A new message appeared before Friedrich Medichin, whose lips had curved upward after succeeding in the mission to pass the bill.
[The ‘Search Engine’ Authority has been activated.]
[The ‘Resource Exploration’ Authority has been activated.]
‘Search Engine, and Resource Exploration?’
What a generous reward.
As Friedrich rejoiced, Merkl’s voice rang through his mind.
[Wow, congratulations! It was a fairly difficult Quest, you know.]
‘Holy shit, you scared me! Give me some warning before you come in, would you?’
[Hey, I told you, I am a god! What an insolent Proxy you are!]
After trading a blow each with the childish god, the insolent Proxy composed his expression and continued the conversation.
‘Anyway! If it is a Search Engine, is it something like the Akashic Records?’
[Not to that extent. It can only go up to the level of technology from twenty-first-century Earth, where you originally lived.]
‘That is a little disappointing, but...’
In this world, where technology had only reached a medieval level, that alone was more than enough.
Somewhat satisfied, he asked about the next gift.
‘If it is Resource Exploration, does that mean I can find regions where iron ore is buried?’
[That is right.]
‘Only that? Is there anything more?’
[Only that? Hey! Are you trying to negotiate with the God of Merchants right now? Do you know how much of an advantage that alone gives you? With a Search Engine and Resource Exploration, you are already starting more than halfway ahead, and you know it.]
‘Even so, I have to use Points for both of them, do I not?’
Perhaps that struck a nerve, because Merkl’s answer came a beat late.
[...Still, if you have plenty of Points, you can use them a lot!]
‘But I would still be using Points I earned myself. How stingy.’
At Friedrich’s provocation, Merkl let out a cry of astonishment.
[What, stingy...!?]
‘I am saying that because I cannot even use them without Points. Am I wrong?’
[Humans truly know no satisfaction, do they? If you could use abilities like that whenever you pleased, you would be a god, not a human.]
‘Well, that is true. In any case, I will use them well. God. Sir!’
After ending his conversation with Merkl, Friedrich organized his thoughts.
‘This worked out well.’
It was far better than not having them.
After all, the innovations Friedrich would bring about from now on would require an enormous amount of resources.
Having organized his thoughts neatly and simply, Friedrich lay down on the cot with his hands interlaced behind his head.
‘Once Merlin’s employment is confirmed, all the missions I have received so far will be finished. I would like to draw in the Elves and Dwarves living in Asteldorf as well, but I have no choice but to postpone that until later.’
In any case, the remaining two assignments his father had supposedly given the employees would ultimately be solved by Friedrich as well, and he would claim the rewards attached to them.
Because he was Friedrich Medichin, not a genius, but a twenty-first-century Earthling.
***
Meanwhile, Wilhelm, was enjoying tea and refreshments with the imperial assemblymen who stood to benefit from the passage of the Patent-Intellectual Property Law.
“As expected of Consul Wilhelm. How did you come up with such an exquisite bill?”
The question came from Alfonso, who fostered Merchant Caravans, artisans, and scholars including Mages in his Free City, and represented their interests.
At his question, Wilhelm smiled faintly and replied.
“As Mayor Alfonso knows, after our autonomous territory developed the Carrack Ship, we did quite a lot of good for other people, did we not? I still wake up in a start even now. I was afraid I would develop insomnia at this rate, so I proposed it this time.”
“Ahem...”
At Wilhelm’s blunt jab, Alfonso could not find any way to answer and merely coughed, staring off into the distance.
‘It seems it does prick his conscience. The nerve of these bastards with no business ethics.’
Unlike Wilhelm, who answered with such shameless ease, the mayors of other coastal Free Cities and the imperial assemblymen who had once been heads of large Merchant Caravans also could not say much, and merely coughed awkwardly. Perhaps it sounded as if he was singling out those who had produced Carrack Ships without permission.
As Wilhelm enjoyed the taste of his tea, using the embarrassed looks of those imperial assemblymen as seasoning, Orenje spoke.
“Even so, it was a very generous measure to prohibit retroactive application.”
Orenje’s words pleased Wilhelm.
Of course, it was not as if Wilhelm had done so out of goodwill. If he could collect intellectual property rights fees from those things even now, he would leap up even from sleep!
“This bill is something from which our Konzern and Etilant will enjoy the greatest benefit. Considering what we will pour out with our capabilities in the future, you should overlook the accumulated opportunity loss from the Carrack Ship.”
“Moreover, apart from our practical benefits, this bill will also capture the hearts of every Free City, Merchant Caravan, artisan, and scholar in the empire. Therefore, I believe the Young Master’s opinion is correct.”
However, after hearing Friedrich’s advice and thinking it over, Wilhelm had chosen the future ahead in exchange for giving up the past.
And the result was more satisfying than expected.
‘Since even that arrogant Orenje has changed his attitude right away, it seems I made the right choice.’
With his awful old friend Orenje changing his attitude, Wilhelm felt as if a decade-old case of indigestion had finally gone down. Stopping the bleeding competition was an added bonus.
In any case, once Orenje came out in a conciliatory manner, the others who had been watching the mood quickly began offering words of praise.
“We are grateful for Consul Wilhelm’s generous proposal, haha.”
“Indeed! Once again, I thank Mayor Wilhelm, who seeks to promote a constructive future, haha!”
“Yes. Let us pursue a more constructive future from now on, haha.”
Wilhelm was laughing heartily and drinking tea for now.
But the blade he held within was being tempered harder and sharper.
***
After dealing with that mob of beggars who had no business ethics, Wilhelm stopped by the Trading House to take care of work and returned to the encampment. Friedrich offered him his congratulations.
“Congratulations, Father.”
“Yes. Now I feel I have done what I ought to do as a father. Continue to learn well from now on, and let us make our Etilant the greatest in the empire, no! The greatest in Ers!”
“Of course.”
Wilhelm looked at Friedrich, who sat modestly before him, with pride.
“What is that?”
He was referring to the tremendous number of letters in Friedrich’s hands.
“They are letters of recommendation.”
“Letters of recommendation?”
“Letters of recommendation for Merlin. I just received them from Alfred.”
Just as he said, there were letters from each of the current deans at the Magic University guaranteeing Merlin’s identity. And that was not all.
“Cross-verification is important, is it not? I also prepared letters of recommendation sent by the deans from when Merlin was enrolled.”
“You really are... Just who did you take after...?”
Friedrich only smiled brightly at Wilhelm, who looked overwhelmed.
“Yes, let us take a look. Let us see what they say.”
Since Wilhelm had stopped by the Trading House at just the right time for matters concerning Merlin’s employment, he began opening the letter placed at the very top.
After a little time passed, a sigh escaped his lips.
“A ‘Cursed Genius,’ is it...?”
“Yes. According to my personal investigation as well, the achievements of the theories he established were outstanding. Some said he raised the efficiency of the Magic System by more than twenty percent.”
Wilhelm clicked his tongue after hearing that.
“Tsk. If he had only reached the 4th Circle, he would have ended up working at the Imperial Magic University Central Research Institute...”
So the nickname Cursed Genius was not for nothing.
What could he do with theory alone, no matter how excellent it was? He needed to be supported by the ability to verify it in practice.
To Wilhelm, a Merlin like that was an awkward asset, too valuable to throw away yet difficult to use.
However, if he used him as his eldest son’s hands and feet?
‘With a mind of that caliber, he can be made useful no matter what he does. He is valuable enough to attach to Friedrich.’
Not bad.
He would become a good comrade for Friedrich, who had only just begun to grow as the heir. Even if he could not use Magic well, that intellect would not disappear, so could he not be assigned Clerical Work at the very least?
‘And if he someday blossoms into his true ability, that would be good in its own way.’
Wilhelm, who did not give up on a person’s possibilities, held the same expectations for Merlin.
However, in front of his son, he put on a deliberately solemn expression.
“I will ask you one last time. Has your belief that this man is necessary remained unchanged?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Then what level of salary do you have in mind?”
At Wilhelm’s words, Friedrich shouted yes repeatedly inside.
‘Good! It is almost done.’
Hiding any sign of his delight, Friedrich spoke calmly.
“As I told you before, I will be satisfied if you recognize his true value and set it accordingly, Father.”
“Good. Bring Merlin here.”
Leibniz Merlin entered after Friedrich, who had gone to relay those words.
Entering the room with a face full of tension, he saw the many letters placed on Wilhelm’s desk.
‘Those are...’
The letters, clearly marked with the seal of the Imperial Magic University, seemed to sound like condemnations directed at him.
‘...Just how much slander did they write about me for the envelopes to be so thick?’
Merlin’s complexion darkened as he thought that even if the employment went through, the road ahead would not be smooth. Wilhelm asked him a question.
“Do you still intend to become my son’s faithful Companion?”
At Wilhelm’s words, which seemed to say that if he understood his place even now, he should leave, Merlin squeezed his eyes shut.
“Yes, Mayor. Lord Friedrich is the one who gave opportunity and hope to me when I was withering away. I have resolved to become a man of House Medichin even if it kills me, so I will gladly do even Menial Work.”
Wilhelm and Friedrich were startled by Merlin’s words, which carried a sense of determination, and looked at each other. To think such words had come from the mouth of that proud Mage.
Because he had learned Merlin’s true value thanks to his son, Wilhelm spoke quickly.
“Then let us write it. The Contract, that is.”
“Yes, Mayor.”
***
Wilhelm, Friedrich, and Merlin drew up the Contract.
Merlin had already made up his mind, no matter what unfavorable conditions might be included. Even so, he could not help being shocked when he saw the salary.
“This much?”
“There is no need to be surprised. I merely set your salary according to the work you will do and your working hours, in accordance with the laws and ordinances of our city and autonomous territory. The same is true of the allowance that will be paid for Overtime Work.”
Wilhelm spoke as if it were only natural, but Merlin looked as though he might faint from shock.
“This is the salary a 5th-Circle Mage would receive! But for me, who is only 1st Circle...!”
When Merlin tried to say it was far too much, Wilhelm waved his hand.
“I looked into you thoroughly before deciding. They called you the Cursed Genius.”
“...There was a time when I was called that.”
Perhaps because a painful topic had come up, Merlin’s face darkened.
“So, will you not sign the Contract?”
“There is no chance of that!”
Afraid that Wilhelm might change his mind, Merlin hurriedly picked up the quill and signed. Watching Merlin after he finished signing, Wilhelm revealed a satisfied smile.
“Congratulations. I entrust my son to you from now on.”
“I will serve him sincerely with all my heart.”
“I would be even more grateful if you did.”
Perhaps because the Contract had concluded without issue, Merlin, whose heart had eased somewhat, asked cautiously.
“However, may I ask why you employed me on such favorable terms? There surely could not have been anything good written about me.”
His gaze reached the letters from the Magic University still piled high, as if they were condemning him.
“What do you mean? Everyone recommended you. They asked me to help a pitiful alumnus and unfortunate pupil who had been unable to fully display his talent all this time, so that he might bloom even belatedly.”
“Truly?”
Merlin’s eyes widened at Wilhelm’s unexpected answer. Those former and current deans, none of whom had helped him, had written such words?
“Among them, the highlight was the letters sent by the people who served as deans of each School when you attended the Magic University. I thought they had all written them in collusion.”
“The deans wrote them in collusion?”
Wilhelm spoke to the bewildered Merlin with a gentle smile.
“They all said the same thing. They asked me to appoint you. One would think there might be at least one person who said he could not recommend you.”
Watching Merlin’s pupils tremble at those words, Wilhelm continued.
“The Magic University is an organization like any other, so it must have been difficult for them to look after you because of factional strife. They also wrote things they had wanted to say to you, so read them.”
No sooner had Wilhelm finished speaking than Merlin picked up the letters and unfolded them.
[...I am sorry I could not help you then, Merlin. Please forgive your inadequate teacher.]
[...Consul Wilhelm Medichin is a benevolent leader whom the residents of Etilant serve of their own accord. It is fortunate that you have formed a connection with the heir of such a person. I hope that, even now, you can freely unfold your talent to your heart’s content.]
“Hic... hngh...”
Merlin’s face grew wet with tears as he read down the letters.
After reading all the letters that had been carefully filled with apologies and encouragement, Merlin’s face was a mess of tears and snot.
“Hhhk! ...Waaah!”
After reading the letters, the dam of anger and sorrow that had built up within Merlin all this time burst apart.
Before Wilhelm and Friedrich, who were both younger than he was, he was now crying his heart out like a child who had found the parents he had lost.
At that sight, a surge of hot resolve rose within Wilhelm, along with pity.
‘How wronged must he have felt, pushed aside for no reason other than lacking Circles? I will make sure no one like him exists in our land. Absolutely!’
An unfortunate genius who had finally come into the light.
Watching him weep, Friedrich also shared his sorrow and strengthened his own resolve.
‘He is my person now, so I will make sure he is never ignored again. The same goes for the others who will come in the future!’
In his previous life as well, Friedrich had taken care of the comrades-in-arms with whom he had shared hardship and joy through all manner of dangerous operations, both materially and emotionally. He firmed his resolve and wrapped Merlin’s hand in both of his own.
“There, that is enough tears! Hurry and take your Contract, Merlin. Then you can work with me, right?”
At Friedrich’s bright smile, as he even stroked the back of Merlin’s hand as if to comfort him, Merlin sniffled and nodded.
‘That boy, really...’
To Wilhelm, Friedrich’s mature appearance as he comforted Merlin, who was older than himself, looked admirable.
‘If it is that child, he will surely become a splendid leader. Perhaps...’
In Wilhelm’s mind, the outline of a new history to be written by breaking through the worn-out ceiling of the Astella Empire was slowly taking shape.