studiobondurri Chapter 18
Chapter 18
The basic fuel needed for all artifacts and magic circles.
A substance that can create countless useful magical materials depending on how it’s synthesized into objects.
The material that powers all trains, cars, trucks, ships, and airships in the Empire.
The source that lights up the magical lamps illuminating the streets of the Empire.
A basic necessity for the common folk—used for heating, cooling, cooking, and even heating bathwater.
And even now, a material that wizards are constantly researching, pouring their sweat and blood into, to make it even more versatile in real-time.
That is elixir.
I know nothing about economics.
But even I know how much of a hot item elixir is—how much money it’s worth.
It’s an absolute value, surpassing gold itself.
The reason why the Arkhal Empire and the desert kingdom Tramarta to the west are the only nations with currencies recognized as key money across the continent is because only these two nations produce elixir. You could only purchase elixir with their currencies.
In short:
It’s an outrageously expensive and outrageously useful material.
Something that would make anyone a millionaire in no time if they got their hands on it.
So why!!
Why is it bursting out in the middle of a rundown factory in the slums of the capital?! Why!!
Does that even make sense?
If there were an elixir spring right in the middle of the capital, there’s no way it wouldn’t have been discovered by now!
Do you know how valuable elixir is?
It’s a substance that people hunt down with bloodshot eyes!
It was in the middle of the capital, yet no one found it until now? That’s absurd!
“This is strange. Witch, how has this elixir spring remained undiscovered until now?”
“The mana-absorbing stone... It was enormous. I’ve never seen such a massive mana-absorbing stone before. I think it swallowed all the elixir’s mana waves, which is why no one detected the spring until now. Elixir springs are usually found by sensing the faint mana waves emanating from the ground.”
“A miracle. A miracle! Witch, how much elixir does this spring contain?”
“We’d need to conduct more precise investigations, but judging by the amount flowing out and the mana concentration within, I’d estimate at least 100 billion barrels. That’s a conservative figure. There’s likely much more. The larger the deposit, the higher the mana concentration and the easier it is to process. This elixir has the highest mana concentration I’ve ever seen.”
Everyone simultaneously turned their gaze toward me.
Internally, I was dying.
But I couldn’t let that show on my face.
I smiled.
“It’s a miracle.”
“Oh, Saint! As expected, you already knew!”
“We couldn’t understand why you bought such useless land!”
“Only trash, waste, and crumbling factories were there, yet you saw greatness beneath it all! Saint, thank you!!”
Don’t talk to me.
This world clearly wants to see me struck down by the Goddess’s wrath.
In the blink of an eye, I had become the great Saint who had worked yet another miracle.
No!!
I wanted you all to fail!!
Why is this working so well?!
I wanted to be cursed as a lousy Saint so you’d leave me alone!
That way, I could quietly disappear and avoid divine punishment!!
“So, how do we monetize this flood of elixir?”
“Indeed. None of us here have any expertise in handling elixir-related technology.”
“And none of us have experience running a company.”
As everyone fell into troubled silence, my gaze fixed on one person.
Watching the Saint’s quiet dedication to healing, one could almost see a halo emanating from his head.
This is what a true Saint is.
Not just someone who heals bodies, but someone who soothes hearts and souls alike.
Jonathan Karma watched the Saint’s back with a reverent expression for a long time before finally moving.
“Witch, may I have a word with you?”
His first step was to approach Erfa.
“I believe you heard what the Saint just said. Could you spare a moment? Please, come to my home.”
“Of course.”
Erfa willingly followed Jonathan to his house.
Though modest and shabby, Jonathan showed no embarrassment.
He already knew he would soon leave such a place behind.
“This is my wife, Oliviera, and my daughter, Cecilia.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Erfa, a witch from the Mage Tower.”
After a polite exchange of greetings, the four of them gathered in the living room.
Jonathan explained the task the Saint had entrusted to him, and both Oliviera and Cecilia nodded enthusiastically.
“Of course! We have to do this, no question about it!”
“Let me help, Dad. I’ll do my part. We’ll make it work for the Saint!”
Watching his wife and daughter’s impassioned resolve, Jonathan nodded in agreement.
“I knew you’d feel that way. The Healing Saint has saved all of us. Not just our bodies, but our very souls. We have a duty to repay that grace. Let’s all be grateful for this second chance.”
Erfa couldn’t help but feel curious.
“Did the Healing Saint heal you as well, Jonathan?”
“He healed my daughter.”
Jonathan spoke calmly, recounting the events to Erfa, who listened with growing astonishment.
“Rotting disease... that’s famously incurable...”
“We spent everything we had, tried every medicine and treatment, just to slow its spread and reduce its contagiousness. But he eliminated it entirely with a mere wave of his hand. I will repay the Saint for this gift, no matter what.”
Jonathan turned to Erfa with a determined look.
“We need various technologies to process the elixir. The best option would be recruiting skilled researchers from the Mage Tower who have studied elixir-related fields. I believe you could help recommend such talents.”
“Of course. Many at the Mars Branch Tower specialize in elixir technologies. Tower Master Jorgen, for example, is one of the top three experts in precise elixir refinement across the entire continent.”
“That’s perfect! Please arrange a meeting with them. Ideally, we’d recruit them as researchers for our company, but if that’s not possible, a technical partnership would suffice. I trust you can negotiate on our behalf.”
“Leave it to me. I’ll help as much as I can.”
“That’s all we ask. The rest will be up to me, my wife, and my daughter.”
“Managing elixir will require vast amounts of capital. Are you sure you can handle it? Should I recommend a professional manager or someone with significant business expertise?”
Jonathan Karma chuckled at Erfa’s suggestion.
“If it’s Tower Master Jorgen, I know him personally. We met several times in my younger days. When you return, ask him about my name. He’ll explain who my family is.”
Erfa’s curiosity was piqued.
After parting ways with the Karma family, she returned to the Mage Tower and headed straight to the Tower Master’s office.
She mentioned the name Jonathan Karma and asked who he was.
“Jonathan Karma, eh? Hahaha! It’s been a long time! How do you know that name, Erfa?”
Erfa relayed what she had heard from Jonathan.
The Tower Master’s eyes widened in surprise.
“His daughter had rotting disease? What a wretchedly cursed life he must have lived...”
“What does he do?”
“If not for his incredible misfortune, he would have become the wealthiest man in the Empire by now.”
Jorgen burst into hearty laughter.
“He was a self-made legend who rose from being a penniless street urchin to building one of the Empire’s top three distribution networks. Anyone involved in business twenty years ago knew the name Jonathan Karma.”