CH 287

“You’re the owner of the Larushia Trading Company! Right?” (Man)

“No, I’m not?” (Mitsuha)

“Eh?” (Man)

I was at Larushia’s place, and while Larushia was out of her seat for a bit, something came to me.

Six soldier-ish people.

Apparently, they had heard that the owner of the Larushia Trading Company was a young woman, and they thought I was Larushia, as they pushed the shopkeeper out of the way and stepped into the back of the store without permission, and they then found me, sitting on a chair elegantly drinking tea, dressed in a manner unfit for a shopkeeper.

……No, it seems I appear to be 12 years old to the people here……

“Then, who is the owner of the company!” (Man)

“She went out somewhere?” (Mitsuha)

I replied to the soldier-ish guy who asked the question. Of the six, he seemed to be the leader…… or a squad leader or something……

“Where did she go! When will she come back!!” (Man)

“I don’t know what are the plans for other people, you know? I’m not the person in charge…” (Mitsuha)

Well, I don’t need to tell them to “come back later” when they’re so rude that they don’t have the slightest sense of decorum.

“You little brat! You know what happens when you mess with the Guards!” (Man)

“You’re not very good with words, aren’t you?…… Shouldn’t you be more aware that you are a public servant?” (Mitsuha)

“You little piece of shit……. If you keep playing, you’re in for a world of pain……” (Man)

“Do you know what happens when you mess with another country’s nobility?” (Mitsuha)

“Eh……” (Man)

When he heard the words “noble from another country”, the squad leader’s complexion instantly turned pale.

Well, no matter how much power your position held, it would be a bad idea if you were to verbally abuse and pick a fight with the daughter of a nobleman of another country. If you mess up badly, you will be cut off from the top. It’s commonly called “cutting off the lizard’s tail”.

That was a close one, you know, the right hand that was about to grab onto my neckline.

He almost touched me.

“……Please excuse us……” (Man)

With that, the squad leader left in a hurry with his men.

Well, fortunately, they had not yet identified themselves, since they were in a hurry to pull back so that their personal information wouldn’t be known and a complaint wouldn’t be made to the higher-ups.

Not many people would impersonate a nobleman since you need to be ready to be beheaded. And from my demeanor, my dress, and my appearance, which was somewhat different from that of others in this country, the probability that I am a fake nobleman was quite low. So, it’s only natural that I would dodge a fatal blow by suspicion.

The soldier-ish guards, which were probably under the shade of the Enova Chamber of Commerce, were easily driven away.

…This time, they backed off since they thought I was the daughter of an aristocrat, but the next time they come, I may not be around and they might intimidate Larushia unreasonably.

“I considered those words a declaration of war. We are prepared to intercept!” (Mitsuha)

“What’s wrong, Mitsuha-sama?” (Larushia)

Larushia, who had returned, tilted her head when she heard my declaration.

Well, the battle was long overdue.

They attacked Larushia Trading in a “surprise attack without a declaration of war” from the other side.

I had ruined the sales floor of six stores, and they responded by fighting back.

With this, the war started and we’re now effectively at war.

The rest will be a full-scale battle.

The first blow from our side was to destroy commerce and break up supply routes.

And they tried to attack our frontline base, Larushia Trading, directly, but the wholesalers wouldn’t let them.

In fact, I knew that move from the other side.

It was just a coincidence that Larushia happened to be out of her seat, but I knew that the guards were coming today, hence the reason I was visiting Larushia Trade accordingly.

Yes, of course, with the information obtained by the recorder.

I was worried that the guard headquarters might be on alert, but it has been days since then.

How could a lowly guardsman not be frustrated after days and days of all-night vigilance?

If they were frontline soldiers on a battlefield then it’s another story, but it’s just a childish, eyebrow-raising story about a monster, so there would be no stopping the demoralization.

So they decided to lift the alert early.

Besides, I had no intention of wandering around inside their HQ like the last time.

Of the locations where I had set up the recording devices last time, I narrowed it down to only the three places where such a story had been told, I transferred, affixed the recording device, and took off, and because I set it up in a rapid fashion, I’m only at the scene for about 0.2 seconds at a time, I was able to get the recording devices in place in a timely manner. The probability of encountering someone should be very low, and if they do spot me, there’s no time for them to react, and in the dark, they will think of it as an optical illusion.

If the location of the installation was known in advance and I can transfer there, the danger would be reduced tremendously.

Furthermore, I am in a cardboard box painted black at the time of transition, so I was never directly seen due to the action of transition, hand squeezing out of the cardboard box and attaching the recording device, and then escaping.

……Mother of Perfection!!

This meant that I was aware of any misdeeds going on at the guard headquarters.

Of course, I also regularly change the recorders in the Enova Chamber of Commerce to gather information.

……Yeah, exactly, the one who controls the information controls the world.

I then explained to Larushia that “the enemy got impatient and launched a direct attack using the guards.”

Larushia was not freaking out about it anymore.

Yes, it was an unreasonable and outlandish attack, unbecoming of a merchant, also, aside from herself, her employees were injured…… And one of her security personnel was killed.

A valued colleague and a valued employee who had helped her to realize her dream.

And the security personnel.

Leaving his family behind. Leaving his feelings…

“Goddess of Vengeance, Bless Me……” (Larushia)

Yeah, what I scouted wasn’t a kitten.

She’s a wolf pup who became an adult and was now baring her fangs.

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“We are the guards. We need you to come to headquarters.” (Man)

The next day, the same group of people came to Larushia Trading

……Of course, they sent someone wearing plainclothes to scout the area beforehand to make sure that no nobleman’s daughter was there.

“Is it about the theft the other day? I have already told you everything I know……

We are busy dealing with the damage, so if you have additional questions, I can answer them here and now.” (Larushia)

Larushia, who was in the storefront, replied that…….

“I’m not talking about that! You are being suspected of sabotaging the Enova Chamber of Commerce. This is an interrogation!” (Man)

Today, there’s no noble girl. So, as usual, the squad leader tried to forcefully take Larushia with an aggressive attitude.

However…….

“Eh? I haven’t done anything…

What happened in the first place?

Is it something like a criminal act, not a business one? Is there any evidence?

And is there any reason to suspect me? I’ve heard that the victim is someone who holds a grudge against me…….

And the only people who have a grudge against me are the break-in thieves who attacked our place the other day. If you are aware that the Enova Chamber of Commerce has a grudge against us, could they be the masterminds behind the break-in thieves or something?

And by running errands for them, does that mean that the people in the guards’ headquarters are also part of the break-in thieves!?” (Larushia)

“Wha……” (Man)

Larushia was at the storefront.

And she was talking loudly. It was a well-comprehended voice……

“Oh my, we must inform the people of the palace immediately! Someone, contact the Royal Palace! Notify the nobles in charge of the guards and the Royal Army!!” (Larushia)

And, of course, the people who were gathered there for some reason heard it all.

Zawa……

Zawazawa…… (TN: Whispering sfx)

Every aristocrat has an adversary.

They have factions, they have conflicts of interest because they’re covered by the territory’s specialties, or they have a past history of enmity……

Therefore, it would be embarrassing if a mishap or an ugly scandal in their area of responsibility were to be widely spread. Even if it’s a hoax or an unfound rumor.

More so, if it’s an appeal filed in a formal procedure.

Even more, if that appellant was the only trading company in the country that could supply the products of the Viscount Yamano’s domain, which were currently the favorite products of the nobility and royalty……

Nobles and royalty in search of fine liquors and delicacies.

They’re receiving arrow-like requests from their wives and daughters for cosmetics and accessories from the Viscount Yamano’s domain, which were very scarce on the market.

Will they be able to attack and make enemies of the Larushia trade?……

Normally, they would just squash anyone who makes a problematic comment, but this time things went a little awry.

So the aristocrats who must protect themselves will try to calm the rumors in other ways this time.

……Yes, in the form of cutting off the people who caused it, not the accusers…….

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Author’s Note:

Today (Wednesday, June 9), volume 8 of the comic, “Noukin”, and its sister comic, “Potion”, will be live on sale simultaneously!

Yoroshiku onegaiitashimasu. (^^)/

Volume 15 of the “Noukin (Average)” novel (June 7) will also be on sale! (^^)/

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Translator’s Note:

Tadaima!!! I’m back!!! (^^)/

That was a nice change of pace… Never knew such places existed around me…

Well, aside from the crappy IC everything went smoothly…

Thank you for your patience. m(- -)m

Now we’ll be having a week combo! Please look forward to it!  *(^^)/*