Chapter 84

The mornings and evenings have become much more comfortable, haven't they? It must be around autumn now, a few weeks after Mizuchi disappeared from the Magic Realm. This is Herman speaking. I enjoyed hunting Mizuchi during the summer, delivering them every five days. I negotiated with the shop to take apart all the scales and sell them for platinum coins instead of water sapphires, and they happily agreed. I plan to make many Star Rivers with Mizuchi's scales once the shop is ready. I intend to create four-star versions using the highest-quality magic stones and Stinarnia's crystal scales.

...You think there won't be any buyers? I'll make them. Through raids. First, I'll sell eleven-star Star Rivers to the knights who have enough gold. Then, we'll raid Stinarnia with a hundred people. If we repeat this about ten times, someone will be able to reach the four-star Star Rivers. It costs one medium magic coin. This will boost the adventurers' capabilities, making raids more efficient, allowing us to hunt more Stinarnia. ...I think eventually, the eleven-star Star Rivers will sell for seven medium magic coins. I hope to have enough knights by the time four more are added, but it might be tough. I believe it's doable. I plan to limit the raids to four-star participants, so if there are five eight-star participants, Mizuchi will be within reach. Then, I'll have them buy the eleven-star Star Rivers and join the Stinarnia raids. It will be a busy time. ...The investment is huge, and there's a risk of not recovering it. Well, I'm living off a pension, so I'll spread the wealth. I have enough to live comfortably, so I need to give back.

I have plenty of Star Rivers in stock, having made many in the Alchemy Academy. I've stored a lot, not selling them to the Iron Welcome faction. ...Well, not more than a hundred. I can't mass-produce them. Using the highest-quality magic wands and alchemical embroidery arrays, I can make three a day, four if I have the energy. The real challenge was making the magic stones. There's a limit to how many I can get from Stinarnia and Mizuchi raids. I also gathered scales from spirit lands, staying overnight during winter. The Magic Realm wasn't profitable without Kelpees, so I spent the winter in spirit lands, almost like the Illusionary Sect.

So, I have plenty to sell. I also have plenty of beginner and advanced potions for delivery. ...I don't need to make potions for a while, but I'll create a field of Life Grass and an aerial garden. ...Compared to the ancient aerial gardens of my past life, it's just a garden. The second floor will be a Life Grass field, and the first floor will be for Magic Mushrooms and Water Bubble Mushrooms. ...I'm impressed by the Skeletons' efficiency. They store the mushrooms in vials with water. They're more capable than most adventurers. When I heard this, I was genuinely moved. What kind of adventurer loses to a Skeleton? The only downside is that they can't use 'Extend Space.' So, I've secured Skeletons for field work. Twenty should be enough, but if not, I'll buy more from the Adventurer's Guild, maybe 500 at a time. I hope they sell for one medium gold coin. I need to keep the mithril, but considering the Guild's profit, I might pay a bit more. I have plenty of money, so I'll pay a large gold coin. ...I think it will be enough.

The current Magic Realm isn't very profitable without Mizuchi. Kelpees and Lagoon Wolves are there, but not in large numbers. It's not like the bonus stages of summer. You have to walk a lot to encounter them, which is inefficient. I want to hunt more efficiently, so I thought about it. Let's do a raid. A 200-person raid should be good. I set the minimum level to three stars. The meeting place is west of the North Gate. I don't know how many will show up, but I hope for around 200. The recruitment notice says we'll hunt efficiently. It might seem strange, but it's simple. We'll go deep and have everyone train me.

Pushing monsters is allowed even as vigilante justice, but I'll ask them to bring many. Other adventurers might think I'm crazy, but this is the most efficient way to hunt. It's a strategy to bring the monsters to me. The challenge is whether I can kill them faster than the training group grows. I don't think I'll lose. Cutting and slashing should be very profitable. ...The main issue is how many will show up. I only have a week, and it's my first time organizing a raid. I'll go even if fewer show up.

...About 300 people, more than expected. Latecomers are on their own. I wrote that we'd leave as soon as the organizer arrives. ...I'll build a well here next time. Some might stay overnight. I plan to do this again. Now, I need to make an announcement.

"Thank you, adventurers, for gathering! I'm Herman, who defeated Mizuchi and became a knight! Everyone! Do you want medium platinum coins?"

"Ooh!"

"Here's the plan! We'll spend an hour going deep! Everyone, follow me! Those who fall behind won't get a reward! Then, scatter and push monsters to me! I'll take care of them! Just attract them without getting hurt! I have plenty of advanced potions! Injured adventurers are on their own! The reward is one medium platinum coin! Any questions?"

"This is crazy! It's impossible!"

"Judge that after the raid! You'll see it's possible! If you value your life, leave now!"

"How many stars?"

"Nine and five! Any other questions? ...None! Let's go! Quick march! Follow me!"

This is my first raid. ...It looks like about 200 people are left. I'll leave 100 here, as planned. Let's go. March! In normal raids, lower-star participants are on the outside, but this time, I'll lead. Most adventurers haven't experienced this style, which is similar to the Iron Welcome faction. ...They can all fight, so it's a good standard. We'll go to Stinarnia, but no one will leave. The Iron Welcome faction is full of monsters... I'm technically from the Dawn Sect.

Entering the Magic Realm, I cut down Goblins with flying swords, Water Wolves, Lagoon Wolves, and Kelpees. The group moved deeper without any dropouts. Only I fought, and we didn't stop running. We kept going deeper. When only Lagoon Wolves and Kelpees appeared, I called out.

"Everyone, stop!"

Everyone stopped, though it was a bit chaotic. Now, they'll scatter in a radial pattern, which should be easy.

"Scatter by party! Ready?"

"Ooh!"

"Scatter!"

They scattered. Bring them to me from nearby. I need to measure the efficiency first. It should be more efficient than running around. I'll buy them through the Alchemy Guild, so this will spread money. ...The lord probably wants money spread around too. It benefits me to have more well-off adventurers.

...The dining scene is still underdeveloped. There are plenty of vegetables, fruits, meat, and oil, but few places to eat. I thought it's because it's not profitable. Using many ingredients makes the price high, and adventurers won't visit expensive restaurants. Even if the food is good, they won't come without money. So, I'll make adventurers spend money. This will make them try more expensive dishes and drinks. Snacks will come with drinks, and adventurers will gather at good places. This will encourage chefs to improve. They'll research better dishes and bestsellers. Adventurers will spend more money, creating a good cycle. It might start inflation, but it will stabilize at a certain level. For me, it's a win to have good food, so I'll keep spending money. ...I'll open some shops, hire chefs, and teach them. I might have five or six. It will be great if they compete. The age of abundance will come. I'll be the catalyst.

After about five minutes, some groups successfully trained. I immediately killed them and sent them for the next training. They were surprised, but it's for the whole time. Bring more than I can kill. Depending on the efficiency, I might adjust the rewards. I break even with 100 Kelpees, so I need to be in the red. I want to spread money efficiently.

So, we continued for about seven hours. ...I filled my 'Extend Space' with monsters. I lost count after 150 Kelpees. ...I'm definitely in the black. I need to reassess. 'Extend Space' has grown since I got better at manipulating magic. It's not about total magic but manipulation. ...There might be a limit based on total magic, but I don't think I've reached it. It seems to calculate volume without gaps. If gaps count, more will fit. I think they will.

After an hour, I don't think more will come. I don't know about casualties. I didn't keep track of the initial number. So, it's time to go home. Another hour of running. We stopped before the entrance to distribute rewards. ...To prevent sneaky people from joining secretly. Goblins and Orcs are easy for those who can reach that far. I gave advanced potions to those who needed them. Potions are expenses. Everyone gets the same amount. This time, it's one medium platinum coin, but the amount will depend on the Guild's price.

So, the Guild bought a lot. The amount was 10 small magic silver coins and 45 medium platinum coins. I asked them to take the part below medium platinum coins as their share. Spend the small coins. I'll need their help with disassembly, so I hope for a good relationship. I secured disassembly personnel for weekly raids. This time, I spent 213 medium platinum coins and earned 1045. ...I'll raise the price to five. I'll do raids for five medium platinum coins. I'll continue until Kelpees run out.

Without Kelpees, I won't have the motivation. Lagoon Wolves will also be gone, and I won't get blood crystals. I'll collect them from the Alchemy Guild later. When I told the Guild, they were surprised. They thought I'd sell and buy back. ...Disassembly is a chore. Even if it's easy because I don't eat, it's a red-faced task between raids. I'm busy watching my growing house. ...It's a four-story building. It might be that big. It might even be larger than the spirit tree, which is about 10 meters tall.

So, the raid was successful. Let's do the next one in seven days. The Guild will change the days on the notice. ...It might be seen as a nuisance by those who take notices for work. I don't care. This raid will become famous. Even Mizuchi raids cost large gold coins. If Kelpees cost medium platinum coins, it will be popular. ...Lower-star participants might join, but it's their responsibility. Good deals come with risks. As a knight, I'll fulfill my duty.

Whether you found it interesting or not, I'd appreciate your feedback. If you can point out improvements, it will help me refine my writing. ...Probably.