Silverstar's Shadow Descends on Hapsderk (6)
About two months had passed since the negotiations with the Silverstar family.
My father and mother, the family heads, had exchanged various words with Branch Manager Edmond, but the foundation of that contract rested on the deal between Yurha and me.
Thirty percent of the mana cores—mana stones—harvested from the monsters we hunted in the Monster Zone. In exchange for providing the hunting grounds, we sat back and claimed seventy percent of the mana stones, while permitting the Silverstar Merchant Group free access to our territory, the construction of buildings, and unrestricted entry and exit.
If anyone asked who benefited from this—
'Obviously, us.'
In this Midgal Kingdom, the Hapsderk family's position was akin to, say, the governor of Gangwon Province in real-world Korea. Comparing it to Europe might not fit perfectly, but think of it as a hereditary governor overseeing Gangwon.
'Not just any Gangwon, but one gushing with oil called mana stones.'
And what about the Silverstar Merchant Group?
'Even that Gangwon governor would bolt out of the provincial office the moment an heir from a Big 3 conglomerate showed up.'
There were subtle issues of status and such, but personally, I preferred calling them the Silverstar Group. We'd been wary before because they'd swallowed up countless noble families with their massive capital in the past.
But now, by handing over thirty percent of the mana stones through this deal, the Hapsderk family had become just one of Silverstar's many trading partners.
The result?
"Young master. Silverstar hunters caused a ruckus at the tavern. They say the place got wrecked and there was chaos."
Out-of-towners causing disturbances.
"Young master. Monster hunters went into the 'forbidden zone' to hunt mana stones. Ugh, they say a demon is sealed there..."
Those out-of-towners meddling with the taboo areas in Hapsderk County.
"Young master, do you see that building over there? For such an eyesore to rise on Hapsderk soil—a spire taller than the lord's castle, no less."
The Silverstar Merchant Group building all sorts of facilities to boost their monster hunting and mana stone farming efficiency.
"Young master. Must we just sit back and let Silverstar run wild like this?"
"Yeah."
The administrator was venting his complaints to me amid these massive changes.
"Why? What's the problem?"
"Young master. Have you truly sided with Silverstar?"
"That sounds like something a seven-year-old—or the eldest son of Hapsderk—shouldn't have to hear."
He was the ringleader of those eyeing me like some 'traitor who sold out tradition and soul for Silverstar's warm cocoa.'
"Sure, Silverstar's capital flooding into Hapsderk has brought changes we never had before. But are those changes all bad?"
"Young master."
"That tavern wasn't even one we built—it was Silverstar's for their monster hunters. And it's far from where our territory folk live."
Sure, the hunters' nighttime shouts and brawls echoed, but that was no different from squabbles among our own people.
"Take the Monster Zone too. Do we even know exactly why that area was declared forbidden? No, right? It's just 'don't touch it,' handed down from our ancestors."
"That's...!"
"Turns out it really was infested with dangerous monsters. Silverstar's hunters failed to clear it once, but they brought in competent talent too."
Silverstar was pioneering areas our family never touched, using their own capital and manpower. Thanks to that, our mana stone revenue had surged—even after their thirty percent cut.
"And finally, that towering thing isn't an eyesore; it's a mage tower."
I pointed out the window at the 'monstrosity' the administrator had indicated.
"Silverstar hired skilled mages with their capital to protect it, built that spire, and set up teleportation magic circles for efficient mana stone and monster corpse transport."
Atop the mage tower rising higher than the lord's castle, my eyes met those of a golden-haired girl on the top-floor terrace. I gave a light wave to her beaming smile.
"Young master...!"
The administrator's face crumpled.
"Will you truly destroy Hapsderk's traditions...!"
"What?"
"Do you know how depressed Lady Seia has been since that eyesore appeared—since the 'Golden Witch' started living there?"
"......."
That was the reason the administrator and many others cast worried glances my way.
"The family heads are even pondering whether to bear a new son...!"
"Out."
"Pardon?"
"I said get out. Didn't you hear?"
They feared I might cease being Hapsderk.
In every way.
[A few days later, somewhere on a grassland in Hapsderk County.]
"Everyone worries too much."
Yurha stood before me in a light dress, holding a thin wooden baton like an orchestra conductor in one hand.
"I'm not like your mother, collecting husband material."
"Careful with those words. It's unfilial."
"It's the truth."
Golden mana sparked at the tip of her baton.
"Mother must have been meant to be born a man but came out a woman by mistake. Grandpa said it sometimes too: 'If only she were born a boy...'"
"Then inheritance would be a mess with bastards popping up everywhere?"
"Hey. We're seven, right?"
"For a seven-year-old playing with dolls or wooden swords, you've got too much going on up here."
"...True."
Yurha held her baton level, aiming beyond the horizon.
"Maybe it's a blessing. With Mother collecting husbands like jewels."
Pang!
The golden mana at the staff's tip shot off like an arrow.
Magic Arrow. Impressive. No murkiness in the color.
"Perfect. Gold... pure, untainted. Like this hair."
Yurha toyed lightly with her locks.
"My mother too. Until she bore me, she held only one man."
"I know."
Yurha's mother lost her husband after giving birth.
"Killed by a high demon, I heard."
"Yes. When I was a baby, Father died protecting me."
Yurha had lost her birth father at birth.
"Then Mother gathered 'fathers' under that name. A sort of... contractual marriage."
"Husband-named knight escorts, huh?"
"The phrasing's off, but yes."
Currently, Yurha had multiple fathers: an imperial grand duke, an S-rank swordmaster, a mage tower heir.
"Marriage alliances. Most after Mother's—or Grandpa the chairman's—wealth. Or those she's long supported."
And Yurha despised those fathers. In the future, she'd eliminate them all, take over Silverstar with the protagonist's help.
Depending on the protagonist's choices, he might side with them and oust her instead—but that's later.
"Lady Yurha."
"Suddenly 'Lady'?"
"If I'm beneficial to your future, our deal continues, right?"
"...Of course."
Yurha lightly traced a circle in front of her with the staff.
"I need my people. Someone to act in place of a mere child like me."
"Hands and feet."
"Yes. Unlike puppets I can string up and control, moving people requires something else. What do you think?"
"Desire."
Yurha grinned at my answer.
"Right. Desire is humanity's greatest motivator. Like my fathers chasing wealth, or the monster hunters here not to guard me, but to pocket mana stones from hunts."
A circular mana layer formed before Yurha.
"Anyway, fire away? I'll use defense magic."
"Thanks."
I aimed my staff at her, mimed drawing a bow, and gathered mana.
"Fire Arrow."
The basic fire-element spell, flame arrow. The fiery projectile flew like a bird, striking Yurha's golden barrier.
Fwoosh.
The flame arrow ricocheted off her shield, mana scattering into embers.
"Amazing. Stronger than before. I poured in more mana."
"To me, you're the impressive one—adjusting your defense on the fly based on my mana output."
"Hee hee hee."
Yurha shrugged lightly.
"Not me. True genius is elsewhere. Magic and mana are so... relative."
"......."
"Might offend, but everything's comparative. You might see me as bragging..."
"I get it. What you mean."
Yurha's magic talent was solid, but not SS-rank material.
'A-rank to S-rank.'
Characters had potentials, clear limits. Angel awakening would raise them, though.
'And this body? C-rank at best.'
Demon contract pushes it to B-rank awakening. Limits everywhere.
"So, what's your plan? Buy people with money?"
"...Hee hee. Best way, no?"
Yurha grinned at my words.
"If I lack talent in something needed, fulfill a genius's desire there. Easiest way?"
"Money."
"Yes. You get it perfectly, young master."
Yurha lowered her staff.
"Then, young master. Where do talented people flock?"
"Obviously."
"Where?"
Esdinas Academy.
The academy we'd enter in ten years, at seventeen.
"Planning to go?"
Not 'planning'—she'd already decided.
"No one from Hapsderk has entered the academy without an invitation."
"True."
"You know why?"
"Can't have eyes wandering outside the family."
There was precedent. Hapsderk once had triplets; one brother went to the academy and never returned.
"What will you do?"
"Who knows. Preach the need to attend, or sneak in incognito?"
"Why?"
Yurha leaned in close.
"Is that it?"
"......."
I couldn't answer her beaming face.
"At least you won't regret it. Mutual benefit means our deal renews."
"Hee hee hee. Right. Got it."
Yurha retreated with crescent eyes.
"We could be great... partners ahead."
Yurha.
"No one chats like you, young master."
"Honored."
Unlike her mother, this heroine ends with one partner in the future.
...Whether current Yurha becomes that woman, who knows.
'Please stay mentally stable.'
This girl. If she breaks, angels descend from heaven.
"Oh? What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Bringing apocalypse where everything turns to gold.
Everything. The whole planet.