Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Doppelganger (4)
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Dusk settled in, and a tranquil night arrived.
The salon blazed with light, and as gas lamps flickered to life along the streets, the petals on the trees mingled with the glow, casting colorful patterns onto the brick paths.
Liv sat at the counter, watching the students stroll down that street.
The heirs of noble families boarded carriages in outfits that screamed they were far more splendid than the street itself.
Once lectures ended, they headed out to theaters for plays or to reserved restaurants for elegant dinners.
In contrast, the footsteps of customers visiting the canteen grew fewer and farther between.
Signaling the end of the day's business, Liv stood up and took a quick lap around the shop.
It was time to clean and close up.
She shook out the oil paper holding the bread on the shelves and replaced it with fresh sheets, then restocked the toilet paper in the restroom.
She neatly arranged unopened packs of notebooks and magic scrolls, noting any missing items for inventory.
Oddly enough, the calming potions had sold unusually well today.
Around afternoon, the harried administrative officer had swept in and bought every last one in stock—even dragging her to the basement to clear it out.
'The boss will be thrilled.'
Potions like those were premium goods, leaving a hefty margin.
Finishing the inventory log, Liv returned to the counter and glanced at the clock.
It was already 11 p.m.
Louis was taking quite late to return.
Was the lecture running longer than expected?
Or had he gone out shopping in the streets?
She really ought to lock up soon—
"Ah, right."
Liv remembered she still had one task left. The warehouse was a mess from pulling out those potions earlier.
She hung a [Closed] sign on the door, grabbed the key from the lockbox, and unlocked the basement door.
Clunk. The heavy lock released with a resounding thud.
The basement, sealed behind a thick wooden door, held a jumble of dusty odds and ends.
Louis had told her not to come down unless absolutely necessary—he'd handle any heavy lifting from the warehouse himself.
But she often checked the basement for stock counts.
"There we go—one box left after all."
Tucked in the back amid stacked crates was a box of the potions she'd thought were all sold out.
After verifying the label and updating inventory, Liv bent down to place it on a visible shelf.
"Huh?"
That's when she noticed a crooked passage leading deeper into the basement.
Approaching cautiously under the blue electric lamps, she found an old wooden door—crafted ages ago—standing half-open.
Gulp.
Liv swallowed hard and stepped forward carefully.
Louis was extremely reluctant to let anyone into the basement.
He shared so little about himself—who he was, what he'd done.
Even when he stayed out this late, she couldn't guess where he'd gone.
So what did she know about the boss—
A twinge of guilt, a spark of curiosity, and a touch of chance nudged her slender back forward.
'It's probably nothing.'
From Liv's perspective, Louis seemed like a fairly frivolous man on the surface.
Cheerful, or perhaps just lacking decorum.
Sure, startling bits of knowledge occasionally popped from his mouth, but he was mostly the type calling her "Baroness, Baroness" and reveling in her embarrassment.
Nothing special behind that door, then.
Likely old cleaning tools, dust-caked antiques, or at worst, some naughty books.
Not suspicion of Louis, but to quell her own doubts, Liv pressed on.
And when she finally pushed the door open, she collapsed right there on the spot.
The basement.
Flickering old magic stone lamps, cobwebs on the ceiling, dust blanketing the shelves, warped linoleum on the floor.
Stock scattered haphazardly, yellow stains on the walls, red rust on the handles, a dead black rat at her feet.
But the inner chamber—
Impeccably clean.
A stele stood beneath a pure white upper lamp evoking warm sunlight (?).
Dozens of wreaths and bouquets encircled it, not a petal wilted.
The surroundings and air were spotless, wiped daily without a speck of dust.
This sacred, otherworldly scene revealed a side of Louis utterly absent from his everyday demeanor.
"Ah..."
Liv staggered toward the tombstone.
What stirred a massive wave in her heart wasn't mere shock at a grave in the basement.
[Numquam Obliviscatur Votum]
No deceased's name, no death date, birth date, cause, or last words—
Just those three words etched into the blank stone, carved as if a sharp sword had ripped out her heart.
The moment their meaning hit her, tears gushed from Liv's eyes.
[Never forget the vow.]
What story led to burying someone here without even a name?
And why did Louis tend this place with such devotion?
She pictured his joyful face when sales rose after hiring her.
Never imagined he harbored such painful history.
Clunk!
Suddenly, from above—someone picking the lock on the main door.
Only one person had the key. Liv bolted from the small chamber housing the stele.
—Baroness Liv~? Already clocked out?
The boss was back. What now?
First, she hurriedly exited the passage and shoved the obstructing wooden crate back in place.
As Louis peeked into the open basement door, she clutched her notepad, feigning inventory check.
"Ah, there you are."
"Found an inventory error, so I came down to double-check while waiting for you, Boss."
"I see. You could've gone ahead."
"It's fine. How'd the lecture go?"
"Uh, yeah... All done. Processing afterward made me late."
Liv emerged from the basement with Louis.
"Shouldn't you head back to the dorm? Curfew's soon."
His words sounded like urging her out, as if her presence made him uncomfortable.
But Liv knew better.
It was consideration for the employee he'd kept waiting late.
How had she been so oblivious despite his awkward kindness?
Having lost her memories to the Litvice Test Paper, Liv found fresh courage to reach for Louis's past, bit by bit.
"You're right. Time to go."
"Yeah. Take care..."
"It's late tonight—could you walk me to the dorm?"
That hand no longer gripped a cane with cold hostility like before.
As the salon's lights dimmed and insect chirps filled the path, she never dreamed she'd utter words befitting a haughty noble lady: It's late, escort me.
"Sure? Alright then."
Louis agreed without hesitation to walk her.
No fancy carriage, no polished escort—just raw kindness.
Still, a small smile curved Liv's lips.
Hmm, this is taking forever. The academy's grounds are way too vast.
I rarely wander around, so I hadn't realized, but walking Liv to her dorm really drives it home.
No wonder carriages ply the campus.
"......"
"......"
As expected, our Baroness Liv was extremely quiet, leaving only silence on the walk.
If it were Adella, she'd chatter nonstop, distracting me to no end, and by dorm arrival, every student would know she was there.
Liv might regret this already.
Normally, asking for a ride home after a shift implies a carriage, right?
She probably didn't expect me in slippers.
Hmm, maybe get a carriage?
"Boss."
"Yes?"
Lost in pointless thoughts, her voice came from beside me.
Worried she might quit over the late shift, I turned—only for Liv to glance over with a calm expression.
"You said you went through the Great War, right?"
"Well... yeah."
"So you had comrades you fought with?"
"Yes. They're scattered now, though."
"What were they like?"
I pondered her question.
If she learned my identity—would she resent me for remembering Paris Greenwood's death?
No reason to spill about Whitelett and Terra either.
"Just ordinary guys like anyone else. Always yapping about post-war dreams after battles."
"Really? Like what?"
"Hmm..."
I rewound to the past.
Whitelett vowed to hold the front against demon remnants invading the kingdom.
Terra aimed to perfect the ultimate unique magic piercing worldly truths.
Nova had to feed her home salamander, and Eris...
"Wanted to travel. Freely roam the whole continent."
"And you?"
"Me?"
Obvious, isn't it?
"Said I'd become a god."
"Pardon? A god?"
"Landlord. That's why I'm here now."
"What? Pfft...!"
Liv let out a small laugh at my words. First time seeing her smile.
"That really all?"
"Well... One more."
"What?"
I hesitated, then looked skyward.
The pollution-free night sky bore a Milky Way vast enough to launch a ship upon.
"Said I'd make their wishes come true."
"Their wishes...?"
"Yeah."
Recalling Eris's wish I'd shared with Liv, I nodded.
"Promised to help her travel, no matter what."