Episode 65
Translator: RaidenTL
Episode 65
He couldn’t possibly have a servant at his beck and call. According to what Blair had confirmed, even the servants at the mansion where Hertz lived while attending Minerva didn’t know his whereabouts.
They simply thought, The young master has left home for a little while again, and were eagerly awaiting his return. She was suddenly reminded of the story about the boy who cried wolf.
He storms out of the house so damn often that no one feels a sense of crisis! Exasperated, Elysia fiddled with her hair to vent her frustration as she listened to the woman speak.
“He was an incredibly tall man. Taller than this gentleman standing next to me.”
If he was taller than Evan, he had to be exceptionally tall. That settled it. Hertz hadn’t mailed the letter himself. Whether he chose not to or was unable to, she couldn’t be sure, but it was most likely the latter.
“It was around five in the morning when he bought an envelope and a stamp here. And as you said, he seemed to be a servant attending to that young master. He certainly didn’t have the face of a nobleman. He had a large scar on his cheek. He wore his hat pulled down low so I couldn’t see his eyes, but he gave off a rather frightening impression. Since you’re his friend, you must know who he is!”
“Ah, if he has a big scar on his cheek, it must be that guy. I know him well.”
Adrian mouthed silently, ‘You do?’ Elysia snorted and turned her head away. Of course not. She was just going to pretend she knew and see what happened.
Her passive skill, ‘Truthful Gaze,’ made others believe her more easily. Praying her skill would work, Elysia asked a question that was rather odd for someone who supposedly knew the man.
“That man who brought the letter, was there anything else unusual about him?”
The woman paused. Elysia tensed up, worried she had been caught in her lie, but the answer that came back made her break into a wide smile.
“He bought a Bosco cigar. He lit it up right on the spot. Seemed like quite the heavy smoker.”
“One of the same.”
Elysia pulled a coin from her pocket, pressed it gently into the woman’s hand, and gave her a wink.
“Keep the change. It’s for the information.”
*
The three of them stepped into a boisterous pub. The sound of men shouting and fighting at the top of their lungs felt like it would shatter their eardrums.
Seeing the disgusted look on Elysia’s face—her hearing was particularly sensitive—Adrian casually slipped the owner some extra money. They were then guided to a small room in the back of the pub.
After placing a simple order, they closed the door, and the noise from outside vanished as if it had never been there. Adrian grinned, pointing a finger to his forehead as he boasted.
“Good call bringing you here, right?”
“You want your money back?”
“Aww, why?! No way! Ah, Elysia, are you saying that because you feel bad? Come on~ that was pocket change for me!”
She didn’t know the exact amount he’d paid, but for her, with her infinite supply of Gold, it would have been a pittance. She was genuinely willing to pay him back, but seeing the sparkle in Adrian’s eyes, she decided against it.
Right, I guess he enjoys playing the patron. It was something she’d noticed before, but he truly was one magnificent pushover. Elysia let out a soft sigh and said with a slight smile.
“Yeah, thanks. This is much better.”
Adrian’s cheerful expression turned serious. He quickly placed a hand on her forehead and started making a fuss.
“Why… why are you being so agreeable? I thought you were going to tell me to cut the crap and chop me on the head.”
♥ SYSTEM: ‘Adrian Campbellton’ feels ‘Anxious’ about your words ヽ(゜□゜ )ノ ♥
“Why are you being such a pain when I’m trying to be nice…?”
“Yes! Just like that!”
Adrian hugged his arms and muttered.
“You gave me the creeps. I’ve perfectly adapted to the mean, hands-on you, so don’t go changing on me all of a sudden. You scared me! I nearly had a heart attack.”
“This bastard is just asking for a beating!”
Elysia snarled, stomping her heel hard on Adrian’s outstretched foot under the table. She fiddled with the envelope in her hand.
「Caden,」
The comma, he had said, was a signal that ‘the letter will be checked by someone before it is sent.’ A letter he couldn’t mail himself, and a sign meant for the recipient to understand. Was he being held captive?
Rustling the envelope, Elysia pulled out the thin sheet of paper again. She rubbed her furrowed brow and shifted her gaze to the man sitting beside her.
Evan was holding the cigar they had just bought. It wasn’t for smoking; Elysia had insisted on holding it to memorize how the scent would change after clinging to one’s fingers, but he had taken it from her.
He’d said the ingredients were potent, so he would do it instead. She had tried to argue, but his single question had been devastatingly effective.
“Between the two of us, who’s healthier?”
Damn it. It sucks to be low-level. A black cigar was wedged between his long index and middle fingers, and she could see the faint twitch of a vein whenever he fiddled with it.
…Wait, why am I checking him out like such a pervert? Elysia quickly snapped her gaze back to the front. Evan naturally brought a fork with a steaming piece of meat to her lips and spoke.
“You said you were curious where the letter was written, right? Have you thought of a way to find out?”
“Well, it’s not impossible. Nothing’s impossible if you’re willing to go through hell for it. This paper isn’t ordinary stationery, you see. It’s a type of paper called greaseproof paper. If we track down every place that sells it and trace the buyers one by one—”
“So you’re saying we need to figure out the distribution route for greaseproof paper.”
Evan summarized her words and stared intently at Adrian. Adrian, who had been chewing on a piece of meat, blinked in confusion at the inexplicable gaze fixed on him.
Waiting for him to speak first, Evan finally smiled sheepishly and continued.
“Your family grew by building its foundation on logistics, didn’t it?”
“Ah! Are you asking me to look into the paper distribution network?”
“Yes. If I remember correctly, it was the Campbelltons who supplied paper to the monasteries and academies.”
Unable to follow their conversation, Elysia put down the letter she was holding. Tilting her head, she reached for the meat Evan had cut into small pieces earlier. Evan rested his chin on one hand and explained with a smile.
“Looks like we can check it from the comfort of our seats.”
“…Huh? How?”
“The Campbellton family holds passage rights to every existing land and sea route. Half of them are owned by the Campbelltons, in fact.”
Elysia looked dubiously at the puppy who was now puffing out his chest with pride.
“…You were that big of a deal?”
“Of course!”
A question naturally arose.
“Then why is a guy like this in the gloomy Prefect Office…?”
“I told you, didn’t I?! That I’m rich!”
Had he? She couldn’t even remember. It must have been a fact of little importance to her.
Come to think of it, he might have said something like that the first day they met. But she had gone back to the dorm that day only to discover her Gold window displaying an infinity symbol, so she had naturally forgotten.
Elysia briefly tried to compare Adrian’s ever-growing fortune with her own, which was infinite from the start, before giving up completely.
In any case, his social capital and ability to gather information are definitely superior to mine. Her eyes lit up as she asked.
“So, can you find out for us?”
“I’ll look into it when I get home. It’s not a difficult task!”
His face, which practically screamed, ‘Actually, it’s a very difficult task, so praise me quickly,’ looked at her with expectant eyes. With an indifferent expression, Elysia tossed out a comment designed to ignite Adrian’s fighting spirit.
“Not a difficult task? Do you have any idea how important this is?”
“Huh?”
“You’re in charge of the most important part right now. You’re the main character. Got it?”
“Really?!”
“Of course. Would I lie to you?”
“A-A-Awesome…!”
♥ SYSTEM: ‘Adrian Campbellton’ feels ‘Excited’ about your words >ㅁ< ♥
Adrian slapped both hands over his mouth, shot up from his seat, and bolted out of the room. Watching his ecstatic figure run off, she chuckled and muttered.
“Simple-minded bastard.”
“He’s still young. Don’t tease him too much.”
“I wasn’t wrong. This information is the starting point, so it’s the most important part. I was thinking I’d have to pull an all-nighter running around, but thanks to him, I might actually get some sleep.”
Since Adrian had left without eating much, she was able to stuff herself with meat until she was about to burst. Evan smiled as he watched her devour even the grilled vegetables.
“Do you like beef?”
“I do. It’s high in calories, so it’s good for staying active.”
“Aside from efficiency,”
Handing her a napkin, the man smiled and tapped his own right cheek.
“I’m curious if it’s a food you like.”
“Eh?”
Elysia stared blankly at the man’s gentle smile for a moment before shaking her head with a start. His looks are just a shell, they don’t mean anything… And yet, even knowing that, his face was captivating.
Noticing her stiff expression, he asked with concern.
“Do you not want to talk about it?”
“No, no. It’s not like it’s some big secret… But why do you ask?”
“If you like it, I was thinking I’d make it for you often.”
“Hmm?”
Elysia’s face scrunched up slightly as she tilted her head, making him nervous. She might draw a line between them. Their relationship—impossibly close yet unclearly defined—frightened him.
But contrary to his expectations, she wiped her chin with the napkin he’d given her and was simply busy being impressed, a look of innocence on her face.
“That’s nice.”
“Why?”
“It’s just… it’s been so long since someone cooked for me without wanting money. And out of pure goodwill, no less.”
He liked the way Elysia accepted his kindness without any burden, as if it were something she was naturally entitled to.
And now, he was almost certain. She was particularly soft with him. Evan smiled, pleased. But there was one thing that bothered him.
“…So there has been goodwill that wasn’t so pure?”
Elysia’s eyes darted around as she slowly began to speak, pulling out an old memory. The moment she started, however, Evan cut her off with a look of disgust.
“There was this guy who used to distribute human flesh, and to try and win me over, he cooked—”
“Please stop. I don’t want to hear it.”
Elysia giggled at the sight of him shutting his eyes as if in horror. Evan, who had been laughing along with her, looked up in surprise at the warmth that touched his fingertips on the table.
Elysia pulled his wrist towards her and gently buried her face between the fingers that held the cigar. He stared blankly at the long lashes casting shadows over her lowered eyelids as she concentrated.
His head throbbed. Barely restraining himself from doing something disgraceful, he froze, watching the light brown hair spill over his arm.
He thought he felt the sharp tip of her nose brush against his fingers in the dim light. It felt like his heart was going to explode.
With a composed expression, Elysia lifted her head and exclaimed with a bright smile.
“Mm, I’ve memorized it! By the way, Senior, you should wash your hands thoroughly. It must be a strong tobacco, because the smell is really potent.”
“…”
“Senior?”
♥ ‘Evan Sylvester’s Favorability +130 | Current Favorability LV.MAX | Current Route;error;undefined;
His heart rate is increasing rapidly >ㅁ< ♥
As if realizing something too late, she let out a soft, “Ah,” and froze. Evan smiled and pulled back the hand she was holding. The strong scent of the cigar that had been at the tip of her nose receded.
Just as her momentarily tense heart was about to relax, a clean scent rushed in with a wave of warmth. Taking Elysia’s hand again with his own clean one, which didn’t reek of cigar smoke, Evan asked playfully.
“The strong smell is gone now, right?”
She stared blankly down at their clasped hands. His hands were… surprisingly big.
“I… guess so.”
For some reason, her face felt hot. She snatched her hand away as if she’d been burned. The physical contact that had felt so normal before, the body heat she thought she had grown accustomed to, seemed to burn hotter today.