Right after that, Grandma Luciola sent a letter down to her old hometown in the Ancient Fairy Forest.
”I reckon my old kinfolk’ll be headin’ on over in a couple three months or so, bless ’em,” she told us with a warm smile.
By then, all the soil work in the village was properly finished off.
Thanks to using plenty of White Demon Stone and Mary blowing away that eastern mountain, there wasn’t a single damp spot left anywhere near us.
Right now, the whole place was right in the middle of a massive reorganization project.
We were turning the old village area into a residential zone, putting up new houses just as planned.
And at the same time, we were building a proper lord’s manor along with a nice guest house.
All the small farms around here had been moved over to the rich new land on the east side.
On top of that, we set up a fresh pasture over there too, letting the four horses and six cows from Margrave Rommel graze about.
Since we’d secured plenty of open land for grazing, folks were already talking about increasing the herd before long.
Work on the outer moat and defensive walls over on the east side was moving along smooth as you like, with the Earth Magic users really pulling their weight.
The fact that everything was going according to plan was all down to the careful planning from Flora and Brooks. Those two were proper talented, I tell ya. It gave me the cold shivers just thinking about what would’ve happened without ’em.
”My word, to think we owe our current prosperity to such an improper exile,” Brooks had remarked to me earlier, bowing with deep deference. “I shall forever remain in your debt for granting me employment, my Lord.”
Which made me wonder-should I actually be thanking Count Bruno for kicking Brooks out in the first place?
And it wasn’t just that, mind. Mary had erased a whole mountain, the Earth Magic users were busting their backs every single day, and I’d gotten up to… certain things with head maid Camilla too…
”Allow me to express my profound gratitude, young Master,” Camilla had whispered to me with absolute deference just that morning. “I exist merely to attend to your every desire,” Heh.
Right then, I’d send ’em all some lovely gifts later on.
Still, the sheer lack of manpower was a right proper bottleneck, so we decided to head over to the Commercial Guild to talk things through.
The timing was grand too. The supplies from Margrave Rommel were running right low, and it was obvious we’d run short on food before the next shipment arrived.
So today, I set out for the capital city Granliger to buy food and track down more workers.
With me this time were Zeno, Kirsten, Elenora, and five other members from the corps-eight of us in total. We traveled using the village’s three precious wagons.
Speaking of which, Mary blowing away that mountain so dramatically had been a massive help, cutting our travel time right down.
Before, getting to Flour Village meant winding through the mountains for three whole days one way. Now we could just head straight across what used to be a mountain range in just half a day, simple as that.
And the trip to Granliger, which used to take seven days, could now be done in as little as three.
Considering the round trip, what used to be a major journey now took only about half the time, which was a massive relief for all of us.
After we arrived in Granliger and found a decent inn, we split up and headed straight for the Adventurers’ Guild and the Commercial Guild.
At the Adventurers’ Guild, our main job was putting in a request for return escort guards and recruiting Earth Magic users and settlers.
The plan was for Kirsten to take the lead and scout out any low-ranked Earth Magic users who were stuck in the city without proper work.
”Empirical observation indicates that lower-tier terra-magicians experience systematic marginalization within urban demographics, frequently culminating in forced adventuring for primary subsistence,” Kirsten noted with analytical precision as we walked.
So the plan was for Kirsten to talk them into coming over, sharing her own experiences along the way.
The volunteer guards who came with us said they’d tell grand stories about the Earth Magic users making a real difference out in Lindrott territory, hoping we might land a few good recruits if things went well.
And hey, if some young cute girls showed up, that’d be even better, wouldn’t it?
Then I could really give ’em the full treatment… all kinds of… ahem.
At the same time, we paid the Adventurers’ Guild to put out a proper call for settlers to move to Lindrott territory.
If we made too big a deal out of it, Count Bruno might complain about us poaching folks from other territories, but since adventurers weren’t proper residents to begin with, it was a bit of a gray area.
Honestly, if some cute young-well, best not dwell on that too much!
Even if the adventurers were low-ranked and struggling, we had mountains of work waiting in Lindrott territory. As long as they weren’t right troublemakers, anyone was welcome.
If possible, young and-right, shutting up now!
I headed to the Commercial Guild with Zeno and Captain Elenora.
When we walked in, Zeno immediately trotted off to the buyout counter with the game he’d hunted along the way.
”Right then, I’ll just get this lot weighed up and grab us a proper pint, shall I?” Zeno barked out with a cheerful grin. That guy really loved his booze…
When I walked up to the counter with Elenora, the receptionist who’d helped me before-Natalie-came straight out and showed us to a private room.
”Lord Alfred, it’s been a while! I’ve lowkey been waiting for you, no cap. I was starting to worry since you hadn’t dropped by in forever!”
Natalie’s usually sharp work face softened into a lovely smile.
Maybe she felt a bit more relaxed around me since we’d shared a meal last time.
”Hey, Natalie. Aye, it’s been right busy. With Lindrott territory still settling down, I just couldn’t get away, like…”
I scratched my cheek, feeling a touch embarrassed.
”Speaking of Lindrott territory-I hear your land suddenly got huge recently? Like, major glow up!”
”I beg your pardon?! How on earth could you possibly be aware of such matters?!” Elenora reacted instantly, drawing herself up with rigid aristocracy beside me.
”Girl, please! Business runs on tea and tea alone, if you know what I mean. Heheh…”
Natalie’s face went sharp and serious as she turned toward Elenora.
”Ah… well, it’s not like we were hiding it, mind. It’s no great secret. And honestly, with that massive explosion, even surrounded by mountains, folks were bound to notice.”
”Heheh, Lord Alfred, you don’t seem shook at all that the Commercial Guild already knows the tea?”
Natalie looked at me with a testing gaze.
”Well, aye. Even if Lindrott territory is deep in the hills, folks still come and go, don’t they? Word gets around. It’d be weirder if you didn’t know, like.”
Seeing how completely calm I was-just like last time-Natalie felt a playful urge rise up.
She clearly wanted to see me flustered for once, so she decided to push me a bit further.
”What if I told you we also know other major secrets about Lindrott territory? Like, main character secrets?”
”What?! You… how could you possibly know the confidential affairs of our domain?! That information was strictly meant to remain private!” Elenora gasped, her aristocratic composure completely shattering as she panicked.
Anyone could see she was completely rattled.
”Elenora, calm yourself, pray do,” I said, patting her shoulder softly. “It’s all fine, really.”
”What Natalie’s on about is probably the light magic tools, innit? Or maybe the combat training with those unusual weapons? The big drills that even the women join in on?”
”Oh my? I haven’t said a word yet! Are you really sure you should be spilling the beans like that…?” Natalie smiled, clearly amused.
”It’s fine, honestly. We’re not hiding it, we’re just not making a massive scene over it.
If you wander into the village square, you’ll see even the lasses training hard as you like. And at night, the whole place lights up brighter than anything you’ve ever seen. Course news like that travels fast.
Heck, I’ll even give you a bit of extra info if you fancy it. We’re planning to register those light magic tools with the Commercial Guild real soon, you know.”
”Wait, for real?! You’re not capping?!”
Natalie shot right up from her seat, her eyes wide as saucers, while I just gave a casual shrug.
Seeing that, Natalie broke into a proper warm smile.
”…Phew. I just can’t take the W against you, Lord Alfred. It was the exact same last time-you’re always so unbothered. I was hoping to catch you lacking, but you completely uno-reversed me instead. Pure L for me.”
She bowed her head with a soft chuckle.
”Don’t worry about it, lass.”
I waved my hand casually, acting like it was no big deal at all. Watching me, Captain Elenora felt a sharp pang of shame at her own short-sightedness.
What on earth am I even doing here?! she thought, her posture faltering in absolute defeat. I was appointed to safeguard Lord Alfred as his vanguard, yet I have done nothing but impede his negotiations! Here is this fifteen-year-old gentleman, as composed as royalty, handling a seasoned Guild official with effortless poise… whilst I make a complete spectacle of myself!
Elenora spent the rest of the meeting thoroughly kicking herself inside.
”So then, what brings you to our office today?”
”Finally getting down to business! Haha!”
I let out an easy laugh and carried right on.
”Mainly here to check the brass from Reversi and Chess, and to buy a load of food and supplies. Wouldn’t mind picking up some horses and cattle too if we can manage it. Oh, and we’d love it if you could help us find folks who want to move out to our territory.”
”People wanting to move? I’ve heard Lindrott territory is lowkey lacking NPC workers, but… what kind of crowd are you looking for?”
”Well, ideally young-no, wait. Ahem!
Anyone who wants to do an honest day’s work in our territory, or wouldn’t mind coming over, as long as they aren’t right troublemakers-we’ll take ’em all.”
”Oh my, that’s such a low-key wild standard, don’t you think?”
”Aye, well. We really are that desperate, like. Haha.”
I gave a bit of an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of my neck.
”Well then, how about me? I can do, like, any kind of admin work, period.”
Natalie smiled sweet as sugar, leaning in close.
”Whoa, hold on now-we’d love to have a lass like you, but you’re a proper core member of this Guild. There’s no way you’d come out to some tiny mountain village, is there? Don’t be pulling my leg like that.”
I laughed it off with a quick “Come on, stop messing about,” while Natalie gave me a thoughtful look for a fleeting second.
”…Oh, right-the Reversi and Chess earnings! I’ll go calculate the total right now, so please give me just a sec.”
With that, Natalie stepped smoothly away from her seat and left the room.
Well, it’s been a good few months, so there ought to be a decent bit of profit by now, I thought to myself, leaning back in my chair.
Maybe thirty to fifty gold coins? …Nah, that’s just being greedy, innit? It probably hasn’t caught on all that much yet. Worst case scenario, maybe we haven’t even made a single gold piece…
Ah well, if it’s not much, I’ll just spend whatever we’ve got on grain and veggies. I just hope I’ve saved enough to buy a nice little trinket for my little sister Misha at least…
”Big brother Alfred better bring back super pretty toys for Misha!” I could practically hear her sweet little voice chirping in my head.
While I was lost in thought, Natalie came back surprisingly fast, holding a neat slip of paper.
”Sorry for the wait! Here’s the exact amount we’re currently holding in your account.”
”…Whaaaat!?”
I did a proper double take, utterly unable to believe the massive number written right there on the page.
”…Natalie… are you pulling my leg…?”
”No cap, absolutely for real. The amount we’re holding for you is literally what’s written there-four thousand gold coins.”
”NOOOOO WAY!!!”
Elenora’s mouth dropped wide open, her eyes practically popping out of her skull.
Aye, anyone would make a face like that hearing a number so huge. I completely understood where she was coming from. That was enough brass to live like a king for a lifetime-heck, you’d never have to work another day as long as you lived…
…But hey, that’s really not a face an elegant lady should be making, Elenora.
”I say, do pull yourself together,” I whispered gently, dabbing her face with my handkerchief. “Wipe away that drool and snot, if you please. You’re quite ruining your lovely appearance.”
”…Guess I’m just right shocked at how much more it is than I bargained for,” I said, clearing my throat and turning back to the desk. “Anyway, I want to use this brass for trade-is it alright if we keep going?”
”Hehe, this is lowkey the first time I’ve ever seen you shook, Alfred! Reversi and Chess are selling out like crazy, and pre-orders are literally flooding in, so the bag is only going to get bigger. And as for the trade-as long as it’s done through this Guild, it’s totally valid.”
”That’s a right relief, that is. In that case, could you handle the heavy lifting for us, Natalie? Arrange the food, horses, and cattle on our behalf?”
Now it was Natalie’s turn to look properly stunned, her eyes blinking in surprise.
”…Wait, you’re leaving the whole process to me? Like, even negotiating with the merchants? The whole vibe?”
”Aye. I’ve never done any of that trading lark, so I don’t really get how it works. I’m trusting you with the lot. Can you manage that for us?”
”…I can. I totally can, but… whew. Okay, bet. …Well, if that’s the case, there’s one merchant I lowkey trust completely-would you like to meet them?”
And so, we asked Natalie to set up a meeting with her recommended merchant, leaving the Guild house behind us as we stepped out into the afternoon sun.
Trivia:
- Alfred’s humorous aside about Camilla hints at a deeper personal relationship beyond master-servant dynamics, suggesting potential romantic subplot development.
- Natalie’s aggressive information-gathering reveals the Commercial Guild operates as an intelligence network, not just a trade organization—business truly is information.
- Elenora’s repeated panicked reactions contrast sharply with Alfred’s calm composure, subtly establishing his growth as a capable leader who can handle diplomatic pressure.
- The narrator’s internal commentary directly addresses Elenora’s undignified reaction, revealing a close observational perspective and a teasing, almost protective familiarity with her.
- Alfred’s casual trust in Natalie—handing over all negotiation duties despite never having done it himself—highlights his practical leadership style and willingness to delegate to capable people.
- The staggering sum of 4000 gold coins contrasts sharply with Alfred’s modest expectation of 30-50, underscoring how wildly successful his board game ventures have become beyond his own awareness.