Chapter 32

We were re-summoned at exactly 8:00 PM Japan time.

When I came to, I was back in the usual small room in the gap between worlds. Since our luggage contained many fragile items, I had stored everything within my Spatial Storage before crossing over. If a security camera had caught footage of me, I’m sure someone would be shocked, wondering what kind of sleight of hand I’d pulled.

It wasn’t a parlor trick, though—it was genuine magic. Still, I’d made sure to be careful around the cameras just in case.

Once in the small room, I exchanged our remaining money back into Marques. Our remaining balance was 3,200 Marques. We’d spent over a million yen on stock. I was looking forward to seeing just how much these goods would sell for.

After the exchange was finished, it was time for the Skill Card. Please, give me a good skill this time too. I pressed my hands together in prayer before the Card-del and turned the dial.

“Whoa—even if you get laid off, you’ll never go hungry with this,” Yoshioka remarked.

Yeah, I thought so too. I’d probably end up as a masseur with a line out the door. A massage, huh… Personally, I’d rather be the one receiving one. I suppose I’d try it out on someone eventually.

When we returned, we were standing in front of the stables. The night wind was incredibly cold. I had asked Clara-sama to perform the summons outside whenever possible, as we sometimes brought back large pieces of luggage.

“We’re back.”

“Mm. Welcome back. Let us head inside first; it is cold out here.”

Since we were the only guests tonight, we moved into the large room of the temple. It was cold inside the room as well, but at least there was no wind.

“The people at this temple are so stingy! They only gave us two logs for the night!”

Fiene was huffing with indignation.

“Don’t be so angry. Look, I brought souvenirs.”

I handed the fleeces to Clara-sama and Fiene.

“Wow! It’s clothes for an angel!”

Fiene was overjoyed and put hers on immediately. Clara-sama had her usual troubled expression, but I managed to get her to accept it by claiming I’d bought it cheaply at a year-end sale.

“Thank you, Kota. It seems I shall be able to sleep warmly tonight.”

Nothing beat seeing them happy.

“Now then, Clara-sama, please inspect the items we have purchased this time.”

Since Clara-sama was an investor, I wanted her to see the goods and confirm if they would sell based on the values of this world. The room was far too dark, so I lit two LED lanterns before carefully removing the teacups and glassware from their boxes. They were fragile, so I had to be cautious.

Under their watchful eyes, I delicately unwrapped the contents. When the teapot finally emerged, the two of them gasped. As each subsequent wrapping was opened, sighs of admiration escaped from Clara-sama and Fiene.

“I have never seen such beautiful vessels. Even in the Royal Palace, they do not use things of this caliber.”

“They’re like cups for an angel…”

There was a singular, perfected beauty there—vibrant paintings set against translucent white porcelain, a construction lavishly adorned with gold, and a form that captivated anyone who looked upon it.

“To be honest, I didn’t think they would be this magnificent. I no longer have any idea what kind of price tag they might command.”

I agreed that they were incredibly fine pieces, but there were actually even more amazing ones out there. I just hadn’t been able to buy them this time.

“Yoshioka, what should we do?”

“…200… no, let’s start from 3 million Marques!”

“…Are we really going that high?”

“We’re going for it!!”

Yoshioka’s resolve was firm.

“Whoa… I wonder how many years I’d have to work to buy just one.”

Fiene fearfully backed away from the teacups. It was said that the annual salary of a common soldier in the Royal Army was roughly 300,000 Marques. This was equivalent to about ten years’ worth of pay.

“But the problem is who to sell them to. Clara-sama, do you have any acquaintances among the heavy hitters?”

“Mm… I do not.”

Wait, she didn’t?!

“I simply do not have any social ties to high-ranking nobles who can drop such vast sums of money on a whim. If I had to name someone, it would be the Count of Bremen whom we met the other day. And even then, he only looked at your wares because he happened to take a liking to the chocolate.”

So we were saved by the fact that the guy was a glutton.

“I suppose it’s not usually that easy to get an audience, then.”

“No. The Count of Bremen is a leading figure among the northern nobility, which is the only reason he even bothered to acknowledge my greeting. As for nobles in the central region, the only one would be Viscount Kalburg, who is my direct superior. However, I do not believe he is a man of wealth like the Count.”

Viscount Kalburg was the person serving as the Chief of the Royal Capital City Guard, and apparently, he was a strictly military-minded man. He probably wasn’t poor, but he didn’t seem like someone with much interest in money.

“Hmm… in that case, why don’t we get a letter of introduction from the Count of Bremen?”

Come to think of it, the Count had been extremely pleased with our previous transaction. He even seemed to feel a sense of obligation, having mistakenly believed he’d been given the goods at a bargain price.

“Then, would you mind writing a letter to the Count of Bremen? If you do, I’ll deliver it on my bike.”

It was a 79-kilometer journey from this village to Bremen. With the “Water Walking” skill, I wouldn’t have to worry about slipping, and the freshly snow-covered roads would be as flat and smooth as asphalt. A trip that would take two days one-way on foot wouldn’t even take three hours round-trip by bike.

“Very well. I shall draft the letter tonight.”

The journey to the Royal Capital would be slightly delayed, but Clara-sama gave her permission. I decided I would set out at dawn tomorrow and return as quickly as possible.

Returning to her room, Clara began drafting the letter to the Count of Bremen. However, she found herself easily distracted, unable to organize her thoughts properly. She felt strongly that she was involved in something extraordinary, and she couldn’t suppress her excitement.

The source of Clara’s excitement was the tea sets and glassware Kota and the others had shown her earlier. Clara had never seen items so beautiful. In this world, there were many ornaments decorated with gold, silver, and gemstones. The crown she had seen when she was knighted by His Majesty the King had been a magnificent piece set with large diamonds and emeralds.

However, the teacups she had seen just now made Clara’s heart tremble in a different way. They were items that made even someone like Clara think, “I want this.”

Clara managed to finish the letter to the Count and let out a long breath. She changed into her sleepwear and slid her arms into the fleece Kota had bought for her. It was a plain, deep blue garment.

He really didn’t need to go to such trouble…

She often thought she should scold him firmly for it, but whenever he made that face like a dejected dog, she found herself inadvertently softening toward him. No, perhaps it was she who was being pampered.

Following the instructions she’d been given, she pulled up the fastener, and the front of the garment closed smoothly. Unlike the fleece she had worn yesterday, this one fit her size perfectly.

The first time, Kota had pulled up the fastener for her. Back then, Kota had looked incredibly nervous. He didn’t need to be so tense; I wouldn’t mind if he touched me a little… Remembering Kota’s sternly focused face as he worked the zipper, Clara let out a small laugh.

She decided to head to bed for the night. The long journey would continue tomorrow.

As she turned off the light and lay down, Clara suddenly felt a sense of incongruity. What was it? Something was different from the fleece she had borrowed yesterday. The color and size, yes, but…

As her consciousness began to drift toward sleep, Clara reached the answer. The scent was different. Was that… Kota’s scent?

She felt as though a vague emotion had quietly crept into her heart. But before she could identify what that feeling hidden in the corner of her mind was, Clara had fallen into a peaceful sleep.