Chapter 121
It would be right to leave as soon as possible, but there were far too many matters piled up.
Among them, the most urgent matter was—
"My Lord, we're slowly…"
Brans made a circle with his fingers.
It meant they had no money.
"Where did all that money go?"
There was roughly fifty thousand gold.
Fifty thousand gold was an amount that easily exceeded the annual tax revenue of an average fiefdom.
Yet that vast sum had vanished in a mere three months?
"That money-devouring witch…"
Brans said with fire in his eyes.
Looking where his finger pointed—
Beatrice stood with her chest puffed out and spoke confidently.
"Please give me some research funds."
"Why do you constantly go around so scantily clad."
"I'm covering everything that needs to be covered?"
"Don't walk around in just a slip."
"I put on a cardigan too."
That cardigan was far too thin as well.
With so many men around, how could she walk about in such attire?
There weren't many places to rest one's eyes.
"…So. You're saying all that money went to research funds?"
"Yes."
Brans seemed uncomfortable with Beatrice and couldn't meet her eyes well.
She was looking at Brans with what seemed like contempt—something must have happened between them.
But that was none of my concern.
"Show me the ledger."
"Here you are, sir."
It was true.
Expanding the mansion and building Beatrice's workshop.
And the majority went to purchasing research materials.
It had certainly proceeded as agreed.
But the problem was the scale.
Beatrice had purchased research supplies and materials at a furious rate—enough to evaporate fifty thousand gold in just a few months.
"…."
When Callius said nothing, Beatrice began to avert her gaze.
"I, I didn't overspend or anything. I've produced proper results too. If we just commercialize this and release it…"
A sigh escaped naturally, but I couldn't blame her. I had fully expected this much money to go out to begin with.
Ultimately, the important question was how much could be recovered.
"How long until commercialization?"
"Hmm, about 5 years?"
"My Lord!! Because of that witch, we're about to go completely bankrupt!! I won't be satisfied unless we strip her naked right now, hang her from the ceiling, and paddle her backside!"
"Hmph, coming to spout nonsense while carrying a bouquet, not even knowing your place."
"W-when did I!"
"Both of you, shut up."
Beatrice's research couldn't be delayed. The TD Potion had to become an elixir that could be produced with small amounts of troll blood and dragon blood.
'5 years is too long. If it's completed within 2 or 3 years, it could play a major role in the fight against the Empire as well.'
It couldn't yet be called an elixir, but it had been confirmed that long-term consumption strengthened the body.
Data was being accumulated through the Sixth Division, so it would improve in 1 or 2 years.
Beatrice was a perfectionist, so she had said 5 years, but the data would likely be sufficient with just one year.
"One year."
"Yes?"
"Commercialize it within a year."
"But at the current level…"
She meant it wasn't satisfactory.
But even that unsatisfactory result was needed for Carpe.
"It's valuable enough just feeding it to the Sixth Division now. Start mass production with that first."
"Hmm…"
"And wouldn't more data be better for improvement?"
"Well, that's true, isn't it?"
"We could also test the potion not just on the Sixth Division but across the entire kingdom army."
"Ah… that's certainly."
Profit could be made and data extracted.
Research and experimentation ultimately came down to money.
With money, more research and more experiments could be conducted.
Money shortened time.
Therefore, money was necessary for everything to run smoothly.
So it had to be done.
'Besides, it's already been verified that it doesn't produce harmful effects on the body.'
It wasn't too late to start cultivating them now.
The kingdom army had to be made stronger to face the Empire—that was the right path.
This was also beneficial to her.
Sacred Gold Art went without saying, and it was a good opportunity to establish her position in the kingdom.
To establish a cult in Carpe after Cedric, one had to possess appropriate value and prove worthy qualification.
"Alright."
"Good. Brans."
"Yes!"
"Bring Helena."
"Yes?"
Helena wore an expression saying—why Helena?
"Shut up and bring her."
"Y-yes sir!!"
There was no need to explain.
* * *
The mansion's reception room.
Helena, her red hair swaying, sat across from him with a rather dissatisfied expression.
"So, you're asking for money. Right now?"
"It's for Carpe."
"So after meeting for the first time in a while, the thing you say is asking for money. Right now?"
"That's right."
Helena glared at Callius venomously once more and picked up her teacup.
After sipping the black tea, she flinched in surprise and glared at Callius again.
"Why does this taste so bad? Is this intentional? Did you put poison in it?!"
"Emily brewed the tea."
"I was joking. It's delicious… but do you usually drink this?"
Her expression didn't look delicious at all.
Callius answered calmly.
"Sometimes."
She occasionally visited and brewed tea. Even just pouring hot water over tea leaves would make a sweet black tea, but the young lady of Jervan made it as tart as an unripe lime.
That too was a kind of talent, if one could call it that.
"…."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Being a father must be difficult."
"You should treat your father well too."
"You don't treat yours well."
"Me doing well is treating him well."
"…Good grief."
She let out a laugh of disbelief, apparently finding it absurd.
Callius also seemed to find it a bit amusing, as the corners of his mouth relaxed slightly.
"So how much money are you asking for? Meeting after nearly three months and all you say is money—it's quite pathetic."
"…I'm saying I want to recover the money I invested."
"Ah, the fifty thousand gold? That's, hmm… wouldn't it be better to let it sit a bit longer? The profits aren't very large right now."
"How much has it made?"
"Currently, hmm… about 43%?"
"…And that's not a large profit?"
"It needs to be 70% to be a profitable venture."
Whether it was because she was a merchant or because Helena was special, I couldn't tell.
70% of fifty thousand gold would be roughly thirty-four thousand gold—quite a large sum.
With this rate of return in just three or four months, it seemed fine to leave it longer.
"Leave it for about a year? Then you'll pull in double."
"If that's the case, then forget about that for now. First, look at these along with this potion."
Behind Callius were piles of miscellaneous items, and suddenly a potion appeared in front.
"What are all these?"
"Relics of the Bira tribe."
"Bira? What's that?"
"An ancient minority tribe that existed in the old northern region. The artifacts they created easily surpass those of the Sacred Gold Art practitioners."
"Hmm… that's true. If we clean them up and present them properly as relics, the Sacred Gold Art practitioners will come running with fire in their eyes."
It wasn't for nothing that I had gone through the trouble of bringing them.
The value of these items was whatever price one asked.
Of course, there were some items mixed in that were completely unusable, but to Sacred Gold Art practitioners or scholars, they would be more precious than a thousand gold.
"And this potion is an elixir made by mixing troll blood and dragon blood. Upon consumption, it peels back one layer of the body's limits."
The potion Callius had taken upon awakening.
A quite effective one.
Callius thought this much could be called an elixir.
Honestly, it was still more appropriate to call it a recovery potion than an elixir, but it wasn't an incorrect statement.
"Isn't that too grandiose?"
"It heals wounds and slightly enhances physical abilities. I also recovered fully after taking the elixir, so it's no lie."
A transparent potion.
Helena, who opened its stopper, was startled by the fragrant scent filling the room and quickly closed it again.
"It's not a lie, right? Can I jack up the price using your name?"
"It's worth that much."
"Commission? Can I take 30%?"
"Talking like a thug. Take only 10%."
"10% is too low! I'm busy, you know?"
"Then don't. With items of this quality, they'll be buying them because there won't be enough. If you request an audience with the Queen and explain the situation, she will welcome it with both hands raised. This elixir as well."
'True.'
If Callius's words were true, that potion would be worth whatever price was asked.
'If we just sell it to the Masters at progressively higher prices…'
Whether it was an elixir or whatever, it could fill the vacancy in Carpe's potion market where holy water had disappeared. With the recovery speed he described, it would be like having an extra life.
'First, sell it to the Masters, then to talented captain-level knights and nobles…'
Its value couldn't be determined carelessly.
Saliva pooled at the corners of Helena's mouth.
Slurp.
"A-ahem. How about 20%?"
"15%. Any more than that is too much."
"Can't be helped. I'll take a sample to check it first, okay?"
"Verify it right here."
"What? How do I verify it here—"
"Brans."
"Yes sir!"
As he ran over, Callius pulled Jordic's dagger from his coat and slashed Brans's arm.
"Argh!"
Grabbing the arm of the dramatically wailing fool, he dropped a few drops of the elixir onto the wound.
Then—sizzle.
The wound began to heal.
It was definitely slower than holy water, but the healing was visible to the naked eye, so it could certainly be called an elixir.
"We can call it an Elixir."
"Elixir… not bad."
Clasp.
Helena, completing the deal with a handshake, tucked the Elixir away.
"But why did you call me?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're the Queen's knight, so you could have just told Her Majesty, couldn't you?"
Her face was filled with some expectation.
"Because the royal family could monopolize it. Nationally that might be better, but personally it is not."
"Ah… then we should keep the source secret?"
"That would be better."
Most of the kingdom's turncoats had died, but one couldn't afford to let their guard down.
Beatrice's existence was better left veiled for now.
'Until the right time comes.'
* * *
On the way to the Queen.
He was going for sword instruction, but dropped by the academy since it came to mind.
"Is this the place?"
The Royal Academy.
Looking at the exterior of the quite impressively constructed building, he walked slowly through the corridors.
As he walked, he spotted a bespectacled fellow with a vicious look.
"Who… Ah! Could it be Lord Count Jervan?"
The man looked rather ill-tempered, but he fawned the moment he saw Callius.
"That's right."
"It's an honor. Did you perhaps come to see the young lady Emily?"
"Where is Emily's class?"
"Class C. Ah, they should be in the middle of practice sparring right now. Would you like to watch?"
"Guide me."
Ignoring the man who was rambling on about the curriculum—theory in the morning, training in the afternoon—he proceeded and spotted Emily training.
Emily was sparring under the warm sunlight.
Her opponent was some noble's child.
A boy a full head taller than Emily, but he was no match for her.
"Damn!"
She won in the blink of an eye.
Setting down her wooden sword with an expressionless face, she suddenly turned her head and looked this way.
Then, startled, she waved her hand with her loosened lips.
She had discovered Callius.
In response, he waved his hand slightly.
Then Lini and Flora nearby also waved their hands.
Lini was one thing, but Flora—he wondered why she was doing that, but it didn't matter.
'All four are in the same class.'
He didn't know if it was coincidence or intentional.
But there was nothing bad about it.
Just as he was thinking that—
"Don't worry about the girl."
"…."
"I'm thinking of taking her as my disciple."
The Pope, having come at some point, was standing beside him and looking at Emily.
The unnamed noble instructor bowed his head reverently.
After Sullivan's death, he had heard the Pope was staying in seclusion—had he already shaken it off?
"Have you raised disciples before?"
"Never. There were no children with talent worthy of being my disciple, and I didn't have the leisure or will for it."
But after Sullivan's death.
A change of heart, he said.
"This time I didn't die, but someday I too will be a body that dies and disappears. Though I will become a sword and contribute to the kingdom, even so, I wish to leave my will behind."
"If Emily wants it, I have no objection. Pay it no mind."
"Thank you."
"While you're teaching, how about teaching those children as well?"
"Who are they?"
"My nieces."
"That one doesn't seem to be one?"
It was Flora.
"She'll become a great figure."
The Pope's eyes narrowed.
Then, having apparently discovered something in Flora, his eyes gleamed. He chuckled with amusement and asked.
"Hmm, a commoner?"
"Yes."
"I like that."
Three years from now.
When three years pass and he returns.
It would be something to look forward to—seeing how much the children's skills had grown.
"It's already been quite some time. How is Her Majesty's swordsmanship?"
"Going smoothly."
The Queen's talent wasn't bad.
That said, she wasn't on the good side either, but she had passion for learning, so teaching wasn't difficult.
"However…"
Callius furrowed his brow as if it was a headache.
"However?"
"She frequently slips with her footing."
She slipped often enough that she had to be supported by Callius.
"…."
Just as he was seriously wondering if she had a balance disorder, the Pope looked at Callius as if he were staring at an idiot.