Heading North (3)
A short conversation, but he'd gleaned a lot from it. Libera was genuinely hated by her senior. The tone, the look in her eyes, the atmosphere. And the word "rough" didn't even begin to cover her aggressive language. Probably because she thought she was alone with him and dropped her social mask.
"She's not a kind person, is she."
"Uh... um."
"What's wrong?"
"N-no, nothing..."
Libera eyed Dante warily. A bug tamer mage? She'd never even heard of such a thing, and she had no desire to get close to one. But... she'd already spilled so much.
She bowed her head. "I have nothing to say."
"Why is that?"
"...I ended up bothering you during your trip, Sir Dante."
Dante chuckled softly. "If I hadn't known, I wouldn't have cared. But now that I do, whether I care or not is up to me."
"..."
"Just one question. Do you want to keep working for this train company, Miss Libera?"
Libera bit her lower lip. Keep working here?
"You're still new. Rather than suffer through the physical and mental strain, it might be better to find something else."
"That's... true, but..."
Dante was right. Better to quit and look for another job than deal with constant nitpicking from her seniors. But Libera couldn't answer easily.
"If I quit the company... I don't know what I'd do."
She murmured like a sigh. "No decent jobs back home. The ones in the city might be better than this, but who knows."
Dante observed her gently. "How did you get hired here, then?"
"...The interviewer just said this job suited me..."
Libera shyly brushed her hair aside. Dante didn't know the details, but something clicked. Was she hired for her looks?
No, details didn't matter. Objectively, Libera's appearance was outstanding.
Dante circled her once. "S-Sir Dante...?"
Libera panicked, but Dante nodded. Definitely. With looks like that, she'd do well anywhere.
"Ever thought about switching jobs?"
"Pardon?"
"Since we're at it, let's make it official. Quit this company and switch. I'll write you a recommendation."
Libera cried out in bewilderment. "A recommendation...? To which company...?"
"Petaconia Merchant Guild."
"???"
"I'm acquainted with Countess Shabrilla Petaconia. Seeing your talent, I think she'd like you too."
Libera's mouth fell open. Petaconia Merchant Guild! The massive corporation endlessly expanding stores across the northern Empire! In the north, every town had at least one. Incredible influence.
And he was friends with its owner?! An imperial noble...! Amazing...!
"W-what talent do I have...?"
"You have a charm that draws people in. Countess Petaconia likes that sort of person."
"!"
He'd phrased it politely, but it was basically saying she had a face that worked even in romance fantasy worlds.
Dante was certain. The countess would welcome her. Worst case? Ask his father to slot her into the family business!
He thought lightly, as rich young masters often did—no worries for them.
"We'll reach a station run by Petaconia in a few days. You can get off briefly and talk then."
Dante smiled faintly. "If you want, Miss Libera."
"I-I'm... it's all so sudden and bewildering..."
As Libera hesitated, Dante added, "Of course, the choice is yours. But fortune's goddess has no back of the head. Missed chances don't return."
"!"
Libera snapped to attention. He was right. Some decisions come only once in life, at the biggest crossroads. Miss them, and they're gone forever.
"I-I'll do it!"
Libera shouted. Dante nodded.
"Good. Rest a bit, then we'll negotiate."
"Yes!"
Dante chatted lightly with Libera, then headed to the dining car. To lay the groundwork.
In their chat, Dante gained an unexpected windfall.
"Why are you heading north, Sir Dante?"
"For academic research. As you saw, I'm a bug mage. There are unique bugs only in the north, so I want to study them."
"Uh... um... bug research... yes. Impressive."
"Your reaction's too fake."
"S-sorry. I have nothing to say."
As expected, Libera had zero interest in northern bugs. Dante sighed inwardly. You don't get bugs' coolness! ...Totally normal! Sad, but inevitable. Who cares about creepy bugs? Especially a pale-skinned beauty like her.
He hadn't expected her to know bugs anyway. What he wanted was elsewhere.
She seems pure Carmilton blood.
That snow-white skin typical of northerners. If pure Carmilton, she might have info.
Dante baited casually. "Rumors say northern security's bad. Carmilton Liberation Army? Some armed group active there."
"Ah... yeah, I know. Lots in my town."
"...?"
Dante hid his reaction, watching her. As expected. She knew something about the Liberation Army.
"Lots in your town?"
"Yes. My father's a carpenter. His buddies are all rough types. Idle guys in the Liberation Army show up often."
Libera spoke excitedly. "They're rough, but they're northerners! If you're going somewhere dangerous, I'll tell my dad! If I ask ahead, it'll be safe!"
"That's reassuring."
Dante smiled oddly. Her father friends with Liberation Army thugs? Worth investigating.
"Shall we go negotiate, then?"
"Ah... yes!"
Libera trailed after him. Dante strode into the dining car, scanning for people. The baronesses from dinner. They huddled in a corner, chatting intently.
He approached without hesitation. Their eyes locked onto him.
"..."
"..."
Silence. Any normal person would've fled those stares. Multiple women staring is intimidating!
But not for him. As he met their gazes silently—
"...Um."
"What brings you here...?"
They averted their eyes first, fussing with hair and clothes—emergency primping.
They welcomed him demurely. Sudden, but no one minded. And Dante felt nothing special. He'd seen plenty like them at balls.
"Sorry for the abrupt visit. Could you spare a moment?"
"Yes? What's it about?"
A normal guy might get "What the—? Get lost!" But they listened graciously. One even pulled out a chair.
Dante sat without refusing. Libera watched, impressed. True noble... such charisma!
Of course, the free wine from dinner helped their goodwill. They'd accepted favors, so no sharp reactions. It was "free" anyway, so he'd milked the credit.
"It's this. I learned something unfortunate by chance."
"What?"
"Bullying among the train staff."
"...?"
Dante eased in. A staffer faced unfair treatment; he'd witnessed it and wanted to help.
"That's awful," one murmured.
They'd tilted heads at first—"Random?"—but by the end, sympathized with the "poor staffer." Super empathy!
"If it's happening, we should help," she said.
Others tilted heads? Sounded right, but... Our job?
Someone spoke up boldly. "But... isn't that for staff to handle? Or her to solve herself...?"
Why us? We're just traveling ladies.
Nods of agreement. But—
"Sometimes problems are too big for one person."
"..."
Dante spoke, and opinions flipped instantly.
"At first, I thought outsiders shouldn't meddle. But... aren't we nobles?"
"...!"
"This isn't just personal—it's injustice in imperial society."
"That's...!"
"If we can help those in need, isn't that fulfilling our noble duty?"
The agreer beamed; others frowned. But things flowed his way.
Twenty years as an imperial noble—he knew what baronesses hated: moral defeat!
Imperial ladies obsessed with morality, almost instinctively. They yearned to be pure, clean, just, kind girls.
Wanting and doing were different. Being "good" sounded nice, but truly good was exhausting. It meant sacrificing for others! Bowing first hurt pride.
Most "acted" good, rarely lived it.
"Morally and ethically, I want to help her."
"..."
Dante eyed them like, Are you selfish bitches? No one dared say, "Nah, don't wanna help some stranger."
They wanted to be moral and kind! So inwardly groaning—
"Oh my~ I'm for it too~!"
"Yes~! As nobles, we must fix imperial injustices!"
"But we're daughters of powerless barons... what can we do...?"
Dante smiled slyly. Support secured—goal met.
"I'll handle helping her. Your words give me strength."
He bowed elegantly. "Thank you for the tough choice. Ladies aiding the troubled are the Empire's jewels."
"...!"
He bowed first; they grinned, irritation gone. Praise is sweet. Moral superiority sweeter!
"No! Helping the needy is obvious~!"
"Just what anyone would do~ Bullying among commoners must end!"
"You're all so kind."
"Sir Dante's so cool~! Your heart, I mean!"
"A-and looks too...!"
Giggles erupted. Job done. Dante rose.
"Ah! Sir Dante! If you haven't lunched, join us..."
"Sorry, I have business."
"..."
They pouted, but whatever. Dante took Libera to the manager's office.
"? Do you need something?"
No beating around. Dante cut straight. "I want to terminate Libera's contract here."
"...Pardon?"
He nodded to her; she stepped forward.
"I-I'm quitting."
"...Quitting? Suddenly?"
Libera nodded. The head manager froze, unsure what to say.
Dante watched, arms crossed. Wise words would help. But whatever the answer, he'd get what he wanted.