Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: All I Can Offer Is Carbonated Water, Carbonated Water, and Carbonated Water
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52―――――
The only thing I can offer is carbonated water, carbonated water, and more carbonated water.
In the end, only two people left the villa headed for the Hainess Merchant Company.
It was just Sion and Reshida.
Lililt, apparently worn out from the steamy time she'd spent with Sion since dawn, waved them off dismissively, telling the pair to go on without her.
Of course, that wasn't the whole story. Fatigue was one reason, but the biggest was that she, a fairy raised to revere the celestial race, had no desire to face one directly.
Even as a half-breed, preconceptions were preconceptions, and she didn't want to draw attention to herself with her superior senses—twice as sharp as a human's, after all.
'Ah, but if you keep eyeing other women, I'll bite your thing right off?'
Lililt issued that chilling warning just from hearing it.
Sion saluted as if vowing strict compliance, then left the villa for the Hainess Merchant Company.
After the unprecedented incident, security around the royal palace had doubled.
Hoods and cloaks, once ignored, were now prime spots to hide identities or weapons, so anyone in such attire faced random inspections.
Thanks to that, wearing a hood would only invite scrutiny and expose one's identity more surely, so Sion opted to walk openly.
Men on the street gawked at Reshida, women at Sion, letting out awed sighs. Reshida grew even more vigilant under the barrage of stares from all directions.
"Relax, Reshi."
"With eyes pouring in from every side, there's so much to watch out for.
If someone targeted you now, Master, even I might not block it all."
"Don't worry.
I'm not exactly appetizing bait for those guys, at least not in that way."
What was greater than a hero?
A 'dead hero.'
At a time of victory over Nudia, if the hero who earned that triumph were attacked, it wouldn't split public opinion—it might even rally it against the foe.
All or nothing, but the radical fairies Sion knew weren't the gambling type.
Radicals or not, they were still fairies—ones who sought sure, stable gains.
'That's why they infiltrated the palace but settled for nobles instead of the royals.
If it were me, I'd fake madness and go for the royal family.
Then they wouldn't be casually holding the party like nothing happened.'
The closer they got to the Hainess Merchant Company, the more checkpoints there were.
The king had promised no punishment, but the company—having betrayed those mysterious forces—was a prime next target in their eyes.
Naturally, the royal side was blocking all unauthorized approaches.
"Halt."
Three soldiers blocked Sion's path.
When they demanded identification, he nodded to Reshida beside him.
She pulled out the token of the Claussen Margrave Territory that Sion had given her.
"Uh, wha—?"
The soldiers stared in disbelief, as if seeing a ghost.
But they soon recognized the man before them as the 'war hero' of the recent Nudia conflict and snapped crisp salutes.
"Ah, skip the formalities.
It'll just draw unwanted attention."
"Understood.
That said, Young Lord Sion Claussen—what brings you to the Hainess Merchant Company?"
"What, you suspect me?"
"N-No, of course not.
We're just doing our duty..."
"Joking, joking.
What other reason to visit a merchant company?
With new trade needs between the palace and the countship, I came to make a request."
The soldiers nodded at Sion's reply and cleared the way.
"Master.
May I ask one thing?"
"What?"
"Why not just summon that woman Helen to the villa instead?"
"Can't do that.
Helen Hainess is an internal whistleblower right now.
If she steps out and the radical fairies go berserk and kill her, that's a loss on our end too."
"...I see."
Of course, the odds of that were minuscule.
Their palace hideout had been gutted entirely, after all.
They wouldn't easily set up another rat hole in Hispania's royal palace anytime soon.
"And one more thing.
Weird rumors spread, and it just causes headaches."
"What do you mean?"
"If I visit Helen, some might buy it as 'business.'
But if she visits me at the villa, they'll twist it into something else.
Baseless gossip will snowball—war hero chasing skirts, that sort of nonsense."
"Absurd.
How could anyone spread such lies..."
"Plenty of nobles have fallen for worse.
The real threat to a rising star isn't the wall ahead—it's the audience clapping behind your back."
Even sages knew: when your cousin buys land, your belly aches.
Rising success bred more envy than cheers.
Cursing from behind proved success, sure—but Sion had no need to hear it.
He planned to soak up the applause and praise, then crush the haters and toss the scraps to those scrabbling for favor.
They'd tear each other apart trying to look good.
Sion and Reshida entered the merchant company building.
A place buzzing just days ago now hung in eerie silence, utterly subdued.
Even with King Edgar IV's personal assurance of innocence, trust in the company had eroded—unavoidable damage.
"Feels empty."
As Sion muttered upon entering,
Reshida's eyes gleamed, then she exuded sharp intent, stepping in front of him.
Hand on the sword at her waist, poised to draw at a moment's notice.
"..."
A foe with skill enough to make Reshida react like this.
Yet not attacking—just lurking, waiting.
Only one such person in the company.
"Helen Hainess."
"..."
"Enough with the games. Come out already.
Is this how your company greets guests?
Last time, you scored a perfect 100."
"That was back when our company was still intact."
"And now?"
"Outwardly, we're still 'intact.'
Just lost thirty percent of revenue from shaken customer trust."
Thirty percent.
Other merchants would be pounding the ground, vomiting blood over that.
Even three percent felt like flesh torn off.
'Can't blame 'em for jumping in the Han River.'
Sion knew from novel merchants' tales how devastating a drop in trust was—worse than any failure.
The silver lining? Helen ran the company as a mere tool for revenge.
If it were her true calling, she'd be howling in rage right now.
"Welcome, Young Lord Sion Claussen."
A fairy-eared woman popped up from the shadows like a sprout.
Half-human, half-fairy, but that half shone through—exceptional at concealment.
'Destined rival to the warden, maybe.'
Sion mused inwardly, waiting as Helen approached.
The green-haired woman stopped before him and fired off a question.
"What of Sefer—that man now?"
Her top concern, as expected.
Sion shrugged, opening his mouth as if it were obvious.
"He'll die."
"..."
"But it won't be smooth or quick.
Honestly, I wonder if he'll even get to die."
"What do you mean?"
Sion shrugged at Helen again instead of answering.
Plenty they both wanted to say and hear—why stand forever?
Helen caught on, gesturing them onward.
In the merchant lord's office, Sion claimed the head seat uninvited, stretching his arms with a refreshing yawn.
Reshida stood guard at his side in full ironclad mode.
"...I'd like your answer."
Helen fixated more on Sefer's fate than her stolen seat.
"I told you, right?
Don't be sloppy, but don't spill details.
Just say it looks like Count Sefer's tied to them."
"You did say that."
"And I said the fairy leading your attackers was caught.
But everyone at court knows he won't crack easily.
No matter the torture, he won't utter a word."
A pride-packed fairy yielding to human interrogation? Absurd.
They'd bite their tongue first—never spill.
"So Count Sefer's the only source of info left."
"But he's uninvolved in this, isn't he?"
"He'll claim so.
Doesn't matter anymore.
Like I said before, this is a grand show, not a truth hunt.
No crime? Make one. Got crimes? Inflate 'em till they're crippled, then devour."
"..."
"Most nobles have already turned from House Kashugar.
If no hard proof emerges and he's cleared?
They'll all see House Kashugar as a mighty enemy.
So they want him guilty even more."
"Meaning..."
"Even if Sefer swears innocence, no one listens.
Torture will pour to wring a confession.
Drawing a blade in the palace alone warrants execution for treason.
His power crumbles like sandcastles, assets seized, family chained to cells.
Anyone who fed at his table trembles under the royals' gaze."
Helen grasped Sion's aim.
Not mere death for Sefer—but vaporizing House Kashugar entirely, burying it beyond revival.
Shatter thoroughly, toy mercilessly, crush utterly.
Was this the compassionate young noble who'd risked life for soldiers?
The mana-less margrave heir of pitiful fate?
Doubtful.
"I offered a deal, you delivered what I wanted.
So I'm delivering your revenge in full.
Not satisfied?"
No way.
Helen shook her head.
Sefer's horrific end was the sweet future she'd dreamed of.
The enemy who'd stolen everything, shattered her cherished hopes.
If he died in utmost agony, she'd sell her soul to devils gladly.
"On that note, one question.
Satisfied with this deal?
Your cooperation, and Sefer Kashugar's end in return."
"...A bit more watching needed, but seems good."
"Glad to hear.
Truth is, I came for another deal."
Another?
Helen tilted her head at Sion's words, focusing intently.
Fairy senses, merchant instinct, woman's intuition—all screamed.
This man was perilously dangerous, yet irresistibly magnetic.
"You said massive losses this time?
I can cover them."
"...Joking?"
"Not pocket change, so I'm saying it straight.
Right, Helen Hainess?"
No bluff, no jest.
Sion was dead serious about helping mend her losses.
Tempting as merchant and woman alike, Helen perked her pointed ears in rapt attention.
"I've seen plenty of merchants.
One trade stands out: sells best, lowest risk."
"...What is it?"
Smirking at her question, Sion answered.
"The water business."
―――――――Afterword―――――――
A bit late, but weekend four-post marathon complete!
Recommendations...
No way...
You're not skipping, are you...
Wrote a side story too.
Posted two extras for four total...
If you skip...
.