Chapter 202
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Request
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I recalled that she quite liked ice cream, so I set out some ice cream along with a bit of coffee.
"Let's get down to business."
"Oh my, jumping straight into work talk? No catching up on recent events or anything...?"
"Unfortunately, most of the information you're after is state secrets. Think you can handle that?"
I chuckled as I replied, and she giggled right back.
"Ahaha, pretend I didn't hear that. So, shall we dive in? Regarding the newly sold Paradise Artifacts this time—the sales proceeds, plus the additional contract fee and supplementary revenue, should come out to about this much."
The documents she handed over listed a staggering sum.
Even factoring in the profits from my initial contract with Aurora and the volume of Paradise Artifacts sold this round, it was overwhelmingly more.
Her business acumen went far beyond just riding the Paradise Artifact's fame—it was truly impressive.
That said, since I'd been selling off various things and had plenty of financial leeway, it didn't feel quite as monumental.
"Not bad."
"If the stock had been bigger, we'd be sitting on a literal mountain of money. You have no idea how popular they are."
Paradise Artifacts had already carved out a niche as luxury items on their own, exploding in popularity among nobles across nations, she explained.
And with the game bundled as a bonus this time, the response had been scorching hot.
"Shall I be frank?"
"What is it?"
"His Majesty the Emperor of the Pascalia Empire is utterly hooked. To the point where his ministers are voicing concerns."
"Hmm... didn't see that coming."
"Did I ever mention it? His Majesty dreamed of being an adventurer in his youth. Seems the safe yet thrilling adventure elements captured his heart. Plus, he loves the companion characters that appear in it."
"Not sure I remember. Anyway, how do you know all this in such detail?"
I barely even knew if Aurora had a family name.
Even asking Melissa, she'd just say "Aurora" and nothing more—no clue if she was commoner or noble.
That said, considering she owned the Planetaria Merchant Guild, she clearly wasn't your average commoner.
But knowing intimate details about the Empire's Emperor...?
It made me think she might not be from an ordinary family after all.
"Young Master Leon seems unaware of how much interest the Pascalia Emperor has in you."
"Pardon?"
"The man watched by Mielephon's star, the Sword Saint. The developer of the Paradise Artifact."
She grinned slyly as she continued.
"And the one who captured Princess Aelena's heart."
"......"
She could've skipped that last bit. How much had that woman even seen of me to take such an interest?
"Did you know? The Emperor's love for Princess Aelena runs incredibly deep."
Those last words hadn't come from Aurora.
"......Lady Isna. It's been a while, but... do you really have to come and go through the window?"
"Pfft... sorry. Habit from sneaking out of the family estate."
I didn't need to look to know. Another runaway, no doubt.
"Lady Isna..."
Aurora, meanwhile, narrowed her eyes wearily the moment she noticed Isna, murmuring her name like it exhausted her.
"Been too busy lately to drop by."
"The distance from Mielephon to here is no small feat..."
"It's a quick hop via mana gate."
This was getting complicated...
As I clutched my throbbing head, Isna hopped familiarly onto the sofa beside Aurora.
"Um... Lady Isna. Do you have to sit right next to me?"
"Hmm, can't exactly sit by Young Master Leon when we're not a thing."
That had some bite to it.
"My apologies."
"Hehe, just teasing. I'm not blaming you for that."
She'd never harbored feelings for me anyway, so it was par for the course.
"Truth is, I didn't come for much—just a little trade."
With that, she held out a small rectangular box.
Inside was a board and pieces that were beautiful at first glance.
"Picked it up on the way."
"What's this?"
"You like these kinds of things. It's a luxury item, but it reminded me of you. Crazy expensive, too."
Not a bad gift.
"So, what do you want in return?"
"Could you pack me a bunch of ice cream? Won't be able to have any for a while."
She beamed innocently.
But I sensed something off in that smile.
"Not just a simple runaway, huh. Where are you headed?"
"......"
She said nothing, just kept smiling.
Yet there was an odd bitterness in it.
I let out a short sigh, then opened Luna's prized refrigerator and pulled out a box of frozen ice cream.
Luna would pout, but I could always remake and restock it.
"Looks plain, but it's got spatial expansion magic—holds a ton."
"Thanks."
Isna took the box I offered and tucked it into her pouch.
A high-end preservation pouch that maintained temperature. That thing wasn't cheap.
"Thank you. For not prying."
"When will you return?"
"Who knows... probably not for a while."
Her unusually listless smile left me silent.
Even Aurora, who should've been annoyed by the sudden intruder, seemed unfamiliar with this side of Isna and just opened and closed her mouth without a word.
Once ready, Isna stepped onto the windowsill again.
Now that I looked, her outfit was clearly geared for a long journey.
"Lady Isna."
I opened my subsapce and retrieved a lump of metal.
"Yes?"
"A gift."
Then I manifested the Machine God's Heart.
What I held was an alloy of orichalcum and mithril.
Though the orichalcum ratio was low since I hadn't secured much, it was still rarer than anything else on the continent.
I'd been toying with it for practice, but no point keeping it now—better to put it to use.
The Machine God's Heart activated, and with a faint glow, the metal rippled like liquid in my palm.
In an instant, it twisted and blended, taking the form of a sword.
The hilt was one piece, shaped for shock absorption in a way no standard forging could achieve.
I pulled out leather, layered it on swiftly, and fused it seamlessly.
Then some wood scraps, processed into a perfect scabbard and sheathed the blade.
It looked rough and utilitarian on the outside—a longsword that exuded no lightness in form or aura.
This forging method was impossible for blacksmiths.
The leather was fully integrated with the metal.
"Whoa... incredible."
Isna, having seen it before, looked amazed but not shocked, while Aurora gaped in astonishment.
"Cold and light. What's the material?"
"Orichalcum."
"Hahaha! Orichalcum? You're such a joker. Still, thanks. I'll make good use of it."
"Try it out sometime and let me know what you think."
She didn't grasp its true value yet, but even so, it'd outlast any mithril sword. Might as well test it on her trip.
Orichalcum was being mined in small quantities anyway.
And just like that, Isna vanished out the window.
Coming like the wind, gone like the wind.
I stared blankly for a moment, then Aurora sighed.
"That's just how she is. Shall we finish our talk?"
"Pardon?"
"His Majesty the Emperor of Pascalia has placed an order."
Aurora was, simply put, an incredibly capable business partner.
Her knack for pulling in profitable opportunities without overstepping was downright admirable.
The downside? Her scale was so massive that annoying hassles followed.
"Jeez. They say the endgame of fandom is burning cash like crazy..."
I sat in my workshop, pondering.
The Pascalia Emperor's request was simple enough.
Could I craft statues of the NPCs from the game in the Paradise Artifact—specifically, the companion characters?
Not that he wanted me carving them by hand; he wanted my touch as the original creator.
The authenticity of the original author making them himself would add value.
Aurora had pitched add-on revenue models around it, but I'd shot them all down.
Laziness was the main culprit.
But this was no business deal—just a personal request from an emperor. No need to overthink.
"Hmm... how should I make them?"
The game I designed had a mechanic where recruiting different companions slightly altered the playthrough.
The Emperor had apparently recruited a few and adventured with them, loving the experience.
I'd started crafting them, but something felt off—lacking that spark.
Too static, lifeless. Artistically, they were failures piling up.
As I mulled it over,
a girl approached me.
It was Hwaryeong of the Sacheon Family. Her Eastern Continent-style attire definitely stood out here.
"Here you are, Young Master Leon."
"Settling in alright?"
"Thanks to your and the Count's hospitality, this girl enjoyed a most comfortable night."
"Glad to hear it. Let me know if there's anything you want support for."
The royal family was handling their resettlement anyway—I could just bill them.
"My deepest gratitude. However, we owe our lives to you and Count Cascadia. Thus, my brother and I wish to become knights of House Cascadia."
Of course, finding immediate roles for them here wouldn't be easy.
"I won't refuse, but consider your options broadly first."
"Hehe, Young Master is truly magnanimous. But... what troubles you?"
I casually explained the Emperor's commission.
Her eyes widened round.
"That... could you show me, perhaps?"