Having infiltrated what was essentially a standing buffet party disguised as a meeting, I quietly listened in on the conversations around me.
『By the way, have you heard, Baron-dono? The rumors in the capital?』
『You mean the disappearances?』
『So you’ve already heard…』
『It’s been the talk of the town lately…』
(Disappearances, huh… With the 【Budding Evil God】 issue on top of that. This gives me a really bad feeling.)
I kept my ears open for the next snippets of conversation.
『What’s the matter, Count?』
『Ah, Ulberick-sama. Actually, my son was seriously injured during a training expedition from the knight academy. He’s been in the castle’s medical facility ever since, and I haven’t been able to contact him.』
『That’s terrible. What about letters?』
『Of course I’ve been sending them. But none ever come back.』
『I see… That’s troubling.』
Ulberick-sama gently comforted the dejected Count. Hmm… somehow this all feels connected…
Everywhere I turned, the only topics were strange incidents and disappearances in the capital.
「They’re just rumors for now… but when this many people are talking about it, it’s definitely worth looking into.」
「A-ano…merchant-dono?」
A young noble approached me hesitantly.
「Yes? What can I do for you, Viscount Reisto?」
I confirmed his name with appraisal and responded politely. The viscount looked surprised.
「I’m shocked… I’m just a minor noble from the north. How did you know my name…?」
「Not at all. Everyone here is a potential customer, so Ulberick-sama kindly provided me with a list of the guests in advance.」
「I see… but you couldn’t possibly know my face…」
「Exactly. That’s why I took the liberty of observing your features to confirm.」
「Is that so?」
「Yes. People from the north often have distinctive tan lines around the eyes from the harsh sunlight. It makes identification quite easy.」
It was similar to skier’s goggle tan back in Japan…very noticeable.
「Ah, I’ve been told that before. That makes sense.」
「So, Viscount Reisto, is there something you need?」
「Actually, right after this meeting is my wedding anniversary with my wife. I’d like to get her a gift.」
「That’s wonderful. Is your wife here today?」
「No, she’s expecting, so she’s staying at our villa in the capital where the climate is stable. I’d love to surprise her, but I have absolutely no sense for jewelry. That’s why I thought to ask a merchant like you.」
「I see… In that case, it would be better to ask my wife. To be honest, I leave all jewelry decisions to her as well.」
I gave a wry smile as I explained. The viscount burst out laughing too. After excusing myself to Ulberick-sama, I asked him to call Liliana over.
「Darling? What is it?」
「Ah, Lilina. This is Viscount Reisto. He’s looking for a gift for his wife’s upcoming wedding anniversary. Would you mind hearing him out?」
「Of course. Then, Viscount-sama, please tell me about your wife.」
「Right… My wife is….」
Good. That’s the first one taken care of.
I left them to it and returned to the main room, where several nobles who had apparently been searching for me quickly approached.
「Oh, Merchant-dono. There you are.」
「We’ve been looking for you.」
「About the jewelry that Carbuncle girl was wearing earlier…」
One after another they called out to me. I responded smoothly to each. Things were going very well.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
By the time the party ended, almost all the jewelry we had brought had sold out.
「Waa! Thank you so much, Holy Knight-sama!! With this much I can buy anything I want!!」
I picked up Lopple-san and handed over today’s earnings. She beamed with pure delight, clutching the pouch to her chest.
「By the way, Yuuki-san… why did you sell the jewelry to nobles instead of at the market?」
「Because these are actually simple magic tools. It’ll be faster if I just show you. 『——Detection』」
I activated the spell at a distance where the ring could react. A faint glow shimmered around it.
「W-wow! It lit up!!」
「Yeah, exactly.」
「「「???」」」
Amilia seemed to understand immediately. Liliana and Selene looked puzzled but thoughtful. But why doesn’t Lopple-san, the one who made them, get it…?
「Um… I had you use metal refined with magic power during crafting. So when my magic power touches the finished pieces, they emit a thin trace of my own magic power like this.」
「Ah! So that’s why they were overflowing with Holy Knight-sama’s mana!」
「Meaning… these accessories turn into simple magic tools?」
「Exactly. Amilia and Liliana, you can tell the difference between my emitted magic power and the magic power already inside, right?」
At my question, Amilia and Liliana closed their eyes and furrowed their brows in concentration.
「Uuu… I don’t get it at all…」
「Me neither! How can you tell so precisely?」
「Well… Amilia’s just grown a lot, and Liliana’s body is half made of magic power anyway.」
「Can I do it too if I try hard?」
「Hmm… We haven’t fully figured out how Carbuncles use magic yet, so I’m not sure. But if Yuffie trains you, you’ll probably get there. And even if not, she’ll make you magic tools anyway.」
When we get back to our world, I’d like her to make something like magic power-recognition glasses for Kanemori-kun too.
「Got it! Alright, I’ll do my best～!」
「But… why did you do all this?」
Amilia lifted her head and asked directly.
「Yeah… I’ll explain that now.」
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