「……I’m not convinced.」
「Even if you say that…」
The location was the usual office inside the castle.
Standing in front of the desk, Frea continued with a sigh.
「I don’t know who it is, but someone has been buying up huge amounts of platinum. I had to use my connections to somehow get the plates needed for spell formulas.」
「I know, but…」
The reason platinum prices had skyrocketed was entirely my fault.
I had acted on the thought of 「Let’s get Noie new armor」, and as a result the trading price of platinum had suddenly multiplied several times.
I heard that merchants who had been stockpiling it released large quantities all at once, and the market was now oversupplied.
「Why is the processing fee so high?」
「……It’s basically whatever the craftsmen decide to charge.」
Frea looked exasperated as she picked up the invoice on the desk.
Krea, who had peeked over from behind out of curiosity, turned pale after counting the zeros.
The processing fee was far higher than the cost of the platinum material itself.
「Did they take advantage of us?」
「Possibly. But we did specify that it was urgent.」
「Even so, isn’t it too expensive?」
「……Probably higher than usual.」
Frea’s reluctant admission showed she was aware of it.
「Hmm.」
I crossed my arms and thought seriously for a moment.
I can’t accept them raising prices based on the customer’s face. I’ll have to calculate the average and announce a standard rate.
I’ll pass this kind of issue to ikemen onii-chan and let him handle it.
「Well, consider it a learning experience and let’s endure it this time. Krea～. Check this and if there are no mistakes, send it as a bill to the house.」
「Is that okay?」
「It’s fine. It helps that the salary I can hand out will be a bit lower.」
Krea snatched the invoice from me with an obviously displeased face.
You don’t get it, do you? The terror of the ever-growing mountain of gold bars being pushed onto me every month.
I’m seriously starting to want a bank… or rather, paper currency.
Living with that much cash, or rather, gold, in the vault is bad for the heart.
「Argusta-sama. So what is it?」
「Mm～」
I beckoned Frea-san over with a small gesture.
When she approached with a suspicious look, I spoke so only she could hear.
「I asked the Republic’s witch for a fixed-type spell formula. That’s why I needed it.」
「……Did you report this to the higher-ups?」
「I didn’t. I asked her personally.」
Frea gave me a sharp glare and straightened up.
「I heard nothing about this. Is that acceptable?」
「Yes, please. If anything happens, just blame it on me.」
「Understood. Then I’ll return to work.」
She gave a bow and left the room.
She’s heading straight to the suburban standby post now… If it were me, I’d skip it.
I balled up a piece of paper and threw it at Krea, who was eavesdropping on me.
Finally, I had gathered all five platinum plates for the spell formulas.
The first one was easy to obtain, but every one after that had been a struggle.
For the last one, I had Frea-san ask her boyfriend, who was a student at the magic academy.
I held one of the plates in my hand.
A thin sheet of silver-white metal. About the size of a smartphone?
Its thickness was less than 1mm.
When I held it between my fingers, it wobbled slightly. It had some flexibility, so it wouldn’t break at this level.
Well, apparently they carve the spell formula into it and wrap it around the bone.
Officially, it was a fixed-type spell formula. I had pushed the story that it was for making a simple refrigerator.
I had also ordered a box with a lid that looked the part.
I arranged it so that the four missing plates were “sent” to that perverted witch as payment, and only one was returned to me. That excuse should hold up.
Islerose, who casually made such a black-hearted proposal, is definitely someone who does shady things behind the scenes.
Looking at the wobbling plate, I thought.
Lately I’ve been having fun with this movement and doing it often in the bedroom, but the way Noie watches me feels a little painful.
It’s like a mother watching her child endlessly popping bubble wrap… Being watched like that is honestly hard to bear.
「All right. Let’s enjoy this today.」
-0-
I usually go home with Noie. But from there, her behavior today was different from usual.
She rushed through the bath and dinner at full speed, then disappeared into the bedroom first.
This pattern is honestly not good. Did that sheer camisole girl whisper something unnecessary again?
She had been sleep-talking things like 『I want to be loved like a sow! I want to be kept!』 so I recommended a pig farm… but if she’s seeking pleasure, isn’t a rabbit better? I heard a rumor that they keep going until their skin rubs raw and bleeds.
Rabbits are amazing. That’s why bunny girls are so attractive.
「Noie～? I’m coming in～?」
I cautiously entered the room and found my wife on the bed in the darkened room with the curtains closed, covered by a sheet.
What does she want to do?
When I got closer, she peeked her face out from the edge of the sheet and looked at me.
「……Don’t bully me, please.」
「……」
The destructive power was shocking, but I held it in.
I endured. If she had teary eyes right now, it would have been dangerous.
「Don’t bully me.」
And then Noie’s strong punch came right after!
But I’ve already built up resistance after taking it once. My will isn’t weak enough to be swayed by something like,
「Onii-chan.」
I unconsciously pounced on Noie.
That phrase is too unfair. Even if I know it’s coming, I can’t avoid it, damn it!
Noie kept saying 「Stop. Don’t bully me. Onii-chan」 the whole time, manipulating me perfectly, and I ended up working extremely hard.
Wait, Noie-san… what exactly did you want to do? Is this the right answer? Hey?
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