CH 34

34  The Eccentric is Childish

Bates’s shop was located in a maze-like alley.

Since there was no signboard at all, I think it was literally impossible to find his shop unless someone told us about its location.

… Since his shop was literally located in one corner of a multi-tenant building, maybe the only ones who knew its location were the regular customers of his shop.

For some reason, the location of his shop kind of reminded me of the secret trading card shop from my previous life.

I snapped out of my train of thought as we arrived in front of his shop, and then, I tried to knock on the front door.

「Yees, who might it be? Sensei is busy with his research right now, he won’t have the time to listen to you.」

The one who replied with an annoyed voice was a youth around the age of junior high. Uoo, he was so small to the point that everyone else looked like an adult.

From the figure that was peeping from behind the door, I found out that the youth was wearing a bandana around his head and an apron had a really cool appearance. Seeing that there was an oil stain on his fingers, he looked to be tinkering with some sort of tool just now. Well, that kind of job might be normal around this area.

The youth who kept staring at us with a suspicious look on his face then snapped out as if recalling something.

「Uhm? Quite a neat appearance you got there? Are you by chance, Young Master Luke’s acquaintance?」

「Eh, you know Luke?」

That fella often comes to this place huh.

「Yeah, he arrived just now. Uhm, are you going to come in? It’s a messy place though.」

「Of course. Well then, excuse me~.」

We followed the bandana youth into the shop.

After we passed the counter in the narrow lobby, we walked by a room with neatly lined up shelves. It seemed to be the storage room.

The shelves were filled with wooden drawers with metal nameplates to make it easier to know its content. It was unexpectedly arranged neatly.

I think the reason he said it was messy was that another person happened to complain about it.

But then, after we passed the storage room, the room that was partitioned by low shelves and a working desk could only be described as chaotic.

There were various things along with lumps of paper scraps scattered on top of rolled-up big paper.

Since Luke’s two attendants were nodding upon seeing us, I nodded back to them.

And then, I saw an uncle with an unshaven face wearing a white robe in the middle of a heated discussion with Luke. The one who looked troubled was a bespectacled youth with a slender face.

「Since it won’t start without mana, we should just use a demonic crystal stone with high output right? If only I’d demonic crystal stone with high output, I would defi――」

「Luke, you understand, right? The researcher at that time had already tried this method. No matter how high the quality of the enchanted magic crystal, the saint staff didn’t give any kind of reaction at all. The problem isn’t in the enchanted magic crystal. Even if we leave that aside, when we try to bait the remaining mana inside to come out――」

「And there’s no result of such research. Moreover, the amount of residual mana decreased, right? At this rate, the remaining mana will be eventually gone for good! That’s why we should do something before the remaining mana depletes!」

「Calm down, you two. There’s still mana remaining in the saint staff. We should decipher the letters written on the staff first――」

「You’re way too lenient with this matter, Trevor-san!」

Uwaa, for some reason, that space felt really suffocating.

「He’s such amazing person right, Young Master Luke always feels like that when he come―― Ah, Young Master, Your friend is here to visit you.」

Luke finally turned his head when the bandana youth called his name, and the expression he made when he saw us was… true displeasure.

Anyhow, let’s try to wave my hand on him first.

「What are you doing here?」

「Uhm, I heard that I could try this store if I were looking for a different kind of magic tool. I never knew that you’re in this place. I planned to try another day if Bates-san is busy, but I want him to at least answering my question.」

「Get out.」

「The hell are you talking to my guests like Luke. you’re the one who should go home.」

The uncle in the white robe chopped lightly at Luke’s head with his hand.

Eh, are you sure you can do that!? He was supposed to be a count’s son. And yet, his escort actually turned their head away from that scene.

Luke himself didn’t say anything, just sulking in silence. He didn’t seem to care about what the uncle in the white robe just did to him. The same went for the bespectacled youth and the bandana youth, they just smiled wryly upon seeing such a scene.

Uhm, was this place by chance… a place where you could put aside your social status?

「Welcome to my store. Is there something you want, young man?」

The uncle in the white robe offered me a handshake.

Upon a closer look, he wasn’t actually an uncle. He might be still in the latter half of his twenties, just looked older due to his unkempt and slightly dirty hair. Upon an even closer look, he was in fact quite handsome.

「Uhm, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Theodore Goldberg. The reason for my visi――」

「GOLDBERG! YOU MEAN, THAT GOLDBERG?! THE TIARA!」

「Ah, yes. That Goldberg.」

「Hahaha, Your father is truly an amazing man! He returned the royal treasure without even batting his eyes, truly a man amongst men! Thanks to him, we can also investigate the tiara now. Thank you very much.」

And suddenly, he gave me a bear hug. Uuh, it’s dusty and smelly. How many days was it since the last time he entered the bath!?

He released me immediately and I stepped back instantly. Sorry but please spare me from another hug, old man.

「It’s nice to meet you, my name is Bates Sven. I’m a former staff of a magic tool research facility, but I really admire your father’s decisive resolution when he returned the tiara. I mean, the other house who received it from the last king treated the treasure like some sort of holy relic. I feel that his name should be recorded for his contribution to the future of magic tools. Even now, I still can’t understand the reason behind the decisive decision of your father.」

「… Is that an insult to my father?」

Luke asked with a voice teeming with anger.

「What are you going to do if I say yes?」

The white-robed uncle(Bates) said as if provoking Luke.

Eh, did this person know what he was doing just now!?

「I think that’s enough for this joke, Bates. Look, even your guest is really surprised. Oh and by the way, my name is Trevor. I work in the Court Mage Departement. You might say that I’m transferred to this store mainly to babysit this oddball. It’s pleasure to be your acquaintance, son of Lord Goldberg.」

The Glasses(Trevor) rebuked Bates kindly and pacified Luke with his kind gaze.

His overall appearance screamed “I’m da honor student”. When I shook hands with him, I realized that he had a rugged hand, as expected of someone who was always tinkering with magic tools.

The store was noisy but all of them were interesting fellas.

====

◆Character Introduction◆

Theodore Goldberg

The protagonist. A Reincarnator. High-school student in his previous life. Yellow. Tiara.

◆Goldberg House

Owen Goldberg.

Father. Marquis.

Serena Goldberg

Mother. Marchioness.

Wendy Goldberg

Little Sister. Marquis Daughter. ???

Kevin

Theo’s escort. captain of the defense platoon.

Richard

Theo’s attendant. One year older than Theo.

Martha

Theo’s nanny

Sebas

Goldberg House’s Grand Chamberlain.

Rowell

Commander of Goldberg House’s soldiers.

Maria

Goldberg House’s Head Maid.

Horace

Chief of Goldberg House’s Magic Tool Research Institute.

◆Friend Character

Muriel Amber

Yellow. Fiance. Viscount Daughter. Glutton. Chick Girl.

Frederick Serendiaz

Big brother of the crown prince from a different mother. Two years older. Merry drinker. Big white. Loner.

Katrina Lilac

Katrina Lilac. Villainess. Drill. Purple. Prodigy. Reincarnator. Previous life was a JK.

◆Capture Target

Elliot Serendiaz

Crown Prince. White. Ring. Brocon.

Luke Greenwell

Green. Saint Staff. Count Son. Sarcasm Child.

◆Others

Serendiaz King

The father of Loner-kun and Crown Prince.

Serendiaz Queen

Crown Prince’s mother.

Duke Lilac

Drill’s Father.

Meriel

Drill’s attendant.

Evan Amber

Chick girl’s father.

Sheila

Chick girl’s wet nurse.

◆Others 2

Tara

Fortuneteller. Swindler.

Mira

Tara’s attendant. The swindler’s accomplice.

Geyson Neith

Baron. Magic Tool Researcher. Swindler. Macho character.

◆Heroine(Lol)

Irene Plum

Heroine(Lol). Pink. Previous life was a JK.