[Side story] Both arm scales (5)
“The owner of Elte Company personally came to the Ross Taylor residence. Should I be happy about this, or should I be worried?”
It is often forgotten, but after all, Tanya is the monarch who rules this huge territory.
If a completely unrelated person wants to meet Tanya, they must have an ‘audience’ rather than making an appointment or making an inquiry.
In short, there are times when you need to establish authority and save face.
The same thing happened when Slog Keldlux, who had no contact with the Rosstaylor mansion, visited.
The sight of him sitting on the living room sofa, with his legs crossed and his chin resting on his head, is the very image of an arrogant nobleman.
Like Tanya, who does what she does, she looks flawless. The sight of him twisting his blonde hair with one hand emphasizes the feeling that he is not very interested in Slog.
In reality, Slog may be very curious as to why he came all the way here.
“It is an honor to meet the two people who rule the Duchy of Rosstaylor.”
Slog Keldlux bows his head and bows politely.
After that, many top employees knelt together and bowed their heads.
Tanya was about to say something as she looked at Slog who was politely showing her courtesy.
“Keutzut.”
… I sneezed once.
“… ”
“… ”
During the moment of silence, I quickly looked at Slog’s clothes.
I think I know why Lortel was always called the old fox. Just by looking at him, he is a veteran who has gone through many hardships.
Surviving for decades in the commercial city of Old Deck is a medal in itself. Over the years, All Deck has gone through many changes, but one major premise has not changed.
A place where you have to strike first before being stabbed in the back to survive.
This man is a poisonous species of poisonous species who can sell out all of his family, friends, and lovers if necessary.
I was in the corner of the private audience room, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed.
For my part, I don’t need to be polite here. This is the position of Tanya’s older brother, who has the highest authority in this space.
“The reason I came all the way to the Ross Taylor mansion was simply to say thank you.”
Old Deck merchants never waste time.
No one would think that they would come to the Ross Taylor mansion for just that reason.
“Oh my. You’re telling an interesting story. Slog Caldrath.”
“This is Keldlux. master.”
“Slog Keldlux.”
Bell’s advice was as natural as water.
By the way, is it really possible to maintain authority until the end? Tanya…
“What do you have to thank me for?”
“I heard that Lortel Kecheln, a key member of Elte Trading Company and faithfully performing his role as the company’s representative, is indebted to the Rothtaylor family. “If you think about the people you introduced and the authority you lent, it is safe to say that you have made an astronomical amount of profit.”
“I’m glad that you Old Deck merchants also have the virtue of being grateful. But, you came all the way here to say something so obvious?”
Tanya, who was crossing her legs and tiptoing her toes arrogantly, showed a cold smile with cold eyes.
“You probably didn’t think that I would actually believe that, to get to the point?”
“I heard there was a fox hiding in the mansion.”
Slog smiled kindly.
When Tanya responded with a smile and an exclamation of “Ho-oh,” Slog continued speaking without any problem.
“Foxes that escape from the cage must be returned back to the cage. “Isn’t that right?”
“Well, to me you look like an old and sick fox.”
“Humans who make a living by making money always have at least one fox in their hearts. However, we must avoid running out of the cage.”
Slog straightened his lower back and spoke straight to Tanya, who was looking down arrogantly.
“If you allow us to put a leash back on the fox that ran away from our store, we will repay you in a way that will make you feel that the kindness you have given us was really valuable.”
“You speak insolently, Slog Kel…” Kel… ”
“… ”
“… ”
“Slog Keldlux.”
It’s a bit of an unfamiliar name.
“Do you think that the Rosstaylor family is a sanctuary that collects and protects stray wild animals?”
“Because I heard something.”
“You heard wrong information.”
“I wish so too, but the chances of that happening are slim.”
As I listened to the conversation with my arms crossed, I furrowed my eyebrows.
Slog is already convinced that he personally came to Ross Taylor’s mansion with so many escorts in tow.
Lortel’s whereabouts must have been kept a strict secret. It is probably true that Slog knows such information… It makes me think of possibilities I don’t really want to think about.
“This is what I heard directly from Chief Secretary Rienna, an excellent and capable employee of our company.”
Is it torture or betrayal?
Either way, the aftertaste is not very good. It seems more likely the former than the latter.
Compared to the authoritative and influential Lortel, Rienna, who was just an employee, would have been easy to deal with even from Slog’s perspective. However, what is she going to do to clean up after her? Isn’t Secretary Rienna already one of the core personnel of the Chamber of Commerce?
I quietly looked at the slog and then blurted out a word.
“You act as if after becoming the head of the company, everything else doesn’t matter.”
“You become the owner of a company. Master Ed Rosstaylor. “There is nonsense in those words.”
Can a good-natured smile look so vicious?
To the extent that I could think of that, there was something dark about Slog’s laughter.
“Aren’t I already the owner of Elte Company?”
*“Brother, I feel this way… You might become addicted… .”
Slog really just said those words and left.
Is that all that this busy human being does by going around so grandly?
I felt something strange, but there was not enough evidence to judge anything right away.
“Oh, how about it? A little more like this, looking down and coldly… I feel like selling… It looks a bit cold… ?”
“master. “It’s actually counterproductive to take such an arrogant stance when you’re small.”
I internally applauded Belle, who incredibly turned around the idea that it was nothing more than a fun party.
“… ”
The audience room where Slog left.
Tanya sat down in the fancy chair, stretched out her feet, and relaxed. Tanya, who was stretching back and forth while making ooh and aah sounds, sighed and buried herself in his backrest.
“Are you here to provoke me? “Why did you go all this far and leave after saying something that could have been said in writing?”
“well… Anyway, Slog seems to know that we are hiding Lortel.”
“There is no way we would give up Senior Lortel. “I probably knew about the slog, but why did I go this long way?”
“… “I guess I just came to check.”
Bell, who was listening to our conversation, expressed an opinion.
As always, he is standing behind Tanya with his arms folded and a polite posture.
The way he spoke politely with his eyes closed seemed like he was worried that his remarks might be presumptuous.
“Considering Lady Lortel’s personality, there is no way she would just hide away when Slog Keldlux comes to the mansion like this. He would have come forward and negotiated with the slog, negotiated, or used tricks.”
Lortel does most of the work himself.
He was having a conversation with a slog-like person, but he was definitely not the type to send a representative.
“However, seeing as I didn’t show up behind my master until the end… The slog must have had some kind of confidence.”
“… Lortel is currently unable to handle work normally… “What?”
“yes. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a good explanation for that giant merchant taking time out of his busy schedule to come all the way here.”
Bell’s opinion is certainly valid.
Whether they tortured Secretary Rienna or appeased her… Slog heard information about Lortel.
However, it would have been difficult to act with confidence based solely on the information that came from Secretary Rienna’s mouth.
Have you been affected by a curse spell, how effective is it, and how long will you be incapacitated?
I wanted to see those things with my own eyes.
Because I am a human being whose instincts are resolved only when I move with confidence.
Anyway, looking at our reaction to hiding Lortel’s appearance until the end, he must have become convinced that Lortel was truly in serious condition.
“If I were to return to Old Deck, I would immediately make some move… ”
“I guess so, brother. From a slog perspective… “The last element of anxiety has just disappeared.”
“At this point, I won’t be able to sit still. “More than anything, I’m a bit worried about Secretary Rienna at Old Deck.”
It is unusual that she, Lortel’s closest associate, spoke out in person.
She is a close associate who stood by Lortel until the end, even in the extreme situation where Dune betrayed the company.
The means that made Rienna open her mouth do not seem to be ordinary.
“I think there is a need to go to Alldeck one more time.”
“It’s not like you’re going to get hurt, but still take care of yourself. Brother.”
“I’m not leaving right away… “There are a lot of things to prepare.”
I rested my chin and thought for a moment, then spoke to Tanya.
“If I send a letter to Saint Carpea from now on, when do you think it will arrive?”
*After roughly concluding, I returned to the room.
At a time when it was unclear what Slog was planning, it was difficult to come up with a concrete plan.
I thought about going to All Deck to think about the details, but I thought it would be best to prepare everything I could, so I brought some magic engineering materials from the warehouse.
That was the moment when I thought about making something using the magic engineering tools I had in my private room. I felt a strange movement inside the closet in the corner of the room.
“… ”
Tanya’s strange habit shows no signs of being corrected.
In fact, recently, I’ve been locked in a box in an attic, or locked in a wine cellar with an extra curtain… Even though things are getting more and more bizarre, my wardrobe is in a very acceptable range.
At the point where I thought this was okay, it seems like I’ve already crossed the line… Anyway, how easy is it to find it?
I sighed and opened the closet door.
“What was so busy this time that made you run away all the way…?” ”
The moment he was about to say that, he realized that the person in the closet was not Tanya.
– Hwii… P…
Lortel is asleep, holding the notebook tightly while breathing heavily.
As his body size has definitely become smaller, he has become able to hide in a closet like this.
I know very well that he sometimes runs around the mansion playing hide and seek with Lucy.
It seems like a difficult task for Lucy to play with, but since there is no one as talented as Lucy to monitor the progress of this kind of curse magic, I trust her and leave it to her.
Of course, caring for an energetic child is not easy. Has he been swayed by Lortel every day without any magical powers, and has now given up on looking for him?
It’s not hard to imagine Lucy running through the hallways of the mansion, led by Lortel’s arm, then falling out of exhaustion. He always has a hard time… Lucy…
Suddenly, the gaze turns to the large notebook that Lortel is holding tightly.
That is the notebook that Lortel carried for work before he lost his memory.
Of course, this is a job that requires a lot of note-taking. Still, most schedules can be managed through secretaries, but are there some things that you have to personally write down?
Since he probably knows a lot of top-secret information within the company, it is quite possible.
Come to think of it, Lortel, who was cursed, always carried that notebook with him.
As if it were a precious treasure, he always reads the contents alone in a corner, hiding it from others.
It may still be awkward to read difficult letters, but the reading speed itself is slow… It was impressive to see him staring intently as if he would one day read the entire content.
It was possible to take the notebook and forcefully open the contents, but it felt like tearing out a child’s innocence, so I left it alone for now.
However, at this point you don’t know what’s written inside… It cannot be postponed any longer.
There might be an important clue, so let’s take a quick look while Lortel is sleeping…
That was the moment I reached out for the notebook.
“Nghhhhhhh?!”
“… ?”
As if his sixth sense had activated, Lortel suddenly stood up just as he was about to snatch the notebook.
Wiping the spittle from the corner of my mouth, I hugged the notebook tightly with my other hand and crawled to the corner of the closet.
Between the shirts and coats hanging on hangers, Lortel’s bright red face was revealed.
“No, no! “No!”
The sight of him crooning while holding his notebook tightly is like a wildcat with sharp teeth. Lortel growled like that, and then he suddenly realized that the person he was dealing with was me and he took a deep breath.
“Yes! Sorry, sorry! Now, in your sleep!”
“So, are you awake?”
“Uh, uh… I’m sure… While playing hide and seek with Lucy… ”
“Okay, I know what the situation is, so come out of the closet first…” ”
Tanya alone is daunting, but it would be difficult if Lortel became a regular guest in the closet.
When I extended my hand to Lortel, Lortel hesitated once more, lowered his gaze, and then slowly placed his hand on my palm.
Just pull it out and escape outside. I took Lortel by the hand and made him sit at the table in one corner of the room. I thought it would be a good idea to make him a cup of tea, so I started using magic to heat the teapot in the corner of the room.
Lortel placed his fists on his knees, pressed them together, and continued speaking with difficulty.
“S-sorry… I told you not to enter the room without permission, but… I somehow managed to escape… sorry… ”
“I’m not going to scold you, so there’s no need to be nervous. Have a cup of tea and go. “I’ll keep it a secret from the maids.”
“Really?! thank you!”
I simply brewed a cup of warm black tea and served it in front of me, then brought a cup of tea for myself and sat down on the other side.
“Are there any inconveniences in living in a mansion?”
“yes! So good! Ms. Bell, Ms. Yenika, and Ms. Lucy! Duke Tanya is a bit… It’s scary, but… ”
This is also surprising.
“Anyway, the employees and maids play every day, so it’s so busy every day! “It’s a good thing you came to Ross Taylor Mansion, hehe.”
Anyway, for the past time, it feels like Lortel has become a strange mascot wandering around the mansion.
Go exploring by yourself with a lot of dirt on your body, playing hide and seek with Lucy, or taking a nap lying on Jenica’s lap…
As the cutie of the mansion, she has already completely blended in here.
What are you going to do after you really come to your senses? . We’ve already come too far to say that.
I just pray for peace.
“Wow, wow… Master Ed is good at making tea… Wow, it’s delicious.. Just like I heard, you’re really good at everything… ”
“As you heard?”
“yes? Ahaha, the users… You say that often… !”
Lortel lifted the teacup with both small hands and took a sip at a time.
“Warm tea calms the mind and makes the body comfortable. I’m giving it to you because you seem so embarrassed. First, have a drink and make yourself comfortable.”
“Yes, yes…” thank you… ”
When that comfortable feeling penetrated my heart, I quietly closed my eyes and gathered my magic power.
Lortel in his current state, unable to feel magical power at all, would not even be able to resist. That’s right, it goes beyond normal magical power… This is because it was a special type of magic power, star level magic power.
“Ugh… I guess it’s because I feel at ease… I’m tired… ”
As if possessed by something, Lortel slowly fell asleep on the desk.
Lying next to it was the notebook he carried so dearly.
“… ”
After looking at Lortel’s sleeping face again, I slowly stretched out my hand and took the notebook.
The notebook I carried so dearly. Opening this is a matter of necessity rather than curiosity.
Isn’t it a natural step to check what kind of note Lortel left behind before losing his memory?
To be honest, it’s not self-justification, it’s really natural and reasonable…
“… ”
I was looking at a notebook that was so worn that it had been stored carefully for a long time… A strange feeling came up.
Looks like he’s doing something really bad… That kind of feeling.
Still, what can’t be helped is what can’t be helped.
