Raising the Northern Grand Duchy as a Max-Level All-Master

153. The Land of Magic (3)

In Renslet, where nothing seemed impossible, the continent’s only Renslet Magic Society, specializing in spirit magic, and its magical engineers, adept in circuit crafting, stood out.

However, even with their expertise, they couldn’t churn out 7th-circle or higher enchantments like a production line—at least, not yet.

Currently, there were only two people in Renslet capable of performing enchantments at the 7th-circle level or higher.

One was me, Arad, a magical engineer specialized in magitech.

Although my magical power was only at the 2nd circle, my MAX-level profession skills, combined with maxed-out dexterity and luck stats, granted me near 8th-circle-level proficiency in understanding and inscribing magical circuits.

The other was Isabelle, the Great Witch of Spring. She operated between the 7th and 8th circles. Normally, her limit would be around 5th-circle enchantments, but with the aid of a magic engine, she could manage 7th-circle enchantments.

The issue was that Isabelle was absurdly busy. Running the Renslet Magic Society, assisting with national governance, and overseeing the intelligence organization Frost Knights—she practically redefined overwork.

It was a miracle she hadn’t yet filed a formal complaint about elder abuse.

Even in such circumstances, equipping our knights with magical equipment had to be prioritized. At the very least, the elite knights had to be armed properly.

“By the way, you and Renslet are incredibly ambitious. Even for high-ranking knights, why are you inscribing 7th-circle enchantments? Just the cost of materials alone is mind-boggling.”

Yulkanes looked at me as though I were crazy.

“And how did you even figure out that I could perform up to 7th-circle enchantments? Not even my apprentices know that yet.”

“It’s intuition, the sense of a fellow magical engineer.”

It was common knowledge on the continent that an enchanter could only work up to two circles below their own level.

Yet, Yulkanes, an 8th-circle Archmage, could enchant up to 7th-circle without the aid of a magic engine.

This was because, beyond being an Archmage, Yulkanes was also a masterful magical engineer.

“Come to think of it, I’ve always wondered—how can you, with only 2nd-circle magic, manage high-tier enchantments?”

“By compensating with my mind and hands for what I lack in magical power.”

“That’s possible…?”

“The Tactical School of the Golden Age.”

“Ah, now I see.”

Yulkanes’ lips curled into a faint, sly smile as he pieced it together.

“Right, if you lack magic, your body and mind take the hit.”

“……?”

“This old man…”

That sly smile—so irritating.

“Now that I think about it, my apprentices always struggled the most with inscribing magical circuits before they reached the 6th circle. If even they found it tough, then for someone in the 2nd circle like you…”

“Ah, yes, yes, you’re very impressive.”

When high-tier mages effortlessly inscribe low-tier enchantments with a mere snap of their fingers, magical engineers like me rely on calculations, precision, and sheer labor to achieve the same.

If exaggerated, it could be described as painstakingly engraving micro-level magical circuits, often to the point of nosebleeds.

This raises an obvious question:

Why, in a game, would anyone not allocate stat points to magical power and instead dump them into dexterity and luck?

“To reach the pinnacle of magical engineering, dexterity and luck matter more than magical power.”

In magical engineering, an abundance of magic is meaningless without dexterity and luck. Without them, crafting something like Chaos Metal is impossible.

“Not that I care about magic power. That’s what magic engines are for.”

Our magical engineers were still in their infancy. Even with magic engines, performing high-tier enchantments was a struggle. But give it ten years, and sheer numbers would make up for it.

By then, mages would essentially become researchers who invented new magic, while magical engineers would emerge as the ones applying and mass-producing it.

“It’s such a waste, though. If you had high magical power on top of your skills, you’d surpass me easily. Why not start training now?”

“If it were that easy, I’d have done it long ago.”

“Ah… I see. I suppose the training methods of the Golden Age didn’t help either.”

“……”

The more we spoke, the more Yulkanes looked at me with pity.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue internally, unwilling to dignify that look with a response.

Not that I hadn’t considered training to improve my magical power.

Having higher magic would certainly be advantageous.

But for this body—Arad Jin—there was no latent potential in the realm of magic.

“The resources and time it would take to improve my magic would be better spent building another airship.”

Whether Yulkanes knew my thoughts or not, he kept poking at me.

“Still, wouldn’t it be worth training your magic a little? What if I surpass you someday?”

“?”

“To think, the great engineer of the Golden Age being outdone by me! Doesn’t that thought keep you up at night?”

Yulkanes’ words were partly meant to irritate me, but I could sense a tiny bit of genuine concern and curiosity behind them.

“If I, an 8th-circle mage, reach your level of magical engineering, I’ll essentially ascend to a godlike realm. Who knows what spells I could create or what magical tools I could invent?”

He had a point—it would be a threat.

A magical engineer with MAX-level skills, high dexterity and luck, 8th-circle magic, and access to magic engines? That kind of imbalance could only be countered by a dragon or something equally absurd.

“It’s fine. That won’t happen.”

“……?”

My calm reply replaced Yulkanes’ irritation with curiosity.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you really think there weren’t any Archmages like you during the Golden Age?”

“?!”

I know where magical engineering ends.

To be precise, I know the limits of the material world.

Once enchantments reach a certain threshold, whether through engineering or high-tier circles, they hit an invisible wall—a limit set by creation itself. Like the speed of light, it’s a boundary that cannot be surpassed.

“Let’s set aside the small talk and get to work.”

To prevent the conversation from veering further off track, I intervened.

I couldn’t afford to get dragged into Yulkanes’ endless pursuit of knowledge any longer.

“Let’s focus on meeting the production target, shall we? I’m curious to see how skilled an 8th-circle Archmage is at inscribing circuits.”

“Inscribing circuits on mana stones isn’t particularly challenging.”

“Is that so?”

For the record, I hadn’t tasked Yulkanes with inscribing circuits on mithril, adamantium, or orichalcum.

“There’s no magical alloy to be found in the High Tower at the moment. Everything produced is sent directly to Jin’s territory.”

Though the existence of magical metals would eventually be discovered, there was no need to reveal it prematurely.

“If it can be hidden, it should be.”

Thus, I’d only asked him to work on inscribing circuits onto mana stones, a task that was already the most difficult part of the process.

“If you take mana stones enchanted by an 8th-circle Archmage and combine them with magical alloys and synthetic aether, you get a rechargeable, near-permanent high-grade magical tool.”

For now, that would be more than enough.

“Well then, this way, please. It’s not much, but the essentials are all here.”

I led Yulkanes down to the underground workshop.

“Oh, by the way, I won’t be here from evening till morning. I’ll also be out quite often during the day.”

As soon as we entered the workshop, I quietly activated a pre-prepared barrier and casually informed him.

“Not here at night either? What’s the meaning of that?”

“At night, I must stay by Her Highness’ side.”

“…You trust me too much. What if I ransack this entire place while you’re gone?”

“Do you think I wouldn’t have prepared for that?”

I pointed to the barrier at the entrance to the basement.

“Hah! You’re planning to trap me? Me, an 8th-circle Archmage?”

Yulkanes scoffed, as if amused by my audacity.

“This is a barrier crafted with the utmost care by both me and Isabelle, the Great Witch of Spring.”

“…?!”

“You don’t need to worry, though. The pantry is stocked with the finest Bluetus wine series and plenty of food, so you’ll be quite comfortable here.”

“……”

My confident tone caused his expression to stiffen gradually.

Flash!

With a serious look, Yulkanes began attempting to dispel the barrier I had erected in the workshop.

Flash, flash, flash.

But it wasn’t going as easily as he’d anticipated.

“As an 8th-circle Archmage, I’m sure you can dispel it. But it will take you a considerable amount of time.”

The frustration I’d felt while talking to him earlier melted away like snow in the sun.

“Rather than waste that time, why not focus on your work and earn the hefty reward we agreed upon?”

“You insolent brat! Do you think you can treat me like this and get away with it?”

His killing intent filled the cramped basement like a suffocating fog.

“Here, your advance payment.”

Ignoring his outrage, I handed him a spatial wallet stuffed with golden bills.

“You think you can buy me off with money?”

“Check the amount first.”

“…?”

The Archmage hesitated, peeking inside the wallet. His eyes twitched at the sight of its contents.

“If you meet the production target, I’ll give you double this amount.”

“……!”

For the duration of the Imperial delegation’s stay, Yulkanes would remain quietly confined to the basement.

***

Winter. The grandest holiday in Renslet and Arina’s birthday had arrived.

“I probably didn’t even need to prepare anything special for her birthday this year.”

The thought crossed my mind as Arina’s birthday was overflowing with gifts this year.

The biggest gift? The Empire itself.

The Imperial Court had completely surrendered in the trade war.

“Happy birthday to Her Highness Arina Rune Renslet!”

Even the Imperial envoys, who had yet to depart, loudly celebrated Arina’s birthday.

The voices of the delegation from the Noble Assembly, led by Entir Bishop, were resounding, but the Loyalist delegation’s cheers were equally enthusiastic.

“I cannot help but feel both moved and humbled by the reconciliatory hand extended once again by Her Highness,” said Haiman von Sedes, leader of the Loyalist delegation.

There was a reason for their effusive praises.

Both the Loyalist faction and the Noble Assembly would maintain the same trade volume as before.

Contrary to all expectations, Renslet had decided to continue trading not only with the Noble Assembly but also with the Imperial Court.

However, northern mana stones and Mary’s Blessing could now only be purchased using Ren. Imperial currency was no longer valid in Renslet.

Additionally, the Empire was prohibited from imposing tariffs on goods produced in Renslet. On the other hand, Renslet had the freedom to impose tariffs on Imperial goods as they pleased.

The key differences lay in tariffs and currency.

“The Duchess has played her hand well. She chose pragmatism over emotion.”

“Though… was this entirely her idea? It might have been her husband’s cunning.”

“Northern mana stones and fertilizers are only purchasable with Ren… The northern currency will devour the Imperial economy.”

“And those tariffs! To sign such an unequal treaty is humiliating!”

While sparing both the Imperial Court and the Noble Assembly, Renslet pursued its own interests ruthlessly.

Maintaining the balance of power within the Empire while slowly bleeding it dry was the ultimate goal.

“The Empire’s future looks bleak.”

Both delegations understood Renslet’s intentions perfectly but had no choice but to feign gratitude and bow deeply before Arina.

“Long live Renslet! Rune Renslet! Long live Her Highness!”

“Renslet! Rune Renslet!”

Even the once-taboo chant of northern Renslet was now shouted with fervor. The Empire had been brought utterly to its knees.