Lured by the promise of "Rainbow Crystals," Rest agreed to Andrew's request to pave the roads in his territory as well.
Fortunately, he had grown quite accustomed to the task.
He would secure exquisite gifts for his fiancées and, as a bonus, place the Second Prince—a future duke—in his debt. Despite the hassle, it didn't seem like a particularly lopsided trade.
However, once the roadwork was complete and the time came to collect his payment, Rest realized he had been thoroughly played.
"This is the mine shaft where the Rainbow Crystals were discovered," Andrew said. "Feel free to take as many as you wish."
"A mine shaft? Wait... there are monsters in there, aren't there?"
The prince had led him to a hole roughly five meters across.
Apparently, they had been digging a well when they stumbled upon the Rainbow Crystals. But as Rest peered into the depths, he saw a writhing, swarming mass.
"Those are... centipedes, aren't they?"
A nest of giant centipede monsters churned at the bottom of the pit.
Each was nearly three meters long. Dozens of these crocodile-sized vermin coiled and lashed over one another at the bottom of the shaft.
The sight of so many man-sized monsters packed into a tight space triggered an instinctive sense of dread, to say nothing of his sheer physical revulsion.
If I fell in there... Rest shuddered at the thought.
"What exactly is going on here?" Rest asked, narrowing his eyes. "Care to explain?"
Andrew met his glare with a helpless smile and spread his hands.
"As I mentioned, the crystals were discovered while digging the well. I ordered them to dig deeper, but it seems we broke into a nest. Now, these Centipede Magical Beasts are swarming out, and we're quite troubled."
"......"
"Fortunately, they seem to dislike the light. They don't venture out on their own. Some of the laborers were injured during the initial attack, but we’ve had no fatalities. Keeping the shaft sealed with a metal lid at night prevents any trouble."
"I have a bad feeling about this. You aren't going to ask me to kill them too, are you?"
"Of course not. I plan to hire adventurers for the cleanup."
Andrew spoke with perfect composure, his smile never wavering.
"However... there's no telling how many there are. If we leave them to run amok, the Rainbow Crystals might be crushed. Their value would plummet, which would be quite a shame."
"......"
"It really would be a lifesaver if a talented mage could deal with this quickly. I don't suppose you know any brilliant, kind-hearted mages who might be available?"
The prince's implication was as clear as day.
Rest felt a sudden, strong urge to punch the man, regardless of his royal status.
"If someone were to handle the problem, they could have free rein over the Rainbow Crystals mined here. I certainly wouldn't mind if they took as many as their heart desired."
"Mu..."
Rest swallowed the protest that had been on the tip of his tongue.
He was definitely annoyed, but the promise of an unlimited supply of crystals was a powerful lure. Their yields were strictly limited; you couldn't simply buy your way into an abundance of them, no matter how much gold you offered.
I know he's playing me, but when I look at the big picture, I'm still the one coming out ahead.
Between paving roads and slaying monsters, none of these tasks were particularly difficult for him. They were tedious and time-consuming, but hardly a strain.
He's frighteningly good at finding the balance. If the demand were unreasonable, I’d turn it down without a second thought, but he always manages to strike the exact point where it's just barely worth my while to say yes.
Perhaps this was what it meant to have the talent of a statesman. He was so adept at manipulating others that it was hard to believe he shared the same blood as Rodel.
"...Fine. I'll do it."
Rest exhaled a long, weary sigh as he gave his final answer.
"But listen—if the yield of Rainbow Crystals is disappointing, I’m going to be genuinely furious. Do we have a deal?"
"On my honor, if that happens, I will procure them from elsewhere myself, no matter the cost to my own coffers. I would even swear it on the royal name."
"If you're willing to go that far, I suppose I can trust you."
Despite a nagging sense of dissatisfaction, Rest furrowed his brow and officially accepted the task of exterminating the centipedes.