Hachinan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou!

Master. Today its the construction work of the harbours dredging. (Roderich)

Got it. Lets carry it out in a hurry. (Wendelin)

Since the beginning of the Savage Lands development around 30 days have passed.

During that time, except one week of having a break, I continued to use engineering magic running about in the Savage Lands terrain.

In order to make the establishment of cities and villages possible right away, I carry out flattening of the land, reinforcement of the ground and assignments of areas.

Constructing roads connecting those, cultivating huge fields and paddy fields, digging out irrigation channels, building mud walls to ward off wild animals and creating drains.

All sorts of flood-control works for the rivers, extracting stones from rocky mountains and cutting lumber from within the forests.

While performing a large-scaled salt making along the coast as well, I construct at the same time the foundation works for harbours for shipping in various sizes at more than 10 locations.

It was also necessary to build a dredging at the bottom of the sea so that large ships would be able to dock there. There also has been the foundation work to construct a port city.

Also, if you depart towards the ocean, there are dozens of small and large islands. Since there are large quantities of wild sugar-canes growing there, harbours, villages and cities became necessary in order to use those for agriculture.

By the way, there are locations of mines drawn on masters map, but (Roderich)

If its this Savage Lands, its quite wealthy in mineral resources, right? (Wendelin)

They are in complicated areas. The difficult mines with deposits and contents had their resources collected until they turned into abandoned mines for the sake of my magic training.

The rest of the mines, which can easily be mined even with human power, are only documented on the map as places to be investigated.

Such mines have become my training targets for the practising of extraction magic and the usage of magic in order to raise the magic capacity.

As a matter of fact, the method, which has the best efficiency in raising mana, was to simply gather iron sand in the ground, thats suitable around there.

I only collect what can be collected and at the end I remove the impurities from that lump of iron.

This method seems to be one used by master during his childhood.

And, shouldering the completed lump of iron and selling it to a blacksmith apparently changed it into his pocket money.

Incidentally, I preferred the method of only collecting certain metals from the rocky mountains, which contain barely all sorts of metals, and the process of refining mithril by charging silver with mana.

I will arrange for people urgently. However, magic is something frightening. (Roderich)

Usually a large-scale research group, including mining engineers, will be dispatched and it will become necessary to carefully investigate for at least several months.

But, if you investigate with magic, you will end up knowing even the kinds of metals, possible to be collected, the rough contents and the deposits.

Therefore, a mining engineer, who is able to use detailed detection magic, seems to have a busy job to the degree of being rebuked by his schedule until his death.

Anyway, the development is currently priority number one. (Wendelin)

Thats true. (Roderich)

Lets also have a drinking party at Arnos roast giblets shop tonight. (wendelin)

Thats great. (Roderich)

After I transfer Erws group, who forms a party and goes to the Demon Forest, in the morning, I leap to the construction site of Baulburg.

There I listen to Roderich regarding todays job details.

Jumping to the actual site and carrying out the work, I complete several requests depending on the circumstances and once it becomes evening, I will go to receive Erws group once again.

According to the day, there are also situations, where I will have dinner with Roderichs group and the other construction staff.

Generally we enjoy the provided meals and alcohol, but once in a while we also ate out.

Be that as it may, currently there are no professional restaurants in Baulburg.

Since there are people, being sharp sighted at recognising a business opportunity, pulling pseudo-food carts, there were many things to eat there.

My particular favourite was the roast giblets food cart.

The shopkeeper at that place cheaply buys the intestines of prey, which came out at hunts and wild animal exterminations, and processing these carefully, he serves them in stew and grilled on a skewer.

There are three types of tastes, salt,misoand soy sauce. It also became a popular store among the other construction staff.

While drinking sake with high alcohol percentage and eating dishes possessing deliciousness although being made out of inferior ingredients, they are talking about various things in seats, which are filled by nothing but guys.

Its not like Im particularly homosexual, but the thing called a drinking party, including the dirty jokes only told by men, was something enjoyable as well.

Its pretty fun, but

I just now remembered it, I, Im an adventurer, right? (Wendelin)

Yes, master is an adventurer. (Roderich)

Although Im an adventurer, I feel like I have done nothing else but public works in the Savage Lands for more than three months.

Can you really call this the work of an adventurer?

This is a combined request of the engineering guild and the adventurers guild. (Roderich)

Currently the adventurers guild had actually started a branch in Baulburg, although its nothing more than a shack.

Accordingly the engineering guild has contacted Roderich and the request, to proceed the construction at that place albeit being difficult due to ferocious wild animals appearing there, was accepted by him.

After the adventurers guild received a message, the request has been passed to me.

A part of the commission will be paid to the adventurers guild as handling fee and I will receive a reward after completing the job.

On the occasion, the engineering guild will take a share from that as well.

Legally speaking you couldnt even call that a job as adventurer.

I see, if its also a job from the adventurer guild as if! (Wendelin)

It wasnt the work of an adventurer at all.

Thanks to that, I ended up being told something like If its Wend, you are are an engineering worker, isnt that right? by Erw.

Even Erwin says something cruel. (Roderich)

Erw is cruel, but I believe that you are cruel as well, Roderich. (Wendelin)

Although I became the family head of the Earl Baumeister household after being told that I wouldnt need to work as feudal lord, the next requests were only development construction works.

Master, public works arent the job of a feudal lord. (Roderich)

You, arent you recently very calm? (Wendelin)

Since we wont make any progress, even if we quarrel like this, I try to ask him a single question about something, I remembered.

Be that as it may, lately Ive generally done flood-control works for the rivers. But that hasnt been finished up at all, has it? (Wendelin)

What I was in charge of were only foundation works, that take the most time and are important for efficiency.

Just around a week ago I did construction work, taking 3 days, at a river that was considerably distant from here. But the finishing construction work hasnt started at all.

Changing the flow of the river, dredging the riverbed, creating anti-flood ponds and building an embankment with dredged earth and sand. Although it was troublesome, the construction work hasnt finished, has it? (Wendelin)

At least I want them to construct reinforcements made out of concrete and stones for the embankment.

It will be alright for a while, if no great, heavy floods come, as it is a workmanship to that degree. As for the construction work, there is an order of precedence. (Roderich)

Even now, after the completed harbour in the outskirts of Baulburg, a large amount of people and materials will be brought in by magic airships.

Also, in addition, small magic airships will transport materials to various planned construction sites of cities. The building of houses and the establishment of large-scaled farms is advancing as well.

Also, the construction of the road network covering the terrain of the Savage Lands and the construction of several port cities even along the coast, which passed through the Demon Forest, is starting.

It was decided to not do the opening the Demon Forest by splitting it into three parts due to the current dangers in the end.

There are many precious monsters and produces. We discussed opening up the centre of the forest and leave the west and east as they are, but the monsters and the vegetation inhabiting the centre and the other two parts are completely different.

If the control was destroyed by unskilfully defeating the reigning master, there would be a danger of monsters, who left the domain, pouring into the centre of the Savage Lands and the coast-lands in great numbers.

In the end, knowing that this matter is no problem, if you move by magic airship in a height of more than several hundred meters above ground, we are currently running an experiment of a service of small magic airships cruising between inland districts and coastal areas periodically.

And the construction of harbours was done at several places as well.

If you ask why Im aware of it, its because it was me, who did the foundation works.

The Demon Forest has many valuable monsters and produces.

Therefore it is opened to adventurers and hunting is recommended. Selling those raw materials wholesale to the adventurers guild, taxes will be collected from the guild.

Its for the sake of such plan, huh? The adventurers guild has already dispatched branches at several cities under construction near the Demon Forest. Adventurers have been diving into the Demon Forest at once.

However, apparently several victims already appeared due to the unfamiliar monsters.

The reason for proceeding with masters foundation works is that even if master wasnt able to receive any public works requests for several months, it wouldnt cause a delay in the development project. (Roderich)(T/N: That man got a way with his words, lucky for him that our MC isnt smart)

It will be fine if they intensely carry out such things like the finishing of construction work during the time Im not here.

It seems the acceleration of me doing foundation works was for that reason.

(Roderich might be in fact more suited to be a noble than me) (Wendelin)

Im fully satisfied with being masters retainer. (Roderich)

As a matter of fact, I was told If Roderich feels inclined, even the restoration of the Baron Rckner household is by Minister Rckner, but Roderich didnt seem to have that in mind in the slightest.

Even considered realistically, there is no way I want to succeed something like a household, which committed such disgraces. Even thinking about the profits, the state of being masters retainer is exceedingly better by far. (Roderich)

Under the condition of entrusting him with the post of governor, Roderich would be paid with a large wage as long as he is in that position.

The amount of money was at a level that there are appointed Earls in the capital saying I want to change with him.

Seeing that it is a 100% subcontracting, it was also necessary to pay him a reward corresponding with that during that time.

Once I begin my work as feudal lord after retiring as adventurer, its likely necessary to reduce his wages.

According to the schedule, I will leave it to you for around 20 years. (Wendelin)

I will do my best as it is work worth doing. (Roderich)

I see. Thats great. (Wendelin)

While saying so, I take out a large quantities of things similar to booklets from my magic bag and hand them to Roderich.

Their number probably exceeds 500.

Roderich was apparently surprised by their weight.

Master. This is? (Roderich)

Those are formal marriage interview photos. (Wendelin)

Cameras exist in this world.

Since its a magic tool, that exists only as item produced in ancient times, no one but those at the level of royalty, large nobility and wealthy merchants possessed them, however nobles often used it for formal marriage interview photos.

Given that the revival of film production techniques were luckily a success, nobles purchase film from their patrons, go to the mansions of the nobles, introduced by their patrons, and make photos of them.

The weakness of film was its expensive price at around 1000 cent, but it seems that nobles, who dont want to lose to their rivals at any costs, motivate themselves and ask for photos of their daughters and younger sisters.

Even for the marriage partner it appears to be convenient since they will get to know the face of the other party.

With the reason of not knowing the face of their partner, if they arent an acquaintance, even if they are told Our daughter is beautiful by the other party of the marriage interview, the natural result was that it was easy to determine whether they are really pretty, if theres a photo.

The number is large. (Wendelin)

Nooo, the number has increased. (Roderich)

Roderich, who is the head retainer serving as governor in the Earldom Baumeister, was flooded by marriage talks.

At the same time, marriage talks several times that came to me as well, but Roderich, who is a person who doesnt particularly mind, ended up changing all of them into marriage talks intended for him.

After all, the hurdle If you want to be my wife, its no good if you arent able to hunt in the Demon Forest seems to be a very effective strategy.

Roderich, you will become even more busy from now on, if you dont marry quickly. (Wendelin)

That is, Im aware of that, but (Roderich)

Once Roderich opens one booklet for one reason or another, there was a still very young girl photographed there.

Master (Roderich)

I hear shes Minister Rckners granddaughter. (Wendelin)

He decided to push his eight years old granddaughter, he tried to push onto me before, onto Roderich without hesitation.

It might seem heartless, but there was a proper reason for that, too.

Its because the Rckner family has parted from their valuable appointed Baron title, they owned. They dont want to lose it, do they? (Wendelin)

Seeing that Roderich said that he wouldnt succeed it, they want the child, made with this granddaughter, to do so instead.

This seems to be Minister Rckners idea.

It will be troublesome if a deviation occurs with the power distribution of his noble colleagues in the same financial affairs faction. (Roderich)

High-ranking nobles are troublesome. (Wendelin)

Even though there was confrontation between the brothers, there is the notion to keep that appointed Baron household within the Rckner familys framework.

Although theres also a feeling that its fine for it to be confiscated due to the disgraces committed, it seems that there has been some kind of conclusion in the discussions between the 5 big finance affairs faction households.

If they oppose it unskilfully, that framework will also be taken by another family. This time it has ended up becoming the target of another finance affairs faction household.

Since the profits are low and a futile strife will only incur costs, they have mutually guaranteed an extent of interests for each other.

If you are unifying the collusions at the top, it will be easy to fend off an upheaval from upstart nobles. (Roderich)

Roderich, who had troubles with government service thanks to that, sighs, but I hear that its me, who defeated the dragons and started the development of the Savage Lands, that is breaking down his feelings of entrapment by the strict noble society.

Such being the case, for the sake of preserving the Baron household, Minister Rckner got stuck with increasing interests split to the other 5 big finance affairs faction households. (Wendelin)

If he doesnt preserve that Baron household neither of them will profit. But, if its a political marriage of convenience with me (Roderich)

Roderich realized that it was impossible to refuse and sighed grandly.

Regarding that point, Im the senior. With that girl as legal wife, you have to accept at least one more person afterwards. Well, I will be going hunting from tomorrow onwards. I plan to do so for around 1 week. (Wendelin)

Maaaaasster~~~! (Roderich)

Doooo your best~~~! (Wendelin)

Leaving Roderich, who cries while holding a bundle of marriage interview photos, I transferred to the construction site with teleportation in one go.

Wend is a villain as well.

No, no, as master I must have my head retainer marry and raise a family. With such a reason, Erw, too. (Wendelin)

The next day I went to the construction work as planned neglecting Roderich, who screamed while holding the marriage interview photos. I prepared to leave to the Demon Forest with Erws group.

Since its hunting after approximately three months, I was told Its great you were able to come in that situation by Erw.

I have explained the detailed circumstances of the development situation, including the matter of the formal marriage interview of Roderich.

Thereupon Erw treated me, who pushed a large amount of marriage interview photos onto Roderich, as heartless guy.

Why? Why me as well? (Erwin)

Thats only obvious! You are my guard captain! (Wendelin)

Although he has considerable skill in swordsmanship, Erws official position was changed to guard captain since its still impossible for him to be the commander of the feudal army with him having the same age as me.

Since I can still continue the adventurer trade, it became Erws job to always act as my guard without separating from me.

Probably he is thinking that he must be in my surroundings, due to his work as guard, even if I retire as adventurer, but since he plans to learn about the work related to the army, we decided that he will join the top brass of the feudal army sooner or later.

I still dont want to marry or such. (Erwin)

Impossible! Just impossible! (Wendelin)

However, he was taught an evil past-time by Burkhart-san.

Previously Erw had been apparently guided to the pleasure quarter in the capital by Burkhart-san. He seems to be thinking that the way of irresponsibly playing around is more interesting than getting married and raising a family.

Even Wend wants to still play around, I guess? (Erwin)

(Wendelin)

Given that its impossible to deny that, I kept silent.

It will be a disaster, if a strange woman comes forth stating something like Its Earl Baumeisters child after messing around at such place.

Also, I believe Erw should make such statements after properly looking at his surroundings.

Eh? What? What was that about womanising?

Erw, Id like you to not talk Wend into strange things.

Erw-san, Wendelin-sama obtained a position with responsibilities. Its different when its a concubine, but playing around with women is no good. (Elise)

Surrounded by Ina, who is setting up her spear, Luise, who is cracking her fists next to him, and Elise, who prepares her mace she doesnt usually use, Erws face became ghastly pale and he was drenched in cold sweat.

Furthermore, in spite of usually joining Erws group in the hunting, Burkhart-san seems to be absent on urgent business today.

Although his merit is having a good sense in such things, he didnt know that he might be the most likely cause since he is an older and fashionable man.

Playing around? Tree climbing, fishing or such? (Wilma)

You know, Wilma. Its not that kind of playing around.

Wilma, who had publicly become my fourth fiance recently, in spite of having asked me whether I wanted her to attend me at night at the time we met for the first time, apparently had no knowledge of such things.

It looked like she didnt quite understand the reason for Inas group getting angry as playing around equals to her to no more than the feeling of a childs way of things.

Anyway, lets go to the Demon Forest with this line-up today. Well then, Erw, here you go. (Wendelin)

Whats this? (Erwin)

Marriage interview photos. At least choose two of them. (Wendelin)

Why? Me, who is no more than the fifth son of a poor Knight, is (Erwin)

Erw became speechless due to me handing him around 200 marriage interview photos.

Even those were sent through Margrave Breithilde.

He has left it to me since its troublesome, but even though things might appear this way, those have been carefully selected according to him.

All of them, bringing marriage interview photos, were stressing the beauty of their younger sisters and daughters to me. I, who have been listening to all of it, am quite patient, am I not? (Breithilde)

Certainly, I wouldnt want to spend time for such a thing.

In my time as trading company worker I was invited to the home of my senior on my holiday and he only boasted about his daughter, who had just been born, and his wife. It might be a feeling similar to that time.

My and Erws situations are different. I guess thats only natural. As much as possible I want you to decide on a partner in around a month. (Wendelin)

I have no right to veto, huh? (Erwin)

There is no way for such thing to be there. (Wendelin)

It was unthinkable to permit a situation of him having no children or such while becoming a chief retainer of an Earl in possession of territory.

An existence like Burkhart-san is a rarely found exception.

Wend, you demon! (Erwin)

Whatever you say! Set up the schedule of the formal marriage interview together with Roderich. (Wendelin)

Including Erw, who carried a large amount of marriage interview photos, we transfer by teleportation to the entrance of the Demon Forest with our party.

Its where we always go, the entrance on the coasts side of the forest on the west side, where you can pick huge fruits. Its the place where the construction of a port city is on the way and its in the midsts of advancing the construction of a harbour, which will also be capable to handle large ships.

Wend, over there is the branch of the adventurers guild.

Its worn-out.

Theres no problem if they can carry out the reception tasks.

Ahead, where Luise is pointing at, there is the branch of the adventurers guild even though its a crude hut. Several adventurers were coming and going from there.

Carrying out the procedures of their change of their base of activity, it appears to be no problem even if its a hut since they are only buying the adventurers loot.

Even a storage, where they place the bought articles, isnt necessary because they have magic bags.

Also, things, like dismantling the monsters, seem to be currently done at a facility in the capital.

However, there are more people than expected

Even if its dangerous, the profits are large. (Ina)

As Ina says, because there are unique monsters and things to collect, there were many adventurers moving to the east and west side of the Demon Forest, even if the level of risk is high.

Its seems it has lead to quite a few victims, but there are also skilled parties returning having obtained results.

Since they are adventurers, even if they die in vain, they will gain a large amount of money, if they produce results.

This was completely at their own risk.

Now that you mention it, didnt the items, obtained at the early explorations, sell for a high price?

Yes. Hermann-san tanked us as well.

During the time I was struggling hard as engineering adventurer, Inas group went to focus on hunting and collecting in the Demon Forest.

As result, we were able to put the raw material of the monster up in an auction in the capital and they were sold for a large sum of money. I heard it was the same for some kinds of fruits as well.

Currently, in confectionery shops and ingredient shops aimed at wealthy clients, the fruits themselves and the desserts, made using those, are apparently selling like hot cakes in spite of the very high price.

Naturally there were many adventurers coming here aiming for those.

However, there were also things, which were unmanageable to be used, right? Wend handled them somehow though.

That was the cacao fruit, but since its simply a fruit with a seed, if you dont know the accurate method to process them, its something Ina, who also worried about it, understands well.

If its cocoa and chocolate, those are delicious although they are expensive

I have told the recipe to Artur-san. Even the chocolate and cocoa, he took upon himself to produce with confection artisans, who are able to keep a secret, has also the issue of having a single ingredient, milk, that originally was a high-class item. Those became seriously high-priced items.

After taking out the fruit of the flesh and the seed of cacao respectively, the seeds are fermented by wrapping them in leaves of banana and after roasting it at low temperature, the germs in the seeds coat will be gone or something like that.

More or less I had studied it since my company, during my time as worker in the trading company, also did imports, but leaving all of the actual work to professional confections artisans, they created something great after failing a few times.

Thanks to that it became possible to get high-priced cocoa and chocolate in the capital for free, even including a patent fee, from Artur-san.

Its as Ina-chan says. You will just end up overeating.

Hot chocolate is delicious, right?

Chocolate is tasty.

No matter in which world, women have apparently the same sweet tooth.

It reached the point of our female camp bringing cocoa and chocolate as handheld food.

In relation to quality, it has ended up in large quantities in my magic bag now, before that it was in Burkhart-sans.

Lets go collect cacao fruits.

Actually theres a lot of demand for it.

Yesterday Erw had induced us to look at the bulletin board placed in that shack called adventurers guild, however Artur-san put out a request that he will buy them for a lot money, if you brought them in, since there arent enough cacao fruits.

Well, then it will mainly be cacao fruits.

Naturally there will be monster attacks during the collection work, but thats called the fate of an adventurer.

Since they will become profits, if we hunt those monsters, its convenient, if you are skilful as adventurer.

Until yesterday Burkhart-san was there. Today Wend will be here. Thats greatly reassuring.

If an adventurer party has powerful magicians, the efficiency of hunting will definitely be different.

There wasnt any need to even talk about safety.

So, Erws group is the top party around here? (Wendelin)

Pretty much. We got a pair of wooden clogs for Burkhart-san to wear. (Erwin)

That person was an elite adventurer to begin with.

Therefore his efficiency in hunting is completely different.

Dont expect too much from me, whos still inexperienced as adventurer. (Wendelin)

Oh my, oh my, the dragon-slaying hero-san is unexpectedly modest.

Whos there? (Wendelin)

Since someone suddenly cut into our conversation, I begin to search for the owner of that voice.

Once I turn around to the rear, from where the voice came, I saw a young woman standing there.

Im called Katharina Linda von Waigel(T/N: >> Katarina Rinda fon Vaigeru <<). (Katharina) I have immediately noticed that this woman is a magician. Moreover, she should be possessing quite the skill and magic capacity. Her age is around 18 years, I guess? Also, another unusual thing is the violet hair, which extended until around her hips, and the type of ringlet curls, which are similar to the ones of ojou-sama characters in past shoujo mangas. On her head she had an Alice band, which had several light blue gems attached to it. (Although they seem to be jewels, those are magic gems, huh?) (Wendelin) Its likely something prepared for the time she used up her mana. Also, on her fingers there were rings put on with several magic gems inserted. She dons an attire with parts of the fluttering skirt and strings being made out of white cloth and a red leather dress, which can be considered to be custom made. On a first glance it can be seen as unfit appearance for an adventurer, but the material used is soft dragon leather, which is an item with exceeding physical and magical defence power, I analysed. Obviously she has spent an eye-popping amount of money, however she is likely an elite magician earning that much income. In addition, she is wearing dark-brown long boots, which can be considered to be made out of the same dragon leather, and she is grasping a long, rod-shaped wand, with a length of around 2 meters, in her hand, but I felt a terribly feeling of discomfort towards her appearance. (Wend, she is a descendant of fallen nobility, I believe.) (Erwin) The details, Erw whispered in a low voice into my ears, are probably without doubt the truth. It has been approximately 2.000 years since the history of the Helmut kingdom has started. During that time many noble household were created, but at the same time a number of fallen and ruined noble households in itself is existing as well. They, who lost their peerage and territory, are of course no nobles anymore, but they have the pride of their noble lineage in the olden days and are hoping to restore their rank in due time. There were many people, who havent removed the von from their name. (You can realize that just by looking). (Wendelin) Even though things might appear this way, I lived in the capital for close to 3 years as well. Even I reached the point of at least being able to distinguish real and fake nobles. As for her, there are several women existing wearing the ojou-sama-style ringlet hair style of noble daughters. Her face has also the appearance of being slightly harsh, but she was still a beautiful person having a noble face. Her skin was fair white as well. The equipment, she wears, is at the level of looking elegant. But, she had put on strange things unnecessarily. That is, she wore a snow white mantle, which could be considered to be likewise made out of the soft hair of young dragons. (If she were a real noble, that mantle would have been out). (Wendelin) In this Helmut kingdom there were very strict rules about wearing a mantle. For the kingdom its natural for the family heads of Earl households and above, experienced generals in the army and active cabinet ministers. However, once a general retires from active duty, they wont be allowed to wear it anymore, and if a cabinet minister isnt the family head of an Earl household or above after resigning, then they wont be allowed to wear one either. Also, it goes without saying, but women didnt have that privilege. Once in a while those like commoners seem to put a mantle on with a feeling of fashion and playing around just because they want to show off, but that doesnt make royalty and the nobles raise their corner of the eyes either. The reason being; Since the rule for wearing one is too strict, commoners and such will end up being completely out of place by wearing something like a mantle and thus will be considered unnatural right away. If you tried to become elated by wearing a mantle, you wouldnt hear anything but small laughters from your surroundings. For young people like that it has become a custom to consign their past appearance of wearing a mantle to the oblivion of dark history. (Even Wend isnt wearing one). (The current me is to the bitter end an adventurer). (Wendelin) Moreover, when it comes to wearing a mantle, it has been a rule for the kingdom to provide everything, including even spare mantles. Since I had been expressly born into a noble household, I want to become an existence, who is bestowed a mantle by His Majesty, if possible is what nobles, who have ambitions, believe. By the way, I was granted one by His Majesty as well, but I wasnt wearing it right now as Im currently doing work as adventurer. I had only worn it 2~3 times at occasions such as territory inspections. When Im acting as adventurer, I dont put one on. Even the guilds side will treat me as normal adventurer as much as possible at the time I dont wear a mantle. This had been decided by me and the guilds side. (But, that mantle is a nice item). It was an overwhelming high-class item in comparison to the one provided by the kingdom. Its also an article of rare beauty you can expect to bolster a high defence against magic. But, the fact of a female body being clad in it itself was proof that she isnt a noble. So, what kind of business do you have with us, Waigel-san? (Wendelin) I wanted to extend my greetings as adventurer being in the same trade. (Katharina) Why yes, thank you. (Wendelin) However, her expression couldnt be seen as anything but obviously burning with the spirit to oppose me. With a height of around 170 cm, she is approximately 5 cm smaller than me. Brimming with pride, she tried to display a manner of looking down on me even with her sight. Also, her figure is fairly nice. He chest is slightly smaller than Elises. If there wasnt her forceful gaze, which is an ill-fit with her attire, she would be an existence deserving to be called a completely beautiful girl. Although you defeated two dragons, Wendelin-san, you are still an amateur as adventurer. (Katharina) Haa (Wendelin) Even I, myself, am well aware of that matter, but what will come from expressly pointing that out? Just as Im wondering about this oddity, Erw points out her intention in a whisper. (Although you came here to change your hunting ground, Im in a higher position than you, is what she wants to say). (Erwin) Although its fine if we earn our achievements by hunting on our own accord since we are adventurers, why has this woman, with an attitude similar to provoking me, appeared, I wonder? I have a feeling that she is wasting time and effort pointlessly. (Theres many such people, right?) (Luise) Luise murmurs to me in a whisper as well, but certainly, there are many people like that among adventurers. To begin with, since its an industry having an evaluation by society raging from the best to the worst due to the sly old foxes at the top, rather than strangely self-conscious people, theres a fixed number of people, who end up being worried, if they dont confirm their own abilities and standing constantly. (Also, she might think about the aspect of you being a noble, Wend). She, who might be a descendant of fallen nobles, gave her full name at the time of introducing herself. Currently we are ruined, but in the near future it will certainly change or Currently Im a commoner, but I wont forget my pride of having nobles as ancestors. There were many descendants of fallen nobles, who have decided to not give up their former names for such reasons. Given that there are things they ended up losing in the past, they are yearning and obsessing over those too much, I guess. (Also, I believe she is jealous of you without a doubt, Wend). (Ina) With Inas comment at the end, all of Katharinas attitude was noted down. A magician of her level is very likely to become a noble sooner or later. Even at worst, she should have the leeway to at least become a retainer, with the possibility of that title being hereditary, of some noble household. However, that has the condition if you are a man attached. In this Helmut Kingdom the probability of bestowing peerage to a woman was almost zero. Occasionally, someone like the daughter of greater nobility or royalty received such thing ending it within one generation, but naturally, for her, who had this mismatched elegantly styled appearance, it was something absolutely unattainable. No matter how many achievements as magician she obtains, she can never become a noble. Oh, with the limit being that a noble of a small territory ushers her in as bride so that she can earn income as mercenary, even something like legal wife was impossible for her in the first place. I think it will become understandable if you look at my familys home, it was common sense that a noble, no matter how poor they might even be, will only accept a daughter of a noble as legal wife. (I guess she doesnt give a damn). As descendant of fallen nobility she should probably be aiming for the restoration of her house. And, with me being the eighth son of a poor noble, my descendants should usually have fallen to commoner status. Although I became an Earl, which was pointed out to society alongside my ability in magic, she is an adventurer, albeit a first-class one. She dispels those gloomy feelings by confirming that shes above me. Its an often heard story. Hearing of the hunting ground here, I came visiting. When Im active, it will occasionally cause people to become pitiable. (Katharina) Since earning your own share will decrease the shares of other adventurers, she apologizes ahead in time to the people, who will become the target of that. I see, she has quite the confidence, and at the same time of thinking that, she seems to pick a fight with me. Dont worry. This Demon Forest is vast. (Wendelin) Its different from other small places, where the number of monsters had decreased. This Demon Forest has a row of hidden parts in comparison to other domains. It was unlikely that the number of prey would decrease or such for quite some time. Besides, how much one takes and how much one earns, doesnt really matter, right? (Wendelin) Theres nothing like a ranking system in the adventurers guild. Such things as how much one earns and how much fees were paid to the guild werent ever officially announced. It will make it easy for strange folks to shadow and aim at adventurers, who have money. Given that it will be troublesome, if the fee paid to the guild decreases thanks to the time it takes to shake off those people, theres no way that the guilds side will ever announce it. However, it is well known that theres naturally gossip about the names of great adventurers. It was only this much though. In the first place adventurers have the objective of The goal isnt to earn more money than others. How much do I earn myself?. I had absolutely no motivation to compete with her. If both of us do our best, results will appear for each of us. Isnt that much fine? (Wendelin) Well, you have quite the confidence, havent you? (Katharina) Though, Im someone who doesnt want to compare himself to others. That feeling seems to be strong in her. She particularly felt strongly that she doesnt want to lose against me, too. Rather than confidence, isnt that only hunting and gathering by diving into a domain? (Wendelin) Oh my. The dragon-slaying hero-san seems to be a honour student having a strong point in giving exemplary answers. (Katharina) You know (Erwin) Even though Erw unintentionally offers a comment, she didnt even face Erw with her sight. Your flunk looks to be noisy. (Katharina) !! Due to the abusive language she continuously spills out, the enraged Erw wants to leap at her, but Luise and Ina prevented that. You. You suddenly come starting a conversation and then insult the party members of people? Is the inside of your brain alright? Same to you, theres a limit to being jealous with your king of the mountain pretence. No matter how you look at it, the talk continues into a situation of crashing against each other, but gradually Im able to understand what she is wishing for. Undoubtedly she wanted to prove her being above me by having a match against me. And she wants to make it known to the society, that she, a woman, is a greater adventurer than me. She wanted to grasp something to use as foothold for reviving her household. In short, she wants to appeal herself to society to gain a reputation. She is provoking me on purpose for that very reason. You are quite roundabout. Isnt it fine to say so if you want a match? But (Wendelin) Yes. Even if I do something like a magic bout in a plain with you, it wont even result in a single cent. (Katharina) She appears to have at least that level of reasoning. On this continent the number of magicians is extremely insufficient. Therefore, something like a duel resembling a formal combat of fellow magicians, let alone the scornful laughter by the authorities, there was even the possibility to be punished, if one is unlucky. Lets go with the appraised value of one days worth of prey. (Wendelin) As adventurers this kind of contest is the most appropriate one. (Katharina) Also, even if fellow magicians combat with spells in a place with no people, theres also the extremely rational reason that it wont produce anything while simply being a waste of mana. Well, then until the end of the day? I dont mind if you end the hunting earlier once you ran out of mana either. (Katharina) Thats something you, who has less mana than me, has to worry about. (Wendelin) As for mana, it doesnt mean its all fine just because you simply have a lot of it. (Katharina) Having said that, I predict her amount of mana to be in quite the upper regions, even at the advanced level. Moreover, because the other side was above me in experience as adventurer, it was completely impossible for me to be careless. You know. In my role as bodyguard I cant agree to this at all though. (Erwin) Be that as it may, if Erws group comes along, the fairness of the match will be impeded. (Wendelin) Besides, since she is pretty much of noble origin, it was necessary to carry out the accepted match fair and square. Its only for today. (Wendelin) Uuh I will be scolded by Roderich-san (Erwin) If thats the case, leave it to me! (Armstrong) In Erws opinion, it wont do if he cant protect me at all times and thus he apparently cant approve me acting independently or such. However, from my point of view, it is unthinkable to consider that woman doing something dishonest. Following the claims of both parties, that person suddenly swoops down here once again alongside the sound of a meteorite crashing. Of course he created a shock wave alongside his drop. Even that woman got stuck with holding down the skirt part of her dress with both hands. Doushi, huh? Umm, why are you here like this today? (Wendelin) Who is it all of a sudden? (Katharina) Im the Royal Head Magician! I will act as referee for this match! (Armstrong) You will be troubled if something happens to the beginner Earl Baumeister-dono, Armstrong-doushi-sama. (Katharina) Surprisingly, this woman didnt show a disturbed appearance seeing doushi at all either. In the capital his degree of recognition was high, but once you go to the countryside, theres only few people, who are aware of doushis face and outer appearance. Thanks to that, arbitrarily thinking that he is a beautiful middle-aged man or handsome, good-looking man, the number of women and children, being lost for words after seeing the real thing, were endless. Arent you a girl with quite the guts! As you said, I will be troubled if something happens to Earl Baumeister! Being on surveillance, I plan to nab it, if something does happen! (Armstrong) Well, I guess thats fine. If that happened, the match would doubtlessly become my win. (Katharina) I guess so, but thats only in the worst case. Im not worried at all! Well, then lets start the match! (Armstrong) At the same time of the starting signal, she and me will simultaneously begin to move into the Demon Forest with high speed flight. Rather than waiting for prey to approach the entrance, there will be a lot of game at points inside, where humans still havent entered. Ah, thats right. I leave the cacao fruits at those points to Erws group. (Wendelin) I understood, but. (Erwin) If its Wend, he is truly more worried about cacao than the match. Since Wend isnt here, Wilma and me will protect the party. Cacao is truly necessary for chocolate as well. Just before the flight I issued instructions to Erws group to pick cacao fruits at points close to the entrance. Influenced by the match with that woman, I will enter inside because it will raise the appraised value by especially hunting monsters. Good grief, although I have been told by Artur-san that he wants as many as possible (Wendelin) He was also buying them through the guild from those like other adventurers, but it seems the demand isnt covered at all. He told me he bought all of them just as they were picked up. Wendelin-sama, I will pray for your safety and good fortune. (Elise) Leave it to me. (Wendelin) Since it was more or less a fight with a descendant of nobility, albeit fallen one, Elise offered encouragement proper for my future legal wife. Also, I have noticed that she has also taken slight offence at the words of that woman. Well then, lets go! I have a slightly later start than that woman. I flew with magic inside the Demon Forest. Lets see, its been a while since I last hunted. (Wendelin) After a few minutes I landed at a point, where I was able to confirm a great number of monster responses. Once I look at the sky, Im able to affirm that doushi was floating in the air monitoring me. With him being simply bored, he took out a bento from his magic bag and ate a lot of it while downing a large amount of mat tea. Since it will only give me a sour stomach if I look at him, I start my monster hunt at once. At first, in the beginning, I discover a monster, which resembled a huge deer surpassing 2 m in its overall height. I behead it swiftly with a focussed wind cutter and it collapses. Umm, this monster is (Wendelin) According to the illustrated encyclopedia of monsters and produce, borrowed from Burkhart-san, it seems to be called Wild Impala. With it being a wild animal from Africa introduced in a TV program in my previous life, I recall that this resembled a wild animal that was often hunted by cheetahs and such. According to the illustrated encyclopedia of monsters and produce, this wild impala is nothing but fodder to other large, carnivorous monsters. The size of all things in this Demon Forest is wrong. (Wendelin) Even while saying stuff like that, I make the beheaded and collapsed wild impala float with magic. With its cut off head below, I start to drain its blood as is. Since its freshness wont decrease, if I put it into my magic bag, theres no necessity to do it right now, but it was important to scatter the blood of a wild impala at this place. Thats because this blood will be able to lure in a large amount of big, carnivorous monsters desiring the wild impala. Sabre-toothed tigers will be profitable. (Wendelin) The monster called sabre-toothed tiger, which was hunted during the investigation led by Burkhart-san, had a price attached to it at the guild, it was brought to, and afterwards it was auctioned off. With the successful bidder being a rich Earl in the West, that person has apparently placed the skinned pelt in the living room of his mansion and is proudly showing it to his quests. Also, it looks like meat and intestines are appetizing for carnivores as well. Giving parties and such, the auction-winning, rich Earl delightfully recited that he was able to obtain it at an adequate price. It is a monster, that isnt listed in anything but illustrated reference books of the old days, and moreover it had been hunted by the former elite adventurer, Burkhart-san, in a joint struggle together with Luise, who uses the magic combat style. If the the two of them felt like it, they should have been able to hunt even more, but with the main purpose being an investigation at that time, they didnt take on any specimen but those who came close. As a result of the main activity here being the collection of cacao fruits for around three months, the adventurers guild put up a poster stating Purchasing sabre-toothed tigers at a large sum of money, but accordingly victims, who dreamed of making a fortune at one stroke, appeared as well. Since its a lot quicker than a normal human with its size, you could say that it was only natural though. (I wonder how that woman is going to hunt?) (Wendelin) There was no guarantee that a superior magician will become a superior adventurer. The probability was far higher, however, for example, a magician, whose strength lies in fire-based spells, decides to burn a monster to death with a finishing move. Given that it is a flame at the level of killing a monster, which has a far stronger vitality than normal animals, the monster will naturally be burnt black. As result, it wont yield very much money as there arent many parts that can be used. You have to kill it without causing injuries as much as possible. These are the basics. For that reason it is necessary for me to deal with animals and monsters, which are weaker than me. That woman knows that as well, I think? (Wendelin) While thinking such things, I saw the figures of several monsters in my visual field. Sabre-toothed tigers, huh? (Wendelin) A total amount of four is visible. According to the illustrated reference book, sabre-toothed tigers seem to basically act independently. Therefore, the previously scattered blood of the wild impala lured them in, I guess. The wild tigers move up to the pool of blood of the wild impala. After licking the blood there for a short while, they come rushing at me all once next. A human, who hasnt much of hair, is a light snack for them to eat, at least going by the amount, is what is written in the illustrated reference book. That seemed to be the truth. Leave me alone, will you. (Wendelin) The four sabre-toothed tigers swoop down on me, whos the prey, in turns, but all of their attacks were prevented by my magic barrier. While admiring the scene of the sabre-toothed tigers clawing with a scratching at the magic barrier, I decide that its my turn to attack now. There was neither a feeling of fear nor mystery. Which isnt surprising as I felt a lot more fear towards the training methods of doushi in the capital. If that person were to attack one with his actual combat form during battle training even once, anyone would be able to understand it. Also, I have to hunt these guys. (Wendelin) In this case it was important to not injure the prey as much as possible. Therefore, not using the wind cutter here that will end up tearing the opponents to pieces, I decide to make use of an improved version of the flying arrows spell, which I often used for hunting during my childhood. Sharpening the pointed end of the arrows by compressing wooden branches in the surroundings with magic, I aim them at the lower half of the brain-stem part in the back, which is a weak point of all living things. In spite of being engrossed with me, their prey, they ended up avoiding the arrows sent flying from the back in the beginning. I repeatedly went through a lot of blunders with the arrows sticking in places away from the weak point. There is also the situation that the sabre-toothed tigers didnt cease attacking me in order to devour me for sure. After about 20 minutes I have destroyed the lower half of the brain-stem part, being the weak spot of the four sabre-toothed tigers, with the arrows sent from the back. Their vital activity has stopped. Its necessary to practise for a while. (Wendelin) After I put the corpses of the four sabre-toothed tigers into the magic back, I move to the next point. It wont work if all of them are sabre-toothed tigers either, huh? (Wendelin) After that I hunt monsters with the same strategy for around 10 times. Besides sabre-toothed tigers, I hunt leopards with the same size that resembled southern leopards, huge rhinoceros called rhino and large birds called hell condors. Although I had planned to summon only carnivorous monsters by especially scattering blood, omnivorous and herbivorous monsters came gathering as well and attacked me. Probably they are gathering to impose a punishment for raising havoc in their turf. While defending against the monsters, who gathered, with my magic barrier, I send wooden branches, turned into arrows, flying and deeply thrust those into the lower half of the brain stem, being their vital point, from behind the monsters. Its likely a strategy that has no appeal once youve seen it, but since Im able to kill the monsters without injuring them too much with this method, the raw materials will sell for a lot afterwards. Besides, given that most of the worlds work is a repeating cycle of actions generally resembling each other, for me it is calming to return to a method from my time as salary-man. Well then, I have to eat my meal as well, huh? (Wendelin) Since I obtained results to some degree, I spread out a mat, which I took out from my magic bag, on the ground while deploying a magic barrier and, after unwrapping my bento, I begin to eat. The menu is simple. It was simply three largish onigiri, which had dried plum, I managed to produce successfully some time ago, stuffed into them, and barley tea, which had been filled into a water flask. I decided to keep my lunch simple since Im working. Doushi is, not here? (Wendelin) Once I observe the sky while eating the onigiri, doushis figure wasnt visible, at least in my field of vision. Probably he has gone to monitor that woman. Well, I dont care about something like a match anyway though. (Wendelin) I came to hunt here as adventurer. By no means is the match with that woman the main reason. Besides, theres no particular problem at all, even if I lose. Even if that woman called herself number 1 after winning against me, I cant help but feel Hm~~~~m, is that so?. Or rather, at least I want to know the basis of that number 1. There might be far greater adventurers than us in other areas. I will go hunting once again, huh? (Wendelin) I, who finished my lunch and lunch break, once again resume my hunting. Moving to a few points, I defeat one monster there, grandly scatter its blood around and then defeat the monsters, which came close, one after the other. It was strange that I was able to draw in not only carnivorous monsters, but also omnivorous and herbivorous monsters, but while all of them, without exception, are engaged in crunching at my magic barrier in order to attack or devour me, they are pierced by arrows, made out of wooden branches, in their vital spots and lower half of the brain stem from behind and die. Continuing this until evening, I was successful at establishing a method to hunt by myself using magic. If Im capable of this, I will be someone able to live as proper adventurer, even if I have to emigrate to the Holy Empire Urquhart in worst case. Also, doushi returned in they sky before I realized it and was eating a huge mango he picked up as if greedily devouring it. It looks like he was monitoring me, but it appears that he has been enjoying himself accordingly as well. Already evening, huh? (Wendelin) I still had leeway with my mana, but I decided to return since it would be evening very soon as expected. Havent you used quite the handy magic. (Armstrong) If I flashily tore them into pieces or burned them to ashes, the raw materials wont become money. (Wendelin) The source of an adventurers income is mostly the price, they sell the raw materials of the monsters they defeated for. With the exception of a part of undead and such, it wont develop into something similar to subjugation rewards as monsters have a relation of being confined in the domain, if nothing is done. Even if you think that, monsters are strong. In order to sell the monster raw materials as expensive as possible, I kill them without damaging their bodies. This is elementary. Even if you defeat strong monsters unreasonably no matter what, theres also the possibility of it becoming a pain, if the state of the raw materials is bad. Apart from that, it was common sense in this world that it will be more profitable to carefully defeat lower ranking monsters in order to not damage them as much as possible. By the way, how did that woman do? (Wendelin) Katharina, the Storm? She defeated the monsters flashily! (Armstrong) You have known her, doushi? (Wendelin) In the west she is a very famous adventurer and magician! (Armstrong) Emerging as adventurer at the age of 12, she became the top adventurer in the western area in merely one year. I didnt know. (Wendelin) Well, it cant be helped in your case, Earl Baumeister. (Armstrong) Since Im a noble more or less as well, I lived my live until now by remembering nobles before remembering famous adventurers. Also, even at class in the adventurer prep school, the names of the currently famous adventurers werent taught. Rather than learning the names of famous adventurers, the education policy was that you will become famous yourself by putting effort into it. Be that as it may, people make rankings on their own accord and create gossip! (Armstrong) As doushi says, thats likely the nature of the creature called human. At any rate, in this industry its yourself are yourself! Now then, lets go back? (Armstrong) Yes. (Wendelin) Once the two of us transfer in front of the shack, which is the guilds branch, Erws group and that woman were already waiting there. Wend, we gathered cacao as you told us to. Sorry. This fellow is able to earn income. Currently Artur-san is mostly holding a monopoly on the sales of chocolate and cocoa in the capital and its surroundings. Of course other companies have an interest in following up on that as well. The cacao fruits were being bought up for experiments and sales. However, even if they are able to guess most of the manufacturing method, there are in fact sill problems to create it with quality. It seems they still wont be able to steal any market shares. Nonetheless, as they will resolve the problem of quality sooner or later, I advised Artur-san to use Branding. Branding? (Artur) You have produced and sold chocolate and cocoa first. Your quality is the best as well. (Wendelin) Given that it will become a competition of small profits and quick returns once the merchants increase immediately after introducing it to the market, I recommended Artur-san to aim for differentiation from the others by going down the route of high quality and high class. Its something like the royal purveyor. The choco of Artur company is expensive, but its quality is different from those of other companies. In order to make a differentiation, you have to create something like an Artur brand by controlling the quality of the shipped articles. (Wendelin) I see. (Artur) Also, it will be allowed for the shops, dealing with it, to hang up a signboard. This shop is dealing with chocolate of Artur company. (Wendelin) Well, you have hit upon a good idea there. (Artur) I have no particular comment that it wasnt me, who hit upon that idea as very first. Even in the kingdom, the royal purveyors or the duke household purveyors are advertising that their products are used by royalty and nobility. There were many shops and workshops advertising a feeling of luxurious merchandise. Then we will go ahead with a Baumeister crest. (Artur) Why is it my name? (Wendelin) If I used Artur crest or such, it would become troublesome with the jealousy from the surroundings. (Artur) Although he has been originally making a large profit with seasoning, since he has been unofficially offered to also become the governmental purveyor of the newly rising Earldom Baumeister, the jealousy from the surroundings will become far too harsh, if he puts out a brand with his own name prefixed. Though, it will be fine if its only jealousy. (Artur) Given that it will become a bother if they even hinder him, the brand name of the chocolates and cocoas was decided to be Baumeister crest with the reason being that cacao is a special product, which cant be picked anywhere but in the Demon Forest.