Repeat Vice - The Villainous Noble Doesn't Want to Die, So He Swore to Not Die As One of The Four Heavenly Kings - Chapter 47: Port Serpente

Chapter 47: Port Serpente

The cry of the black-tailed gull echoed in the sky.

The horizon was cloudless.

Numerous merchant ships lined the harbor.

Rofus was visiting the port town.

“What was the name of this port town again…?”

“It’s Viperport, young master.”

Carlos, who was standing behind Rofus, responded to his muttering.

“Viperport? Snake Port? That’s a distasteful name. Not suitable for a future prosperous harbor.”

Rofus frowned.

This place used to be a port town ruled by Clinton Fow Serpente.

The snake was the symbol of the Serpente family.

Whether Clinton conveniently renamed it or it was just a coincidence, Rofus didn’t know.

As Rofus gazed at the sea and discussed this by the seawall, a well-dressed man approached them.

“Excuse me, but judging by your attire, could you be Lord Lightless?”

The man, with neatly combed dark brown hair and dressed in a cream-colored suit, addressed them suddenly, causing Rofus to glare at him with displeasure. Carlos stepped forward to intervene.

“Please do not come any closer.”

Stopped by Carlos, the man obediently stepped back without any sign of concern and bowed gracefully.

“I apologize for my rudeness. I am Mild, a director of the Lightless Territory Commercial Guild. Thank you very much for coming today.”

Mild, bowing deeply, introduced himself. Hearing his name, Rofus raised an eyebrow.

“So, you are Mild. I wondered what kind of face the rude person who summoned me to such a place would have.”

“I deeply apologize, Lord Lightless.”

Under Rofus’s intimidating gaze, Mild prostrated himself on the ground.

The reason Rofus came to this port town, to this seawall, was because of a summons from the commercial guild.

Mild was the sender of the letter addressed to Rofus and a director of the Lightless Territory Commercial Guild, essentially standing at the pinnacle of commerce in the vast Lightless territory.

However, no matter the position, it was unacceptable for a commoner to summon a noble. Ordinarily, there would be no need to comply, but since there was business to discuss regarding the demon sea and Rofus had matters there, he decided to go as a courtesy.

Nonetheless, the fact that he was summoned left Rofus in a foul mood.

Moreover, the summoned location was here, the seawall. Normally, he would be welcomed at the town’s entrance and entertained in a mansion. Waiting for a noble in such a windy place without even sending a welcoming party was an act that could result in execution on the spot.

Carlos’s gaze at Mild was equally severe.

“So? I’m waiting for your explanation.”

Rofus questioned the prostrated Mild in an intimidating manner.

Mild, with his head still on the ground, responded.

“It seems there was a mistake made by my subordinate when contacting you… I will immediately deal with that subordinate.”

“A subordinate’s mistake? Are you saying I was kept waiting here due to your incompetent subordinate?”

“Indeed. If you wish, I will bring that subordinate here at once.”

“Huh?”

A vein popped on Rofus’s forehead.

The high-density magic power emanating from him pressed down on Mild, who was still prostrated, almost crushing him.

“…”

Mild broke out in a sweat and turned pale. Seeing this, Carlos stepped in to stop him.

“Please wait. This man is a director of the Lightless Territory Commercial Guild. Executing him here could lead to complications.”

Carlos whispered in a low voice.

Rofus clicked his tongue and suppressed his magic power.

Released from the pressure of the magic power, Mild sighed in relief.

Rofus grabbed Mild by the collar.

“Ugh!”

Rofus pulled the surprised Mild closer with force.

“The misdeeds of your subordinate are your responsibility. Handle it yourself. Don’t dump such trivial matters on me.”

“Y-yes…”

Mild’s face twitched under Rofus’s intimidation.

Rofus continued.

“And don’t test a noble, you commoner. Next time, I will kill you.”

With those words, Rofus roughly pushed Mild away.

Carlos tilted his head at Rofus’s remark.

In contrast, Mild calmly adjusted his disheveled attire and shrugged.

“Ah, what a terrifying person. When did you notice?”

“There’s no way a commoner displaying such foolishness could rise to the top of commerce.”

Incorrect handling of nobles could lead to death.

Especially for merchants, the larger their scale, the more interactions they had with nobles.

Someone lacking that common sense could not become a director of the commercial guild.

Rofus recalled another fool from a different commercial guild who had sent a letter of complaint to a noble from another territory, likely growing too confident from colluding too much with nobles.

“I see, that makes sense.”

Mild smiled as if understanding and ran his hands through his hair, combing it back into a slicked-back style.

Then, with a completely different, gleaming look in his eyes, he faced Rofus.

It was the cunning and greedy gaze of a merchant.

“I apologize again for my rudeness, Lord Rofus Ray Lightless. It seems we can have a proper conversation.”

Carlos placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes sharp at Mild’s disrespectful tone.

However, Rofus stopped him with a hand gesture.

“Actually, there is a reason I called you to the seawall. I wanted you to see this.”

Mild smiled and snapped his fingers towards the sea, producing a crisp sound.

Soon, the surface of the sea rose, and something enormous emerged from the depths.

It was a large vessel without sails, lifting the seawater as it ascended rapidly.

Rofus, who couldn’t sense any magic power and hadn’t noticed its presence until it appeared, slightly widened his eyes.

Standing in front of the ship, Mild spread his arms wide.

“This is a rare vessel that can submerge underwater—the submarine Poseidon!”

The rounded, black-painted hull.

Seeing it, Rofus was reminded of the airship Ifrit.

“…An artifact from ancient times?”

Rofus muttered, and Mild clapped his hands, smiling.

“As expected of your keen insight. To be precise, it is a replica of an ancient artifact. We have recreated it using the combined technology of our guild.”

“…I see.”

Rofus looked at the submarine with interest.

Recreating ancient technology was considered impossible with current techniques.

Most likely, they had analyzed unearthed ancient artifacts and used the technology to recreate it as much as possible.

However, Rofus recalled that research on ancient technology and scripts had not progressed much, even within the kingdom.

Suddenly, Rofus remembered an organization that was advancing research on ancient matters.

“Is the technology’s origin from the Treasure Guild?”

Mild froze at Rofus’s words.

“…Lord Rofus, you are well-informed about the inner workings. The Treasure Guild is not widely known.”

“I recently had some dealings with people who make a living exploring ruins.”

“I am impressed by your extensive network. The Treasure Guild’s existence is confidential, so while I said it was our guild’s technology, the truth is we received ancient technology from the Treasure Guild, and our guild provided the materials and shipbuilding expertise. I must admit, I am no match for you.”

“Enough with the excuses. Your goal is to request funding, isn’t it?”

Rofus’s question cut to the chase.

More accurately, it implied that Mild had summoned Rofus, the heir to the Lightless Marquisate, and showed off the submarine to solicit funding.

Mild immediately understood the implication.

He shrugged and put a finger to his lips.

“Lord Rofus… You’re a bit hasty. We’ll set up a meeting for further discussions, so let’s talk in detail there.”

A passage extended from the submarine to the seawall, and a door opened.

Mild bowed gracefully.

“Please, step inside. Allow me to invite you to a luxurious underwater stroll.”

Mild smiled.

Carlos glared at him with a harsh gaze.

“You have been exceedingly disrespectful. Do you know who this man is—young master!?”

Ignoring Carlos’s angry voice, Rofus walked past him, about to enter the submarine.

Rofus glanced at Carlos with a bored expression.

“What is it, Carlos? Are you not coming?”

“This unknown vessel could be dangerous, young master!”

“Dangerous? What now? It’s more realistic than flying in the sky.”

“Well, that may be true, but…”

Ignoring the hesitant Carlos, Rofus gestured for Mild to lead the way.

“Hey. Lead the way already.”

“Yes, sir. This way, please.”

Mild led the way respectfully.

Following behind, Rofus entered the submarine, leaving Carlos behind.

“Y-young master! Please wait!”

Left alone, Carlos hurriedly followed after Rofus.

＊

Inside the submarine Poseidon.

Rofus and Carlos were led to a spacious room with glass walls.

The ceiling and walls were made of reinforced glass with pressure-resistant enchantments, offering a panoramic view of the underwater world.

At a round table in the center of the room sat the directors of the commercial guild.

Among them, Rofus recognized faces of directors who had previously visited his mansion for meetings.

Prompted by Mild, Rofus took a seat at the round table.

Mild sat across from him.

“Please, Sir Carlos, have a seat as well.”

One of the staff brought an additional chair, but Carlos refused, saying, “No, thank you,” and stood behind Rofus.

With everyone seated, Mild smiled and began to speak.

“Now that everyone is here, let’s start the regular meeting. Today, we are honored to

 have Lord Rofus Rey Lightless with us.”

At Mild’s words, the directors’ attention turned to Rofus.

“Thank you for coming.”

“We’re delighted to see you again.”

“What a robust appearance you have.”

Each of them offered their greetings.

Rofus ignored them and stared at Mild.

“Mild, what about the elegant underwater stroll? How am I supposed to enjoy myself with the faces of these greedy merchants?”

Rofus’s words made the merchants laugh, and Mild gave a wry smile.

“Please forgive me; we’ll make time for that later. Besides, I am one of those greedy merchants, after all.”

“Indeed, that’s true.”

Rofus sighed, and Mild squinted his eyes as he smiled.

“By the way, Lord Rofus, have you had lunch yet?”

“No, not yet. Come to think of it, it’s already lunchtime.”

“Perfect timing. Today’s meeting is planned as a luncheon.”

Mild snapped his fingers, and servers appeared, arranging meals on the round table.

The dishes were mainly fresh fish, likely caught from the sea.

To accommodate the underage Rofus, the beverage served was grape juice instead of wine.

Although he didn’t show it outwardly, Rofus, who secretly enjoyed seafood, felt his spirits lift.

“Well, that’s considerate.”

“Thanks to you, Lord Rofus, our fishing hauls have significantly increased. By the way, the grape juice is also from Lightless territory. I’ve heard about the issues with the demon sea. They say you’ve managed to tame the legendary ‘Ship Eater.'”

Mild narrowed his eyes, and Rofus smirked.

“You, of all people, must have a grasp on our problems.”

“…Alleviating poverty, isn’t it? Clinton was one of our valued clients, so it’s a pity for our guild.”

“You really are quick to catch on.”

Mild and Rofus laughed together.

Carlos and the other merchants tilted their heads, finding the swift change in conversation and seemingly unrelated topics puzzling.

“Um, what exactly are you talking about…?”

One of the merchants asked hesitantly, but Mild quietly put a finger to his lips.

“Lord Rofus and I are speaking now. Whether you can follow or not doesn’t matter; for now, just stay silent and wait. You’ll have your chance to speak soon.”

The merchants fell silent, intimidated by Mild’s cold glare.

Mild cleared his throat and turned back to Rofus.

“I apologize for the unsightly display.”

Rofus waved his hand dismissively, indicating he didn’t mind.

“Never mind. So, about solving poverty. I believe the only option is to develop new markets.”

“That’s a brilliant insight. In that case, how about focusing on specialty products? The Lightless territory has a lot of farmland. How about expanding the vineyards?”

Mild suggested, looking at the glass of grape juice, and Rofus nodded.

“Indeed, grapes are a specialty of Lightless. Branding them, hiring people, and expanding the business could work. With grapes, we could also venture into winemaking and beekeeping.”

“Let’s not rush; first, focus on stabilizing the vineyards. However, your insight is exceptional. If needed, we can arrange for skilled workers. I have connections with farm managers.”

“Then do it. I’ll supply all the products to your guild.”

“That’s wonderful.”

Words flew across the round table.

The merchants couldn’t grasp the implications of these words.

In just a few exchanges, they had almost solved the poverty issue in a part of the Lightless territory, but the merchants couldn’t understand.

“Next, let’s discuss the demon sea.”

“Yes, securing the routes first.”

Hearing the words “demon sea,” Carlos spoke up in alarm.

“The demon sea?”

“Is there a problem?”

Rofus glared at him, and Carlos averted his eyes.

“Actually, to develop the demon sea, we’ve already formed an exploration team.”

Rofus narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“Was this my father’s order?”

“No, I prepared it in advance, thinking it would be necessary. Would you like to see the team list?”

“I see. As efficient as ever. No need for the list. I won’t understand a list of names anyway. If you’ve chosen them, that’s fine.”

Rofus shrugged, and Carlos breathed a sigh of relief.

At this point, Mild raised his hand.

“In that case, I’d like to have someone from our guild accompany the exploration team.”

Carlos frowned.

“…For what purpose?”

“To secure the optimal route. We have someone knowledgeable about maritime trade.”

“It’s troubling if you speak so lightly. The demon sea is uncharted territory. We don’t know what dangers await.”

“I assure you, they won’t be a burden. If they cause any trouble or become a hindrance, feel free to throw them into the sea.”

Mild’s outrageous suggestion, said with a smile, left Carlos at a loss.

“Well, however…”

“That’s fine, Carlos.”

Rofus gave Mild a challenging look.

“This person who is knowledgeable about maritime trade, are they competent?”

“Yes, I assure you. They will be very helpful in the exploration.”

“…Alright then. Let them accompany the team.”

Rofus laughed in satisfaction, while Mild bowed his head.

It seemed Rofus had taken a liking to Mild, but Carlos felt it wasn’t praiseworthy to so easily agree to Mild’s request.

“Master…!”

Carlos tried to object as a close aide, raising his voice.

But Rofus, still smiling, said coldly,

“In exchange, if they disrupt the group or prove useless, bring me their head.”

Rofus’s cold laughter sent a chill through the merchants.

“Or should we do as Mild suggested and throw them into the sea to be shark bait? Watching the sharks feast on a fool would be quite the spectacle, wouldn’t it, Mild?”

Rofus glared at Mild.

“That okay with you? This is your proposal.”

“Of course.”

Mild tried to maintain his smile, though his face twitched slightly.

Mild had no intention of sending an incompetent person, but Rofus’s threat was clear.

In short, even if they were competent, he shouldn’t send anyone foolish enough to cause trouble.

This warning ensured that the exploration team for the demon sea would not be covertly controlled by the guild.

If they tried, they would incur Rofus’s wrath.

Mild sighed, realizing it wouldn’t be easy to deceive Rofus.

Thus, the luncheon between Rofus and the commercial guild continued smoothly.

Carlos watched Rofus negotiate with the merchants without backing down, sometimes even playing them, and he was reminded of a young Ludenes.

Rofus would be displeased if he mentioned it, but Carlos thought Rofus indeed resembled his father.

However, Carlos was worried about the recent presence of many women around Rofus.

Ludenes had only one wife, unlike many nobles who married multiple women. He was devoted to his wife.

“Perhaps he’s more like Lord Linas in that regard…”

Carlos muttered, recalling the previous head of the family who had a bad reputation with women, unlike Ludenes.

His small voice was drowned out by the intense conversation.

＊

After the meeting, the submarine surfaced.

Rofus, who had enjoyed the underwater scenery for a while, said he was bored, prompting the submarine to rise.

On the deck were Rofus, Carlos, and Mild.

Rofus glanced at the submarine’s hull.

“A magic power blocking technique?”

“As expected of Lord Rofus. You noticed it.”

It was the same concealment technique as on the airship Ifrit.

When the submarine appeared, Rofus couldn’t sense any magic because of the magic power blocking technique on the hull.

This allowed the submarine to avoid Rofus’s magic detection.

However, Rofus could see the technique was somewhat crude.

If he tried, he could detect it next time.

“No invisibility?”

“…I’m surprised you know about the original functions. Unfortunately, we couldn’t replicate that due to technical difficulties.”

“A replica indeed. A degraded copy at best.”

“That stings.”

Mild gave a bitter smile.

As the ship surfaced, Rofus reflected on the high standards set by the presence of the airship Ifrit, known as “The Crimson Wind.” Although replicating the submersible was already a significant achievement, Rofus’s benchmark was notably higher due to his familiarity with the Ifrit.

Despite his harsh critique, Rofus recognized the true value of the submersible.

“So, is mass production possible?” he asked.

Mild looked surprised. “N-No… Building even one requires enormous funds, so we are not yet prepared for mass production…”

Realizing his initial response wasn’t appropriate, Mild quickly corrected himself. “I apologize. To conclude, mass production is possible, but we currently lack the necessary infrastructure.”

“What do you need?”

“Funds and materials.”

Rofus stroked his chin thoughtfully before addressing Mild. “I’ll discuss funding with my father.”

“That would be much appreciated.”

“But this submersible is somewhat lacking. Build another one, closer to the original.”

“An even better one, you say…?”

Seeing Mild’s strained expression, Rofus grinned. “I’ll fund the creation of that one. Whether you dismantle this ship to build it or construct a new one is up to you.”

Remembering the funds he had accumulated from Clinton, Rofus calculated internally. 

“Understood. I will consider it.”

“If the results are good, even if my father won’t fund it, I will. Show me what you can do.”

“Haha… I am always outmatched by you, Rofus-sama. However, building another one will take some time.”

“That’s fine. If necessary, I’ll support the magical aspects as well.”

“Understood.”

Mild bowed gracefully to the succinct reply from Rofus.

“By the way, Rofus-sama, may I ask the reason for your visit here?”

Currently, the submersible Poseidon was near the infamous region known as the Demon Sea, as per Rofus’s instructions.

Gazing idly at the sea, Rofus responded, “I thought the emptied Demon Sea needed a watchdog.”

From Rofus’s shadow, a colossal tentacle emerged, piercing through the water’s surface and causing massive waves. The terrifying roar of the creature, Strauph, echoed across the sea.

The submersible rocked violently, and Mild fell back in shock, landing on his rear. “C-Could this be the legendary ‘Ship Eater’…?”

“I had it hidden in my shadow, but it’s quite large and unwieldy. It has its uses though… it should serve well as a watchdog.”

Watching the dark, writhing form of Strauph, Mild trembled. “So, it was true that you tamed it… I never doubted it, but still…”

Rofus casually released a sea serpent from his shadow as well. “I’ve also provided an assistant. No one will pass through the Demon Sea without my permission.”

“Rofus-sama, you can control monsters?”

“…Sort of.”

Technically, they were his familiars, which was slightly different, but the outcome was the same.

“Amazing…”

Mild trembled in awe at Rofus. The disparity in power between nobles with magic and commoners without was immense. Even among the nobility, Rofus was exceptional, possessing an extraordinary amount of magical power.

But what Mild admired was Rofus’s ability to command and control monsters, recognizing its immense value immediately.

While Rofus currently used this power primarily for combat, its potential applications were vast. For example, in logistics, construction, and more, where the strength of monsters could significantly reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Overcome with emotion, Mild took Rofus’s hand. “Rofus-sama!”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Rofus frowned in annoyance as Carlos reached for his sword.

“Oh, I apologize. My excitement got the better of me. However, seeing such power, I couldn’t help myself.”

Mild’s expression was one of enraptured greed, which made Rofus uncomfortable. “I have no interest in men. Stay away from me.”

“It’s a misunderstanding. I assure you, I’m completely normal.”

Ignoring the warning, Mild continued to approach, causing Carlos to draw his sword and point it at Mild. “One more step, and I’ll take your head.”

Faced with Carlos’s killing intent, Mild regained some composure. Seeing his disheveled reflection in the sea water on the deck, Mild coughed and straightened up.

“My apologies for losing my composure.”

“It certainly seems so.”

Receiving Rofus’s exasperated look, Mild shrugged and swiftly switched topics. Noticing Rofus’s missing left arm, Mild seized the opportunity.

“Changing the subject, Rofus-sama, I heard you lost your left arm fighting the ‘Ship Eater.’ Haven’t you sought treatment?”

The loss of his left arm was actually due to an attack by a magical whale, but since the whale’s existence was not public knowledge, it was attributed to his battle with the ‘Ship Eater.’

“The wound was cursed. Healing magic won’t work.”

“A curse, from the ‘Ship Eater’ demon you subdued…? But it’s under your control…”

Rofus sighed, glaring at Mild. “Do you really want to know the details?”

Realizing his overreach, Mild quickly stepped back. “My apologies for overstepping.”

Mild then produced a document from his pocket. “Please take a look at this.”

Receiving the document from Carlos, Rofus reviewed it. It was a design for a magical prosthetic arm.

“Interesting.”

Rofus’s eyes widened slightly. This prosthetic could connect to its user’s nerves via magic, allowing it to function like a natural limb, including sensation.

“I see this also uses ancient technology.”

“Indeed. Since it’s now common to restore limbs with high-level healing magic for a hefty donation to the church, this kind of technology hasn’t advanced much. However, this should suit you perfectly, Rofus-sama.”

“I’ll buy it. How much?”

Mild smiled broadly at Rofus’s keen interest. “If it pleases you, I offer it as a gift.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. Consider it an apology for my earlier behavior and a celebration of our new partnership.”

Rofus smiled, impressed. “I see. It seems we will have a long relationship.”

He extended his hand for a handshake, a gesture indicating a deal.

Mild eagerly grasped Rofus’s hand with both of his. “Yes, indeed. I look forward to a long and fruitful association. I will come to your residence later to take measurements for the prosthetic.”

“Yes, come anytime. I’ll always make time for you.”

A firm handshake was sealed over the water, marking not just an agreement between the House of Lightless and the Merchant Guild but a personal bond between Rofus and Mild.