Chapter 136

Three gold coins (4)

“You seem to be using a classic and obvious tactic, unlike you. Are you planning on buying up all the school supplies?”

“Yes, well. People who are quick to notice would have smelled everything.”

The location is the professor building at midnight.

It is a place where classes are mainly held in broad daylight and research activities are in full swing in the late evening, but in the middle of the night, there is only silence.

The height of the buildings is also significantly higher than that of the living quarters.

If the living building exudes a more lively atmosphere as its name suggests, the teaching building feels quite organized.

Roads paved with bricks, neatly raised buildings with flower beds, and even street trees that seem to welcome students.

We have become accustomed to it because we see it every day, but in fact, educational facilities of this scale are rare in the world.

Lortel led me to the professor building in the middle of the night, saying we should go for a night walk.

It feels like I’ve gone a bit far for a night walk, but I guess that’s because I have a lot to say.

“But I never thought that Senior Ed would be curious about the internal affairs of the Chamber of Commerce. Are you even worried about me?”

“Well, that’s it. I was a little worried about you.”

“At times like that, I was worried about you, even if it was just empty words–”

Lortel, who was ahead, stopped talking and glanced back. I guess my answer was different from what I expected.

He glanced at my expression, avoided eye contact, and spoke as if I was embarrassed.

“Did I hear wrong?”

“No matter how deep your thoughts are, it doesn’t mean you never make a mistake.”

“In the first place, all choices involve risk. I was momentarily taken aback because I didn’t expect you to tell me so bluntly that you were worried.”

Lortel looked away with an embarrassed expression on his face and made a fuss. He fanned his face for no reason and then walked ahead again.

“They say attack skills and defense skills are completely separate, so I think I need to train more on this side...”

I walked down the street in the middle of the night for a while muttering those words.

“Exchanging weaknesses.”

In the end, our destination was a wooden bench in the center of the student square.

I’ve never sat on this central bench right next to the fountain because it’s always full of people during the day. Because it is always full of people.

However, when you come here late at night, the atmosphere is so quiet that it feels like a market place in broad daylight.

The darkness that has descended on the academy makes the many tall buildings eerie.

Nail tube, Glokt tube, Obel tube, Delen tube. From these luxurious buildings right next to Student Square to facilities like the Student Library and Trix Hall on the hill in the distance, there are buildings that Ministry of Magic students rarely visit, such as the Pesen Hall, where Alchemy Department classes are mainly held, and the Marel Hall, where the Combat Department trains. until.

The sight of everyone silent in the darkness of the night creates a strange sense of discomfort even though it is a scene we see every day.

Even during my school days, I once went to school in the middle of the night.

Even everyday scenes can feel like you are in another world when you change the time zone to night.

“It is said that when children of noble families get married, there is a ritual of exchanging each other’s weaknesses. Since they are well aware of each other’s weaknesses, their relationship becomes closer.... It may seem plausible and romantic at first glance, but if you think about it carefully, “It’s an insidious practice.”

“There is such a custom...?”

“It’s said that a lot of them have disappeared these days, but I heard that there are some left in old or long-standing families. Surprisingly, it seems like there was nothing like that in the Rosstaylor family?”

“Well, I’m not old enough to get married yet.”

“Yeah, but... Anyway.”

Lortel sat down on the bench and pulled down Jerove’s hat. As always, the bluish rose-shaped hairpin glows softly in the moonlight.

“Would you like to trade our weaknesses?”

“...suddenly?”

“If I’m going to explain my situation regarding this incident, I have no choice but to show my deep disgust.”

Of course Lortel’s insides are deep and black, but I never thought about digging them out.

“There’s nothing I can’t show you, but it still feels like a loss.”

“....”

“You know. I can’t live without losing money.”

Lortel smiled and waited for my answer.

In fact, even if it were a weakness exchange, it would be a bit difficult. There are many cases where the weaknesses of children of noble families are so shady or dirty that they are so fatal that they are difficult to tell to others... but as for me, there is no such thing as a fatal weakness.

I showed a flaw that was nothing, but wouldn’t it be unprofitable for Lortel to show a deep and dark weakness? It doesn’t concern me, but it could be a huge disservice to Lortel.

So I fell into deep trouble.

“Well, you don’t have to think too deeply about it. Actually, I’ve heard that too, so that’s why you do such strange things.”

“...What is your intention?”

“I also have ears. They are just a little wider and can hear further than ordinary people’s ears.” To say that

they are ‘a little wider’ is because they hear all the sounds of the entire living area.

In short, I’ve heard rumors that I seem depressed or lacking a lot of energy these days.

I kept saying it was okay, but how Lortel would take it is another matter.

I closed my eyes gently.

It’s already a dark night, but when I close my eyes, there is complete darkness before my eyes.

What is faintly reflected in the darkness beyond the retina are the events of the past.

Joint combat practice, student council president election, freshman class assignment test, subjugation of Glast, subjugation of Glaskan, expulsion from Ofilis Building.

From there, go further into the past. I pass through the paths I took before settling down in the northern forest and gritting my teeth and living as Ed Rothtaylor.

Finally, he opened his mouth.

“A lot of people around me died.”

Lortel didn’t bother to ask in detail.

“The environment was like that. I spent a few years on a battlefield in a faraway, foreign country. Then, I got hurt a little. Thanks to that, I spent my last years a bit leisurely.”

“Wow, that’s surprising.”

“Whether you believe it or not, you are free.”

Lortel shook his head gently. It’s about believing.

You wouldn’t have heard anywhere that the eldest son of the Ross Taylor mansion had war experience.

“If you fight on the battlefield, people around you often die. At first, you suffer a lot emotionally. The more you bond with people and interact with them more, the more so.”

“That’s right. The closer the environment is to extremes, the more people stick together.”

“There was a rat in the Chamber of Commerce. I received a report that Marie went into hiding. It’s the process of capturing that.”

Lortel buried his head on my shoulder and quietly told me his plan.

“A few days ago, I had a feeling that the number of items for sale in the warehouse was incorrect and that the ledger had been manipulated in an unnatural way, so I looked into it... and there was someone there. They were constantly stealing funds from our branch. As the scale grows little by little, cracks in the ledger are slowly appearing.”

“Isn’t that guy called Dune? They say that the distilled liquor was purchased with embezzled funds.”

“Dune’s distribution is not that large. In the line of small luxury, they always use the same methods to take care of their own personal interests. “I think there are people who are much more evil than Dune.”

Lortel was leaning his head on my shoulder, then suddenly changed his posture and clung closer to me. When

I glanced at him, he said, ‘You feel more stable than I thought...’ He looked around and pressed his upper body together.

“The fact that the signs are starting to show in the ledger means that the trick has slowly reached its limit. Sooner or later, he’ll make a big hit and try to run away.”

“Then the reason I hoarded all the books this time...”

“I threw a big hit at him. If the price of books goes up a little more... they will try to sell the items for sale first, collect cash, and then run away before our company sells the items. Now, if we actively interrogate the ‘individuals’ who go around buying books, we will be able to find out the identity of that rat.”

In the end, he was in a situation where he had to personally kill the head of the trading company employee who had been with him.

However, Lortel had no qualms. ” No.

Like I said, my problem is... I don’t trust anyone. Even if that loneliness eats away at me, I don’t trust people carelessly. No matter how you make it seem, the reason is obvious in the end.”

“....”

“Because I’m scared of being betrayed.”

In the end, it is fear that underlies Lortel’s psychology.

Like most people... Lortel The same goes for:

“Still, I feel fortunate now. It seems like just yesterday that I was sold for three gold coins, but now I have become a person who can even pay three gold coins for a first class price to scout out someone I like.” ”

...No matter what, I think three coins for a first class price is a bit too much. ”

“First of all, I felt like I was screaming hard. I thought they would probably reject it anyway. What if you get rejected? Being rejected only means one less person for me.”

Lortel smiled coquettishly, rubbing his face on her shoulder.

“But it doesn’t matter. At least one of my people will be reduced.”

He doesn’t explain the reason. He just wraps his arms around me and looks at me with mischievous eyes.

“You know the reason better, right?”

No matter what you say, it will be a meaningless answer. .

I just left Lortel snuggling and clinging to my arm for a while.

* * *

“I’m sorry, Miss Lortel. “Thank you for the offer, but...”

The next morning, the head maid, Belle Maia, visited Lortel after she came out of her room in the Ofilis Building.

“I am worried that Lady Lortel, who was always attended by the maids, is leaving the Ofilis Building. That being said, I think it would be too bold of a decision for me to leave the Ofilis Hall as well.”

“....”

“Three gold coins per day is a bit burdensome... In fact, it would be nice for me if the amount was larger... . I am proud of working at Ofilis Hall. ”

Bell Maia bowed her head.

Lortel had just gotten up, dressed briefly, and then came out.

Lortel also knows this now.

There are people in this world who cannot be bought with money.

The first person that comes to mind is the forest. This is a blond-haired boy who was sharpening arrows alone in a camp.

“Of course, we are not always treated fairly. There are times when I am dissatisfied, and there are times when it is difficult and tiring... But even so, I want to continue to take responsibility for this Ophilis building.”

“Oh my...”

Lortel looked wistfully at Belmaia, who lowered her head with as much of a tearful expression as possible. “Three coins for daily

wages was a bold offer on my part... It really hurts my heart to be rejected like this...”

“Tsk...”

“Of course Mr. Bell has no interest in work. You may not be able to convert your noble beliefs into money, but... can you still think again? I don’t want to lose a maid who is as confident and capable as Ms. Bell...”

Belle felt like her heart was pounding at the dim eyes that were uncharacteristic of Lortel.

But she shook her head and bowed again. I bowed.

“I’m sorry.”

“I see. If that’s the case for Mr. Bell, there’s nothing we can do about it. Then... how about a concurrent job?”

“Yes? A form of dual employment...?”

Lortel held both of Belmaia’s hands together and spoke in a voice full of moisture.

“I will reduce the amount paid to about one-third and instead manage my villa and surrounding camps whenever I have time. Please come and do it. Mr. Bell is also very interested in practical work.”

“Yes... eh...?”

“I heard that you are taking the time to take care of senior Yenika these days. Just like that, they only stop by once periodically to take care of it. All you have to do is come whenever you have time, take care of the work, and then leave. “Can’t we just... do this... a specified number of times a week... like this...?”

Bell was taken aback by the unexpected suggestion.

But it wasn’t as bad a suggestion as he thought. Belle, who is naturally industrious, was busy. He manages his time so delicately that he goes to take care of Yenika from time to time while keeping up with the maid’s schedule.

In addition, he has a built-up desire to do some practical work, his work schedule is autonomous, and above all, he is busy with both his hands with eyes full of moisture. The girl he is holding and talking to is right in front of him.

This is the girl who even gave him three gold coins. He thinks so much of it.

That strange feeling of debt is taking over Belle’s heart.

“That... that much... . If it’s a condition....”

“Wow...! thank you! Mr. Bell!”

Lortel smiled broadly and clapped his hands.

“Then... I’ll send the contract in Mr. Bell’s name!”

Things were handled smoothly. Even the contract was prepared in the first place.

He smiled and went back to his room. Watching Lortel enter... Belle realized only then.

The first offer was a bait in the first place.

It was a shackle to fill Belle with the debt of ‘rejection’ and make her accept the next contract.

Well... that’s who he was in the first place. That’s it.

I didn’t know.

It’s just absurd that I was harmed even though I knew.

Seeing Lortel returning to the room, smiling like a fox, Belle let out a helpless laugh.