Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Spring and Yuria's Chocolate Donut (2)
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It was a lazy weekday afternoon, just like any other.
Perhaps it was because the shop itself was in a secluded area, even if we had more customers than before.
Greg’s emporium was so quiet that you could hardly see anyone passing by the window.
When I thought about it, it made sense.
This wasn’t some fantasy world where special materials or stolen goods endlessly appeared.
A general store in a world filled with all sorts of mechanical devices and magic that defied common sense?
What’s more, its location was barely on the fringes of the underworld, and there was no advertising to attract customers.
No matter how beautiful the employee was, the business model simply wasn't built for high demand.
At least these days, we were bringing in sales by featuring the top-class artisan, Karen.
But sometimes, I couldn't help but wonder if Greg had chosen the wrong line of business.
*Well, it’s not like he’s trying to become incredibly rich. This should be enough to not have to worry about his old age.*
Still, perhaps because he had an artifact that could assess an item’s value with considerable accuracy, and word had spread that his deals were far more reasonable than elsewhere…
The emporium was doing quite well despite all the unfavorable conditions.
Besides, anyone who bothered to come all the way to this remote place was likely looking for a sure thing, even if it meant paying more, so they tended to be generous spenders.
And from an employee’s perspective, working at a relaxed pace like this was much better than being rushed off my feet.
Greg really is the best. I swung my legs, which didn’t reach the floor, and thought quietly to myself.
Raven had texted earlier to say he had work until late tonight and that I should eat without him.
What should I have for dinner after work today? It was a truly serious dilemma.
[ “…Today marks one month since former Mayor Tempest stepped down from his position. The former mayor’s sudden announcement left officials and citizens alike in a state of utter shock….” ]
Just as I had painstakingly narrowed my options down to either curry or tacos…
A news report that made me turn my head flickered across the TV screen, which had been on like background music.
It was a story about it being a month since Tempest had resigned as the mayor of Nighthaven.
For me, it was still a story that felt profoundly unreal.
In the original story, Tempest had safely completed his third consecutive term with overwhelming support.
I couldn't help but feel the gravity of how the future had already been twisted.
*The fight against the Metahuman Liberation Army at the Sky Garden wasn't in the original story to begin with. I suspected something big would change, but…*
To think the aftermath would lead to Tempest quitting as mayor.
Publicly, it was announced that he had stepped down to recuperate from a worsening chronic illness.
But the truth, which I’d learned through Echo, was a severe injury with significant aftereffects.
To think this was the price for taking down two of the Seven Extremes from the Metahuman Liberation Army… it was an incredibly painful loss.
Of course, the Liberation Army, which had been trying to obtain the World Tree Seed, wasn't in a great position either, having lost valuable personnel and all sorts of high-level magic and curses.
But for our side, Tempest was something of a spiritual pillar.
The sentiment among the citizens of Nighthaven, in particular, was bordering on despair.
*I really can't just blindly trust my knowledge of the original story anymore. Haa, I guess I should figure out what to do about the Metahuman Liberation Army first…*
Feeling uneasy, I watched the news, which was still buzzing about Tempest, before grabbing the remote with my psychokinesis and flicking through the channels.
The new channel was a cooking show, with meat sizzling on a grill.
Perhaps because I’d had a light lunch, my mouth began to water as I stared at the screen.
As I was happily watching the spectacular fire show used to cook the meat…
Greg suddenly walked out from the back of the store with an uncomfortable look on his face and called out to me.
“Yuria, you there?”
“Eh?”
“I need you to run a quick errand. The repair parts those Twins sent over had some defective ones mixed in. They aren't the type to do that on purpose, so it must be a simple mistake… but annoyingly, I can't get in touch with them. I need you to pop over and get some proper parts.”
“Okay.”
The Twins was the nickname for two brothers who ran a parts shop in a remote area on the east side of Nighthaven.
Since our emporium also handled repairs for broken artifacts…
We usually got our artifact-specific parts from the Twins.
But to think that the parts from the brothers, who were famous for their meticulousness, had defective items mixed in.
It was such a rare occurrence that I couldn't help but find it strange.
Still, if it was just a few bad parts, all I had to do was swap them for good ones.
I took the defective parts from Greg and raised my hand high in a gesture that said I’d be back soon.
Greg said it wasn't urgent and that I could take my time, but it wouldn't be right for a mere employee to be gone for too long.
I planned to finish the task quickly and come straight back without any detours.
*The weather is quite nice. It's still a bit chilly, but I don't think I'll need a coat over my maid uniform.*
Leaving the emporium, I looked up at the clear, cloudless sky.
Perhaps because this winter had been so harsh, I felt no regret about the cold beginning to fade.
Without breaking my stride, I slowly lowered my gaze from the sky.
The streets of Nighthaven, filled with people of all kinds of unique appearances, came into view.
After all, it was hard to find any commonalities among the metahumans.
Thanks to that, my fox mask and maid uniform combination didn't seem to draw much attention, which was a relief.
I trotted forward, clutching the bag of defective parts to my chest.
Then, I tilted my head, spotting a large crowd of people gathered around something.
*Hmm? Is there some kind of event?*
I was incredibly curious. What on earth were they doing that had drawn such a crowd?
But this wasn't the time for distractions. I needed to hurry and exchange the parts…
Clutching the bag, my head kept turning in that direction, and I made up my mind.
It wouldn't hurt to just see what was going on. Greg did say I could take my time.
I sidled up to the crowd and perked up my ears to find out what was happening.
What I heard was the voice of an unfamiliar man, amplified by a megaphone.
“Nighthaven is currently facing an unprecedented crisis. Mayor Tempest’s resignation, the conflict with the Metahuman Liberation Army, the unexplained rampages… From a citizen’s perspective, these are terrifying times that make it impossible to sleep soundly at night.”
“Ugh… I can’t believe Mayor Tempest stepped down.”
“Is that damn war starting again? Damn it, I still have nightmares from my time as a soldier!”
“Oh dear, what’s going to happen to Nighthaven…?”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
The people, their faces grim, spoke in voices filled with an anxiety they could no longer contain.
The problem wasn't just that Tempest had resigned.
Amidst the growing unease across the world, coupled with news of the Metahuman Liberation Army resuming its activities…
The news of Tempest’s failing health—the man they trusted more than anyone—was like pouring oil on a fire.
But was there really a need to talk about such things in the middle of the street?
As I tilted my head in confusion, the man’s voice continued.
“Now that Mayor Tempest, the guardian not just of Nighthaven but of all humanity, has stepped down… someone must take his place! I, Kairon, descendant of the giants, will do it! I promise you, the citizens, that I will not let anyone lay a hand on you!”
Hmm, I had a feeling, but it was a campaign rally. No need for me to stick around for this.
My interest immediately waned, and I spun around, trotting away from the crowd.
Given my official age, I was a minor, so it was a topic I didn't need to concern myself with.
Of course, that was only because my race was human.
Beastkin, whose growth periods were shorter than humans, had a much lower threshold.
And I knew that plant-based metahumans, who took decades to mature, had a much higher one.
I wasn't sure what to think about metahumans, who were inevitably outnumbered, having the same single vote as humans…
But since metahumans were essentially outsiders on a planet inhabited by humanity…
I suppose it was something the metahumans had to accept to some degree.
Anyway, a campaign rally…
By the time the boisterous voice had faded into the distance…
I found myself lost in thought, my feet still carrying me toward my destination.
*A mayoral election. The chances of it passing without incident are… slim, aren't they?*
An election to choose the next mayor of Nighthaven, Tempest’s successor.
No matter how I thought about it, I had a feeling that something was bound to happen, and I couldn't help but sigh.
If I can't stop it, I can only hope that the people I know don't get hurt.
All I could do was offer such a simple prayer.