I Already Know My Magic Power Is Ridiculously High! Now I Just Need a Cute Wife... - Episode 97

The next morning, I rubbed my bleary eyes and rang the bell.

Nicolette soon entered the room, leading three maids in tow.

“Good morning, Lord Shalka.”

“Morning.”

Nicolette carefully wiped my face with a warm towel and began slipping off my nightclothes with practiced ease.

The other three maids busily set about cleaning my bedroom.

(Hmm?)

One maid in particular caught my attention. A tall girl standing with perfect posture.

Her slender frame reminded me of a ballerina from my past life.

Perhaps her maid uniform was slightly too short, as her calves were clearly visible.

Like Nicolette, she had shapely, graceful calves.

And her chest was quite ample, too.

(She’s interesting.)

“You there, the tall maid.”

“Y-yes?”

“Come here for a moment.”

The maid approached nervously, clearly tense.

She looked about fifteen to seventeen years old.

Standing around 175 cm tall, she was nearly fifteen centimeters taller than me now.

Though the maid uniform made it hard to tell, her figure was quite toned.

“Seeing you up close, you really are tall.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

Her chestnut-brown hair had a slight wave to it, giving her a rustic charm that made her seem like a country girl fresh off the train to the city. It was oddly appealing.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you before. What’s your name?”

“…Felice.”

The tall girl named Felice offered a strained smile.

She must not be used to being addressed by nobility.

Seeing her large frame shrink nervously stirred something sadistic in me.

“…Um, Lord Shalka, if you’re feeling… ahem, I can help relieve you?”

Suddenly, Nicolette who had been about to dress me? Spoke up.

Her gaze was fixed on my lower abdomen.

Ah… Right. Morning wood.

“N-no, not today.”

“I see…”

Nicolette replied, sounding slightly disappointed.

Even I have my limits getting a handjob first thing in the morning would be too degenerate.

I want to be a respectable boss, after all.

I can afford to be a beast at night.

“Lord Shalka, are you really going out today?”

“Yeah, of course.”

Once ready, I headed to the entrance hall, where I ran into Elmia and my mother about to leave.

“Shalka, I’m going to train with Camilla.”

“Alright, have a good time.”

Elmia’s expression was a bit stiff.

I hoped she wouldn’t push herself too hard, but everyone goes through phases like this.

I decided to send her off with a smile.

“Shalka, the noble assembly is the day after tomorrow. I’ll leave the preparations to you.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Today, my mother’s complexion was unusually radiant.

They say battle gets the bl00d pumping, but more likely, she and Father had a good time last night.

Nothing better than a happy marriage.

(Now that I think about it, there is a noble assembly coming up…)

As Mother mentioned, the noble assembly was scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

The noble assembly was a regional summit where the heads of noble houses, their heirs, and two attendants were invited.

I had only attended once before, making this my second time.

I was going as my father’s attendant.

At the assembly, there would likely be moves to install me as the next head, but Mother’s recent behavior had thrown a wrench into those plans.

While waiting for the carriage, I leaned against the second-floor railing of the entrance hall, watching the maids scurry about.

“Come to think of it, there seem to be more young maids now?”

“Yes, likely because we’ve been sending maids to the capital estate. We’ve recruited more girls from the city.”

“So Felice is one of them?”

“Indeed.”

In Ortenatris Castle, during the summer, they gathered beautiful young girls from the city and trained them as maids.

The castle grounds were vast, including the gardens.

With hundreds of staff constantly working, hiring more maids was necessary.

Incidentally, working in a noble’s castle was considered prestigious.

When a family had a daughter become a maid, it was cause for celebration in their district.

After serving at the castle, even if they were slightly older, they’d have no trouble finding a good marriage.

“Hm?”

I suddenly felt an odd presence behind me and turned.

But there was no one.

“Must’ve imagined it…”

Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

“Lord Shalka, your carriage is ready.”

“Right. Let’s head into town, then.”

I decided to brush off the strange sensation and boarded the carriage.

◇◇◇◇

The moment we entered the city, cheers erupted like a tidal wave.

Through the carriage window, I could see the citizens in a frenzy.

“Lord Shalka is truly popular among the common folk.”

“Are you mocking me?”

“Not at all. It’s wonderful.”

Though Nicolette’s stiff expression didn’t exactly scream “joy.”

I waved casually, and the crowd roared even louder.

Soon, we arrived at the outskirts of Ortenatris.

The slums.

The chaotic sprawl of street markets reminded me of the vibrant bazaars of Southeast Asia.

But infrastructure was nonexistent, and public safety was not great.

About on par with Bangwall.

(Improving security is a priority.)

We pressed onward, reaching a vast, walled compound.

Several large factory-like buildings and prefabricated structures stood in rows.

“Lord Shalka, what exactly are we doing here?”

“Just some business.”

This was a production facility for a certain product.

Six years ago, after mastering lightning magic, I experimented endlessly on plants and animals—until I finally created a revolutionary resource.

Seedless Cotton.

At the time, refugees were flooding into Ortenatris, so I had them clear fields and cultivate it experimentally.

The result? A massive harvest.

With this success, I gathered merchants and founded a company.

Shalka Company.

…Yeah, I know. I deeply regret approving that name now.

But I couldn’t ignore the wishes of the people—the “stardust” who saw it as a beacon of hope.

Employees flocked to us.

Given my overwhelming popularity (thanks to the Bangwall incident), I could’ve easily gotten unpaid corporate warriors.

Kidding, of course. I paid them from my own pocket.

All because the Judiciary Court had to go and pull that stupid lynching stunt.

Thanks to them, I now have hordes of blindly loyal followers… ahem.

The Judiciary Court really is full of idiots.

With Ortenatris’ growing population, the cotton industry became the spark for economic revitalization.

Now, under the brand Ortenos Cotton, it was a cornerstone of the region’s economy.

“How’s business, Baito Leader?”

I addressed the middle-aged manager, a shrewd businessman.

“It’s Balt. Business is booming. But recently, the Merchant Guild caught wind of your exploits in the east and begged us to lower their commission from 40% to 35%. What should we do?”

“If they’re haggling over a mere 5%, they’re not worth our time. Here’s what we’ll do—threaten to reduce supply and monopolize the market. If they still resist, crush the guild until they’re bankrupt.”

“Understood. But if we ignore the Merchant Guild, won’t the Judiciary Court intervene?”

The Merchant Guild was a puppet of the Judiciary Court, controlling trade within and beyond Ortenatris.

Small-time, but they acted high and mighty just because they had the Court’s backing.

They should’ve picked a side by now, me or the Court. How naive.

“Don’t worry. The Judiciary Court will be gone soon.”

“…Understood. I’ll proceed accordingly.”

And just like that, the Merchant Guild was finished.

By the way, this middle-aged manager was formerly the royal treasurer of Azarash Palace.

He came to Ortenatris to make a name for himself as an adventurer, and I recruited him.

Why? Because he reminded me of a stellar part-time leader from my past life.

“Also, can you supply me with as many high-end women’s undergarments as possible?”

“Uh, sure, but… what for?”

“I’m going to make a killing selling them to nobles in the capital. Expanding our market.”

“Y-you can’t be serious.”

“Oh, but I am I’m launching the Cotton Road project.”

Not the Silk Road, the Cotton Road.

I had no intention of conquering the world through war.

But through economics? Absolutely.

—In this world, capital is everything.

A reincarnator’s true cheat isn’t magic or status, it’s knowledge from their past life.

The winners of my past world were capitalists. That’s an undeniable truth.

Move the economy, move people, and use the profits to buy more capital.

The more capital you have, the faster it grows exponentially.

Once the industrial revolution hits, the old systems will crumble.

And who will be the victor then? Me, of course the one holding all the capital.

This is the ultimate winning strategy.

Gufufu… Kuhahahahaha!

“……”

I couldn’t help but laugh maniacally.

The people of this world don’t yet understand the power of money.

This is my revenge! My humble uprising against the world that once reduced me to a wage slave until I worked myself to death.

Might as well share my vision with the employees.

“Listen up! I’m turning Shalka Company into the greatest capital empire on the Atra Continent! I’ll pour every coin I have into it. We’ll destroy the old powers, monopolize trade, and control the flow of money!”

“OOOOOH!”

Good. Morale was high.

This should keep them motivated for the three years I’ll be at the academy.

Now, to deal with the pests in our way.

“Lord Shalka, my apologies. They may have caught wind of the Mother Dock.”

Mother Dock.

The facility where I used lightning magic to produce the “seeds” for our Seedless Series.

To create seedless cotton, we needed a “queen plant” as the mother stock.

If the queen plant was stolen, others could produce seedless cotton, and Ortenatris would lose its monopoly.

Thus, the queen plant was kept under tight security in the Mother Dock.

“…Hah. They’ve got sharper noses than I thought.”

“Yes. Until about a month ago, they were applying heavy pressure. We even had injuries.”

My absence must’ve emboldened them.

Honestly, I’d been worried while in Bangwall, but since no urgent reports came, I left it to the locals.

“Did you hold them off?”

“Yes, thanks to the adventurers guarding it.”

“Good. Glad we’ve got some fighters on our side.”

“Of course. We won’t let anyone invade your castle so easily. Though, the Judiciary Court seems to have bigger problems now.”

The middle-aged manager stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“How so?”

“Lord Shalka, have you heard of the street slayings?”

“Street slayings?”

“Yes. Recently, Judiciary Court officials have been murdered one after another in the city.”

“Oh? Targeting the Court? Someone’s got guts.”

“Indeed. So, as a result—”

Just then, a small catgirl approached.

“Ah, Lord Shalka, nya~!”

Interrupting a noble’s conversation was normally a death sentence.

But of course, I wouldn’t harm her.

Because she was an adorable catgirl.

The catgirl clung to me, rubbing her face against me.

A bit smelly, but in a good way.

“Let’s see, you’re…”

“Meena, nya!”

“Ah, Meena.”

The catgirl, Meena, grinned widely.

About five years ago, I saved her from being executed by the Judiciary Court.

Ever since, she’d been attached to me.

She should be around twelve, same as me.

“I-I’m so sorry, Lord Shalka! Meena, don’t bother him!”

Meena’s mother looked pale.

At least she had the sense to realize this was inappropriate around nobility.

Early thirties, maybe? Still plenty attractive.

“Don’t worry. Petting Meena was one of my goals today.”

“Kyaa~! That tickles, nya~!”

I scritched her cat ears, and Meena giggled happily.

(Ahhh, so healing…)

This made me want a cat.

Not a kitten—a mature, grown cat preferably.

(Hm?)

Then I noticed bandages wrapped around Meena’s arm.

“Meena, you’re hurt?”

“Uu… yeah…”

Meena buried her face in my chest, as if recalling something painful.

“Meena was among those attacked by the Judiciary Court a month ago.”

The middle-aged manager spoke through gritted teeth.

So Meena was targeted too.

Another reason to crush the Judiciary Court.

At this point, it’s a clearance sale.

“Let me see that wound.”

“Eh…?”

I unwrapped the bandages to reveal a deep gash, badly infected.

Channeling magic, I cast a healing spell.

The wound closed rapidly, leaving smooth skin behind.

“Wow! Amazing, nya~! Thank you, Lord Shalka…”

“Don’t mention it. Consider it payment for letting me pet you.”

“Lord Shalka… I love you, nya~!”

Worth it just for those catgirl affection points.

Meena’s mother bowed repeatedly, apologizing.

“How’s life for you, Cat Mom? Be honest.”

“W-well, I’m fortunate to be employed as a seamstress, and Meena’s older sister sends us money, so we’re doing fine.”

The rise of Ortenos Cotton had created jobs for women perhaps its greatest impact.

…But something else caught my attention.

“Meena has an older sister?”

“Mm-hmm, nya~! But she left for work years ago and never came back, nya…”

Meena looked sad.

A girl going off to work was unusual.

A maid, maybe? But Ortenatris Castle wouldn’t hire her—not with her beastkin heritage.

So where is this sister, and what is she doing?

“Does the money arrive regularly?”

“Yes. Always at night—just cash and a letter. Just recently too…”

“…What’s her name?”