Category: mastermind

Chapter 6
 

 
It was a cloudless sunny day.
 
For that reason, Artesia decided to hold today’s meeting on the palace terrace.
 
“You really haven’t changed a bit from usual, have you Artesia?”
 
As he was about to tilt his teacup, the man sitting across from her gave a wry smile.
 
Seeing his demeanor, Artesia responded in her usual manner.
 
“You seem more tense than usual, Klaus.”
 
“Ah…just thinking about today’s meeting was enough to keep me up with stomach pains…”
 
“Then you can just sleep during the meeting.… Read more

“…So the actual Philosopher’s Stone exists?”
 
“Yes. At the very least, it’s considered close to a substance meeting their definition.”
 
Minerals imbued with the land’s magic power are called ‘magic ores’ and gain properties like absorbing, releasing, and storing magic power.
 
Devices incorporating these magic ores as power sources are called ‘magic tools,’ allowing simplified magic use despite being expensive, with their magic power replenishable.
 
Moreover, the entire Empire is constantly bathed in abundant magic power from the World Tree.… Read more

The elves had reasons they could not refuse.
 
Through trade with humans and other races, their living standards had risen incomparably higher than in the past.
 
But if they closed borders, they would lose that prosperous, convenient lifestyle.
 
To maintain their current living standards, the noble faction made an exception allowing trade with House Ornament, monopolizing the profits as part of the deal.
 
But…for Ornament, it was merely a stepping stone.
 
“With your death and internal strife, Sylvayu would temporarily cut ties with the outside world.… Read more

 
After the war, the founding lord of Eisenhud visited the land of the elves for diplomatic reasons.
 
There, seeing the mistreatment of the prince of Blaskas, he proclaimed that future human-elf relations would be conducted through the Blaskas.
 
“He said, ‘If your brethren loathe you, then find friends outside of them. Find those who favor you over those who hate you. The world is vast with all sorts of people, so venture outside and find those who favor you.'”… Read more

In this situation, what Kurtz should do next is–
 

“–It was absolutely HORRIBLE!!”
 

Listen to Feiyu’s complaints as she openly displays her anger with a pout.
 
“…I can imagine your feelings. Lady Feiyu, you are after all a noble person.”
 
“Isn’t that right!? Not only did they kidnap me, but to try to degrade me to slave status and sell me off – I won’t be satisfied until those noble faction fools are torn to pieces!!”… Read more

“—Ornament is unlikely to make a move.”
 
While explaining his prediction of Ornament’s movements, Kurtz walked alongside Lucia.
 
Listening to his explanation, Lucia nodded in understanding.
 
“Well yeah… Even if they say misfortunes keep piling up, if their investigation turned up nothing, they’d write it off as coincidence. And in their position as a ducal house, they’d get arrogant too, wouldn’t they?”
 
“Less arrogance and more an unwillingness to act rashly and draw the other ducal houses’ attention.… Read more

 
That elf held great significance.
 
That’s why, after collaborating with those unsavory elves whose only redeeming quality was their appearance and working with Sandor’s connections to route her through numerous slave traders and countries, making it difficult to trace her back, I took careful precautions.
 
And I had planned to keep her as a slave with Gilrenzio, then kill her when the royal elf faction that rules over the elf country gained dominance.… Read more

Chapter 5
 

 
“The ‘comrades’ that Eisenhud speaks of are those who walk side by side with us,”
 
Artesia told me as we sat in the garden, bathed in the dappled sunlight.
 
“There are no racial or hierarchical distinctions among them. Neither distance nor time matters. ‘Share everything with your comrades, and know their joys and sorrows, their enemies as your own’ – this is the family precept of Eisenhud that we have sworn to uphold.… Read more

“The dragon ticket was lost through my carelessness. Once they’re lost, I can’t accept them just because they’re worth a lot of money.
 
“ …… No, that’s not true. This is yours, so please take it.”
 
“Just as the young lady says, kid!! If it were true, you would’ve won the jackpot, so just accept it gracefully!!”
 
“Use that money to buy your parents a thank-you gift for raising you!!”
 
The two tough-looking men agreed with Edel’s words, but Kurtz remained unyielding.… Read more

Chapter 4
 

 
“Was he outstanding as a person of Eisenhud?”
 
If asked that, Kurtz would undoubtedly shake his head.
 
After all, although he didn’t get angry, he was often bewildered by Artesia.
 
“…Kurtz, I’ve told you many times.”
 
Standing in front of him, Artesia folded her arms and narrowed her eyes.
 
“Come at me like you mean to beat me to a pulp.”
 
“A servant can’t possibly hit their master with all their might…?!”… Read more