Chapter 57

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 57

Chapter Title: Kez's Devotion

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Suddenly, the thought crossed my mind.

Wasn't this level of commercial talent—building a promising new merchant house that everyone's paying attention to in just a few months—practically genius territory?

'Kez was born in the wrong world. He should've been on Earth.'

If he'd set up his own business there, he probably would've built a world-class pharmaceutical company.

Just whipping up potions and supplying them would count as developing new drugs, right?

"Master. I have no words, even if I had ten mouths."

Kez had explained the entire situation.

His expression was deadly serious.

He looked like he'd steeled himself completely for whatever was coming.

"But please, understand my true intentions. I, Kez, never acted on my own for personal gain behind your back. Everything I did was solely for you, Master. To let you pursue alchemy research without ever worrying about money again—to bring you even greater wealth..."

"I get it. I understand your feelings, so stop banging your head."

He'd end up with a real rock head at this rate.

I wondered just how many brain cells he'd destroyed.

"First, give me a status report. Oh, and wipe those tears first."

"Keruk. A status report—what exactly do you mean, Master?"

"Let's start with your merchant house ledgers. I want to see just how well you've grown it."

"Ah, yes! Please wait a moment!"

Kez teleported away somewhere, then reappeared via teleportation.

'Teleportation ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠looks so convenient. Should I commute with warp magic too?'

It was just a passing thought—I couldn't actually do it. The imperial palace was protected by a grand magic barrier that blocked spatial intrusions.

Even if it were possible, I'd get arrested on the spot for imperial disrespect or some such crime, so it was best not to dream about it.

"Here it is. Please take a look at your leisure."

Ian carefully examined the thick ledger.

And soon gave up reading it.

'Ugh, too many numbers. Way too complicated.'

Ian had zero interest in commerce, and in his past life, he'd had no desire to analyze financial statements.

Total sales were all that mattered anyway.

"Whoa. How'd you make this much?"

But the revenue was way higher than he'd imagined.

The merchant house staff numbered well over a hundred.

"Impressive."

Kez suddenly seemed like a different person.

I should've put him in charge of business ages ago instead of keeping him cooped up at home.

"Master. I'm ready anytime. If you wish to take my head right now, I, Kez, will humbly accept death!"

Kez thrust his neck out. He really looked like he wanted to die.

"Master. Punish this insolent servant with death. It will serve as a stern warning to your other subordinates. The effect of making an example of one will be..."

"No, what are you talking about? Why would I kill you?"

"Pardon? But I acted without permission and sold your items at my whim—a treacherous villain of the worst kind. There's no need for the likes of me to..."

"I'm not killing you. Get up. Stop with the nonsense."

Ian pulled Kez to his feet.

Who did this guy think he was—a tyrant?

"I am a bit miffed that you acted on your own."

Truth be told, he wasn't upset at all.

What was there to be upset about?

He hadn't committed any major crime; he'd actually brought in money.

'Kez, you're my lucky charm. Heh heh heh.'

Still, he needed to manage his expression, so he put on a stern face.

"But that's no reason to kill you. Know why?"

"Wh-why?"

"Because you're my precious assistant."

Of course he was. Where else could he find an assistant who brought in money on his own?

"So, I forgive you."

"M-Master."

"I forgive you. What, don't want it?"

"N-no!"

Kez sprang to his feet.

Then bowed deeply.

"Kuhuhuk! As expected of my magnificent Master! I, Kez, will serve you with my life from now on!"

"Good. That's how it should be. Keep serving me like that from here on..."

"Then I suppose I should hand over the merchant house to you now to fulfill my role."

"Huh?"

What?

"Now that you know, Master, there's no need for me to run it anymore. I'll return to my original place and assist you."

No, that's not it.

'That's not what I meant, Kez.'

I don't want to take that on.

"I'll transfer full authority over the merchant leader position and the Alchemi Merchant House to you..."

"No! You do it!"

"Eh? Pardon?"

"You handle it."

"Keruk, wh-what do you..."

"Look. Who grew the Alchemi Merchant House?"

"Me...?"

"So who should run it?"

"Naturally, you, Master."

Ian shook his head.

'Why does it always come back to me?'

"No. That's not it."

How was this elder goblin's brain wired?

"You keep running it like you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have been."

"But this merchant house is entirely yours, Master. I have no right to covet it. I did it all just for you."

"No, it's fine for you to do it. You've got the talent."

"Pardon?"

"You've got talent. You're smart and clever. So keep running the merchant house. I won't interfere however you do it."

"......"

"Got it?"

No answer. He looked, and Kez's eyes were welling up.

"Kuhuheng! Master! To think so highly of this lowly servant who acted without permission!"

Kez burst into loud sobs.

"Thank you! I'll repay your trust tenfold—no, a hundredfold!"

Watching Kez bang his head repeatedly, Ian thought.

'Phew, close call. Almost ended up with something annoying.'

After that, Ian granted Kez full autonomy. It was permission to act freely, literally.

Of course, there was no such authority in the system; he'd made it up on the spot.

But even improvised words worked wonders on him.

It was an official 'authority,' after all.

From his perspective, it meant he could now roam freely and legally.

Without worrying about his master's watchful eye.

"Master. I'll be off to focus on merchant house affairs."

"Yeah, go on. Bring back lots of money."

"Yes! I'll achieve tremendous sales! All for you, Master!"

With that, he headed to work.

Ian didn't go to the office.

It was Sunday.

'Holidays are the best.'

The house felt emptier without the guy who'd guarded it every day, but it didn't. A new presence filled the home.

"Sukkak!"

Twenty Sukkaks had appeared in the house.

Prototype Sukkaks, far superior in performance to the mass-produced homunculi currently on sale.

They wriggled and bounced around, cleaning every corner of the three-story mansion.

'They're so cute.'

Ian could see why noble ladies loved them so much.

They were plump like pudding.

The perfect size to hug, springy to the touch.

And above all, gentle and non-aggressive. Like a mild puppy or kitten.

"Sukkak. Could you fetch some cookies from the kitchen?"

"Sukkak!"

They even ran errands.

How great was that?

'They even guard the house.'

Kez had truly crafted excellent homunculi.

Conquering women's hearts with cuteness to sell products. What a brilliant idea.

'Kez really is smart.'

"Take good care of me from now on, Sukkaks."

"Sukkak!"

He petted the Sukkaks and headed to the lab inside the mansion.

His alchemy had leveled up, so time to explore new research options.

Come to think of it, a new alchemy field had just unlocked.

'Ether Exploration?'

He didn't know much, but from the description, it seemed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like the realm of synthesizing immaterial lifeforms.

'Immaterial lifeforms—like ghosts?'

Such things existed plenty in this world.

Banshees or wraiths among the undead, for example.

Was he really going to synthesize those now?

"Whoa. So many?"

Easily over thirty at a glance.

Most were minor projects, but having this many new things to do was great!

'Lots of intriguing ones.'

Domain Guardian for synthesizing guardian lifeforms specialized in protecting specific areas, Healing Symbiote for symbiotic beings with healing abilities for hosts, Vision Detector for detection-specialized lifeforms.

It felt heavy on specialized lifeform creation abilities.

But the one that caught his eye first was this.

"Whoa."

An exclamation escaped him the moment he saw it.

Most materials were missing.

Half were from newly unlocked recipes, and the rest were insanely expensive items he knew of.

Even Ian hesitated at the prices.

'Kinda pricey.'

Material costs seemed to climb higher with every step.

He'd just become a master alchemist, and it already demanded such rare stuff—what would come next?

In that regard, Kez had timed things perfectly.

Thanks to him, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ian wouldn't have to beg his parents like an unfilial son.

'Thanks again, Kez.'

He expressed silent gratitude to Kez, who was working at the merchant house, and reviewed the research info.

'Three prerequisites, huh.'

Fine, he'd research them.

'Gotta hunt for materials too.'

Ian began burning his golden Sunday with alchemy.

Ddol Ddoli stopped walking and turned his head. He'd felt something strange.

No, not strange—more like a presence.

'Someone keeps following Ddol Ddoli.'

Ddol Ddoli whipped around.

But no one was there, so he tilted his head.

What was going on?

'Weird. Someone was definitely behind Ddol Ddoli.'

So why not now?

-Who are you? Come out.

Ddol Ddoli warned.

No response.

Have to, then.

-Last warning. Come out. Reveal yourself. Or else...

Ddol Ddoli's words cut off. The someone had emerged.

There, peeking from behind a large rock—a tiny something.

'Ddoli?'

Not an illusion.

It was clearly him.

Like mini Ddol Ddoli mode in stage 1 transformation, but even smaller.

-You, what are you? Why do you look exactly like Ddol Ddoli?

-Dol!

The creature fully emerged from the rock, cheering with arms raised.

-Dol! Dol!

But weird.

Why could he understand this Ddol-like speech?

-What? Ddol Ddoli is your dad?

-Dol!

Ddol Ddoli scratched his head.

He couldn't make sense of it at all.