Vol 9 Chapter 14.2: Interlude-1: Encounter

“Hey… Lidia, it’s about time.”

“Wait. Stella, Karen.”

“I think it’s fine.” “No problems.”

In a room of the mansion, Lidia—who’d been meticulously adjusting my formal wear until the very last moment—had Stella and Karen verify as well.

The Royal Academy student council president and vice president agreed.

Finally, the crimson-haired Ducal Lady finally stepped away from me.

I scratched my cheek and protested slightly.

“…I don’t think this is necessary.”

“It is.” “It is.” “You have no veto power, Brother.”

“…………”

All three denied it smoothly. Not that I ever had a chance to win from the start.

I exhaled and thanked them.

“Well… thank you. I’ll be going now.”

“…………” “Allen-sama…” “Brother, should I attend as well?”

Lidia fell silent, Stella looked somewhat worried. Karen was in semi-combat readiness.

I waved my hand lightly.

“I’ll be fine. Stella and Karen, please watch over Tina and the others, Atra, and Ria. Oh, and Lily-san too. If she gets in, the conversation will get derailed.”

“…Yes.” “…Understood.”

“…………”

The two nodded reluctantly. Though I hadn’t explained the situation, they seemed to notice something was slightly off about me.

Lidia’s magic power questioned me. Is it really okay to meet directly? Really, truly okay?? If anything happens, I’m barging in!

I closed both eyes.

“There’s no need to worry. It’s a brief meeting. Felicia alone would be fine, but since the initial situation has changed significantly, it’s my responsibility to explain to the other party.”

※※※

“Excuse me.”

I entered the room where the guest had been waiting.

There were three people there.

One was wearing glasses and glaring at me with You’re late!—Felicia Fos, chief clerk of the Allen Trading Company.

Standing in the back was Emma-san, Fourth Seat of the Linstar Maid Corps.

And seated directly across the table from Felicia was a beauty in formal wear with long black hair. Feathers were scattered throughout her hair. Bird-folk.

…My heart swayed greatly.

I need to calm down. Lidia will barge in.

The beauty stood and bowed.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am Elze, head of the ‘Sky Hawk Trading Company.’ I’ve heard much about your reputation.”

“—…I’m Allen. Ah, please don’t misunderstand—I’m just a company head in name only who gets bullied daily by that workaholic glasses-wearing girl over there—”

“Elze-san, please ignore what this person says. This is Allen, head with full authority.”

“…Felicia.”

“It’s a fact.”

The bespectacled girl interjected, crossing her arms.

Our eyes met briefly—Are you okay?

This girl is perceptive too.

…As I thought, she doesn’t remember. I felt a bit relieved.

I gestured to the beauty.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Yes.”

The beauty who controlled the griffon delivery network spanning the entire kingdom also smiled and sat down.

She came to the Linstar Duke’s mansion alone, without even an escort? She’s as gutsy as ever… On the way back, I need to talk to Anna-san and Romy-san about attaching elite guards.

I sat down next to Felicia.

“Elze-sama—”

“Just Elze. Your position is far higher than mine.”

“That’s not true. Besides, my parents didn’t teach me to address women I’m meeting for the first time without honorifics. Please drop the formal language too.”

“But—”

“Let’s get to the main topic. Regarding this matter—I sincerely apologize.”

“!” “!” “…………”

The beauty in front and the maid in back drew sharp breaths. Felicia looked at me.

With my head still bowed, I continued.

“Due to the changes in the peace terms for the Southern Campaign, we’ve caused great inconvenience to the ‘Sky Hawk Trading Company.’ Air routes to the northern five princedoms will open before long, but trains will take priority first. Felicia bears not even a trace of responsibility—the fault lies with me for drafting the peace proposal.”

“…Please raise your head.”

I lifted my face and looked at Elze-sama.

What filled the beauty’s eyes was confusion. She smiled wryly.

“Like commerce, these things involve other parties. Moreover, I’ve heard you were attacked at the peace treaty signing. It’s natural for peace terms with such opponents to change significantly. Responsibility or not, you restored peace. We should be the ones thanking you. Commerce exists only with peace. Thank you very much.”

“…No. That was my duty.”

“Elze-san apparently wants to discuss future matters.”

Felicia beside me gently grasped my trembling hand from under the table.

I conveyed my gratitude slightly with my eyes. Sorry. Thank you.

I addressed the black-haired beauty.

“As long as Felicia and the excellent individuals who became key contributors to this campaign’s victory are here, this company will continue to flourish. Currently we handle goods from the kingdom’s north and south—mainly foodstuffs—but we plan to expand our product range. Also, we’ve received informal consent from both the Orgren and Lubfera Ducal Families in the east and west. I’d like to entrust the ‘Sky Hawk Trading Company’ with three air routes—south, north, and east. This isn’t just the current transport to the royal capital, but—”

“Southern goods to the north. Northern goods to the east. Eastern goods to the west. Correct?”

“Precisely.”

I nodded and raised my hand.

Emma-san placed thin documents in front of Elze-sama.

After quickly reviewing them, the black-haired beauty exhaled and laughed.

“…For this volume, we’ll need to increase our griffons. Double what we have now. No, triple.”

“Only the west will use wyvern delivery. In the near future, I’d like to have you and the head of wyvern delivery come to the royal capital for final agreement. The wyvern delivery side is already eager. ‘If the griffon folks can’t handle it, we’ll take it on.'”

“I decline that proposal. On the name of the ‘Sky Hawk Trading Company,’ on my name, Elze—and on my ambition, I accept everything.”

“Understood. Felicia, can I leave the detailed conditions to you?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Thank you. I apologize, but I must excuse myself here. I have more appointments lined up… I pray for your continued success.”

I stood up, straightened my back, and bowed to Elze-sama. The beauty also stood hastily, the presence of her bowing.

—’Ambition,’ huh.

I pray it’s the same one as long ago.

“Elze-san, what is your ‘ambition’?”

Felicia asked straightforwardly.

The black-haired beauty smiled gently and replied.

“Long ago, I made a promise. To a certain boy raised by beast-folk who was crying on a rainy day. ‘I will change the future of the beast-folk.’ I don’t know his name or who he was. But—I certainly made that vow. I haven’t fulfilled that promise yet… but I have no intention whatsoever of breaking it.”

…I see. She remembered.

Then, if that’s the case—that alone is more than enough.

Suppressing my body’s trembling with all my mental strength, I raised my face and smiled.

“Well then, until we meet again—somewhere.”

※※※

After finishing the meeting, I returned to my room.

Everyone immediately rushed over.

They were surprised seeing my face.

“Sensei!” “A-Allen-sensei?” “B-Brother?”

When Tina and the others looked at me worriedly, I roughly tousled their heads.

“!” “!” “!”

“…I’m fine. Atra, Ria, come here.”

“♪” “♪”

The two little girls jumped at me, so I hugged them and collapsed onto the bed.

…I’m exhausted. Truly exhausted.

I need to apologize to Felicia later.

Lidia, Stella, and Karen peered down at me.

“…………” “Allen-sama.” “Brother.”

“…I had a slight connection with that person. But it was just for an instant. Life is unpredictable, isn’t it? Ah, it’s not painful. What is it… I can’t put it into words. Well… I’m tired. Atra, Ria, squeeze.”

“♪” “♪”

When I hugged the two little girls, they squealed with delight.

Lidia sat beside the bed and naturally stroked my head.

“…You were really shaken.”

“I suppose so.”

“…So you do like older women after all?”

“Is that it? I admired—…N-No, that’s not it.”

“Hehe♪ You guys hear that? Hey, did you hear what he just said? This guy likes ‘older women’! Oh my? You’re all ‘younger,’ aren’t you??”

!!!

Lidia deliberately provoked Tina and the others. Apparently she was thoughtfully trying to lighten the mood.

…She probably sensed my magical turmoil and was worried.

That’s the downside of Pledge magic.

Connecting magic power—it seems I could connect it without holding hands or kissing—and sealing Lidia’s magic would become even easier.

The door burst open.

“I heard everything～♪ If you like ‘older women,’ that’s my total victory.”

“Die, you thieving cat!”

In response to Lily-san’s nonsense, Lidia immediately fired a flame dagger.

—However.

“Fu fu fu～no fu～♪”

!?!!

The dagger suddenly vanished. Magic intervention.

Even though I only taught her the basics at the victory celebration venue the other day… She learns as quickly as Lidia. Lily-san is good at fine control too, and she’s annoyingly without openings.

Everyone’s eyes focused on me. Explain!!

I smiled wryly and spoke to Atra and Ria.

“…Shall we take a nap?”

“♪” “♪”

The two little girls nodded happily and cheerfully.

As the magic power intensified—I quietly closed my eyes and prayed.

That the path of that person who saved me that day would continue to be filled with light.