Chapter 105
Chapter 105
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Pigment
Luna entered the Ethyl Dukedom.
The cavalry flying the Ethyl Duke's banner approached the army marching toward Ethyl Castle under her command.
"Whoa, whoa..."
The knights dismounted upon seeing Luna and knelt on one knee. She regarded them with an intrigued gaze.
"What brings you here?"
"This is a letter from His Grace, Duke Ethyl, for the Grand Duchess."
"A letter? Hand it over."
At her permission, the knight holding the letter rose and offered it to Luna.
"Hmm?"
She took the letter from atop her horse.
Seeing the seal combining the Ethyl Duke's family crest and the dukedom's emblem, she broke it open.
A brief silence followed.
Luna flashed a cold smile.
"Duke Ethyl has made a grave miscalculation."
"What is it?"
Raoul looked at her curiously, but she slowly shook her head.
"It's nothing. Just a letter from a fool. Go back to your lord and tell him this: stop with the nonsense and surrender quietly, and we'll honor the generous terms from before."
The knights rose at her chilling tone.
"Yes, we'll relay that."
Watching the departing knights, Luna offered kind words.
"Though you're enemies now, you're also subjects of the Grand Duchy... I wish you good health."
From her perspective, those knights were vassals of Duke Ethyl.
Once Aiden became the new duke, they would serve him.
"Thank you for your gracious words. Until we meet again."
Luna felt a pang of mixed emotions as they mounted and rode off.
'This necessary civil war... but the Ethyl Dukedom can't afford heavy losses...'
Her goal was to punish Duke Ethyl, not weaken the dukedom's forces.
The Ethyl Dukedom was a key territory of the Grand Duchy, after all.
Seeing the messengers vanish into the distance, Luna infused her voice with mana and commanded loudly.
"Alright. Advance!"
With that, her army pressed forward.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The artisans had perfectly carved the scroll's rune into the woodblock, ready for printing.
"Shall we test it?"
Since the scrolls were made with blue ink,
I procured some blue ink and applied it to the woodblock.
"Here goes..."
I pressed the ink-laden woodblock onto paper and tore it...
No reaction.
No white light like when tearing a real scroll—it seemed like a failure.
"No effect. Guess this method won't work after all?"
I thought they were handwritten because printing tech didn't exist, but apparently even this wasn't enough.
"Well, carving simple runes is something anyone could do. It probably needs mana..."
While the artisans worked on the woodblock, I'd searched the library for scroll-related books.
Most covered rune shapes, sizes, and reasons—useless to me. But they all said scrolls required mana to create.
"What if we use mana stones?"
Mana stones used in high-end artifacts.
Like batteries in modern terms here.
Replace them when the artifact's effect runs out.
I looked into how mana stones hold mana, but the Grand Duchy's library had no clear answers.
Unless the librarians were clueless.
"Hmm... What if we use mana stones as pigment instead of ink?"
Pigments are substances that give ink its color.
Grind them fine and mix with water or oil.
Precious ones use lapis lazuli or ruby gems, but...
No mention of mana stones.
*Knock knock.*
I responded to the knock.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Sir Aiden."
Recognizing Charles's voice, I hurriedly opened the door.
"Oh? Hello."
"Yes. I have some questions about scroll distribution."
"Ah, of course. Please, sit."
I gestured to a seat, and he sat.
"No battles yet, but the Grand Duchess worries about scroll shortages. Since it's a civil war in our own lands, priority distribution of healing scrolls for Ethyl territory civilians has been ordered."
I checked recent reports while listening.
"Ah! I heard they're unloading them now. They should be en route by this time."
"That's a relief. Thank you."
He sighed in relief, and I smiled awkwardly.
"But as you know, our stockpile isn't huge..."
"The Grand Duchess knows that, so no issue."
True... Luna was aware.
"Speaking of which, I'm trying something new... Any ink workshops in Vain?"
Charles stroked his chin.
"Ink workshop? Probably, but I'm not sure. Ask the Grand Ducal Palace suppliers—they'd know."
"Perfect."
Charles looked curious.
"What new attempt?"
"Mass-producing scrolls."
He looked shocked.
"Scrolls? I thought only mages could make them."
"True, but if we replicate what mages do, maybe normals can too."
Not that only mages can make scrolls, but they have something required—and if we artificially provide it?
A very modern idea, but worth trying.
Charles looked skeptical but polite.
He gave an awkward smile.
"If it works... you'd make history."
"We'll see. I need to visit that supplier."
With that, I headed to the supplier, found the ink workshop, and left the palace.
"Should be around here?"
Following the address, but...
The rundown alley made it hard—no signs.
"Hey! What brings you here?"
A man in his fifties, smoking a pipe, eyed me.
"Ah? Looking for the ink workshop."
He startled slightly, gripping his pipe gruffly.
"Why the ink workshop?"
"Need custom ink made."
"Custom ink? Ah! You're that Aiden guy?"
Did someone tell them I was coming?
"Yes, that's me."
He flicked ash, grumbling.
"No idea why a big shot comes here. Sigh, follow me."
He opened a door down the alley; I followed into a bustle of activity.
"Hey! What good's coarsely ground lapis? Grind it again!"
"Can't you stir properly? Pigment's not dissolving evenly!"
Passing boiling black vats, colorful ink bottles, and noisy workers, we reached a quieter office.
He opened the door.
"Don't just stand there—come in."
I entered; he slammed the door.
*Bang!*
"I'm Esheren, owner of Esheren Ink Workshop. So, what do you want?"
"I want to make some ink."
Esheren frowned.
"What color? Got a sample?"
"No, color's not the point. Can you make ink using mana stones as pigment?"
His eyebrow twitched.
"Mana stones as pigment? Why?"
"For an experiment."
Esheren closed his eyes, stroking his chin and beard.
"Mana stones are ore, so possible, but pricey—keep that in mind."
I requested the ink...
"That small amount? Ready tomorrow. Special order, so expensive—fair warning."
"How much?"
"Ten times regular ink. Halts other production."
I nodded with a wry smile.
"Understood. Acceptable. But for mass production..."
Esheren's eyes lit up.
"Hmm... Mana stones aren't too rare. Unit cost would drop to normal ink levels."
"Great."
I left the workshop.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Luna!"
Taylor visited Luna's tent again today.
Luna scowled at her.
"What now?"
"Hehe. You know."
She formed a circle with thumb and index, poking it with another finger lewdly, grinning mischievously. Luna yelled.
"Where'd you learn that vulgar gesture?"
At Luna's scolding, Taylor replied innocently.
"From Eric?"
"Ugh, whatever. Fine."
As Luna studied the map, Taylor approached.
"What was that letter from the duke earlier?"
*Flinch.*
"Nothing. Threatening to expose my relationship with Aiden."
Taylor shrugged it off casually.
"Oh? Sounds annoying."
Luna smiled bitterly.
"Yeah, it'll tarnish my honor."
As a famed swordmaster and knight, it would hurt.
But she'd already resolved to marry Aiden and stain her honor eventually.
For Luna, it was just a matter of when.
"Eh, but the troublesome trio all married! Crown Prince too, me and Eric. A little honor hit, and everyone's happy ending~!"
True enough.
But...
The honor Luna had painstakingly built felt bittersweet to lose...