CH 22

Due to the flow of the story, I ended up hosting a horse race, so I spent a busy day working out ideas while making magic potions.

The unveiling of the “starry magical tool” that took place afterwards, before bedtime, was a bit of a hot topic of conversation for some time.

The first time mother and the female servants saw it, they liked it very much. And finally I started getting orders for those magical tools. As expected, I had no intention of becoming a magic tool maker, so I immediately made a blueprint and sold it to the mage in charge of the Margrave Heine household.

It seems that the magic tool master’s workshop is now mass-producing and selling them. Demand seems to be higher than expected. I’m getting a portion of the sales. I don’t know why, but I have a source of income.

“No~, you get more money than you spend.”

“Are you sure you don’t have to collect the money for the drink at that time?”

“I don’t mind. I was just watching. I need to contribute at least a little.”

Right now, I came to inspect the racetrack with the sweets I bought in the territorial capital. The location is right outside the capital. They had carved out an untouched wilderness and built a racetrack.

This plan, which at first seemed foolhardy, was being carried out as I taught the wizards of the Knights Order the magic of levelling the ground and shattering stones and stumps in the way, so that a flat clearing was being formed.

The trees that used to grow there have been reused as benches and fences. The track is oval-shaped and can be run for long distances. Even now, the knights are diligently driving stakes into the ground. At first I was going to hire someone to help them, but due to the passionate requests of the knights, they are now helping us.

The magic is also unlimited, so it is finished at a much faster efficiency.

“Julius-sama, at this pace, the racecourse will be completed by the middle of next week.”

“It’s a lot faster than I thought. I thought it would take more than a month, but it’s amazing that you could get it done in a little over two weeks.”

“No, this is also because Julius-sama taught me some useful magic.”

“Everyone was honest and helpful”

Apparently, the knights’ loyalty to me is extremely high. It’s probably because I’m holding the knight order’s magic potion. If I turn my back on them, they’ll have to drink that ghoulish magic potion again.

After giving the knights working at the racetrack a supply of food, they headed straight for the territorial capital. These days, the pattern of his behaviour is to stroll around the city after inspecting the racetrack.

The time is about three in the afternoon, but the streets are busy and full of activity. I was told that the Royal Capital is even more amazing, but for me, this is about right. Not too many, not too few.

“Isn’t that you, Julius-sama!”

“Well, well, well. Isn’t it Abel-dono?”

While I was choosing fruits as souvenirs for Rosalia, Abel, an A-rank adventurer, came over. If he’s in town at this hour, does that mean he’s not working as an adventurer today?

His companions, Gyre and Christopher, also greet him. Their eyes are shining, probably because of their admiration for A-rank adventurers.

“I heard. Sounds like you’ve started something interesting.”

“Interesting things? Horse racing? Who the hell told you that?”

“The other day, when I was doing a request in the monster forest, I asked a knight who had come to gather materials. Something about running horses and trying to place bets?”

“It’s certainly not wrong, though. I just thought I’d offer a bit of entertainment to the Knights Order, which has always looked after me.”

I wonder why. Abel’s eyes are shining on me. Is he interested?　But I don’t know what’s going to happen yet.

“Is it impossible for public participants to join the horse race?”

I knew it. What do we do?　If we allow the general public to participate, it could end up being a massive event. If we do that without any know-how, I can only see a future of failure.

But on the other hand, I also want opinions from people other than the Knights. It is better to keep the available data.

“Well, it may be possible if it’s limited to adventurers. Still, I’d have to ask my father to see what would happen.”

“Really! Well, let me tell you. We’re starved for entertainment too. We have cards and other betting games, but that’s all we do, we get bored.”

“Hmm, it seems that there is still a lack of entertainment in the capital. Maybe it would have been better if we had theatre and concerts like in the royal capital. ……”

“I think it’s impossible for adventurers to attend plays and concerts…”

Abel gave me a subtle look. After all, it seems that those kinds of things are still seen as aristocratic games. If that’s the case, do we need to create a recreation that is more acceptable to the masses?

It’s troublesome to instil the rules of chess and shogi, so why not make up some easy-looking darts? It could also be used to improve the skills of adventurers.

Having somehow decided on my next course of action, I parted ways with Abel-san and returned home in high spirits.

The day of the first race has arrived. Due to a prior arrangement with his father, only adventurers were allowed to participate. Initially, it was planned that only the knights would participate, but the servants who serve the Margrave Heine family also decided to take part at short notice. They were still hungry for entertainment.

Admission is free this time. Anyway, the problem is whether the stakes can be deposited and properly distributed. Unless we get through this situation well, we won’t be able to run horse racing.

Information on the horses was compiled in advance by the knights’ horse-riding enthusiast members. In order to be equally fast, as a handicap, the faster horses were to be ridden by knights in armour.

The horse’s performance, the rider’s performance and the armour. We all make predictions based on this information.

“Now, what will happen?”

“The top jockey will get a reward. Everyone is serious about it.”

Lionel looks happy. No, it’s not just Lionel. Everyone here was getting into a festive mood for the first time. Of course, we asked for stalls. The shops that were invited seemed to be busy.

“Then, we will hold the first Heine Margrave horse race to commemorate!”

A voice, magnified by magic, rang out. This man was a great horse enthusiast and took the role of a horse race promoter

Horses walk through the paddock. While watching the situation, they determine which horse is in good condition. Some people had a serious look on their face, while others had already purchased their betting tickets, perhaps on intuition. Each betting ticket is sold for one small silver coin.

After a while, the dividend will be announced. As for the first rail, the three-frame “White Horse” seems to be popular. By the way, I was the one who suggested naming the horses. It would be more fun that way.

The White Horse took first place, as expected. And for each ticket purchased, two small silver coins and six copper coins were refunded. Laughter and screams were heard from everywhere.

But they all had happy smiles on their faces. Is it ok for the time being?