Chapter 165: The Person I Wanted to Meet
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 165: The Person I Wanted to Meet
“Yeon-woo, we have a guest in the Men-Only Hall.”
“Another nuisance?”
I was busy taking friendly selfies with the customers in the main hall. Who was trying to ruin the mood now?
When I looked up with a frown, Owen chuckled and shook his head.
“He said he knows you. I heard it from Jade, so I’m not sure who it is, but he didn’t seem like a troublemaker.”
Who could it be? Even if it’s a guy, if they’re looking for me, shouldn’t they at least see my face before coming in as a customer?
Tilted my head at the strange guest who had done things in the wrong order, I stepped into the Men-Only Hall.
“Yeon-woo. It’s been a while.”
What the hell is this demon doing here?
He had hidden his horns, but the sheer audacity to sit in the middle of Yggdrasil sipping coffee so casually was impressive.
Let’s see… his name was… what was it again?
“It’s Logard Bachman. I’m hurt.”
Ah, right. That was it.
Seeing my expression and reading my thoughts, Logard gave a bitter smile and elegantly raised his coffee cup.
He was the demon who had come to find me after I saved Veronica, tried to play matchmaker, and then got shut down by Yukina.
Shouldn't we be done with each other? He should be following the game’s story and worrying about Akito.
“Pereruza beans roasted with the fire of Brutani? It perfectly captures that elusive, delicate acidity. You certainly have a refined taste in coffee.”
I appreciate being the only guest so far to actually recognize the coffee, but could you please stop intimidating our customers?
This is a shop where shy gentlemen, drawn by the dream of maid uniforms, gather.
When a well-dressed, handsome middle-aged man like you sits right in the center looking like he’s posing for a photoshoot, it makes our shy gentlemen lose their confidence.
“I didn’t think I’d see you again, but here we are sooner than expected.”
As I sat across from him with a blunt expression, Logard let out a charming laugh that further discouraged the other gentlemen.
“Hahaha, didn’t we agree to be on good terms? To maintain a good relationship, one must meet often.”
“I believe I only said I’d think about it. Whatever—forget that. Why are you here?”
There was no way a high-ranking Zboni would be wandering around a school festival just for fun. And there was no way he came just to see my face.
Logard leisurely took in the aroma of the coffee and gave a small smile.
“Regrettably, this time I truly did come just to see your face. I was here on other business and decided to stop by to see you and your fiancée while I was at it.”
This sly old fox. He never misses a chance to mention the "fiancée" part.
I glanced at Yukina, who was serving in the corner. She was pretending to be indifferent, but the corners of her mouth were twitching slightly.
“As if I’d believe… Ah, did Lilia come?”
“…You always manage to surprise me. Is there anything else you’re going to shock me with? I’d prefer it if you told me in advance.”
“Why else would a Z— a human like you be here? It’s easy to figure out if you know the circumstances.”
“The world is mostly populated by ordinary humans who cannot do the things you consider ‘easy.’”
He’s laying the praise on a bit too thick.
And since I’m not an intelligence-based character, being complimented like that just feels like a burden rather than a mood booster.
“Is that so? Well, it was nice seeing you. Enjoy the festival. And while you’re at it, feel free to spend plenty of Wit here.”
“Wait.”
As I moved to stand up, Logard raised a hand to stop me.
Of course. He had something to say after all.
“Could I order one of those ‘Magic Coffees’ to give to Lady Lilia?”
“… …”
At Logard’s words, Yukina and the Comedy Duo all turned to look at me.
Since the three of them had been on the mission when Akito broke Lilia’s seal, they knew who she was.
However, the looks the Comedy Duo and Yukina gave me were different.
The Comedy Duo, who didn’t know Logard’s true identity, looked curious as to why Lilia’s name was coming out of this man’s mouth.
Meanwhile, Yukina, who knew both about the Magic Coffee and Lilia, looked absolutely horrified, as if asking if I was actually going to sell it to her.
“Uh… why are you trying to give coffee to a kid?”
I am a normal, decent gentleman.
No matter how many hundreds of years she’s lived, her time was simply frozen while she was sealed. I couldn't give Magic Coffee—which contains my secret something—to someone who is still essentially a child.
I spoke with an awkward laugh, but sensing the gazes around me, I realized I had misspoken.
At the word "kid," even Mary and Jade, who didn't know Lilia, stared at me with expressions of pure shock.
“Haha, she must begin learning etiquette befitting her status soon, and it would be good for her to get used to the taste beforehand. Normally, one would start with black tea, but if it’s the Magic Coffee that every woman is said to love, it should suit her palate and serve as a good starting point.”
“… …”
“May I request just one cup?”
“… …Uh… no. The recipe isn’t finished yet, so there’s an age restriction. In fact, it might… make her hate coffee altogether?”
“Hmm, is that so? That is a shame. But why have you suddenly switched to formal speech?”
Because I’m panicking, you bastard.
As I stammered out an answer, Yukina, Mary, and Jade returned to their work as if nothing had happened.
Once Logard left, the Comedy Duo swarmed me, pestering me with questions about whether Lilia was a lady from a prestigious family. I gave them vague answers while lost in thought.
Did Lilia originally come on the first day of the festival?
There was an event, but I didn't remember the specific dates in detail.
Did I do something to influence Lilia? Was it because of Logard? Ah, come to think of it.
“Didn’t you say Haruna was coming today?”
“She’s already here. She’s probably looking around the festival with Somi.”
“What?! Haruna is here, so why are you still in the shop? Your family is here, what are you doing?”
Mary, surprised by Yukina’s answer, jumped in and started pushing her, forcibly clocking her out.
“But there are so many customers…”
“That’s why we’re here. Leave this place to me and go.”
Pushed by Mary’s persistence, Yukina was practically chased out of the shop.
…Hey, I was supposed to see her too.
I quickly informed Owen that I was taking a break and ran after Yukina.
* * *
[If you are interested, why not buy one?]
Lilia’s guardian spirit—more accurately, Logard’s clone—spoke to her.
Lilia, who had been staring intently at the Rainbow Cookies sold by Yggdrasil students—cookies that changed flavor with every bite—shook her head.
‘This is Akito’s money. I shouldn’t spend it recklessly.’
[Did your benefactor not tell you to use it as you please? Refusing too much is also a breach of etiquette.]
Because she had been staring at the cookies for so long as if she wanted them, Logard encouraged her once more.
Though a clone, it didn't have a human form; it was a wisp of soul-fire about half the size of a fist, visible only to Lilia.
Lilia watched the flickering Logard as if he were a tempter, then shook her head again.
Akito had broken her seal and was helping her live in the human world. She couldn't impose on him any further.
With his help, she had obtained a proper identity and was attending school, so Lilia knew well how much pocket money ordinary children had.
Right now, she wasn't Lilia Vid Norbert of the Zboni world, but just an ordinary girl. Such extravagance didn't suit—
“I’ll take everything from here to here.”
“Oh my~! Thank you so much! Is there anything else you need?!”
The student, who had turned into a festival-exclusive merchant, bowed and flattered a young girl.
“Aren’t you buying too much?”
“Oppa told me to spend as much as I want. This is a chance to raid Oppa’s wallet without having to worry about Unnie. Somi-unnie, let’s buy this expensive one too, quickly.”
“Did I fail in her upbringing?”
“I’m a good girl in front of Oppa and Unnie. Hehe~”
Lilia knew that bright, smiling girl.
Her name was Haruna, right?
They weren't in the same class, but they were in the same grade, so she had seen her a few times at school.
Despite her pretty looks, she was a quiet girl who didn't stand out much.
She carried an expensive bag, but she never bragged about being rich. She was diligent and mature, so the teachers praised her often.
“Unnie, Unnie. Let’s buy this too. It’s only 10 Wit.”
The girl who had been so quiet at school was now noisily sweeping up all sorts of items sold at the festival.
Both her wrists were lined with bracelets that constantly changed shape. On her head, she wore a bunny ear headband, followed by cat, tiger, and even cow ears—every headband that had been for sale at the booth earlier.
And that wasn't all. Sunglasses that shot lasers, a bag with a talking rabbit character, a chameleon T-shirt, Rainbow Cookies, bubblegum that grew as big as a person if you could blow it, soap bubbles that randomly came out in animal shapes…
The reason Lilia, who had come to the festival for the first time today, could recognize all the products Haruna had bought was because they were all things she had wanted to buy herself.
Items that would make any child go wild were draped all over Haruna’s body. Lilia stared blankly at her, seeing a side of her that was completely different from school.
“Wow… give me four of each of these… Huh? Lilia?”
Haruna, who was buying small statues of dancing animal characters, spotted Lilia and approached her with a delighted expression.
“Hi, Lilia! You came to the festival too!”
“Ah, uh… hi.”
“Was I too friendly? Sorry.”
“No, it’s not that. You’re just so different from how you are at school.”
“At school… well, the teachers are there? Hehe—is it too much?”
“No, I like you better this way.”
In fact, her energetic appearance and bright smile made Haruna look even cuter than when she was being quiet.
At Lilia’s compliment, Haruna laughed shyly and handed her a handful of Rainbow Cookies.
“Hehe—here, have some. I tried them, and they’re fun.”
“I’m fine…”
“Let’s eat together. I was getting tired from walking around anyway. Want to sit over there?”
At Haruna’s invitation, Lilia rested with her for a while.
The two spent time sharing the snacks they had bought.
Although Haruna did most of the talking, her stories were interesting, and Lilia lost track of time in their conversation.
In the process, Lilia learned about Haruna’s family and circumstances.
Contrary to what she saw at school, Haruna’s family itself wasn't wealthy.
She said she had a benefactor with a strange original magic called Super Rich, but no matter how much Lilia heard, it just sounded like money, which confused the innocent Lilia.
‘Is there really a magic called Super Rich?’
[I suspect it is merely an expression.]
Listening to Logard’s advice, which others couldn't hear, Lilia grew suspicious of this "benefactor."
An "Oppa"… No matter how little she knew about human society, a person with the wealth to provide a house and even hire someone like Somi couldn't possibly be young.
To force not only Haruna but even her older sister to call him "Oppa"—he had to be a bad person.
He visited the house every day, called the older sister out late at night, and among the various gifts, there was even underwear. He was clearly a lecherous human being.
Fortunately, seeing Haruna’s bright personality, it seemed his evil clutches hadn't reached her yet.
‘If I tell Akito-oppa, could he help… but…’
It would be shameless to ask for help from Akito, who had already helped her so much.
However, she couldn't just ignore Haruna’s situation.
Though they had only truly gotten to know each other for a short time, Lilia had grown fond of Haruna’s bright charm and untroubled personality.
[Leave that to me. I do not know who this fellow is, but I will certainly deal with him.]
Just as Logard was promising to save Haruna from that perverted "Oppa," someone approached them.
“Why are you here? I had a hard time finding you.”
“Oppa! Unnie!”
Haruna jumped up, ran toward the owners of the voices, and leaped into their arms.
“Whoops. You’ve got so many things on your head.”
“I bought some for you and Unnie too. Hehe~”
It was a voice she wasn't used to, but it lingered in her memory.
With a sudden thought, Lilia looked up at the owner of the voice.
“Oh? It’s been a while, Lilia.”
It was that man.
The man who had pretended not to know she was a Zboni, the man who had warned her that using her middle name might get her caught… The meeting had been brief, but he had left an impression as strong as Akito’s.
As Lilia stared blankly, Logard’s voice reached her ears.
[My apologies, My Lady. I… do not think I can deal with him. And… it seems the part about him being a pervert was a misunderstanding…]
Even if it wasn't a misunderstanding, she must not deal with that man.
On Lilia’s finger, as she clenched her fist, was the ring he had given her as a gift.
The man she owed a debt of gratitude to second only to Akito, the man she had wanted to meet again but hadn't had the chance—Yeon-woo was standing right in front of her.