Chapter 72

The high-pitched ring of practice weapons clashing echoed across the parade ground. Since this morning was a scheduled training period, about 100 soldiers from four platoons—including our Clara Platoon—were practicing martial arts. We had finished group formation drills a moment ago and were now focusing on honing individual techniques.

Captain Beckle was pacing the area, her sharp eyes scanning the ranks as she barked orders and encouragement at the soldiers. Perfect. Training is always more effective against someone of superior skill.

“Captain! I request a spar!”

For a split second, the “female orc” looked surprised, but she quickly flashed a grin.

“Hah! Step up!”

I spent about fifteen minutes trading blows with Captain Becklé, working up a good sweat. As always, her strikes were heavy and relentless—excellent practice for my defensive parries.

“Honestly, Hinoharu… you always manage to slip your way out of my best hits,” she huffed.

“Your continuous chain of attacks is so powerful it’s all I can do to hold my ground, Captain. Though, toward the end, your patterns tend to get a bit rhythmic. You rely heavily on mid-level strikes. If you mixed in more high-low transitions, I’d have a much harder time.”

“I see. So that’s my weakness.”

I suspect her desire to finish things with a single blow causes her to concentrate her strength where she feels most confident. This was the first time we had really talked since the martial arts exhibition, and I was relieved to find she didn’t seem to hold a grudge over her loss. In fact, she was actually easier to talk to than before.

“Sir Kota, please give me some pointers as well.”

Hans approached, so I decided to switch to kata drills with him.

“Thank you, Captain.”

“Yeah. Ask me for a round again sometime.”

I’m glad she’s stopped treating Lady Clara as a rival lately. It’s better for the Captain’s own sake, really. If Lady Clara ever got serious, neither the Captain nor I would stand a chance. Her magic-infused attacks are on another level entirely; she could freeze your feet and drain your stamina before the fight even truly began. Not that we could match her in pure martial skill either.

Once the morning training concluded, I returned to our quarters with Hans.

“Currently, the hottest topic in high society is the Baroness and the Dowager Baroness of the Petersen house,” Hans reported.

By “Baroness and Dowager,” he meant Emma’s mother and grandmother. The two of them, upon whom I had used my God Finger skill during their skincare session, had undergone a terrifyingly dramatic rejuvenation. Lady Gretel, aged thirty-eight, now looked to be in her mid-twenties. Her fifty-six-year-old mother-in-law looked barely forty. I probably could have made the grandmother look twenty if I’d gone all out, but I held back. That would have been bordering on monstrous. I’m not even sure if this country has a market for “Loli-Hags.”

“Rumor has it the Saxens nobility are searching desperately for ‘Master Shonai’.”

So it’s come to this. I did ask Lady Gretel and the others to keep it quiet, but when someone of higher status starts asking questions, they probably can’t refuse to answer. I’m incredibly glad I wore my Shonai disguise during the treatment. I’ll have to pay a visit to Marquis Berlion soon to pay my respects and get a better read on the social climate.

“Right, so… I’m planning to open an aesthetic salon using those medicines, and I want to hire someone trustworthy. Hans, you mentioned you have an older sister, right?”

“Yes. She is currently working as a maid at a certain estate.”

Ah, then headhunting might be difficult. Resigning from a job is always a hassle—I know that better than anyone.

“What’s she like?”

“She turns seventeen this year. She doesn’t have any particularly striking features, but she loves to eat and is a bit… plump.”

Depending on the degree, I don’t mind that at all. Someone like Emma’s mother has a certain charming friendliness to them.

“And her personality?”

“Very cheerful. She talks a lot. I’d say she talks five times as much as I do.”

For a customer-facing business, that’s actually a plus.

“Sounds like a lively sister. Do you think it’s impossible to recruit her?”

“Actually, that offer might be a godsend for her. The lady she serves is getting married into another house in March, so my sister was scheduled to be let go with a severance at that time anyway.”

The timing is perfect. Even if the shop isn’t finished by March, I should probably secure her now.

“Could you arrange a meeting? Oh, but I’ll be in my Shonai disguise, of course.”

“Certainly. She should be able to slip away at night.”

I’ll have to conduct an interview at a suitable location. I left the arrangements to Hans and planned to meet her soon.

At 11:50 AM, I checked in with Akito via radio. We had been operating separately since yesterday. I had tasked Akito with market research for the shop. Specifically, I wanted him to investigate where the target wealthy class shops, what they buy, and at what price points. He was also mapping out the distribution of shops in the city, foot traffic patterns, and the demographics of potential buyers.

Based on those surrounding shops, we’ll select the location for our own store.

Since the investigation takes time and it’s a hassle to travel back and forth between the inner city and the barracks, Akito decided to stay at a hotel inside the walls for a while.

“How’s it going on your end?” I asked.

“I’m feeling refreshed now that I’m free from that bean soup,” he replied.

At the barracks, they feed us bean soup every single day. It’s cheap, nutritious, and tasty, but you get sick of it daily. It’s been over half a month since we arrived in the Royal Capital, Dresden, and it really has been every single day.

“I’m incredibly jealous. How’s the work coming along?”

“Smoothly. The jewelry shops are surprisingly well-stocked, and there’s a decent amount of foot traffic from the wealthy. I bought a cheaper ring for market research; the quality was… well, let’s say ‘decent.’”

Even a “cheap” ring costs 10,000 Marques, which is about half a month’s wages for a laborer here.

“Understood. Keep up the investigation.”

“Will do. Oh, by the way, you mentioned going to buy some party clothes, Senpai. If you’re going, I recommend a shop called Eichner on Bolier Street.”

I plan to purchase a few outfits, including formal wear for business. Since I have the afternoon off from military duties, I’m thinking of inviting Lady Clara. If she says yes, it’ll be our first date. I’m feeling a bit pumped.

“Akito, while you’re at it, let me know if you find a good spot for dinner. Somewhere with a large wine selection would be great…”

“And what exactly do you plan to do once you’ve got Lady Clara tipsy?”

I’m not thinking anything untoward. Honestly, I’m not in that much of a rush. I believe our relationship is something we should nurture slowly, while being mindful of Lady Clara’s feelings.

The dining arrangements differ between common soldiers (Corporal and below) and those ranked Sergeant Major and above. While the common soldiers eat in a row at long tables, the officers sit at beautifully set tables covered with decorative cloths.

The food is also more lavish for the officers. For example, today’s lunch: the privates’ menu consists of bean soup, bread, cheese, and mashed potatoes. The officers get the same, but with the addition of sausages, carrot cake, and a glass of wine. Since most officers are nobles, it’s standard for an attendant to stand ready behind them during the meal. We make sure one of the three of us is always there for Lady Clara on a rotation. Today is my turn.

“Lady Clara, it is time for lunch.”

“Mm, is it that time already?”

Lady Clara set her documents down on the office desk, stood up, and gave her back a light stretch. I gently draped her cloak over her shoulders.

“Lady Clara, what are your plans for the afternoon?”

“Come to think of it, I have the day off. I hadn’t settled on anything in particular.”

This was my chance.

“If you’d like, would you care to go look at some clothes with me? I’m planning to purchase a few items on Bolier Street. I heard you’ll be attending a banquet soon as well.”

“That’s true. Thanks to you and the others, my pockets are a bit heavier now; it wouldn’t hurt to have something new made.”

The 100,000 Marques Lady Clara initially invested in us has grown to 10 million Marques by now.

“Please let me know if there’s anywhere else you’d like to stop. I’ll accompany you wherever you wish.”

“Thank you. Then this afternoon, the two of us will… wait, is it just the two of us?”

“Yes. That was my intention.”

I feigned perfect composure, but my heart was thumping a little.

“I-I see. Very well… then let us depart at once. Go and hail a carriage on the street.”

“Lady Clara?”

“W-what is it?”

“You must eat your lunch first.”

“O-oh, that’s right. O-of course. Let us head to the dining hall first, shall we?”

It seemed Lady Clara was just as nervous as I was. She suddenly took a wrong turn toward the dining hall, acting a bit suspicious, but it was honestly quite cute. Just as I was thinking that, an intense chill began to drift from her. Did she just use magic to cool her head again?

“Well then, let us go.”

Her voice was cool, but her cheeks were dyed a pale rose.