The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 611: Distractions and Magitech

The Advisors needed a moment to take in the fact that Dominic had actually made a Sorcerer’s Spellbook, the notoriously broken magical item, work.

There were over a dozen of them floating around the region, mostly used to store unneeded spells for mages who had no intentions of spending months memorizing them, and didn’t need to ever cast them at more than level one.

That was the utility that everyone had understood the device to have, despite assertions that it could actually increase in level like any other magitech device.

“So, what level do you cast spells at?” Trionne asked.

“Only level seventeen at the moment, but I’m working on it.

As the level goes up, gaining a better attunement to the spellbook is a slow process, and I have too many responsibilities to be dumping thousands of levels of monster cores into it to force it up a level or two.”

“Still, level seventeen, and you only need to put a spell gem into it and don’t need to spend months memorizing a spell?

That’s a huge advantage, no matter how difficult it is to level up a magitech item of that type.” The Advisor noted.

“That is a good point. Who knew that I was basically a mage all along?” Dominic joked, while Amie rolled her eyes at him.

“How can you count as a mage when your favourite spell is [Create Munitions]?

I don’t think that any respectable made would recognize that as a dignified magical combat style. In fact, even the artillery divisions have some concerns about your particular methods of deploying munitions.” She reminded him.

“Minor details.

Now, we’ve burned plenty of daylight making these two items, so it should be safe enough for us to go back in.”

Trionne shook her head. “Give it another fifteen or twenty minutes, they’re not ready for us yet. You’ll know when they are.”

Dominic sighed. “They’re doing something that’s going to annoy me, aren’t they?”

The Techno Witch laughed. “If you think that you’re about to be annoyed, rest assured that you are about to be far from the most annoyed member of the household.

Dave is not going to approve at all.”

Dominic wasn’t sure what she was talking about until a few minutes later, when Dave stuck his head inside with a pained look.

“Make them fix it.” The big troll insisted.

“Fix what?”

“They broke the barracks.”

“Your barracks? Why would they mess with the Manor Guards’ home?”

Dave shook his head. “The other one, made for little people. The new one is ugly, and it’s not even proper stone. It doesn’t match anything.”

Dominic stepped outside and looked toward the wall, then came back in.

“You are wrong. Dave will not be the most upset. They’re building a fifteen-metre tall building next to a ten-metre tall wall.

Alexis is going to rage.”

Not only that, but the new building was being erected with magic in the style of the Capital’s barracks buildings, from the Royal District. That meant white marble and sandstone, while the rest of the compound was made of fieldstone or dark lacquered wood.

It stood out like a sore thumb and didn’t fit the theme at all.

It was also huge, far larger than the building that it was replacing, and Dominic could feel the waves of magic being used to create it, suggesting that it was far more than a simple barracks building.

Then, the magic shifted, coming closer, and Dave crossed his arms in annoyance.

“They’re linking it to the underground tunnels, aren’t they?”

The troll nodded. “They are. Boss lady is there now, and she looks mad. She should be able to make them fix it.”

Dominic shook his head. “No, they’re going to ask something stupid, like for us to make the walls taller because they built their barracks the wrong size.”

Trionne laughed. “I don’t think that it’s going to be a barracks building. There will likely be soldiers stationed there, but not because it’s a barracks.

I believe that they decided that the protection of the new banking alliance headquarters is going to be the personal responsibility of the Duchy, and they’ve decided to build the building in your Manor compound.”

Dominic opened his mouth to snap back, then paused.

“Ah, you have realized it. You’re the Duke, but the King is here. Once he puts his mind to it, his Nobles have to fall in line. Fortunately, the building is near the front of the compound, so guests visiting for the bank don’t have to pass the house, only the front gates.

I have a pretty good idea of what spells they’re using, it’s a Witch thing, and they’re going all out on the privacy and protection.

If my guess is right, they won’t make you host the banking alliance members, they’ll stay in that new building.”

Dominic smiled. “Then this is an opportunity. I can work out a way to make them host the Nobles who come to visit them. No need to keep preparing rooms for them, I can just host them for meals.”

The Advisors laughed. “That, Good Sir, is wishful thinking at its finest.”

“Well, it was worth trying. We should go out there and see exactly what sort of monstrosity they’re erecting in my yard.”

The Advisors looked horrified as they moved between him and the door.

“I think that it’s better if you wait until they’re done before you go over.” Trionne suggested.

“It’s not like I’m going to stop them.” Dominic noted.

“Your eyes are glowing gold. If I’m not wrong, I suspect that your draconic nature feels that someone invaded your territory, and you’ll terrify the workers if you go over there right now.” Trionne explained.

“Someone did invade my territory. Though, I suppose in a way it is the King’s territory, too. But I see your point.

Or, instead of letting them finish, I could go scare them now, and make sure that they behave in the future.”

The old witch laughed, while the others looked like they were reconsidering the life choices that led them to accept this task of distracting Dominic while the details were finalized.