Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: The Bookmark of Scandal (1)
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Pharenchia, which had developed into a commercial city alongside the academy's establishment, became the central hub for Penheim's logistics distribution due to its advantageous geographical position.
From the jewels and incense raw materials like dragon's tongue from the northern mining regions above, to the spices and silk from the southern Bachran below.
The entry and exit logs and item ledgers at the city gates, where dozens of carriages passed through daily, piled up to half the height of the desk in the office in just one day.
That was why Darling, the head of the Luhillen Merchant Guild, was always busy—it wasn't a matter of just a day or two.
Especially on Monday mornings during regular meetings, her schedule left no room to breathe.
"This year's wheat production is expected to decrease by about thirty percent compared to last year. Especially after the Roshiar invasion last time, the crops in the western granary district all suffered frost damage..."
"We've already received compensation from the Snow Duke for that, so that's settled. Buy grain from Osentury with silver. What's the situation with the academy guard unit's salaries?"
"There haven't been any major issues since you put in a word with the Chairman. However, some weapons are rusted and need replacing."
"Figure out the quantity and submit it by tomorrow morning. Oh, and Bill?"
"Yes, Guildmaster."
In the conference room where the executives of the Luhillen Merchant Guild had gathered.
Seated at the long rectangular table, they flipped through their documents while attentively listening to Darling, who sat at the head.
She was cool-headed but never oppressively tyrannical, so the atmosphere in the room remained fairly light even amid the busy proceedings.
There was only one thing to watch out for while their hands busily moved.
"According to the new commercial treaty recently signed with Lion & Iron, we're considering a plan to reduce taxes on certain textile items... Hey, you there."
"Yes!? Y-Yes!!"
"Where are you looking right now?"
"S-Sorry!!!"
Darling sat with her legs crossed on a chair several times higher than everyone else's, positioned so that all eyes looked up at her.
The mistake of the pointed-out executive—Dalton—was that his gaze had drifted not to her eyes, but to the stacks of cushions piled under her bottom.
Never treat the Guildmaster like a child.
It was the absolute taboo silently observed among the executives.
"After the meeting, I'll make an unannounced inspection of the forge you're managing."
"Ugh...!"
"Don't like that?"
"N-No, I understand."
A brief silence passed in the instantly frozen atmosphere.
"Sigh, then let's wrap this up..."
"Guildmaster."
At that moment, Bill whispered softly to Darling after hearing from a servant who had entered from outside.
Her face, which had been rigidly stern until just moments ago, lit up as she hopped down from her seat.
"Really!? He's here? Tell him to wait just a moment! I'll go right now!"
"Um... Guildmaster, what about our meeting...?"
"Hm? You all wait until I get back."
Bam!
Dalton broke into a cold sweat at the sight of Darling, who didn't take her eyes off him until the door closed behind her.
"That was close."
"Last time, Peterson made one comment about her being doll-like and ended up on night shifts at customs for a month."
"Better than that idiot who gifted Serutia's women's clothing as a bribe, got the size wrong, and got fired."
"Damn, I had a lunch appointment..."
Their colleagues' sharp glares were merciless as well.
Darling came out right away to greet me, even in the midst of her busy schedule.
Feeling sorry for taking her time, I planned to finish my business quickly and leave.
"I might be going to Scandal a week from now."
"Hm, it's opening a bit late this year. But what's a non-student like you going for?"
"If anything, as the princess's escort. Aren't you going, Viscountess?"
Clink.
She set down her teacup and said,
"I'm busy. Especially this year, I have to write a graduation thesis too."
"I see."
"What reward did you get to make you go along?"
"I heard something about a title..."
"Ridiculous. The student council president too."
Darling chuckled.
I thought the same.
What use did I have for a title, and no matter that she was a princess, could she just casually toss those around?
Penheim's territory wasn't vast enough to hand out nobility for a few escort gigs.
Thus, Erzebet's intentions were obvious.
Keep your enemies closer, as they say—it was an attempt to turn me, with whom she'd had minor friction so far, into one of her own.
If word got out that the princess's escort was a canteen owner, it'd be a laughingstock, but even a little meritorious service could lead straight to a medal.
Merit becomes medals, and piled-up medals become titles.
Loyal to the royal family—to me.
That was her true aim.
"If you need power, I can give it to you. How about the position of Luhillen vice-guildmaster?"
"No thanks."
"Or you could become the lady of the viscount's house."
"Even less."
To the guard unit or freelance knights, it would be a connection falling from the heavens.
But the only reason I accepted the offer wasn't just to curry favor with Erzebet.
Rather, I was interested in Scandal itself.
Of course, there were prerequisites to that.
"If Caroline Magdalene doesn't pass the exam, I won't go."
"You're concerned about her too, huh. Well, she's beautiful, and the rumors say her breasts are especially huge. That much to your taste?"
Not for that reason at all.
I cleared my throat and signaled the nearby servant to step out.
"What about that thing from last time?"
"Hm, the doll? I asked around the Lion & Iron guild, and they got a rough outline. It had transformation magic applied based on designs made here."
I took the small business card she offered and examined it.
Black paper with an elegant gold border embossed on it.
"'Box' Doll Workshop. They even have a trademark and are operating openly?"
"Exactly. But they're hard to find. No official stores anywhere in the kingdom, including Pharenchia."
"Then how do they sell?"
Quite curious.
But Darling kindly explained that cases like this were common.
"They sell discreetly by word of mouth to nobles who want luxury items. Especially Box's dolls—they're strictly serial-numbered and not even allowed in auctions."
"So if I say I want to buy one, I can meet those guys. What's the problem?"
"The problem is... saying you want to buy one..."
I was startled by Darling suddenly trembling and bowing her head deeply.
Her gloved hand clenched tightly.
"The workshop's dolls are all for infants! Only bought by noble families with kids! To even contact Box, I'd have to go around town shouting that I want that cute doll!"
The shrill cry echoing through the drawing room made the servant from earlier peek in through the door.
Indeed, that was why she hadn't contacted me first.
I lightly shook my head to send him away, then grabbed Darling's hand.
"Can't get it through contacts or other connections?"
"Even those who bought them don't know. The dolls themselves aren't as demonic as that one."
"Then there's only one way."
"......"
She pursed her lips tightly, clearly hating the idea.
However, weighing the situation, this was a problem that absolutely needed solving.
"Darling, you can do it, right?"
"Eek...!"
Calling her name made her shrink like a cat.
Not just because it was my request, but because it was important to Darling herself too.
The wise woman would surely endure a little humiliation.
No, maybe not so little.
Given her mature attire and rigid speech and mannerisms, she seemed extremely sensitive about it.
"I need that doll."
"A-Ah... No. My dignity built up all these years...!"
Dignity my foot, she had none.
"I trust you. Have it ready properly before I return to the academy."
"Grk...!"
I stood up, leaving Darling half-sobbing.
Honestly, I thought she'd look incredibly cute hugging a bear doll.
As Erzebet had said, the academic schedule board announced a "Selection Exam for All Grades for Second Semester Special Training."
However, even among the already difficult languages related to magic, Runes and Ancient Tongue were notoriously hard to master.
— Ah, what if I can't go to Scandal this year?
— It's a place you wouldn't go to anyway unless you're one of the top studiers.
— Still, just writing a good report after going there gives massive bonus points for magic tower entrance exams. Why hold it in the second semester... I forgot all my Ancient Tongue.
— Then apply as an escort or something. The knight division takes students with good grades.
It was a hot topic among students visiting the canteen, but most shook their heads in regret and moved on.
They knew who would be selected anyway.
"Boss, have you packed all your luggage?"
And Liv, the top of her grade, was comfortably among them.
I'd never heard of her failing at anything.
She was so confident that, without even taking the exam yet, she wore a happy smile while checking my travel bag.
Perhaps irritated by that, Adella crawled out of the icebox and declared to me,
"Teacher, I won't be at the canteen starting tomorrow!"
"Why?"
"Because I'll be studying all night! I'm getting into the top thirty too, so I can go to Scandal with you, Teacher!"
Adella had shown remarkable growth lately, so I felt a flicker of expectation—maybe?
She still exuded her airheaded charm, but her talent was Roshiar's greatest irregular, acknowledged even by Estelle.
After awakening her unique magic circuit, even geniuses like Liv felt threatened and couldn't openly ignore her.
Or maybe she was just watching me.
"See you in a week, Teacher."
"You really mean it?"
"Of course. I already got a library card. First-years don't have Rune classes, but we can access the books."
"......"
"I scheduled a study session with the princess too. She helped me a lot during midterms last time."
Adella gathered her notebook and pen from the counter with deadly serious eyes.
Then she flashed a confident smile at Liv and me while twirling her pen.
"Teacher, and senpai?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"Meet at the main gate."
Clack, clack.
Her figure vanishing with swaying blue hair resembled a general on a triumphant return before deployment.
Suddenly, I thought this must be the image of Roshiar that Estelle boasted about—victory after victory.
Indeed, the magic noble house, ruler of the North Sea, recipient of the Four-Leaf Medal.
That cold blood, passed down through generations fighting demons, flowed unyieldingly even in Adella's passionate heart.
A week later.
The day arrived when the exam results and selected personnel were announced.
"Teaaaaaacherrrrr—! Waaahhh!! Don't gooo!! Don't leave me behiiiind!!!"
"......"
"......"
'Sigh, figures.'
Beside me, Liv and Erzebet watched Adella bawling pathetically with looks of pity.
I quietly pulled out the keys to the canteen main door and the iron dogs' food storage bin from my pocket.
"I'll be back soon, so guard it well. All prices are tagged, just take the money."
"Waaahhh!! Nooooo!!!"
So noisy.
The group at the main gate gradually grew.
By the time the aquarium garden keepers appeared from somewhere and loaded a protesting Adella onto a cart to take her away, everyone had gathered.
Thirty students, escort personnel, and even the rare instructor for this training, Lehel Darad.
As the students lined up for the final headcount, Erzebet poked my side.
"Why?"
"Shh. Up front."
Turning my head, I saw Caroline, who had also passed the exam, walking toward us.
She seemed quite surprised to see me next to the princess, her sharp eyes widening round.
But soon, she lightly tossed her red hair and approached us.
"The saintess must be proficient in languages too."
"I learned various things in the church. Anyway... you seem pretty close with this uncle here."
"Not uncle, Louis."
"Sure, whatever. I'm Caroline Madale..."
But as I stepped forward to fulfill my escort role, an unexpected incident occurred.