novelraw Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Episode 73
"Come if you want to win the contest."
It seemed like someone who knew Count Vittora's heart had sent the letter, anticipating his frustration.
'But if it's a child...?'
The only child in this castle was Flora, the Young Lady.
'Or is it a letter deliberately made to look like it's from a child?'
Count Vittora felt uneasy, wondering if this might be some trick by the other vassals, but holding onto a 'just in case' feeling, he headed to the garden in the main castle as written in the letter.
And there, the Young Lady in pink that didn't quite match Lucifer was standing in front of the garden, waiting for him.
"Why are you so late?"
Her grumbling that it was well past 30 minutes was unmistakably that of a young child.
'...What was I expecting coming here?'
He didn't know why he had moved his body, bewitched by a letter sent by a child, thinking he could gain some benefit.
"Count, are you coming?"
When he turned to leave without hesitation, Flora suddenly popped out in front of him.
"If you came to see me, you should talk to me."
"I didn't come to see the Young Lady. I'm just passing by."
He felt utterly pathetic that he was thinking about this instead of brainstorming for good business ideas.
'I'm so desperate that I'm being swayed by a child's prank.'
He had felt it since yesterday, but the smallest girl seemed to be the shrewdest among the Lucifers.
Just as he was turning to leave.
"Count, don't you want to take on the business?"
"......"
An indescribable chill stopped him in his tracks.
"You seemed to know something, so I was going to specially give you the first qualification. This makes it difficult."
Though it was clearly a young child's cute voice, why did it feel particularly chilling?
Count Vittora unknowingly swallowed hard and slowly turned around.
When he turned, Flora with her lovely face finally gave a satisfied smile.
"Count, aren't you interested in the mercenary business?"
"...That's right."
"Why?"
"People treat mercenaries as insignificant beings, but without them, it would be difficult for us to maintain the peace we have now. The fewer their casualties, the more peaceful the world becomes. Isn't that a business with a wonderful purpose?"
"Is that all?"
"...I learned from my Dad that challenging what no one else is doing is the most important spirit in business."
"Hmm, is that so? You're a filial son who listens well to your Dad?"
As an unfilial son who once kicked aside his father's request to inherit the business and walked the path of an alchemist, this statement pricked his conscience.
'No. Since I quit now, does that make me filial?'
He didn't know why he was thinking this in such an urgent situation.
"Since you're filial, I'll give you this if you do this."
"Huh?"
"Bend your waist and hold out your hand."
Count Vittora thought he would just humor her and leave quickly.
So he just did as Flora said, but...
"Gasp, this is!"
"Do you know?"
"Sh-Shalias fruit, isn't it?"
"Oh, how do you know?"
It was a fruit he had seen in a mysterious plant encyclopedia back when he made a living through alchemy.
And it was also a rare and expensive fruit he thought he would never see, neither in the past nor the future.
But why was something like this in the hands of this young, small Young Lady?
At his questioning gaze, Flora tilted her head and smiled.
Though her face was clear, the smile was so blatant that one could feel she had some scheme.
"You know you need capital to proceed with business, right?"
"...I know."
"And you don't have that capital, right?"
"...I am a Count, despite appearances! I have enough spare money to proceed with business!"
He shouted angrily at the dismissive remark, but contrary to his expectation that she would be scared, Flora shook her head with a generous expression.
"You don't need to stand on pride. I'm asking because I'm going to help you."
"Help?"
"I told Isaac to make this contest allow collaboration. So our Lucifers are willing to do the mercenary business with others. So I'll help you financially, Count."
"...Huh?"
Flora took out a yellow pouch about the size of an adult's fist that she had hidden behind her back and placed it in his hand as he awkwardly bent his waist.
"Open it."
Though hidden in the pouch, he somehow anticipated what might be inside.
'That can't be. There's no way there could be more Shalias fruit inside...'
When he peeked inside the pouch, it was filled with the Shalias fruit he had just seen.
"If you want more of this, follow me."
Flora grabbed the Count's sleeve and pulled him into the garden.
Since what they were about to discuss was clearly very important, they needed to go to the quietest place possible.
Only after going deep inside did Flora stop, and the Count urgently asked.
"...How did you get this?"
"These are all mine. I discovered them. Dad told me to keep them all."
"...What does that mean?"
"It means I'm this rich, and since I have enough, I can support you, Count."
Though he had heard from other vassals that Lucifer dealt with Shalias, since Lucifer was deliberately keeping news about the fruits hidden, it was still surprising.
'The fruits are more profitable than the trees themselves. That means they can really make an enormous amount of money...'
The Count closed the pouch opening and asked with a tense face, different from when he first arrived.
"Wh-what do you want from me?"
"Head."
"Huh?"
"You, Count, you used to be an alchemist, right?"
"How do you know that?"
"There are ways to know everything."
Though she had actually investigated with Isaac's help, Flora pretended not to know.
"No, before that, do you understand what an alchemist is?"
"I'm not stupid. I know they're people who make mysterious things. Why? Don't you know that?"
At the subtly correct answer, the Count nodded with an awkward expression.
"Y-yes, that's right."
"Right?"
Satisfied with the answer, Flora smiled happily with genuine joy, unlike before.
The Count became somewhat confused by the fierce glint in her eyes, like a hunter who had found her target.
'Why do I feel such spirit from such a cute child?'
It was like standing before Duke Lucifer in the middle of a battlefield or the Young Duke.
'Even if it's small, a Lucifer is still a Lucifer, I suppose?'
As his eyes hardened with suspicion about what scheme she had, Flora, guessing his thoughts, opened her mouth.
"Your statement yesterday was very impressive."
"Huh?"
"You praised the mercenary business, right? You were sincere, weren't you?"
"I was sincere, yes. But I don't know what that has to do with this matter now."
"Phew, Count, you have absolutely no sense, do you? You should have figured it out by now."
Flora tossed her lovely pink hair over her shoulder and raised one corner of her mouth diagonally.
"The person who created this mercenary business is none other than me."
To be precise, she only provided the idea, and the adults actually carried out the business, but anyway, that's how it was.
At Flora's confident words, Count Vittora made a dumbfounded expression.
What could he do even if he didn't believe it? It was the truth.
What Flora had told the Money Ghost Isaac last night was to thoroughly consider utility.
〈Since all the other businesses make money, let's make them compete in something that doesn't make money yet.〉
And she laughed wickedly, saying they should select the most useful idea among them and make him the person in charge to properly use him.
Then Isaac nodded, saying that was good, and persuaded Athanas to hold the contest by explaining the synergy created by gathering various ideas.
And thanks to that, they could now give an opportunity to the somewhat lacking but passionate novice Count as well.
Flora opened her mouth with a confident voice.
"Clearly, everyone will hate doing it, but they'll end up doing it anyway."
"...To somehow get a line into business?"
"Right! They can pretend to make an effort, and if the mercenary business doesn't work out, they can at least ask to be included in other businesses. Anyway, no one except Count Vittora plans to sincerely commit to the mercenary business."
"Is that why you chose me?"
"Ung."
At the confident nodding answer, the Count's complexion darkened.