kscans

Chapter 82 - Episode 3: First Half - Is the Value of Effort Different for Everyone?

"Whoa, this is an impressive place."

I said, standing in front of the Belmini Company. It was a stately, three story building. At least four times the size of Vinder's. I had been picturing something like a vegetable stand, so I was a little nervous.

"What are you saying? You're the guy who gets waved right into the Grand Duchess's residence."

Rilka, who had guided us here, sounded exasperated.

"Well, yeah, but..."

"It's one of the larger companies, even for a subsidiary. Their business is on a bigger scale than ours, you know."

"Is that so?"

"You're the one who picked this place."

"Our office is too small. Besides, Dalgan-senpai and Plural-senpai are busy. And the main ingredient is beans, after all."

Furthermore, since Natalie wasn't an Academy student, it would be difficult to use the director's office.

"I'm sure both of them are still dealing with the fallout from your unreasonable demands at the trade fair. Anyway, Mia wasn't summoned by the Grand Duchess either, so you need to get it together."

Mia is familiar with every aspect of our business. You could say she's a director with the authority to act on our behalf. My father is completely swamped with Guild matters.

"What an amazing mansion..."

"You don't have to be so reserved. Though it's a bit strange for me to say that. As far as places Vinder drags people to, this one is exceptionally down to earth."

Rilka said to a nervous looking Natalie.

"It's nothing. My family runs a Silver-ranked company too. And Natalie used to work at the Guild Master's shop, so there."

Vinaldira gave Natalie a push from behind. Come to think of it, I knew almost nothing about Natalie. The Guild Master's shop. Dorefano...

"Welcome."

"Huh? Oh, uh... wait."

I was caught off guard by a classmate wearing a green dress who looked just like a rich young lady. For a moment, I didn't recognize her because her usual, slightly delayed way of talking was gone. The freckles on her cheeks were the same, but her brown eyes, usually half hidden by her bangs, were clearly visible today.

"Um, well, thanks for letting us use your place today. It's a huge help."

I replied to Belmini.

"...If I didn't, you'd just drag us all to the Grand Duchess's estate again, wouldn't you. And then the Grand Duchess and the Prince would sit in."

"No, I wouldn't go that far. Prince Craig seems to be swamped with Knight Order business. And you know, he isn't as interested in all sorts of things as Alfina-sama is."

Despite my attempt to deny it, Belmini just sighed.

"Sherry-ojousama."

"Petra. Please show our guests to the reception room. I'll go get my father."

After giving instructions to the maid, Belmini disappeared into the back of the house.

"Sherry?"

"Honestly... That's her name."

"I didn't know. Uh, so Rilka is... just Rilka, then."

I do remember her family name, though. Tritt, I'm pretty sure.

◇◇

"Here we are."

"Wow, what a magnificent room."

"And you were just about to drag us to the Grand Duchess's conference room... Anyway, why are you so much more polite to my father than you are to the Prince or Princess Alfina?"

"Well, of course. Meeting a classmate's parents makes you nervous. It's our first time."

I had just greeted Sherry's father and younger brother a moment ago. I was surprised to see Sherry acting like a big sister.

"...Normally, people are much more nervous around royalty. Um, Vinaldira-san and Natalie-san. Please, make yourselves comfortable."

Belmini motioned toward the seats. Vinaldira sat down without a word. Natalie was still fidgeting nervously.

"Okay, first, could you two introduce yourselves? Vinaldira-san, you're the eldest daughter of the Natoas Company, right?"

"That's right. Just like you all, we're a Silver-ranked company, so I'm not going to be all formal."

Vinaldira stood up, as if to shield Natalie. I had finally read Mia's report on her today, or rather, Mia had read it aloud to me last night.

The Natoas Company was a Silver-ranked merchant dealing in high-end fabrics, with many customers among the major companies. The kind of stuff Dorefano wore on the ceremonial platform during the New Year's Festival. I had brought about the downfall of her best customer, Dorefano, as well as his affiliates and the Calest Company, so she probably wasn't too fond of me.

Furthermore, her mother was the third daughter of a baron whose domain management had failed, and she had married into the Natoas family in what was essentially an exchange for financial support. And now that family had taken a financial hit. Mia had warned me repeatedly, "Do not let your guard down for a second."

"I'm Natalie. I'm from Term Village in the east, and I was... an apprentice at the Dorefano Company."

A village in Chancellor Grynisias's territory. It was near Tuvil Mountain in the adjacent Kurtheite Duchy, and apparently known for its beans, grown in soil that wasn't very fertile for a ducal territory. I knew almost nothing about her. Mia's assessment was that even if she worked for Dorefano, she must have been in a menial position.

"If you don't mind, could you tell us a bit about your relationship?"

Belmini asked.

"I met Natalie when I started going to see Dorefano. I didn't know much about merchant families, and she taught me all sorts of things."

"So you're childhood friends. Just like us."

Rilka and Belmini smiled.

"Natalie is amazing. She came up with the idea of making jam from the beans in her home village, and she was even recognized for it at Dorefano's and was working so hard. But then, that whole thing with Dorefano happened... Still, she didn't give up and kept trying, but then this time..."

Vinaldira glared at me.

I see. The reason she was able to make anko, which requires sugar, while running a food stall was because she started developing it while at Dorefano's. And now I, the one involved in Dorefano's downfall, had effectively sabotaged her stall at the trade fair.

It's not like I targeted her specifically, so I don't feel particularly guilty about that. If I felt any debt to her, it would be for a different reason.

"Ah, so they were perfectly caught up in the huge storm Vinder kicked up."

"...I see."

Rilka and Belmini nodded to each other. Their eyes were filled with sympathy. Not for me, but for Natalie.

"Um, well, I know it's not your fault, Vinder-san..."

Natalie said bravely. It was true that what happened was a battle. But if I was going to move forward with a project with her, I couldn't gloss over this.

"That's not true. I'm the one who crushed Dorefano. You can hate me for that if you want."

I said it plainly. Even as an apprentice, she had earned some recognition at Dorefano's. I don't know the scale, but she was developing a new product. There's no doubt I interfered with her future.

...Come to think of it, could it have been a strategy to crush our honey business? No, probably not. Considering the power dynamic between us at that point.

"What are you talking about? Even I wouldn't go that far. Dorefano lost in a conflict with Kenwell, the current Guild Master, right?"

Vinaldira said, looking away from Rilka and Belmini. But the two of them just offered faint, awkward smiles.

Rilka and Belmini looked at me, as if asking if it was okay to say. I nodded. If I, a mere Copper member at the time, said it, it would have zero credibility.

"The truth is, Vinder crushed both Dorefano and Calest. Jean-senpai and Maria-senpai, you two know, right? When it was Calest, our companies were forced to play a part too. There's no mistake."

"...Dorefano had been harassing Vinder's honey business for a long time, and Calest tried to frame Vinder, so he was just fighting back. It's not like Vinder was in the wrong."

When Rilka and Sherry spoke, Vinaldira's face went pale.

"Then, then this really is the enemy's den. What on earth are you planning to do?"

Vinaldira stood in front of me, shielding her friend. I tried to offer her my most peaceful smile.

"Vinder. That just looks like a smirk."

But apparently, I failed. I had no choice but to let my actions speak for me. I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket.

"My debt..."

Natalie turned pale.

"I had Plural-senpai arrange for us to buy it."

I said. She called it a debt, which had me worried, but it was essentially just a promissory note. Thanks to that, it was easy to acquire.

"What do you plan to do with Natalie?"

Rilka held her head in her hands, while Vinaldira flew into a rage. I took out another piece of paper.

"It's simple. I just need you to sign this."

"Anko? ...Halting debt collection and interest accrual until development is complete. Providing development funds and the necessary amount of sugar..."

Vinaldira, who had snatched the paper from me, was stunned.

"I've also secured a sugar supply. If Plural-senpai approves of the final product, there's a possibility of supplying the Plural Company in the future."

I continued.

"But, the person from Plural just the other day..."

"Yes, that's of course on the condition that you can make your jam even more delicious."

Natalie looked at me in disbelief.

"Um, what is... anko?"

"Ah, right. It's the name for your bean jam. Think of it as a code name. I'd like to refer to it as 'anko' for the duration of the project."

"Oh, yes, that's fine."

I have no intention of taking the naming rights. This is, after all, a product she came up with.

"Th, there's got to be a catch. This is too good to be true. You must be plotting something. You're trying to steal all of Natalie's hard work."

Vinaldira had been using the word "effort" a lot. I'm sure it's because she's worried about her friend.

"Effort has no value. As it stands now, Natalie has failed to develop her bean jam. That is the result."

I said it deliberately, leaving out the subject.

"What did you say? This is why I can't stand people who get ahead through connections. Effort is precious."

"The only effort that's precious to me is my own. The only thing of value to me is her results."

I said it dismissively. I saw Rilka and Sherry press their hands to their foreheads.