I Picked Up the Fallen Earth

Chapter 40 The Local Specialties of the Domain

Even the Count had to wear a mask, so Jeron had no choice but to do the same. Nobility, especially a feudal lord, didn’t need to be modest, but if doing so could leave a good impression on the other party, Jeron was willing to humble himself as many times as needed.

“I didn’t think it was necessary to mention it explicitly. It would be shameless to try to gain something through my friendship with His Grace the Duke.”

“Hahaha, such a humble young man. If all the nobles in the kingdom were like you, how wonderful would that be? Most are arrogant and live by their own whims.”

After saying this, the Count took a long sip of his tea. Up until now, the Count’s smile had seemed rather perfunctory, but now a hint of sincerity appeared to emerge. Jeron responded very politely.

“I find that matter quite regrettable as well.”

“Some use such connections to pressure those above them undauntedly. Truly, the kingdom’s order is crumbling. If you were such a person, we would not be meeting again after today.”

The Count began to talk more extensively, mostly in lamentation. He criticized the central political factions that were caught up in political skirmishes ahead of a great war, and remarked that the youth of today had no manners to speak of.

Jeron gave his full attention to sympathizing with Count Hanes’s words. Having lived in modern times, listening to an elder’s laments wasn’t difficult for Jeron. Perhaps because of this, the Count took quite a liking to him.

“I’ve spoken too much about myself. These days, it’s rare to come across a distinguished young noble, so I got carried away. Haha, but you must have your reasons for visiting.”

“Not at all. It’s only natural for a new noble facing the North to pay his respects, isn’t it?”

“Hahaha, truly a respectful young man.”

Click.

Jeron placed three elegantly designed cases on the table. The sound of Count Hanes swallowing his saliva could be heard from across it. A few months ago, Jeron had made a trade with Count Hanes. They had exchanged what were presumed to be relics—an ancient dragon ring and a mana technique—for equal value. Both thought themselves to have profited from the deal, making it a very satisfactory transaction.

The case, enough to fit one pen, was finished with gold leaf. It was a fountain pen Jeron had recently acquired from a stationery store.

“I prepared this gift as a small token of my appreciation.”

“This, this is no small token at all! It’s already a great honor that you came to visit, and now a gift too.”

Various emotions crossed Count Hanes’s face—anticipation, excitement, and a bit of worry. Though it was presented as a gift, a superior was expected to give something even more valuable in return. That was the custom of the times.

Even Duke Langton had exerted effort to obtain what he wanted from Jeron. The Count, with slightly trembling hands, opened the case.

“My, oh my!”

It was an exclamation of genuine surprise. Jeron sat with the utmost polite demeanor. The value of an object varied depending on its recipient. To Jeron, the fountain pen, filled with geometric patterns, looked like a failed attempt at decoration.

If it had appeared impressive even to modern eyes, the pen wouldn’t have ended up in a stationery shop in front of a middle school but rather would have been a design passed on to a luxury writing instrument manufacturer. But to a noble of this era?

‘The choice was right,’ Jeron thought, looking at the Count’s expression. Nobles had a penchant for extraordinary writing utensils. In a world where the literacy rate was over 99% among the nobility, writing was considered their exclusive prerogative.

“It seems like a work not possible by human hands.”

“It’s nothing much. It’s called a fountain pen, used for writing.”

“A fountain pen!? Does it mean that documents written with this instrument last for a thousand years?”

“Well, as for that? I’m not quite sure myself.”

Interpreting the term “fountain pen” literally might not entirely contradict the Count’s understanding.It essentially meant a pen designed to last ten thousand years, but if the Count was willing to misunderstand it in his own grand way, Jeron saw no need for additional explanations.

The Count held the pen to the sunlight as if it were a sacred relic. The gold leaf’s geometric patterns shone like a hologram.

“Is this even possible!”

It appeared as though the pen contained mana within it. Really, who would create such an extravagant pen intended for studying? Wouldn’t it just distract?

Of course, that was just Jeron’s common sense.

“I also offer ink as a gift. It is of a quality unlike anything in this world. Please use it for important documents. The pen writes by drawing ink down through the groove etched into the nib,” explained Jeron.

“Are you referring to this invisible groove?”

“Yes, exactly.”

That should suffice. Jeron held back from further explanations. The Count was barely containing his frenzy.

‘What is this? Magic? With its elegant lines and extraordinary aura. Ink flows down through these minute grooves? Can such technology even exist?’

After filling the pen with ink, the Count tried signing on papyrus. The pen moved smoothly, its strokes crisp. Surely, this was not of this world. By now, the Count was feeling the pressure. Having received such an incredible gift, he was at a loss on how to reciprocate. After much thought, the Count spoke up.

“Do you need anything? Nobility demands reciprocation for gifts received.”

“I didn’t come expecting anything in return…”

“Come now, speak up. I am Count Hanes after all.”

That statement said a lot. Being the Northern Commander and a great noble, synonymous with wealth, was who Count Hanes was. To merely wipe one’s mouth and walk away after receiving such a gift was something completely against his noble principles. Jeron realized things were moving in the right direction.

“If you insist on showing gratitude… I would like to establish a branch of our trading company in your territory.”

“Ah? But of course. How could I snub someone connected to the Duke? A trade license will be granted soon, I presume?”

“You knew?”

“Am I a spy to not know of such an issue? I have no intention of hindering you from paying the proper taxes and opening your store. Of course, I can help find a prime location for it. It might not equal the value of this item, though.”

‘Sometimes, in this cursed world, convenience does come through.’

In a society structured around contracts and status, it was typical for matters to resolve this way. No need for Jeron to spell out his desires; those who receive gifts tend to offer help eagerly. Now, Jeron got to his main point.

“Then, I would request magical assistance from my lord.”

“Magic?”

A moment of buffering appeared in the Count’s mind. The request seemed so out of the blue after receiving such a relic. Surely, he could wish for more, but why ask for assistance with magic?

Jeron bowed slightly as he made his request.

“Things have been rather stifling lately. It’s time for me to form my circle, but without a mentor, it’s difficult to accomplish on my own. I would be grateful if you could assist me with this. Furthermore, if I succeed in forming my circle, I would also request a first-circle grimoire.”

“Have you successfully sensed mana and accumulated it within you?!”

“Yes.”

“Astonishing!”

The Count was genuinely astonished. He had given up on magic ten years ago. Progress was nonexistent, and in the Karenn Continent, mana was too scarce to justify the waste of time.

The fact that Jeron had already sensed and accumulated mana in his body, seeking to form his circle, was utterly staggering. Upon further reflection, the Count saw no loss in this arrangement.Obtaining a Level 1 Magic Book is not a difficult task if one sets their mind to it.

“Helping is not hard at all. However, forming the circle is entirely dependent on your five senses.”

“I would not ask for more.”

“Then, it’s no trouble at all. Come to find me once you have finished your task. Just let me know beforehand, and I’ll be waiting.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Not at all. Actually, becoming a great noble and receiving such generous help makes me a bit embarrassed. I’ll take care of the rest on my own.”

‘He’s more generous than I thought.’

It was no wonder he was from the high nobility. Jeron had not hoped for more, but if there was an offer, there was no reason to refuse.

***

The Commercial District of Count Hanes’s domain. Surrounded by a cross-shaped river, this domain was undoubtedly the transportation hub of the North. Unlike the typically closed-off kingdom, Count Hanes’s domain was highly developed commercially and was bustling enough to attract international traders for business.

Hence, regulations here were comparatively lax compared to other domains. Stores dotted the commercial area, and vendors peddling their wares could be seen everywhere. Whilst trade was free, taxes were strictly collected.

Tax collectors roamed around, scrutinizing the merchants with eagle eyes. The place teemed with endless streams of people. Jeron had never seen a city so lively in his 18 years. Even during his time on Earth, such bustle was only seen in the heart of Seoul.

Here, one could see a variety of races. International traders dominated the scene, drawing domestic merchants and forming a sea of humanity. However, the sanitary conditions left much to be desired.

Litter rolling around was the norm, and unidentified fish innards were scattered here and there. It seemed a given that high heels were invented due to unhygienic streets. After disguising himself as a commoner, Jeron ventured into the bustling streets.

The crowd was so dense that he was constantly jostled by people. Occasionally, he stepped on something squishy, making him frown, and saw pickpockets targeting the merchants’ pouches. Those caught would often be severely beaten before being handed over to the guard.

Attracting too much attention was unwise, so he limited his escort to Knight Leila.

“It’s not easy to find a building just by looking at the map, given how crowded it is.”

“This level of bustle is a first for me as well,” Knight Leila shared in the surprise.

The scale of the city was a different league upon reaching the count’s domain. In the heart of the commercial zone. Jeron heard a familiar voice in the vending permit area.

“Buy a pot! These rare roses were harvested from the land of the Great Snow Barbarians!”

“Are these roses really from the Barbarian lands?”

“Absolutely. Have you been deceived all this time? Have you ever seen roses of this color?”

“Certainly not. That’s why I find it fascinating, my dear lady!”

“Then you understand the value of this flower, right? It’s not an opportunity that comes every day! We have a limited quantity available!”

The crowd around the vendor was immense. The one selling at the stall was none other than Miss Seria. Having already loaded the goods onto the fast ship, it seemed she had stopped by before sailing to make use of her skills. Thanks to her expertise, the flowers cultivated as local specialties were being sold at astounding prices.

“Only 500 gold! Only 50 left now? Come quickly. Ten pink rose pots? That will be 5,000 gold. Thank you!”

The markup was unbelievable. Even if these were potted flowers, could such a price be justified? Yet, it was working.

“Miss Seria is quite the merchant, isn’t she?”