"Unfortunately, the knowledge I've gained is somewhat incomplete. It's likely that charcoal, sulfur, and some kind of white powdery substance are mixed together to make it," Apollo explained, his voice full of subtle disappointment.
I sighed, my shoulders slumping. "We still don't know what that white powder is. If we could just figure that out, we’d be able to make the black spheres... it would be so interesting, but I guess it can’t be helped."
With that said, I forced a chuckle, but Apollo crossed his arms and let out a thoughtful hum.
"...Within the commercial guild, opinions are divided," he said, his gaze turning distant. "Some want to prioritize relations with the Solstice Empire and cooperate fully, while others wish to maintain neutrality, keeping the guild's stance impartial."
"So, no one is interested in supporting the Scuderia Kingdom?" I asked. "Is that the difference between the Solstice Empire and the Scuderia Kingdom from the guild's point of view?"
I could understand how unusual it was for a commercial guild, involved with various nations, to take a one-sided stance. But the real question was just how powerful the Solstice Empire's latest weaponry was. If their strength was great enough, we might not be able to defeat them with just ballistae or catapults.
Feeling a bit uneasy, I watched as Apollo smiled knowingly.
"Indeed," he replied, his smile widening slightly. "The conversations within the guild mainly revolve around how far the Solstice Empire's influence will spread. The current talk is about whether to profit from that flow or stay neutral. That's why I've decided to support you, Van-sama."
"...Are you sure?" I blurted out, caught off guard by his words. Apollo smiled even more brightly at my response.
"The commercial guild is made up of many members, and there's no reason why someone like me can't stand with you. However, if the Scuderia Kingdom grows to surpass even the Solstice Empire, you must agree that all transactions with the commercial guild will go through me," he said, his tone light but carrying an unmistakable challenge.
"Of course! Thank you!" I exclaimed, eager to accept the terms without hesitation.
Apollo smirked, clearly pleased with my answer, but he quickly caught himself and chuckled.
"Ah, I’m grateful for your trust in me. But now that we’ve agreed, I’ll give you my full support! It’s been a while since I’ve had a real risk to take, and I find myself getting excited about it, despite my age," he laughed loudly, his enthusiasm infectious.
His energy was unexpected but somehow refreshing. Up until now, I had assumed he’d only been cooperating within the limits of his guild’s role, but now, he was fully committing himself to the Scuderia Kingdom. That declaration meant I had a strong ally at my side.
Apollo had sold half of the goods he had brought from the Solstice Empire to Seato Village. In fact, he seemed to have priority, as I was able to buy whatever I deemed necessary. The rest of the goods would be taken to the capital. Normally, it would be the other way around, but since it worked out in my favor, I chose not to point it out.
Additionally, Apollo purchased various items from Ceat Village. Most of them were weapons and unusual clothing, but even some of the toys I had made in my spare time found buyers.
"Van-sama’s toys are fascinating," said Bell and Rango, both of whom had been particularly impressed. "They’re all things we've never seen before."
To be honest, I found the unique toys from this world to be more interesting than anything from my previous life. There were treasure chests that required solving a complicated puzzle, like a brain teaser, to open. The difficulty was high, but that only made them more fun.
"Yeah, I get it. Chess and Othello are deep and all, and I went all out with the artwork for the playing cards..." I trailed off, thinking about how my new creations were received.
Bell and Rango exchanged glances and gave me an uncertain response. Still, it seemed like they were enjoying my toys. That was a relief.
A few days passed as I relaxed and enjoyed my time in Ceat Village, and then, just as my tenth birthday approached, I received an ominous letter.
"Van-sama! A letter from His Majesty!"
"Wow, open it! Read it!" I called to Till, my mouth full of sweets, as I relaxed on the sofa. The big milestone of turning ten was coming up, and I still had a few more days to enjoy the privileges of being nine. I couldn’t help but indulge a little.
Till, looking slightly exasperated, placed the letter on the table in front of me.
"You know, it’s a grave offense for a servant to open a letter from His Majesty. Keep it a secret that I opened it, okay?" Till said with a small grin.
"Got it~."
Till, laughing lightly, nervously tapped the wax seal with a small mallet, carefully cracking it open. With a gentle motion, she unrolled the letter, making sure not to crease it as she read the message.
"Uh, it’s a handwritten letter from His Majesty himself. This is incredible. I never thought I’d see His Majesty’s handwriting."
Till seemed quite moved. A royal letter was indeed a big deal, especially in noble society. Then again, Till wasn't from the nobility, so it probably seemed even more extraordinary to her.
"What does it say?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Ah, sorry! Uh, it says that His Majesty is granting you the title of Viscount, Van-sama! How amazing! And also, it seems that half of the newly acquired territories from the recent battle are now yours..."
"Ugh, that's troublesome. Write a letter to decline!" I groaned, already feeling the weight of it all.
"Decline? So, you want me to write a polite refusal... on nice paper?" Till blinked, clearly shocked.
"Yeah, decline it. I don’t want to go to the capital," I said, waving my hand dismissively.
Till's eyes widened, and she turned back to look at me in disbelief. "It would be disrespectful to refuse a reward from His Majesty!"
"Well... is there anything else in the letter?"
Till looked back at the letter, still processing my response. "Uh... it also says that everything you requested is progressing smoothly, and then it mentions that His Majesty would like you to come to the capital for a public ceremony to be honored in front of everyone..."
"Ah, no, I’m not going! I absolutely refuse to go to the capital! Just thank them for the parts I requested and tell them I can’t make it," I said firmly.
Till looked a bit apprehensive, but she nodded. "I... I think that might be considered disrespectful, but I understand."
I grinned, feeling a little guilty, but I wasn’t going to the capital. Till wrote the response, which thanked His Majesty for the territories and title, but also apologized for my inability to travel to the capital due to personal reasons.
"Van-sama, turning ten means you’re entering your rebellious phase..." Till murmured, worry creeping into her voice.
I sighed and smiled softly, "It’s not a rebellious phase, Till. I just don’t want to leave Ceat Village. It’s so nice here. The baths, the food you make... I get to sleep peacefully every night. Why would I want to leave that?"
Till went out to deliver the letter to Mary’s Trading Company, and after about an hour, she returned looking pale.
"What happened, Till...?" I asked, worried, but then I froze when I saw Espada standing behind her, holding the letter. Espada smiled calmly.
"...Van-sama. I’ve seen the letter for His Majesty. May I have a word?"
"Y-You’re kidding, right!?" I panicked, burying my face in the sofa to hide, but Espada wasn’t going to let me off that easily.
"Van-sama. Let’s rewrite this letter. I’ll guide you," he said, his smile still there, but now it carried an edge.
And in that moment, I felt despair wash over me.
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