Episode 58: Where to Use a Fool? (1)
Belinda, Gillian, and Kaor, who had been tense as the atmosphere changed suddenly, just blinked in bewilderment.
Until just a little while ago, the atmosphere was such that it wouldn’t have been strange if someone had died.
But as soon as Giselle promised to provide the runestones on a regular basis, the wizards suddenly became humble again.
It seemed like people were going crazy because they couldn’t get the rune stone.
This deal was successful purely because Giselle knew the future.
People who didn’t know that he had regressed could not possibly understand him.
Belinda fiddled with her brooch, lost in thought.
‘… … I guess there’s some kind of weakness? Then what else can I get?’
The realistic Belinda gave up trying to understand the situation and wondered if there was any way to gain more.
After getting caught up in Giselle’s arbitrariness a few times, I’ve gotten used to it.
While the three were lost in thought, Giselle continued speaking.
“To be honest, we don’t plan on attacking any territory. We don’t have the power to do so.”
“Really? Then why are we talking about war?”
Hubert asked back, seeming a little interested.
It’s less burdensome to lend a wizard if you’re not hitting anywhere.
“A runestone was discovered in a territory as poor and powerless as ours. Can other territories remain silent?”
“… … I see.”
If a runestone were discovered in a powerless territory like Ferdium, there would certainly be a greedy lord who would want to attack it.
“But it won’t be easy to actually attack. If one territory tries to take the runestone, the other territories won’t stay still either.”
Jiselle was inwardly impressed. As expected, a wizard’s sharp intuition should not be ignored.
That was exactly what he said. If someone were to attack Perdium, other territories would join the fight, making up excuses for one reason or another.
The first lord to attack will have to deal with not only Ferdium but also several other territories, so for a while no one will be able to make a move and will just wait and see.
But Giselle didn’t have to consider such complicated political relationships.
It is already certain that the Duke of Delphine will invade Perdium no matter what.
They have the power and political clout to do so.
“That’s true. But until we can use the runestones to increase our power, we need to have enough troops to defend the territory. They might conspire to split up Ferdium among themselves.”
Since I can’t say I know the future, I can only say that it’s something I don’t know.
Hubert nodded without feeling anything strange, as it was a statement that made sense in its own way.
For that reason, Giselle’s request to borrow the wizards was completely understandable.
‘It would be a problem if the lords found out.’
The Red Flame Tower already guards the territory of Brivant, but there is at least a justification for defending the area around the tower.
If it was revealed that he had colluded with Ferdium without even a plausible justification, the Red Flame Tower would not be safe either.
But Hubert wanted to intervene in Ferdium’s situation, even if it meant forcing himself a little.
‘With the runestone I received this time, I can get several times more. With that, I will definitely be able to pass the Crimson Tower again. I absolutely cannot let that guy sell the runestone to the Crimson Tower!’
The strife of the lords was of no importance to him. His only goal was to repress the Crimson Tower and ascend to the highest tower in the kingdom.
In order to fulfill that wish, it was necessary to obtain the Runestone of Ferdium.
Hubert sighed and asked the elders.
“What do you guys think? It might be worth a try, as long as it’s kept a secret?”
I was asking, but it was basically like telling me to do it.
“Well, if only the secret could be kept… …then it wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Why don’t you just stick your flippers out and cry? It won’t hit anywhere, so it should be possible.”
“If it gets caught that I’m from Magic Tower… … let’s say I came here to study the Rune Stone and got caught up in it.”
When even the elders agreed, Hubert took a deep breath and said to Giselle.
“Okay. I’ll lend you the wizards. Just wait a moment. I’ll have to select only trustworthy people to keep the secret.”
Eventually, Hubert decided to take a step forward to protect the Ferdium territory.
Jiselle smiled pleasantly and bowed her head politely.
“Thank you. Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”
“You’re a more fearless young man than I thought. You guys should definitely keep a close eye on your mouths too.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll tell everyone I’m a mercenary.”
No matter how uninterested one may be in the power struggle, the Red Flame Tower could not be completely free from the influence of the nobles.
However, the Red Flame Tower decided to follow Jiselle despite the risk.
It was the result of the large amount of rune stones brought by Jiselle and the unfortunate situation of the magic tower.
‘What the heck is this?’
Once he had made his decision, Hubert felt possessed.
‘Does this guy know all about our situation? There’s no way he can.’
The Red Flame Tower appeared to be intact on the outside.
Its reputation was only slightly lowered by the Crimson Tower. Runestones were also being purchased in small quantities through other merchants.
Even among the magicians belonging to the Magic Tower, there were still many who did not know the detailed internal situation.
Unless there was a high-ranking magician who knew the situation at the Magic Tower, there was no way a young noble could manipulate them so shamelessly.
Hubert gave her a suspicious look, but Giselle paid him no attention and smiled inwardly.
‘If you don’t join hands with me, the Red Flame Tower will collapse faster.’
Hubert didn’t seem to know it yet, but the Crimson Tower was planning to thoroughly trample this place.
Now, Jiselle may seem like a f*cking idiot, but in reality, she’s the one who’s giving you your lifeline.
Hubert stood up from his seat with a slightly worried expression on his face.
“I’ll prepare a place to stay for you today, so you can rest. It’ll probably take some time to select someone.”
“Okay, you can take your time.”
After the deal was finalized, Jiselle confidently stepped out.
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Belinda, Gillian, and Kaor followed behind him blankly.
Something absurd actually happened, and even though I was there to see it, I couldn’t understand why it happened.
* * *
It was only after four days that Jiselle was able to meet Matapju again.
Hubert looked a little tired.
He was hesitating and unable to speak properly even when standing in front of Giselle.
I looked back at the elders as if asking for help, but the wizards pretended not to see me and just looked elsewhere.
Jiselle, who couldn’t stand to watch, spoke first.
“No one looks happy.”
It was not that Hubert was not dead, he had dark circles under his eyes and his face looked like that of a dying man.
He hesitated for a moment and then opened his mouth with difficulty.
“I’m sorry. I don’t think ten wizards will do.”
Even if you only reach 4 circles, you can become an exclusive magician for a territory. This means that it is not a level that can be easily reached.
In reality, the 3rd circle masters and 4th circle users were the foundation that supported the magic tower.
If we were to just pick and choose, we could somehow fill the ten 3rd Circle Masters, but we were worried that it would be kept a secret. We had to pick those who would keep their mouths shut and follow the orders of the Magic Tower well.
‘Ugh, they’re all just people who don’t know anything else.’
Since wizards tend to be very individualistic, it was difficult to select trustworthy people.
Even if you add up all the disciples of the tower masters and elders, there are only six who meet the conditions.
But I couldn’t give up the rune stone.
Hubert made his expression as pitiful as possible.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t fill the ten-person limit because I was trying to narrow it down to trustworthy people.”
“Well, how many people can we accommodate?”
“There are six people in total, including the disciples of the elders. What should we do?”
“What can I do? It’s a shame, but let’s deal next time.”
As Giselle spoke with a sense of pity, Hubert began to weep.
“Isn’t there any other way? Who are we? The Northern Best, the Red Flame Tower. If we build good relations, it will be of help to the Ferdium Territory in the future.”
The elders also began to persuade Giselle from beside him.
“Wouldn’t six 3rd Circle Masters be enough to protect a small territory?”
“Yeah, that alone could easily blow away hundreds of regular soldiers.”
“Think again. It’s not that it’s not enough.”
As the wizards pleaded, Giselle stroked her chin and muttered.
“Hmm, there is another way… … but I don’t know if the Lord will listen.”
Hubert became anxious when Giselle showed signs of giving in.
“Oh, what is that unpleasant talk between us? If you ask me, I can go and catch my dragon. What do you think? Tell me anything.”
Hubert had an earnest expression on his face, as if he were going to slay a dragon. Giselle said helplessly.
“No matter how I think about it, six people are not enough. So, I would like you to give me an additional wizard.”
“Huh? Are you saying that you want… … an exclusive magician for the territory?”
“I think it would be better to say that you are my exclusive magician rather than the exclusive magician of the territory.”
Hubert groaned, his eyebrows furrowed.
“Ugh, isn’t that the same as kicking out the magician from the magic tower? That’s a problem I can’t handle on my own without a good reason.”
The owner of the tower has the authority to kick someone out of the tower using various excuses.
But getting the wizard to follow Giselle is a completely different matter.
As a proud wizard, he was more likely to hold a grudge against Giselle.
“Even if we kick them out, it’s up to them whether they follow you or not, so we can’t do anything about it. Can’t we do something else?”
Jiselle shook her head and whispered quietly.
“Well, why don’t we just listen to the wizard’s opinion? How about we listen to it and then talk about it again?”
That made sense. Hubert hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
“Okay, let me call them and ask them. Is there a wizard you’re looking for? Or can we recommend one?”
When Hubert asked, Giselle immediately said her name as if she had been waiting for it.
“Vanessa.”
“huh?”
Hubert and the elders tilted their heads when they heard the name, because they had no idea who it was.
“Who is that?”
Even if he was a direct disciple, there was no way he would have memorized the names of all the people in the Magic Tower.
Then one of the elders shouted as if he had remembered something.
“Oh, that idiot is a carnivore!”
“Huh? Who is that? Do you know him?”
“Isn’t there that one? That disciple who only eats at the top of the tower. I tried to kick him out a while ago because I felt bad about spending money on him… … Ahem, anyway! He’s the disciple that Ronato, who died a while ago, took in a while ago. Don’t you remember?”
Only then did Hubert nod as if he remembered.
“Oh, that child? The one we’re using as a maid right now… … Oh my, ahem. That child is also a great magician of our magic tower. Yes, that’s right.”
Hubert nodded his head several times with a solemn expression, then smiled brightly and held Giselle’s hand tightly.
“Don’t worry. I will definitely appoint that child as your exclusive wizard.”
“Suddenly? Didn’t you say you were going to ask for my opinion first?”
“Oh, what’s your opinion? I’ll do whatever the owner tells me to do. Hahaha. This deal is actually easier than I thought.”
“That’s true. My young friend has a keen eye for people.”
“How could you possibly choose such a pretty and smart child? Hehehe.”
Hubert and the elders looked at each other and laughed pleasantly.
‘Hehehe, as expected, a fool is a fool. Where would you use such an idiot?’
‘Tsk tsk. This woman can’t even feel mana properly, so what kind of wizard is she…?’
‘I guess you fell in love with me while you were here?’
Vanessa, the disciple that Giselle had requested, had been living alone since her master died some time ago.
Although she was cared for at the Magic Tower because she had no connections, no wizard came forward to take her as his disciple.
It was because I had no talent and couldn’t even feel mana.
However, if we just kicked her out harshly, it might ruin the reputation of the rooftop, so we used her as a maid for the time being.
How dare you ask a pathetic being who doesn’t even have the talent to become a wizard to become a wizard.
The elders and the tower guards secretly laughed at Jisel, but they did not show it on the outside.
If Giselle leaves because her pride is hurt, she won’t be able to obtain the rune stone.
“Then just wait a moment. I will bring the wizards right away.”
The elders quickly went to get the disciple, fearing that Giselle might change her mind.
A meaningful smile appeared on Jiselle’s face, who was left alone.
It was time to close the most important deal.