The Potion Shop, 'The Red Forest,' Opens (1)
Today was candidate registration day for the student council presidential election at Caipol Municipal Magic School.
Yulia was on her way to Lora Hall, where the school's election commission kept its offices, with Rebecca and a handful of others beside her. She went along at a light, bouncing step, humming under her breath.
Maxim ventured a careful word.
"Director, you seem to be in a fine mood today."
"Of course I am! Something good happened."
"Did you have corn cheese this morning?"
"...What exactly do you take me for?"
"It was a joke. I'm sorry."
"It isn't that. Things have simply been going well. Outside of school, mind you."
The contract with Blow had come together cleanly, and her talks with Cunsai had gone just as well, enough to cut the hotel's sugar costs by a wide margin. On top of that, before they parted the night before, Blow had told her he had a gift prepared. She had been so curious about what it might be that she and Marchen had debated it the entire way to school.
The humming carried her all the way to their destination. Julbert, her opponent, had arrived ahead of them and was deep in conversation with his vice-presidential candidate.
Hm... Don't tell me he was waiting. How unpleasant.
Her feelings toward him had soured badly of late. She had even given up the occasional tea they used to share, ever since the Greig incident. Yulia put on a smile with some effort and offered a thoroughly perfunctory greeting.
"Director Julbert."
"Yulia. I've been waiting."
"Was that necessary?"
"It makes for a better picture, doesn't it?"
At that oily voice she swallowed a sigh and gestured toward the building.
"Fine. Let's go in together."
The two of them entered Lora Hall side by side. It was Julbert who broke the silence stretching between them.
"Yulia, have you decided to attend the Black Bridge Gathering?"
"Yes. It's being held in Caipol—how could I not go? And you, Julbert?"
"Of course I'll go. It ought to be amusing. I'll be seeing old friends for the first time in a while."
"Is that so? What a pity. I hear Young Master Blow Deblique and Lady Skadi Hetaya will be coming to this session as well."
"All the better. It was strange that the two of them never came before..."
Julbert's face had hardened at the name Blow, but his ease returned almost at once.
"Yes. I've heard you've grown quite close with Blow lately."
"Young Master Blow is a remarkably interesting person. The more one learns of him, the more so."
"Is that right? Thinking on it, the two of you rather suit each other."
"...I find myself genuinely curious what you mean by that."
"I remember what you were like as a child, after all. How shall I put it... Neither of you ever quite acted like a proper noble. That's what suits."
A dry, unpleasant laugh escaped her. Yulia narrowed her eyes and snapped back.
"You do love talking that way. Julbert Mertios."
"And why is that?"
"Who knows? Why don't you go ask the Finance Director."
The airless exchange sent a single bead of sweat sliding down Maxim's spine.
"I'll do that. Come to think of it, Skadi's been around Blow a great deal lately, hasn't she? In that respect, the coincidence is almost too perfect to be believed."
"......"
Having said that much, Julbert shifted his gaze to Rebecca, standing behind them.
"Wouldn't you say, Rebecca Settelund?"
"I wonder."
"Will you be coming to the Black Bridge Gathering as well?"
"I'm considering it."
"Things must be awkward with Skadi in all sorts of ways. If you'd like, I can pass along your regards in your place."
Rebecca pressed her lips shut and turned her head the other way.
After that they exchanged not a single word until the candidate registration was finished. Only at the very last moment did Yulia open her mouth, along with a deep sigh.
"I hope this will be a competition in good faith."
"I'll make the effort."
When they stepped back outside Lora Hall, every one of them was forced to stop short. Printed articles about Redfrin lay strewn wildly across the ground.
Yulia's stomach turned the moment she saw them, and she bit down on her lip. Julbert opened his mouth in an insinuating tone.
"My, my. More work for the Head of Public Relations. Shall I lend a hand?"
"Mind your own business."
"Why? I only said it out of concern, as a fellow student council officer."
His tone scraped at every nerve. Yulia was staring him down in silence when thin, high voices—the kind one rarely heard at a magic school—came racing in on the sound of running feet.
"Hey! I called dibs on that spot!"
"What are you talking about! I saw it first."
"Why are you fighting!! They're scattered all over the place!!"
The children came barreling toward them and began snatching up the articles as if they were starving. While everyone stared blankly, Maxim stepped in front of them.
"Kids! What are you doing?"
"We're doing a good deed."
"What?"
Maxim blinked at the utterly unexpected answer. One boy who looked like their leader shouted in a big voice.
"They said if we bring these, they'll trade them for potatoes!"
"...Who?"
"The young master of Blanya!"
"The young master of Blanya...?"
An unmistakable smile bloomed across Yulia's face. She covered her mouth with one hand and laughed for a long while.
I'll gladly accept your gift, Young Master Blow.
She stepped lightly up to the children, bent her knees, and met their eyes.
"Did Young Master Blow in the Dusk Block tell you to do this?"
"Yes! He said if we bring twenty sheets, he'll trade them for one potato. Do you know Young Master Blow?"
"Of course I do. He and I are quite close."
"There are so many beauties around the young master! There were even two of them at the restaurant yesterday."
"It must be because he's kind!!"
Yulia's shoulders rose. She gently stroked the head of the boy who had just spoken.
"Will you tell Young Master Blow I received his gift well?"
"Yes!"
"Maled's so lucky! A pretty big sister patted his head!"
The moment she heard that, Yulia went around stroking the other children's heads as well.
"We're going now!"
The boys, their faces flushed in an instant, went back to scooping up the articles as busily as if they were sweeping them away with a broom. Rebecca watched the scene with evident interest. Julbert watched them through eyes narrowed to slits.
Unwilling to let the moment pass, Yulia approached him and whispered low.
"Such a shame about Redfrin, isn't it?"
"...And why are you saying that to me?"
She ignored him with airy ease and walked off with Rebecca.
"Young Master Blow only gets more interesting the more you know him. Unlike a certain someone."
With that, Yulia headed for the council hall. Julbert, who had been watching her go, let his head drop.
"Ah! Is that really true!"
"Yes. Thanks to you."
Egg Bottles, the liquor wholesaler in Caipol Central Market. Blow was meeting its proprietor, Sullivan, again after a long while.
Pass him by, and he was merely a stroke of bad luck. Take hold of him again, and he became fate. It was something Sullivan had said that sent Blow to the monastery, and now he took the man's hand and offered his thanks.
"I heard from Aubio and the abbot that you've been going around telling my story quite a lot."
"At my age, wonders grow scarce. When something like that happens, you want to tell everyone. Heh heh."
To the man laughing so good-naturedly, Blow spoke as if in passing.
"Do you know I've opened a restaurant in the Dusk Block?"
"I believe I heard it in passing. Congratulations."
"I'll be counting on you from here on as well."
"Might I ask what you mean?"
"Aside from Pilsner Paulos, I'd like to take my other beer from you."
"Truly? That's wonderful news."
"Would it be all right if I decide after seeing how it goes at the opening?"
"Please do."
"Thank you. I've come to know and learn a great deal because of you."
Sullivan paused a moment, then folded his hands as he answered.
"Well, now. It was you, Young Master, who untangled that knotted thread so well."
"Let's have a drink next time."
"Gladly."
After the handshake, Blow stepped outside. Jane, who had looked markedly more worn these past few days, set down in her notebook everything they had just discussed.
"You're thinking of getting the liquor from Egg Bottles, then?"
"Yeah. But why do you look so tired?"
"I'm not. I'm perfectly fine."
She said it while showing him a clenched fist, but there didn't seem to be much strength in it, and Blow grew worried.
"You're not taking care of yourself at all, are you?"
"I am. I think I'm just worried about the potion shop."
"Did I put too much on you?"
"It's fine. It'll get better once we open."
Jane answered with a shrug. Watching her, Blow made up his mind to ask Melo for something nourishing to build the girl back up.
A short while later they arrived at Cypress Seasonings. The moment the owner, Julio, saw him, his face lit up and he came running.
"Young Master Blow! How do you do."
"Have you been well?"
"Yes! Thanks to your concern."
"Good. Today... today I have something rather important to discuss."
"Yes? What...?"
"I'd like a regular supply of tomatoes. Is that possible?"
"I'd like to ask how much you need."
To Julio, who answered with a tense face, Blow replied in a serious voice.
"About... for now, a hundred pounds? After that it'll multiply several times over."
"What? Are you planning to buy the tomatoes wholesale and sell them yourself, Young Master?"
"No. I need to supply them to several places."
"If I may... might I ask where?"
Blow glanced around, stepped closer, and whispered as if sharing a secret.
"The truth is, Lady Yulia of House Edfolk and I have signed a contract."
"H-House Edfolk of the Imperial Capital... you mean?"
"Yes. The lady seems very interested in tomatoes. When I asked before, I was told the volume was sufficient, but—"
"No! It can be done. I'll... I'll make it happen."
"You'll make it happen?"
"I'll contact my lord and let you know right away!"
"I'd appreciate that. Separately, I'd like to buy a portion of the stock in advance. I was hoping you could bring it in about a week."
"I'll see that it's delivered. You have my word."
And so Blow, now the most exalted customer Cypress Seasonings had ever known, stepped outside and started toward the restaurant.
"We're going straight to the restaurant, right?"
"No. Before that, the shop near Nynix. To see the kids."
"Right. We agreed to meet up over there."
"You go and rest. You look tired."
"I'm fine. We open tomorrow. I need to do one last check."
"I should have brought Hans or Megan."
"How could I let them? This is my responsibility... and I'm your right hand."
Jane answered softly. His face was reflected in her deep blue eyes. Looking at that, Blow found himself lightly stroking her hair once before he knew what he was doing.
Startled, perhaps, her shoulders rose briefly and then fell. Suddenly self-conscious, Blow cleared his throat.
"Come to think of it, you never signed a contract with me either, did you?"
"That's right. Only Linne and Rowbedi did. You didn't have Herbena or me sign."
"Let's do it once the opening is wrapped up."
"Yes."
"And don't worry too much about the potion shop. I asked you because I know you can do it well."
Instead of answering, she nodded and looked at him once. At the boundless gentleness of him, a faint smile unfurled at her lips.
The next day was opening day for the potion shop The Red Forest.
The Traffic Light Trio had shown up an hour early, declaring they meant to leave their mark on a historic moment, and were waiting for the doors to open.
"I'm so excited!"
"The windows are huge, aren't they? Most places don't have any. They say the paper fades in the light."
At Cosette's words as she studied the windows, Alice and Radness nodded in agreement.
"I'm curious, but we can't see inside because of the curtains."
"Still, you can hear people moving around in there."
Just then the back of the long line grew noisy. They turned as one, without anyone needing to go first. There was Herbena, an idol to the freshmen, walking toward them.
"It's Senior Herbena!"
"Seniooor!"
Herbena accepted the customers' greetings at her leisure, while Skadi passed with a triumphant smile, an arm slung over her shoulder. The Traffic Light Trio bent at the waist and greeted them as well.
"Hello, seniors!"
"You... you did the same thing at the booth, and now you're first again?"
"Of course! We'll be the first to share in a historic moment!"
"The young master said we could look forward to it."
".....He'll be pleased."
"Senior Skadi, are you working today too?"
"Blow asked me to, so I'm only doing today."
While Skadi was answering, Herbena knocked on the potion shop door. A click came from inside, and then Linne, her hair tied in a ponytail, peeked her head out.
"O-oh, you're here?"
"Hm? Linne, you tied your hair up?"
"Y-yes! Th-the boss said it would suit me better this way..."
"It's pretty. You have a really lovely line to your neck, you know?"
"W-wah! Thank you! P-please, come in."
In they went.
After they had disappeared inside, Radness checked the clock some six times, and at last it was noon, when the sun stood at its highest. A short while later the curtains were drawn aside. Everyone who saw the interior revealed with them could only breathe out their wonder, as one.