Chapter 30 The Desert Star and Two Magic Artifacts
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Yesterday was, without a doubt, an incredibly busy day.
Calling it a whirlwind of a day would be an understatement.
First, I participated in the underground auction, the ‘Banquet of the Shadows’, where I ended up bidding on and winning a pair of sisters—a dancer and a songstress—exhibited on the final day for the huge sum of eight hundred thousand gold coins.1
Just remembering that massive sum makes my stomach twist with a sharp, piercing pain even now.
While utterly devastated by this unexpected financial ruin, I came up with the idea of a “boobie piggy bank” to raise funds. After that, I was targeted by an assassin attack, which I successfully repelled. To my surprise, the assassins turned out to be elves, and upon interrogating them, I learned that their princess was being held hostage.
Moved by the desperate pleas of the elf Sylphie, I launched a solo raid, accompanied by only a single servant, on the estate of Margrave Blanchefort, succeeding in rescuing the Elven Princess Lyphia Elfheim and her retinue from the dungeon.
Before I knew it, the sky outside the window had long since turned pale.
Stepping outside the theater, the morning light filtering through the window frames cast a faint, gentle glow over the world. The crisp, cold air filled my lungs, grounding me in the reality that yesterday’s events were no dream.
In the first place, the reason Albion de Blanchefort, the Margrave, targeted my life was likely because I had outbid him for the dancer and songstress sisters, ‘Pharma’ and ‘Leela’, at the auction.
To resort to murder out of anger just because he lost a bidding war—
Talk about a petty, small-minded fool.
”He’s strictly third-rate as a villain,” I muttered to myself, letting out a heavy sigh.
* * *
The number of elves rescued from the Blanchefort estate, including the princess, totaled eighteen.
When combined with the five who had originally raided my estate, including Sylphie, a grand total of twenty-three elves are currently staying in the underground facility of the theater I own.
First and foremost, I need to let them rest their minds and bodies, and besides, the pre-opening of the theater begins today.
…I’ve decided to take a break from school for a while. I feel a bit of guilt for skipping classes, but right now, I have much bigger things to worry about.
Since I’ve left the theater’s operations to the employees I hired, there are no administrative concerns.
The underground storehouses are fully stocked with food and clothing reserves for emergencies, so a sudden population increase won’t catch us off guard.
However, as the commander-in-chief, it’s probably best for me to station myself in this underground facility for the time being.
I feel a slight swell of excitement, playing the part of a commander.
I used teleportation to return to my estate once—
And brought back the maids, Lilia and Mina, before returning to the theater’s underground facility.
Then, I used teleportation to return to the estate once more.
This time, not to my private room, but to the estate’s basement.
Walking down the cold, stone-paved corridor, I stopped in front of the most luxurious and heavily guarded room. I gave the heavy wooden door a couple of light taps, knock, knock.
The sound of the knocks swallowed seamlessly into the silence of the basement.
This room has been assigned to Pharma and Leela, whom I won at the auction.
Since I purchased them for a sum capable of moving an entire nation (eight hundred thousand gold coins), providing them with appropriate accommodations and security is only natural. As for the security, it’s also for their own safety.
Without their knowledge, I have fitted them with a magic artifact of the same model as the one attached to Princess Elenor. A black lace choker that fits snugly against the nape of the neck.
Even from up close, it looks like nothing more than an exquisite piece of jewelry, yet it feels chillingly cold to the touch.
It has three functions.
A tracker, a wiretap, and Mana Control, which severely disrupts the wearer’s Mana.
Instead of binding them with a Slave contract, I have forced them to wear this magic artifact [Collar of Submission]. Since I haven’t informed them of its ominous name and functions, they likely believe it to be a simple accessory.
Thanks to the wiretapping function, I have a decent grasp of their conversations.
These sisters are exceptionally cautious; even when completely alone, they rarely discuss anything too deeply. However, it seems they have no intention of running away from me. They appear to understand that they were purchased by the heir of the Margrave Grimlock family.
They just haven’t been able to read my true intentions. “We don’t know what he plans to use us for or how, so our only option is to wait and see,” seems to be their conclusion.
(—Intentions or not, bidding on you girls was a completely unexpected accident.)
They seem to think I have some grand ambition or dark purpose, but this massive misunderstanding will surely clear up in due time.
”…Please, come in,” a clear voice called out from within in response to my knock.
* * *
Stepping into the room, a sweet, refreshing scent drifted over, tickling my nose like freshly picked jasmine.
The two beautiful sisters stood up from the sofa, staring at me with cautious eyes. The older sister was an elegant dancer with glossy black hair like obsidian, while the younger sister was a fragile, beautiful songstress with silver hair reminiscent of moonlight.
The older sister, Pharma, took a step forward in front of me, shielding her younger sister, Leela. There was no hesitation in her movement, conveying a fierce determination to protect her sibling.
”What business do you have with us?” Pharma asked, her voice steady.
There was no flattery or fear in her voice.
Only a quiet strength of will resided within it. Deep within her amber eyes, I could see a faint trace of tension, flickered over by an even greater sense of curiosity.
”We’re moving,” I replied calmly. “As I told you at the beginning, you will be performing your dances and songs at my theater.”
”…Is that all?” Pharma questioned, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You haven’t even bound us to a Slave contract. To purchase us for such a huge sum, what on earth are you playing at?”
I really wished she hadn’t asked that question.
It felt as though the massive hole blasted into my “war funds for the Rebellion” by those eight hundred thousand gold coins was tearing open even wider. I just wanted something special for the theater; I really hadn’t thought any further ahead than that.
”Oh, nothing more than a passing whim,” I dismissed with a casual shrug.
Saying so, I pulled two rings from my breast pocket and handed them over to the sisters.
These were magic artifacts I had created previously, the [Ring of Transformation]. They have the effect of disrupting how others “perceive” the wearer’s appearance.
In short, it’s a magic artifact for concealing one’s identity.
For some reason, these two attract a huge amount of attention. Case in point, that spiteful Margrave went so far as to send assassins after me.
For their own safety, I need them to operate with altered faces.
”Never remove that ring, nor the choker you are currently wearing,” I commanded firmly. “That is the condition for not making slaves out of you two.”
When I stated this, the older sister, Pharma, hesitated for a single fraction of a second, but eventually gave a quiet nod. In her expression, alongside her wariness, there seemed to be a faint glimmer of relief.
”…Understood,” Pharma murmured after a moment of hesitation.
The two obediently slipped the rings onto their fingers.
Instantly, their figures wavered softly, like light rippling across the surface of water, transforming into completely different people.
While they retained the same hair colors and equivalent level of striking beauty as their original selves, no one would ever be able to recognize them as the actual ‘Pharma’ and ‘Leela’ who had become the talk of the auction.
That’s the kind of magic it is. With this, the risk of them being directly targeted should drop significantly.
”Alright,” I said, offering my hands. “Now, take my hands and keep your eyes closed for a moment.”
Confirming that the two gave a small nod and shut their eyes, I activated the teleportation magic.
* * *
For an instant, a weightless sensation washed over me, as if all the blood in my body were rushing backward and my stomach were floating. The next moment, we arrived in a spacious room located in the theater’s basement.
The air changed.
Unlike the heavy silence that lingered in the estate’s basement just moments ago, I could feel a faint bustle and a lively energy mixed with the aromas of the kitchen.
”You can open your eyes now,” I told them softly.
Starting today, they will be showcasing their talents as a dancer and a songstress at this theater-style restaurant, [Star of the Desert]. We will also need to hold meetings with the other performers and staff moving forward.
I’ve also prepared a luxurious private room for them here in the basement. They won’t want for comforts.
So please, display your talents to your heart’s content and rake in the profit.
—I’m begging you, seriously.
—
Summary:
Moving swiftly after a highly tumultuous sequence of events, the protagonist manages a sudden influx of twenty-three rescued elven refugees within his personal theater infrastructure. He balances these sudden administrative and financial complications by relocating his high-value auction acquisitions, Pharma and Leela, under secure magical disguise. However, his deep-seated anxiety over the missing eight hundred thousand gold coins remains a volatile financial variable.
—
Trivia:
- The sum of 800,000 gold coins spent on Pharma and Leela was originally intended as part of the protagonist’s strategic war funds for a future rebellion.
- A total of twenty-three elves are now hiding under the theater’s infrastructure, which includes Princess Lyphia’s entire retinue.
- The chokers hidden under black lace on Pharma and Leela perform three complex functions: tracking, wiretapping, and continuous mana suppression.
- The protagonist skipped his academy classes intentionally to coordinate security and logistics within the theater’s underground restaurant facility.
- The tracking chokers utilized here are derived directly from the exact technical design paradigm used to monitor Princess Elenor.
- The Ring of Transformation manipulates the subjective perception of observers rather than performing true biological transmutation.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• de – A particle used in the aristocratic name of the Margrave Albion de Blanchefort.
• Blanchefort – The Albion family are the margrave lineage ruling the border territory. A noble house defined by its fraught and notorious conflict with the neighboring elves, they maintain a formidable presence as the guardians of the frontier.
• Elfheim – The royal elven family name carried by Princess Lyphia Elfheim.
• Sylphie – A green-haired elf squad leader whose plea inspired the rescue mission. Despite long suffering and captivity, she retains hope for her people.
• Lyphia – Princess Lyphia Elfheim, an elven princess rescued from the Blanchefort dungeon who endures captivity with dignity, strong will, and noble grace.
• Albion – Margrave Albion de Blanchefort is a nobleman with flowing silver hair, known for his elegant, playful demeanor and chilling nonchalance. Guarding a secret underground stronghold near the Elven Forest, his charming smile masks deep arrogance and dangerous intent. As a fierce enemy of the protagonist, he wields his authority and hidden power with calculated, aristocratic coldness.
• Pharma – A black-haired dancer fiercely devoted to protecting her younger sister Leela.
• Leela – A talented silver-haired songstress from the desert kingdom of Zahara, she is a fragile soul deeply protected by her older sister, Pharma.
• Lilia – A voluptuous, mature maid and former slave, she serves Xenos with absolute loyalty, deep affection, and sycophantic deference at his underground facility. Bearing a chest tattoo and nullified abdominal crest, she exudes a sweet fragrance while tenderly caring for him. Always sensitive to his mana, she willingly adopts requested outfits, maintaining an intimate, devoted bond with her master.
• Mina – Kai’s younger sister, separated from him by slavery, is an innocent, childlike maid who serves Xenos at the Grimlock estate. Alongside Lilia, she works in the underground facility. With soft brown hair, anxious eyes, and a white rabbit kigurumi, she is deeply loyal to her master, wearing a dancer’s outfit at his request despite her fear of strangers and lack of understanding regarding adult subtext.
• Elenor – As the revered ‘Saint of Light’ and a determined princess, the Student Council President is known for her radiant blonde hair, sky-blue eyes, and dignified posture. Though currently held captive, her spirit remains unbroken. She is easily identified by a specialized tracking and mana-control choker, a device that serves as a harsh benchmark for others even as she maintains her resilient resistance.
• Grimlock – As heir and head of the influential Grimlock noble house, Xenos manages the family’s vast financial assets and prestigious military legacy in the Royal Capital. Alongside his father, Gaius, he leverages their significant standing to guard the nation’s borders and uphold the family name. Their deep bond and shared duty ensure the continued dominance of the estate inherited by Xenos.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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