time nor in the future would we face such nonsense.
And the reason I thought that? I didn't believe this man had cooked this up alone.
'The Mage Association's backing him.'
Or they might even be the masterminds.
Monster byproducts sourced from Winterguard Territory's Anantasasha Mountains were of exceptionally high quality.
Not to mention monsters unique to the area that couldn't be found elsewhere—so the Mage Association, along with various organizations and factions, were all clamoring to buy them up.
Given their immense value, demanding exclusive rights was outrageous.
It might not cost money now, but in time, it would exceed even three times the hiring fee.
And scattered throughout the contract were poison clauses that relaxed the Association's purchase terms.
In simple terms, it let them snag byproducts nearly for free, which would naturally slash Winterguard's revenues.
'This is practically an insult to all of Winterguard.'
It wasn't just underestimating frenzy-maddened Cassius.
Signing this would accelerate the downfall of the entire Winterguard house.
So how should we counter it?
'......Got a good idea.'
I quietly met Gordon's gaze for a moment.
Gordon, who had been smirking confidently, locked eyes with me and involuntarily looked away.
Proof that Cassius still terrified him, no matter what.
I turned to Alf.
"We'll sign the exclusive supply contract."
"F-Family Head?!"
"Excellent! Then if you'll just sign here to confirm..."
"But I'd like to add one clause."
"What clause might that be?"
"A simple one. If the work isn't completed by the deadline, the contract is voided, and compensation is owed."
I asked Gordon matter-of-factly.
"You're not saying you demand exclusive rights but can't agree to that, are you?"
.
.
.
A short while later, Gordon left the manor beaming, clutching the exclusive supply contract.
Alf approached me with a complicated expression.
"Family Head..."
His eyes held disappointment, anger toward Gordon, distress, and more.
'Come to think of it, to Alf, it must look like Cassius pulled another Cassius.'
The same man who'd once shelled out a fortune to buy some other house's daughter, after all.
First things first: I needed to earn Alf's trust.
"Alf."
"...Yes, Family Head."
"Do I still seem mad to you?"
"......!!"
Alf's eyes flew wide at my question.
I gazed quietly at the contract copy he'd left behind and spoke.
"I know. What you've thought of me these past few years. Must've been complicated."
"......"
"Not just complicated, either. The one you had to serve was blind and raving mad."
"That's......"
"But Alf, at least by my reckoning, I'm not mad. I didn't sign that toxin-laden contract out of stupidity."
"......But Family Head, this foolish butler can't fathom your intent."
He phrased it humbly, putting himself down.
Rather than spell out my exact plan, I opted to share the bigger picture.
"Is there any chance this contract was Gordon's personal scheme?"
"......If it were just the three-times fee, maybe. But with the byproduct exclusive thrown in... we can't rule out the Mage Association."
"Exactly. They might've orchestrated it from the start to snag those exclusives. In other words, they've underestimated us."
"........."
"Alf. Why do you think I first asked if you still saw me as mad?"
"Because...... Ah!"
"Right. If even you—the one closest, helping me every day—think that, imagine what oblivious outsiders will believe."
"......So that's what you were aiming for."
"Yes."
I quietly picked up the quill I'd used to sign.
Crack.
A moment later, the quill froze solid under Cassius's power.
"Alf, I, Cassius Winterguard, am of sound mind."
"......"
"And others don't know that yet. I'll use it to our advantage."
Crunch.
The frozen quill shattered at the slightest pressure, scattering to the floor.
"Through this, I'll bring profit to the house and territory. The Mage Association will be our first mark."
I rose from my seat.
Having pieced together my plan from my words and the sequence of events, Alf looked at me with a changed gaze.
"You're heading out?"
"Yes. I want to inspect the roads the mages will handle ahead of time."
Not to mention, checking the roads would give me a chance to test my power...
"I'll make the preparations. We'll keep it secret from everyone except Captain Kind of the Storm Knight Order—and the servants."
"See to it. And..."
"......I'll send official notices to select villages and cities."
"Good."
From today until the mages completed their de-icing...
The territory's residents would be barred from the roads for one 'reason' or another.
A short while later, I mounted the horse Alf had prepared and left the manor, beginning my patrol of the territory's roads.
With Alf's help, I'd dressed in plain clothes close to what the locals wore—no one would recognize me as Cassius unless they looked very closely.
The patrol stretched from afternoon into the night.
By the time most people had fallen asleep...
I heard various reports from Alf and Lucia, handled territory affairs, and finally turned in.
And at last, morning broke the next day. Gordon and his four mages arrived at the manor.
"Then, best of luck."
By hook or by crook, they had to clear every last iced-over road.
Otherwise...
it would be a breach of contract.