Proposal

October arrived, and Allen finally turned twelve. This month marked his fourth anniversary here at the Granvelle mansion.

During the past five months, the chivalric order had assumed supervision over the armored ant nest that he had cleared, and in September, the northernmost mithril mine finally began operations.

Mine development for the vein Allen had discovered would begin next year. Specialist miners had taken a look at it and confirmed that this was indeed a brand new vein that no one else had happened upon before. It was expected to be a very rich vein, at that.

When the Knight Captain had saved him at the orc village, Allen had realized how much freedom he had been given to do what he wanted. The number of hours he spent hunting had shot up ever since he had obtained Sharing. And next year, the mining rights he held would enable him to live a comfortable life without even having to lift a finger.

Back when he lived in Krena Village, there was something that he had desperately lacked: status. In a desperate bid to raise his family's social class, he had hunted albaherons en masse and spearheaded changes to the great boar hunting party. Despite being unable to leave the village as he pleased, it had still been a very fulfilling time.

Now, though, he felt like he was just hunting slimes around the starter castle. He had more than enough money to live off of, and the monsters he fought posed no threat to him; all he was doing was grinding to the level cap without any particular goal in mind.

'My mining rights... Almost feels like excess flab.'

What Allen sought was not a cushy life. He had come to this world in search of excitement, something that could clutch his attention and consume his every waking thought. What he now had was not what he wanted. Partly due to these thoughts, when he went on to clear two more armored ant nests and realized they were not mithril mines, he did not feel particularly disappointed.

When he arrived at the mansion at eight years old, he had planned on becoming an adventurer. Then Mihai had asked him to protect Cecil, and Allen had said, "Yes." He still fully intended on keeping this promise, but now that he had turned twelve, he was also thinking it was about time for him to embark on the next phase of his life. This life of grinding "slimes" around the starter castle could not be the right answer for him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Rickel asked.

Allen roused himself. "My apologies, sir."

The two were currently sharing breakfast together, just as they had for the past four years. Next year, Rickel would be quitting as head manservant to become either a coachman or a cook. The position of head manservant was not one that could be held for several decades, and it was high time he passed it on to someone else.

He was currently musing with Allen about which would be the easier profession in his usual flippant tone. Allen thought this a very Rickel-like question to ask. When he looked at this superior of his, he wondered if maybe he was the one overthinking his life.

"I heard the Royal envoy's coming again," Rickel said, changing the subject. "I'm starting to get tired of all this talk about mithril, honestly."

"So I've been told," Allen replied. "Even though he came just last month."

Visits from a Royal envoy were hardly unusual, but their frequency had jumped up significantly over the past year. Many of these had been to confirm the progress of preparations for the mithril mining operation, with there being a noticeably pressing tone in their questioning.

Allen wondered if it was due to a shortage of mithril in the kingdom now that Carnel was no longer able to produce any.

The advance notice that came the other day included the date and time the envoy would be arriving, but not the nature of his business.

Sebas had told Allen to stay in the dining hall after lunch, as part of the service staff that would be on hand during the audience.

***

The Baron's family had lunch, then two men arrived at the Granvelle mansion around 1 pm.

When Sebas escorted them into the dining hall, the Baron gasped. Not because of the Royal envoy; it was usually the same one who came every time, and even Allen had seen him multiple times by now.

What caught the Baron by surprise was the identity of the Royal envoy's companion. He knew this person, and he was much more than a mere passing acquaintance.

The Royal envoy was visiting together with Viscount Carnel.

"Welcome," the Baron said, keeping a straight face. He had allowed his wife and children to sit in for today's audience as he had expected it to be about the mithril mines again. If he had known the viscount was coming, he would have handled this visit on his own.

"I have heard that you apply yourself to your fiefdom's development with such eagerness and vigor. You are a true model for the other nobles," the envoy began, insolently leaning back into his seat and staring at the Baron from across the table.

'Ugh, this envoy's as arrogant as always.'

Instead of sitting, Viscount Carnel was standing behind the envoy, almost as if he were the man's attendant. The positioning looked just like how Sebas stood behind the Baron.

"May I ask what is the nature of your visit today, my lord?" the Baron asked respectfully, a tinge of wariness in his tone.

The envoy grunted. After a pregnant pause, he answered, "I've come to bring you a proposal, Baron Granvelle."

"A proposal, my lord?"

"That's right. You are involved in a dispute that is well-known even among the nobles. So what I bring today is a proposal to resolve that dispute."

"What dispute might that be, my lord?" The Baron racked his brains, but nothing came to mind.

"The centuries-old dispute between House Granvelle and House Carnel. This is an issue that even the Royal family cannot overlook. A reconciliation must be achieved."

"That's..."

When speaking of a dispute between these two families, only one thing came to mind: the mithril mines in the White Dragon Mountains.

It was true that this was an issue that had hung like a shadow over both houses for generations. The two realms constantly cycled between prosperity and decline in turn, forever at the mercy of the White Dragon.

"And so, I've brought this today."

The Viscount walked forward with a rolled-up parchment in hand. Sebas met him in the middle and accepted it with both hands, then brought it back and placed it before the Baron.

"Wh-What is this?"

"Read it."

The Baron undid the string and spread the scroll open. As his eyes flowed across the page, however, shock filled his face.

"This is simply..."

"Mm? Do you take issue with this solution that I have gone to the trouble of arranging?"

"But, my lord, shared management of the White Dragon Mountains is just..."

"Just what? The two realms being divided by the mountain range is the cause of their dispute. As such, both can share management over the whole mountain. Naturally, profits will also be split equally."

'"Shared management"? As in, both the Baron and the Viscount will have equal claim to the entire mountain range? Damn. So that's why the Viscount's smirking so much.'

What the Royal envoy had brought was a contract for House Granvelle and House Carnel to share ownership over the White Dragon Mountain Range.

The man proceeded to describe how the two families would share both the burden of maintenance and the profits obtained. From his position behind the envoy, Viscount Carnel was clearly having trouble hiding the smile on his face. Even his shoulders were shaking, indicating just how badly he was holding in his laughter.

"However—"

"What displeases you about this? I even asked the judicial vice-minister himself to write up this contract for you."

"But—"

"Enough. Viscount Carnel's signature is already on the document." The royal envoy stared down the very confused and flabbergasted Baron, almost as if wordlessly ordering him to stop complaining and sign the blasted document already.

After a long, pained silence, the Baron said, "I...am truly sorry. This is all very sudden. May I respond after having an audience with His Majesty?"

"What? You are refusing to sign the contract that I asked the judicial vice-minister to draft? So, you're a big shot now, are you, Baron?"

"O-Of course not, my lord. Just a brief audience would do. All I wish is for a quick confirmation with His Majesty in person."

"So you doubt me! Being able to mine mithril has made you brazen and impudent. Enough!"

The envoy shot to his feet and headed for the door in a hurry. Seeing Viscount Carnel hurry after him as an attendant would, Sebas also rushed forward to escort them out, but the envoy shouted loudly, "No need!" and furiously slammed the door.

After the dramatic exit, Baron Granvelle cast the parchment onto the grand table. "I refuse to believe in the validity of such a ridiculous contract.

"Sebas, I must pay the royal palace a visit with haste. Zenof is returning two days from now, yes?"

"Yes, Master. He has gone out on an expedition to the White Dragon Mountains, so he should be returning to town in two days."

It was as if the clock was now leaping forward after being frozen. The Baron barked out questions, taking stock of the situation. As soon as the Knight Captain returned to Granvelle City, the Baron would be taking him along when he headed to the Royal capital via a magic ship.

With this, all the members of the Baron's family and servants were dismissed.