Lasenti Department Store (2)

The problem began half a year ago. Vasco, who participated in the salvage of a shipwreck off the equator’s coast south of Meridis, had sent back a material called a distorted sail. The distorted sail was the only raw material that could be used to make subspace products and was believed to be the fabric used for ship sails in the era of the Holy Empire. The material was usually found only off the coast of Chentrum, but now large quantities had been found around the equatorial coast by Vasco.

It was good up until that point. The problem was that in order to make a magic tool that acted as a subspace, you had to use a whole piece of untorn cloth.

‘If it has a tear, it won’t work no matter how much magic you use. Therefore, the largest subspace product could only fit a bunch of gold coins.’

All of the fabrics Vasco sent were tattered pieces, not of a size to make an existing pattern. The product that came out to solve that problem was a small coin purse with a colorful print finish. It was a coin purse that could easily double as a small handbag. Dione had been contemplating how to wrap the opening while using less sail fabric, so he had proposed a snap button and even registered a patent.

‘It’s weird that a snap button hadn’t been invented yet in a world where airplanes with magic-reinforced engines have been launched.’

Anyway, they had reached a happy ending at least.

“What we’re selling right now isn’t some jewelry set that would suit Krater’s nobility. This will be a small and fine magic tool that can be obtained by collecting weekly wages step by step! Make something like that!”

Dione had announced her goal proudly, and now it had been achieved. They had even prepared additional stock in anticipation of sales. After the Lamor Mansion case had finally been settled, Kleio had been stuck in Grayer’s office the whole time. It was only on Arthur’s birthday did he have a day of rest.

There was a lot to do. Grayer’s warehouse was clutter that Vasco had sent from all over the world. Dione, who had been delaying organization due to his busy schedule, could no longer delay and had to open the merchant’s warehouse.

After a long time, Kleio was firmly determined and turned the Memory function of Promise on. He decided to take some of the magic tools mentioned in the eight manuscripts and helped repair the rest of the miscellaneous items. With the ability of his Understanding elevated, Kleio was treated as a first-class connoisseur throughout Lundane. He still felt a little cheated, but he forced himself to put that thought to the back of his head.

‘Dione, who is better at calculations than anyone else, was satisfied, so that would mean it was a roughly priced deal?’

“We won’t earn much profit even if we sell all these, but it’s nice to see the plan unfold step by step!”

“Congratulations. It’s a move that considers long-term interests rather than immediate ones.”

Dione’s clear eyes gleamed as if even Kleio’s poor praise was good to hear.

“Do you know what I’m trying to do?”

Selling mana stone crafts didn’t make half a profit even if she sprinkled bait products in a department store booth. However, who was Lady Dione? There was a reason for everything she did. As the status of the queen’s aristocracy was degraded, fewer and fewer families were able to purchase large quantities of mana stone accessories across the Dernier continent. Naturally, the market for high-priced magic tools and mana stone accessories had also narrowed. Faced with such a situation, Dione quickly turned to a new market.

“I’m not very excited about the current situation, but to guess, instead of the fall of the prince and the royal family, the middle class has been growing, and the working-class income has increased. If so, the demand for these simple luxuries will inevitably increase. I always think about it, but I’m impressed with Lady Dione’s skill.”

At the words of natural humility Kleio put on his tongue, Dione’s lips pursed.

‘Aren’t you responsible for this material?’

Whatever Kleio thought of himself, Dione had no choice but to see him in a different light.

‘Is it because of his predictive skill? With a face that doesn’t know of the world’s realities, he gives away dinars and reveals the prospect of the future.’

However, it was still too early to say that the Goddess’s prophet would inform of department store sale trends. If so, they would become the richest people in Lundane.

‘You act as you’ve actually seen the future.’

Dione hid her true thoughts with a light joke.

“Unbelievable! Only the young master recognizes my deeper meaning! Do you have any intention of joining Grayer as a son-in-law?”

“The lady is too noble and excellent of a being to be married to someone like me.”

The young man halved the fun of teasing with his stubbornness not to be swayed by spiteful jokes. It was regrettable.

“Oh, look at this. Before, when I said that, you automatically turned red, but now it seems you’ve gotten a little older!”

Dione laughed and slammed Kleio on the back in a display of familiarity. However, the hand of a lady who knew self-defense had a hefty weight to it for the weak wizard. Kleio slipped away from her arms.

“Can we go back to what we were talking about? The spread of inexpensive magic tools…?”

“Oh, that’s very good. This time, we’re not trying to make a profit right away, but we’re trying to make our name as merchants known to people who upper-class families or ether-users aren’t. My uncle has been writing letters asking if you’ve been working again, by the way.”

Kleio laughed before asking,

“How is Lord Grayer doing?”

“It seems like he has been having fun, enjoying the warmth of the Meridis continent.”

Vasco Grayer had crossed the sea to overturn the continent of Meridis. Sometimes, unexpected postcards would arrive from him.

‘Because he has such a reliable successor, he can afford to live in search of his own pleasure.’

Dione, checking the store’s display and product inventory more meticulously than the department store manager, turned with a happy face and mentioned she needed to pay a bonus to Almira. Then, the light-footed lady led Kleio up to the tearoom on the top floor of the department store. It was said to be open for VIP customers even on department store holidays.

Sunlight from the crystal-lined ceiling lit up the landing, reflecting off on Dione’s ivory shoes. Dione, who was interested in only extremely specific subjects even with her fairy-like appearance, turned the topic to Arthur.

“I also made a donation to support unemployment benefits. Members of the Capital Merchant Association have been donating vigorously, but I can’t even put my name on it.”

“It’s an honor to have Lady Dione participate.”

“I really got to see the prince in a new light. It’s a lot more effective than visiting an orphanage with a clumsy gift basket during the New Year’s light festival.”

“It is. That was also a trick that deserves high praise.”

“Did you also predict that it would happen? How did you know that such a man would have political qualities unless they had been chosen by the Goddess?”

“I didn’t know everything about it, but….”

The world had changed, so the protagonist needed to.

As Dione had said, improving the treatment of employees had emerged as a political issue during the normally quiet holiday season. As the demand for factory workers increased due to the rising tiplaum processing complex, young men and women found themselves attracted to sitting on the production line.

However, fewer and fewer people would work as servants or maids unless their treatment was improved. The world had started moving toward the future, in some ways different and some ways familiar to the way Kleio knew. Arthur had just lit a fire on the charcoal already burning underground.

“By the way, are there any interesting new books these days?”

“No, no. I’m particularly unhappy because Mrs. Morgan is busy caring for her nieces!”

“Ah… then. The vacation will be over soon, so will you show me her new work in winter?”

Mrs. Morgan, who was considered the best contemporary writer who wrote the script for b The Lord of the Highlands}, turned out to be the aunt of the Angellium twins.

‘Well, who would’ve not that major players not only in the political world but also the cultural world were involved in the Defense Force’s school?’

“Then, I will be sad until winter, okay?”

“Well, you would like to read more, but how about writing a story you want to read at least once? Many writers were originally faithful readers.”

Dione climbed the stairs with her arm around Kleio’s and shook him gently.

“Oh, don’t even say anything. It’s good to read; it’s a gem to write.”

“Then, are you saying you hadn’t tried once, even when you were in school?”

As Kleio watched her with a large smile, Dione turned her head away as if she were sulking.

“I swear I haven’t. That’s it. But I really don’t want to write anything. I think it should end like that, but why? Even when I try, the story doesn’t go out the way I want to see it!”

“Oh, it’s amazing that there are things that even the all-around beautiful lady cannot do.”

“Ah! You’re making fun of me!”

“No, don’t hit me; let’s just talk.”

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The duo faced each other with lemonade and ice cream on the table in front of them, painting the very image of an affectionate couple. However, their conversation had no sweetness to it.

“The Brunnen Expo will have a Grayer booth in the Industrial Hall. The other day, the empress of Krater gave us great support. Since her husband died and she became the empress, she was able to manage the budget freely.”

“…Well, uh, if I remember correctly, they sold emeralds to reverse the curse? Is that related to the emperor’s death?”

Scooping ice cream with a tiny silver spoon, Dione raised her head and looked as innocent and fragile as if she couldn’t kill a bug.

“I don’t know? It was only a defensive trinket, but why do you think so? You’re free to guess, but you know that our contracts specify confidentiality.”

What would he do if he knew the connection between the emperor’s death and Dione’s magical tools? Kleio decided not to ask deeper for his own mental health.

“Anyway, the fair will be there, so if you need tickets or information, please tell us.”

“Thank you. Then, I would like four tickets. I may not use all of them, but I want to be prepared. They’re not easy to acquire, right?”

“If that’s the case, leave it to me. Accommodations can be done at the de Neju hotel, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

The de Neju hotel was expanding its business to the entire Dernier continent, so they had built a nice new building in Brunnen’s capital, where the fair was being held. According to the agreements in the lease contract, Kleio was able to stay for free at their new location as well.

‘No matter how rich I am, a free voucher has its own excitement.’

Then, Dione gave him more information about the fair. The fair was held in Brunnen, and competition had been fierce to promote tourist destinations connected by railroads and waterways.

“Then, I’ll send you the official guide of the fair with your tickets.”

“I’ve already bought it but thank you for the thought.”

“Then, did you see a list of festivals held in Brunnen during the fair? Was there a festival you would like? They say there is one called the Vineyard Holiday at Izens castle that allows participants to drink white wine to their heart’s content!”

“Wow, I’ve heard rumors. If I go, I’ll try to stop by.”

“Ah! They serve here is quick.”

After discussing the schedule, the two enjoyed their food.

“It turns out that the bakery where you bought my birthday cake has a branch in this department store as well.”

“Yes. It’s the Patisserie Ciel on the right after leaving the tearoom. Are you going to buy something?”

“Yeah. The lemon cakes taste very good, so I guess I’ll take it on an afternoon picnic.”

“A picnic?”

“Sometimes I have to do vacation-like work. I plan to take a boat out of the suburbs with my friends.”

“Oh my, summer fun!”