Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Snow Duke's Way of Thinking (1)
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The clothing of people walking the streets had become noticeably lighter.
Noble ladies carrying fans and parasols increased, as did tanners lying in the shade at midday, drying their leather while chugging beer.
Tailor shops saw a surge in sales of linen fabrics, and magic tool stores selling spellbooks and scrolls experienced a sharp rise in demand for ice magic-related items.
Under the clear blue sky, warm sunlight poured down. It was full-blown summer.
"Hot, huh, boys? Want me to splash you with some water?"
Sizzle!
When I poured a bucket of water over the red-hot iron dogs, steam rose up.
I gazed fondly at the panting creatures and began cleaning the now-quiet canteen.
First-years were off on field training, second-years on magic seminars.
With final exams over, the academy was bustling in its own way, but that meant no more customers at the canteen.
Yes, it was vacation time.
Countless students boarding teleport carriages to head home for the break.
Professors returning to their magic towers for a breather and to resume research.
Even the security guards, with lighter duties, borrowing the training grounds for volleyball.
Of course, some students stayed behind for salon events or extra classes, but generally, Pharenchia Academy became a ghost town this time of year.
In other words, running the canteen brought in barely any profit.
But I'd been through this every year, so I'd gotten used to it.
This period was when I brainstormed new business ideas and enjoyed some personal time.
What to sell next semester?
Surprisingly, cute dolls seemed popular even among the macho students. Maybe stock up on those?
As I pondered, a familiar student approached lightly, like a butterfly.
It was Liv, who had been smiling a lot more lately.
"Boss, what're you doing?"
"Cleaning."
"Want some help?"
"No need to..."
Before I could stop her, she darted into the basement and fetched the cleaning tools.
Truth be told, since returning from Sandalphonia, I hadn't rehired Liv.
Same with Adella, whom I'd left in charge briefly.
With all the incidents piling up, the timing for them to work had passed, so I probably wouldn't hire part-timers over break.
Still, both Adella and Liv dropped by the canteen now and then.
Just never together.
"Boss?"
"Alright, thanks."
"Sure thing~."
I knew why.
Unlike the last time when they'd wrecked the place, Adella had been half-pushed out by Liv, leading to an unspoken agreement not to invade each other's territory.
No more tense, bloodcurdling standoffs like before.
Except Liv always came smiling, while Adella looked sulky, deep in thought.
"I'll handle the windows."
Liv stood on tiptoes, stretching up, sweat beading on her forehead.
Without AC, the canteen got brutally hot in midsummer.
Sure, there were crude cooling units powered by magic stones or ice magic scrolls.
If you could stomach the insane costs—nothing like Earth's progressive taxes, but still.
Willis Carrier, I miss you dearly.
"Ha... it's so hot."
After cleaning, Liv pulled tea bags from the cooler and brewed some.
She flicked her fingers like playing piano keys, and ice cubes plopped in.
As she handed me a cup, sitting beside me at the counter, a question popped up.
"Baroness, you can use ice magic too, right?"
"Yeah. It's elemental."
"Then couldn't you cool this place down?"
"Well..."
Liv scratched her cheek and traced the table with her fingertip.
"If I wanted, I could make the whole area nice and cool. But I inherited the unique magic path, remember?"
"Right."
"The biggest advice I got was not to get too lost in illusions. Magic's convenient, but it can dull life's sensations too."
Like the symptoms Lehel was dealing with.
I got that completely.
"A-and I like the heat. Especially when I'm with you, Boss..."
"..."
Her words only made it hotter.
Liv fanned herself, embarrassed by her own statement.
I averted my gaze, my neck prickling, when I spotted a familiar toy peeking from her bag nearby.
"Baroness, what's that?"
"Oh, this? It's called a Magic Cube."
It looked like the standard 3x3 Rubik's Cube kids on Earth played with.
A cube with six faces, each painted a different color.
But according to Liv, it wasn't your average puzzle.
It was a training tool to get used to casting magic.
"The whole cube has a unified enchantment carved in. Match one face or combine the split patterns right, and it triggers the corresponding spell."
She twisted it skillfully, and a small water jet sprayed upward.
A few more turns, and it blared a trumpet fanfare or flashed bright light.
"Can I try?"
"Non-mages can't. It consumes mana... but wanna give it a shot?"
I took it and tried turning—nothing.
Forced it harder, and it made an ominous crunch.
"D-don't break it! It's super expensive—I borrowed it from a friend!"
"How much?"
"Over 50 gold each."
"That much?"
Hard to believe for a tiny wooden block.
Still, reluctant to let go, Liv slyly took it back and guided my arm around her waist instead.
It was so seamless, I wondered if she'd used magic after all.
"J-just touch here instead..."
Like taking candy from a baby? She thought I'd drop it if she let me touch her belly?
My brain said no, but my hands preferred soft flesh over hard wood, naturally pulling her closer.
Liv let out a soft "Eut..." but seemed relieved, carefully stowing the cube in her bag.
"The core tech's from a magic tower. Heut, it's required for second-year classes, so demand's high."
"Which tower?"
Hearing that, I thought of stocking them at the canteen after summer break.
Essential for students, compact for shipping.
Hell, I wanted one myself.
Liv shivered slightly, recalling.
"Uh, probably Peck Magic Tower. Rumor is the Chairman made a killing on Magic Cube royalties a few years back... Ahut, yeah."
"Nice. Good for her."
Then maybe I could import them at cost... er, procure some.
I had business with Lehel anyway.
Time to get back the doll she recovered for me—presumed to house a demon god—and maybe try curing her gambling addiction.
Smashing her ever-present Monwang Battle orb might be too much?
Felt like I was just taking from her.
"Anyway, thanks, Baroness."
"Eut... Sure."
She nodded reluctantly as my hand slipped away, hiding her disappointment.
Penheim Kingdom's northern reaches, Roshiar County, Edenberry.
Blue Rose Knights' Captain Siegfried sighed again today, tearing and burning a letter from the mountains.
"Hoo... When will the family head emerge?"
He knew their concern for the Snow Duke's safety, but it was a public secret.
The word "defeat."
She lacked emotions, but not personality.
It had cracked Estelle's icy pride badly.
He couldn't recall the last time he'd seen the reclusive head.
The silver lining: with her away, the lake hadn't frozen, reducing demon incursions.
The recovering knights were on break too, but morale was low all the same.
Then a letter arrived at the Roshiar estate.
"Family head! Family head!!"
Siegfried pounded the frozen door with his massive fist.
No response inside, but reading the letter aloud elicited a faint voice.
—What...?
"Lady Adella—our young miss—has awakened her unique magic path."
To inherit it, one ripped out their heart and severed emotions.
Eerie as it was, for heartless Estelle, "how" mattered less than the fact.
Clank!
"Family head!?"
Her mechanical mind always chose the rational path to bolster Roshiar and conquer demon lands.
Adella awakening it—and failing to wield it, seeking aid—was reason enough to end her seclusion.
"To Pharenchia."
"...I'll prepare immediately. Summon the knights?"
Facing the weary head, Siegfried asked. She shook her head softly.
No need for force this time—no swords.
What her logic deemed necessary was...
"No. Prepare the whaling ship first."
"Pardon?"
Heading to Pharenchia as-is would just draw attacks from resentful soldiers.
So Estelle would dangle bait to make Luhillen Viscount permit entry.
"I'll procure Dragon Flame Incense."
Invading without declaration before, now offering compensation unasked.
Overkill itself.
But Roshiar operated that way.
How could merchant blood hold knightly pride?
Luhillen couldn't refuse.
Estelle knew and exploited their power precisely.
Thus, she erred but never failed.
Except once—
"Louis, was it...?"
"Ah, that guy from then. Yes."
"What was his deal?"
"We... couldn't find out. Our intel network's weak, and after the incident, we haven't reached out to the royals first..."
"Enough."
In her mind, Louis was the enemy.
The man who'd pried Adella from the family, shaming Roshiar.
'He beat a grand duke like me, so naturally Luhillen, the royals, or Reincarnation Duke hid him as a secret weapon.'
She endlessly revised her assessment upward.
Hiding fury under a cold mask, she took up her spear.
"Next time we meet... I'll freeze him forever."