Inside the great archives of the Death King’s castle in the Land of Death, Rasal—one of Isis’s subordinates—was quietly reading.
"...Hmm. This theory seems applicable."
Her entry into Isis’s service had originally been born of a misunderstanding—a temporary convenience rather than a true oath of fealty. Consequently, despite her status as a subordinate to the Death King, she performed no actual duties, preferring to sequester herself and sink into her research... or so she told herself.
Since she had been granted free rein of the archives, Rasal usually selected several volumes and retreated to her private quarters to study. She maintained the pretext that conducting research within the archives itself posed a risk to the preservation of the precious books. Thus, she followed a diligent cycle: borrow a few books, return them once finished, and then borrow the next set. While she rarely left the castle, she didn't consider herself a recluse, as she wasn't constantly confined to her room.
"...Ah... Rasal... researching again?"
"Isis-sama? Yes. A new theory occurred to me."
"...I see... If there is... anything I can do... just say so."
"I will. Thank you."
Rasal exchanged pleasantries with Isis, whom she had happened to cross in the hallway, when her gaze fell upon the documents in the Death King's hands.
"Isis-sama, what are those papers?"
"...These are... contracts for gemstone mining rights... renewed... once every ten years."
"I see... May I see them?"
"...Hm? ...Go ahead."
The request had been made on a whim. Rasal had heard that rare gems like Blue Diamonds and Ice Crystals were harvested within the Land of Death, and curiosity got the better of her. However, her expression darkened as soon as she scanned the contract.
"...Aren't these terms far too lenient toward the other party?"
"...Are they?"
"Yes. While they aren't quite exploitative enough to be called illegal, given your standing, Isis-sama, the conditions should be significantly more favorable to your side. Have you always operated under these terms?"
"...Yes... Since I was first asked for the mining rights... the conditions haven't changed."
The contract remained within the boundaries of a standard negotiation, but taken as a whole, the profit margins seemed tipped in the merchant’s favor. While Isis appeared entirely unconcerned, Rasal found herself bristling with dissatisfaction.
I can guess how this happened, Rasal thought. The merchants likely presented these terms as a preliminary draft—a starting point for negotiations. But the overly gracious Isis-sama simply accepted them on the spot. They probably refrained from pushing for even more lopsided terms later out of pure fear of her... But I don't like it. Blue Diamonds, Ice Crystals, and Midnight Crystals can only be found in the Land of Death. By all rights, Isis-sama should hold overwhelming leverage... It is unacceptable that she is settling for a disadvantage, however slight.
Rasal looked up to see Isis watching her with a puzzled tilt of her head, and a wry smile touched the necromancer's lips.
Truly, a softhearted king. She doesn't utter a word of complaint even though I do no work and spend all my time on research. On the contrary, she offers to help with a smile... She is so naive it’s almost worrying. But perhaps that’s exactly why a cynical subordinate like me needs to be around.
Acknowledging that she was slowly being charmed by her master, Rasal let out a self-deprecating chuckle. Then, with a softened gaze, she addressed Isis again.
"Isis-sama, if you are willing, would you permit me to handle these contractual matters?"
"...You, Rasal?"
"Yes. It occurs to me that I haven't done anything particularly useful as your subordinate. I have some experience in these areas, so if you leave it to me..."
"...I understand... If that is what you want... I'll leave it to you."
"Thank you very much."
"...I'm counting on you... Thank you."
Happy that someone wanted to assist her, Isis accepted the proposal with a radiant smile. Seeing that expression, Rasal found herself smiling back with genuine amusement.
Deep within the Demon Realm sat a trading company that specialized in gemstones. It was this organization that held the mining rights for the Land of Death, secured through its long-standing arrangement with the Death King.
The chairman, a Baron-class high-ranking demon, had always considered the contract with Isis to be an easy win. Meeting Isis in person during the initial negotiations had terrified him to his core, and even now, he had no desire to ever see her face again. He feared her with every fiber of his being.
However, since that first meeting, the actual process had been simple: he would send a contract with the same favorable terms to the front of Isis's castle using a specialized teleportation tool, get her signature, and have it returned. It was a lucrative arrangement with massive profit margins.
This time, however, the renewal process took an unexpected turn. Instead of the usual signed document, he received a letter stating that a proxy would be arriving at a specific date and time to conduct negotiations.
While the demon chairman was still reeling from this unprecedented change, the proxy arrived, escorted by a receptionist.
The man broke into a cold sweat the moment he saw her—a figure draped in a jet-black robe, carrying a massive coffin that stood taller than herself. The magic power radiating from her was suffocating.
"...Pardon the intrusion. I am Rasal Marfik, a subordinate of Isis-sama. I have been granted full authority over this trade by her. From this point forward, all contracts will be handled exclusively through me."
The chairman nearly screamed at the mention of her name. Rasal Marfik—the terrifying necromancer from the legends of the Black Forest. He had heard rumors that the Death King had gathered subordinates, but he never imagined that the Martyr of Death herself, a Count-class powerhouse, would be among them.
The sheer weight of her magic power made it clear that they were in entirely different leagues. Trembling, the chairman gestured for her to take a seat.
"...I'll be brief. I have no interest in idle chatter," Rasal said, her voice sharp. "Renegotiate these terms. The current draft is laughable. We have no shortage of other companies interested in these mining rights. Isis-sama is a gentle soul, which is why she accepted these crumbs, but I am not like her. Since she has entrusted this to me... if you dare present terms that slight 'my king,' you had best be prepared for the consequences."
Faced with her palpable wrath and the overwhelming pressure of her presence, the terrified merchant could do nothing but nod in frantic agreement.
Machina: "And that's how Rasal ended up managing the trade relations for Isis and the Land of Death. She’s feared, sure, but it sounds like she’s actually setting up fair, proper deals now. Well, unless someone tries to cheat Isis—then it’s a different story."
???: "Wait, where’s Serious-senpai?"
Machina: "Oh, she begged me, 'Please! Just for one chapter! Just swap with me for one chapter!!' so I'm filling in as her proxy. I guess she had something else she needed to do."
???: "Ah... (I think I know why.)"