The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower

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Chapter 400: Higher Than the Clouds (2)

The 13th floor of the White Tower, the dwarf workshop.

The dwarves gathered before the enormous forge that occupied an entire wall.

“I heard there was an important announcement. Anyone know what it’s about?”

“Who knows. All I heard was that the chief had something to say.”

“Hm.”

The dwarves all turned their heads at the sudden gathering.

“Well, if you think about it logically, it’s probably to share the plans going forward.”

“The future… I suppose so.”

Just a month ago, the massive project that the entire tribe had clung to for months had finally come to an end.

The construction of five airships, including the Nosfera, had been successfully completed.

Once the airports in each city were finished before long, those airships would begin traversing the skies across the continent.

This was also why the dwarves—who innately hated idleness—had begun selling weapons and armor again.

To them, happiness in life was holding nails, chisels, and hammers while banging away at something.

“Looks like it’s about that thing they mentioned recently.”

“Ah, the one about changing the way the works are sold.”

“Not bad. How long are craftsmen like us supposed to personally sell every single work ourselves?”

“Seriously. There’s not even enough time to swing a hammer as it is.”

Dwarves were born artists.

The works they forged were not mere products, but crystallizations of skills honed over entire lifetimes.

That was why the moment their creations received proper recognition for their value, they felt a deeper satisfaction than when drinking any alcohol in the world.

But even that satisfaction only lasted the first few times.

After dealing daily with crowds rushing in to buy their works, even that was gradually becoming tiresome.

“Back during the last meeting, opinion leaned toward auctions being the best option, right?”

“Mm. At the moment, that’s probably the most likely route.”

The advantage of the auction system was that it allowed the value of a work to be evaluated quite accurately.

Since numerous people bid prices all at once, an actual market price naturally formed.

“I heard there’s an enormous auction house over in Baran. Our works might get listed there.”

“A bit disappointing. It’d be best if our works could be judged in a place where all the wealthy people of the continent gathered, not just a single city.”

“Of course that would be ideal, but isn’t that impossible?”

There were truly many rich people across the continent.

But it was unlikely they would all gather in the same city on the same day.

They were busy people, and there was no reason for them to do so.

“So everyone’s already here.”

At that moment, all eyes turned toward Hagor, who had just appeared.

“What, Oscar came too?”

“It’s been a while. Normally it’s hard enough just seeing your face.”

“It’s good to see everyone again.”

After waiting for Oscar to finish greeting them, Hagor spoke.

“Alright, everyone pay attention. Based on what was discussed in the last meeting, we plan to hold auctions to sell our works.”

“As expected.”

“I told you this direction was the best.”

“I was wondering why Oscar showed up for once. So he’s handling that matter?”

“That’s right.”

Oscar nodded and continued.

“To be precise, we plan to establish a new department within the White Tower. This department will inspect the performance and quality of the works you submit, then sell them through actual auctions.”

“If it’s the White Tower, we can trust it.”

“Well, whether we like it or not, we’ve already signed exclusive contracts anyway…”

“How much commission are you planning to take?”

“Three percent of the sale price.”

The dwarves nodded.

For luxury auctions, that level of commission was actually on the lower end.

“Not bad. So where are you planning to hold these auctions?”

“Probably Baran, right? I heard major auctions are held there regularly.”

“No way. It has to be held in the capital no matter what. All the continent’s greatest nobles and richest people live there.”

“Wouldn’t eastern Luang be fine too? I hear all the businessmen making piles of money these days have settled there.”

The dwarves instantly began chattering away.

True to their childlike appearances, their voices had not even gone through puberty, making it feel like standing in a kindergarten.

“Shh. Quiet, everyone.”

Oscar forcefully suppressed the chatter through 『Sound Binding』 and spoke.

“The auctions will rotate through the cities you just mentioned.”

Small heads nodded at the answer that satisfied everyone.

“And each of you will only be allowed to submit a maximum of two works per year. One will be registered during the spring and summer season, and the other during the fall and winter season.”

At that, one dwarf raised his hand.

Oscar released that dwarf’s voice.

“Go ahead.”

“A premiumization strategy, sure, it’s an excellent approach. But the weapons and armor we make sell the moment we put them out anyway, so why restrict the quantity that much?”

“Ah, the quantity restriction isn’t because of a premiumization strategy. It’s to provide all of you with at least a minimum amount of rest time.”

“Rest time? Hah, sounds like you don’t understand our stamina.”

The dwarf snickered.

“Sure, we pour our souls into our creations, but it’s not like we can only make two a year.”

“Mm, well. Going forward, I think you’ll have to.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The auction department will classify your submitted works into two categories.”

Oscar held up two fingers.

“One category will be regular weapons and armor, which, as mentioned earlier, will be auctioned in major cities across the Empire… and the other category will be White Label weapons and armor.”

The dwarves blinked at the unfamiliar term.

“White Label? What’s that?”

“If you bothered dividing them into categories… does that mean there’s some sort of difference?”

“A very, very big difference.”

Oscar smiled faintly.

“First of all, weapons and armor selected as White Label will earn the opportunity to be listed in the Sky Auction, which is held only twice a year.”

“Sky Auction?”

“Yes. A luxurious auction held directly inside an airship.”

An airship auction!

The dwarves, who were not lacking in intelligence, quickly grasped the advantages.

“Only twice a year, and if a work receives the White Label after competing against works made by us…”

“Even people with no intention of buying would gather there just to see it. All the money and power in the world would come flocking.”

“Exactly.”

White Label.

That was the true core of the business Oscar was aiming for.

To dwarves, who possessed an artist’s desire for recognition, receiving the White Label would become the greatest dopamine rush imaginable.

And even if they failed to receive it this time, it would only drive them to swear they would absolutely obtain it next time.

“And among the White Label works, the creator of the piece sold for the highest price will be introduced as the Master Craftsman of the Year in a magazine published by the auction department.”

A chance to make their names known as master craftsmen backed by the White Tower.

Most of the dwarves had already swallowed hard.

Before their eyes flickered visions of a future where their works received the White Label, sold for astronomical prices, and brought them wealth and fame.

Of course, there were also dwarves who were dissatisfied.

“Hm. But if it’s the auction department assigning the White Label, doesn’t that mean humans will ultimately judge the value of our works according to human standards? I don’t like that one bit.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

“Indeed… are the aesthetic senses of humans even refined enough to understand the noble artistry of us dwarves?”

“You don’t need to worry about that part.”

Oscar corrected them.

“The White Label will be assigned based on combined scores after thorough evaluations conducted by the Dwarf King of Laforge and each tribe chief.”

“The chiefs and His Majesty the King?”

“Hmmm. If it’s to that extent, then it can be trusted.”

Only then did all the dwarves nod in agreement.

If that was true, there would be no issue understanding the judging standards.

“Then how many items will be submitted at once in this so-called Sky Auction?”

“This year, there will be 10 items for the S/S season, and 15 items for the F/W season, for a total of 25.”

The dwarves looked at one another at the tighter numbers than expected.

The White Anvil Tribe had a total of 37 members, meaning the competition ratio was roughly 3.7 to 1.

In other words, only about one out of every four dwarves would receive the White Label.

‘Hmm. Still, it’s not like there’s much to worry about.’

‘No matter what, there’s no way I wouldn’t get a White Label here. Right, exactly.’

‘Since we can’t submit multiple works, I’ll have to submit only the one I’m most confident in.’

No matter what, I’m better than that guy at least.

Each of them nodded while thinking such thoughts.

Then one dwarf asked.

“Wait, then why does the F/W season have more submission slots than the S/S season?”

“Oh? That’s a very sharp question.”

As Oscar grinned, the dwarves suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

Then he dropped a thunderbolt of a statement.

“For this S/S season, preparations are too rushed, so only works from the White Anvil Tribe will be submitted. But beginning with the second half’s F/W season, we plan to accept works from the Blue Salt Tribe as well.”

“What! Those salt-sniffing bastards are joining too?”

“Wait, then in the worst-case scenario…”

“Our tribe might not receive a single White Label, and those bastards could monopolize them all?”

Since ancient times, competitions had always been something that made blood boil.

Didn’t even academy students stake their pride on class competitions?

And as seen during the previous Mage’s Night, the tension between magic towers was no joke either.

Apparently, in the distant past, even nations held competitions against one another.

‘In other words, if you make the dwarves of each tribe compete, higher quality products will pour out.’

Oscar had no intention of slaughtering the goose that laid golden eggs.

Of course, if they rushed preparations starting now, they could receive products from all five tribes and put them into the Sky Auction before the airports were completed.

But if they did that, there would be no lasting hype.

‘Even customers who visited once need a reason to come back again next time.’

The first season would only feature the White Anvil Tribe.

The next season would add the Blue Salt Tribe, and after that, even the Black Hammer Tribe.

If they stirred up issues every season like that, people would be unable to resist spending money.

‘And as a bonus, the quality of the works surviving that terrifying loneliness would naturally reach a level humans wouldn’t even dare imitate.’

Naturally, there was backlash.

“Hold on! Wasn’t the original purpose of this auction to help our White Anvil Tribe, who signed exclusive contracts with the White Tower, sell weapons and armor more conveniently? So why are unrelated bastards being dragged into this?”

“Now that I think about it, he’s right! Aren’t those bastards unable to even interact with humans anyway?”

It was quite a sharp observation.

And factually correct as well.

But Oscar, who had already anticipated this situation, casually tossed out a single remark.

“Ah… if you’re saying this because you’re afraid of competing against the other tribes, then I understand. We’ll just accept works from the White Anvil Tribe only.”

Scared?

At that single word, the dwarves’ eyes flared wide.

“Hah! Who said we were scared! Those bastards have always been less skilled than us!”

“Exactly! If we compete against them in craftsmanship, there’s absolutely no disadvantage for us!”

“This is even better. It’s an opportunity. A chance to show the entire continent that the White Anvil Tribe possesses the finest craftsmanship!”

Once the atmosphere ignited, it showed no signs of cooling down.

“This time I’ll submit one of the works I’ve already completed and immediately start crafting the next one.”

“Damn right. Forget everything else—we absolutely cannot lose to those salt-sniffers.”

“In the second half of the year, we’re taking at least eight White Labels!”

“Let’s see the looks on those idiots’ faces!”

If things proceeded like this, all five tribes would be participating by the year after next, which would make things truly entertaining to watch.

Watching Oscar grin to himself from the side, Hagor trembled in fear.

“T-this brat… he’s far too cunning!”

For some reason, he didn’t know why.

But in Oscar’s current appearance, he saw the image of Oscar Sage—the one who had once commanded him in the past—overlapping perfectly.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]