The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 74

Episode 74

"So you're saying you'll sponsor my business funds through the Shalias fruit? Is my understanding correct?"

Seeing him still pondering whether to take this seriously, Flora shook her head.

"Only half right."

"Only half?"

"Ung, I'm going to give you ideas too."

At that, a look of absurdity crossed the Count's face. Then it was no different from saying his help wasn't needed after all.

As if reading his thoughts, Flora smiled deeply.

"What I need is someone passionate."

"Passion..."

"Everyone is so blinded by money that they just want to fleece my Dad. How can we succeed in business when no one is sincere about it? Right?"

"...You thought I was passionate? You've probably only seen me at yesterday's dinner gathering."

"Isn't that enough to see? What more is there to see? Anyway, from what I saw, the only somewhat passionate person was you, Count. No matter what the others said, you didn't lose spirit and had anger burning fiercely in your eyes... Don't you want to give them a taste of their own medicine?"

The Count gave up viewing Flora as just an ordinary young child.

He had thought she was just precocious after seeing her smarter than children her age, but this couldn't be expressed with such simple terms.

When it occurred to him that it seemed like a full-grown adult lived inside her, goosebumps ran down his arms.

'That can't be, though.'

He heard she grew up in an orphanage, so it seemed her perspective on the world was somewhat special compared to other children.

"Sigh..."

Well, since it's a lost cause anyway, it might not be bad to listen to this confident Young Lady.

"So what do I need to do? Just present a business plan using your assets and ideas?"

"Heehee, actually, there's one more thing."

Flora pointed to the pouch in his hand.

"Do you know the characteristics of this Shalias fruit?"

"Are you referring to its efficacy in healing wounds inflicted by monsters?"

'Since she knows I was an alchemist, is she suggesting I make an ointment? It would certainly be interesting, but isn't that unrelated to business?'

"That's correct too, but there's another characteristic. Monsters dislike the energy of Shalias fruit, so if you carry this, they'll avoid you."

"...Huh? Really?"

"Ung, I checked it myself."

"H-how? How did you check?"

At the alchemist's appearance, blinded by new knowledge, Flora gave him a sharp look.

"Haven't you investigated me either?"

"Why would I investigate you, Young Lady?"

"Why are all our vassals so indifferent to me? Why did Dad go into the forest to subjugate the Northern demon?"

"...Could it be?"

Yes, "could it be" was exactly that.

'If I've said this much, shouldn't he connect the dots? In a way, he's crazy about business.'

How reliable would it be if someone crazy about money and someone crazy about business joined forces?

Flora unknowingly swallowed a laugh that almost escaped and continued her explanation.

"Using Shalias fruit as an ointment as known would be fine, but I was thinking about making something like a protective item that can be carried around using this fruit."

"...With the fruit?"

"Ung, just carrying the fruit would work, but fruits rot eventually, right? The abilities of the castle's alchemists or mages have their limits. So you think about it, Count."

"Huh?"

"Try making a protective item using this fruit that prevents monsters from approaching. And announce that you'll promote it through mercenaries to expand not only within the guild but to external businesses too."

At Flora's continued words, the Count blinked with a stupid expression. At his pathetic appearance, Flora pressed her forehead and sighed.

"If it's confirmed that mercenary work can be done safely, more people will want to join the guild, right? Then the guild will expand, won't it?"

"That's right?"

"Then will people try to hire mercenaries privately, or will they conveniently inquire with the guild? Moreover, if they use mercenaries belonging to the guild, safety would be guaranteed, wouldn't it?"

"Of course they'd use the guild's mercenaries?"

"The answer is already there, why ask! If you announce developing protective items with Shalias fruit and even selling them, winning this contest would naturally be yours, Count! Why aren't you moving!"

"Ah, ah. Th-that is..."

The Count's mind was too confused by the rapidly delivered information.

It sounded like nonsense, but if it succeeded...

'Fulfill my father's wish, elevate my status as an alchemist, make money, succeed in business, graduate from being an ambiguous vassal, gain Lucifer's favor...?'

It was so full of good things that he wondered if this was real.

"C-can I really do this? It's been a while since I put down alchemy, and the period is only about a week, which isn't short."

At the adult man's weak appearance, Flora went "Phew" and slapped her own forehead.

She didn't know why she, only five years old, had to instill confidence in a grown adult, but to achieve excellent results, it seemed she needed to say one more thing.

"It's okay. I'm super lucky."

"Huh?"

"I'm saying that the person I chose with my good luck is none other than Count Vittora. So if you can't believe in yourself, believe in me."

At the confident smile of someone who claimed to have never failed so far, Count Vittora blankly looked down at the young Young Lady.

Though he knew it was truly nonsense, her incredibly arrogant words gave him a strange conviction and confidence that everything would work out perfectly.

"Now, go and let the other rivals know too."

"Huh? This information? But, but you said you trusted me?"

At his appearance of jumping in place as if asking why he would do such a crazy thing, Flora hit her chest as if frustrated.

"Fool! I'm telling you to let others know that collaboration is possible! That way they'll clap their hands saying they'll collaborate among themselves!"

She was telling him to reduce his rivals by at least one, but he didn't know her deep intentions!

At Flora's sharp gaze, Count Vittora nodded with an embarrassed face as if asking if she had such grand intentions.

"Then I'll go and say I'm doing it alone. No, I should spread false rumors that I'm seeking ideas from my father to make them let their guard down."

As if asking when he had ever shown lack of confidence, he proudly straightened his shoulders and expressed his gratitude.

"Thank you for choosing me. I will definitely not disappoint you!"

"Ung, then do your best! The future of this business depends on you, Count!"

"Yes!"

With a vigorous answer, Count Vittora returned to his usual confident self.

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And currently.

"They said collaboration is possible. External forces are fine, and forming alliances internally is also possible, I heard."

As they wondered how far this possibility extended, discussions about roughly working together began to circulate.

'Ah, that won't do.'

The Count absolutely didn't want to see the annoying sight of those who ignored him last night achieving excellent results through any means.

So he decided to give them a small gift and opened his mouth.

"I don't have talent for business, so I plan to look for someone external who can provide ideas. If it's alright, it might not be bad to have them as a representative and request they take on new business."

When he directly presented the scenario everyone most desired, the eyes of all those who had been talking about collaboration until just moments ago began to shine sharply.

Though the reward wasn't confirmed, now everyone beside them would appear as thieves trying to steal their wealth.

'Since they came only for money, of course they would think that way.'

They would become desperate to buy good ideas with money rather than collaborate, but that was fine.

'Because this side has a reliable backer.'

It was clear that the young, precious Young Lady was the ultimate decision-maker for this business and had appointed him.

'Then if I don't disappoint the Young Lady and just produce results, a golden future is promised, right?'

Thinking about it, besides developing protective items with Shalias, it seemed good to also present opinions on plans to further vitalize the village for the Mercenary Guild.

It would be quite some time before Count Vittora realized that the blood of business addiction flowed in him too.

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"Young Lady, you look particularly happy today."

Wondering what happened to make her so happy, at the affectionate voice, Flora pulled up the corners of her mouth and smiled brightly.

"Ung? No. I just feel good because Elena is brushing my hair."

'Phew, really. I can't even laugh freely now.'

She had briefly recalled the day's events and almost got caught unknowingly giggling, nearly raising strange suspicions.

The embarrassment was brief; Flora skillfully navigated the situation with a childlike, bright appearance.

At Flora's lovely words, Elena smiled back through the mirror.

"It's been too long, hasn't it? I'm sorry I only showed my face at night."

"Why sorry? I like that Elena is becoming Head Maid. If you do well, I like it. That way you'll stay by my side for a long, long time, right?"

Despite her worry that their relationship might grow distant due to reduced time together while learning Head Maid duties, Flora always generously offered words that made her feel this happy.

"And I went for a walk alone today too?"

"Oh my, really?"

They say children grow up fast!

At the surprised emotion spreading across Elena's face, Flora proudly shrugged her shoulders.

"Did I do well?"

"Of course, you did very well. Our Young Lady has grown up."

"Ung, I'm all grown up."

At the affectionate kisses touching her cheeks, Flora laughed with a gurgling sound.

She had been worried whether Flora's only exercise, walking, would be possible due to the sudden guests visiting the castle, but since she went out and returned fine on her own, she couldn't help but feel proud.

"It feels like just yesterday when you didn't want to go outside and only occasionally went out with Basilian..."

When the name that was almost taboo came out, the laughter disappeared from Flora's face, which had been clearly smiling until just moments ago.

Noticing this, Elena also stopped speaking abruptly as if they had made a promise.

Flora was a strong child who didn't easily show a single tear, but after Basilian left, whenever his name was mentioned, she would show this depressed appearance for a long time.