The Fourth Study - Drought (2)

The title of count carried significant weight. While it fell short of the influence needed to move an entire continent, it was more than enough to steer a single kingdom. No one would deny that such a position qualified its holder as a true power broker.

Those who gather around the powerful inevitably compete for favor, each hoping to win even a sliver of their affection.

That was why the count’s retainers did not particularly like him. An outsider who had arrived in the territory less than six months ago had somehow earned the absolute favor that they had failed to obtain despite decades of loyal service.

Which is precisely why I never attended the count’s advisory councils. There was no need to engage in pointless power struggles with his vassals.

Power was merely a resource for securing research funding. In the end, once a mage’s level rose high enough, they could face an entire army alone. There was no reason to obsess over the authority to command legions.

“Court Mage!”

“Professor Tellorian!”

“O Grey Sage of the Tower!”

“““Please grant us a solution to this drought!”””

Yet the count’s advisory council had come to the mage tower first, bowing their once-stiff necks. They knew how to enrich the domain, but they had no answers when it came to natural disasters.

“So, do you have a method, Professor?”

“I do. However, it will be quite expensive.”

“A drought is not the sort of crisis one quibbles over cost.”

Thanks to that, I gained entry into the count’s advisory council. Had it been a political battle, I would have joined much earlier, but there was no reason to create unnecessary grudges.

“I grant you full authority. Professor Tellorian.”

“Understood.”

There was no opposition. The priests of the Sun God, who disliked magic, had initially resisted, but the other council members persuaded them appropriately. Some favors and hospitality must have changed hands, but that was none of my concern.

“Will you summon rain through magic?”

“That would not be an efficient allocation of the budget.”

The sixth-circle spell Control Weather could manipulate climate. To cast it at level 14 required multilayered magic circles and rare catalysts.

Even if one spent a fortune to invoke it, the effect would last only a single day. In other words, using magic to bring rain would amount to nothing more than emergency relief. It could never serve as a fundamental solution.

“Then…?”

“We will dig wells.”

“…?”

That’s it?

If something so simple could solve the problem, they would not have summoned a mage.

“Over there.”

“…Hm?”

Tellorian pointed at the rocky mountain located behind Harrington Castle. A barren, rugged peak inhabited solely by trolls.

“When I cast the Survey spell, I discovered a vast aquifer beneath that mountain. The water quality is so pure that the Chenchak goblins once worshipped it as a sacred lake. Moreover, the bedrock consists of limestone, which offers excellent permeability. It is perfectly suited for constructing an aqueduct.”

…

What is he talking about?

“I have located an underground lake within the mountain. We will build a water channel from it.”

“Aha! Now I understand!”

“Oh! What a truly wise plan!”

Only then did the retainers clap and praise my wisdom. Though it was clear none of them truly grasped the situation…

“I have a question.”

At that moment, the treasurer raised his hand.

“If what the Court Mage says is true, we will need a massive civil engineering project to connect an underground tunnel to every village via aqueducts. Our domain lacks both the resources and manpower for such an undertaking, does it not?”

It was a perfectly reasonable point. Even with modern technology, such a project would be difficult. Attempting it with medieval-level engineering seemed impossible.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

“That is why we have a mage.”

“Light of destruction!”

BOOM!

Every time Tellorian’s magic staff emitted a blue glow, a pure white flash erupted. Blue flames surged violently from the magic circle drawn at his feet.

“G-good heavens…”

“The cliff is being pierced?!”

“Sun God preserve us. The firepower of that spell…”

A fifth-circle spell. Even with the support of a magic circle, a typical court mage of the county could only cast it two or three times at most. Yet Tellorian had unleashed it ten times in succession, and the only sign of strain was the sweat glistening across his body.

“Belladia.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Observe the flow of mana closely.”

“Yes!”

After every ten casts, he would gulp down mana potions as if they were water and resume the blasting. Thanks to Tellorian’s relentless day-and-night spellcasting, the underground lake was opened to the surface in less than three days.

The water spirit that had slumbered within the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠underground lake awakened at the intrusion of outsiders. The enraged ancient elemental took the form of a hydra and—

“Ignis!”

“Reduce all to ash!”

…was incinerated. The fireball Tellorian had conjured with full power burned as hot as the flames of hell itself.

“That was exhausting.”

“Whoa…”

“Y-you’ve worked hard, Professor Tellorian…”

Belladia quietly sheathed the rapier she had been secretly gripping. She had hoped to strike the spirit while her master fought it, but it seemed impossible after all.

Why did Professor Tellorian come to our Harrington family? With skills like these, he could have applied to the Imperial Palace…

Count Iron Mace had suspected Tellorian’s true intentions, while his retainers exchanged glances.

…Did you all see that?

…I saw. He cast spells without even pausing.

…He even skipped the incantations.

Infinite mana.

Spellcasting without verbal components.

Omniscient knowledge.

…Is he an Archmage hiding his identity?

Or perhaps a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dragon in human form?

…That would make sense.

The count’s retainers no longer felt jealousy toward Tellorian. Instead, the distance between them grew even clearer. To the count’s vassals, Tellorian had become something beyond human.

“Um…”

While Tellorian rested after finishing the blasting work, the treasurer approached hesitantly.

“…I had no idea the Court Mage was such an extraordinary person. Please forgive my shallow insight for failing to recognize a great mage…”

It was an indirect plea for leniency should he have caused offense. But Tellorian had no memory of the treasurer offending him. Wariness toward a rapidly rising newcomer? That existed in every organization.

And above all—

“I am not the young count.”

“…Pardon?”

“I do not have the peculiar habit of killing people simply because they annoy me. So please, don’t be so nervous.”

Through conversation with Treasurer Urban, I learned we had more in common than expected. We were both from the western region, had been appointed through intellectual ability, and were in our twenties.

“Where did you study?”

“I graduated from the Imperial Academy.”

“The finest institution on the continent.”

“I’m more curious about your master. To have raised a mage as powerful and knowledgeable as you, he must be quite famous…”

…I gave a suitably vague answer. There was no benefit in naming a person wanted for treason in thirteen nations. And it likely wasn’t a false charge. My master had a special talent for making enemies wherever he went.

“How do you plan to proceed with the rest of the construction?”

“?”

“Piercing a mountain tunnel in just three days is astonishing, but building an aqueduct system that covers the entire domain is an entirely different matter.”

Constructing an aqueduct was an incredibly complex project. First, engineers had to design blueprints, stonemasons had to carve rock into building materials, and then the finished stones had to be transported to the site. None of it was simple.

This is only the beginning.

Combining thousands of bricks, logs, and mortar into a perfect structure was never easy. It required thousands of laborers and supervisors to direct them.

“So the real problem is the lack of a specialized workforce?”

“Exactly. No matter how many farmers and knights we gather, they won’t suddenly become builders and engineers. We need a professional construction corps, like the Imperial Engineering Corps.”

I nodded. It was a logical conclusion.

“That would be the case if we relied on human labor.”

“…?”

“As you know, the human body is small and frail. That’s why specialized training is required just to handle stone.”

However, on the planet Sinear, there were many races that could treat stone like mud. There was no reason to force fragile humans into the role of builders.

“Greetings to you all.”

At that moment, an unfamiliar voice echoed from the darkness of the cave. Footsteps followed, and hunched giants emerged from the shadows.

“It has been a while, Lord of Humans.”

“…It has indeed.”

The uninvited guests who had appeared were unmistakably monsters. Their faces were hideous, their skin as hard as rock. Stone trolls were a race that had clashed with humans in many ways throughout history.

“Your name was…”

“This one is called Olgoldugolro, Your Excellency the Count.”

“…I see. Chieftain Olgoldugolro.”

Count Iron Mace no longer rejected cooperation with the trolls. He had realized that this was no time to remain trapped by racial prejudice.

“Hm. There is something I wish to ask you.”

“Please speak freely, young count.”

At that moment, Belladia frowned and spoke.

“Why do creatures as hideous as you continue to cling to life? If I looked like any of you, I would have thrown myself into a fire and ended it long ago…”

It was a diplomatic catastrophe.

Everyone was rendered speechless.

“I apologize on behalf of my daughter for her rudeness.”

“Apologize? But they really are ug—

“If you don’t shut your mouth, I will strip you naked and whip you!”

“I’m sorry.”

Flames flickered in Belladia’s teal eyes. But when her master glared at her coldly, she lowered her gaze. She knew it had been a diplomatic blunder. Still, the trolls were simply too ugly for her to bear.

“Hm.”

Everyone turned to look at Olgoldugolro.

“This one shall gladly accept the lord’s apology. However, if the lord permits, this one also has something to say.”

Count Iron Mace nodded with a stiff expression. The young count had insulted the chieftain. A war could have broken out, yet if she was willing to let it pass with mere words, they would be deeply grateful.

“As a mother who has also raised children, this one would suggest that you show your daughter a little more leniency than you currently do.”

…Huh?

“Strict discipline certainly has its place, but this one believes it is not necessary to rely solely on harsh teachings. There are many ways to express love for one’s child.”

They had been prepared for a scathing insult in return, yet such a warm response came instead?

“…Thank you, Chieftain Olgoldugolro.”

“Let us continue our discussion on child-rearing methods another time. For now, let us speak of the aqueduct construction…”

Chieftain Olgoldugolro guided the negotiations smoothly. She harbored not the slightest resentment toward Belladia’s insult. She simply believed that young lives could behave that way.

“Did you see that, Belladia?”

“…”

“Even a troll can become more human than some people.”

The final agreement was reached. Chieftain Olgoldugolro would provide the construction labor, and Count Iron Mace would cede the rocky mountain to the trolls’ territory. Tellorian only needed to act as interpreter. The entire process had gone surprisingly smoothly.

“By the way, Professor Tellorian.”

“Yes, Your Excellency?”

“Teach me the troll language.”

Hm?

“The troll chieftain is quite fluent in the common tongue.”

“Olgoldugolro’s command of the common language is truly excellent! However, to prevent any potential misunderstandings between allies, shouldn’t leaders understand each other’s languages? Hahaha.”

…What is this?

Even I had never seen this event before.