Chapter 31

I have changed the grade notation.

1st year students → 1st term students

July 9, 2015

Correction of error

"showed his face" → "showed his face and"

October 18, 2015

Correction of error

"barrier ring" → "barrier bracelet"

On weekends, I go to the Bruto Trading Company to check the current status.

Recently, the slaves have become accustomed to customer service, and the defect rate in the production of magic items by the mage slaves has significantly decreased.

In other words, the business seems to be on track.

Today, I will teach the mage slave Selka how to create a bracelet that continuously activates a defensive barrier.

This defensive barrier creates a colorless and odorless barrier with the attribute of space-time, so I decided to entrust its creation to Selka, who has an aptitude for the space-time attribute.

Lock and Jamon envied and pleaded for new products for themselves, so I told them that the next time I would entrust them with new products, and they backed down.

Julietta has finally gotten used to her current job.

Julietta and Selka have compatible magical powers, so recently, in addition to creating watering, they have been assisting in the creation of magical water. Therefore, it would be difficult for them to handle new products in terms of capacity.

Sales are going well, averaging 190,000 S per day.

We are making over 5,700,000 S per month, which is equivalent to 57 million yen in Japanese currency.

I think it will get busier when we release new products, but the barrier bracelet, which we will release this time, takes a lot of time to create, so we cannot expect a large number of sales, and the material costs are also quite high, making it a high-priced product.

Since the bracelet itself is made of silver and the attribute it has is the rare space-time, I decided to sell it as a premium product.

"The barrier bracelet uses a magic crystal as a source of magical power, so we can expect regular sales of magic crystals. The barrier bracelet will be sold for 200,000 S, and the barrier magic crystal for 50,000 S, but these two items will not be eligible for discounts, so please make that clear."

At the Bruto Trading Company, a maximum discount of 30% is given for purchases over a certain amount, but these two items, which have high original prices, are excluded from the discount.

"Also, this barrier bracelet is a continuously activated magic item, so the magic crystal will run out of magical power in about 5 months. Explain that the magic crystal needs to be replaced every 4 months. Oh, you don't need to say 5 months. Also, check that the instruction manual is included in the box and make sure to record the serial numbers."

The barrier bracelet consumes the magic crystal's magical power, so the magic crystal needs to be replaced every 5 months.

If we inform them of this, we can say that it is not our fault if the barrier does not activate due to the depletion of the magic crystal's magical power.

"The serial number 0 is for demonstration at the store. Clump, attack me with your sword."

"Huh? But..."

Clump hesitates because it is unthinkable for a slave to attack their master.

"It's fine, do it. It's an order."

The guard knight Primera tries to stop it, but I persuade her and instruct Clump to swing his sword.

It would be fine to let one of the slaves wear the barrier bracelet and test it, but it's best for me to do it myself.

Clump reluctantly swings his sword at me.

Clump's sword is swung down towards my right shoulder, but it stops about 20 cm in front of me, blocked by an invisible barrier.

"This barrier bracelet has the space-time attribute magic. It can defend against high-level magic. I have verified this multiple times, so it's certain. However, there is a possibility that the barrier will be destroyed by special-grade magic. Although it's not written as 'special-grade,' the instruction manual states that it cannot withstand powerful attacks. Please also tell them verbally that it cannot withstand powerful attacks."

In my tests, the barrier could withstand special-grade magic, but it would be troublesome if it were destroyed by special-grade magic, and there is a possibility that it could be destroyed by high-level magic depending on the situation, so I decided to use the term 'powerful attack.'

...I think this is a Japanese way of thinking.

After confirming that everyone nods, I finish the explanation.

"Philia, I'll leave the rest to you. I'll go to the mansion and then return to the dorm."

"Yes, please be careful."

When I return to the mansion, my mother greets me.

Since it hasn't been long since the enrollment ceremony, I don't feel lonely or nostalgic.

However, my mother is excited to see my face.

Is it okay for her to be so active while pregnant?

My father was in his study, so I stopped by, but he already knew about the duel with Baka-bon.

"Don't take unnecessary risks. Cecilia will worry if she finds out..."

"I'm sorry."

"Do you have a chance of winning?"

It seems that my father not only approves of the duel but also supports it.

"Rather, it's difficult to find a reason to lose."

"Hahaha! That's right, that's right. Then, crush Brennan's brat completely. Go all out and leave no room for regret!"

My father's hatred for Duke Brennan is thorough.

There must be various reasons among the nobility.

Or, maybe Baka-bon's parents are also big fools.

"Is it really okay?"

"It's fine! His father is a man who only enriches himself and neglects the king, and I only hear bad things about his son. Show them what it means to be a traitor to the country! I will use the full power of our family to protect you if anything happens."

My father is usually mild-mannered, but to become this radical... It seems he really hates Duke Brennan.

"Thank you."

"But keep it a secret from Cecilia. It's an important time for her."

"Yes!"

I received my father's permission.

I received more permission than I expected, but now I can thoroughly defeat Baka-bon.

Wait, wasn't I supposed to live a relaxed life?

Well, I don't intend to comment on personal values, but getting rid of those who cause discomfort to me and my friends is necessary to live a relaxed life.

Hahaha, let's think of it that way!

"Also, the sugar refinery that I have been working on has been completed. I have already received permission from His Majesty, so I will buy the production rights for refined sugar from Christoph for 10 million S."

The production of refined sugar was planned to be transferred to my father from the beginning, so he had been preparing intensively.

Of course, I had been producing refined sugar with magic, so I had developed a magical production facility with a magic array and completed the construction and staffing of the refinery.

However, I did not expect to receive exclusive production rights from the king.

Since I found the production method, it's not unreasonable to have exclusive rights, and since no one else can produce it, it will naturally be exclusive.

My father hands me the document for the transfer of the refined sugar production rights and asks for my signature.

"Understood. In the future, please supply the refined sugar to the Bruto Trading Company at 3,000 S per jar and to other trading companies at 7,000 S to 10,000 S."

I sign smoothly, and from now on, the Margrave of Brutozels will hold the production rights for domestically produced refined sugar.

What, is the price difference between the Bruto Trading Company and other trading companies too large?

Of course not!

I'm transferring the production rights of a money tree for just 10 million S, and it's within the family, so it's only natural to have a super preferential price.

Hmm, does it violate antitrust laws? There's no such law in this world! If there were, the king's permission would also be invalid.

"The production of refined sugar will involve three other families. Ultimately, four families, including ours, will produce it domestically."

Monopoly of wealth breeds envy, and if three other families also produce refined sugar, the backlash against our family will be less.

No oversight there.

"Therefore, I have decided to produce four production facilities. Please order the central units for 1 million S each, four in total."

"Yes, thank you for your order."

The central unit of the production facility is the part that breaks down the input materials into sugar and non-sugar components and generates refined sugar.

This central unit has my magic array inscribed and is a black box, so to increase the production of the refined sugar facility, one must purchase the central unit from me.

On my father's side, the production and assembly of the other parts will be carried out, and they will also sell them to the other three families at a reasonable price, so there will be profit.

By the way, one unit has already been sold to my father.

When I asked my father, he said that he had contacted noble families with territories in the north, west, and east of the Holy Bandum Kingdom for the production of refined sugar.

The central region, where the capital is located, and the southern region, where the Margrave of Brutozels has his territory, will be produced by the Margrave of Brutozels, so the other regions will produce locally to establish a domestic supply system.

When school resumed, the topic of my duel with Baka-bon had spread.

I heard from Mr. Bloom that the duel would take place after school on May 3rd, the day after the end of the unit completion test period.

Moreover, the rumor had spread not only among the 1st term students but also among the 2nd and 3rd term students.

"Why has the news of the duel spread so much?"

"Werner is spreading it. That fool knows that Christoph was bedridden for several years until a few years ago and thinks he is not skilled in magic or magic items."

"Huh? But I heard that Christoph used magic powerful enough to destroy the school building during the practical exam for the entrance test?"

Carla's information is being dug up by Perron, subtly draining my SP.

"He's spreading that it was only possible with the help of a magic item, not his true strength!"

"…I think only magic books were allowed during the exam… and can magic items be used in the duel?"

"That's what I've heard… That guy is really a fool."

The duel is a one-on-one match with no restrictions, as I have heard.

I think it's fine to have no restrictions in a student duel, but it seems that Baka-bon pushed for it.

Where does such confidence come from?

Does he have a magic item comparable to an artifact because his father is a noble duke?

I don't intend to be careless, but I need to be well-prepared since I don't know what he will do.