21st Century Archmage

Translator: Lei

Proofreader: Enigami

"KUAAAAGHHHH!"

"Wh-What are you doing! Don't stop the treatment!"

From within the refined Imperial Grounds of the Laviter Empire, screams chilling to hear were exploding from the palace of 1st Prince Perfias, the prince appointed to be the next emperor. A desperate voice urging the priests to apply treatment echoed through the corridors.

"S-Save me! These people want to kill me! Uaaghhh! Uaaaaaaghhh!"

"B-Bless!"

"Holy Cure!!!"

The Prince's scream was followed by the healing chants of the priests.

"Gaaaaaaaaaah! Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaghhh!"

However, it was no use. Whenever the holy chants were applied, the Prince screamed as if he was going to die.

"Gugh…"

"Y-Your Highness!"

"Aaaaaaahhh! H-His Highness the Prince has passed away!"

Inside the Prince's bedroom, the top priests from the temples in the Imperial Capital were standing looking devastated, and the attendants and maids who served the Prince turned white as they slumped to their knees. The number 2 administrative official of the Imperial Family, Count Dorvet, screamed that the Prince had died while touching the body that had breathed its last while foaming at the mouth.

And so, in a sudden turn of events, the Laviter Empire's 1st Prince perished. He had been fine up until this morning, but upon suddenly catching a chill and beginning to vomit, the priests residing in the capital had been immediately summoned.

They then began to apply sacred treatment. They were the top priests of every temple, so their holy power could save anyone, as long as the person wasn't already dead. However, whenever the Prince received sacred treatment, he screamed and died in agony, a result no one had ever expected.

"A-A curse…"

"The powerful incantation of a black mage…"

Everyone had seen the ominous black aura resisting the treatment. Alarmed by evidence of a black mage's curse, something they'd read about in literature, the priests looked at each other.

"Arrest them all!"

In their ears, rang an order of arrest… for them.

Cl-cl-clang!

The Imperial Knights on standby outside the palace unsheathed their swords without hesitation upon receiving the order.

"Ah!"

"W-What are you doing?!"

The shocked priests screamed at the enthusiasm of the knights.

"Lock each and every one of the people responsible for His Highness' murder in prison!"

"As you command!"

Having received the Emperor's command, the administrative officer who oversaw all matters of the Imperial Family barked out a stern command, which the Imperial Knights swiftly moved to obey.

"I am innocent! The black mage's curse was already on His Highness' bo—"

Pow!

"Gagh!"

The heavy fist of an Imperial Knight landed squarely in the diaphragm of the priest contesting his innocence.

"You may kill any who resist!"

Even the high and mighty temples had to bow their heads before the empire dominating the Continent. Moreover, even a cardinal, not just a priest, would not be able to escape punishment for the crime of assassinating the 1st Prince in line to become the next emperor.

After the priests were mercilessly dragged out of the palace, the Prince's bedroom was quiet. Only the body of Prince Perfias, who had died in convulsions of pain, remained splayed on the bed, a dark smile on his lips.

* * *

"You… must be Kyre."

I was in the bedroom of the Havis Kingdom's king. It was large and gaudily decorated, but as expected of the room of a patient, a gloomy aura pervaded the area shrouded by thick curtains. The ill King with dry, wispy long white hair greeted me.

"I am pleased to finally make your acquaintance. I am the Lord ruling Nerman, Count Kyre de Nerman."

I was not a noble of the Bajran Empire, a thought shared by the Empire as well. However, the title of count was to my liking, so I didn't bother to change it.

"Like the rumors I heard… You have an overflowing spirit."

The sick King did not have much more time. Seeing as he spent a whole week laying in bed unconscious, you could say he was essentially in a vegetative state. However, though King Germanian looked too feeble to move a single arm, the light in his eyes was still strong.

"I am still lacking in many ways. I pray that Your Majesty will swiftly recover and encourage me with your words of wisdom."

I could count the number of times I had been this modest in front of others on one hand.

"Haha… Who am I to say… anything in front of you."

With a humble laugh, the King revealed a look of delight, which Rosiathe happily watched.

'She got her eyes from her dad.'

Rosiathe's blue water drop, diamond eyes were an exact copy of the King's eyes. Although he was the ruler of a minor nation, I knew he was considered a kind king. It wasn't as if national power could be built up in one day, and a kingdom hemmed in by powerful nations could hardly grow. On top of that, throughout his entire tenure, King Germanian had borne the burden of the poisonous nobles who were besotted by the Laviter Empire's strength.

King Germanian might just be happier staying here without knowing anything about the upheaval of the kingdom. After all, the kingdom's fate was the responsibility of Rosiathe and all those who would live and forge ahead.

"Hahhhhhhh…"

"Royal Father!"

The King drew in a shuddering breath, as if he had spoken too much, and Rosiathe jumped in alarm and rushed to him. My heart felt heavy at the sight. I knew that I would one day have to say farewell to my parents as well, but I didn't even want to think about it. We were in different dimensions, so I didn't know if they were doing well, but I believed that my parents were definitely alive and well. Or rather, I wanted to believe that. They might have raised me on a safari wilderness program, but they were the only two parents I had.

"…it's alright. I'm alright…"

A bony left arm extended to Rosiathe, who grabbed it with her white and slender hands. It was a depiction of the young and the old, but I didn't think that aging was an ugly or dirty thing. I simply watched, feeling very little.

"Kyre…"

"Yes… Your Majesty."

Holding Rosiathe's hand in his left, the King turned his eyes towards me and extended a trembling right hand. I stepped forward and took the hand he was struggling to raise.

"Take care of her."

As he spoke, I felt a feeble strength in his right hand guiding me to the hand he held in his left.

"R-Royal Father…"

Because we were holding the hands of the King laying on the bed, Rosiathe and I were standing shoulder to shoulder. In such a close position, the King pulled my hand and rested it over Rosiathe's.

"I understand. Please do not worry about Rosiathe."

I meant it. I personally acknowledged that I was the world's greatest playboy, but my feelings were pure. My love might be shared between many women, but I was always sincere before each and every one of them. I was determined to do my best for them.

"Thank you… thank you…"

Looking greatly relieved, King Germanian smiled brightly. Then, still gazing at our intertwined hands, his arms fell powerlessly to his sides.

"Hauu… hau…"

Shortly afterwards, he fell into a deep sleep. Seeing that, a royal physician standing by ran over to check his condition.

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"He has fallen asleep."

The King had fallen into a deep sleep, and no one knew when he would wake up again. His face was the picture of elation, like a child who had completed all of his homework.

"Royal Father…"

Rosiathe gazed at her sleeping father's face, quietly calling his name. She knew as well as me that there was a possibility that her father would never wake again.

The royal physician was watching, but I drew Rosiathe into my embrace. Holding my hand, one tear flowed from her eyes as I pulled her into my arms. From her body came a pleasant fragrance, the fragrance of the flower only I could smell, a flower I would love and protect for a lifetime.

* * *

* * *

"You say you're the Vicemaster of the Ataivan Merchants?"

"Yes, Your Lordship. My name is Turaquin."

'They're slowly beginning to bite.'

Nerman was the site of a new gold rush, a veritable goose laying golden eggs. As soon as pure and good quality salt entered the Continent market, where salt was sold at ridiculously high prices, the merchants went wild. One by one, the middling merchants who were quick on the uptake and had strong trailblazing spirits made a killing from Nerman's goods, and finally, one of the Continent's Big Five had made their appearance.

The Ataivan Merchants were the first to bite. They were among the top merchant groups on the Continent, second only to the Corvain Merchants.

"What brings you to such a far place…?"

Even an official continental merchant group could not freely trade and profit wherever they wanted. Usually, they collected the lion's share of the profits in places they were close to. Of all the places on the Continent, the Ataivan Merchants centered their business primarily around the Opern Empire, the ruler of the southern Continent, and a deputy of the company had come to see me.

'Since one of the three deputies has come, they won't leave empty handed.'

The fact that one of the deputies had personally come to the territory meant that they intended on carrying out a big trade.

"Nerman has developed to a truly astonishing degree. I was here a few years ago, but its former appearance is nowhere to be seen now. I'd like to express my sincere respect for Your Lordship's excellent administration of the territory."

Turaquin filled his mouth with flattery instead of telling me why he was here. He was thin and short for a merchant, but the way he laid out the groundwork without panicking made me think he was very much like the deputy of a large merchant group. However, I wasn't an easy opponent. I didn't trust strangers, especially a merchant, enough to smile contentedly because of a little flattery.

"…"

Propping up my chin with one hand, I stared at Deputy Turaquin expressionless face, wordlessly pressuring him to quit the useless chatter and get to the point. Turaquin's eyes flinched upon seeing me.

"Our merchant group was in the wrong. If Your Lordship were to give us a second chance, we will not break off trade with Nerman again."

'That's right, you were wrong. You dared to ignore a growing sprout.'

To be honest, I knew there weren't any companies that could shake off the Empire's threats. Even the Rubis Merchants that had a deep relationship with me were forced to roll with the punches and stop trading with us, so it was no surprise that the other merchants had acted the way they did. However, that was just my broadminded generosity speaking. It was only right to punish those who revoked commercial activities with Nerman on their own initiative.

"Does Nerman look like a tavern that you can freely enter and leave as you please?" I threw out a barbed question with a cold smile on my lips.

"No, sir."

"Then what difference is there between what I just said and the current actions of your company? Right now, great profit can be earned from Nerman, and the Bajran Empire has declared their firm alliance with us. But if Nerman were to fall into danger again, like before, wouldn't you halt trade once again?"

"…"

Taurquin shut his mouth at the cutting attacks that came flying in one after another.

"As I am sure you know, Nerman can thrive with just the middling merchants. Most goods can be made by the dwarves, so we can independently produce what we need. We also have an abundant quantity of provisions, enough for several years, and lack for nothing. In my eyes, there is no real need for us to trade with your merchant group…"

My pride did not allow me to simply accept the companies that abandoned Nerman for their own profits.

"Your Lordship, we are merchants. Even if our beloved wives give birth, if there is a trade route to be fulfilled, we must cross the dangerous mountains and depart on a long, long journey. If a powerful force appears and threatens us, it is our fate to maintain the merchant group with the wealth and flattery we have. I know what Your Lordship wants to ask. However, even though I would give you my agreement as an individual, I cannot do so in the name of the merchant group. It is our duty to protect the lives of countless merchants and their families who make a living by creating profit for the continuation of our organization. Asking us to choose loyalty over profit is like asking a knight to commit murder for money."

'Hooh, that's some impressive spirit.'

He didn't reach his deputy position in a massive merchant group for nothing.

"It may not be to Your Lordship's liking, but please give us a chance. We will present you with an enormous profit that the black merchants and middling merchants could never hope to match. This is the greatest proposal I can offer Your Lordship."

Turaquin knew that we were trading with a black merchant group.

'For competition, the fiercer the better.'

The Continent was too big for one or two merchant groups to cover, and Nerman had a surplus of salt and various products. It was enough to sell them at an appropriate price. It was just that we wouldn't be unilaterally betrayed by the merchants like in the past.

"I permit it."

"Thank you very much! Your Lordship!" Turaquin looked radiant at my three words of permission.

"However, I have a few conditions."

"…"

"I'm sure you know from your gathered information, but in Nerman, all trades will be settled with paper bills. For future trades, convert Gold to Nerman bills in the territory currency exchange counter at the border fort."

"Understood."

There was no way the keen-eared merchants didn't know.

"Also, merchant groups of a certain size will only be able to carry out commercial activities if they store a deposit in Nerman."

"Pardon? D-Deposit?" repeated Turaquin with a look of surprise.

"For one of the Continental Big Five, you'll need to deposit 10 million Gold."

"Ah! 10 million Gold…"

My casually spoken 10 million Gold rendered Turaquin speechless.

"Can't handle it? I heard that the big merchant groups earn several millions of Gold in profits every year. You can't afford that much?" I said, bruising his pride a little. "Also, from what I know, the merchant groups donate an enormous amount of money to each of the imperial and royal families of each empire and kingdom. Am I wrong?"

"I-It's custom to pay the passage fees for the empires and kingdoms in a lump sum…"

"That so? Then even better, isn't it. I'm not asking for money, just that you leave a simple deposit in my keeping."

"…"

It probably sounded like nonsense to him, but Nerman could now afford to be demanding. I shot him an expression of 'it's fine if you don't wanna'.

"…Understood. We accept Your Lordship's proposal."

'Well whaddya know? He agreed more easily than expected.'

There was no doubt that Turaquin had been granted quite the authority in his company. 10 million Gold was easy to say, but that much money could match an average territory's annual revenue.

"An excellent decision."

"Thank you, Your Lordship."

Words were sufficient to form the promise. For people of my and Turaquin's social status, there was no real need to draw up a written contract.

"But Your Lordship, do you happen to have connections with the Opern Imperial Family?"

"The Opern Imperial Family?"

Deputy Turaquin suddenly mentioned the Opern Imperial Family, an existence far removed from Nerman.

"I asked because the Imperial Family is very interested in Nerman."

"I don't have any connections to them."

"I see…" Though he acknowledged my words, the Deputy still trailed off somewhat meaningfully.

"Go outside and discuss the particulars with Nerman's Executive Administrator, Sir Derval. It was nice to meet you."

I didn't really want to get more deeply acquainted with him. Other than merchants from Rubis, the company that speedily decided to help me and Nerman, I only wanted to meet for official business.

Be it the 21st century or here, merchants were always the same. Money made the world go round.

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