What Kind of Place Is District 7?
What kind of place was District 7, really?
"W-why do I have to go somewhere like that?"
"I seem to recall hearing you say you blew through the budget at the Dowon Festival."
The moment he brought up money, Veronica's mouth worked soundlessly.
"Okay, yeah, that's true, but…"
"You said you planned to enroll in Magic University after graduation. Even if you cover the tuition with the scholarship from your sponsor, there's still living expenses, dorm fees, textbooks…"
With every place she would need money lined up one by one, Veronica's expression crumbled in stages.
"In my view, just the shop work and the maid job over the break won't be enough."
"I was already planning to take on one more job…"
"This is a chance to earn a large sum all at once."
"I get that, but… you sound exactly like a con man when you talk."
Fair point.
From Veronica's perspective he was an underworld boss casually pushing a high-paying side hustle on her. Suspicion was the only sensible reaction.
"Just heading south and there's money to be made? Planning some kind of expedition gambling trip?"
"Isn't gambling your specialty?"
The very reason she had been suspended.
"Back then I was still all messed up after contracting with the spirit…"
"What exactly did that spirit do?"
"It threatened to cut the contract if I didn't pay what I owed right away. According to the terms, either I paid the arrears with interest or I prepared to forfeit my body."
That sounded even more like a loan shark.
"What the hell… is the Spirit of Abundance even…"
Even if the spirit insisted that true abundance lived in a full wallet, it was no better than a private moneylender.
"So when I needed cash fast, that was the only way. Cards… I was confident with cards."
She lowered her voice, clearly not proud of the admission.
"I've been training my hands without meaning to ever since I was little."
It sounded like the pickpocketing Laward had once mentioned.
Just what kind of place was District 7?
He would never have reason to go there again, yet curiosity stirred all the same.
"Seems you've still got a lot of punishment left to take."
"I'll admit I'm a woman with plenty of sins. And that a year-long suspension isn't enough…"
"Being able to move your hands freely is a real strength. Just don't use it for that kind of thing."
"If not for that, then what am I supposed to use it for? It's not like I learned it because I wanted to. I had no choice if I wanted to survive."
"An instrument, maybe."
"Ha."
Veronica openly sneered.
"An instrument? Can you even picture me playing one?"
"Why not? Doesn't the Academy have classes like that?"
"No, it doesn't. More importantly, you talking about instruments is even weirder. You sound like you've actually played one."
"I can."
"What…? You can play an instrument…?"
"Is that so surprising?"
"O-of course it is. That's something only nobles do."
He was a noble, for the record.
"For people like you and me, that kind of luxury…"
"I'd rather you not casually lump us together. I'm different from you."
"Yeah, different. You're the boss of a criminal guild. An instrument, though… which one?"
"Piano."
"Ugh. Even less fitting."
She scrunched the corners of her eyes, but she didn't look displeased.
"An instrument… If you can do it, there's no reason I can't."
"Exactly. That's what hand skill is for. Anyway—the South. I'm interested in the southern Grand Duke's mines, but I don't know much about minerals or gems. It would help if someone who does came along."
He spoke while looking into Veronica's jewel-like eyes.
"If you've got that, go pack."
That was the surface reason. In truth he saw it as an excellent chance to strengthen her.
The heroines' real power.
To bring it out, the right conditions had to be met, or the heroine was hiding it, or her heart simply wasn't ready.
Veronica was the first type.
Like Lucia, conditional.
Compared to Lucia, whose condition was a full night's sleep, Veronica's was simpler still.
Money.
More gems.
After watching her fight at the Dowon Festival, he had felt the potential more clearly.
She had shown different abilities depending on the gem she used.
Using the southern Grand Duke's mines as an opportunity, she might find ways to handle even more jewels.
In reality he could simply hand her money and gems as her sponsor, but she was stubbornly insisting on earning it herself.
Apparently taking more support from her sponsor made her feel guilty.
She was strangely earnest in the oddest places.
"Didn't you say you wanted to earn money with your own strength? So I'm giving you the chance to handle a large sum yourself."
"That's the part that makes you sound like a con man… And what about the kids if I'm gone?"
"Kids? They're not that little."
They were about six or seven.
"…They're babies to me! Cute little babies."
"And it's break right now, so it shouldn't matter. The maid was hired late, so you weren't around when you were actually needed, but now…"
Mid-sentence a clattering racket rose from the stairs.
Someone was racing up them.
…Here it comes.
Bang!
The door simply opened, yet it sounded like a shell had gone off.
"Karma-nim!"
Lucia arrived in a manic state that outstripped even Rebecca's usual energy.
"I heard you called Senior Veronica up to your room in secret…"
She spun her head quickly, scanning the room.
"…and I got here, but it looks like you haven't started yet!"
"I have no idea what you think was about to start, but we were just finishing the conversation."
"Ah, so it was just talking! What a relief. If anything like that was going on I was going to insist I go first!"
"Again, I still don't know what 'first' is supposed to mean…"
Veronica, on the other hand, stared at Lucia in pure disbelief.
She looked her over again and again, unable to accept that this was the same Lucia she knew.
"Lu… Lucia?"
He understood.
He had been the same at first.
"Lucia. I'm planning to take Veronica with me for a while. That all right with you?"
"Hey, who said you could just—"
"Yes? Where are you going?"
"South. Sorry, but you'll have to look after the little ones while we're gone."
"Yes, what a relief! I was actually worried I'd have nothing to do over break and might get fired, so this works out perfectly! I was having such a hard time bringing it up with Senior."
"…Lucia?"
"Have a good trip! I'll keep everything safe here!"
There.
Solved in an instant.
Kids that age had the kind of stamina that wore out even dogs, but the current Lucia would outstrip that easily.
Better than a taekwondo dojang.
"There you have it, Veronica."
The companion for Grand Duke Oskar's invitation was decided.
He had considered checking on Rebecca before leaving, but put it off until later.
After what had happened last time, barging into Akikira's mansion felt awkward in more ways than one.
With that incident still hanging there…
Akikira had said she would contact him once Rebecca was better, so there was no need to rush over.
Better to delay it as long as possible.
"You acted like we were leaving right this second. Why are we here?"
The place he and Veronica arrived at was a clothing shop quite popular in the marquisate.
An upscale store targeting the middle class and nobility.
"Look at yourself."
Veronica was still wearing the maid uniform she used at Houndry.
"You look exactly like my attendant."
Honestly, that thought was rather enjoyable on its own.
"Tch, yeah, I guess…"
"Change before we go."
"Fine. I get it, but can we go somewhere else?"
"Why? Nothing you like?"
"This place is scary. The price tags."
She trembled as if she were standing in front of a haunted house.
Hmm.
Ghosts.
Chronos floated unbidden into his mind.
"If that's the issue, I'll buy it."
"What? Why all of a sudden?"
"We're going to meet the Grand Duke of the South. We should show proper courtesy. Dressed like that you'll feel small, so at least put on something decent."
"Who's feeling small?! Wait—the Grand Duke of the South…?"
"Did I not mention that?"
"W-we're going to a grand ducal house?"
"Just saying 'duke' would be rude. He's one of the seven great lords of this country."
"Why were you invited somewhere like that? No—am I even allowed to go…?"
"See? You're already shrinking."
"…You just don't understand nobles."
"Is that so."
He left it there and opened the shop door.
Unwilling to waste time on clothes shopping, he had the staff recommend pieces and had her try them on in rapid succession.
Whether she was satisfied with the clothes was secondary; Veronica had worn a look of pure wonder from the moment she stepped inside.
She emerged shyly from the curtain in a dress that left her shoulders bare.
He had claimed he didn't want to waste time, but…
There was no way he would simply skip the "picking out a heroine's outfit" event in this dating sim of a game. And besides—
"H-how does it look…?"
As if she knew the cliché herself, Veronica asked bashfully.
Unfamiliar with the clothes, her cheeks had flushed a soft pink.
Seeing that expression, at least the time hadn't been wasted.
Neither had the money.
For all her grumbling earlier, once she had the dress on she was clearly reluctant to take it off.
"What do you think?"
He tossed the question to the clerk.
Naturally the clerk launched into the usual praise about how the clothes made her look radiant, etc.
From a sales perspective she was practiced at emphasizing the customer's beauty, but—
"I asked you."
Veronica's stance seemed a little different.
"I don't really know about these things."
"Ha… fine."
"Shall we go with this one?"
"…Yeah."
Veronica nodded with an uncharacteristically timid face.
He paid immediately.
"You're not getting anything?"
Ever since obtaining the ring he hadn't bought clothes.
He could change into whatever he wanted just by thinking about it.
That was how he had carelessly ended up naked last time, but he no longer made that mistake.
"I've got clothes already. I'm fine."
He brushed it off casually.
"Th-thanks."
She said it as they left the shop, bag with the maid uniform in hand.
"Sure."
Looking at that maid uniform suddenly brought the magic-tool shop owner to mind.
"Speaking of which—the owner of the magic-tool shop."
"Hm? What about the boss?"
"Does she supply other places regularly?"
"Well, yeah. She delivered to the military academy last time, remember?"
That was true.
Even the mages of the Magic Tower used her goods.
"Seems she has more influence than I thought."
"Well… she doesn't look it, but apparently she graduated from a prestigious university. Everyone acknowledges her skill at least."
"Hmm. Is that so."
"Why do you ask?"
"No reason."
He had simply been wondering whether that person had existed in his previous life as well.
Come to think of it, the reason he was still hiding his identity in front of Veronica was entirely because of that shop owner.
Well, she would find out someday…
"We're here."
While he was thinking they arrived at the station.
The train's departure time was near, so he set the thoughts aside and finished the procedures.
It would take quite a while to reach the South.
"This is the second time."
"Yeah. Never thought I'd ride a train with you twice."
Veronica carefully lifted the hem of her dress and stepped into the carriage.
At that moment—
"Oh, Daywin! Is that you? It's been far too long! Where are you headed?"
The lord of this territory, Marquis Fred, raised a hand toward him just as he was about to disembark.
Clearly, toward him.
Toward the him who was currently hiding his identity from Veronica.
In that instant Veronica whipped around to face him.
"Daywin…?"