The territory created by Rayrn was bustling with activity.
A significant number of the soldiers had been converted into engineers.
“Hurry and reinforce it!”
“Aren’t we just making it easier for monsters to invade if we do this?”
“We’re making sure that doesn’t happen. So get moving.”
“Yes, sir!”
They weren’t just building fortresses; they were also constructing roads connecting the fortresses.
The scale wasn’t small either. Roads wide enough for at least four carriages to move simultaneously. A first-class road.
Building such a road in the Holy City wouldn’t be a problem.
The problem was that this was the Northern Mountain Range, a Monsters’ Territory.
Building a road inside it was practically a crazy act.
During a monster uprising, if they used the roads humans built, the invasion speed would increase.
That’s why roads outside city walls were rarely expanded significantly. They were only built once an area was completely safe.
Yet, Rayrn had ordered large roads to be built here. That order was faithfully carried out by Birence and the newly assigned architects.
Rayrn said, “Quite a lot of people will come in the future. They will fatten our Spiritual Land. This level might not even be enough?”
He boasted that people would come in droves to use these wide roads.
If any other young master said this, no one would believe it. But these were Rayrn’s words. Within House Ofern, Rayrn’s words had held considerable influence for a long time.
“……We’ll trust and proceed. But if it fails, I will be quite disappointed.”
“Don’t worry.”
Birence, who had gained as much prowess in construction engineering as he had in martial power.
Although he expressed concern in front of Rayrn, he moved more faithfully than anyone while carrying out the construction.
Day by day, roads appeared, beginning to connect the fortresses.
And not long after…
“Is this the place?”
“It must be. Oh. There’s a signpost here. Just like the news said, right? It’s even safer than expected. Isn’t that good?”
“Is that what’s important? What’s important is the price!”
“We’ll see about that when we get there! Let’s go!”
People started arriving even before the roads were fully completed.
***
Those who would risk their lives and do anything for money existed in any world.
Namely, Merchants.
They were the main characters coming to the northern fortress Rayrn had established. Their faces, as they moved with empty wagons and pouches full of gold coins, were clearly filled with anticipation.
-It’s the place built by the rumored Young Master.
-The one who shook the Royal Capital. Even if we can’t seal a deal, just broadening our connections…
-What else can we sell?
Rumors about Rayrn, and House Ofern, had spread quite widely throughout the entire Kingdom, beyond just the Royal Capital.
His formidable martial prowess despite his age, being a Mage simultaneously, and his reputation as an outstanding administrator.
It was clear Rayrn also had a knack for business tactics.
“Today, it’s the magic swords sent by House Ofern!”
Every time Mana-infused Iron and the Magic Weapons forged from that iron were released sporadically, the Royal Capital’s auction houses went into an uproar.
Just when people were about to forget, he would release a very small, tantalizing amount onto the market. Each time, the nobles and Merchants in the Royal Capital found it impossible to forget Rayrn.
Better than the previous auction items! Or more efficient!
He intermittently released goods. That tantalizing scarcity made many seek out the Count of Ophern’s house. To obtain precious items.
But only a few could obtain such items.
Only the Enchant Magic Tower, rumored to have traded with Rayrn, barely managed to get Mana-infused Iron, or was known to be collaborating.
But rumors spread through the Information Guild.
-In the north of House Ofern. Precious items from Rayrn are being released at the new fortress.
-They say there’s a new trading post. Overflowing with Monster Corpses and processed goods alike.
-I heard there’s a new branch of the Enchant Magic Tower!
By all accounts, they were unbelievable rumors.
The Enchant Magic Tower establishing a branch was nonsense, and a trading post being in the monster-infested Northern Mountain Range!
That was even more absurd!
But the fact that the rumors were tempting was also true.
“That’s Rayrn, isn’t it? When has he ever done anything conventional?”
“Hmm…… In that case……”
The Merchants, who risked their lives for money, moved first.
They set foot for the Northern Mountain Range, hiring countless Mercenaries and moving.
“It’s safe.”
“……Hmm. We might have just wasted our money.”
The situation was safe enough to regret the money spent hiring Mercenaries. It was hard to believe the place they were moving through was the Northern Mountain Range.
Moreover…
“This will be convenient for transport. Once it’s finished, it’ll be very convenient.”
“That’s a story for when continuous trade happens. Let’s hurry and go see.”
The road was convenient.
People who had newly settled in the fortress were also occasionally seen, and their expressions weren’t bad either.
It wasn’t comparable to the fully developed Royal Capital, but this northern region had its own vitality.
‘What lord would name a fortress after merchants? It’s crazy.’
‘……Still, having a place like this isn’t bad.’
Half in expectation, half in excitement, the Merchants arrived at the Merchant Fortress.
And there…
“Wha…”
“Is, is this a dream?”
A place that looked like heaven to the Merchants who had risked their lives to get there was spread out before them!
A place utterly deserving of the name ‘Merchant’ was waiting for them.
-Monster Corpse Trading Post
-Mana-infused Iron sold in limited quantities daily
-Rayrn-made Magic Weapons
-Enchant Magic Tower-made Magic Weapons
-Artisan-made Monster Equipment Shops
Merchants that any Merchant would rush to with eyes ablaze to trade were plentiful within the fortress.
“The Mana-infused Iron auction is starting! Starting price is 100 gold per kilogram!”
“……That iron is starting at a mere 100 gold?”
Mana-infused Iron was an item you couldn’t even buy in the Royal Capital.
It was the iron that Mages from the Malexia Magic Tower paid premiums for, hoping to uncover its secrets.
And that iron was starting to be traded at a mere (?) 100 gold.
That was just the beginning.
“Wha… This is better than what came out at the Royal Capital auction before!”
“And you can buy the set all at once!”
Every item for sale was of a higher standard than what was available on the market.
‘The price is about what it went for at the auction. But since this is better… As long as I find a good place to sell, I won’t take a loss.’
Just buying goods here and selling them elsewhere was a profitable business.
Even if the price was high, nobles who spent money like water to arm themselves with Magic Weapons were everywhere.
It didn’t even have to be this Kingdom.
If they sold it to another kingdom, not the Kingdom of Malexia, it was clear they would receive much more money than expected.
‘Just what level is this…’
And this was only the level of goods released in a mere fortress.
No matter how powerful a Mage, it was rare for them to reveal everything they could do.
So, it meant Rayrn was only revealing a part of his capabilities. That part alone was far superior to the Magic Weapons available on the market.
‘He can definitely make things beyond this.’
If this was what he revealed, Rayrn could make things beyond it.
If they could only obtain weapons specially made by Rayrn…
‘A windfall! No, it’s a jackpot!’
They would make enough money to live in leisure for a lifetime.
It was certain!
The Merchants’ instincts were telling them so.
Rayrn had clearly anticipated those instincts.
“Orders are being taken! Young Lord Rayrn is accepting only three custom orders per month!”
“Orders?”
“Yes. For the sake of the fortress, the Young Lord is specially accepting three custom orders per month.”
“Oh…”
“……”
As soon as the Merchants arrived, good news was announced. A custom item from the famous Rayrn!
‘If I place the right order?’
‘How do I place an order? If he only takes three, I need to buy quickly.’
‘I’ll pour all my money here!’
It was only natural for those present to rush in with eyes ablaze.
It was clear that just getting this opportunity would bring a fortune!
Dreaming of a jackpot, the Merchants who rushed in asked about the orders.
“How much!? How much does it cost! I’ll pay any price!”
“Bid.”
“What!?”
Rayrn knew how to raise the price even more than the Merchants.
“Guh… What kind of transaction is a bid!?”
“It’s an auction, in the end. Hehe. Now, the auction for Young Lord Rayrn’s custom magic items begins!”
Buyers bid first.
It was the worst for buyers, but the best method for sellers!
Esty, who had personally stepped forward to conduct the auction after a long time, was very excited. Maybe because he could take a brief break from his administrator duties during the auction.
As his expression brightened, the faces of the Merchants dealing with him darkened.
“Ahem… S, starting now?”
“We’ll start after one more day of announcements! We need to gather as many people as possible, right? Hehe.”
‘……What amazing business tactics. I’ll definitely come tomorrow!”
“Yes! We’ll be waiting!”
Esty, who was nothing but serious.
Unbeknownst to himself, he was smiling with a smile similar to Rayrn’s. It was the smile Rayrn wore when he was about to make a killing.
The Merchant Fortress began to operate, and the money earned was beyond imagination.
‘It’s only natural!’
Frankly, it would have been strange if they only earned a little money.
They had even mobilized the Information Guild to spread rumors about the Merchant Fortress.
It was only natural for Merchants eyeing House Ofern, or agents of nobles disguised as Merchants, to rush here from the Royal Capital and beyond!
This was a world where one noble possessed more than tens of thousands of commoners.
If they came laden with money and didn’t make a fortune, that would be stranger.
“Hehe. The profits are considerable. The rumors spread perfectly.”
“Is it that good?”
Looking at such a Rayrn, Arne sitting across from him wore a disgusted expression.
“Isn’t it only natural? We’re making what would be the annual budget of an average Spiritual Land just like that?”
“Young Master, maybe you should have been a Merchant instead of a Mage.”
“Hehe. You don’t know what you’re talking about. He’s already a master as a Merchant too. Who else makes this much money in such a short time?”
“……I can’t deal with this.”
She even shook her head slowly from side to side.
In her view too, the money Rayrn was earning was considerable. It seemed to rival the Information Guild spread across the continent.
‘He’s probably already recouped the fortress construction costs.’
Building a fortress was no ordinary matter.
He had built and stabilized three such fortresses in no time. Two were called gates, but in her eyes, they surpassed the level of ordinary fortresses.
Building such fortresses would normally shrink the finances of even the greatest Spiritual Land. But instead of shrinking, it felt more like expansion.
‘Monster…’
And that Young Lord before her eyes was doing such things with such ease.
‘……If he’s a monster of this level. Hmm… No.’
Even for the strict Arne, a sense of anticipation arose, if only briefly.
Then again, this Young Master’s actions were always interesting to watch. Maybe that’s why she was always by his side, using her dedicated role as an excuse.
“By the way, why did you call me?”
“Hehe. Why, you ask? For the next step, of course. Now we need to activate the next fortress too. It’s a request, after all.”
See? He’s starting another interesting thing, isn’t he?
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