Chapter 24: Gold, Diamonds, and the Drumbeat of War.

A gloomy mood was creeping in. I looked out the blue window and chose to curse at the hunter instead.

What did this child, I mean, what did I, do wrong?

It was all him drinking alone, seeing things, and making a fuss. He must have had his own story, but that didn’t mean he could project it onto me. The moment he did something foolish, he forfeited his right to be understood. At least by me.

‘Ah, f*ck it. A guy who deserves to be eaten by a beast. Phew.’

Cursing to my heart’s content seemed to lighten my head a little.

I left the room just like that.

I stopped by the kitchen to pack a tray and entered the main building.

Standing in front of the King’s Brother’s room, this time I knocked without hesitation.

“Good morning.”

“…Ha.”

The King’s Brother let out a sound indistinguishable between a groan, a sigh, or a lament.

“Weekly Noberten broke a story yesterday, and today’s morning newspapers all have the same article as if they dictated it. It seems we’ll be plastered with this news for a while.”

I sat down leaning against the door and unfolded the newspaper.

The newspaper, well-ironed to fix the ink just like Philip used to do, emitted a distinctive smell.

Combined with the coffee aroma from the tray I put down next to me, the scent I used to smell every morning in the King’s Brother’s room was recreated exactly.

I hoped this scent would be conveyed beyond the door too.

“The state-run mining company established by the Prime Minister reportedly discovered a gold mine in the New Continent this time. It is estimated to be large-scale as well. The location is said to be adjacent to the diamond mine. The reporter is excitedly shouting, ‘Great Henia, be eternal.’ Three out of four pages of the newspaper are articles related to this. They also re-highlighted the diamond mine discovered last time. The remaining page is advertisements and obituaries.”

“…War.”

“Yes, I think the possibility is very high.”

The New Continent could be called an arena for competition among the Old Continent nations.

Henia also jumped into the competition and established a pioneer village in the southeastern part of the New Continent.

The problem arose when the powerful nation Petan expanded its territory with massive investment in the southern part of the New Continent.

Henia was pushed out from where it had settled first and had to go inland, which was a jungle area.

Having secured the vast southern plains, Petan stopped expanding as if mocking Henia.

Henia’s development of the New Continent had no choice but to be sluggish.

In contrast to Petan reporting massive achievements day after day.

In the southern part of the New Continent, where temperatures never drop below freezing even in winter, cultivation of cash crops was possible all year round.

In Henia, criticism arose like a tidal wave that the King’s decision was late.

Even conspiracy theories bloomed that there was secret collusion because the King’s mother was from Petan.

The situation turned around when the Prime Minister, receiving a report that placer gold was discovered in a river crossing the jungle, declared bold investment in the New Continent.

Although support for the New Continent was delayed because the parliament, which had the power to vote on the budget, rejected the budget proposed by the King in the first place, well, isn’t politics always like that?

Anyway, promising massive investment albeit belatedly, the number of pioneers heading to the New Continent also increased.

Although it was absolutely not an easy task due to interference from Petan, which occupied the sea routes and ports.

In the midst of that, news of the discovery of a diamond mine was heard.

Amidst hard struggles, they finally saw fruitful results that make money, and the Prime Minister was propagating this extensively.

Since the profits of the state-run mining company didn’t go into the royal treasury, the King was just sucking his thumb.

The problem is that they discovered a gold mine following the diamond mine.

Would Petan just watch this big chunk?

Gems and gold being the foundation of the national economy is the same for Henia and Petan.

The closest route from Henia to the New Continent mines is a port held by Petan.

Portus Island, a key base of the sea route, was also occupied by Petan.

The probability that Petan would be satisfied with just toll fees was extremely low.

It was clear war would break out.

However, they can’t start a war against each other right tomorrow.

Petan has to create a plausible justification.

Anyway, the mines were in Henia’s territory, which Petan also acknowledged.

The same goes for Henia.

The budget for war doesn’t fall from the sky.

There are only estimates that the mines would be large-scale, and no mention of actual economic feasibility was seen at all.

Since the citizens of both nations would want war, it will eventually be passed in the parliament.

Now was the process to ignite that fire.

Since it’s a fight for interests in the New Continent, not an all-out war risking the fate of both nations, the majority of citizens will watch as if watching a gladiator match.

Because it’s a war they won’t fight directly.

In this era where barbarism is vividly alive, war is practically a huge show.

In that sense, Billy’s pub will become quiet.

The mercenaries and sailors who are regulars there are bound to be dragged to the New Continent.

“Gem prices…”

“Yes, they will rise a lot. The volume secured in advance seems sufficient until next year, but after that is the problem.”

“Umbra…”

“Count Umbra will also be excited and take the lead in advocating for war. Because the value of the ruby mine owned by the Count will skyrocket. The Duke’s crystal mine will also emerge as an alternative.”

The value of crystal, a semi-precious stone, isn’t that high.

Until the watch industry arose, the crystal mine was open for tourism rather than mining.

Although now they are focusing on finding high-quality crystals for precise time measurement.

War will bring both favorable and unfavorable factors to the King’s Brother.

Unfortunately, the impact of unfavorable factors seems much larger.

“Artificial, gems…”

At the words heard from the King’s Brother, I looked back without realizing it.

Although the thick and heavy door blocked the view completely, I couldn’t turn my gaze away from the direction of the King’s Brother beyond it.

It was a perfect solution for the upcoming situation.

“Is it… possible?”

I nodded as if I could be seen by him.

“It will be possible. No, it will be done.”

It won’t be possible to make artificial gems with the same value as natural gems at once.

Even if composed of the completely same minerals, people distinguished between natural and artificial.

It’s impossible to completely catch up with the value created by a tedious time of over 1 billion years.

I also didn’t like artificial gems much for that reason.

Until synthetic diamonds entered the jewelry market with decent quality and reasonable prices.

Since the first successful synthesis in the 1950s, it took nearly 70 years for lab-grown diamonds to have value as gems.

However, just as synthetic diamonds had demand for industrial use early on, artificial gems will be able to establish a firm position here as well.

Just being able to replace the gems inside entry-level watches with artificial gems will drastically lower the production cost.

Mages would go crazy for it.

“When it ends…”

“Yes, I will prepare.”

I had to secure mages.

Before the King’s Brother’s Rut ends.

Our watch magic circle makers are already overflowing with work.

Still, there won’t be a big problem in supplementing personnel.

What I felt watching the magic circle makers was the fact that there are quite a few mages who are poor but burning with passion for research.

Especially Beta mages.

Due to innate physical limitations, Beta mages inevitably had less total mana in their bodies than Alphas or Omegas.

Of course, exceptional individuals exist, but on average, they could be clearly distinguished.

So they focused on developing their senses more.

Because they couldn’t compete with Alphas or Omegas in the same way.

What was worse was the fact that the probability of being rewarded for effort wasn’t high.

The wall of status was solid.

I might have become such an ordinary Beta mage making adult toys for research funds.

If I hadn’t been taken in by the King’s Brother.

No, I probably wouldn’t have even known the fact that I could become a mage at all.

I looked down at the coffee cooling on the floor.

As long as I remain in front of this door, the King’s Brother will not reach out his hand to drink coffee.

Knowing this well, I spoke to the boy beyond the door again.

“Duke, I would like to read the newspaper for you tomorrow as well. Would that be alright?”

“…Yes.”

After losing all my family, I didn’t want to keep anyone by my side.

What I lost was something irreplaceable by other people.

But sometimes, very rarely, I was lonely.

I shudderingly hated the fact that I was the only person moving and breathing in the house.

I hated recognizing the fact that it was a place I could return to only after my family had all disappeared.

Like me back then, wouldn’t the King’s Brother also need someone sometimes?

“That’s a relief.”

“…It is, a relief.”

The King’s Brother knew I dared to pity him.

Yet he grabbed the hand I abruptly extended.

Indeed, he was a much bigger person than me.

The King’s Brother’s breathing, which had been rough as if suffering from a fever, gradually became regular.

As if he fell asleep.

Matching his breathing, I also held my breath.

So as not to wake him up because of me.

Until the coffee completely cooled and only bitterness remained.

****

To state the conclusion, I couldn’t keep my promise with the King’s Brother.

“Today’s newspaper also has only the same articles as yesterday. Yesterday was like the day before, and the day before was like the day before that.”

There were absolutely no new articles worth reading to the King’s Brother.

For a whole week, they were broadcasting praises for the diamond mine and gold mine in the New Continent just by changing words.

Reporters of this era were also full of guys trying to get a free ride.

There’s no way the economic feasibility study was finished in that time, no, they probably haven’t even started, but they were growing only golden desires.

While preparations to mine gold weren’t even properly done, signs of deflation were already showing.

Especially the price of gems.

I eventually received permission from the King’s Brother to use the seal.

Concerned that we might miss the optimal timing.

Still, I desperately, truly desperately hoped there would be no occasion for me to use it.

The current fever is possible because there are people fueling the heat from behind. And those holding the strongest power in this country like the King, the Prime Minister, or Count Umbra.

It’s definitely all three. In this matter, they were in cahoots.