The Frontier Alchemist ~ I Can't Go Back to That Job After You Made My Budget Zero

I am once again being treated to tea at the village headman's house.

Tea is exceptionally good after a hard day's work. It is a different kind of fulfillment to work that makes people visibly happy.

"Whew! Well, Mr. Mayor," I say to him as I put the tea on the table.

The village headman replies with a terse "Yes, sir.

I'm making you nervous, aren't I?　Oh, I'm making you think there's something wrong with me.

I continue to speak, thinking that I have waited too long to start speaking.

"Please take it easy. I am talking about the future. As for the old type of magic crystal stone, if it's only in this village, it should be enough for a few years with the amount of magic crystal stone you just mentioned, right?

"A few years? That's a lot!　And given the increased capacity, it will last for decades!　I really don't know how to thank you..."

I smiled and waved my hand lightly at the mayor, who spoke quickly.

At that, the mayor's mouth suddenly dropped shut.

"But I don't think this village is the only one that needs the old type of magic crystal stones. Especially in the area around this frontier: ......"

"Yes!　That, of course!　Everyone who lives in this region is eagerly waiting for it. The old magic crystal stone is in our possession again!"

Now, let me ask you something.

Are you sure you want to stay in our village for a while?　I'm sure there's no limit to the amount...

I'm afraid not. Actually, I am on my way to the knight Kaline. I'm on my way to help her establish a new territory on the frontier north of here.

"Oh!　That's it!　I have heard rumors about you from the lords of this land, including about your pioneering work!　I heard that he played a remarkable role in the recent war. They say his sword could blow away three heavily armed men with a single flash. The village chief, who seems to be talking about heroes, says, "He looks like a woman with thin arms, but he is so powerful that he can hardly be considered human. ......

He silences her again with a smile and a wave of his hand. I had already heard the same rumor. I just didn't want to hear my friend and soon-to-be-boss being treated like an outsider with two not-so-nice names over and over again.

The village headman silenced me with a look that said, "Oh, no.

I lightly cleared my throat and proceeded with my story.

"So, I would like you to talk to your lord privately from the village head. About the possibility of trading the old type of magic crystal stone with the new territory of the knight Kalin," I conclude smilingly.

─ ─ The development of a new territory must be very demanding. Any number of ways to make money would not be a hindrance. Well, if Kalin wants to give me another job, so be it. Kalin and the lord will discuss it and come up with a deal for a modest amount of work.

The mayor is willing to grant my request.

Well, from the mayor's point of view, we already have the magic stones we need for the time being. All I have to do is to bring him the extra magic crystal stones as a gift, and tell him a story that is sure to please the lord of my domain. Naturally, he would agree.

"Oh, and I'd like to send a letter," I said, asking the chief for a pen and paper so that I could make the necessary arrangements.

Please use this one, Master Rust," he reverently offers it to me and I start to write a letter to one of my friends from school, apart from Kalin.

He is now, I believe, in the country's military. This case is related to the interest of the magic crystal stone, isn't it? Rehalzam and others might be involved, but I don't care about him. What concerns me more is the military. Changing to a new type of magic gun in the middle of a war. Of course, military equipment is also a huge interest. And if a lot of old magic crystal stones are going to flow from this place... .......

I write up the letter quickly while pondering, and hand it to the nearby village chief.

He seemed to have already prepared the wax seal.

─ ─ It's amazing that you are so clever in such a common-sense way, and can read ahead of time. Well, if he hadn't been pressured by my performance of training, it might have been a little different, right?

I mark the wax with my medallion, thinking about this. After asking them to send me a letter, I said goodbye to the chief and the villagers who had kept me here for at least one night, and departed from the village.

"Now we are finally on the frontier," he said, excited to be in a place he had not yet seen.