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Chapter 141.1

Chapter 141.1. Masatoshi Seeking A Master

-Masatoshi’s POV-

Now was the final audience.

However, no one let their guard down just because it was the end. The nobles were eagerly waiting with interest in the next person to appear. “Interest” is too kind of a word to describe it.

The nobles’ eyes gleamed like wolves hunting sheep. And their expressions were driven by the pursuit of profit.

Aguni Masatoshi, the god, observed these nobles from the corner of his eye. I arrogantly inflated my nostrils with a snort of superiority.

“My master. Finally, he has arrived. The era of mob characters taking center stage.”

Masatoshi chuckled and watched the audience. The one who would appear next was none other than my master. He was confident he wasn’t an opponent that worthless nobles like them could handle.

By the way, there was no basis for him becoming my master. Masatoshi had expectations based on the template commonly seen in novels where mob characters shine.

The template is an extraordinary elderly person who doesn’t appear in the original work, whether they’re a beautiful woman or an old lady with a childish appearance.

Anything would do, as long as they could train the mob character and make them equal to or even stronger than the protagonist.

It was a development worthy of the god Masatoshi, and I was getting carried away. The only regret was that the master wasn’t a beautiful woman but an old man. However, Masatoshi didn’t dare to be so extravagant and humbly accepted it.

Of course, the standard of humility is the standard for Masatoshi.

“Well then, this will be the final reward. Druid of Tokyo, Grand Mage, come forth!”

As the prime minister spoke, a worn-out old man wearing tattered clothes and a shabby hat appeared without care amidst people’s attention.

In front of His Majesty the Emperor, though it was a disrespectful appearance, that attitude and attire exuded an atmosphere befitting a Grand Mage hiding in the wild.

The old man stopped in his tracks, not kneeling, and turned his face toward the Emperor without a hint of concern. The nobles, including the prime minister, wore expressions of displeasure at his demeanor, but the Emperor’s response was unexpected.

“Oh, old master. I have heard of this matter. I send you my thanks for saving my warriors.”

Surprisingly, the Emperor stood up, descended the stairs, and took the old man’s hand while bowing his head.

This unexpected response caused a stir.

“Have you ever seen His Majesty leave the throne and personally greet someone…?”

“A few times with the previous Emperor, but I believe it’s the first time in this era.”

“He’s said to be an incredible magician who used tremendous magic in Tokyo.”

“Is it true that he got angry about the druid hunt and burned down the forest where the mercenaries were based?”

From the content of the whispers among the nearby nobles, Masatoshi understood why the commotion had occurred.

Masatoshi was impressed that his master was such a great magician.

However, I noticed my father standing beside me was smiling wryly.

“It’s just a performance. His Majesty is welcoming the druid with great favor to treat him as a subject. It’s all part of the game.”

My father tells me in a whisper that I manage to hear.

I look at him again and see he’s a bit over the top and acting like an actor. I’m a little amused by this and fed up with the intricacies of the nobles’ tactics.

I have to live in this world for the rest of my life. It’s not quite the life I had envisioned.

Leading the wealthy and high-ranking Aguni family seemed to be a challenging task.

“It’s retaliation for the druid hunt. The help was just a whim.”

“Even if it was a whim. Thanks to you, you saved my precious warriors’ lives. Feel free to ask for anything you desire.”

The Emperor asks with a smile, not seeming to mind the old wizard’s sloppy language.

Without hesitation, the one-eyed magician spoke his mind.

“I request the transfer of the land near the entrance of Tokyo that I burned. Additionally, I would like to receive a portion of the land in Kamakura. If that’s impossible, I’m willing to buy it.”

“Oh, I see. Then I will give it to you as you wish. May I ask what you will use it for?”

“I plan to propose that the druids who were helped in this incident establish a settlement. Therefore, I will use the acquired land for that purpose. I’m not sure if it will work out.”

The casual content of the old man’s words made the Emperor grin delightedly.

“Oh, I see. If it’s you, it will surely work out. In that case, why don’t I support the establishment of the settlement too? We will provide materials and assistance for the construction of houses, among other things. You will need people, won’t you?”

“…If we add a settlement, I will ask for a tax exemption for five years. After all, the druids don’t have any cash, and even if I use my funds, it will be difficult for me to pay taxes. It would be not Emperor-like if you demand taxes from us.”

“…Five years, I see. Then, it shall be granted only for the druids, and only for those who are below the minimum annual income. We wouldn’t want it to become a breeding ground for tax evasion. Also, there are other details I would like to discuss later. It would be necessary to protect the druids with the police, knights, and others, wouldn’t it?”

“Okay. That’s fine.”

After quickly weighing the benefits and the proposal in his mind, the Emperor agreed.

Then, so that the nobles around him could hear him, he declared loudly, in a dignified and imposing manner.

“As you have heard, everyone. I have decided to support the establishment of a village for the newly joined citizens at the entrance of Tokyo, under the supervision of the sorcerer!”

“Oh, long live the Emperor! Long live the Japanese Magic Empire!”

As if a stroke of good luck, the negotiations with the druids, a long-standing concern, went well. The Emperor, who was boasting, received enthusiastic cheers from everyone.

Masatoshi joined the others and sang three cheers, thinking this is just like the Empire.

Afterward, it immediately turned into a banquet to honor the expedition party. This expedition aimed to incorporate the druids as subjects, but they couldn’t achieve that objective.

Nevertheless, thanks to the successful negotiation with the elderly druid, the quiet banquet turned into a splendid one.

“Father, the druids’ settlement is still small-scale. I don’t think we should be so thrilled.”

Masatoshi asks his father while picking at the food on the table, and he rubs his chin and looks him sharply in the eye.

“Well, you’re right. We may not profit from it. No, we might just incur losses.”

“That’s what I think. It won’t be profitable.”

“However, there is a chance it could be profitable. First, we need to fix the roads. If we want them fixed quickly, we’ll need a considerable amount of magic tools. And facilities, too. If we create a village in Kamakura, we’ll need offices, barracks, police stations, etc. Just thinking about it involves a large sum of money.”

“So, it’s like a large-scale public works project, right?”

Masatoshi agreed, thinking it was a story I had also heard in my previous life. It seemed like the plan was to earn money through initial construction and then bid farewell. Once they developed the roads and built the facilities, they could do as they pleased.

“Well, it’s certainly true. We can contribute to that construction. Consider it one of the rewards of this mission. However…”

As Masatoshi asked, puzzled by his father’s evasive words, his father rubbed his chin and fell into deep thought.