Regressor of the Fallen Family (Novel) Chapter 46 - 47 - 48

Note: The Novel Will Be Corrected Until Chapter 105, After That Chapter It Will Be All MTL

C46 - 47 - 48

[Chapter 46: Clayton and the Golems]

Even though Logan’s ambitions to fully integrate Clayton and the Golem Faction into his forces had ended in fantasy, the sheer power displayed in the current construction project was unsurpassed, making any cost-performance comparison unnecessary. With Clayton’s giant golem around, there was no need to risk deploying workers there.

‘It’s practically handling the biggest part on its own…’

Even if Clayton was exceptional among them, Logan had anew appreciation for why the labor costs of a 5th Circle wizard were so exorbitant. They were a different dimension in terms of productivity compared to even the highest-level knights.

‘Knights who know nothing but the sword…’

While mentally decrying knights, Logan suddenly coughed to cover his sudden realization that he himself fell into that very category. His cough seemed to bring yet another loud noise to life.

Boom! Rumble rumble.

Once more, a thunderous roar that seemed to turn the world upside down filled the air.

Grooooan.

Amidst the noise, a giant creature’s movements revealed its presence, and screams could be heard from all around.

“Eeeek!”

“Mother!”

“I want to go home!”

“Ted, catch that thing! How many in its family? Hey you!”

Workers that had been gathered with difficulty collapsed in terror at the harrowing site created by Clayton’s golem. Among them was Dwayne, still with a look of utter defeat in his eyes.

“I must report to the head of the family…”

Seeing Dwayne trembling and the workers’ disheveled state, Logan let a smirk escape without meaning to.

‘The tunnel construction will be sufficient with just Clayton.’

There seemed to be no need to engage additional workers.

“Hmm, take all the workers to dig the canal. There’s no need to leave anyone for the tunnel construction.”

Logan’s current construction plans were to have the tunnel and dam completed as designed, so the water could flow throughout the wastelands that were going to be developed. The plan was to split the 8,000 workers between tunnel and canal construction, but it now seemed the plans could be altered.

‘It looks like completion will be ahead of schedule.’

A pleasant premonition brought a smile to Logan’s face.

“Yes!”

Hammar, who had been absentmindedly watching the golem, was a little late to catch on to Logan’s order and started rounding up the workers. This, too, turned out to be good news for them.

“Canal?”

“Where is the water supposed to be?”

“I mean we can do it if ordered…”

“Does this make any sense?”

“Why bore holes in the mountain for nothing, and why overturn the soil…”

“Hey, stop nagging. It beats lugging rocks, right? Besides…”

Rumble rumble.

While the noise continued, the territory’s people looked at the cliff generating the noise and shuddered before turning away. Everyone shared the same sentiment.

Even if it was on their side, how could one not be terrified of a magical beast created by a wizard? A single mistake from the over 20-meter-tall giant could mean an eternal farewell from this world.

“Let’s just dig, right? Confident in that?”

“Sure!”

The task of digging evenly spaced canals across the vast wasteland, which was estimated to span over 800 square kilometers and far beyond, carrying a width of over 40 kilometers, would not have been an easy task even with the employment of the 8,000 workers. Yet, at this moment, not one person thought it would be difficult.

* * *

“Master! Lord! Master Patrick! Ah, come on!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The urgency in Dwayne’s pounding on the firmly locked door was palpable.

Rumble rumble.

The distant sound of thunder made his knocking all the more frantic.

“The high lord is blowing up the domain!”

His voice now sounded almost pitiful.

Bang! Bang!

“Please, open the doo-…”

Thud.

“What has Logan don-…”

Splat.

The forceful knocking turned into a punch that drove flesh into flesh.

Startled by the unfamiliar impact, Dwayne looked up to face a fist embedded in one of his eyes and a pair of angry red pupils staring back at him.

“Arrgh!”

Goosebumps erupted all over Dwayne’s body as he leaped back in a bizarre scream, prompting a concise critique from Patrick.

“Hmm.”

“My apologies…”

“Heh heh heh.”

“It was a mistake! I’m truly sorry, Master!”

“To think that I, who devote myself day and night to training, could be so careless… Heh, seems I still have much to learn. Dwayne, it’s as if you’ve awakened me.”

“No, I didn’t mean it like…”

“Well then, shall we go inside and discuss this matter in more detail?”

“Me too…?”

“Of course.”

Click.

Creeeak.

The moment before, Dwayne had been loudly pleading for the door to be opened, but now the door seemed like the gates of hell as it noisily swung open.

Sabotage stories had it that Tristan’s territory made its doors out of ironwood, over one meter thick, and that inside lay an equally grey and menacing interrogation room.

“Really, I don’t need to go inside, I uh-“

“It’s fine. Come in.”

At Patrick’s urging, a reluctant Dwayne stepped into the training room.

Creeeak.

Dwayne felt a new shiver run down his spine as the door closed with a gentle smile and noise.

“…because it wouldn’t do for blood to splatter outside.”

The softly spoken words that leaked through the closing gap echoed down the empty hall.

Thud.

“Master?!”

A voice that seemed to scream from outside reached faintly through the thickly shut door.

After that day.

MacLaine’s financial administrator Dwayne was bedridden with an inexplicable malaise and unable to return to work for a time.

* * *

‘Hmm. Something seems strangely quiet with my father. Did the Steel Sword and the Arcane visibly cure him?’

Despite Dwayne’s commotion multiple times, there was no response from the other side.

“Well, no response is even better.”

As Logan was smiling contentedly, a trembling sensation crept up from the ground beneath him.

Rummmble.

The delayed sound reverberated as the surrounding workers began moving about in turmoil.

“Go, go. Back to your stations!”

“If Hammar comes out, start with clearing the collapsed rocks!”

Around Logan, workers smeared with soot and grime hurriedly scrambled about. It was the mining operation, not the new dam project, that had already been underway for some time. The mine, secretly staffed with workers from the Tesron stronghold, was unbeknownst to the MacLaine stronghold and was rapidly progressing with the arrival of a catastrophic scroll. It was bound to be the greatest source of future funds.

‘The dam has Clayton, and the mine Hammar.’

Everything seemed to be flowing smoothly.

Then, into Logan’s view staggered a dwarf, blackened as though doused in ink, dragging itself wearily forth.

“Ah, Hammar, you’ve worked har…”

“Aaaargh! I can’t take anymore! Just kill me!”

“Eh?”

“Can’t I even rest? Can the work not proceed without me?! Why must I be the only one slaving away like this?!”

Logan, bewildered, could only stare at the unruly dwarf.

“Treated like cargo?”

“Can’t ride anything but ponies, so that ruthless human force-tied me to one and made me travel back and forth between the tunnel and here!”

‘Ah…’

Watching the captain of the mine’s mercenary guards, Kai, wince, Logan understood what had happened. It wasn’t tough to guess why Hammar was grinding his teeth at the mere sight of him.

Sensing the unfolding drama, Logan, a master of compassion, brushed off the servile uprising with a chuckle.

“That’s right, you’ve been working hard. So, from now on, you take charge of everything. Just report to me on the progress, and that’ll suffice.”

“…what?”

Although Hammar had made an offhand comment about Logan not doing anything, in reality, Logan had been busily filling gaps, supplying materials, and overseeing work at the two construction sites, which was no small hassle.

And having the lord of the domain oversee the work, whether present or not, made a significant difference in the laborers’ efficiency.

To separately manage that…

“This is all…the tedious work for me, huh…”

As Hammar’s tongue twisted with anger,

“Cheer up! I seriously promise you’ll get a good rest once the work is finished!”

Does a good rest mean in the underworld or just getting some acupuncture treatment?

Confusion and rage swirled in Hammar’s mind, but before the poor slave could articulate his situation, the cruel owner had vanished without looking back.

Only then did the dwarf’s outraged roar erupt.

“Damned spoil of #@%&@%……”

* * *

‘The mine’s development would surely outpace the past, though the dam is a concern…’

As Logan brooded, he shook his head.

‘No, it will work. It has to.’

If the wasteland venture failed, the MacLaine family would be forced to squeeze out all resources, regardless of rumors, and prepare for war.

Hoping for the plan’s success to afford a bit more leeway, Logan began to consider both failure and success scenarios for the dam and started redrafting his future plans.

Moments later, resolved, Logan made his way to the location housing the domain’s only artifact, the communication orb.

“The construction materials will be delivered without any issues. I’ve easily agreed to a monthly rate of 100,000 gold, given our existing timber trade. Anyway, once the mine’s set up and the wasteland is developed, the domain will change drastically. I ought to visit sometime.”

“That’s great. You should come next year.”

“Yet another comment about next year… What are you basing these remarks on? Not that you’d tell me if I asked.”

“No. Now I actually have to tell you. It’s a dangerous matter.”

“Oh?”

“When I was at the Sword Guild, I heard some troubling news.”

Of course, Logan had never heard such a thing.

But it was a necessary lie for the story he needed to tell.

“…Troubling news?”

“Is there no one around to hear you?”

“The security in the tower is solid. Even if the Earth Tower is failing…”

“There are rumors of a problem with the royal family.”

“What?! Th-that means?!”]

Philip’s expression tensed noticeably at the deliberate ambiguity of Logan’s words.

“I don’t know the details, but seems it’s a rather serious matter. While conducting trade, try to pick up any rumors coming from the royal sphere.”

Logan’s memories of his previous life indicated a civil war breaking out next winter following the sudden death of the king, but as a mere low-level mercenary back then, he had no guarantee the information was accurate. The only certain detail was the king’s demise.

‘If the king truly died suddenly as I heard, it will play out the same, but if not, there might be signs before it occurs.’

Just like the unexpected alterations in the outbreak of the territorial war with Tesron, the timing of the civil war must not shift without cause.

If history changed, even the smallest hint of when turmoil might erupt was crucial.

‘I have to know so I can start at the right time.’

For the MacLaine family to upheave the kingdom’s power structure in the coming war.

“Don’t bother asking Knox; he’ll likely demand too much and draw suspicion. Just feel out the nobles bit by bit while trading. That should suffice. Take extreme caution and contact me immediately with any developments.”

“Understood. This seems quite serious…”

And the lead into this conversation was also a stepping stone for what was yet to come.

“How much is left over from Imporik’s net profit after deducting construction material costs, food purchases, and funds sent to the tower?”

“Eh? Well… there’s a surplus of about 1.8 million gold.”

“Then set aside 500,000 as an emergency fund, and buy as many spears, swords, and armors as you can afford to send over.”

At Logan’s words, Philip’s face darkened even more.

“Is the royal issue really that serious?”

“Possibly so. Anyway, send equipment enough to fully arm 1,500 men by this winter.”

“…This isn’t a joke.”

“A joke? Spread out your purchases and collect them separately. It might cost more, but that’s fine.”

Buying so much weaponry at once could attract unwanted attention.

Logan’s tone deepened Philip’s expression, but still, the merchant couldn’t resist an objection.

“But 1,500 men? I believe there are fewer than 100 knights in the MacLaine family, if I’m not mistaken.”

“It’s not for the knights. It’s for the soldiers.”

Hearing that, Philip reacted almost violently.

“You’re going to fully arm all the soldiers?! Have you lost your mind?!”

Whatever serious mood had been there vanished, replaced by incredulity, making Logan suppress a smirk.

‘Well, one could see it that way.’

A properly forged metal spear and sword, chainmail to protect vital body points, and additional metal armor.

Even basic equipment, if of good quality, would cost nearly 1,000 gold per person.

“And they need horses too.”

That would double the budget. In essence, Logan was planning to invest close to 3 million gold by winter to provide knight-level equipment to his soldiers.

“But even so, can the soldiers beat the knights? With that money, you could make gear for the knights!”

An objection that was only to be expected at this moment.

Current warfare was dominated by extraordinary beings like knights and wizards.

Although there were trainees enduring harsh training with dreams of knighthood, regular soldiers were mere supports for the knights.

Spending such a huge sum on soldier gear?

“That’s foolish! With so much money, you have to spend it efficiently! You, who once crafted a weapon to sweep away ordinary soldiers, what are you thinking?”

Such a reaction was, in some ways, completely justifiable.

Yet Logan had different thoughts.

‘Too many territory citizens died in the last war.’

The first war after his return was won relatively easily through preparations, but the death toll among regular soldiers was higher than expected. Though largely due to Tesron deploying even conscripts, these losses reduced the expected yields from the territory for the year, largely because those dead included males from Tesron stronghold.

‘That’s why I need to minimize conscription.’

Future wars couldn’t continue, relying on consuming conscripts. It would be self-sabotage.

‘Besides, once the empire-wide war starts, poorly equipped conscripts would be literal cannon fodder.’

The escalating expense of properly arming soldiers may seem excessive to some, but to Logan, it was a surefire investment in the survival and future success of his territory’s people and his family’s ambitions.

---------------------

Chapter 47: Where Am I? Who Is This Place?

An overwhelming stack of documents, enough to obscure one’s vision.

The grand assembly of massive papers was more dizzying to Logan’s mind than any curse could be.

Thud.

The mechanical stamping of his seal on document after document while his gaze aimlessly drifted through the void was a Sisyphean task.

But…

“Are you even checking what you’re stamping? Hey, that document is concerning the castle’s repair issues; we haven’t even discussed that! Young master! Are you going to keep working carelessly?!”

The demon of paperwork continued to wring him dry with no intention of letting up.

“Ah, I’ve never seen my father work to such an extent?”

Logan protested, albeit belatedly, as he realized the sense of disconnect from what was happening.

“Of course not. Most of it is handled at my level.”

“…What?”

The absurd response provoked a fiery glare from Logan’s reddened eyes.

“Why are you dumping all this on me, then?!”

“Because you’re going to be the heir, you need to know everything about the territory!”

“I’m NOT the heir!”

“Come on, who would acknowledge that?!”

Instead of conceding, Dwayne roared back, and Logan’s mind went blank.

‘Ah, is that how it is? It’s not about recognizing me as the heir; it’s about recognizing that I’m not the heir?’

Just as confusion began to blend into his logic, Dwayne relentlessly pressed on.

“There’s been a lot of backlog due to the aftermath. Some of it also involves properties from Teslon Castle. A number of those managers were in cahoots with Hamin Teslon, and given how many there were, we decided to do a complete overhaul…”

As Dwayne grumbled on, Logan felt a throbbing headache threatening to take over.

“And with a shortage of administrators, squeezing as much as we can, it feels like we might survive thanks to you overseeing some of this.”

Familiar words of flattery emerged, following several days of being pushed to the brink.

However, Dwayne’s tactics didn’t work this time.

“It feels like I’m the one dying here.”

“Then, when you become the lord later, please hire more administrators. Or now would be good too. Haha.”

“Ugh…”

“Due to your policies, there’s an influx of paperwork. It has to be on a grand scale, considering we haven’t even finished dealing with the aftermath…”

Dwayne’s insidious chuckle provided a transparent glimpse into his ploy.

Referencing the dam construction, he had keenly assessed that Logan would be unable to intervene further.

“Fine. Do it, but this had better be the end, right? After this, the construction business is done?!”

If not, he was ready to put an end to him.

The threat, laden with the intent to kill, made Dwayne reluctantly nod.

After the harrowing stint of acting lord finished and filled with malicious intent from the chief administrator,

Logan dragged his weary body up to the ancestral burial grounds, taking up his sword against the setting sun.

‘Once the construction finishes, I’ll recruit soldiers…’

His head was packed with strategies to strengthen the family’s military force, but when swinging his sword, he forced himself to concentrate solely on the moment.

‘I must become stronger, too.’

He needed the strength to face the overwhelming foes he had encountered in his past life.

Attracting such caliber of people to his side was another solution, but that was no simple feat.

Not even a single piece of information had surfaced from the requests he left with Knox.

‘I must become more powerful. If only with arcane strength….’

Though the vague hope seemed far-fetched, fortunately, as he focused increasingly on his training, Logan could feel his sword strikes becoming more powerful and his movements more refined.

His Force-augmented senses were so sharp that he could detect even the slightest changes in himself.

To Logan, training was a process wherein faint hope gradually turned into reality.

Thus, the intense training that pushed his physical limits to the brink paradoxically felt like a respite for his mind.

Of course, this was made possible because through the practice of meditative training, he could completely alleviate the fatigue that had accumulated, effectively replacing sleep.

And so, Logan’s days passed by busily.

As the pile of documents to process dwindled, the time he spent as a stand-in lord decreased and his training hours increased. It was around this time that an ill-omened piece of news flew in.

* * *

“An accident?!”

Logan sprang to his feet, jolted by the news that broke in during his work hours.

“Yes. One of the mine shafts collapsed…”

“A sign things were going too smoothly, I suppose.”

“When did we get a mine in our territory?”

“But why? Why did it collapse? How serious is the accident? What’s Hamar doing?”

Although collapse scrolls were used, they were deployed under strict supervision by Hamar, enough to use only what was needed.

If a dwarf was overseeing stability as the priority in mine development, how could an accident occur?

“Well… It’s where Hamar was. But sir, I’ve heard about it, but what kind of mine…”

“Hamar?! Why didn’t you lead with that?!”

Thump!

Logan darted out of the office like the wind. He couldn’t just stand by and give orders from behind when not only workers but a valuable asset like Hamar were trapped.

‘He simply cannot die!’

The cogwheel of his grand plan would be thrown off if they lost Hamar at such a critical moment.

It was an absolutely unforeseeable disaster.

‘A dwarf causing a mine shaft collapse during work? What kind of joke is…?’

Bubbling with rage and struggling to keep his composure, Logan spurred his horse on swiftly.

Back in the office, the finance administrator alone grappled with his thoughts, tormented by the news of an accident at a mine he didn’t even know existed.

“What kind of mine is it?!”

* * *

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

Impelled by urgency with a mix of Force in his whip, Logan’s prized black steed, Firelun, managed to cover a two-hour distance in just half an hour.

Foam at its mouth notwithstanding, Logan did not look back, urging the horse straight to where a crowd had gathered.

Neigh!

“Make way!”

“It’s the young master!”

“Stand back!”

The workers quickly cleared a path upon recognizing Logan.

“Where’s the collapsed mine shaft?”

“If you go inside, it’s the middle one of the three forks. The deepest one….”

Not waiting to hear the full response, Logan dashed forward.

Scarcely lit by dim lanterns, the ambience grew even darker due to the accident, making the feeble lights near the shaft invisible.

However, Logan’s golden eyes penetrated the shadows, and he raced through the darkness unimpeded.

Before long, he found miners tapping on a rock wall in the glow of their lanterns, trying to break through.

“How did this happen…?”

“Shush, any more noise could cause another collapse.”

It was Pale, one of the mining experts rescued from Teslon Castle.

“What’s going on?”

At his caution, Logan inquired in a softer tone.

“We don’t know for sure. Hamar went down into the shaft like usual…”

“He seemed a bit off. He’s been overworked lately.”

“Maybe a mistake with the collapse scroll?”

Hamar, more proficient in reading ground conditions than a 5th-circle earth mage, making a mistake?

Unbelievable, yet the rock pile in front of him was a harsh reality.

“So what’s the current situation? How much of it collapsed?”

“Could be more than 50 meters. It seems the magic scrolls caused the support beams to fall too. Luckily, the chain reaction stopped, but the other supports need checking. If we leave things as they are, the rescue operation alone could take days…”

’50 meters?’

The rest of his words barely registered.

Logan knew he might be able to do something about that distance.

“Move aside.”

“Huh? If you’re planning to use a scroll right now…”

“I’m not stupid. Move.”

After they heeded the assertive tone in his low voice, Logan placed his hand on the rock pile and concentrated.

A subtle Force surged forth, weaving between the rock debris.

With his amplified senses fully heightened, Logan reached out with tendrils of Force, searching for a familiar aura.

After what seemed both a brief and interminably long moment, he let out a sigh of relief.

Deep within the crumbled rock, he certainly felt Hamar’s presence, along with about a dozen workers sharing a similar warmth.

“They’re all alive.”

Realizing the worst-case scenario was avoided, Logan allowed himself a moment of relief.

“But a lot of them are injured. Hamar included. He’s unconscious and seems to be bleeding too. Damn it.”

“What, young master? How could you…”

“How long will it take to clear this and get Hamar out?”

“At least a week, no, three days at best. And that’s if everything goes smoothly. Without Hamar, it’s unlikely.”

The miners all nodded in agreement at Logan’s gaze, forcing him to grind his teeth.

Even for a robust dwarf like Hamar, being trapped under a rock pile and bleeding for more than three days wasn’t promising.

The biggest issue remained, though.

‘Is there enough air, can they breathe…?’

Delaying meant he couldn’t guarantee the survival of Hamar or the workers.

‘What to do…’

A clear course of action sprung to mind—he had the most suitable personnel in his employ, an “earth magician.”

Yet, he faced a fierce internal struggle.

‘What if the secret leaks while mobilizing the mages?’

The mine’s existence was not yet meant to be revealed to the outside world.

Could he trust these mages, mere short-term hires?

Perhaps it would be better to direct his knights under the guidance of the miners.

But hastiness might trigger a secondary collapse, presenting an even worse scenario.

There was no better option than calling on the earth mages.

‘Either way, I have to save Hamar.’

At that moment, that was paramount.

There was no one to replace Hamar in sight.

‘I must take some risks.’

And beyond all plausible reasons.

A lesson from his previous life etched in his mind was clear.

– If you can’t protect those closest to you, you’ll end up alone.

“Right… That’s the way…”

The turmoil within quickly dissipated.

Logan bit his lip resolutely and hurried out the mine shaft.

* * *

“The great young master!”

“Lord Logan!”

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

Even as he sped by on horseback, the workers greeted him, but there was no time to respond.

“Oh, Logan, it’s been a while…”

“Clayton! Could I have a word with you in private?”

His urgent request cut the pleasantries short, compelling Clayton to step away momentarily from the construction site.

“A mine… and an accident?”

Hearing Logan’s brief explanation, Clayton shook visibly, taken aback.

But there was no time to dwell.

“Yes. Clayton, please, save Hamar and the workers! I will make sure you are richly rewarded. I implore you.”

“Ah, so the dwarf was running to and fro between here and there… I see. Haha, understood. It’s urgent if lives are at stake. I’ll help.”

“Thank you… your compensation will be certain…”

Clayton looked anew at Logan, who was bowing his head.

‘A mine…’

It struck him as odd they hadn’t used collapse scrolls at all.

There was something more to it, and if developing a mine was the case, it all made sense.

‘The mine must be no ordinary copper mine to keep it so secretive.’

Even if it were copper, revealing such a guarded secret to save a slave and some workers, going to the lengths of promising compensation and bowing to a mere hired mage, was no mean feat.

‘He’s not your typical noble.’

Clayton had been aware of Logan’s abilities since joining him in the territory.

The breadth of spirit he showed, ensuring contracted workers were fed instead of forced, had already earned his respect.

Moreover, the young man’s actions in this crisis impressed him further.

‘Impressive!’

He was the most exceptional youth Clayton had encountered recently.

‘With his wealth, even if the dam construction fails, this territory will continue to prosper.’

Seeing such a youth filled him with a pleasant feeling he sometimes feared was a sign of age, but it was not unwelcome.

“Griek! Signal the others. We all go together.”

Clayton acted swiftly, proof of his experience.

---------------------------

Chapter 48

“Haap!”

With a spirited shout, a bright yellow light surged forth, ceasing even the faint intermittent vibrations that had been trembling through the tunnels.

“Good. I will sustain the tunnel. Use the golems.”

Upon Clayton’s command, the disciples standing behind him stepped forward in unison, each taking out a fist-sized blue crystal from within their clothes.

‘Magic crystals!’

Logan’s eyes gleamed as he saw them.

As they chanted incantations with eyes wide open, they threw the magic crystals at the collapsed pile of rocks at once.

Grrr-grrr-grrr.

Accompanied by a grating noise, a significant part of the rock pile before their eyes was reborn into ten stone giants, each over 2 meters tall.

“Ooh!”

“Truly magic!”

The astonished voices of the onlooking miners could be heard.

Logan watched the magicians with a similar sense of awe.

‘Just creating golems has cleared out several meters’ worth of rock pile.’

Moreover.

“We don’t know the condition of the people. Hurry!”

“Yes!”

As soon as the disciples responded robustly to Clayton’s order, the stone giants, the golems, began to move forward, lifting the rock pile one after another.

Thud. Thud. Grrr-grrr-grrrr.

The stone giants moved much faster than the miners, and they possessed the monstrous strength to easily lift boulders as big as a human body.

As they exhibited their incredible strength without worrying about a secondary collapse, the work naturally progressed much faster than it would have with dozens of human miners involved.

‘Oh…!’

Logan, who had only seen battlefield mages in his past life, was newly impressed by the usefulness of the golem school magicians.

As if responding to his admiration, the golems swiftly cleared the collapsed rock pile, and within not even two hours, Logan was able to face the survivors.

“We’re alive!”

“Ivan! Pomarov!”

“Robel, you’re alive too!”

When the survivors embraced other miners with cheers.

Logan, too, checked on the fallen Hammer’s condition and sighed in relief.

‘Just some bruises and minor internal injuries. He must have passed out from the shock. How fortunate.’

Once his primary concern faded, Logan was freshly astounded by the scene before him.

A mining collapse of significant scale had been swiftly resolved within five hours.

Considering that over three hours of that time were spent on Logan being informed, and on Clayton and the mages coming to the mine for support, the actual time spent on the work was less than two hours.

“Definitely… impressive.”

As the work of lifting the rocks was completed and he saw the golems aiding the victims, Logan couldn’t help but express his admiration over and over.

‘I want it.’

Being a mage of the earth, others might not know, but surely Clayton must have realized that this was a gold mine.

When Clayton had momentarily flinched while using the magic to stabilize the earth and locked eyes with Logan, he realized that Clayton had caught onto the mine’s true identity.

An employed individual with extraordinary skills was aware of his secret.

The best way to mitigate that was to make him a full ally.

‘But how can I deal with a tower elder from the Mage Tower…’

Despite racking his brain, Logan couldn’t find an answer immediately.

All he could do was hope that Clayton would keep the secret to himself.

As Logan was chewing on his lips, lost in thought.

“Young Master Logan, by any chance, would you happen to need a tower for your domain?”

“…What?!”

To Logan’s astonishment, Clayton, who seemingly didn’t fit his fierce appearance, threw out an unexpected suggestion.

“What do you mean… by that?”

Caught off guard by the subject of his concerns approaching him first, Logan couldn’t help but feel perplexed.

“I feel it is about time to become independent. As you’ve seen, my relationship with the current tower master isn’t good. And for Young Master Logan, or rather this domain, it seems to have ample resources to nurture a small tower.”

Clayton’s eyes, sweeping the surroundings, radiated both greed and hope.

‘Own a tower?’

Not many domains within the kingdom had their own Mage Tower.

At first glance, having a Mage Tower seemed beneficial to the domain, but in reality, there were many difficulties.

Normally, mages from towers wouldn’t get involved unless there was a war; typically, they were no more than a money-consuming entity. That’s why, when mages were absolutely necessary, most domains would request assistance from other towers.

But now, with war looming next year?

‘It’s definitely a benefit.’

Logan recalled the giant golems that Clayton had demonstrated at the dam construction site.

While they may not be suitable for combat—a premise he thought applied when facing knights—there were indeed countless ways to utilize such monsters in war.

‘If we have magic crystals, they become much stronger, right?’

Turning his head slightly, Logan saw golems still carrying exhausted and shocked victims in each arm.

Logan pondered various strategies on how to utilize them in war.

It was a question that seemed to have a predetermined answer.

“How much support do you need? Or rather, what do you need?”

Logan was exceedingly proactive in his response, to the point where even Clayton, who had initiated the conversation, appeared taken aback.

* * *

The cause of the mining accident was quickly revealed through Hammer’s frank confession upon waking in the palace.

“You fell asleep using a collapse scroll?”

“…That’s right. I’ve been overworking myself lately.”

Although Hammer turned his head away in embarrassment even while lying down, Logan couldn’t blame him.

After all, he was the one who had overworked him.

“Don’t worry. We can resume construction soon.”

“Better yet, take a week off and fully rest. No, until you fully recover, just completely…”

“I can shake it off and get up in a day… What?”

“What?”

Their gazes awkwardly crossed while hearing unexpected words from each other.

“Did you say… to rest?”

“Did you say… it’s okay not to rest?”

“I, I will rest! I definitely will rest!”

Afraid of the possibility of a different response, Hammer shouted as if screaming for his life.

Logan patted his shoulder, gave a bitter smile, and turned around.

Dwarf, confused by his master’s retreating back, was spinning one hand around his head.

After Logan left Hammer’s room and closed the door behind him, he saw Clayton waiting outside.

During a time when the few healers of the rural domain were too busy attending to the injured miners, Clayton healed Hammer with earth magic.

Though it was not his specialty and merely rejuvenated his vitality, Logan bowed to him once more in gratitude.

“Thank you for your help. Thanks to you, we’ve saved the lives of Hammer and the other miners.”

Clayton’s features softened into a gentle smile in response to the sincere thanks.

“It’s natural to help save lives. There’s no need to thank me for anything so expected.”

“False modesty isn’t necessary. You’ve done a commendable act. I will not only express my thanks but also make sure to compensate you sufficiently.”

“Ha ha. It’s fine. For such a small matter…”

“You don’t have money, do you?”

“Cough!”

Caught off guard in the middle of the pleasantries, Clayton choked and coughed.

“Just using the symbol of your school, golem magic, costs a fortune each time.”

One blow.

“And it’s difficult to justify its combat utility because its cost-effectiveness is so poor.”

Two blows.

“Since it’s not a lineage that can produce artifacts, the tower is always in the red.”

Three blows.

“In the end, supporting large-scale construction like this becomes your specialty, and that’s why the Earth Tower keeps sending you out.”

Blunt words from Logan hit Clayton hard.

“Why, Young Master? Why such talk all of a sudden…”

Seeing that resentful look, Logan chuckled lightly.

“That’s why you mentioned the tower, right?”

“Khem, well, that may be so but…”

Despite looking out of place, Clayton indeed seemed like an honest and good person.

Logan allowed a natural smile to spread without restraining it.

“Then let me ask again. Are you and your disciples, including yourself, Mr. Clayton, suggesting you’ll settle down in our domain?”

“Of course.”

“Hmm, as I’ve said, I welcome it. However, I’m a bit concerned whether you can part with the Earth Tower without any issues.”

“That’s no problem at all. That dog… No, tower master will be pleased. There won’t be any issues, definitely.”

Clayton’s answer was firm, and Logan nodded with a smile.

There was still one crucial question left.

“So, how much support do you require?”

“Ha ha ha. I just need it to be better than what I received from the Earth Tower.”

“That goes without saying. But isn’t there anything else you wish for?”

It was an offer of recruitment that they hadn’t hoped for.

Logan was ready to open his purse strings as much as needed.

But.

“I trust in Young Master Logan’s character and abilities. Just provide me with whatever is reasonably necessary.”

“…Really?”

Praise that even the person in question couldn’t understand.

Logan’s bewildered face and Clayton’s smiling visage were the warm end to their conversation.

* * *

“When did you secretly start developing a mine without telling me! Even the workers there didn’t know what kind of mine it was?!”

Dwayne blocked Logan’s path, his eyes blazing with fire.

The key miners were acquired from the Teslon Palace, and the main house was not informed.

Thinking it better they didn’t know, he had deliberately kept it a secret.

“Aha!”

Logan pretended to remember only then, smacking his palm with an ‘oh’.

“Sorry. I forgot.”

“How could you forget such a thing!”

“It happens. I’ve been busy, you know.”

“Grrr. Fine, fine. Then just answer this: What kind of mine required so much attention? Are the deposits large? Iron? Copper?”

Dwayne ground his teeth, yet Logan was struck with a sudden playful impulse.

“Why do you think it’s one of those? Take another guess.”

“Grrr. Young Master, as the steward in charge of finances, I have a duty to inspect the income for the future of the domain. Please stop joking and just tell me.”

“It could be a silver or gold mine, you know. Who can say? Maybe even diamonds or mithril.”

“That’s impossible! With our standing…”

‘Ah… What’s wrong with us, man!’

Logan, momentarily angered, managed to maintain his composure and casually replied.

“It could be.”

“Don’t kid me. …Really? Could such fortune befall this cursed family…?”

Seeing the demoralized steward, Logan felt a further urge to tease.

“In truth, it’s just a copper mine. Might last for three years of mining?”

“Grrr. I knew it! I knew that’s what it was! Damn, what’s the expected profit?”

“What about one billion gold a year?”

“…Huh? Ah, one million gold a year. But why bother mining for that?”

“Not a million, a billion. One billion gold.”

“Hah. Are you still joking around! What copper mine…”

“It’s a gold mine, sorry.”

“…”

Logan watched expectantly for a reaction, but Dwayne just pursed his lips and glared at him.

“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s true this time.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

“Really, really?”

“Yes, really.”

“Truly, really, really?”

“Yeah, really!”

Finally, Logan’s loud affirmation convinced Dwayne, who seemed to have snapped back to reality.

“…Heugh.”

“Dwayne?”

“Waaahhhhhh!”

“Woah!”

The dazed Dwayne suddenly screamed.

“Young Master! You’re not lying, right? If this is a lie, I swear I’ll just grab a knife and end it! You’re telling me it’s really a gold mine?”

“Yes, that’s right…”

“Waaahhhhhh! We’re saved! Praise the ancestors! Praise Maclaine! How can such fortune come to this cursed family!”

‘There you go, cursing us again.’

But Dwayne seemed oblivious as he went on shouting.

“Thank you! Thank you! Young Master, I bow to you! No, double bowing isn’t polite, is it? What does it matter? Accept my bow!”

Amidst his raucous joy, Logan looked at him with delight.

‘I should’ve told him earlier.’

A vassal so joyful over the improvement of the family’s finances, which wasn’t even his own money.

He couldn’t help but feel pleased as a high-ranking noble of the family.

There was just one thing that bothered him.

‘The gold mine is on my private land, right? It belongs to me, not the family.’

And he had no intention of giving the entirety of the profits to the family.

However…

“Now I don’t have to wrack my brain over nonexistent budgets! Funding from Kyrios? Toss it to the dogs! You wretched beasts! Waaahhhhhh! I offer my thanks to the nine supreme gods who watch over the world! I will live honorably from now on!”

Watching the administrator, calling upon gods seldom invoked, roaring out loud, Logan found it difficult to break the news to him.

‘Well, I’ll tell him later. He’s so happy like that.’

With Logan’s smile, a complex and turbulent day came to a gentle close.

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