Reunion
Inside the walls of Poltable.
So this is the place?
The first location Juhan sought out within the city was, unsurprisingly, the Verhart baronial estate—where Karun was said to be staying.
He stopped walking for a moment and looked up at the building.
It certainly lives up to the name…
As befitting the residence of the city's ruling house, the mansion was grand and opulent—so much so that Baron Enton's estate could hardly compare.
Staring at it, Juhan found himself swallowing a dry laugh before he even realized it.
Ha.
That Karun…
The situation was, for some reason, a little amusing.
Here he was, not seducing anyone at all—still scrambling just to free himself from the Bell and the Metal Plate—and yet Karun had already settled comfortably into a baronial mansion.
Step. Step.
"Hmm?"
Of course, lingering outside a noble estate like that was more than enough to look suspicious to anyone watching.
"Who goes there!"
"What do you think you're doing, loitering around the mansion?"
Perhaps it was because Juhan's clothes marked him as a perfectly ordinary adventurer. The guards made no effort to soften their aggressive tone.
I should probably be grateful they didn't just yell at me to get lost.
Not that Juhan particularly minded. This level of reaction was already generous.
In a world where class hierarchy and feudalism still reigned unchecked, there were nobles who would thrash a passerby simply because they felt like it. Compared to that, these guards were merely doing their jobs diligently.
Step. Step.
"What's this?"
Rather than back away from their open wariness, Juhan walked closer.
"I've come to see someone."
"What?"
"You?"
He had a clear reason for his visit—one that should have been enough to grant him entry without obstruction.
"I was told a man named Karun is staying here. He said I could come by anytime."
"You've come to see Lord Karun?"
At the mention of Karun's name, the guards immediately switched to the honorific—Lord Karun.
Looks like he's been getting the full VIP treatment after all.
While Juhan watched them with that thought, one of the guards spoke again—this time far more politely.
"…What is your relationship with Lord Karun, if I may ask?"
Their attitude had shifted dramatically. The way they kept stealing glances at him was almost funny.
What is our relationship?
The question made Juhan pause. For a moment he genuinely didn't know how to answer.
Come to think of it, we never actually decided on a cover story.
Before they parted, Karun had only said he would put in a word ahead of time, and that Juhan should come whenever he liked.
Master… no, definitely not that.
He nearly said "Master" out loud. Thankfully he didn't, or the misunderstanding would have been catastrophic.
Should I just say we're friends?
While he was still sorting through his options, one of the guards—who had been quietly studying him—spoke up carefully.
"…If I may. Would it be all right to ask your name?"
"My name? Ah… I go by Juhan."
He answered without much thought. The moment the name left his mouth, both guards jolted as if they had committed some unforgivable crime.
"L-Lord Juhan?!"
"Oh, damn it—!"
They scrambled into apologies so frantically it was almost startling.
"W-we're so sorry, Lord Juhan!"
"We had no idea you would be coming… it wasn't intentional, we swear!"
"…Excuse me?"
Juhan could only stare, bewildered by the sudden change.
"Hey! What are you standing around for? Get inside and report this!"
"R-right!"
One of the guards bolted into the mansion in a full sprint.
"I-I'm terribly sorry, Lord Juhan… but that fellow has gone in to deliver the news, so you will receive the hospitality befitting your station shortly."
"……"
Of everything the guard said, the phrase that stuck hardest in Juhan's ear was hospitality befitting your station.
Just what exactly had Karun been telling these people?
A short while later, the main gates creaked open. Someone approached from within—an elderly man in a crisp, immaculate uniform. He bowed with deep formality and gave a small gesture inviting Juhan to follow.
"I was told you are Lord Juhan."
"…Yes, that's right."
"Please, allow me to escort you."
"……"
Watching the whole production unfold, Juhan simply gave up trying to make sense of it and fell into step behind the man.
"I understand you have come to see Lord Karun."
Juhan nodded.
"Yes, that's right."
That much was true. His plan had been simple: meet Karun, exchange a few words, stop by the cathedral to check on the Bell, and leave Poltable the same day. Even at the slowest pace, a single day should have been more than enough.
But the old man's next words made it clear his timing could not have been worse.
"Ah… Lord Juhan."
"Yes?"
"I regret to inform you of this only now, but Lord Karun is currently away from the estate."
"Karun isn't here?"
"That is correct. He did not leave word as to when he would return, so I am afraid there is little more I can tell you."
Juhan clicked his tongue inwardly. After coming all this way, the man himself wasn't even home.
Well. Then there's no real reason for me to stick around.
If someone had simply told him at the gate that Karun was out, he would have turned around and left without a second thought.
I came all the way inside for nothing.
He was about to say he would come back another time when the old man continued.
"However."
"?"
"The young lady has said she wishes to receive you personally."
The man conveyed the message with careful courtesy: the young lady of the house was preparing to greet him herself.
"I would be most grateful if you would accept. She has long looked forward to the day she might meet you."
"……"
Karun, you bastard. What the hell have you been doing with the young lady that she's this eager to greet me in person?
A short while later, following the elderly steward's guidance, Juhan arrived at a room that looked like a drawing room.
"My lady. I have brought him."
"Ah."
Waiting inside was a young woman who turned toward him with wide, innocent eyes.
"So you are…"
"Then I shall take my leave."
The door closed. Only Juhan and the young woman remained.
Is she the type who doesn't mind being alone in a room with a complete stranger? That little caution?
He was about to speak when she beat him to it.
"Lord Juhan. I have heard so very much about you."
She lifted the hem of her dress ever so slightly and offered him a graceful, refined curtsy.
"You are the one person my beloved Karun has ever truly praised—the man he holds above all others."
"……"
For a moment Juhan had no idea how to respond. She didn't seem to notice—or care—about his silence, and simply continued her introduction.
"I am Luina Verhart. If it is you, Lord Juhan, you may simply call me Luina."
"…I couldn't possibly. Lady Verhart."
He waved a hand in polite refusal. Luina watched him with a small, knowing smile, as though she had expected exactly that answer.
"You may find me a stranger, Lord Juhan, but I do not feel that way at all."
"……"
"I suppose one could say I already feel a deep sense of inner familiarity with you."
Juhan no longer had any idea what he was supposed to say. The atmosphere was so warm that if he asked her to lend him a hundred gold coins on the spot, she would probably smile and hand them over without hesitation.
"…Karun must have talked about me quite a lot."
"Oh, of course. About you, Lord Juhan…"
The mention of Karun's name made her cover her mouth with her fan, smiling to herself as if she could see his face right then.
Then she looked back at Juhan with a new question.
"Lord Juhan, if I may…"
"Yes?"
"Would it be terribly rude if I asked you to join us for a short while?"
"Join you?"
He echoed the request, not quite understanding. Luina explained at once.
"You see, I already had a prior engagement scheduled for this very moment."
"…Then—"
"But the moment I heard you had arrived, I set everything aside and came running."
She had frozen her entire schedule just to meet him.
"If it would make you uncomfortable, you are welcome to wait elsewhere. I will finish as quickly as I can and return—I only ask that you wait a little while…"
She paused, then added:
"But there is someone I very much want you to meet as well."
Someone she insisted on introducing him to. Juhan's curiosity lasted only until her next words.
"She is truly remarkable—honestly, her growth has been almost frightening."
"What sort of person is she…?"
"Her organization is still relatively small, but within Poltable she runs a merchant group that everyone knows by name."
Luina nodded to herself, then continued.
"Her eye for people, her business sense—there are times I simply cannot understand how she makes the judgments she does."
"……"
"I firmly believe that one day she will become a merchant lord who holds the entire continent in her grasp."
"She's that impressive?"
"Absolutely."
Listening to Luina heap praise without pause, Juhan found a small spark of genuine interest flickering to life.
Making a face-to-face connection probably wouldn't hurt.
Even if he was heading to the Holy Kingdom, there was no reason to refuse an opportunity to build useful connections. Who knew when he might need the help later?
"Well then… I suppose a brief conversation wouldn't hurt."
"Truly? I knew it… I was certain that was exactly what you would say, Lord Juhan."
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock sounded from outside the drawing room.
"My lady. The head of the Hanju Merchant Group has arrived."
"Yes, show her in."
The door opened with a soft creak.
Click. Click.
A woman stepped through the doorway.
Who is that?
Juhan started to turn his head to get a proper look at her face—
"I'm sorry for suddenly changing the location. A distinguished guest arrived, so…"
"Not at all, my lady. Please don't give it another thought."
The woman answered with a light, easy laugh—and the moment Juhan heard her voice, he froze mid-turn.
……
It was a voice he knew far too well. A voice he had heard until he was thoroughly sick of it.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is Lord Juhan."
"……"
"And this is the head of the Hanju Merchant Group—Lady Liru."
Slowly, Juhan finished turning his head.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Juhan."
"……"
Standing there, offering her hand for a handshake with a bright, welcoming smile, was Number Four—Liru herself.