CHAPTER 53: THE CRAFTSMEN GUILD

"You’ll start work after the festival. For now, just talk to Matthias and Darius for the arrangements."

Justinian grabbed a ring he had prepared in advance, one that only he could have access to.

"Here, just show it to them as proof."

He tossed the ring at the citizen, crossing his legs on his throne.

"Will that be all?"

"Y-yes, my lord!"

The citizen bowed, then left the palace with a wide smile on his face; he not only gained a huge position but also a huge paycheck.

One that would make any normal citizen smile uncontrollably.

"Will you join in on the celebrations, my lord?"

"No, but you’re welcome to join them."

Justinian stood up from his throne before heading back to his room, closing the door with a satisfied thud as he collapsed on his bed.

"Ughhh... I can’t believe those guys still have energy to party."

Justinian grumbled, looking at his ceiling. He just survived the biggest threat to his duchy; now it should be smooth sailing, right?

Just build his duchy, take out any invaders, and live his life as a rich noble while the main character fixes all the problems in the kingdom.

That was his plan, but at the same time, the thought of it bored him.

"Does living my life as a rich duke really sound that satisfying..."

He sat up, looking at his painting, one of the first few things he saw in this world since he arrived.

"I have thousands of years of history within my mind...."

Justinian mumbled, thinking hard of what to do.

"Invading isn’t really my forte; the larger the territory, the harder it is to maintain."

He laughed, recognizing how Matthias and Darius are literally the only people keeping his domain together.

[The Book of War Responds]

[Your petty ambitions disappoint me]

"I’m guessing you’re Arethros?"

[Negative]

"Hoh...?"

Justinian smirked. While his system was powerful, he didn’t have a reason to fear it, unlike the tangible gods in this world; the system is his.

And even if it tries to betray him, he’s already wise enough not to care about that.

"You’re an intriguing fellow, aren’t you..."

Justinian rested his hands, leaning forward.

"Then give me ideas."

[Explore the rest of the kingdom]

’Hm...’

The Thirell Duchy is only one out of the dozens of duchies that encompassed the Drehen Kingdom, with the kingdom itself only being one out of countless others across the continent.

It was a large world, one that expected to be explored, especially by an otherworlder.

"I’d like to do that, but once again, I’m a duke."

Justinian crossed his arms, waving off the idea.

"Right... I forgot I still have to convince the craftsmen guilds to join my side."

Justinian stood up from his bed, once again looking at his now bustling capital.

"A single skilled planner is a blessing, but to make his ideas work, I need competent workers under him."

He focused his gaze on a particularly bustling area in the streets where most of the guilds were situated in his capital.

Where the adventurers, merchants, craftsmen, and other guilds were designated to be built.

Compared to the capital as described in the novel, Snowkeep had a fairly average one, enough to run a duchy, but also not enough to make it thrive.

But he didn’t need the same quality as the capital; he already had geniuses serving him to make up for the lack of manpower.

"Since Matthias and Darius are busy... I guess I’ll give them a visit."

Justinian equipped himself lightly, wearing more casual attire, along with a hood to mask his identity.

He prefers not to make a scene this time; he no longer needs to build a reputation like before.

***

"Sir Matthias really outdid himself this time!"

A barkeep yelled out, handing out free drinks to his customers as loud yelling rang out from inside the inn.

The sound of citizens filled the streets as Justinian walked among them, hooded and covered, taking his time to enjoy the snowy streets as a bystander rather than a ruler.

A chance to actually enjoy the perks of being in a feudal fantasy world.

’He really did...’

Justinian thought, seeing the vast scope of Matthias’ planning, it was like a sight from a usual DND tabletop campaign, an overdramatized version of a medieval city.

But here he was seeing it firsthand.

"Here we are."

Justinian stopped just near a fully stone building, the loud sounds of metal clashing and sparks flying filling the air.

Even in a festival, they didn’t stop their metalwork and crafts.

"Shop’s closed."

One grizzled blacksmith spoke, in his hands a huge mug of ale that looked like the size of an average man’s forearm.

The thought of finishing it alone made Justinian dizzy.

"I’m here to talk to the guild leader."

"You’ve got business with the boss?"

The blacksmith questioned, looking at his other companions.

"Any of you seen the boss?"

He yelled out, catching the attention of the other craftsmen within the building, some stopping their drinking and card games at the question.

"She’s at her office."

’She?’

Justinian took a double-take. Did he hear that right?

"You’ve heard him, young’un, if you really do have business with the bos, then go right ahead."

He laughed, taking a huge swig of his ale before pointing directions.

"Not my problem if you waste her time."

Justinian nodded at the blacksmith before making his way to the guildmaster’s office, passing many more drunkards on his way there, even nearly bumping into someone as he arrived.

"So this is it..."

CLICK.

"Excuse me-"

BANG.

The sounds of a table slamming filled Justinian’s ears as he opened the door, making him even curious.

"Is this a good time?"

"What do YOU think!?"

Feryll Yurian Ebony.

Guildmaster of the craftsmen guild, and even more surprisingly, a female dark elf.

One that Justinian hadn’t even known about from either the novels or the old Justinian’s memory, this was completely new territory to him.

’W-what?’