Chapter 41 – Winning People (5)

“Four people? What do you mean by…”

Hearing the news that as many as four people had to accompany us, Natasha stared at me in disbelief.

Judging by Heimdall’s off-roader that went to pick up the Wayne brothers, it seemed that a driver and a front passenger were a given this time as well.

“The reason the Immortal Ember deliberately assigns an eight-seater off-roader is to load bulky magic engineering equipment. That’s why the maximum number of people who can actually ride is four. But if we have to bring four more people, we have to remove all the equipment and fill it with only people.”

A driver, a front passenger, Natasha, me, and the remaining four made a total of eight people, which meant the eight-seater off-roader would be completely filled with just people.

“But we must take them with us. When weighing value rather than the weight of objects versus lives, that is the case. If we have to give up something, we have no choice but to give up the equipment.”

But it could not be helped.

Because I could not leave behind the Wayne brothers, who had placed twentieth on the grade list, and Will Ford, who took second place, along with his younger sister Williana.

But…

‘Runner-up, runner-up…? Come to think of it, isn’t a protocol vehicle assigned to the runner-up as well?’

I had been too distracted by the golem issue to notice, but now that I thought about it, wasn’t Will Ford the runner-up?

In addition, the same went for the Wayne brothers, who had already arrived in an off-roader via recommendations.

Although they did not make it to the top ranks, they were also successful candidates, so they were highly likely to return in an off-roader.

“I am a person who moves to complete the mission. I cannot agree to a decision that interferes with the plan. I need to know who on earth they are and why we must bring them.”

Thus, calming Natasha, who was demanding to know who those people were and if they really had to be brought along, I asked.

“Is an off-roader assigned to the runner-up as well? What about the regular candidates who didn’t rank?”

“Why are you suddenly asking that…”

“Three of the four people to be taken are the runner-up and successful candidates of this exam.”

“What?!”

This time, even Natasha could not hide her emotions.

It was partly because we had formed a temporary alliance, but also because the people I mentioned bringing along were extraordinary individuals.

Stunned, Natasha looked embarrassed, composed her expression, and spoke slowly.

“…Of course, an off-roader is assigned to the runner-up as well. Although a six-seater is assigned because there is a difference in the support rewards provided to the top scorer and the runner-up.”

“What about the regular candidates?”

“The same goes for them, but for the same reason, a four-seater off-roader is assigned.”

It was as expected.

In that case, didn’t we have a total of four off-roaders: mine, the Wayne brothers’, and Will Ford’s?

This was enough.

However, Natasha’s next words only brought another worry.

“But if the destination is the same, the vehicles are sometimes consolidated. Even if it is a courtesy we should extend, as you know, off-roaders are precious items even to the Immortal Ember.”

“Then…?”

“They will most likely assign one eight-seater off-roader and one six-seater. That way, both people and cargo can be loaded to fit the capacity perfectly.”

To summarize Natasha’s words, to reduce waste, two off-roaders would be assigned.

Since the equipment provided only differed in quality whether one was the top scorer, runner-up, or a regular candidate, it was highly likely that only the equipment given to me as the top scorer would be loaded onto the six-seater off-roader.

Natasha said that instead, the missing equipment would be converted into gold coins.

‘Still, since they said protocol vehicles are not inspected, I have no choice but to exclude the things I don’t need right now from the equipment given as the top scorer’s reward.’

Since every single piece of magic engineering equipment was desperately needed by our Ember, I could not help but feel it was a waste, but I had to give it up to succeed in creating the golem.

However, once I became the leader, our Ember would achieve unprecedented rapid growth.

Right now, it was a thousand times right to focus on becoming a leader rather than on magic engineering.

“Hmm…”

Just as I was organizing the minimum essential items in my head with my chin resting on my hand.

“But if you mean the runner-up… are you referring to Will Ford, the child whom Lord Vexel accompanied as an attendant?”

Natasha McGrain asked cautiously.

“That is correct. I happened to have a small connection with Will Ford, and the conversation went well, so he decided to follow me.”

I could not tell her everything.

After all, the only reason I was able to form a bond with Will Ford was thanks to the golden compass Heimdall had given me.

Above all, Vexel Mytro was one of Herman Melville’s elite five.

Vexel must also be volunteering as an attendant to recruit Will Ford on his orders.

That meant there was a high probability that Natasha and he were members of the same organization sharing the same goal.

Therefore, there was no need to tell the truth.

Because they had not only missed me, the top scorer, but were also in a situation where they were losing Will Ford, the runner-up, to me.

To Herman Melville, I would be the most shameless bastard of them all.

Thus, I changed the subject.

“The other two successful candidates are the Wayne brothers from the same Ember as me, and the last one is Will Ford’s younger sister, Williana Ford.”

“I see. Lord Aylen’s Ember will have no worries regarding magic engineering. Since there are so many talented individuals…”

‘Come to think of it…’

Hearing Natasha’s words, that was certainly true.

Damian Vale, who was mentioned as the next great magic engineer.

The twin Wayne brothers, who became novice magic engineers at the age of nineteen.

Will Ford, a monster who reached the intermediate level at the younger age of fifteen.

And even myself, the only upper-intermediate magic engineer on the continent according to the list of magic engineers in the library.

Listing the names made it sink in anew.

‘The magic engineering departments of most Embers wouldn’t even be able to compare to our Ember. Without Herman Melville, the same would go for the Immortal Ember.’

Coincidentally, all four of us were rookies; though our Ember and names were currently insignificant, each of our potentials was monstrous.

As an upper-intermediate engineer, even if I just waited for Herman Melville to pass away, I would become the best magic engineer on the continent; furthermore, from my perspective, the talents of Damian and Will Ford seemed poised to surpass me in the near future.

Not to mention the Wayne brothers, who, though only falling short compared to such monsters, would be well-treated in any Ember they went to.

The nine magic engineers who followed Damian out of admiration were also strong pillars supporting the foundation of the magic engineering department.

‘To think that the composition of talent in the magic engineering field, which was a necessity to fill, is already complete.’

Each and every one of them was capable of heading the magic engineering department.

At this rate, the goal I had initially set—’having the magic engineering department run well even without me’—was as good as already achieved.

It meant I could focus entirely on my role as a politician and a leader.

And since that was what I was most confident in and best at.

“Magic engineering saves the world, but it is people who run it. I need more talented individuals like you, Lady Natasha.”

“Don’t worry, as we will be together for at least the promised half-year. You will be able to find someone to replace me within that time.”

‘As expected… staying with me for half a year is the maximum. I guess it can’t be helped.’

But perhaps because her loyalty to Herman Melville was too strong.

What had acted positively when taking her hostage now acted negatively when trying to make her one of my people.

“I suppose so. The world is wide, and there are many people.”

Still, as Natasha said, half a year was enough time to find talent.

For me, who would have to roam around this Ember and that Ember and meet countless people in order to become a leader in the future, such opportunities would be countless.

In the first place, hadn’t I already discovered four people—the Wayne brothers, Will Ford, and Natasha—even in the Immortal Ember?

‘Calling the Wayne brothers a discovery is a stretch since they were already from the same Ember, but having them on my side is a completely different story.’

So, I only needed to recognize talent and think about how to recruit them.

Just as I always did, playing the role of a great leader with grand dreams and intentions to captivate people.

Just then, for some reason, Natasha asked as if testing me.

“It will be a pity when that time comes. Half a year is not a short time, after all.”

“I think so too, but everyone must have their own place.”

“…Who knows? Maybe my mind will change when the time comes. If that happens, you must tell me.”

Natasha McGrain, who had told me to find a replacement for her within half a year, was now smiling and giving me false hope.

‘Is she teasing me…?’

However, the way Natasha’s eyes looked as if she truly wished for it must have been my own illusion.

“If we are fated, we will be together even if we do not want to.”

“Being together even if we do not want to… that sounds fateful.”

“Anyway, let’s get back to the main point. Since there is now a limit on the items we can bring, we must change the plan.”

Deciding that this time, even my superhuman senses, which were always right, must be wrong, I brushed it off.

Because drawing up the list of items was urgent right now.

“I need a core and a magic circuit board of at least intermediate grade. Is that possible?”

“Cores are impossible to obtain, both financially and structurally. They can only be purchased at shops officially run by the Ember, leaving a record. A report must also be submitted regarding where they were used. The same goes for magic circuit boards.”

“Then please obtain only the core as a low-grade one, and I will make the magic circuit board myself. Next, what about the magic engineering prosthetic limbs that will serve as limbs?”

“Those can be purchased in the shopping district, but it is the same if we want to get intermediate-grade ones. You can assume that all purchases of intermediate grade or higher are complicated due to technology leaks. Should I get those as low-grade items as well?”

“Yes, and also…”

How many hours passed as I contemplated the magic engineering aspects alone, asking Natasha if they were possible and making adjustments?

“It has already gotten this late.”

Before we knew it, the magnificent view of the Ember, with twilight settling outside the tiny window, unfolded.

Yet, even then, the list of items remained unfinished, hitting the realistic limit of the restricted loading capacity.

“This won’t do. I tried not to use this method if possible, but I have no choice. Even though it is dangerous, this is the only way.”

“What kind of method is it…”

“As for what that method is…”

Hearing the method that had been postponed until the absolute very end, Natasha.

“Are you… are you really crazy, Lord Aylen?”

…was nothing short of utterly astounded.

* * *

Before long, time passed, and dawn arrived after a dark night.

Rustle-

In the lodging where Aylen Vale and Natasha McGrain stayed, there was a single figure who was not yet asleep.

“…”

The spy Natasha was that very person.

‘He was a completely crazy person. How could he think of such a thing?’

Rising silently from the bed, Natasha shuddered as she recalled the conversation she had with Aylen earlier.

That conversation was as follows…

—On this return trip, one six-seater off-roader will go missing.

—Pardon? Go missing? Do you mean an attack by raiders…?

—An off-roader is ultimately a product of magic engineering, is it not? If we cannot bring the parts, we can just use the off-roader as parts.

—…

—You must be speechless because it is such a great idea. It is awkward to say it myself, but even I think it is a groundbreaking solution.

At those last words, she truly thought he was a madman.

She felt like she understood why that single line, ‘eccentric,’ had been written in the documents.

However, the reason Natasha did not sleep was due to something like a habit of a spy.

‘Belongings… Where is the bag?’

It was to grasp even the smallest habit or characteristic of the target she had to win over.

“Whew… whew…”

Just as Natasha, having confirmed that Aylen was asleep, moved with cat-like steps to inspect his bag.

“…!”

Natasha ended up discovering something she should not have found.

Click-!

“Aylen Vale, who are you? Who do you work for?”

“…Natasha?”

It was the general of the Ember of Progress whom she had worked on two years ago.

It was the magic gun of former Commander Jeremy Scott.