Chapter 117: Gold
“Onii-sama, you love Sister-in-law with all your body and soul, don’t you?”
Cornelia asked, her face slightly flushed. She was being vague with “body and soul,” but the main point of the conversation was likely about a physical relationship.
“I’m envious of Sister-in-law. Even I… it’s embarrassing, but if it’s with Onii-sama…”
Cornelia’s words struck me like a hard blow to the head.
Cornelia… wants to have a physical relationship with me?!
It might be natural to want to be with someone you love. But could I see Cornelia in that way?
I certainly love Cornelia. There’s no lie in those feelings. If the Evil God were to revive and I could only save one person in the entire world, I would choose Cornelia without hesitation. That’s how much Cornelia means everything to me.
But… could I embrace Cornelia?
Could I possibly do something so sacrosanct?
To me, Cornelia is beyond an angel; she’s a goddess. I don’t believe in the self-proclaimed goddess of this world, but I believe in Cornelia.
I just couldn’t imagine myself embracing Cornelia.
Well, Cornelia is still only thirteen. Maybe that’s why I don’t feel that way.
There are still five years until the wedding I promised Cornelia. In five years, a girl can change and become as beautiful as a different person.
Probably.
“Ria, I don’t intend to do… that sort of thing until we are properly united. Your body is still too small, Ria. I don’t want to force you. Please, understand.”
“Yes…”
Cornelia looked dejected, almost too obviously.
But this couldn’t be helped.
I brushed Cornelia’s bangs aside and kissed her forehead.
“O-Onii-sama!?”
“I love you, Cornelia. There’s no lie in those feelings.”
“Yesss…”
Cornelia, her cheeks flushed red, was the cutest in the world. It’s like a dream that such an adorable angel would want to be united with me.
We embraced, ignoring Old Man, who looked a little uncomfortable.
◇
We spent our days delving into the forest or resting. The development of the Baumgarten Territory was also progressing smoothly, and it seemed about a third of the eastern forest had already been cleared.
Hearing that the Baumgarten Territory was booming, the number of laborers coming for work and merchant companies targeting those laborers also increased.
A virtuous cycle where people gathered more and more was born, and the territory’s development continued to accelerate.
We still have plenty of funds, so this virtuous cycle will likely continue for much longer.
I thought I’d struggle with so many new things, but all I had to do was give instructions, and the artisans and experts would create good things. It was easier than I expected, enough that I could even delve into the forest and play at being an adventurer.
And the auspicious events continued.
“What? Gold was found?”
“Yessir.”
The man standing across the large office desk in my office was dressed like a bandit chief. He was one of the prospectors I had summoned to the territory. With an unfittingly broad smile, he rubbed his hands together and said that gold had been found in the mountains.
He was a very suspicious-looking man. Moreover, what he was saying sounded highly dubious. I had hoped some ore would be found, but I never expected a report that they had actually found gold.
“Is that true? I can’t believe gold was actually found…”
“Yessir. We dredged the riverbed, no mistake. There’s gold sleepin’ in them mountains.”
“The riverbed?”
I don’t have any knowledge about prospecting, so I don’t get it. Why would searching a riverbed tell you there’s gold?
“Yessir. Soil from the mountains, see, it gets washed by rain into the rivers. Gold, bein’ heavier than pebbles, settles at the river bottom. This here’s what we scooped up.”
“Oh?”
The man took out a white handkerchief. Old Man brought it over to the office desk. When I slowly unfolded it, there was glittering golden sand on the handkerchief.
This is gold? Is this what they call gold dust?
“This was found in our territory…?”
“Yessir. At the very least, it’s certain there’s gold sleepin’ in the mountains.”
“I see.”
Now that there’s actual proof, even though he was suspicious to the max, I have no choice but to believe the prospector’s story.
“You’ve done well. Is there anything you desire?”
“Yessir. If it’s alright, I’d be mighty grateful if ya could entrust this here minin’ to some acquaintances o’ mine. Would that be possible, d’ya think?”
“Hmm. It is possible. I never imagined we’d actually find gold, so I haven’t commissioned anyone for mining yet. Are your acquaintances skilled?”
“You bet! They’re crack hands, worked at a mine ’til last year. Just outta work ’cause the mine shut down, that’s all.”
“I see. Very well. We’ll commission them.”
“Thank ya kindly, Lord-sama!”
I don’t have any connections with people who make a living mining ore. So, the prospector’s offer was a godsend.
Still, while I hoped we’d find something, I never thought it would actually be gold.
Mithril or Adamantite would have been better, but gold is more than enough. It’s as if the Baumgarten Territory is now guaranteed to prosper as a mining town.
The problem will be when the gold runs out… I’ll need to secure other sources of income besides the mine.