Gray Island.
A nation built from a cluster of countless islands, it was better known across the continent as the “Black Archipelago” than by its official name. Unusually, the Black Archipelago was not defined by a royal family, military might, or local exports. Instead, it was symbolized by a single institution: the Red Bank.
It was the most powerful bank on the entire continent, a capitalist titan that controlled the majority of the gold coins in circulation. Under the Red Bank’s influence, the people of the Black Archipelago did not worship the Seven Chief Gods or the Nine Goddesses. They worshipped something else entirely: Money. They were disciples of gold—beings who lived not by the logic of strength or the mandates of gods, but solely by the laws of capital. Through that singular focus, they had risen to become a terrifying power among the nations of the continent. That was the Black Archipelago.
“Hmm.”
At the entrance of the Caravan Estate, amidst ruins that had yet to be restored, the flag of the Black Archipelago fluttered in the wind. It featured a pitch-black background emblazoned with a pattern of rusted gold coins scattering like waves. It was a design far too gaudy to represent a nation, yet no one could deny it was the most fitting symbol for them.
“My, it seems we’re late! We tried to maximize our margins and missed the window. We could have arrived at a much higher peak, but we’ve come just as the value has dipped. Tsk, if I’d known, I would have invested the moment the Curtain of Fire was deployed. I failed to properly account for the variable that is the Lord. My cautious nature always seems to trip me up at times like this…”
The group carrying the flag was small compared to the Machine Empire’s Magic Corps. In terms of numbers, they were roughly the size of a single knight order. Most of them appeared to be non-combat personnel—laborers carrying bundles and pulling carts instead of wielding swords and spears. Had I not seen their flag, I would have taken them for a passing merchant caravan.
“…Did they just come here to sell things?” I muttered under my breath.
Hearing me, Elizabeth turned her head and replied, “Yes, they certainly came to sell something. Every soul belonging to the Black Archipelago moves in pursuit of gold. Their appearance means they’ve caught the scent of profit.”
“No matter how I look at it, there doesn’t seem to be anything profitable in our estate…”
“Precious gems, gold, and expensive wines aren’t the only things with value.” Elizabeth frowned as she glared at the approaching group. It was clear she wasn’t pleased by their visit. “If someone needs something, the Black Archipelago appears at the exact moment they desire it most and sells it at the highest possible price. The excuse of lacking money doesn’t work on them. They will find something ‘valuable’ one way or another and demand you pay with that.”
Elizabeth clicked her tongue. “…Be careful. My sisters and I have been bewitched by those greedy vultures many times.”
Right.
Even a country bumpkin like me knew of their notoriety. I felt my tension rise as I watched the visitors draw closer. With the rattling of carriages and carts, the group bearing the Black Archipelago flag soon arrived at the estate gates.
And then…
“Oh my! To think I’d meet the famous young Lord in person! Rumors of you have spread all the way across the sea! The hero who performed marvelously in the historic Arena of the Iron Kingdom! The one who crushed the army of Rhapsody—one of those obnoxious Five Families—and even broke the pride of the great Hugo Rhapsody himself! My, your skills are incredible, and your looks are quite outstanding as well. For a moment, I thought I’d gone blind! I bet the noble ladies of the Iron Kingdom are losing sleep because their hearts won’t stop fluttering, hahahaha!”
“…”
“Furthermore, didn’t you accumulate a massive fortune through a deal with us in the past? My, my, even the protagonist of a chivalric novel wouldn’t be as impressive as you, Lord! Uh-hahahaha!”
From the very first sentence, a torrent of shameless flattery poured out.
I tried to respond as rationally as possible. “For what purpose—”
“Wonderful Lord! You are a great hero, but at the same time, you are our client. Let’s not be so cold as to start with business talk; first, please accept our service. Come on, boys! Move it! Our client’s estate has been turned into a mess because of those damn Machine Empire bastards! Unpack the supplies and start repairing the damage immediately! Service is our lifeblood! Service is our lifeblood!”
“…”
But this guy…
“You must be exhausted from the battle you just fought, right? For now, let everyone inside! My boys will clean up this entire area. While we are staying here, you don’t need to worry about security either. I’ll have a mercenary group stationed all around to protect the place, so take a good rest and we can talk business slowly afterward. Health is everything, isn’t it? We’re all just trying to make a living, so we should at least show this much consideration for our client. It’s only natural, only natural!”
His skill at bewitching people was no joke.
“Ah! Boys, as soon as the cleanup is done, break out the food and wine we brought and throw a feast! Hardships must be overcome with laughter! On the honor of the Black Archipelago, make sure every single person has a wonderful time! Oh, and Lord, if you’re worried about the cost, don’t be! It’s all on the house. Service, service! We’ll cover all the expenses, so please just relax. Of course, we’ll hold the feast in your name. Hahahaha! We provide the money, you get the credit! It’s the ultimate service!”
…This guy.
Could he actually be a decent fellow?
*
The sounds of laughter and chatter echoed throughout the grounds. The residents of the Caravan Estate, who had endured such a harrowing time, tore into quality meat and drank fine wine, enjoying a feast for the first time in ages. Collapsed buildings were reconstructed in an instant, and the Black Archipelago’s workers even built new houses on vacant land, calling them gifts for the residents.
“I am truly a fan of yours, Lord. It is an honor to see your face. Honestly, I’d be satisfied even if I went back without gaining a single thing.”
“…That’s enough lip service.”
“Pardon? It’s not lip service—”
However…
“What kind of deal do you want that you’re going to these lengths?”
I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
“If you were trying to win my favor, you’ve succeeded. Just seeing my people smiling in comfort makes me satisfied. So, tell me what you want. If it’s a deal where I have to sacrifice myself so my residents can keep smiling, I will gladly accept it.”
I meant those words sincerely.
To be honest, the Black Archipelago had no reason to be interested in most of the residents of the Caravan Estate. They had no reason to care about this land, either. So why did they show up here? There was only one answer: People.
A swordsman whose fame had been spreading recently, two witches in residence, and Tom, who—despite his severe injuries—was a Sword Expert . This humble land hid more big names than one might expect, enough for the Black Archipelago to covet them.
“I don’t know what you want, but I hope it’s just me. I’m truly grateful for what the Black Archipelago has provided, but my neighbors are too precious to me to hand over to anyone else.”
The man’s expression shifted at my words.
The sycophantic smile he had been wearing until a moment ago vanished completely, replaced by a dry, expressionless face, as if he had removed a mask. It was like looking at the face of a doll. An emotionless doll.
“I see. I wanted to enjoy the atmosphere a bit longer, but I suppose it’s time for business… Very well, then. You seem to be a client who doesn’t much enjoy sentimental moods.”
“I’m a bit like that.”
“The situation you fear will not happen. Our purpose in visiting this place is solely you. The Lord of the Caravan Estate, Arhan Caravan.”
The man raised his glass.
“The value we have appraised for you is quite high. You have been verified once in the Infinite Duel of the Arena, and you spread your fame by defending this small land against Rhapsody. Personal martial might, the name value gained from achieving legendary feats… you meet the criteria for a hero. More accurately, you are a person suitable for others to judge as a ‘hero.'”
“A hero?”
“Yes. Your practical value might be nothing more or less than a fairly skilled Sword Runner . That is a ‘useful resource,’ but it isn’t enough reason for us to personally travel to this barren land. Your true value lies in the fame surrounding you. Heroic deeds that made the impossible possible. Those in trouble go wild for such achievements.”
“…”
“People these days are incredibly quick to notice a manufactured hero. Several heroes we created artificially have already been exposed. That is why the Black Archipelago sent me here to purchase a hero who is already making a name for himself: the hero Arhan Caravan.”
The man’s eyes scanned me. It was as if he were looking at a product on display.
“You must be aware of the current flow of the continent. No one can go against the tide. The Black Archipelago expects a fierce war to break out soon. Instead of participating in the war, we will conduct business. We will trade in mercenary groups, we will lend money, and after investing in one of the nations fighting on equal footing, we will take our share from the victor. We will share the glory of victory without shedding blood. To do that, we need heroes. A single hero can change the flow of the tide, boost an army’s morale, and create miracles. Just as it was in the past Age of War, we believe a single hero can exert powerful influence in an Era of Strife.”
“Influence, huh.”
“And it was difficult to find a true hero in times of peace. Even those called heroes were just elite knights who gained fame in some knight order, or commanders who won battles by borrowing their family’s prestige. In that context, you were special. Coming from a nameless family, the Lord of a pathetic land, growing through your own strength, and finally achieving the glory of winning against a Great Family… You have a story the public can go wild for.”
The man took a sip of his drink.
“Soon, there will be a war among the great powers in the Southern Continent. Their war won’t involve sending large-scale legions, but rather small-scale support or providing supplies and gold. It’s a sort of proxy war fought on someone else’s land. You will have value there beyond that of an individual. The morale boost of having a hero who achieved impossible feats join the allied camp, an individual with superior martial might, and on top of that… a variable that can create miracles.”
“…”
“The Black Archipelago wishes to hire you as a mercenary. The moment you are hired, we will make you an even more powerful and noble hero. To the point where some Southerners might worship you as a hero of legend or a mythical being.”
“Is fighting all I have to do? Is that it?”
“Yes. It will be easier to understand if you think of it as becoming a fighter belonging to us.”
A fighter. Yes, that was certainly an easy expression to understand.
“This is also an investment for the future. You are a young swordsman who has achieved great things at a young age. In the future, you will become an even more incredible being. We intend to create a bond now before your price rises, to see a profit in advance. Furthermore, our investigation showed that there are several individuals connected to you. A caretaker who was a Sword Expert , two witches, the Orc Shaman Sherdic, and even the Dwarf Kingdom… Not all of them will move according to your will, but by hiring you, the fact that we gain a connection with them is of sufficient value.”
The man didn’t beat around the bush or hide anything. He continued his explanation dryly, as if describing a product.
“For now, we will take a loss. But in the future, we will see a profit. This is the kind of investment I pursue. Enduring a current loss for the sake of future gain.”
“Future gain…”
“In exchange, we will give you what you need most.”
“Do you even know what I need?”
“Safety.”
The man’s eyes turned toward me.
“A mercenary group hired by the Red Bank will protect this place. In addition, we will provide full support for the estate’s development, as much food and drink as you need. If you wish, we can even appoint you as a Lord of the Black Archipelago. We will also assist in relocating your residents to the Black Archipelago. The Black Archipelago is a land as safe as the Sky Empire. If you place your people there, you will no longer need to worry while wandering the continent. They will live better lives. Honestly, the Iron Kingdom is a land where it’s hard for the kind and the weak to survive. In contrast, the Black Archipelago is a golden land where, as long as you live diligently, you can enjoy what you want and live happily without ever swinging a sword… As I said before, we are taking a loss on this deal.”
“…”
“Seeing the war between the Machine Empire and the Iron Kingdom intensify, several envoys from the Black Archipelago have visited both nations. In exchange for helping defend vulnerable regions, we extracted things of value from them. Since the very presence of our mercenary groups significantly lowers the possibility of conflict, we take almost no risk while seeing only profit.”
It was hard to read any emotion in the man’s eyes. They were dry and indifferent.
“The offer to provide temporary protection is the same here, but the offer to take you into the fold of the Black Archipelago and protect you is one we haven’t made anywhere else. It is because you have that much value. The Black Archipelago is a place that offers the most valuable thing at the most necessary moment. However, we do not make unfair deals. If we gain something valuable, we give something of equal value in return. The price for hiring you is the complete safety of those you cherish most, along with their comfortable future and abundant lives.”
It was an incredibly sweet proposal. No, ‘sweet’ didn’t do it justice.
This was… an offer that couldn’t be refused.
“Our hiring you doesn’t mean we intend to use you as a slave gladiator. It means we will raise you as a hero and provide full support for you to become stronger. We can bring you any equipment you desire, elixirs for mana growth, and even the swordsmanship of the Great Families if you wish. The vaults of the Red Bank contain everything of value in the world.”
“…”
“What will you do? Will you take our hand and join the Black Archipelago, or will you face the approaching Era of Strife alone?”
“…”
“An individual cannot go against the tide. If you do not unite, you will only be swept away by the storm. Even if you were a hero of myth, you cannot protect the weak people living in this humble land by yourself. But together, we can. Will you join us?”
The man who had been fawning over me with a low posture and laughing like a frivolous fool was gone. This was likely the true face of the Black Archipelago. The greediest people on the continent. The true face of the incarnations of greed, throwing out an offer that was impossible to refuse.
In front of the Black Archipelago, which had revealed its true face… what should I do?
“Can you give me some time to think?”
First, a timeout.
