The Returned Sword King Decided to Become a Tyrant Chapter 59
Building a tower underwater (4)
The royal treasury, which had not been at peace, was turned upside down.
It was not because of anything else, but because of a single document that came down in the King’s name just this morning.
“what’s this…….”
For the first time, Margrave Walter, the Minister of Finance, learned what it meant to have a headache.
Three times the previous year’s budget… … and that is the plan to increase the budget of the so-called money-eating toad, the Ma-Tap, by three times, and not that of any other facility.
Of course, it’s inevitable that your head will hurt.
“You… … did you bring this correctly just now?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
The financial manager standing next to me answered with a sad face. Looking at his expression, it seemed to be true.
So is this really reality?
But as if mocking that state of mind, the seal stamped on the signature column was flashing brightly, reminding us that this was reality.
“This, this can’t be happening.”
So Marquis Walter walked with unsteady steps.
The destination was the First Prince’s office, to the person who proposed the budget written on the documents.
… … and so now.
“Your Majesty, especially at a time like now when we are still recovering from the devastation of war, there is no place to secure three times that amount of money.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, if things continue like this, the national treasury will be depleted and taxes will have to be raised. There may be opposition from the nobles.”
“I see.”
“… … Phew.”
The Marquis let out a deep sigh of despair, as if he no longer had the strength to speak passionately.
When the Marquis cried out that the budget allocation was impossible and presented grounds, I pretended to listen in agreement, but then turned a deaf ear.
Of course, the flow was the same even when new conversations were exchanged. It could truly be called a wheel of conversation.
“Your Majesty… … What on earth are you thinking?”
“I thought maybe even 5 times would be okay.”
“majesty…….”
“I’m kidding. I don’t mind four times, but five times seems like too much.”
“… … .”
The Marquis’s mind, which remained silent, seemed very complicated.
Well, certainly… … Not only was I the one who proposed this budget, but my father’s intentions in sending it down to the Ministry of Finance must have been completely confusing to him.
‘Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll change my mind.’
I chuckled and shrugged.
Domestic production of raw materials was also an essential element for the future.
Even though I have the knowledge of the future, it was three times as much. In reality, it would be absurd to try to localize it by just three times.
It wasn’t a joke when he said he’d like it to be 4x.
‘And if not now, then never.’
Once their full-scale attack begins, it will be impossible to overcome the crisis even if you pour in 30 times more, let alone 3 times more.
The longer it was delayed, the more pressure would be placed on the tower, and since time was not on Esteban’s side, it was said that war could break out before domestic production could be achieved, let alone preparations.
I could never let it be like that. That’s why I was here.
I opened my mouth seriously as if the jokes I had been joking about were lies.
“So you’re saying that it’s a budget issue after all?”
“Yes, that’s right. I guess… … .”
“That will do.”
As I said that, I checked the calendar on my desk. It was the last week of November.
… … That was enough.
Soon, I met eyes with Marquis Walter, who was looking worried.
“I will attend the next State Council meeting. There I will put an end to the noise regarding budgetary allocation.”
“……yes?”
The Marquis didn’t seem to understand. Perhaps he wanted to turn away from reality.
But there was no need to explain it twice.
“I will mention the matter of domestic production to the nobles. I will handle this matter with my own hands.”
“majesty!”
The Marquis stood up in astonishment.
When I looked at him with a puzzled look, the Marquis looked around and asked in a lowered voice. However, he could not hide the raised tone of his voice.
“Sir, are you sure you want to bring up the topic of Mithril?”
“Is there a problem?”
“W-What a problem! Don’t you know very well that its existence must not be revealed yet?!”
Mithril’s existence had to be kept hidden.
As soon as its existence is revealed, there is no need to wait or wait, because relations with the Federal Empire will return to hostility.
Although they had prepared a plan to establish a cooperative relationship with the Holy Empire while simultaneously waging war against the barbarians, it was natural that they would find themselves in a difficult situation.
But my plan wasn’t just that.
“Don’t worry. The budget will be covered by Daejeon.”
“Yes? The budget in Daejeon… … .”
“It seems like it will be easy to secure a budget.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“There is such a thing.”
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Well, you’ll know when you see it.
My eyes narrowed like crescent moons.
‘There are about five days left until the State Council meeting.’
A strange sense of excitement and interest came over me at the same time.
It seemed like he couldn’t stop laughing at the thought of roasting the nobles who might or might not be on the side of the Federal Empire.
* * *
As the State Council began, the nobles, as expected, were shocked and jumped up and down.
“You’re investing your budget to domestically produce the raw materials for so many magical tools?!”
“No, that won’t work!”
As with any skill, honing basic magic skills in particular was like pouring water into a bottomless pit.
Moreover, it was so inefficient that the budget that went into it was enormous, but the results were dismal.
Even if it was income, wasn’t it materials of inferior quality to those from other countries?
“Your Majesty the King.”
At that time, Viscount Gerek, a Guardian-class wizard and the one in charge of the court wizards, gave some advice.
“In order to maximize the quality of a magic tool, you need to use higher quality materials. But as you know, you can’t develop it just because you want to.”
“Quality… … .”
“Yes. It may not be easy to secure that kind of budget, but if we can’t improve the quality, there’s nothing better than importing.”
If it were that easy to improve quality, other countries would have followed suit.
The implication was that it would be absurd to invest in a field whose results are uncertain, rather than importing related goods.
“… … In that case, it would be better to give up on local production and instead support Matap’s research expenses.”
“Yes, you saw it exactly.”
“Hmm.”
Suddenly, my father, who was stroking my chin, turned his gaze towards me.
“What does the first prince, who expressed the need for investment, think about the advice of his ministers?”
Then, all the surprised nobles’ eyes were focused on me. Some of them were trying hard to hide their distorted expressions.
It seemed like he didn’t know that I was the one who suggested the investment. I opened my mouth, appreciating each of their gazes.
“First of all, I partially agree with the story about pouring water into a bottomless pit.”
“portion?”
“Yes, it is. Even if it costs as much as it looks, what remains will not be in vain.”
It might have been easy to persuade them to say that they were preparing for the pressure of the Federal Empire. However, it was obvious that they should not do that.
That’s why I started to explain the necessity of basic magic skills in a orthodox way.
“Esteban’s magical development has always been geared towards knights, and its direction is completely different from that of other countries. It can be said to be a special case.”
“Yeah, right.”
“This means that basic magic skills can also be established in a form that suits Esteban.”
You can craft as many items as you want for Esteban.
It also meant that raw materials were likely to develop accordingly during the process.
Beyond resolving the issue of export restrictions on raw materials, it can also contribute to development in its own right.
“So investing in this will be essential.”
“… … I see.”
My father nodded in understanding.
As if to say that such a thing is really possible.
In some ways, it was like an empty dream, but his confident appearance was so strong that even the nobles nodded their heads.
however,
“That’s nonsense!”
At that moment, one of the nobles shouted.
At that moment, a familiar voice spoke. My gaze turned to him.
Oh, yes. He is definitely Duke William’s subordinate… … .
“Count Lukins.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I apologize for speaking, but isn’t that an extremely irresponsible thing to say?”
“Huh? Why?”
There is no timing like this.
I found this situation quite amusing, so I pretended not to know and asked, and then the guy, as if he had seized the opportunity, rushed at me.
There was a mean smile on his lips.
“Didn’t Viscount Gerek say it before? If you can’t improve quality, then it’s worthless.”
“That’s right. Until then, it will be nothing more than an investment without a promise.”
“Ahem! That’s a fair point. But can Esteban keep up with the know-how that has been developed over hundreds of years?”
“Hmm… … !”
“surely…….”
I shrugged my shoulders at the sight of the nobles nodding their heads as if they had been waiting.
Well, whether it was to tease me or not, it was normal to think that way with modern knowledge, and I didn’t particularly feel bad about agreeing with it.
‘But that is only modern knowledge.’
Of course, it was a trivial rebuttal to me.
The reason the guy was against it was simply to block my progress.
That’s why I didn’t want to listen to childish whining anymore.
“So, your position is that domestic production is absolutely impossible?”
“To be precise, it means that there is no point in using the budgets of so many countries to achieve this.”
“But unfortunately, I don’t think that much of a budget will be needed.”
“… … .”
The faces of the nobles, including Viscount Lukins, changed into blank expressions. However, to Viscount Lukins, who had come to his senses, they were no different from prey.
“… … Huh! Are you saying that tripling the budget for the Magic Tower isn’t a large budget? An investment of that magnitude would surely drain the national treasury… … .”
“Huh? What are you talking about? Aren’t you the investor?”
“……yes?”
That was the moment.
“Wh, what are you doing?”
Viscount Lukins was embarrassed.
The reason was that I was walking towards the entrance of Daejeon without saying a word.
It must have been an action that he found completely incomprehensible. But the reason was soon revealed.
“Come in slowly.”
“insect!”
“What, what happened all of a sudden… … .”
“majesty?!”
Those who rushed into Daejeon with that spirit were the Knights of Argon.
But even at first glance, there were more than one or two. There were so many that it seemed like they could easily be a platoon.
The nobles were terrified at the sight of so many people rushing towards them and took a step back.
Of course, the agitation that flashed through their eyes was not as great as that of Viscount Lukins.
“Hey, what is this!”
The knights who had come across the battle surrounded Viscount Lukins as if arresting a criminal, and soon tied his arms and pinned him down hard on the ground.
“… … Keuk!”
A painful gasp escaped from the mouth of the man who was on his knees, unable to move.
Daejeon is frozen.
“… … .”
A space where silence flows.
I looked up at my father, who was looking down at me from his throne. He also seemed to be very embarrassed, but he just nodded with a firm expression as if telling me to go ahead.
……good.
Well then, it’s time to show the finale that will decorate this stage.
“I appreciate you taking the time to introduce yourself, Viscount Lukins.”
“Your Majesty! What on earth is this!”
“You are hereby arrested on charges of attempted murder and instigation of murder.”
“… … !”
“Wow, that’s ridiculous… … .”
In front of such a shocked crowd.
In front of my father, who also expressed his embarrassment.
My gaze turned to Count Balmons, who was at the center of the Second Prince faction.
My mouth smiled with an incredibly bright expression.
