Glaiftrum War Chronicles The Salvation Strategy of Matthias, the Smiling Strategist
Unified Calendar Year 1195, March 3rd.
In the city of Windmont, located in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Glaiftrum, at the main branch of the Maurice Trading Company. Reinhardt Maurice.
I first met the boy Matthias von Lauschenbach about a year and a half ago, during the previous autumn, when I was introduced to him by the senior mage Martin Netzer, a guardian of wisdom from Weisswache .
The original purpose for that visit was to pay homage to the Great Sage Magda, which marked my first time setting foot into the headquarters of the guardians of wisdom, the city of Glaiftrum.
During my brief audience with the Great Sage, I remember exchanging only a few words, but I was overwhelmed by her presence and shuddered under her piercing gaze, as though she could see through everything. Beyond that, I recall little else.
Though I had considered myself someone who wasn’t easily intimidated, I realized then that those referred to as being closest to the divine were truly on another level.
After concluding the homage with the Great Sage and leaving the room, Mr. Netzer made an unexpected proposal.
“There’s someone I want you to meet. What do you say? However, I must ask that you promise not to speak of this person to anyone.”
Mr. Netzer, while a senior mage, held a relatively low position within the hierarchy of the tower, beneath the Great Master and Masters. Still, he was favored by the Great Sage and entrusted with significant responsibilities in the capital.
His request intrigued me, but since it was my first time encountering such a situation, I hesitated slightly.
“I don’t mind making a promise, but…”
“It will be worth your while to meet this person. You’ll likely be surprised at first, but as long as you keep the secret, there’s no danger.”
Conversely, failing to keep the secret would indeed invite danger. In other words, I realized there was a possibility of being targeted by the legendary group of assassins known as the Shadow Watchers, Shattenwache, who served the Guardians of Wisdom.
While not as infamous as the Nacht, the feared group of assassins, any knowledgeable person would recognize the Shadow Watchers as equally terrifying.
Despite feeling fear, I resolved that I might never again have the chance to come into contact with such important confidential information.
“Understood. I will strictly keep the secret.”
“You don’t need to be so tense. The person you’re about to meet is merely a disciple of Lady Magda.”
Upon hearing that they were a disciple of the Great Sage, I had assumed I would be meeting a high-ranking mage.
However, when I entered the room I was led to, I found only a young child sitting at a desk near the window, writing something.
The child noticed Mr. Netzer and turned their gaze toward us.
Backlit by the window, they didn’t appear sunburnt but instead looked fragile, like a young girl. Their clothing, however, resembled what noble boys typically wore, leaving me uncertain about their identity.
“How are you feeling today?”
Mr. Netzer spoke gently to the child. At that moment, I thought he was merely checking in on them to pass the time, so I relaxed, assuming I wouldn’t need to engage in conversation.
“Lately, I’ve been feeling much better. Just earlier, the Great Sage examined me and said it would be fine to go outside and exercise, provided I don’t overexert myself.”
At that point, the boy turned his gaze toward me.
“My name is Matthias von Lauschenbach.”
Caught off guard by the intelligent-sounding voice and familiar surname, I quickly introduced myself.
“I am Reinhardt Maurice, employed by the Maurice Trading Company. Are you related to Viscount Lauschenbach?”
“I am the eldest son. Are you acquainted with my father?”
The slight tilt of his head made him appear even more delicate.
“Of course. Viscount Lauschenbach is an excellent official managing finances under the Chancellor. We merchants always keep an eye on the viscount.”
There was no lie in my words.
Viscount Lauschenbach was a financial bureaucrat in the Chancellor’s office, striving to stabilize the kingdom’s chaotic finances despite his youth.
For us merchants, he was a valued figure who helped prevent tax increases, far more trustworthy than the extravagant nobles who advocated for higher taxes while wasting resources.
“Is that so? My father doesn’t often talk about his work, so I know little about what he does.”
I assumed he wouldn’t discuss kingdom politics with a child under ten.
Perhaps it showed on my face, as Matthias smiled faintly.
“Of course. It’s not something you’d discuss with an eight-year-old.”
After saying that, he changed the subject.
“What kind of business are you in, Mr. Maurice? Given that you’re here in Glaiftrum, perhaps you deal with magical tools, Werkzeug?”
Before answering, I noticed how polite his speech was, unusual for a noble child.
“Please, call me Maurice. I am but a commoner.”
Matthias smiled and shook his head slightly.
“No, I am just a powerless child, so I make an effort to show respect to my elders. Please, continue as you were.”
“But…”
As I was taken aback, Mr. Netzer chuckled and joined the conversation.
“Matthias is just like this, so don’t mind it. He speaks this way even to the maids.”
Though his face was smiling, his eyes seemed less amused. Acknowledging Mr. Netzer with a nod, I began to explain.
“Our company, Maurice Trading, handles goods from all over the world—agricultural products, weapons, books, crafts, and yes, magical tools, Werkzeug. If there’s anything our customers desire, we handle it all.”
I gave a somewhat exaggerated explanation.
In truth, we did handle all those goods, but Maurice Trading was only a mid-tier company, compelled to deal with products that larger firms deemed unprofitable.
“You seem to cover quite a broad range. Where do you source these goods?”
“From the Duchy of Ostinsel in the east to the Kingdom of Lecht in the west, various places. Especially in Ostinsel…”
I went on to describe the various goods we handled. Matthias was an excellent listener, very easy to talk to, and I forgot entirely that I was supposed to treat him as someone privy to secrets, simply enjoying the conversation.
After about thirty minutes, Matthias said something surprising.
“You also deal in metals? In that case, you might want to stock up sooner. Prices will skyrocket before the year ends, especially iron used for weapons.”
Caught off guard, I voiced my confusion.
“What do you mean? The Empire has been quiet lately, and iron prices have dropped significantly compared to a few years ago.”
“The Empire might move soon. Toward Edelstein, perhaps.”
Matthias chuckled softly as he spoke, his smile carrying some hidden meaning, leaving me at a loss for words.
“What do you mean? I haven’t heard of any such information…”
The imperial capital Hirschhorst was over 1,500 kilometers away from Windmont, the mercantile hub where the merchants’ guild headquarters was located, so news from the Empire rarely reached us. Still, the Empire was a noteworthy country, and efforts to gather intelligence were actively pursued.
I doubted the isolated magic tower would take interest in the Empire and believed I had more information than the locals.
“Indeed, there’s no such information currently available. But isn’t it too late to profit once the news spreads?”
Matthias smiled as he spoke.
“That’s true, but…”
Though I agreed, Matthias’s smile lingered in my mind.
“When the timing of the news release reveals someone has hoarded the supply, causing a shortage, panic will ensue among traders, including the major ones. Prices will soar accordingly. Perhaps several times over, or even tenfold if things go well. However, the panic should subside by March, so it would be wise to sell off everything by then.”
Matthias offered a cryptic smile along with specific figures. Even Mr. Netzer concurred with Matthias’s words.
“I think you should heed Matthias’s advice. Of course, it’s at your own risk.”
Though his words were light, Mr. Netzer wasn’t smiling.
We spoke a little more after that, but I barely remember the rest, preoccupied with what had just transpired.
As we left Matthias’s room, Mr. Netzer emphasized once more:
“None of what was discussed here leaves this room. Especially regarding Matthias’s existence—it must absolutely not be divulged. Understood?”
His unusually serious expression left me able to respond only with a stuttered, “Y-yes.”
But with those words, it was confirmed that Matthias was indeed a disciple of the Great Sage.
Though many had surely been instructed by the Great Sage, none came to mind who bore the title of “disciple.” Thus, I realized that despite his youth, Matthias was extraordinary.
Returning to Windmont, I gathered information but found no mention of the Empire’s invasion. On the contrary, rumors circulated that the new emperor was struggling to consolidate power domestically, and an invasion of the Lichtrot Kingdom wouldn’t occur until at least the following year.
Nevertheless, I took a gamble.
Overriding my father’s objections, I aggressively bought up iron, copper, and weapons like swords, spears, and armor. This strained our finances so severely that rumors spread that our company might collapse early in the new year.
However, by mid-December, just before the year’s end, news arrived that the Empire had launched a surprise invasion and occupied the southern mining regions of the Lichtrot Kingdom.
Upon receiving this information, metal prices surged dramatically across the Kingdom of Glaiftrum, the Republic of Granzfut, and the Kingdom of Lecht. When it became known that our company had already hoarded supplies, as Matthias predicted, panic gripped traders, large and small, driving prices up twentyfold, thirtyfold.
I had won my bet.
Following Matthias’s advice, I sold all inventory by the end of February the following year. As a result, Maurice Trading multiplied its assets several dozen times over. Our once-mocked small company now stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the industry giants.
This success led my father to hand over the position of company president to me. By my early twenties, I had become one of the top figures in the Hendraatzunft Merchants’ Guild.
As a result, I was frequently questioned about the reasons for this success at guild meetings, and even my father and employees faced probing inquiries.
However, aside from me, no one else knew the truth. Valuing my life, I claimed I had independently analyzed the information.
Thus, I, Reinhardt Maurice, came to be regarded as a young prodigy with rare information-gathering and analytical skills, capable of bold investments based on uncertain information.
Initially, I was bewildered by this undeserved reputation, but eventually, I embraced it, using it to further grow the company.
Of course, I didn’t possess such abilities myself, so I secretly sought Matthias’s wisdom through Mr. Netzer.
On those occasions, Matthias advised me to share information moderately with major companies to build cooperative relationships and gain allies within the upper echelons of the Hendraatzunft Merchants’ Guild.
Thanks to this advice, harassment remained manageable, and I now maintained good relations with the presidents of even the largest, most seasoned trading houses. This further solidified my image as a capable businessman and inflated my undeserved reputation.
Wanting to repay such immense gratitude, I offered Matthias a portion of my profits. However, he refused to accept cash or any valuable items personally. When I asked if there was anything he desired, he made a request.
“If possible, I’d like to ask for a donation to the Guardians of Wisdom, Weisswache . I’ve received treatment and protection from them, yet I’ve been unable to offer anything in return.”
Impressed by his sense of duty, I immediately agreed and relayed the request to Mr. Netzer.
A few days later, the response from the upper management came.
“I consulted with the Great Master, but the conclusion was that they wouldn’t accept it.”
“Why not? I don’t see how it would cause any harm.”
Mr. Netzer answered my question.
“I haven’t been told the reason. Personally, I think they should accept it.”
Though the exact reason remained unclear, I reasoned that the Guardians of Wisdom, who profited greatly from selling magical tools, likely didn’t need the amount I offered.
When I followed up with Matthias, he requested rumors and other informal information, along with cooperation within reasonable limits for investigations conducted by the Information Analysis Division.
I began compiling rumors circulating within the guild and any exclusive information I obtained, sending them periodically. The recipient was the Information Analysis Division of the Guardians of Wisdom, as specified by Matthias.
The Information Analysis Division was reportedly established directly by the Great Sage herself, and I received detailed instructions on how to organize the information. Though Mr. Netzer hadn’t mentioned it, I was certain Matthias was involved.
Additionally, whenever investigators from the Shadow Watchers, belonging to the Information Analysis Division, requested assistance, I actively supported them. This support mainly involved introducing contacts or hiring escorts for trade caravans—simple tasks, but I wasn’t confident whether they truly made a difference.
I often wondered if such actions constituted proper gratitude, given the immense benefits I received from the information and advice provided by Matthias.
Therefore, I opened a branch in the Lauschenbach viscountcy and invested in agriculture and commerce. Since Matthias would inherit the title eventually, enriching the territory now felt like a form of repayment.
Of course, I ensured these investments were profitable. Moreover, after I began investing in the Lauschenbach territory, other companies followed suit, opening branches due to suspicions sparked by the Empire incident. Nonetheless, the Lauschenbach territory gradually prospered.
I still don’t know Mr. Netzer’s intentions in introducing me to Matthias, but it was undoubtedly a life-changing encounter for me.
What I always ponder, however, is what kind of person Matthias truly is.
I understand that he is the cherished disciple of the Great Sage and possesses wisdom worthy of that title, yet he is nothing more than a ten-year-old human child.
However, one thing is clear.
When he smiles, it is then that his intellect shines brightest.
When I mentioned this to Mr. Netzer, he revealed that he shared the same sentiment. Later, I learned that even the great Great Sage herself thought the same.