Before the holidays, the atmosphere on the streets as we walk through them is somehow agitated .

Sunlight is getting so strong at last I can feel it’s summer .

“Where are we going?”

That’s what my beloved Claire-sama asked .

As Claire-sama is under the parasol I’m holding, I absolutely won’t allow even a little bit of her skin to tan .

“Before the holidays, I have to take care of a minor business”

“A minor business?”

“It’s truly trivial . How should I say… I want to prevent a trouble”

“I do not understand well”

Unable to understand, she tilted her head .

Yes, immensely lovely .

“At any rate, what kind of turn of events is this? To accompany me on my personal business”

My outing today is completely a personal matter .

I absolutely didn’t expect Claire-sama to say she wants to come along .

“… Nothing really . There is no special meaning . Somehow I wanted to feel the wind outside”

Saying so, Claire-sama turned away in a huff .

Huh?

Is she in a bad mood?

“But, Claire-sama, don’t you usually dislike heat and hate being exposed to sun”

Even with parasol, heat is heat .

Not to mention, the extremely selfish Claire-sama willingly exposed herself to sunlight .

“Ne・ver・mind・that! Hurry up and finish your business!”

“Haa…”

I don’t quite understand the mood today .

Claire-sama is whimsical like a cat, so maybe she also has days like these .

As for me, I greatly appreciate that I can spend more time with Claire-sama, so without brooding over it any further I switched to thinking about enjoying my time with her .

“We’re already there… It’s here”

Saying so, I stopped walking in front of a building .

“Tulu company…? Do you need to buy something?”

Reading the signboard with the store’s name, Claire-sama asked .

“No, that isn’t the case . I just need to have a little talk with the proprietor here”

“Hmph…? Well, very well . If we have to enter, let’s enter quickly . It is unbearably hot here”

“That’s why if you had stayed at the academy――”

“Qui・ck・ly”

“Yes”

Chasing after Claire-sama who promptly entered the store, I also got in .

“Welco… me!? We, well well, Claire-sama . What kind of business brings you to a place like this… . ?”

Seeing Claire-sama’s figure, the good-natured old shopkeeper became fl.u.s.tered .

His name is Hans-san .

He’s a skilled merchant and the only person managing this Tulu company .

Hans-san’s confusion is understandable .

While Tulu Company isn’t a small company, it’s by no means big .

Unlike low and middle n.o.bility, it should rarely receive high n.o.bles like Claire-sama .

“It is not me who has business here . Hey, Rei . Finish your business quickly”

When she sank into a sofa in the corner of the store that’s used for business discussions, Claire-sama said so seemingly uninterested .

She’s not doing anything other than looking around the store’s interior .

“Good day, Hans-san”

“Hey, Rei-chan . I was surprised . Isn’t it the first time you came here with Claire-sama?”

“Yeah . I heard she was in the mood for it today”

Like that, I exchanged greetings with Hans-san .

He’s a good-natured old man that usually has a gentle air about him .

However―― .

“So, Rei-chan . What kind of profitable scheme did you bring today?”

Saying so, Hans-san’s expression changed from that of a gentle person to that of a merchant .

Hans-san and I actually go back a long way .

As a matter of fact, he’s a merchant character who sold items in the game .

In this life, he’s a broker responsible in various ways for my connection with Blume .

He provides me with the necessary ingredients for Blume’s new recipes, as a reward he’s become Blume’s supplier .

That’s why, for him it seems like me coming to his store equals bringing a profitable scheme .

“I’m sorry, but today I came to crush a profitable scheme instead”

“Ha?”

Hans-san made a blank face .

I continued .

I continued .

“It’s just a possibility, but I believe I’ve heard rumors of Hans-san having a certain magical tool”

“Hm? What’s this about?”

Hans-san tilted his head .

Feigning ignorance for the time being, it’s as expected of a merchant .

“There’s no point feigning ignorance . The effect of that magical tool is . Revive the dead… Am I wrong?”

“… Well, I didn’t expect to be outwitted by Rei-chan”

Affirming the magical tool’s effect, he raised his hands in surrender .

Since I’ve brought profitable schemes based on the game knowledge before too, I must appear like a prophet to Hans-san .

“I’ve certainly heard about it . As it’s not a cheap good, I’ve been thinking a little more whether to stock up on it or not”

“That magical tool, please give it up”

“… Can I hear the reason?”

With a twitch of his eyebrow, Hans-san asked .

Well, obviously .

A merchant wouldn’t give up a profitable scheme without a reason .

“That magical tool is a sham”

“… How can you tell?”

“I cannot tell you the reason why I know the truth . But, if you get on this scheme, Hans-san will suffer a heavy loss”

“… Hmm”

His tone sounded affirmatively, however Hans-san showed he’s pondering about my baseless words .

That magical tool is as a matter of fact a tool that turns dead into undead, a lower n.o.ble who bought it from Hans-san used it .

As a result, a cemetary where daughters of n.o.bles sleep was turned into a nest of undead, n.o.bles’ fury caused Hans-san to lose all dealings with n.o.bles .

It’s involved in the Undead Hunt in the game, but because it’s always better if such a disaster doesn’t happen I came here to strike down this flag .

“If it was anyone else, I’d drive them anyway, but because it’s Rei-chan, who has never been wrong, saying this… But…”

“Of course, I won’t tell you to simply give up . I have another profitable scheme”

“… I thought so”

Hans-san meaningfully smiled .

“Soon, the demand for weapons and armor will greatly increase . It’s also something that can’t be made public”

“! Isn’t it peaceful . Will a war start?”

Hans-san looked at imploringly .

“It won’t be war, but something close”

“… You won’t tell me the basis?”

“Yeah, whether to believe or not is up to Hans-san”

That said, I’m gambling on Hans-san getting on it .

That said, I’m gambling on Hans-san getting on it .

Hans-san seemed to ponder for a while, but eventually he let out a large sigh and―― .

“I got it . I’ll give up on the magical tool . But, at least tell me this”

“What do you need?”

“That demand which can’t be made public, is it okay if I supply it?”

Hans-san looked at me with sharp eyes .

He’s testing me .

“You should as a merchant . As a person… It depends on Hans-san’s political beliefs”

“… Hmm”

After I endured Hans-san staring at me, he spoke in a voice like he’s more or less convinced .

“Very well . If it’s unavoidable, it’s a chance for a merchant to profit”

Hans-san’s expression slackened .

Apparently, I more or less pa.s.sed Hans-san’s test .

“Even so… Rei-chan, who in the world are you? Every single time it’s like you can see the future”

“As I said before, I won’t comment on that”

“I guessed so . But, be careful, Rei-chan . If I was a man who would do anything for profit, I wouldn’t hesitate to kidnap and confine you”

Hans-san smoothly said a frightening thing .

“I think you’re aware I’m a Dual Caster”

“Of course I don’t think I could do it alone . Nevertheless, I could hire people or prepare a sealing magical tool, there are many ways to do that”

Certainly, you could say that .

“Well, shall I leave threatening at that . But, don’t forget . You have that much value . Like this, it’s easy to attract various disasters”

“… I’ll take it to heart”

“Then I’ll see you off”

Saying so, Hans-san smiled at me .

“Is your business finished?”

Realizing the talk between me and Hans-san came to an end, Claire-sama called out to me .

“Yeah, for now . Hans-san, I’ll excuse myself”

“Yeah, come again”

“Claire-sama, let’s go back”

“Gokigen’you”

Following Claire-sama, I left the store .

“There is still quite some time before the curfew . I am hungry”

Following Claire-sama, I left the store .

“There is still quite some time before the curfew . I am hungry”

“When we return to the dormitory, should I make something?”

Holding the parasol, I responded to Claire-sama .

“… Insensitive”

“Yes?”

“It was nothing . Yes yes, let’s go back . I do not mind going back!”

Saying so sulkily, Claire-sama immediately started briskly walking .

“Claire-sama, you will get sunburnt”

“That’s fine, such a thing!”

“It’s not good . What would happen if a blemish appeared on Claire-sama’ pearly skin”

I hurriedly caught up with her and shaded her with the parasol, this time Claire-sama stopped abruptly .

“… If that happened, would you dislike me?”

“That’s impossible”

It’s a sudden question with an unknown context, but I immediately replied .

No, because it really is impossible .

“I see… Hmph…”

For some reason Claire-sama made a complicated face .

What’s up with Claire-sama today .

“Claire-sama, aren’t you somehow strange today?”

“Whose fault do you think it is!”

“Eeeeh…”

She lashed out at me .

No, I really don’t understand what she meant .

“Let’s return quickly! When we return, make crème brûlée!”

“Haa…”

As far as I can tell from her expression, for now her mood is fixed .

I don’t get the reason at all, but well, it’s because she’s Claire-sama .

“… But, it is a rare outing”

“Did you say something?”

“Rei you idiot, is what I said!”

She pulled her eyelid down and stuck out her tongue .

I don’t know the reason, but Claire-sama is cute as ever .