# Chapter 73
Arden recalled the music box order form he had received at that time. One could roughly gauge a person’s personality just by looking at their order form. Unlike other forms that were brief and concise, this one had been filled with extensive details. However, he remembered having to ask for clarification because the content wasn’t particularly clear and was expressed in vague terms.
Arden preferred people who gave precise instructions, even if they were demanding, over those who just asked him to figure things out. In that sense, Irace hadn’t been a bad client, though she somehow gave off a fastidious impression.
“Ah, that music box.”
Irace noticed Arden’s gaze as she came out carrying a tray with teacups and smiled.
“It was a gift. They say a famous engineer from Rosmunt’s 4th District made it. Apparently, he used to be an imperial engineer.”
Could that be right? A large question mark appeared in Arden’s mind. It was nonsense. A skilled engineer wouldn’t have designed something with such poor durability. It was suspicious enough to make him wonder if it had been deliberately made that way to earn more money. It could easily serve as an example of poor craftsmanship to show engineering students who were just beginning their studies.
Since it was a gift rather than something she had purchased herself, Arden kept his mouth shut.
“How does it look to an engineer? Can you tell at a glance?”
“Well… I’d have to open it up to know for sure.”
At Arden’s response, Irace let out a small sigh.
“That thing is so delicate, it broke down once before.”
It was indeed delicate. The number of gears used was just one. With only a single wheel serving as the power source, even that wheel’s origin was impossible to determine. Judging from its unclear source, it seemed like a cheap mass-produced item, and using such components meant it was bound to break easily.
“By the way, is hiring an engineer expensive? Especially one from Rosmunt. Plus, it’s quite far away.”
“I suppose it would be.”
“So when someone I know offered to introduce me to an unnamed engineer in Winterishe, I took them up on it.”
Arden maintained a calm expression, but inside he felt differently. That engineer had been him. He tried to act natural as he picked up his teacup and quickly swallowed the warm tea.
“But somehow… the sound seemed to become even muddier afterward. It’s upsetting.”
No way! Arden mentally shouted the same phrase as before. At the very least, he could pride himself on knowing far more about engineering than whoever had made this music box. He had been an imperial engineer himself and held a license. Had held. From the beginning, this music box had merely been decorative with not particularly good sound. It was suspicious enough to wonder if a sculptor had made it while pretending to be an engineer.
However, he was in no position to reveal that it had been him. Arden drained the remaining half of his tea in one go and set the cup down with a clinking sound.
“That’s… unfortunate for you.”
Arden responded indifferently without even furrowing his brow. Despite his words, he didn’t appear particularly sympathetic to Irace’s unfortunate experience. Irace didn’t seem bothered by Arden’s reaction and simply shrugged.
“Nothing to be done about it. Anyway, the music box isn’t important right now, nor is knowing that engineer’s name… Oh, what’s your name?”
Numerous names flashed through Arden’s mind. Names of protagonists from Rite’s books, names of people he had met throughout his life, and even colleagues who had worked with him at the imperial palace. After considering them all, he found a suitable name.
“Eden.”
The name Eden was countless in the Artalis Empire. It was the name of the guardian knight Eden who appeared in the legend of Duz and Eden, the most beloved tale among the people. Even after a long time had passed, children named Eden continued to appear.
It was also the name of the colleague Arden had been closest to.
“That’s a nice name. I’m Irace.”
They exchanged names belatedly and shook hands lightly. It was after this that Irace formally began discussing the request.
“It started last year… no, the year before. It wasn’t this serious then, so I didn’t realize…”
As if the mere thought gave her a headache, Irace rubbed her forehead in circular motions with her finger as she began.
“The soil started to dry up. It’s not that water is scarce. The rainfall hasn’t changed much, and nothing else is different either. The first sign was with the snow cauliflower. It’s not a particularly difficult crop to grow. Other crops have always varied in yield from year to year, but snow cauliflower… I’ve lived here for nearly 50 years, but I’ve never seen or heard of anything like this.”
Unlike Irace’s distressed expression, Arden listened with an indifferent face. He didn’t feel particularly sorry about this. He was on his way to cut off the Emperor’s head—why would he care whether the snow cauliflower harvest increased or decreased? However… this was quite perplexing.
“You might know that most Menden residents work in agriculture. Not only are the crops for sale insufficient, but so are those we need to survive, so prices have naturally risen. Other regions must be shocked by the sudden price increases.”
Why is she talking about agricultural problems… to an engineer? Arden knew nothing about this field. He began to feel anxious.
“Last year it was half the usual harvest, and this year it’s even worse. Snow cauliflower, winter strawberries, everything without exception.”
“…”
“I must have prayed dozens of times last year. I thought Artalis was angry because of the epidemic and war making the country unstable.”
Arden belatedly recalled what had happened last year. Rite had complained that the strawberries tasted strange. And he himself hadn’t noticed any change at all. Rite had been right.
Even the people of Menden, whose parents, grandparents, and perhaps great-grandparents had lived as farmers, couldn’t find a solution. Could an engineer who had never farmed solve such a problem? The troubled Arden suddenly thought of Rite.
‘If only there were a magician or an engineer…’
While engineering might not be very relevant, magic could be different. He knew a bit of alchemy, so perhaps he could find a solution.
“This is the first time we’ve seen such a sudden plummet. Even if we pour fertilizer and chemicals into the land, by the next day it’s completely dry. As if it can’t absorb anything at all.”
“Actually…”
Arden spoke in a low voice. His previously calm face now showed signs of trouble. As Arden’s brow furrowed slightly, Irace’s expression darkened.
“This is beyond what an ordinary engineer can solve. It’s closer to the realm of an alchemist or magician.”
“…Is that so.”
While alchemists might be found, magicians were very rare. Hiring an engineer required considerable money, but a magician cost even more. Arden intended to use this to his advantage. Though his face hadn’t twisted at all during genuinely troubling moments, it became more creased after discovering a potential opportunity—that was the reason.
“However, as I mentioned earlier.”
“…”
“I also know how to practice alchemy.”
These business tactics were all developed after raising Rite. The cost of magical tools and books was no small amount. To earn money for child-rearing, one needed to become shameless.
“Then…”
“It won’t be easy. But I can try.”
He didn’t forget to leave some room for uncertainty.
Revealing that someone in their party was a magician might allow him to demand more money, but that carried its own risks. A strange combination of a magician and an engineer would be too conspicuous and suspicious.
“If you can solve it, we can provide ample compensation. It’s what everyone in Menden wants. Everyone will gladly contribute to the fund.”
Arden, still showing reluctance, nodded as if he had no choice.
* * *
It wasn’t that Arden felt no pressure. It had been a long time since he’d taken on a request of this scale. Moreover, he wasn’t sure if he could solve it. To be clear, this wasn’t Arden’s area of expertise.
Irace offered to escort Arden to the hotel, but he declined. It was because Irace seemed very busy. He guessed that she played a representative role for the village, similar to Markus.
‘Feel free to explore the village. If you say Irace sent you, people will treat you kindly.’
Pondering Irace’s words, Arden headed toward the hotel when he saw a familiar face.
Rite, standing unshielded in the blazing midday sun, looked somehow unfamiliar. He was leaning crookedly against the hotel door with his arms crossed, staring at Arden. The emotion in those purple eyes was clearly displeasure to anyone who saw them.
