Tou No Madoushi - Chapter 68

 Episode 68 - Illywia Delivers the Hammer of Justice

 

Illywia was relaxing in the garden of her villa in Alfredo.

　The garden was covered with a lake and surrounded by a lush forest.

 

　The water in the lake was brought in by fairies, and the trees in the forest were seedlings planted in soil brought in from overseas and grown by magic.

 

Both the lake and the forest were home to the magical beasts she was researching.

 

　It was a garden that could only be created if she had the financial resources to mobilize a large number of mages.

　Her villa is located in the most sunny place in Alfredo from the sun stone.

　Those who are in this garden can bathe in the brilliant light of the sun stone, listen to the quiet murmur of the lake, and rest their eyes in the gentle green of the forest.

 

　Illywia was sitting at a table and chairs set up in the garden, elegantly passing the time by watching the magical beasts that occasionally appeared from the forest and lake.

 

　As she was relaxing, she saw the people she had been waiting for arrive.

　It's Lynn and Theo.

　Illywia stood up.

“Hello, Lynn. Thank you for coming.”

“Thank you for inviting us to your villa. Lady Illywia.”

　Lynn bowed politely.

“It is a pleasure, Lynn. I'm glad to hear from you.”

　Illywia was smiling, looking even happier than usual.

(Come to think of it, this is the first time I have ever contacted her.)

　Lynn realized that it was always her who had invited him to meet her.

 

“Is this the person over there? You said in your letter that you wanted to introduce to me.”

　Illywia looked at Theo and said.

 

“Yes. I'd like to introduce you to Theo, my classmate from the academy and co-owner of the company. Actually, he has something he would like to discuss with you, Lady Illywia.......”

 

“I'm Theo Garfield. I would like to thank you for your generous response to my sudden request.”

　Theo also bowed, following Lynn's example.

 

“No need for formal greetings. There is no need to be mindful of one's status outside. This is the Mage Tower. This is not the Kingdom of Wyngarde. You and I are mages of the same academy. We are equals. There are no other Wyngardeans here besides the Duke, so there is no need to be reserved. Please treat me as such.”

 

She showed the same friendly, undivided attitude that Illywia had for everyone.

 

“That's not possible. The reason I want to speak to you today is not because I want to speak to you as an individual, but because I want to speak to you as the royal family of Wyngarde.”

 

“Hmm. I see.”

A momentary look of sadness and melancholy appears on Illywia's face, and she shuts her eyes for a moment, her previously soft and friendly expression disappearing. Instead, a cold and dignified expression clings to her face.

 

Lynn was startled by the change in her mood.

 

“Then let's hear it. Theo-san, the mage. Kneel down and begin to speak.”

“Huh?”

　Theo knelt with one foot and one hand on the ground and hung his head.

 

Lynn was taken aback by the interaction between the two.

　The garden of the villa was now as quiet as if it had been hit by water in the face of Illywia's majesty.

　The birds had stopped chirping, and even the magical beasts that lurked in the woods and lakes had ceased their activities and disappeared as if dead.

　Lynn was unsure if he should imitate Theo or not.

He looked over at Duke and saw that he was guiding Lynn with his hand.

　You don't have to do this, he seemed to be saying.

 

　Theo began to speak with his head down.

“I'm here today to ask you something. I would like to ask you something. The people from the major merchant associations that Lady Illywia and the royal family of Wyngarde are close friends with. Do you know of a person named Lorea that they are doing business with in Alfredo?”

 

"Lorea? No, I don't know that person. What's the matter?”

“Actually, there's a complication with her business.......”

 

Theo complained about how exorbitant the tax levied by Lorea was, how it was impoverishing the merchants of Alfredo, and how it was hindering the education of mages with limited resources. How justifiable their dealings were.

 

“All merchants in Alfredo suffer from her tyranny and rampage. She is the enemy of free commerce. We can't even run our businesses in peace with her. The larger merchant houses can withstand Lorea's tax collection. However, the small and medium-sized merchants are suffering from Lorea's tax collection. Moreover, these exploitation is not based on venerable authority, but on violence and intimidation. Her actions are truly vicious, outrageous, and cruel. This distorted state of affairs, if left unchecked, will undermine the trust of the world's most respected mage tower. Already her rule has distorted market principles, causing poverty, uneven distribution of wealth, and economic stagnation. And all of this is being done just to satisfy her own self-interest.”

 

　Theo was determined to appeal not for his own benefit, but for the public good. And in doing so, he did not forget to speak as if he was representing the interests of all the merchants.

 

“We are not saying this for our own personal gain. We just want to do something about this unfair situation. This absurd taxation must of course be affecting our exports. If we can get rid of the taxation, then the magic tools exported to the Kingdom of Wyngarde, as well as all other countries in the world, will be traded at a proper price.”

 

Illywia nodded in agreement deeply several times as she listened to Theo.

 

“I see. Theo-san. I understand what you're saying. If there is a connection between such a person and the royal merchants, it would be a matter of prestige for the royal family of Wyngarde. It cannot be overlooked. I'll put the necessary pressure on the major merchant associations from my side.”

 

“Thank you. All the merchants of Alfredo are grateful for your mercy and fairness, and we will never forget this favor.”

 

The two of them then discussed the details and agreed that they would put pressure on the major merchant associations early next week.

 

　Lynn tilted his head as he listened to the exchange between Theo and Illywia.

(Huh? I thought you were going to reconcile with Lorea-san?)

　Lynn wondered, but thought that Theo must have his own ideas, so he didn't say anything at that moment.

“Now”

Illywia claps her hands.

The next moment her face, it was back to its usual harmonious and friendly expression.

 

“I guess that's the end of our difficult conversation. Now let's make some tea.”

　The tense air was completely gone and Lynn felt his body relax.

 

“Now, standing like that is tiring. Sit down, both of you.”

　She said, and Duke waved his wand.

　With a whoosh of wind, two chairs appeared out of nowhere and were added around the table.

　Just in time, the waiter brought a kettle and some snacks.

 

On the way back from Illywia's villa, Lynn couldn't resist asking Theo a question.

 

“Hey, Theo.”

“Hmm, what?”

“Are you sure you want to proceed with the reconciliation with Lorea?”

“Yes. I do.”

(Yeah? What you're saying and what you're doing seem to be the opposite...)

　Lynn wondered, but didn't dare to say anything.

 

(Well, Theo is a smart guy. I'm sure he has a good solution. Anyway, all I can do is work on the settlement.)

 

Illywia was alone in her room as usual, and then she summoned her spirit.

“Sylph. Tell me what this Theo kid is really thinking.”

　Sylph did as told and gave Ilywia an earful.

 

“Mm-hmm. I see. I'm sure he's planning to use me as a public figure to get rid of his own enemies. Hmmm. He is quite a clever boy, isn't he? Well, this is a problem that the royal family can't overlook. I'll let him use me. It's also a good excuse to work for Lynn.”

 

“Dear Major Commercial Association

 

　Do you know how the Lorea Tax Collector's Office, where your suppliers and wholesalers pay their taxes, is raking in the profits?

 

　I can't let this scandalous situation go unchecked.

 

　From now on, the royal family of Wyngarde will no longer do business with any merchant company that uses elevators controlled by the Lorea Tax Collection Office to make sales.

 

　Illywia Rim Wyngarde.”

 

(Hmm. I guess that should be it.)

 

　Illywia finished writing a letter in her room and took a breath.

(I hadn't realized it until that Theo kid told me about it. Such blatant exploitation of the middleman was going on. However, I guess that can't be helped. The royalty and nobility rarely go down to Renril. The difference in status and the structure of the tower were cleverly exploited.)

　As she paused for a moment to think, Duke came into the room.

 

“You wanted to see me? Illywia-sama.”

 

“Duke. Please deliver this letter to all the major merchant houses that do business with the royal family of Wyngarde.”

 

“Major merchant houses?　Isn't the time for an audience with the merchants still a long way off?”

 

“No, this is a different matter. It's about the Lorea Tax Collector's Office.......”

 

“Oh, you mean the girl who got in through the back door?”

 

“What? Backdoor entry?”

 

“It's an open fact among those of us in the association that she entered the academy through a backdoor method. In addition, she can't keep up with her studies and can't graduate, so she has no choice but to stay at the academy year after year, and she's cozying up to the association to line her pockets. To us, she is like a bone stuck in our throat.”

 

“Hmm. So, there were such situations.”

(Then let's put some pressure on the Director about that as well.)

 

“Dear Director.

 

　Do you know a woman named Lorea who is enrolled in the academy?

 

　Not only did she enter the academy through a backdoor entrance, but she has no intention of graduating and has been staying only to do evil business in Alfredo.

 

　What does the head of the school think about having such a student in the school?

 

　As the royal family of Wyngarde, who donates a large amount of money to the academy, we can't help but feel that this will have a negative impact on the other students, disrupt public morals, worsen the security of Alfredo, and bring down the authority of the academy.

 

　I hope that the Dean will immediately take appropriate action against her.

 

　Illywia Rim Wyngarde”

 

(That's it. The less specific you are in your instructions, the more they will do things on their own.)

 

Illywia read the letter over and over again, then suddenly paused as she was about to send it out.

 

(Theo said by next week, but we should do it a little earlier. The sooner the better.)

 

“Duke. Please arrange for this letter to be delivered today.”

 

Illywia sipped her tea, satisfied with her work.

 

(This is good. I'm sure Lynn will be very pleased.)

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