The World's Greatest Tycoon Wants to Marry Him

It was right after we arrived at the restaurant in Concordia Academy on March 5th. At first, none of us spoke. Selena and I were overheated, so we quenched our hunger with cold drinks and bread. Aisha ate her cake by carefully lifting the cloth over her mouth each time. And Tom, contrary to his small frame, turned out to be a glutton. While we caught our breath, he devoured dozens of pieces of bread.

"Hmm, so that's what happened."

Once the sugar finally reached her brain, she started paying proper attention to our story. She closed her eyes for a moment as if running calculations, then stroked her chin.

"Now I understand why that Walter fellow did it. The Spinsters Class is a walking bomb and a mountain of treasure. It's such a sweet deal that I infiltrated the class myself to escape my brothers' threats and make money."

"The first thing this woman did when she met us was a sales pitch. Yet the moment she realized we weren't people she could negotiate with, she settled into the academy like a ghost, built her merchant group, and has been operating like this ever since."

Just as I suspected. One's a pushover fairy, the other's a money-crazed bitch. Our class is a total shitshow.

"That memo the Sylvie Princess gave you—may I see it?"

"Here."

It had gotten crumpled from all the running and fighting, but it was still legible. Aisha examined the memo I handed her with great care. Beside her, Tom kept stuffing bread into his tiny body at an alarming rate.

"Nom nom nom nom~!"

'Does everything he eats go straight to those breasts?'

It was the kind of body that drew the eye whether you wanted it to or not. I deliberately looked away. By the time I did, Aisha was already returning the memo.

"What do you think?"

I was nervous. Her merchant group had literally gone up in flames. This was the perfect moment for her to refuse and say it couldn't be done.

"Hmm. It's a trivial matter I can resolve immediately~."

Her answer was so light it felt like she hadn't heard a word of my concerns.

"Your merchant group is in that state, and you're saying you can handle all of this?"

"I know the academy's academic schedule quite well. That's why I secured the OT venue and completed all the preparations before March even arrived. You and the teacher simply need to show up and invite the guests. We could hold the banquet as early as tomorrow if you wish."

"What were you planning to do if we and the teacher didn't show?"

"There are multiple classes preparing for OT in this vast academy. If you didn't come, I would simply grab any guest who arrived and sell them on the idea."

She really was born for money games. I never imagined it would be resolved this easily.

"Consider it a life-saving favor. I won't charge you, so leave the preparations to me. Now, about the individuals listed on this memo... Sylvie Princess is quite the ruthless woman."

"As expected?"

Our thoughts aligned perfectly.

"Among the women in the class, the especially dangerous ones have been deliberately excluded from the recruitment list. She's most likely guiding that Walter fellow into recruiting them on purpose. If you fail to notice this, the other class's OT will be finished the moment it begins."

"They're that dangerous?"

"If you're curious just how dangerous, check the attendance book later. Since it's Department Head Nora's work, she will have recorded their profiles in meticulous detail so you can understand their nature at a glance."

With that, she pointed at two names on the memo that required special attention.

I committed those names to memory.

Phew. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠took another sip of my drink and finally relaxed. With this, the only thing left was the invitation Sylvie had asked for….

"As for the request from Sylvie Princess, I advise you to drop it. To put it bluntly, it would be a waste of time."

I perked up at the new advice.

"They all have their own circumstances. Until those are resolved, they won't appear on any major stage. Even if Walter calls them, they absolutely will not come. Treat them as nonexistent for this OT."

"Still, wouldn't the Holy Maiden at least come to greet us? She showed up on the day I was appointed as a teacher."

"That was only because there were so few people present. If a teacher crosses the line, she will turn on you instantly, so be extremely careful."

"You know about her situation?"

"Not everything, but rumors from all over reach my ears. We'll make up for the low attendance with me and Tom. That should preserve your dignity as a teacher. With multiple princesses on your side and your apparent popularity among non-humans, it will be a far more splendid OT than the other classes. The building we've prepared might even feel too small. Be satisfied with that."

It was reassuring to have the world's top merchant clan guarantee our success, but the part about neglecting the other students bothered me. Ignoring my reaction, Aisha's gaze shifted to Selena.

"That's right. I heard just yesterday that Elena Princess lost to someone."

"Your information network is impressive. Yes, it's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠true."

"As expected of a merchant. Was the opponent Ludo teacher, by any chance?"

I nodded.

"Hmm. To defeat Elena Princess and keep both of them at your side…."

The corners of her mouth beneath the cloth seemed to twitch upward, as if she'd just confirmed exactly what our relationship was.

"Selena Princess. Is Ludo teacher a man capable enough for the Bellamore royal family to covet?"

"If we're simply asking whether he has the ability or not, he is overwhelmingly qualified."

"Oh, teacher. Rejoice! Such words coming from a Bellamore woman are the highest praise any man could wish for. Feel free to be a little smug~."

I was grateful for the boost, but the sudden praise felt awkward. The conversation had taken a strange detour. I glared at Aisha, wondering what she was up to.

"I have a few personal questions. Is Ludo teacher the type who would accept concubines?"

"Well… I haven't even gotten married yet, so I've never really thought about it."

"If you had to decide right here and now?"

"I'm a man, so… as long as it doesn't interfere with married life, I'd probably allow it?"

"I see. Second question. Who do you think should manage money earned by the family?"

"Sorry, I don't understand what you mean."

"I'm referring to money earned by a wife, a daughter, or a son."

"If they earned it themselves, they should manage it themselves."

"Ahem."

What the hell were these questions? What was her angle? Even though I openly tilted my head in confusion, she continued firing them one after another.

"Do you like money?"

"It's good to have. If I don't, I just live self-sufficiently."

"Self-sufficiently?"

"My family is small. We're nobles in name only, and I've never really been able to afford luxuries. We probably live worse than what people would call a successful merchant."

"But isn't Eisenwald famous for its wine even within the Stalarose Kingdom?"

"The quality is excellent, but the production volume is lower than you'd expect. We're also only a viscount family. After making the minimum investment required to maintain our noble appearance, there's barely anything left."

"I see. So it's a small operation."

"Saying it so bluntly hurts my feelings~."

Aisha offered a short apology, then added one more question.

"Finally, why did you become a teacher?"

"Sekhmet the principal suddenly showed up and told me that without me the continent was fucked. I had ambitions for success and wanted to leave my territory anyway, so I gladly accepted. That's why I'm here now."

"In other words, Ludo teacher is a talent recognized by Selena Princess, recruited directly by Lady Sekhmet based on pure ability without any family backing. A success-oriented individual who managed to get two princesses in the palm of his hand in less than a day as homeroom teacher. He claims to have no material desires, yet unconsciously craves luxury. He permits concubines, suggesting normal levels of sexual desire and the expectation of children. And on top of that, he states he has no interest in his family's wealth—"

Excuse me. Why is this woman suddenly reciting my entire character profile? I don't know why, but it's terrifying.

"Sorry. I said that was the last one, but I have one more question."

"What is it now."

"Regarding the merchant group I mentioned earlier…."

It seemed the words I had shouted when my life was in danger were still bothering her. When I leaned in to listen, she asked with complete seriousness.

"If I were to give you the Nasriya Merchant Group, would you have any intention of accepting it?"

It was such an absurd question that I immediately regretted paying attention.

"You said it was something you blurted out without thinking when your life was at risk. That clearly wasn't sincere."

"I made the offer to the Merchant God. If I brush it aside carelessly, divine punishment might descend."

"The Merchant God…."

Right. In this world, gods genuinely exist. I haven't seen one myself, but since there are people who can receive oracles, it isn't just nonsense.

"If I said I'd take it, would you really hand it over?"

"……..."

Even with the cloth covering her mouth, I could clearly see her lower lip poking out in a pout. I chuckled at how cheap she was being and told her my honest thoughts.

"What would I even do with something like that?"

"…Why?"

"Why, you ask…."

Aisha pressed the issue as if she genuinely couldn't understand.

"Our Nasriya family is the greatest merchant clan on the continent. I am the woman called the Ten-Crowned Count for purchasing peerage with money in ten different nations. Possessing our family name and the merchant group that carries my touch would mean you would be freer from the constraints of money than anyone else in your future life. You saved my life, and those were the conditions I set myself. It wouldn't be strange at all for you to openly covet it, would it?"

"Excuse me. The world isn't full of greedy people like you, you know~?"

"You stay quiet. I asked Ludo teacher."

"—Bwegh!?"

She shoved a piece of bread into Tom's mouth to shut him up and waited for my answer. Since she was treating this ridiculous topic with such deadly seriousness, I lowered my voice and replied in kind.

"Even if I coveted the Nasriya Merchant Group, what good would it do me?"

"What?"

"Why are you surprised? The moment it passed to me, the name would change to Ludo Trading or Eisenwald Trading. What value would a name like that have? You were the one who built it up. If there's any value, it's in the woman called Ten-Crowned Count Aisha Nasriya. The visible merchant group is nothing but a bonus."

I cut it off cleanly there.

"Besides, even if you steal someone else's piggy bank, once you spend everything inside, it's over. It's a burned piggy bank on top of that—why would I covet it? Do I have the ability to repair it? No, I don't. I'm not an idiot. I wouldn't take it even if you gave it to me for free."

"Ahahaha!!!"

She burst into loud laughter, as if my answer had pleased her greatly. One moment she was worried about losing her merchant group, the next she was laughing. I couldn't figure out what Aisha was really thinking.

"Why is she acting like this?"

"Teacher. Please read the room at least half as well as you do when teasing me. This vixen is currently evaluating you."

"Evaluating what?"

"She's checking whether you're suitable to be her husband."

"…Huh?"

At that, Aisha stopped laughing and began coughing violently. I wondered what had been so funny.

"Ahem. Why are you so surprised? I am also a student in the Spinsters Class, so naturally I'm looking for a husband. And since the talent-obsessed Bellamore royal family has taken notice of you, it isn't strange at all for me, a merchant, to invest in a new venture, is it?"

"What the—didn't you just say with your own mouth that you entered the class for money?"

"It couldn't have been for money alone. The desire for marriage is real as well. No, actually, that is the main reason. As you saw, my family is targeting my life. One of the reasons is that I am still single. In my heart, I want to get pregnant and establish myself as soon as possible."

Outside the store, the people who had gathered to watch the burning merchant group were slowly dispersing. It was proof that the firefighting efforts were successfully coming to an end.

"The reason you're being targeted is because you're single?"

"Precisely, the condition for inheriting the Nasriya family is 'marriage to a capable husband.' Our family is conservative and would normally pass the head position to a son, but this generation has no other talent besides me, so they attached that condition. The incompetent ones in our family must be losing their minds. Their little sister is hiding in the academy of all places—moreover, in a class filled with princesses from various nations, completely beyond their reach."

So the terror attack earlier was just another part of their family feud….

She was smiling, but the lack of strength in her eyes made it clear she was truly sick of her brothers who had gone through with it. It was obvious she had suffered plenty of mental anguish herself.

"Therefore, I wish to express my gratitude once more. Thanks to Ludo teacher's wit in capturing the assassin, I was able to eliminate one of those ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fools."

"…Is it okay to say that's a good thing?"

"Of course. I managed to remove one of the idiots targeting me. It's obviously a good thing, isn't it~?"

Aisha stood up and slightly lifted the cloth that had been covering her mouth. Then she lowered her head to the back of my hand and lightly pressed her lips against it.

"Aisha?"

"Mmmu~♪"

'—Whoa!?'

I was startled. Despite her somewhat masculine way of speaking, her lips were incredibly soft. It sent goosebumps across my skin.

"Hehe. I will always welcome you with open arms, so if you happen to be interested in a woman who only knows money, please come find me anytime."

With those words, she turned away.

"You're leaving already?"

"Of course. The merchant group is in that state, so I must clean up before it gets any later. Hey, Tom. Stop eating and get up. It's time to work."

"Mweee~!?"

She dragged Tom, who seemed glued to his seat, and quickly left. We had a give-and-take relationship. Personally, I wanted to talk a little more, but she disappeared as if fleeing.

"Must be nice. Receiving confessions from two princesses in a single morning, then being targeted by the world's greatest tycoon. It's practically a flower palanquin, isn't it?"

"They're treating me like a stud horse to seize control of the family. What flower palanquin?"

"…Hmph."

"Oh? Are you sulking?"

I had been surprised by the kiss on the back of my hand, but since she said it was for her family, I didn't take it too deeply. To inherit the family, they were willing to risk their lives against their own relatives. She was probably desperate to survive as well.

The Bellamore family, the Nasriya family… There really aren't any normal, lighthearted families around me.

For now, I'd let today's events go in one ear and out the other. The priority right now was the OT. I decided to focus on thoroughly tarnishing Walter's reputation.

"Lady Aisha."

"........."

"Lady Aisha?"

"........."

"Lady Aisha~!"

"…What."

"Are you okay?"

Right after leaving the restaurant, Tom burrowed into Aisha's hijab. It was an innocent, childlike gesture. If a boy had done the same thing, she would have been furious, but because they were the same gender she hadn't minded much. That was the problem.

"Your face and body are completely red. Did you get burned?"

"Tom. No matter that we are the same gender, I believe it's not good to peek at another's naked body as you please?"

"Then wear something underneath."

"It's hot, so I don't want to."

"Then why are you red?"

"I don't want to answer, so stop prying."

"Hehe~?"

She shoved ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠away Tom's grinning chest and hurried back toward the merchant group.

To think the day would come when I, of all people, would be teased by that idiot….

Unlike what Ludo had lightly assumed, her feelings on the matter had been quite serious.