Chapter 15: Lua (2)

Simon had not known Hans was such a man, so open with his feelings. He did not say a single word the entire way to Alpina Village.

Of course, Simon was riding in the carriage while Hans was escorting them on horseback, so there had not been many chances to speak in the first place, but it still bothered him.

He had not been like this in his previous life.

“Doesn’t Sir Hans seem sulky?”

“If someone gave me leave and then took it away again, I think I would be disappointed too.”

Judging by the mood, Ranieri seemed sulky as well. Simon let out a sigh, feeling as though things were not going the way he wanted.

The biggest problem of all was that he had failed to see Lua.

He had rushed there without even preparing himself mentally. Learning that she was not there had hit him hard.

“But I did not take the money back, did I?”

“If you had taken the money back as well, that would have made you a thief, would it not?”

“Would it?”

“We need to hurry. It will be troublesome once the sun sets. Fortunately, Alpina Village is close, so we should arrive soon.”

Thanks to Hans moving quickly after receiving the message by Carrier Pigeon, Simon and Ranieri were able to pick up speed toward Alpina Village.

The closer they drew to the village, the more Simon felt his heart pounding.

What should he say when he met her?

‘I am the only one who remembers. She knows nothing of our previous life. If I approach her rashly, I might only make her suspicious.’

This, more than anything, felt like a matter where haste would ruin everything.

‘First impressions are important.’

Simon decided to prepare a second identity first.

That was because he believed that if he went before her bearing the title of Arcturus’s Heir, he would never truly win her heart.

The Arcturus Marquis House held a status in this region greater even than that of the Empire itself.

If the Heir of that House came and proposed marriage, she would have no choice but to accept, whether she wanted to or not.

‘That would mean nothing. If I truly want to win Lua’s heart, I cannot use the Family’s name.’

Just because he had regressed did not mean he had suddenly become better at understanding the hearts of commoners.

It was still difficult.

‘As I did at first, it would be best to conceal it, then reveal it at the appropriate time.’

Having settled on a firm plan, Simon grinned.

“Ranieri.”

“Yes.”

“From now on, my name is Saimon. I belong to the Third Branch of the Arcturus Merchant Company as an Assistant Clerk. It is not an actual position, so even if anyone investigates, no one else’s name will come up.”

“That is very detailed.”

Even so, Ranieri offered no particular nagging this time. He could tell Simon was serious. If anything, he was more worried that Simon seemed to have fallen in love with a common girl.

“Do you know where the young lady is staying?”

“She is preparing to open a branch shop, so would it not be best to look there first? Through a broker, perhaps.”

“Hmm, since the sun is setting, she may already be back at her lodgings.”

“Then that makes things easier. We should have Hans stand watch. Just give him a rough description and tell him to wake me if she comes out.”

“I think I now understand why Sir Hans is sulking.”

At length, when the sun was finally setting, Simon arrived at Alpina Village. Before entering the village, they hid the carriage and continued on foot.

If the carriage had entered the village just as it was, everyone from the village chief on down would have come running out and thrown themselves to the ground in bows.

“What sort of place is this?”

“It is a much larger village than Minor Village. The population is just under ten thousand, and commerce is fairly developed, so there is a great deal of movement in and out. That is probably why they want to open a branch shop here.”

“If things go well, they will be raking in money.”

“Though even then, it would not equal a single day’s pocket money for you, Young Master.”

In the distance, the Commercial District came into view. A great many people were still gathered there, buying and selling goods.

“Hans.”

“Yes.”

“Are you still sulking?”

“Pardon? Of course not. I am perfectly fine. Truly, sincerely, absolutely fine.”

“You are not very honest.”

“…….”

“If this ends well, I will let you enjoy yourself for an entire day, so cooperate.”

“It is only natural that I obey your command, Young Master. Just give the order!”

“We are looking for one person. A young woman with long black hair and very charming round eyes. She is seventeen. She looks younger, but about that age. Ranieri, you heard that too, did you not? Find her.”

“Understood.”

The three of them moved separately, keeping a bit of distance between one another. They swept through the Commercial District in a full circuit.

But they could not find her.

“Did we come up empty?”

“I shall go and meet with Sir Hans and a broker. On the way here, I heard from a merchant that there is someone doing business on a large scale.”

“Then I will head to the inn. I will get rooms, so come there afterward.”

“Yes.”

The three split up once more.

Simon entered the inn where they had agreed to stay. It was a large building: the first floor served as a tavern and dining room, while the second and third floors were used for lodging.

“Have you heard? The Imperial Princess came this time, and then left the territory the moment she arrived.”

“Is that true?”

“Do I look like the sort of man who tells lies?”

The moment he stepped inside, rumors about the princess were already spreading. Simon slowed his pace and sharpened his hearing.

“Young Master Simon’s health must have worsened. Otherwise, why would Her Highness have left so soon?”

“Hoh…… this is serious. He was such a valiant man too.”

“Exactly. And with those Aldebaran bastards already causing trouble at the borderlands, if word of his death reaches us now, it will be a disaster.”

“Let us pray for his recovery.”

Simon felt his chest swell.

He called over a passing server and said to him,“Take meat and wine to the gentlemen at that table over there. Put the cost on my name. I will be staying here tonight. The name is Saimon.”

“Yes, sir. If it is meat you want served, what kind shall I prepare?”

“The most expensive one here. The same goes for the wine.”

“Thank you very much!”

Once word spread that meat and wine were coming, the four men occupying the table whistled and raised their cups toward Simon.

With his face hidden beneath his hood, Simon gave them a subtle thumbs-up and paid for his room.

For the time being, he stepped back outside the inn. Then he waited in front of it for the others to return.

A short while later, Hans came running into view, panting heavily.

“We found her!”

“Where is she?”

“She was at a brokerage office. This way, please!”

Forcing down the pounding of his heart, Simon followed after Hans.

***

“No, no, that will not do.”

A middle-aged man spoke with a troubled expression. Spread out on the table before him was a map of the Commercial District of Alpina Village.

“The place the young lady picked is very expensive. The location is excellent, and the building is spacious as well. There is no way you can even begin to negotiate for it with a mere five million shillings.”

“Would it still be difficult even as a monthly lease?”

“Of course it would! The monthly rent there is one million shillings. How long do you think five million would last? And the deposit is separate. You would need to put down one hundred million.”

“One hundred million…….”

Lua let out a sigh. There was no way she could borrow that kind of enormous sum.

Besides, she had never intended to force the issue and open a branch no matter what. She would have been perfectly satisfied if they could simply find a suitable place for a shop.

The truth was that she had opposed opening a branch in the first place.

But it was her father’s wish, so in the end she had no choice but to come like this.

“Ahem.”

The broker, who had been stealing glances at Lua, licked his lips. His eyes wandered over her chest and thighs, then gleamed.

“Rather than that, how about we look at another place?”

“Is there another one worth seeing?”

“There is one a little farther out, but it would not be too bad for opening a bakery. Shall we go take a look?”

“Hmm, it is getting a bit late, so would it be all right if I came back tomorrow with my uncle?”

“What do you mean, late? This uncle will look after you well enough, so let us go together.”

A shiver ran through Lua.

The words “look after you” made her skin crawl.

Her instincts screamed at her.

They told her it would be best to leave at once.

“No. I will come back tomorrow.”

“Come now. Do not be like that……!”

A rough hand seized Lua by the arm. Startled, she sprang to her feet.

“W-what are you doing!”

“You naïve little thing, you know nothing of the world, do you? It is no fun if you just leave. I am telling you I will help you find a good shop.”

“I told you it is not necessary!”

The broker, who had been dragging Lua by the arm as though to force her outside, suddenly froze.

Because a man was standing outside the office window, staring straight in.

The man stopped in his tracks and came to stand before the door.

‘Damn it. Did he see?’

The curtain had not been fully drawn. Twisting his mouth, the broker let go of Lua’s arm and opened the door.

“Hey there. Do you have business at this office? If so, come back tomorrow. We are occupied right now.”

“And where were you planning to take the young lady at this hour of the evening?”

“W-what?”

“It looked as though you were trying to drag her away by force.”

Simon swept aside one flap of his robe.

At once, the Phantom Sword was briefly revealed.

The broker’s face turned deathly pale.

It was a luxurious sword. In that instant, it struck him that no ordinary adventurer could possibly be carrying such a blade.

“A-a knight……? N-no, it is nothing of the sort. There was simply a misunderstanding over the price.”

“Is what this man says true, young lady?”

For the first time, Simon spoke directly to Lua.

In that fateful instant, their eyes met.

Startled, Lua placed both hands against her chest.

At that same moment, Simon boldly pushed back his hood.

‘He looks like someone I have seen somewhere before.’

The memory would not come clearly. She only had the vague sense that perhaps she had seen him at the bakery in Minor Village.

Lua could not take her eyes off Simon for a long time.

There was a strange feeling in her chest, something she could not put into words.

“Young lady.”

“Ah? Yes…… what he said is true. The place I had been looking at was rather expensive, so he said we should go see another one instead.”

“You may speak honestly if you wish. The expression on his face looks suspicious to me.”

“It is all right.”

She was kind by nature after all. It was obvious that she did not want to make the matter any bigger.

Simon had heard every word of the conversation inside. Using Aura, it was a simple matter.

He would have liked nothing better than to cut the man’s throat on the spot, but he held himself back. This would not be the last day they crossed paths.

“Then I will be going now. Thank you for your trouble.”

Lua bowed politely and stepped outside. Simon held the door open so that she could pass comfortably, and when it closed behind her, Lua smiled brightly.

“Thank you for looking out for me. You seem to be a very kind-hearted person.”

“I only stepped in because it looked as though you were in an awkward situation. If I was being presumptuous, then I apologize.”

“Not at all. But have we…… met somewhere before?”

We were lovers in a previous life.

He wanted to say those words.

But he could not. Being taken for a madman at their first meeting would be disastrous.

“Are you not the daughter from the Minor Bakery?”

“Ah, yes, I am.”

“I used to buy bread there from time to time. I believe that is where we met.”

“Ah! So that is it. But if you came often, I feel as though I would remember your face clearly, and yet at the same time, it feels as though I am seeing you for the first time too…….”

“I usually keep my hood up.”

When Simon lowered the hood again, his hair disappeared from view. Lua smiled and nodded.

“So that is why I did not recognize you.”

“But did you come here alone? It seems dangerous.”

“No, I came with my uncle, but he stepped away to look at another place for a moment.”

“You mean for the branch shop.”

“Yes.”

Lua was beginning to give off the impression that she should be going soon. They had almost run out of things to say, after all. But Simon could not let her go just like this.

“This is perfect, then. There is something I would like to say to you about that.”

“What is it?”

“I would like to invest.”

It was time to play his hand.

Simon took out the insignia of the Arcturus Merchant Company from inside his clothes.