God-Tier Enhancement: My Upgrades Never Fail-Chapter 111: Episode 22 _ You’ll Remember If You Get Hit(2)

Chapter 111: Episode 22 _ You’ll Remember If You Get Hit(2)

"Wow. There are a lot of amazing things."

"Yes, there is nothing like these magic circles for territory defense."

The mages explained with all their might. Since magic circles are expensive enough that selling just one allows them to play and eat for months, the demand is also low.

If they grease up a customer who looks like a pushover at a glance and rip him off properly to sell a few, they could cleanly forget the past of whining about swatting flies and enjoy some leisure for a while.

Normally, they wouldn’t explain with such desperate effort, but having already seen the pile of 100-gold coins spilling from his leather pouch, their attitude naturally had to become polite, adventurer or not.

"Hmm. But it seems a bit cruel."

"Oh my. You are so humane. As expected, a warmth befitting a my lord who leads a territory. But you don’t need to worry because this magic circle is made so luxuriously and precisely that it won’t activate unless it’s a considerable danger. Ah! Of course, it is possible to activate it whenever my lord wishes. Anyway, the fact that this activates means enemies have swarmed in to plunder, burn, kill, and ravage my lord’s territory, and there is no need to show mercy to such enemies."

"Is that so? Actually, I came here because I was worried that some vicious lord might tear our territory to shreds."

"Ah. Then you really came to the right place. Those vicious guys actually deserve to suffer for the rest of their lives burning alive. Since it’s a magic circle that can kill them without getting blood on your hands on behalf of the humane my lord, it seems perfect for your territory too."

"Hmm. I am tempted."

"Of course. This also becomes a matter of territory pride for Lords with plenty of funds. It wasn’t so in the past, but these days the trend is that whether a territory is A-rank depends on whether magic circles are installed. It helps with security issues and increases people’s desire to live there too."

"Oho."

The appearance of falling for the divinely inspired persuasion was greased with flattery. The mage chattered more excitedly.

"Furthermore, since you say the territory is quite large—Ah! It’s amazing that you became a viscount at a young age, but to have such a large territory. I don’t know where it is, but I’d like to build a Magic Tower there and live too. Anyway, since you say it’s a wide territory, it might be more comfortable for your mind to lay down magic circles in double or triple layers."

"Just one won’t be enough, right?"

"No! Absolutely! One is unconditionally enough, but what I want to tell you is that it might be better to prepare a 200-point, 300-point answer sheet rather than a 100-point one. For a test, getting 100 points is enough, but there are cases where enemies cannot be solved with just 100 points."

"Umm."

"Here, this magic circle has really good compatibility with the magic circle I just explained. This isn’t flashy magic, but it automatically imbues mana into the arrows of the watchtower. You just need to recharge the mana through a mana stone once after using it about five or six times."

"Ooh."

"There are even statistics that say the synergy effect of the two, if utilized well with geographical advantages, can easily block about thirty thousand royal army troops."

"Really?"

"Of course. Since you seem to like these two, I will specially!"

Seeing Han Simin’s eyes sparkle as he took out the leather pouch, the mage glanced around furtively and whispered carefully into his ear.

"Ah. This really isn’t allowed. If I get caught, I might really get expelled. But for the customer, I will specially give you a ten percent discount."

"Really? At the Magic Tower?"

"Shh. Actually, it’s a service I’m doing specially because I was moved hearing that you rose to become a noble while being an adventurer."

He gasped.

Startled, Han Simin took out a plaque from his bosom instead of opening the leather pouch.

The mages looked confused.

Along with the puzzled gaze, brains spun to figure out what it was. The mages’ smart heads easily figured out what it was.

They gasped in shock.

"The Emperor’s Plaque!"

"Why is that here?!"

Han Simin stopped acting, smiled, and shook the plaque.

"Ah. The reason this is here is that I am His Majesty’s son-in-law."

"...!"

"...!"

The tables turned in an instant.

No matter how much mages maintained neutrality, unless they were at the level of a Great Archmage, they couldn’t be free from status.

At best, up to the level of Baron or Viscount, they maintained an appropriate line like non-commissioned officers and junior officers, but if it was the Emperor’s son-in-law, the story was different.

The mages froze. How should they deal with this here?

It was a reality they didn’t want to believe, but unless one was crazy, there was no way they would forge the Emperor’s Plaque.

"Ey. Why are you all so tense? Relax. Someone might think I came to eat you."

"Ha. Hahaha."

At the loosening atmosphere, the two mages looked at each other and laughed.

’What do we do?’

’I don’t know.’

As much as they showed this reaction, the Emperor’s Plaque actually had a tremendous effect on NPCs.

It was a method usable because Han Simin, who mostly lived rolling around with players, had seen its effect on NPCs a few times. Of course, this didn’t compel absolute obedience, but the sudden change in attitude of the mages who treated him like a pushover was enough.

"Ah. I had something to say, but I forgot for a moment while listening to the story."

"Yes, yes. Please speak."

"Well, actually, the reason I’m building a castle and installing magic circles in the territory is because of the princess."

The mages looked puzzled.

"If the princess has her coming-of-age ceremony and is to live with me, her husband, we need a decent castle and also magic circles to protect her from outside forces."

"I-I see."

"Yes, that’s why I came, but..."

Han Simin trailed off and frowned. The mages gulped involuntarily. The atmosphere had completely reversed from just a rich pushover.

"How should I put it? It feels like you’re trying to rip me off heavily... and bundle things to sell to a clueless pushover?"

"Surely not! There is no way that would be the case!"

The mages jumped in surprise.

Leaving aside the Emperor’s son-in-law part, if words like this went up to the higher-ups, they would be disciplined immediately.

In the Magic Tower, where duality stands out, they must always keep their pride lofty by not forgetting the duty of a mage while producing results. They could argue it was fair, but if the other party was the Emperor’s son-in-law, one could easily know without comparing whose words would carry more weight.

The smart ones easily figured out what Han Simin, smiling wickedly, wanted.

"We will d-discount it more."

"I clearly heard the Master of the Magic Tower tell His Majesty in a conversation last time that he would present a grand gift for the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony. Are you accepting money for a magic circle meant for the princess like this?"

The mages remained silent.

Even for a thug, this was almost robbery. To pressure low-ranking mages using the Emperor’s power!

After haggling for a long time, Han Simin left the Magic Tower having cut the price almost in half.

3.

"I might get the plaque taken away at this rate."

Simin muttered as he watched the magic circle being installed upon arriving at the territory.

He accepted the plaque as proof of his status as the Emperor’s son-in-law, but he thought that if he kept abusing its power like this, it would eventually tarnish the Emperor’s prestige. The Emperor wouldn’t take that lying down.

If he stopped at just confiscating the plaque, he thought he’d consider himself lucky.

However, that didn’t mean he had any intention of stopping.

"I should have just bought it. Sigh."

’I know better than anyone that hoarding items just turns them into shit. I have to use them while I have them.’

Besides, the unreasonable demands I made this time yielded quite a profit.

Whether people called it a rip-off or whatever, there was no territory defense tool as effective as a magic circle created by the Magic Tower.

Now, he could leave for other places with peace of mind.

That meant the killing machine known as Han Simin didn’t have to guard the territory personally and could set off to launch a counterattack!

"The walls will be finished soon, too."

How reassuring.

Towering walls and the magic circles embedded within them!

The arrows flying from within those walls were not mere lumps of metal.

"Hehe!"

And on top of that, enhancement was being added.

In fact, the real scam starts now.

"Since the foundation is laid, shall I start slowly?"

He had played around quite a bit while watching the countless people building the territory.

After all, he was the Lord; he didn’t need to move personally. It was far more efficient and profitable to follow the Specialists around and make money while they worked.

But from now on, it was different.

This was entirely his share.

Only he could do it, and only for him was it possible.

"Phew."

He unpacked all the enhancement stones he had bought with the money left over after cutting costs.

The completed fortress wall came into view!

Han Simin lifted his hammer.

* * *

Rumors that the Rich Territory was preparing for war easily reached Baron Karan’s ears.

It was inevitable.

Although there was some distance between them, broadly speaking, the Rich Territory and Karan Territory were close neighbors.

Furthermore, after suffering such humiliation and returning to investigate, he found out exactly whose territory he had messed with.

He spent three days tossing and turning, unable to even stretch his legs properly due to anxiety!

Eventually, after much agonizing, he made a decision.

"I will declare a territory war."

"Pardon?"

The butler was shocked by Baron Karan’s surprise announcement.

It was understandable.

Unless one was crazy, who would dare declare a territorial war against the Emperor’s son-in-law?

Now that the era of war had ended, territorial wars—which only ceased when one side was annihilated or surrendered everything—rarely happened unless there was a significant conflict.

"If we stay like this, we’re finished by His Imperial Majesty."

The butler remained silent.

However, Baron Karan’s words had a point.

He had connections with the central nobles, but that was only relevant when living quietly. If he got on the Emperor’s bad side, he would be cast aside without mercy.

Rather, a territorial war, which could be resolved without outside interference, might be a more viable solution.

Of course, that was assuming he won, but Baron Karan had no time to worry about such things.

Thus, the war was prepared with lightning speed, and he marched the moment it was declared.

A great army!

The army, bolstered by mercenaries hired with the fortune he had amassed by exploiting his residents, looked quite threatening.

With such momentum behind him, Baron Karan’s shoulders squared a little.

"Hmph. No matter what, he’s just a guy acting out because he has the Emperor’s backing. Seeing him expand his territory uselessly, his military power is obvious without even looking."

High walls appeared before Karan’s army as they marched smoothly to the Rich Territory.

"If he had set traps on the way, he would have bought a few days. As expected, he’s an ignorant adventurer. He just got lucky, caught the Emperor’s eye, became a son-in-law, and now he’s running wild without knowing how scary the world is. Hahaha!"

"...Um, my lord."

"What?"

An aide cautiously approached the lord, whose spirits were high.

"The walls are a little strange."

"Strange, my ass. How strange could it be...?"

The Baron turned his gaze, and his words trailed off. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He felt it too.

That something was wrong.

"Eh?"

The walls, completed while he was preparing for the territory war, tightly concealed the interior.

That wasn’t different from other territories.

After all, it was just a fence that would open if you pounded and broke it.

But these didn’t seem like ordinary walls.

He was at a loss for words.

Far from getting scratched if struck, they emitted an aura that made one not even want to get close.

"...An aura is coming from the walls, Baron."

Baron Karan stood frozen.

If it were just a specific section, he wouldn’t have been this intimidated.

But a crimson aura was shimmering across the entire wall. Who dared to remain calm in front of that?

The fact that this was an unusual wall was proven by the Rich Territory, which showed no reaction even after thirty minutes, then an hour, despite a great army swarming outside.

"Advance!"

The conclusion reached after a long hesitation!

"...Raaaah."

The movement speed of the army, rushing out with reluctant expressions, began to slow down.

* * *