Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: A Calculated Kindness
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“My lord, thank you sincerely for the invitation.”
Seeing Karic again after a month, his face was plumper than before.
A faint flush colored his cheeks; he had changed so much that Allen didn't even need to ask how he'd been.
“Think nothing of it. Please, have a seat.”
Allen slowly savored his food and shook his head.
It just happened to be mealtime, so he had invited him. There was no other intention.
“By the way, how has business been lately? Is everything going well?”
“Yes, my lord. Thanks to you, things have gone smoothly. Thank you.”
With a much brighter expression, he bowed his head to Allen.
'He certainly seems more at ease, unlike before when he looked so rushed.'
Allen demurred modestly, as if it were nothing.
“What have I done? It was all thanks to your own skill, Merchant Lord. Wouldn't you agree?”
“You flatter me, my lord. Hahaha.”
Karic hadn't forgotten that the profits he'd gained stemmed from Allen's favor.
And that this favor could be withdrawn at any time.
“But to forget such a favor and turn one's back would be worse than an animal.”
Wasn't this very opportunity to dine with him something he'd gained only by granting Allen's request?
“As a token of my gratitude, I've prepared a small gesture of sincerity. I would be grateful if you could check it later.”
Therefore, he hoped to maintain a good relationship with Allen going forward.
'The young lord is the one who will inherit this domain in the future.'
A man like him would lack for nothing.
But might he not occasionally need some secret funds? Or perhaps wish to acquire a discreet item?
Karic didn't even hope for a position as a close aide.
'It's enough if he sees me as useful, someone to call upon when he needs something.'
Even if he was treated as a coin purse to be used from time to time, it was a gain to have a connection to the future lord of the county.
Even if it was in decline now, the Count's family was still the Count's family. And who knew? Perhaps it would flourish again if Lord Allen became the next head of the family.
“I'll be sure to check it later myself. ...By the way, Merchant Lord, you seem quite adept at the dining etiquette here.”
Dining etiquette varied from region to region.
His pronunciation was slightly different from that of the locals, so Allen had been prepared to overlook any minor breaches in etiquette.
Unlike his proficient etiquette, Karic's accent was slightly different from that of a native of the Libre Kingdom.
The slight hiss when he pronounced certain words was a characteristic feature of people from the neighboring Kazak Kingdom.
“Yes, I plan to establish myself here. It's best to be thoroughly prepared, isn't it?”
“For someone so prepared, you have quite a mix of a Kazak Kingdom accent.”
“Well... haha.”
He replied with an awkward laugh.
“I came here as a child, following my merchant father. As a result, my accent naturally became a little awkward. Of course, I am trying to fix it.”
“Is that so?”
“It's difficult, as it's already become a habit. Hahaha.”
And so, Allen continued his meal, making idle chatter with Karic.
“Where did your trade route take you after the Harvest Festival? Since you can pass through the gates, anywhere should have been fine.”
“This time, I continued my trade centered around the western cities of the county.”
“The west... you mean toward Gavia?”
“Bergen, a bit further south of Gavia.”
The meal, which had begun with a light atmosphere and inquiries about each other's well-being, lasted for over thirty minutes, concluding only after the final dessert was served.
As the conversation naturally paused, Allen casually broached a new topic.
“By the way, Merchant Lord Karic.”
Karic realized the moment had come and straightened his posture.
“Yes, my lord.”
“Do you remember the last thing I said to you?”
Allen's tone hadn't changed.
A perfectly calm tone, as if asking about something mundane.
But Karic felt the atmosphere had shifted somehow.
The ability to change the mood with a single word, without any change in tone, expression, or inflection.
The very ability his father had told him countless times was essential for great success.
'...I still can't quite grasp it.'
Karic swallowed and composed his breathing. What was the reason he had headed to the western cities in the first place?
It was because he'd heard the merchant guild the young lord was looking for was there. If not for that, he would have continued trading toward his homeland, the Kazak Kingdom.
“Yes, of course I remember.”
“I can expect good news, I hope?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Excellent.”
As Allen smiled and nodded, the tense atmosphere that had gripped Karic vanished in an instant.
“I was almost disappointed, thinking you were about to ask for an extension.”
“Never, my lord. How could I?”
Allen spoke in a jesting tone, with a smile. But Karic couldn't help the chill that ran down his spine, feeling it was some kind of test or warning.
“In fact, they were the ones who urgently asked if I could arrange a meeting with you, my lord.”
“The Dyke Merchant Guild?”
“Yes. It's already a well-known fact over there... The merchant lord's eldest son is said to be cursed.”
“A curse?”
Allen thought of the Banshee's Tear tucked away in a corner of his room and asked for more details.
“Yes. Because of that, he's been continuously buying up any items related to curses, but the situation is quite grim.”
“...Explain in detail.”
“Well, the rumors say that the merchant lord's son—”
He swallowed hard, as if afraid someone might overhear, and said.
“—was afflicted by a witch.”
* * *
The Dyke Merchant Guild.
This guild was a fairly well-known, mid-tier merchant guild within the county.
A guild that supplied leather and medicinal herbs purchased from the Michelant Mountains, which surrounded the western and northern parts of the county, to the entire kingdom.
As Allen recalled, they would succeed in establishing direct trade with the elves in the future, growing into a major merchant guild with influence extending to other nations.
However, he knew nothing more about the guild than that.
It was only natural.
In his past life, he'd had no time to worry about such things.
At most, he had only met them to borrow money or acquire magical tomes.
But even if he hadn't wanted to hear it, he couldn't have avoided knowing that the man's son was cursed.
'...Soned, the lord of the Dyke Merchant Guild.'
Before his regression, in the drawing room of Soned's mansion, which Allen had visited to make a purchase, hung a portrait of a young man.
It was a famous fact that it was the portrait of his son who had died from a curse, so after a few visits, Allen naturally came to know of it.
That was why Allen had been preparing to meet him ever since his regression.
He had used Merchant Lord Karic to arrange a deliberate meeting and had waited for the right moment.
'Banshee's Tear.'
Half the reason he had taken the elixir was to repay the debt he owed the man from his past life; the other half was to execute a few plans through him.
'I hadn't thought this far ahead back when Julius said he was going to Gavia, but...'
The fact that the curse had recurred despite Julius subjugating the dark mages made his plan all the easier.
“Lord Allen. Is the tea perhaps not to your liking?”
Soned spoke in a careful tone, trying his best not to reveal his anxious expression as Allen held the tea in his mouth without taking any action.
Allen quickly swallowed the tea and replied as if nothing was wrong.
“Not at all. The aroma of the tea was so rich that I was just savoring it for a moment.”
“Is that so?”
Soned nodded, seemingly relieved by his answer.
Following Karic's guidance, Allen was able to meet Soned, the lord of the Dyke Merchant Guild.
He hadn't seemed to expect he could meet Allen so quickly, and he welcomed him with an outpouring of emotion.
“So, what was the reason you wanted to see me?”
“I understand that you are the heir to the Count's family, my lord.”
“That's right.”
“And also the rightful heir of El-Round, the guardian of the Michelant Mountains, the representative of all intellectuals, and the tunn—.”
“Just get to the point.”
Allen knew what he wanted.
'An item to lift the curse.'
If it weren't for that, a merchant who frets over every single loss would never bow his head so readily.
“I need an item that can lift a curse.”
At Allen's single remark, Soned stopped beating around the bush and stated his desire directly.
“Is this because of your son, who was cursed by a witch?”
“...Yes.”
Soned's face darkened at the question, and he soon gritted his teeth and continued.
“I've heard that the Count's family possesses an item capable of lifting most curses.”
“Yes, there is an ancient artifact passed down from generation to generation to the head of the family.”
“Th-then...!”
Soned immediately bowed his head, an attitude that showed he cared nothing for his pride.
“Please, I wish to purchase that item. If it is not for sale, I will return it immediately after lifting the curse. I will pay a suitable price for its use.”
He didn't hesitate, his face desperate.
“Just once is all I need. Please, I beg you, help me...”
“Hmm...”
Is this truly a father's love for his son, or an act to gain sympathy?
'Considering my past life, it's likely the former, but...'
Allen soon nodded briefly, as if it didn't matter.
“Alright. If you pay a fair price, there's no reason we can't make a deal.”
“Then...!”
“However,”
“...!!”
“Unfortunately, the family head's item is not something I can touch.”
As Allen quietly shook his head, Soned's face turned grim.
“Th-then, if I were to petition the Count...”
“That might be possible. But can your son hold on until you borrow the artifact?”
“That is...”
In his anxiety, Soned hadn't seemed to think that far.
'Perhaps even this is part of the act.'
Allen put on a deeply contemplative expression, then opened his mouth as if he had made a decision.
“Merchant Lord Soned, it's not that there's no other way.”
“Wh-what way is that?”
As he spoke, Soned looked up at him with eyes full of hope, as if grasping at straws.
“Inellia.”
At Allen's signal, Inellia, as promised, presented him with a luxurious box she had been holding.
“That box...?”
When Allen opened the box without a word, an elixir giving off a hazy, violet light revealed its presence, contained within a transparent vial.
“Could it be...!”
Hoping his suspicion was correct, he carefully voiced the elixir's name.
“Is that... Banshee's Tear?”
“Yes.”
“The one that can lift any curse...?”
“That is also correct.”
As Allen nodded, Soned spoke with an urgent expression.
“My lord, please sell me that elixir. I will be sure to pay the price. So please...”
Allen quietly shook his head.
How could Soned, a merchant, not understand the meaning behind Allen's action? He didn't hesitate to give the answer he thought Allen wanted.
“Whatever its value, I will pay double in kind. If even that is not enough, half a vial—no, a single sip will suffice. So I beg of you...”
Banshee's Tear was an elixir capable of lifting most curses.
Even the amount of a single sip would be enough to break a curse.
Curses were dangerous because items that could lift them were rare, and because they drove a person to death with great speed.
Otherwise, one could simply spend a vast sum of money, no matter how long it took, to acquire such an item.
Allen did not reply to Soned's offer, as if that wasn't it. Soned gritted his teeth and raised his offer.
“I am moved by your willingness to incur a loss for my sake, my lord. It must not have been an easy decision, so to be of help, I will provide a small monthly compensation...”
When Allen still didn't speak, Soned cursed him inwardly.
'Who's the real merchant here?!'
But what could he do? The other party held all the cards. He had no choice but to make a decision.
“This humble merchant wishes to express his gratitude for your deep commitment to helping my son. A share of the guild's...”
When Allen shook his head once more, he felt like he was going to lose his mind.
Compensation for the item, priceless treasures, monthly tributes, and even a share of the guild.
After offering all this, what more could he possibly want!
Soned's body trembled at Allen's tyrannical, yet not-quite-tyrannical behavior.
If his son's life weren't on the line, he would have stormed out of his seat in humiliation.
He'd heard rumors that Allen had single-handedly stopped a band of thieves for the sake of the domain's people, fearing the Harvest Festival would be ruined, but it seemed rumors were not to be trusted after all.
How could such a person be so greedy?
Allen smiled faintly, as if he knew what Soned was thinking, and then, timing it with his response, spoke a beat later.
“The merchant guild passed down through generations, to you, my lord...”
“I'll just give it to you.”
“...My loyal... pardon?”
As the man was struck dumb, Allen smiled as if he'd seen something amusing and answered again.
“How could one put a price on saving a person's life?”
“Then the share and the gifts...”
“They are not needed.”
Allen's crisp reply left him momentarily speechless.
'I can't act in a way that is unbecoming of my station.'
Being greedy here would only tarnish his reputation; there was nothing to be gained. The reason he had maintained such an ambiguous attitude until now was simple.
'To draw the merchant guild under his influence in the future.'
If he had proposed from the start that they come under his wing, would Soned have accepted?
He'd be lucky not to be cursed at and told to stop joking. Or perhaps he would have been forced to accept, only to be betrayed later.
But by showing a favorable attitude and magnanimity, Allen had won him over, and he would be forced to reconsider his opinion of Allen.
'That was Soned's personality.'
Otherwise, why would he have lent money several times to an Allen who had been stripped of his position as heir, with so little chance of being repaid?
And substantial sums at that.
'Even if he was confident he could collect from the family.'
He had a naive side, unbefitting of a merchant, and he knew how to honor his debts.
That was why Allen had waited for him to offer better terms, revealing his goodwill only when the man could bear it no longer.
'To bring him into the fold.'
Rather than take gold out of a moment's greed, it was more profitable to gain a person through a moment's patience.
“How could I be greedy with a father who is striving to save his son from a curse?”
“...My lord.”
For a moment, Soned felt ashamed for having misunderstood Allen.
Inellia and Linbelle, standing quietly behind Allen, nodded with proud faces, and Vestla, at Allen's hip, hummed in agreement.
“Thank you so much. And... I will pay you a proper price. I insist.”
“...No, really.”
“Then please, choose any item you desire from my guild's treasury. Anything at all.”
When Allen deferred his answer, Soned pleaded once more.
“...It's because my heart cannot accept it otherwise.”
“In that case, I will gratefully accept.”
He bowed his head, his face overflowing with emotion.
'...He might be helping me for personal reasons, but,'
with the intuition he'd developed over decades as a merchant, he sensed that the young lord wanted something from him.
'Even so...'
He thought that maintaining a good relationship with the young lord—no, forming an even closer one—would be acceptable.
Soned stopped his thoughts and quickly spoke, wondering if there was anything else Allen needed.
“My lord, is there anything else you require?”
“No, noth— Ah, yes. There is one thing.”
“What is it?”
As Soned spoke with an attitude that suggested he would grant anything, Allen opened his mouth.
“Could I see the curse your son is afflicted with for myself? I have some knowledge of magic, so I'd like to check it.”
Soned considered the true meaning behind those words.
'What exactly does the young lord want?'
His considerate attitude was too much to be seen as one-sided favor. Even a merchant guild of a noble house wouldn't receive such treatment...
But regardless of Soned's complicated feelings, Allen looked at him with a benevolent face.
“Who knows? It might be of some help.”
He smiled the smile he always practiced.