The Pitfalls of Luxury Gifts
“The price won't exceed 20 gold, right?”
“Well, the consumer price is a bit over 20 gold.”
“I see.”
“But factoring in the VIP discount and all sorts of other perks, it should come out to exactly 20 gold.”
“Fine by me. Even if it's a little over, that's okay.”
“Ah! Really? Haha! What a relief!”
Pennell let out a sigh of relief, clearly worried about the price.
“And if it's not too rude to ask, are you buying this as a gift for a lady?”
“Huh? Yeah, something like that.”
It's not like I'd ever use a women's bag myself.
“I figured as much, so I prepared something like this.”
Pennell handed me a plain-looking white envelope.
“What's this? You've got a lot of envelopes here.”
“It's not just any envelope—it's the love letter envelope that young noblemen line up for during the social season.”
“Pardon...? A love letter envelope?”
“Ugh.”
For some reason, Lieutenant Aisa, who was standing behind me, grimaced like she'd tasted something foul.
“You can record up to one second of audio inside here. And every time it's opened, the sound plays.”
“No way.”
“Yes. Record something like 'I love you' or 'darling,' and it'll play every time the envelope is opened.”
“Oh, that's pretty good.”
Any couple would have at least one of these.
“During social season, people go crazy lining up in front of the Oclo Trading Company just to get one.”
“So it was ours all along.”
I'd always wondered which genius came up with this money-making idea.
Of course it was the Oclos.
These guys are obsessed with money.
A family right up my alley.
“Exactly. Mr. Marco came up with the idea while working under HQ Manager Haiyel.”
A familiar name slipped from Pennell's lips.
Marco, that sworn bachelor—how does he dream up these romantic ideas?
This family really is full of oddballs.
“Impressive. Did you get any news on the other thing I asked you to look into?”
“Meat sales are possible, but if that's the only goal, we'd take a loss.”
“Figured as much.”
Hauling a wagon all the way here isn't cheap.
And any leftover meat would just rot.
Not an easy fix.
“So the solution we came up with is to deliver it alongside ingredient shipments.”
“Ingredients? I thought another trading company handles that here.”
“We're sending staff right now to negotiate with them. Since it's on your orders, young master, we'll make it happen.”
“Nice. If that works out, it won't be half bad.”
Tying it to ingredient deliveries would slash transport costs big time.
No wonder he's branch manager.
Sharp as a tack.
“Precisely. We'll get everything ready right away.”
“Go ahead. Even if the BBQ place falls through, supplying our ingredients here is still a win.”
Of course, there was one key point to hammer home.
“Just make sure the negotiations don't skimp on quality for the sake of saving money.”
“Of course. Who would dare cut corners with you here, young master?”
“Good. I trust you.”
I got a quick rundown on the BBQ gear and company updates after that.
“Anytime! If you need anything, just call on me, Pennell—day or night, I'll come running with you foremost in my thoughts!”
“Uh... yeah, thanks. Head out before it gets dark.”
“I'll visit again soon! Keep fighting the good fight in the army! Fighting!”
“Figh... fighting.”
I forced a response to his clenched-fist pump.
Is this the weight of leadership?
I had to admire it.
“I'll see him out.”
“Yeah, be careful.”
Aisa escorted Pennell out of the company commander's office.
“Whew, that wasn't easy.”
Still, overzealous friendliness beat outright hostility any day.
“The BBQ gear's pricier than I thought.”
At Pennell's quoted price, it'd run about 30 percent over budget.
Eh, with the board game room and billiards hall scrapped, we can swing it.
Aisa had nixed those over safety concerns in wartime.
“She's got good instincts.”
Reporting them blindly to the battalion commander would've gotten me chewed out.
“Hm.”
I picked up the envelope Pennell had left, peering inside.
Mana circuit, huh.
A simple one, but it'd jack up the price all the same.
“Doesn't look that expensive, though. Should be fine.”
It's the thought that counts, right?
“Who are you planning to give that to?”
Aisa came back in as I checked the bag for issues.
“Huh? This is for Colonel Garen... Can I tell you?”
I hesitated a second, but Aisa was trustworthy enough.
Plus, as a woman, she might give solid feedback.
My plan was flawless anyway, but hey—even a snowball's chance.
“You absolutely can't tell anyone?”
“My lips are sealed.”
“You got it. During the last op, Colonel Garen fell hard for Colonel Orpia.”
“For Colonel Orpia? Yeah, she's got that appeal.”
Aisa nodded like she got it, and honestly, so did I.
In this world, a woman with her looks and career staying single into her thirties? Doesn't add up.
Probably avoided marriage on purpose because of her eye.
“Right? So when Garen wanted to express his feelings with a gift, I recommended this. What do you think? Genius, huh?”
“Yes, Ottiq's a famous brand—shows real thought and quality.”
Aisa praised my plan, right on cue. Not surprising.
“Told you.”
“Gifting a bag like that means things moved fast. How long have they been dating? I saw her recently, and she didn't seem the type.”
“Hm? They're not dating yet.”
“Pardon...?”
“As far as I know, it's one-sided from Garen. So this gift is his shot at winning her heart. You get the vibe?”
“W-Wait a minute.”
Aisa looked flustered, planting both hands on the desk.
“Something wrong?”
“So Colonel Orpia has zero interest in Colonel Garen yet, and you're giving her a luxury bag?”
“She might have some feelings, but yeah, we're assuming not for now.”
“And you'll use that envelope too?”
“Garen decides, but why not? Super romantic.”
Too much for “I love you,” maybe, but “Thank you” or “Have a great day” fits fine.
“Oh my god. Romantic? Are you serious?!”
Aisa raised her voice, pressing the issue.
“Not good?”
“No! When there's no relationship at all. An Ottiq mini bag is 30 gold even on the cheap side—imagine the pressure on her!”
“Hm, a little pressure isn't bad...”
“No! It is bad! If it's just a crush and you're still coworkers, would she even like getting a luxury bag from him?”
“She wouldn't?”
What reason to refuse?
I had no clue.
If a female coworker offered me a graphics card, I'd snatch it up.
Why turn it down? I'd bet it boosts favor at least threefold.
“No!!! She'd hate it! It'd make her avoid him more out of awkwardness. And this envelope? Worst of all. Creepy voice every time? I've ripped up so many like that.”
Aisa pointed at the envelope with a face twisted like she'd shoved her hand in a goblin's mouth.
She's gotten a few of those, huh.
Makes sense—high society darling like her must've fended off tons of suitors.
“This is awkward. I thought it was perfect.”
Like drawing blueprints, building the house, and finding a massive defect at move-in.
“That bad?”
“Yes, disaster. If I were Colonel Orpia, I'd reject it flat-out and ghost him. Unless she was already smitten, which she isn't.”
“Ugh, then what? I promised to help.”
Garen's hyped for the bag—backing out now would be the height of rudeness.
“Start with coffee or something. Talk first. Who brings gifts out the gate? This isn't an arranged marriage.”
“Tea, huh.”
Fair point. Conversation matters—I knew that much.
“If he insists on a gift, pick something meaningful but low-pressure. Like a commemorative item only Special Forces has. Uniforms, maybe.”
“Oh! That's smart.”
Units had custom gear, especially Special Forces diehards—I'd seen their designs myself.
“How'd you land on a luxury bag? That's couple-level stuff sometimes.”
“Just thought it'd make her happy.”
“Gifts depend on the relationship, sir.”
True on reflection.
Tricky stuff.
Not math, but damn complicated.
“Got it. I'll tell Colonel Garen.”
“Yes. But sir...”
Aisa suddenly fixed me with a serious gaze.
“Yeah?”
“Have you ever even dated?”
“Uh...?”
The question stabbed right through my chest.
No one had ever asked me that in my life, but I'd know if I lied.
Damn, too honest for my taste.
I had pride, too.
“Nah, never got serious with anyone. Don't like casual flings—feels like a waste of time.”
“I see.”
What was that look?
Not pity, but hard to read.