Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: The Stage of Harmony (7)
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‘I had a feeling something might happen.’
Human intuition isn’t always right, so I just ignored it.
But who would have thought it would actually come true?
The ways of the world are truly unpredictable.
Kurt Steinhoff thought that as he gazed at Martin, who was seated in the office.
“……Could you say that one more time, Young Master?”
“More people than usual are asking me to repeat myself today.”
“Whoever it is, I’m sure they feel the same way I do.”
“Haha. Maybe so. Anyway, I mentioned it before, didn’t I? That it would be great if we could trade with the elves and dwarves.”
“I remember.”
“As a reward for handling things well in Altair Village, we’ve gained the rights to distribute products from elven and dwarven artisans. So, Kurt Steinhoff, I want you to handle everything from setting up the branch to sales.”
“You mean…… you’re giving me full authority?”
Kurt’s eyes trembled sharply.
The humans of the Krasian Continent harbored immense fascination with elves and dwarves, regardless of age or gender.
Elves, with their striking beauty and innate talent for magic.
Dwarves, with their powerful physiques and specialization in crafting all manner of goods.
Given the distinct traits of each race, it was no wonder people were so drawn to them.
Moreover, most folks never encountered them even once in a lifetime, which only amplified the mystique.
This was why the publishing industry churned out stories about them every year.
“I guarantee this venture will generate enormous wealth. I’ve only recently started working as your secretary, Young Master, and I’m not sure I can handle something this big.”
“I often hear I’m no good at lying, and it seems you’re the same. You’re brimming with confidence, aren’t you?”
“That’s…….”
“Unless it’s someone utterly incompetent handling it, this business is destined for success. And from what I know of you, you’re not the type to settle for mere success—you’re always thinking how to make it even bigger.”
Martin spoke with a smile.
Kurt couldn’t bring himself to deny it.
People’s interest in elves and dwarves was tremendous.
With that alone, the venture was set for success from the start—and on top of that, the quality and performance were outstanding.
Elven magical weapons and dwarven armaments didn’t pale in comparison to those crafted by top human mages or renowned artisans.
In some aspects, they were even superior.
And that wasn’t all.
Tea leaves and herbs cultivated by the elves themselves, fruit wines they brewed— all exquisite.
Dwarven beer and metals they smelted themselves boasted incredible value.
‘It can’t end with just success.’
How could he maximize profits?
How could he elevate the products’ value to the utmost?
Countless ideas flooded his mind.
But there was one thing he absolutely had to do.
Elven and dwarven goods had to become specialties exclusive to Barrayn City—and by extension, the Adalbert family.
He needed to drill that recognition into the minds of everyone on the continent.
“I told you when we first met. I have no intention of keeping you as a mere secretary. On the contrary, I want you to rack up achievements quickly so I can entrust you with even bigger responsibilities.”
“Hmm. Isn’t that just dumping work on me?”
“I wouldn’t call entrusting it to someone better than me at it ‘dumping.’ Unless it’s about processing things more efficiently, that is.”
“Phew. Understood. I’ll take charge of this venture under your orders, Young Master.”
“Good decision.”
“But there’s a problem.”
“I know. It might clash with the guilds in Barrayn City, right?”
“Yes. Their goods overlap in so many ways that conflicts with various guilds are inevitable.”
As the largest city in the north, Barrayn City was home to all sorts of guilds—blacksmiths, healers, and more.
With overlaps between their products and those of the elves and dwarves, the established guilds had every reason to be dissatisfied.
“You don’t need to worry about that. We’re not planning to flood the market with supply anyway.”
“So, an auction system, then?”
“No, nothing that extreme. We’ll auction only the truly special items, but sell the rest like regular goods. You decide the prices, but pay a portion of the sales as fees to the guilds.”
“So, essentially, you’re making the elven and dwarven artisans guild members?”
“Exactly. Now that the opportunity has come, I want to fully integrate them into our domain. Nothing binds like economics, in my view.”
“I agree. I’ll make sure this venture succeeds.”
“I trust you.”
“Yes.”
Kurt steeled his resolve.
This was his first time leading a true ‘major undertaking,’ and he had no intention of half-assing it.
He would succeed and prove that Martin’s choice in him was spot-on.
‘I need to call my friends.’
He couldn’t suffer alone.
He’d use this chance to whip those slackers with ability into shape.
Kurt’s eyes gleamed fiercely.
* * *
Elven and dwarven armaments would soon go on sale in Barrayn City.
A week after Martin returned to the family, the rumor swept through the entire city.
“You know those two shops being set up in the central district? They’re supposedly selling elven and dwarven gear.”
“I glanced at them while passing by. But is the rumor for real? Up until now, elven or dwarven stuff has only come from…… you know, slaves they captured. The supply was always tiny, so opening a whole branch to sell them? Hard to believe.”
“But people from the Adalbert family keep flocking there. Members of the White Dragon Knights and Golden Dragon Knights are guarding the shops like fortresses. You think they’d gather like that for some ordinary store?”
“That’s true.”
Most gear from those two races traded in the shadows.
But for the first time in continental history, their goods might be available openly.
Given the dungeon city’s nature, adventurers naturally showed massive interest.
“But honestly, I don’t think the rumor’s true. Not a single person has claimed to meet an elf or dwarf, let alone seen goods. If they’re really selling elven or dwarven items, shouldn’t there be elves or dwarves there? That’s what builds trust, right?”
“That makes sense. Anyway, the shops open soon. We’ll know shortly. I hope it’s real.”
“If it is, I’m buying no matter what.”
“Like you have the money?”
“Why not? I’ve saved a ton!”
“That won’t even scratch the surface.”
The red-haired adventurer and black-haired adventurer raised their voices at each other.
“No need to listen further.”
Martin said with a smile.
His face was mostly hidden by his robe, so no one recognized him properly.
Armand and Paolo beside him had also concealed their faces as much as possible—Paolo even wore height-boosting shoes to further hide his identity.
“They certainly are interested in us humans.”
“Speak properly. It’s not us—they’re interested in the gear we make.”
“Be it the races or the gear, most humans are fundamentally favorable toward you all. So use this chance to integrate well into mainstream society. Of course, I don’t expect it to happen overnight.”
Armand and Paolo both nodded at Martin’s words.
Since starting to stay with the Adalbert family, they had learned much about the Alteria Empire.
And realized.
Everything Martin had said was true.
If the empire’s four major powers truly clashed, the flames of war wouldn’t spare only humans.
To avoid being swept away in their conflict, they needed to experience human society as much as possible.
They were now at the entrance to the dungeon, the Barrayn branch of the Adventurer’s Guild, taking their first step.
“Young Master.”
“Ah. Greetings, Branch Chief Bayren. This is Armand, elder of Altair Village.”
“Pleased to meet you. Given the circumstances, I apologize for not showing my face properly.”
“……It’s, it’s fine.”
“I’m Paolo, elder of Lanens Village. Take good care of our kin from now on.”
“I’ll, I’ll do my utmost.”
Branch Chief Bayren managed his expression as best he could while exchanging greetings.
Once introductions ended, Martin spoke.
“Then let’s head down.”
“Understood.”
Martin led the way into the dungeon.
Armand and Paolo followed cautiously, reaching the first floor soon after.
“This is a dungeon…….”
“After a thousand years.”
The two elders representing elves and dwarves surveyed the dungeon with complex gazes.
It had been a millennium since they were pushed to the continent’s fringes by all human nations.
Now, they finally set foot in a dungeon they could never reach before due to each nation’s blockades.
It would be a lie to say they weren’t filled with emotion.
“What’s your impression of the dungeon, you two?”
“It feels completely different from the monster villages on the surface.”
“I agree. To think there’s a place swirling with such pure killing intent. We’ll need to prepare the young ones thoroughly before sending them.”
“You’ve judged correctly, Elder Paolo. Dungeons are unknown realms. Humans have challenged them for a thousand years without fathoming their depths, and even in cleared layers, unimaginable events occur.”
“We’ll keep that in mind.”
Paolo replied, and Armand nodded as well.
As conversation paused, Branch Chief Bayren stepped forward.
In his hand was a transparent artifact shaped like a regular icosahedron—a mana measurer.
“Adventurer ranks normally factor in not just personal skill but also accumulated achievements. However, since the Young Master has guaranteed your future exploits as adventurers, we’ll skip the achievements part.”
“I’d like to know how you measure skill.”
“Goblins will swarm soon. Please attack them with full power. It measures mana output, attack potency, and such. At eighth circle level, it’ll display S-rank—the rank given for eighth circle.”
Bayren explained, and Armand asked no more.
Then Paolo spoke up.
“Mana capacity generally correlates with circles, but it’s not absolute. Individuals differ. You can tell just by looking at the Young Master here. And mages and knights fight differently—can this properly gauge skill?”
“This artifact contains data from adventurers active over the past few centuries. It derives conclusions from that, so no need to worry.”
“Hmm. They’ve made all sorts of things.”
With that, Paolo fell silent.
Bayren then asked,
“Who’d like to go first?”
“I’ll start.”
Armand replied, gripping his staff tightly.
He stared ahead.
“Keeek!”
“Kekek!”
Dozens of goblins charged at high speed.
Their small frames belied the murderous intent in their eyes, which couldn’t be ignored.
Kuooh!
But Armand paid it no mind and drew up his mana.
Vast mana poured from the four rings in his heart and four in his mind, flowing into the staff in his right hand.
Flash!
A brilliant blue light bloomed, forming a massive magic circle on the ground.
“A magic circle this huge…….”
Branch Chief Bayren shuddered.
He’d known they were stronger than him at first glance, but witnessing the power firsthand was even more impressive.
Thud.
The staff’s base touched the ground etched with the magic circle.
In that instant, a terrifying surge of blue lightning engulfed the charging goblins.
Crackle! Zap zap!
Boom! Kaboom!
Sparks turned goblins to ash; the sheer power silenced even their screams.
Not stopping there, the blue lightning tore through the dungeon, carving trenches so deep it looked like it had plowed the path.
“Result?”
“S-, S-rank.”
“Glad I didn’t embarrass myself.”
Bayren answered hurriedly, and a smile curved Armand’s lips.
That was when.
“I-It’s an elf! A real elf!”
“There’s a dwarf too!”
Voices came from behind, and Martin turned.
He saw them.
The red-haired and black-haired adventurers from before.
The magic’s aftershock had dislodged his robe, revealing his face—they couldn’t miss recognizing him.
‘Perfect.’
Martin was satisfied.
Witnesses had emerged to confirm the rumor was true.
Even the skeptics would believe now.
He could almost hear money pouring in.