This is Business, So Aaaah!! ♥ (2)
"Haa..."
I let out a sigh and read the letter from the beginning again.
To Rian Ludwig.
We are the Pension Merchant House S&P500.
We inquire whether you have any intention to collaborate with S&P500 to produce as actual products the 'Orc Aphrodisiac' described in your work Childhood Friend Rape, and also the 'Anal Cleaning Slime' depicted in the same work, which we judge to have sufficient commercial potential.
This part was fine.
It was a bit unsettling that the letter was addressed to 'Rian Ludwig' instead of 'Nakadashi'...
But it could still be seen as a normal business proposal.
Therefore, we wish to meet with you in person, Rian, to discuss. The location has been set to S&P500 for smooth prototype demonstrations, but the date and time will be adjusted to your convenience, so we kindly request a positive reply. Detailed address...
This part was a little nagging too...
But the real problem came next.
Additionally, if there is no response to this letter, we inform you that we will have no choice but to attempt contact through other channels. We ask for your understanding that in this process, unintended 'mistakes' may occur, potentially exposing the relationship between 'Rian Ludwig' and Teacher 'Nakadashi' to third parties.
They'd beaten around the bush, but the conclusion was simple.
—Come meet us. If you don't, we'll spread Nakadashi's identity.
"...A blackmail letter, huh?"
Tap-tap-tap.
I drummed my fingers on the desk as I thought.
How did S&P500 figure out that I'm Nakadashi?
The people who currently know Nakadashi's identity are Topaz, Sister Lapis, and Kidian—just those three.
Slash.
First, I ruled out Sister Lapis, who was physically impossible.
After all, I'd only told her I was Nakadashi a few hours ago.
For her to tell S&P500 in that time and have them send a letter already?
'...No way that makes sense.'
Next was Topaz.
Obviously out of the question.
What would Topaz gain from blackmailing me, logically speaking?
Money?
As I said earlier, she handled most things that weren't absolutely necessary on her own.
'She even takes her salary as needed from the start.'
In the extreme, if Topaz had bad intentions, she could siphon off most of my fortune.
That left only Kidian as a suspect...
"...Why would Kidian blackmail me?"
No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason for her to.
Blackmail requires something to gain, right?
What kind of family is the Necroport house!
One of the empire's five great families.
Even in terms of pure financial power, they rival for top spots among the great houses.
Even if, by some chance, the Orc Aphrodisiac or Anal Cleaning Slime became massive hits, it'd be pocket change to the Necroport family.
'The only possibility is...'
Because of The Gloomy Lady Who Falls After 100 Days...
Swoosh.
My gaze drifted to the dedicated drawer where I'd collected Kidian's letters.
Something ominous was still creeping up.
But... would Kidian, with her personality, really reveal Nakadashi's identity to others?
'She'd probably do everything to keep my identity secret instead.'
Think back to when I met Kidian at the hotel.
"I-I absolutely!! Won't do it!! I swear! E-Even my soul if I have to..."
She'd want to keep me as her own little precious secret author, not share with anyone.
In the end, if none of the three leaked info to S&P500...
"Hmm..."
It meant S&P500 figured it out on their own.
I'd known my identity might be exposed someday, and I could feel that 'someday' getting closer.
The only issue was the timing.
'If it gets out before the Glacia banquet, that'll be a problem...'
If it became known now that the Ludwig count family's youngest son was Nakadashi...
Whether good or bad, a flood of handshake requests was guaranteed. If possible, I wanted to reveal it after the banquet.
Creeeak.
At that moment, the study door opened.
"...Young master Rian, are you here?"
I looked up to see Topaz standing there, rubbing her eyes.
In nothing but one of my shirts—a tantalizing sight.
"Yeah, Topaz. Sleep well?"
"Yaaawn... Yes. I slept well."
Her lips were still pursed, like she wasn't fully over her anger yet...
But coming to find me right after waking up meant last night's 'persuasion' had worked.
"Topaz, sorry, but I gotta head out again for a bit today."
"...Where to? Don't tell me you're going to Yuribellin Church again..."
Zap.
I waved my hand at Topaz's eyes, which were entering alert mode.
"No, it's real business this time."
"Hmmm... You said that last night too, didn't you?"
"..."
True enough.
But this time, the situation was totally different!
I could excuse the church nun as dangerous, but logically, what trouble could come from a blackmailer!
"The Pension Merchant House S&P500 sent a business proposal... I think I need to meet them."
"...Pension Merchant House?"
Topaz approached, eyes still narrowed in suspicion.
Plop!
"Let me see it."
"Huh?"
"The letter. I usually check them."
Her expression showed no intention of backing down.
'...Can't hide it, huh.'
Swoosh.
I casually covered the blackmail part and showed her only the top portion.
"It's real... Orc Aphrodisiac? You're seriously planning to make this?"
"What's wrong with Orc Aphrodisiac?"
"...So much to say, but... Isn't this against imperial law?"
"How could something that doesn't exist violate the law?"
I shrugged as I replied.
"...So you're heading out right now?"
"Yeah. I'm pondering the next work anyway. Might as well get some air."
"Ugh... Since when were you so diligent..."
Swoosh-swoosh.
"I'll be back before dinner. Sleep more."
"Today... don't be late..."
I could feel Topaz's displeasure...
But no choice.
Didn't I learn this in my previous life?
If they were waiting for a reply...
I had to go straight to them and strike first.
Bubble! Bubble!
Amethyst gazed at the pink liquid boiling in the flask.
"...Right now?"
Drip! Hiss-!
A drop of reagent fell into the flask, causing the pink liquid to swell briefly before turning clear.
"Heh, perfect."
Swoosh.
Amethyst carefully moved the flask as she thought.
'So when will the young master come?'
The author of Childhood Friend Rape and Church Nun Blackmail Training, which shook the empire.
Rian Ludwig.
'Three days at soonest. A week at latest?'
Amethyst was certain.
That Rian would definitely come.
Because she'd clearly felt it while reading the novels he wrote.
'For sure... he's one of us.'
That Rian was a different breed from ordinary people like herself, in his very way of thinking.
Thump! Thump! Amethyst's heart pounded fiercely.
In her long life, she'd never been so sure someone was 'the same kind' as her.
Ding-a-ling—! Bang-!
"Where's the owner!! Get out here now!"
At that moment, the door flew open roughly, and an enraged voice echoed through the shop.
'Oh my?'
Amethyst blinked.
It had only been a day since sending the letter...
'Hehe... The young master is more impatient than I thought.'
Click!
Amethyst lit the kettle and stepped out from the workshop.
"Pardon me, but who might you be to seek me so urgently?"
"Hah, you're the owner here?"
Swoosh.
Amethyst, now at the counter, quickly scanned Rian from head to toe. Contrary to expectations, he looked like a typical arrogant noble young master.
'Hmm... A variable? Not bad, though.'
The more they thought themselves clever, the easier they were to fool.
"Oh, customer. S&P500 is closed for a while, as posted out front..."
"Closed my ass!! You sent that letter, right?"
Bang!
Rian pulled a crumpled letter from his pocket and slammed it on the counter.
"You knew who I was when you sent it! Explain how you found out!"
Swoosh.
As prepared, Amethyst immediately bowed her head.
"First, my apologies, Rian Ludwig."
"...?"
"My eagerness to meet you in person led me to overstep. The last part of the letter... I thought you wouldn't meet otherwise."
Amethyst's voice, head bowed, carried sincere remorse.
...Of course, it was all an act.
Thud!
"I'm asking how you found out."
Rian brushed off the apology and got straight to the point.
Seeing this, Amethyst nodded inwardly.
'Knew he'd ask.'
Every time she hired someone to tail him, some mysterious 'interferer' appeared.
It meant the young master had his own countermeasures.
—Swoosh.
Amethyst pulled out a vial of blue liquid.
"What's this?"
"Fox pheromone extract."
Amethyst lightly shook the vial as she explained.
Slosh! Slosh!
"Pheromones extracted from fox beastkin in heat. It's a pure substance with no mana, so no detection magic, no matter how advanced, can pick it up."
"..."
"I soaked the letter in this and sent it to Teacher Nakadashi at the publishing house. Then I tracked the letter's path using trained animals that can detect the scent."
"Tch, a mana-free substance... That's why detection missed it."
Rian's reaction was surprisingly calm.
'...Interesting.'
She'd expected him to rage...
His curiosity about 'how' seemed greater than his anger.
"Haa... So. You want to contract with me?"
"Yes. Precisely... an exclusive production contract for all items that appear in your future novels."
The moment she mentioned exclusive contract, Rian's brow furrowed slightly...
Beeeep—
And at the same time, the kettle whistled from the workshop.
"Ah, the water's boiling... Care for some tea?"
"...Sure."
"Please wait a moment."
Step-step.
Amethyst entered the workshop, lips curling—
"...Hehe! Right on plan."
Drip-drip.
She poured the freshly completed 'Orc Aphrodisiac' into Rian's teacup.