Chapter 63: Negotiations
A new year has begun.
The servants were given time off during the end of the year and beginning of the new year, and we spent it leisurely at the mansion. Some friends of Milcah-sama of the Sarusti family, including Milcah-sama, stayed in the capital without returning to their territories, so we met them.
Monarchy - S3 Ep2 - The Glorious Re...
However, it can be said that the noble district of the capital is sparse in general. We can say that we have welcomed a quiet start of the year.
Lex tends to stay in the lab. Since this is not good for his health, I took him out to walk around the city moderately.
The Simple Magic Appraisal Office is still thriving as usual. The commoners don’t leave the capital even in winter.
Especially, the ratio of children has increased, hasn’t it? Because you can get sweets.
And today, I am in the reception room of the third office.
The magic appraisal device in front of my eyes is Mina #12, but there was a clunking sound from it.
“How’s that!”
That’s what Lord Oliver Algren said.
He stayed at the magic school this winter and came here every week to have an appraisal done.
“Please wait a moment.”
The maidservant peered into the appraiser’s work area and saw a strong blue magic stone.
After a while, the maidservant returned and handed the appraiser a card, which was placed on the desk for inspection.
“Congratulations, it’s an appraisal result of an ice-element with a magic quantity of A+.”
Lord Algren nodded satisfactorily.
“For me, who developed the lightning-element absorption formula, adding other attributes is like a child’s play!”
Last time, he was able to give the result of non-attribute, and this time he was able to add the attributes of fire and ice.
The magic spells of extracting an attribute from the released magic power and adding an attribute, and probably hiding the use of these magic spells, are being activated simultaneously.
The release of magic power was stopped midway, so it was only about three carats in size, but a red magic stone and a blue magic stone were created.
I smiled.
“I guess that’s it then. We also appreciate being taught about such a disguise method and it has been a valuable learning experience for us.”
“Cut the BS, lady.”
“Oh.”
“As for what you were talking about, me getting dirt on that magic detector. I can say that I’ve taken my revenge for it today.”
“Yes, therefore I said congratulations a while ago.”
He sticks his body out of the sofa.
“Then, as I said at the beginning, reveal that technology to me!”
“As I previously informed you, whatever the price, it’s too low.”
“Do you really think you can refuse me if I want you to?”
He is someone who is widely known not only among the magic school, but also the palace magicians and nobles. You should know that it’s not something you can hide just by saying you want to hide it.
I exhale and slowly shake my head.
“I don’t think we can refuse you by ordinary means.”
“I see, in that case…”
I follow up his words with mine.
“So why don’t we have a duel?”
“…What?”
“If a commoner like me can make my will known, it is the only way.
“Do you mean for me to lay a hand on a woman?”
Lord Algren furrows his brow.
There are also many women among the magicians that are called witch-witches. However, he seemed to have gentlemanly and noble ideas that he could not attack women.
“Of course I wouldn’t stand a chance in a proper duel.”
He nods.
“So, how about this. Here, you use your mind reading spell on me once. If you can read my mind, you win. I will show you the technology. If you can’t read my mind, I win. In that case, the discussion of technological disclosure is over. How about that?”
He laughs through his nose.
“My magic is not so sweet that an amateur can resist…”
“As a matter of fact, even though it is against the law, if a high-ranking magician like Lord Algren had used mind-reading magic secretly, he would have been able to extract information from us. So we are all very grateful to you for being so forthcoming.
He blushes and turns his face away.
“Hmph… I don’t like tricks like tricking and killing.”
“Wonderful manners.”
I nod my head lightly and ask, “How about it?”
And I added as if I just thought of it.
“Oh, if I win and you still want to know, I will tell you if you swear an oath of secrecy and hire you, I don’t mind telling you.”
“Vilhelmina Peltra.”
“What is it?”
His golden eyes narrow behind the lens of his monocle.
“You’re good at getting me to talk. You’re… Dangerous. You’re a dangerous woman.”
I simply respond with a smile.
“Alright, let’s have a match then.”
