Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: How the Prince Makes Friends
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"Eat this too!"
"Thanks, Noah. Here, Nil, eat while you work!"
"Yeah."
Nihil took the bite-sized sandwich, made a small tweak to the contract, and slid it back to Morris.
"Merchant lord, how about this?"
"Hmm... like this... no, extend the exclusive contract period... uh, yeah, thanks, Noah. Make it 15 years. In return, I'll bump up the percentage."
"Asking to change the five years to 15? That's awfully greedy... Ner, isn't that too greedy?"
Nihil shoved a carrot into Lianus's mouth just as he tried to sneak it aside, then picked up his pen to recalculate the interest.
Morris gave a subtle glance at the brown-haired prince munching on the carrot with his lips pursed, then turned back to the contract.
That's when he spotted the tomato sauce splattered on it and let out a deep sigh.
The prince's guardian... no, his close friend was handling both the contract and the prince with impressive multitasking skills amid the chaos.
Come to think of it, he'd wanted to get a proper look at those cat ears he'd glimpsed through the communication orb, but they were gone today.
He was about to ask about that magic tool—bet it would fetch a good price—when Noah spoke up glumly.
"Dad, you don't like it?"
"Wh-what? No, no. This is delicious, Noah."
Morris realized Noah had handed him a stuffed egg and quickly popped it into his mouth.
Nihil, scribbling a few more lines on the contract, smirked at the sight.
"See? I said we should finish eating calmly first."
"...But I have other appointments this afternoon."
"You should've cleared your schedule."
"Who knew it'd take over four hours..."
Morris grumbled that he'd come lightly, figuring he could bring the kid along since it was allowed, making excuses.
"If I'd known it was like this from the start, I'd have come more prepared."
"You should've guessed from when I told you to bring mana stones."
"......"
Not entirely wrong, Morris sighed deeply again.
"I said we don't have to sign right away. Rushing into it isn't wise. Right, Ner?"
"Huh? Oh!"
Lianus hadn't really caught what was said while he was goofing off, but he nodded anyway and quickly stuffed a sandwich into Nihil's mouth.
If his friend said so, it must be true.
Truth be told, he'd secretly hidden the bell peppers in the sandwich earlier—hoping Nihil wouldn't notice.
Whether Nihil hadn't noticed the bell peppers or just liked them anyway, the corner of his mouth twitched up slightly. Good.
Nihil chatted a bit more with Baron Allie, then started scribbling something on a fresh sheet.
"Ner."
"Uh, yeah?"
He startled mid-making another bell pepper sandwich when his name was called, but Lianus played it cool.
"Whaaat?"
"Come sign your name."
"My name?"
Told to sign his name, he hesitated—pen name or real?—when a short explanation followed.
"Your real name."
"Got it!"
'Lianus de Harpen.' Muttering his name, he carefully wrote it in the blank. His friend burst out laughing.
"Why're you laughing? Is my handwriting that weird?"
"No. Next time, read the document first before signing."
"Uh... what was it about?"
"Nothing much. My status is unclear, so I put your name instead. Oh, since we're out, wanna swing by Sharton and check on the kids?"
"Y-yeah! Let's go!"
I wonder if the kids are doing okay. Has their life gotten a bit better?
As he pondered what to bring them, something slid into his mouth. A sandwich.
Lianus chomped reflexively—
Crunch—
"......"
"Tasty?"
"M-mmph... yeah......"
Ugh, shoulda skipped the bell peppers.
"Meow-meow baby kitties~ Kitties grow up to be tigers~"
"Dan, stop singing and come here. And the lyrics are all wrong anyway. Now, time to wash your face."
"Too bothersomeee......"
"Get over here, you wild thing. Or the tiger goes rawr and eats you up."
"Nuh-uh, gotta stay dirty to win, so no eating me."
Dave scooped up Dan, who was trying to slip away, and scrubbed his face squeaky clean.
It had felt awkward at first, but watching Ivan grab each kid one by one to wash up made it routine soon enough.
"Who's out getting rations today?"
"Uh, Pan and Marie sis and the twins."
"What're today's rations? I want potato soup. You know, like that one he made."
"Brie, where ya going!"
"Don't wanna wash~ Water's cold!"
"Jane, grab Brie!"
Another bustling, peaceful day. Dave gazed at the cozy tent instead of the drafty old warehouse, struck by a strange feeling.
Sharton Street was changing by the day. Not that it looked prettier—construction on the aqueduct had streets torn up everywhere.
Still, the streets free of drunks and junkies felt refreshingly clean.
"Ivan bro, when's the fountain coming? I wanna see it."
"Brie, construction's far from done—ow! Dan, you've only seen it three times! Dave, stop Dan!"
Ivan freaked out at Dan folding newspaper into shapes. But the worn-out paper tore with a rip before Dave could say a word.
"Ah, darn."
"Bro, let it go. Three times is plenty. Let's buy new. But can we skip the job listings? Sentences are all samey, not much help."
"Kills two birds—scout jobs too, right?"
"Who'd hire kids like us?"
"Hmm, nah. Some have easy requirements."
"What's the point? Deadlines are always passed. That's why I said get the latest paper. Nil even paid us to get one."
Dave grumbled, gathering the shreds and tossing them into the fire.
Whoosh. Burned nicely.
"We're back!"
The ration runners returned, and the kids swarmed, grabbing and hauling supplies.
"Look! Milk in today's rations! Got leftover potatoes? Jane bro, potato soup today?"
"Bottle's got pictures! So pretty! Can I keep the glass after?"
"Jane oppa, I'm hungry!"
"Uh, yeah, coming right up. W-wait."
As the kids laughed and chattered over food, Pan came dashing up, flapping a newspaper.
"Ivan bro! Got ya a paper!"
"Perfect timing. Ours just became kindling."
"Printed less than half a month ago! Uh... right?"
Pan tilted his head, unsure of his math. Still weak on numbers.
Dave took it and checked the date.
"Pan, that's a 9, not 6. When you gonna tell 'em apart?"
"Sh-shut it! Just learned, bound to mix up sometimes! Anyway, it's recent, yeah?"
"Yeah, it is."
A bit crinkled from dew, but ink was sharp—definitely fresh compared to old ones.
Better to buy than scavenge, but Ivan hated spending. Probably 'cause the group's growing.
"Ivan—help me!"
"Y-yeah, Marie, coming!"
Ivan blushed at Marie's call and hurried off.
'Timing.'
"Want chocolate."
Dave squinted at Pan's freckles over the sudden craving.
"Chocolate out of nowhere?"
"I got some! Chocolate!"
"......?"
The boys whipped around at the shout.
"Want some?"
"......Ner?"
"Yep! It's me!"
"???"
Why're you here?
Baker Bern pondered. Familiar kids and a stranger suddenly show up asking for bread—what to make of it?
"Gimme?"
"N-Noah, we can't do that."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Um, we gotta pay for it."
"But the caravan gives it free if I ask..."
'Cause you're the merchant lord's son...
Lianus sweated bullets. How to explain without blowing cover and still buy bread?
"Uh... Noah, no money?"
"Don't carry it... Oh! Micap, m-mmph?"
Lianus clamped Noah's mouth shut before he summoned the hidden guard knight. Heart pounding. Wonder if Nihil felt this way.
Dressed plainly to pass as commoners, but pointless now.
"Big bro... got any money...?"
Lianus pinned hopes on his ever-prepared friend.
A low chuckle from under the deep hood, then a coin pouch emerged.
"Knew it, big bro!"
As first-timer, Lianus taught Noah shopping basics. Felt kinda proud.
But barely stopped Noah's fairy tale whining, settling for chocolate and cookies—exhausted.
"Nil, what'd you give the baker earlier?"
"Payment for the free bread last time."
"Ah, forgot that!"
Nihil shrugged lightly after tossing Bern a gold coin.
With older Noah using honorifics on Lianus, commoner act was doomed anyway.
"Hey, Noah. No need for honorifics outside."
"But how could I..."
"Gotta hide status. Oh, lemme introduce my friends from before."
Lianus strode ahead confidently.
After buying veggies and fruits at old shops, pouch deflated fast.
Stopped Nihil from grabbing gross bell peppers too.
'Other kids hate 'em too. Better extra potato than pricey peppers!'
His friend ate anything, but kids have tastes! They'd praise him.
Slum reached—sturdy temp tents everywhere.
How to find Ivan's group amid them? Then a familiar voice.
"Ivan—help!"
"Y-yeah, Marie, coming!"
Jackpot, thought Lianus, scurrying toward the tent. Saw Dave and Pan.
Pan muttered then:
"Want chocolate."
Chocolate—perfect, brought some! Good call!
"I got some! Chocolate!"
"......Ner?"
"Yep! It's me!"
Lianus dashed over joyfully.
"Ner... right? Hair color changed? Eyes too... weren't they greener? Seemed brighter."
Dave tilted his head. Thought eye patch was from injury—no scar now.
"Oh, yeah. Um... Dave, here."
Lianus fiddled with his magic-dyed brown hair, mumbling vaguely, and handed over his haul.
"What's all this?"
"Food! Chocolate too."
"Wh-where'd you get all this?"
"Bought it! Oh, this kid's Noah."
Lianus introduced Noah, passing over his paper bag too.
"All this for us?"
"Yep! Oh, Nil's got some too."
"Ah......"
Dave sighed at Nihil, barely visible behind a giant bag, just feet showing. Figures it was Nil.
"Hey, gimme. I'll carry."
Pan snatched from the "bag with legs"... aka Nil. But heavy—staggered per step.
"Nngh......"
"...Gimme. I'll take it inside."
Nihil eyed Pan pitifully—too proud to admit heavy—then took it back.
Pan deflated instantly.
"...I'm taller and older..."
"Says who? That you're older than me."
"......?"
Confusion in Pan's eyes.
Nihil chuckled and headed where he sensed Ivan.