Satou here. During college club activities, it was all too common for there to be total strangers in the mix. Especially during parties to welcome new members, or while staging events. I always wished they’d show up during the planning stages instead.
“These are product samples I obtained in the southwest.”
In the Echigoya Company’s main offices, I was laying out what I’d acquired on my sightseeing tour.
I would have preferred to get right into my theoretical questions with the professors, but figured I’d better clear out the backlog here first. I was an adult—work before pleasure.
“That is a splendid piece. Where’s it from?”
“Chipucha, the frogfolk country. Art pieces using water stones.”
The manager seemed to like it, so it would soon be on display in the Echigoya main hall.
“These Mermaid Tears are ideal. Lower-ranking noblewomen and girls can’t afford Heaven’s Teardrops.”
“I wouldn’t recommend dealing in Blybrogha jewelry. The old families have a monopoly on trade, and the Ghookuts Company handles all the sales. It would be difficult to wedge ourselves in—”
“Not a problem. The Pendragon boy got approval directly from the Blybrogha prince.”
“Lord Pendragon did…he was out that way, too?”
She looked surprised.
“He’s like a tumbleweed.”
“Sir Kuro…,” she tittered.
“More importantly, getting rights to Blybrogha is huge! We weren’t that strong on non-magic tool jewelry.”
The girl in charge of the jewelry counter was pumping her fist.
I guess Ishirallie’s Heaven’s Teardrops were exclusive to the Dragonpen Trading Company.
I’d been leaving that in the hands of Marquis Ashinen’s second son, and hadn’t met him in a while, but the money he’d been leaving at the merchants’ guild for me had been steadily increasing. Next time I was back in the capital as Satou, I’d have to invest that somewhere.
“We’ll have to find a way to thank Sir Pendragon.”
“No need. I lent a hand when he was in a jam, and this is my thanks. But if that ain’t enough, then just help with those scrolls he collects.”
“Yes, we’re gathering those steadily. Mostly from the Wilde Labyrinth, but lately we’ve acquired several from the Bloodsucker Labyrinth in the Saga Empire.”
Oh-ho? I impulsively wanted to check the list right away, but I’d have to leave the pleasure for later.
“High society is abuzz with rumors that Lord Pendragon has disappeared, so I’m relieved to hear he’s doing well.”
Disappeared?
I’d sent letters to Count Muno and the prime minister when we left Arcatia and while we were touring the southwestern lands, but they must not have arrived yet.
Both were sent via seamail, so monster and pirate attacks could prevent them arriving at all.
“Sir Pendragon never cared for the limelight, so he’s in for a surprise on his return.”
“Meaning?”
“Rumors that he slew a demon lord have spread through the city, and there’s a party outside his manor every day.”
One of the older employees dropped a bombshell on me.
I took a quick peek with Clairvoyance, and there was a huge crowd outside the place. There were even stalls open to feed them.
“Nobility living nearby must be rather displeased.”
“No, they’re…holding tea parties and balls, telling everyone they can see the demon lord killer’s house from the garden.”
That was a very capital dilettante.
I’d been considering heading back, but perhaps I should linger in the Azure Land for a while longer.
“Enough about the boy.”
I heard business reports from each and gave advice when asked.
Profits remained absurd, and the philanthropic work done to redistribute that and contribute to society was only growing, as was the size of our staff. Our employee roster alone already put us ahead of the Ghookuts Company as the largest merchant in the kingdom.
What caught my attention—
“We’ve long planned to back immigration to Muno County, and it looks like we’ll be sending the first wave next month.”
It sounded like there’d been a lot of flying monsters to the south, and they’d been unable to secure wyvern riders to guard the airships, which had delayed plans.
Muno City was rebuilding and would take the first wave; subsequent waves could go to Brighton City and the outer settlements.
“Then I should take care of improvements to those locations by the end of the month?”
“““Mm?”””
I’d thought I was making a routine check, but not only the girl in charge, but the manager and Tifaleeza were equally shocked.
“Is that too late?”
“N-no, I just assumed we’d be leaving development to Count Muno’s people.”
Ah, hence the confusion.
“I’m just doing what I did around the capital.”
The Echigoya Company was taking care of the vast quantities of materials for the settlements and all the food distributed to the immigrants, in return for which they’d been provided with some prime real estate for their offices in Muno City, as well as free warehouses and factory locations—so it was an even exchange. If reclaiming Brighton City went well, we were already under contract to receive real estate equivalent to what we’d obtained in Muno itself.
“I don’t mind profiting in Muno County, but keep it from harming the populace.”
“Understood. Magistrate Lottel was extremely wary of our ulterior motives…,” the manager said, wincing.
Given Nina’s position, a new merchant in the capital bringing this big a project without seeking egregious demands would be suspicious.
“Next, on medicines—”
The company alchemists could now make my hair restorers, but when I suggested making fewer myself, I got a firm no.
Apparently, theirs weren’t yet “highest quality,” so they wanted me still turning in a steady supply. It sounded like these were a secret weapon for unsticking negotiations with certain noblemen. Hair growth and hair tonics had been big sellers back on Earth, too.
They had more orders for Magic Swords and rune jewels, so I’d have to get those ready before my next visit.
By the time these reports and requests died down, it was noon, so I ate the lunch of the day in the Echigoya employee cafeteria with everyone.
“Ah! Sir Kuro!” redheaded Neru cried, spotting me across the hall. The staff eating with her saw me and kicked up a fuss. Like I was an idol or a celebrity stopping by.
It was the first time I’d ever eaten here, so perhaps their surprise was inevitable.
Neru’s friends were eating at the next table, looking so nervous, they clearly couldn’t taste the food, so I felt a little guilty for intruding. I’d have to send some treats round to make up for it.
The cause of the commotion, Neru herself, looked delighted the whole time.
After lunch, I headed to the labs.
“What’s this?”
Princess Sistina was inexplicably deep in a debate with the professors.
“Sistina, sixth princess of the Shiga Kingdom.”
“I know that. Why is she here?”
“Hello, Sir Kuro!”
As I was asking Tifaleeza, young Aoi came running over. He was the grease on this lab’s wheels, functioning as their wrangler.
“Aoi, what’s going on?”
“You mean Lady Tina?”
That sure was a chill way to talk about a princess. According to Aoi, she was stuck on her own research, had heard through the grapevine we were studying weird things, and had popped by for a change of scenery and gotten sucked in.
“She’s not getting in the way?”
“No, not at all. Lady Tina’s one of them. She’s still young but knows all kinds of things, and they’re doting on her.”
“Lemme know if things start to slow down, and I’ll drive her off for you.”
“Ah-ha-ha, that won’t be necessary.”
Judging by the professors’ faces, I didn’t need to worry, but I said so anyway—it might be hard for them to broach themselves.
“Here to check progress?”
“Yes, and I had some theoretical questions.”
I showed him the paper in question, and he went to grab the author.
“Oh, Sir Kuro! Questions about my paper? I’d be delighted!”
I showed the wrinkly man the paper in question, pointing to my concerns.
“Oh, sorry, that’s not right! I flipped the negative when I wrote it!”
He didn’t seem especially rueful, just quickly corrected it with a fountain pen–shaped Magic Item.
“If the root portion’s reversed, I imagine it didn’t move right.”
It had not.
I was careful not to break character, but inside I was screaming like Hikaru.
Didn’t let a smidge of it show. That “Poker Face” skill sure came in handy.
Shaking it off, I asked a few more questions, clearing up my sticking points and anything I found unclear.
As I was thanking him, the princess spotted me and came over with the other professors.
“Nice to meet you, Sir Kuro. I’m Sistina, the sixth princess. Professor Jahado was nice enough to allow me into the laboratory.”
“Not your field, is it?”
“No, but I was at an impasse.”
“No one at the royal academy or research institute you can go to?”
To my mind, it seemed like she’d make more progress with that option than by talking to someone from an unrelated discipline.
“They both sent me packing.”
Did they? It must take a lot of courage for even the royal research institute to send a princess packing.
Perhaps that was just how outlandish her subject was.
“I used to have mentors and friends I could turn to, but they’re out west working…”
“Sir Kuro, you’re aware of Viscount Pendragon’s party?”
I’d been wondering if she meant me, and Aoi’s question made that pretty hard to miss.
“The boy? He connected to your teachers and friends? Either way, I just ran into him in Blybrogha.”
“Thank you—,” Aoi began.
“Boy?” the princess snapped, sounding annoyed. “Are you referring to Professor Satou? What a rude turn of phrase!”
Her brows had turned on end.
She normally called him “Sir Satou,” but I’m guessing she wanted to make sure Kuro knew where she stood.