Chapter 54
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: The Deemed Permit
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"......What?"
"Even if a significant period has passed since completion without receiving proper disposition like demolition from the relevant authorities, the building is deemed permitted exactly ten years from completion. It's a clause to protect the legitimate rights of those who've made it their home for a decade."
The man gaped, mouth hanging open.
Philomel turned to the owner.
"No matter how I look at it, this building seems well over ten years old, doesn't it?"
The owner nodded vigorously, over and over.
"Any disposition from the authorities in the meantime? It doesn't look like it was demolished at a glance...... Any eviction notices?"
"Not that I know of! My grandfather built this place, and neither he nor my father ever mentioned anything."
"Then we can safely assume the permit was granted long ago."
"Is that really true?!"
"Of course. As long as it doesn't fail the safety inspection, there shouldn't be any issues."
At that moment, the thug shrieked.
"No way! What kind of ridiculous law is that? I'll go to the authorities and report everything! They'll do the safety inspection or whatever and declare it unlicensed!"
"Do whatever you want."
Philomel sneered.
"But if it fails the safety inspection, the authorities will be in a real bind. It'd mean they let a dangerous building that could collapse at any moment sit there for over ten years."
The official in charge must have known about the building but turned a blind eye. It made it easier for them to collude with these thugs and extort money from the owner.
They were exploiting the fact that most people, except for a few scholars, were ignorant of the law.
"I'll file a formal complaint with my superiors too, so go ahead and try!"
"You think the higher-ups will listen to the likes of you?!"
In this country, the highest authority—the Emperor—listened to her, but Philomel couldn't say that. Instead, she brought up Jeremiah.
"I wonder whose son our young master here might be?"
True to his title of noble young lord, Jeremiah's face exuded an effortless elegance.
He looked every bit the son of aristocracy, even in his shabby clothes.
"Th-th-th......"
The man trembled as if he wanted to retort but ultimately hung his head.
With that, they chased all the thugs out of the shop.
The owner bowed deeply to them, voice choked with emotion.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"It's fine. We didn't do much."
"How can I ever repay this kindness......"
"Really, it's okay."
Philomel waved her hands awkwardly, a troubled smile on her face.
"No, no. If there's anything you need, just tell me. Without you two, I'd have spent my whole life being blackmailed by those scum."
The owner spoke through reddened eyes.
"Well, in that case......"
Philomel glanced at Jeremiah and opened her mouth.
Thirty minutes later.
A fresh apple pie arrived at the table where Philomel and Jeremiah sat.
The owner fretted that it might not be enough, but it was more than plenty.
As he sliced into the new apple pie, Jeremiah spoke up.
"You sure know your laws."
"Eh, I picked it up from studying this and that."
Successor training naturally included law studies.
She hadn't memorized every law in the empire, but she knew the ones that deeply affected the lives of the common folk. Article 34 of the Commercial Code was familiar because it was involved in so many disputes.
"More importantly, try the apple pie quick. It's amazing."
"How amazing can a pie be......"
Finally, Jeremiah put a piece in his mouth.
For a moment, his glass bead-like eyes sparkled.
"......It's not bad."
He grumbled curtly, but kept shoving pieces into his mouth nonstop—unlike Philomel, he barely touched his black tea.
"What're you grinning about?"
"Me? I'm not grinning."
"You are."
Philomel swiftly changed the subject before Jeremiah could get annoyed.
"By the way, you fought really well back there. And that sword at your waist...... Are you actually a swordsman, not a mage?"
It was obvious from [Princess Ellensia], but Philomel pretended not to know. It wasn't genuine curiosity so much as laying the groundwork to ease into conversation.
Jeremiah, unaware of her intentions, answered earnestly.
"More precisely, a magic swordsman."
"That means you can use both magic and sword, right?"
"Yeah. I've been interested in swords since I was young. There were a few magic swordsmen in the Magic Tower."
"So is Tower Master Rguin one too? Or Lexion? All three of you have such sturdy builds—not exactly typical mages."
This one was genuine curiosity.
Unlike Jeremiah, there was little in the book about the three of them.
Tower Master Rguin only appeared briefly onscreen, and the other two didn't even show up.
"Cardin is. Lexion has no interest in swords...... Never seen Rguin wield one."
Jeremiah said as he popped another piece into his mouth.
"Not sure if I should say this in front of you, Jeremiah, but I always thought mages were all brainy types."
"All scrawny weaklings?"
"Not exactly......"
It was spot on.
In fact, most court mages Philomel knew, like Mage Humphrey, seemed completely detached from physical prowess.
"You're not wrong. In the mage world, training your body gets you treated like a freak. Better to spend that time mastering one more combat spell—it's more efficient. But......"
He held up his fist.
"Fists are faster and simpler than magic. That's Rguin's philosophy."
What a brutal yet practical philosophy.
From there, their conversation continued in that vein. Philomel asked questions, and Jeremiah satisfied her curiosity.
Time passed in easy, everyday chit-chat on miscellaneous topics.
After polishing off the pie dish clean, the two left the [Rainbow Branch Shop].
"Take care!"
The owner saw them off at the door.
Philomel gazed regretfully at the shop's shabby exterior.
"The apple pie's so good, but no customers...... What a shame."
"With that flashy place across the street, who would come here?"
"True."
Instead, Philomel resolved to visit often to help keep the shop afloat. She wasn't sure how often she could, though.
Afterward, Philomel and Jeremiah strolled through the central square together.
Originally meant to show him around, Philomel soon found herself immersed in the sights too.
The last time she'd sneaked out, she'd always had escorts shadowing her, so she couldn't relax and enjoy it.
After fleeing, she'd first freely observed city life in Saengen, the north's largest city—but even that paled compared to the capital's central square.
Watching a man play a flute to make a snake dance freely, Philomel's eyes lit up.
"Whoa, look at that! Does the snake understand the flute? How does he do it?"
"Just magic. Watch closely—the flute has a magic circle engraved on it."
"......You sure know how to burst bubbles, Jeremiah."
"Tch, complain even after I tell you."
"I'm kidding. Thanks."
"......Lunchtime's long past. Let's grab some food."
Embarrassed, Jeremiah changed the subject and hurried off.
Already full from pie, they settled for simple street food.
Sitting on a bench, munching sausage from a paper plate, Philomel felt Jeremiah's gaze.
"......Something on my face?"
"No."
"Then why stare......"
"It's just...... surprising."
"What is?"
"You've lived as a pampered princess your whole life, yet you eat anything without fuss. And your big wish is something as trivial as square-gazing."
"It's not trivial. It's not just any square-gazing."
"Then what is it?"
"It's meaningful because I'm doing it with you, Jeremiah."
It took him a while to respond.
"You say the most embarrassing things so casually."
Did she? Thinking back, it did sound embarrassing, but Philomel had said it without much thought. In truth, the square visit was groundwork to win him over.
After eating, as they walked, Jeremiah suddenly stopped.
"Hold on—we've just wasted time on useless talk and sightseeing. So what is it you really want to say to me?"
Oh no. He noticed.
Pretending not to hear, Philomel pointed into the distance and shouted.
"Ah! It's the open-air theater over there! Looks like a play—let's hurry and watch!"
"Hey! Slow down!"
And with that, she bolted toward the theater to keep him from speaking.