177 - Vera's Logbook?
――Month ○, Day ×.
Arrived at Cartaphus.
The weather is clear.
I saw Lyell and the others off and successfully delivered the cargo.
Full-scale repairs to the ship will likely be impossible unless I return to Beim. However, with emergency repairs, I should be able to reach Beim without any issues. That said, I've decided to keep the cargo lighter than usual.
――Month ○, Day △.
Third day since arriving at Cartaphus.
The weather is cloudy. The sea is somewhat rough.
From what I've heard, Lyell and the others have become famous at the Cartaphus guild. Additionally, despite my warnings to avoid Tra-Sea materials, they refused to listen, and apparently, they couldn't sell any of the materials at all.
Receiving magic stones of such size and high purity makes me feel somewhat guilty.
I'll have to consider an additional reward.
――Month ○, Day ○.
A week has passed since arriving at Cartaphus.
The weather is rainy.
The sea is rough, and some ships have failed to reach the port. Many merchants look worried.
In the midst of this, I was approached by the guild and merchants who desperately wanted me to sell the magic stones I acquired.
Since I plan to take them back to Beim, I politely declined.
Incidentally, I heard from a guild employee that Lyell and the others are heading out to subjugate a Land Dragon.
――Month ○, Day ▽.
It's raining again today.
The emergency repairs to the ship are finished, and it's taking time to adjust the cargo to be delivered to Beim.
The merchant ships that didn't reach the port have likely sunk, as suspected. Many merchants are clutching their heads in despair.
In the midst of this, I hand over a letter addressed to my father to a merchant ship bound for Beim.
...It should be about time for Lyell and the others to be fighting the Land Dragon from the request. I heard rumors that Land Dragons aren't as dangerous as the Tra-Sea, but they are still opponents that shouldn't be underestimated.
I pray for their safety.
――Month ○, Day ▲.
The captain told me, "You've been sighing a lot lately."
When he asked with a smirking face, "Is it about your husband?" I blushed and denied it, which made the crew laugh.
I can't accept this.
I've decided to complain when I get back.
Today was sunny.
――Month ○, Day □.
Lyell and the others haven't returned.
At the earliest, they should have been back between yesterday and today. As I paced the ship restlessly, the crew watched me with smirking gazes.
When I kicked them in the rear, they seemed happy, so I returned to my room.
I try not to think about it, but whether I'm awake or asleep, Lyell's face floats into my mind.
――My chest hurts more than when I think about Roland.
Today was cloudy.
――Month ○, Day ◇.
A guild employee told me that Lyell and the others would be arriving at the port soon.
Lying in bed, I've found myself touching my lips more often.
When I touch around my collarbone, I remember that day.
This is bad. Really bad. I accepted some cargo from a guild employee to be delivered to the Beim guild, but I forgot to negotiate and just accepted the price they asked.
A blunder.
――Month ○, Day ◆.
Lyell and the others returned to the ship after completing the request.
From what I heard, there were as many as four Land Dragons――I swear in my heart that I will be stricter with the Cartaphus guild from now on.
Meeting him after so long, I couldn't look him in the face.
I asked Clara about recent events, and apparently, a lot happened, and Lyell has more on his mind.
More importantly, Novem gave me a meaningful smile when she saw my face. When I mentioned this to Clara, she said Novem had given her permission.
Is Novem the one managing the women?
Should I check with her first before I kiss him?
Inside the dark ship.
My eyes fell upon the logbook I found in Vera-san's room, and as I flipped through the pages, I felt as if I had seen something I wasn't supposed to see.
Toward the end, there was absolutely nothing written about the weather or other sailing matters.
(The Third told me to read it, so I did, but...)
Looking back, I saw Vera-san lying on the bed. Nearby, Shannon was asleep wrapped in a blanket, and Aria was asleep on the sofa, entwined with Eva.
Monica had finished cleaning up the party and was sleeping while standing in sleep mode.
Novem and Clara were also asleep, huddled together under a blanket.
The waves were calm, and it was a night with a beautiful moonlight. The moonlight streamed through the window, allowing me to read the logbook.
When Miranda tossed and turned in her sleep, I instinctively placed the logbook on the desk and stepped away from it.
I had woken up, and this was the situation I found myself in. After confirming that no one else was awake, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Then――.
"Fure-drix-daaa~"
Just as I thought I heard such sleep-talking, Mei fell off Vera's bed.
(That girl, sleeping in a place like that... I didn't notice her.)
Then, Vera slowly raised her upper body. When my eyes met Vera's sleepy ones, her eyes widened as she looked behind me.
Her purple eyes were looking at the logbook placed on the bookshelf on the desk behind me.
The Third, laughing, said.
'Ah, it's upside down.'
He was enjoying this situation. Mireia-san, noticing that I had realized the text in the logbook was upside down, said.
'Lyell, it's rude to look at other people's diaries.'
I thought, "Why say that now?" but I feel like this person is actually saying it knowing full well. She is the ancestor of Miranda and Shannon. She must have a devious side.
"Y-you saw it."
Seeing Vera's tense voice and expression as if she were about to cry, I didn't know how to answer.
(W-what do I do! Denying it now definitely won't work. But reading someone's diary is the lowest of the low... I know! I'll act like I'm just a total scumbag!)
I took a deep breath and spoke in a theatrical tone.
"I-it's better if we don't keep secrets from each other, right? I wanted to know everything about you."
Internally.
(How's that for a selfish narcissist! There's no way she won't be totally repulsed by this!)
As I thought that, the successive heads and the extra inside the orb responded perfectly.
'Wow, that's terrible.'
'Were you imitating Lyell-san? Though I can't imagine him being imitated.'
'Both are Lyell, but something is different.'
'You stuttered at first, Lyell. That's no good. Maintain your composure at all times.'
'Oh, I think he tried quite hard? I hope it succeeds, Lyell.'
(Mireia-san noticed. No, the Third noticed too... Damn it, every single one of them seems to be enjoying themselves knowing my intentions.)
As I looked at Vera, she looked down and brushed her hair back. As her two-side-up black hair swayed, the room seemed to look brighter than before.
My eyes must have adjusted.
Vera stood up and approached me. As I braced myself, thinking I could at least handle a slap, I remembered the Sixth being beaten to a pulp by his mother.
(I-it should be better than that!)
As I braced myself, Vera came close to me and――.
"I-it's a promise, right? That if you admitted defeat, you'd do this."
As Vera hugged me, her small chest pressed against my body. As I started to step back, a loud voice came from the orb.
'Don't step back there! Hug her gently with both arms, Lyell!'
This overly enthusiastic Mireia-san must have a bad personality. Thinking that the Sixth must have been deceived too, I hugged her as told.
As I hugged her――.
(Damn it! This flow is――!)
――I was kissed just like that. Her tongue lightly entered my mouth, and when we pulled apart, a small thread of saliva formed. The thread broke quickly, but Vera said.
"Um, if there's anything I can do for you, just tell me. I can't move the Trace Company, but I can support you a little."
The Third said.
'A man who makes women pay for him, Lyell's ability is impressive. To seduce a rich young lady from Beim so easily. Now, I wonder how much we can squeeze out of her.'
The Fourth's voice sounded joyful. Probably because they were talking about money.
'Two or three thousand, perhaps? Maybe she has five thousand. I'm looking forward to it!'
These people... I always think this, but they're the lowest.
Then, I suddenly realized and looked around the room while still hugging Vera. It was a dark room. However, sixteen eyes were looking at me.
It was scary. Honestly, I was terrified by that sight.
(...I'm filled with apologies for the number of girls increasing. So, please don't look at me with those eyes!)
The next day.
In Vera's cabin, I sat on the sofa facing her.
Novem said she would explain our circumstances clearly. And that if Vera wasn't prepared, she should step back.
(Couldn't you have said that much sooner?)
While thinking that, I calmly explained the situation to Vera.
About Celes――.
About Vanseim――.
And my goal――.
That with only this few people, I intend to pick a fight with the great nation of Vanseim. Hearing that, Vera put her hand to her lips and thought deeply with a serious expression.
While drinking the tea that was served, Vera said.
"I can't believe things have turned out like that. Normally, it would be unbelievable. Mental-type skills are certainly troublesome, but charm skills have their flaws. Occasionally, the user is amazing, or the skill itself is amazing, but most of them don't have permanent effects. If they did, the people around them wouldn't leave it alone."
Mental-type skills――Vera spoke definitively about Celes's charm.
To clear up the misunderstanding, I said.
"Regarding my sister Celes, it's not clearly decided that it's a charm skill. There are other strange things as well. But thanks to that, Vanseim is starting to go crazy."
The tragedies caused by Celes in Vanseim are likely continuing to increase even at this moment.
Whether that is truly a charm skill, even I don't know.
(If there's anyone who knows, it would probably be Novem or Septem-san.)
Vera rested her elbow on the armrest of the sofa and tilted her body slightly.
"Fine. In that case, I'll support you. You'll need money. Though, I'll talk to my father after I return, and even if it's my request, he's strict about business. If he thinks there's no possibility of success, he'll hand Lyell over to Celes without hesitation."
Hearing that, Novem smiled and said.
"In that case, we have our own ideas. There is no way he will be handed over for free."
Vera nodded at the confident Novem.
"I imagine so. I don't want to fight an adventurer party that defeated the Tra-Sea. We'd suffer damages too. However, it's impossible unless you make him believe there's a possibility of winning against my father. Also, I'm the one saying this, but the Trace family is one of Beim's leading merchant houses――they won't move without profit."
Inside the orb.
The Fourth agreed and chimed in.
'That's natural. A merchant doesn't do things that don't yield profit. Occasionally, there are merchants who move regardless of profit, though. To make them bet on Lyell instead of Celes, you have to show a winning probability and profit of that scale.'
Vera finished her tea, and Monica prepared a new cup. Receiving it, Vera took a sip again.
"I understand the reason for challenging the great nation of Vanseim. But to be honest, as things are now, Beim will turn into Lyell's enemy. No matter how dangerous Celes is, knowing the danger through information and feeling it with your own skin are different. Many people will think there are plenty of ways to get on her good side."
Novem seemed to agree.
That's why we were choosing a merchant house to receive support from. We chose carefully, and the Trace family was the most promising candidate.
"I think so too. That's why I'm asking. The method for the Trace family... no, for Lyell-sama to gain the support of Beim."
Vera placed the teacup down, leaned back against the sofa, and looked up at the ceiling.
Perhaps it was difficult, as she seemed to find it hard to say. However, when she turned her face toward us, she spoke about the possibility of us gaining support.
"Beim is the capital of adventurers and merchants. But in reality, even the adventurer guild cannot go against the decisions of the Beim Merchant Council――that's the common name, but that's what they're called. The Trace family alone isn't enough. You need to be recognized by at least five or six merchants."
Is it enough to be recognized? Just as I thought it sounded easy, the voice of the Fifth came from the orb.
'Being supported by many merchants, huh. That's difficult.'
As if explaining that, Vera said.
"It's not easy, you know? If we move, there will be people who try to outsmart us. People who side with Celes will appear. Merchants who play both sides of Lyell and Celes just to profit from the war will appear."
Novem asked Vera. It was simple.
Under such circumstances, she asked how support could be gathered for me.
"What is necessary for Lyell-sama to be supported by many merchants?" Vera said with a smile.
"Profit for Beim. In reality, if rumors about Celes Walt are gathered in Beim, everyone will think she's dangerous. But merchants are people who try to make a profit even against someone like Celes. Therefore, Lyell――it's better not to talk about your goal for a while."
Now is not the time to move. Being told that, I also agreed. Getting Beim on my side was an important task for me, who has no money.
As I nodded, Vera let out a sigh.
"Well then, shall we talk about the amount I can provide? As things are now, you probably can't do anything, so I'll provide money that I can freely use. You don't have to pay it back, but I won't let you forget this favor."
I nodded with a smile at Vera, who smiled like a mischievous child.
"I'm grateful. I'll definitely not forget."
"...The way you can say things like that so lightly, maybe your true self comes out when you're in high spirits. Well, fine. The amount I can provide is――"
Inside the orb, the successive heads were excited.
Especially the Fourth.
'How much! If it's five thousand, it'll be activity funds for the time being!'
The Seventh said, sounding exasperated.
'Even if she's the daughter of a great merchant, she's still a child. I think it's a bit much to expect that much, don't you?'
If I had a certain amount of money, combined with the rewards this time, things would become much easier.
As I thought that, Vera blurted out something outrageous.
"――One hundred thousand gold coins. Will that be enough? I've been hoarding it because I don't particularly use it. This is the best I can do right now, Lyell."
My smile froze. Novem, who was next to me, heard that and said.
"With that much, we can put Professor Damian's plan into action. We won't have to worry about funds for the time being. That's great, Lyell-sama."
I let out a dry laugh.
"O-oh. Aha, ahahaha. Yeah, that helps!"
I answered with a smile. Vera blushed and looked down slightly.
"I-I can only do this much... but maybe I can introduce you to some craftsmen? Though, it's the Trace Company's connections, so I don't know if they'll accept a request from me personally."
In an atmosphere where everything seemed to be solved all at once, the Fifth muttered.
'...I think it's bad to leave Beim alone.'
The Third said the same.
'This means Lyell himself needs to decide on a policy urgently. Depending on the situation, if we don't regulate Beim, things will become disastrous.'
They warned me with serious expressions.