Chapter 92

"The Alessandri Magic Tool Workshop" is a well-known workshop in the capital of the Kivireft Earl's territory, Radeen.

It is run by a single female craftsman, who has earned high praise for creating simple yet high-quality magic tools... This was the information that Matilda gathered, and at the age of 10, Noein decided to commission the workshop to create a golem, pouring almost all of his allowance into it.

Noein, who was not allowed to leave the annex of the earl's mansion, had Matilda act as a messenger to communicate with the craftsman through letters and have the golem made and improved. The name of that craftsman was Daphne Alessandri.

"Nice to meet you... and it's been a while, Daphne."

"Yes, it's been a while. Master Noein... or rather, now it's Lord Alcquist, isn't it? My apologies."

At the checkpoint at the gate of Noeina, Noein met Daphne. They had only communicated through letters about the golem creation, so this was their first face-to-face meeting.

"Even now, my subordinates and the people of the territory still call me 'Master Noein,' so it's fine if you call me that too, Daphne. I'm not used to being called 'Lord.'"

"Hehe, then I will. And it's been a while, Matilda... right?"

"Yes, it's been a while, Lady Alessandri."

Unlike Noein, Matilda was not meeting Daphne for the first time. When called by her, Matilda, standing behind Noein, responded.

Daphne smiled in a way that exuded elegance. Despite her age, which should have been well over thirty, she maintained a beauty that could pass for her twenties.

She was not dressed in flamboyant attire or heavy makeup, but her presence exuded grace.

This was not surprising, as she was of noble blood.

"When I heard from my subordinates that someone who knew about me was coming, I was a bit wary, but it makes sense that it's you, Daphne. Did you hear about my situation from your family?"

"Yes. From my father's family, the Alessandri Squire House, I heard that Master Noein was given a territory and title and was expelled from the earl's family. Lord Kivireft seems to have tried to prevent the rumors from spreading among the lower nobles, but it seems that once something is said, it can't be unsaid."

In response to Noein's question, Daphne chuckled and replied.

Noein had also heard from letters that Daphne's uncle, her father's brother, served as a military officer in the Kivireft Earl's family. This is probably why the rumors about Noein's situation reached her.

"How are the golems I made for you? Have they been useful?"

"Of course. They have been invaluable in the development of the territory, and last year they played a significant role in defending the territory from a bandit attack."

As a child, Noein had repeatedly asked Daphne to improve the golems as his puppet magic skills improved.

Daphne had mentioned in her letters that they were her "masterpieces among golems," so she was probably curious about how they were faring now.

"I see, in a bandit attack... It's impressive that you can use golems in actual combat, Master Noein. Your talent for puppet magic is truly remarkable."

"Indeed, I have tried to work hard as a puppet mage, but it's thanks to Daphne's golems that I can bring out my full potential."

"Thank you. It's a great honor to a craftsman."

Without the golems, the Alcquist territory would not exist. Noein praised Daphne's golems sincerely, not out of flattery.

"Still, why did you come all the way to the Alcquist territory to request relocation? Of course, as a lord, I am pleased to welcome an excellent magic tool craftsman, and personally, I welcome you, Daphne... but..."

The Kivireft Earl's territory is located in the southeastern part of the kingdom, while the Alcquist Squire territory is in the northwestern corner. Noein was puzzled as to why she, who was highly regarded as a craftsman in Radeen, would come all the way here.

"It's... to put it bluntly, because I was fed up with the current state of the Kivireft Earl's territory."

Sighing, Daphne's expression conveyed weariness and exasperation.

"Master Noein, did you know that Lord Kivireft... is not a kind lord to his people?"

"Of course. Even while under house arrest in the annex of the mansion, I heard enough about his reputation as a lord. He is known for being close to wealthy merchants and neglecting the common people, a corrupt lord."

The economy of the Kivireft Earl's territory was dominated by a few large merchant guilds. While it prospered through maritime trade, only the privileged few benefited, and the wealth gap was severe.

The earl's family had long been closely tied to these large merchant guilds, and Maximilian was no exception, accepting bribes and favoring them. Such a lord could not have a good reputation among the people.

"I see... The Kivireft Earl's territory has always been like that, but I was able to run my workshop smoothly because I was a side branch of the Alessandri Squire House and, fortunately, my skills as a magic tool craftsman were recognized."

Daphne, though from a minor branch of a noble family, was part of the "privileged class." With her skills, she had enough to maintain her workshop.

"But around the same time Master Noein left the Kivireft Earl's territory, a significant change occurred."

"Significant change?"

"Yes... Lord Kivireft allowed a large magic tool guild from the Betumia Republic in the southern continent to set up a branch in the capital, Radeen, and practically gave them a monopoly on the magic tool market."

Hearing Daphne's story, Noein was stunned.

The Betumia Republic is a powerful nation that holds sway over the southern continent across the sea. The various territories in the southern part of the Lodberg Kingdom, including the Kivireft Earl's territory, have prospered through trade with the Betumia Republic.

"What about the protection of local magic tool craftsmen and workshops?"

"There was none. Lord Kivireft probably didn't even consider it... The magic tool guild, armed with overwhelming capital, manufactures cheap and high-quality magic tools. The small and medium-sized workshops in the territory couldn't compete, and almost all of them, including mine, were wiped out."

By recklessly allowing a large foreign guild to enter the domestic market, local small shops and workshops would die. The craftsmen in the territory would lose their jobs, and the transmission of skills would be cut off.

What Maximilian did was essentially hand over the entire magic tool manufacturing industry of his territory to the Betumia Republic.

"That damn father... Ah, sorry."

"No, I understand how you feel."

Daphne smiled wryly and forgave Noein, who had inadvertently cursed.

"I knew that Lord Kivireft was a greedy lord, even as a bastard, but I never thought he would be the kind of person to destroy an entire industry in his territory for money."

"Yes. I am a relative of a high-ranking official in the earl's family, but even so, I was not considered by Lord Kivireft. When I consulted with my uncle, he only said that it was something Lord Kivireft was doing and couldn't be stopped..."

Daphne's face twisted in frustration. Her beloved workshop had been destroyed. Her feelings were understandable.

"...So, I judged that there was no future for me as a magic tool craftsman in the Kivireft Earl's territory. Fortunately, I had some savings, so I decided to move to another territory and start over."

"That's why you came to this territory."

"Yes. I remembered that Master Noein had highly praised the golems I made, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to serve under such a lord."

Hearing Daphne's explanation, Noein understood. She, like Noein and the former Yuri, was another person whose life had been ruined by Maximilian.

"...As I said before, I have no reason to refuse Daphne's relocation. On the contrary, I welcome an excellent magic tool craftsman like you to contribute to the development of this Alcquist territory."

"Thank you... I'm glad."

The journey from the Kivireft Earl's territory to the Alcquist Squire territory would take at least a month, even under the best conditions. Noein smiled and responded to Daphne, who had traveled such a distance, and Daphne sighed in relief, her hope fulfilled.

"I will prepare a workshop and a house for you. If there's anything else I can help with, please don't hesitate to ask."

"No, I can't impose on Master Noein to that extent."

"We do this for all new residents moving to our territory, so please accept it... Let's make a new life and success here, and take it as revenge against that damn earl."

"...Understood. I will do my best as a craftsman to repay your kindness. Let's take revenge."

Noein smiled slyly, and Daphne responded with a grin.

Thus, the Alcquist territory welcomed a strong and unexpected talent.