Mark’s Violence

“Oh my, Kent-san’s seat is being used. Even so, Patty-san is extremely popular.”

Josette said that in an exasperated manner.

“There’s still time, so it’s fine.”

“Is that so? In that case, the seat beside mine is open, so why not use it?”

“Um, there weren’t any empty seats in this classroom, right?”

In Kent’s memory, when a transfer student came, there was usually a conveniently empty seat, though to be precise, would that not be a student transferred in? However, there should not have been any such seat in this classroom.

“Here it is.”

Saying that, Josette sat in her own seat, opened up one side, and patted the chair.

“Sit here?”

“Now, please do not hold back.”

Since it would only be for a brief time, Kent could have just stood until class began, but Josette recommended it so eagerly that he reluctantly decided to sit.

“Then excuse me.”

Kent sat beside Josette reservedly. Since two people were sitting on the same chair, they ended up pressed closely together. The surrounding students pretended not to see Josette’s behavior. It came from fear, because if they said something and incurred Josette’s anger, they did not know what kind of retaliation would come. Everyone thought it was best to pretend not to know.

“I can feel Kent-san’s warmth.”

It had only just entered September, so pressing close together was hot, but Josette’s softness and scent were pleasant, and Kent also immersed himself in a good mood. Since they were not doing this to flirt, Kent and Josette looked toward Kent’s seat, where he was currently unable to sit.

“I wonder what Patty-san thinks of this situation.”

“What do you mean?”

“Whether she’s happy to be pampered, or whether she’s troubled by it.”

“From how it looks, I feel it is the latter, but we cannot know unless we ask her herself.”

The two said that while observing Patty. They continued observing for a while, but when it became time for class to begin, Patty’s followers dispersed, and Kent also sat in his own seat.

Afternoon classes also ended, and Kent and the others headed to Marie’s bakery and began working. Elnette left work in exchange, Rachel headed to the second shop, and business proceeded as usual. Then the evening rush hour passed, and a relaxed time began flowing through the shop.

“I have returned.”

“Good work, Rachel-chan. How was the second shop?”

“We earned plenty today too. These are today’s sales. The calculations are finished, so I’ll put them straight into the safe.”

“Really? Then that’s good. In that case, I’ll leave the money to you.”

Rachel returned after finishing work. Marie greeted her and praised her for her efforts. Because the spending per customer was high, the second shop now had higher sales than this first shop. Rachel apparently only handled procurement and helped in the shop a little, while entrusting the work at the second shop to Laura and the other employees. They had also secured the opening funds they had borrowed from Caro and would apparently repay the full amount soon.

“It looks like the second shop is going smoothly too. But we should probably start thinking about how to manage the money soon.”

“Should we? If Kent-san says so, then it seems better to think about it.”

Kent thought it might be dangerous to have Rachel carry large amounts of money alone. Marie also seemed willing to think about it since Kent had said so.

“Welcome, Mark-sama.”

While they were having that conversation, Mark came to the shop. Marie, who happened to be nearby, handled the customer service. Normally, they did not guide customers to the dining space, but they could not say that kind of thing to a noble, so when he came to the shop, whoever was nearby handled him. Mark kept staring at Marie without taking his eyes off her.

“Welcome. Here is your water and wet towel. Please call us when you have decided on your order.”

After Mark sat down, Patty, carrying water and a wet towel, took over from Marie and handled him. Mark stared regretfully at Marie as she entered the kitchen.

Today’s breadmaking had ended, and there were no customers inside the shop other than Mark, so excluding Catherine at the register, Kent, Marie, Josette, Caro, and Patty, who had returned after placing the water and wet towel, had gathered in the kitchen. Rachel seemed to have returned to her room since her work was finished.

“Marie-san, what do you think of Mark?”

“What do I think? He is a regular customer, perhaps?”

When Kent asked Marie what she thought of Mark, Marie seemed to think nothing of him. Hearing that made him feel somewhat sorry for Mark, who had been coming so often.

“Are you aware that he has feelings for you?”

“Well, with my life experience… cough, cough. I can tell by looking at his attitude. However, I have Kent-san, so I do not intend to date anyone else right now.”

When Josette asked, Marie answered clearly.

“I will switch places with Catherine at the register soon.”

Marie said that and left the kitchen, about to head toward the register, when she tripped on something and lost her balance.

“Oh my… Kya!”

“Marie-san, watch out!”

Kent instinctively rushed out and prevented Marie from falling by hugging her from behind.

“Thank you, Kent-san.”

“I’m glad I made it in time. Hm?”

Since Kent had supported Marie by pulling her close from behind, both of his hands were on Marie’s ample chest. The softness was transmitted to his hands, and he ended up kneading it without thinking.

“Hyan, Kent-san, we are still working.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

Josette, Caro, and Patty, who had been watching from the kitchen, sent him lukewarm gazes with expressions that seemed to say, “Good grief,” but Mark stood up from his seat, rushed toward Kent, and grabbed him by the collar.

“You bastard! What are you doing to Marie? Let go of her at once!”

He seemed to have rushed out, driven by emotion, and looked as if he might punch him at any moment. The shop became noisy at Mark’s sudden change.

“We have to help Master!”

“No, not yet.”

Emily, who had been monitoring Mark from behind an ornamental plant set up inside the shop, tried to rush out, but Al, who was with her, stopped her. Then Al gave Catherine a look, and Catherine nodded, went outside the shop without making a sound, and changed the sign from “Open” to “Preparing.”

“I tried to settle this peacefully, but I have reached my limit.”

Saying that, he punched Kent in the face. Since Mark trained regularly, his punch was heavy, and Kent was sent flying. The tables and chairs arranged inside the shop fell over with loud noises when Kent struck them.

“Master!”

“““Kent-san!”””

Emily, Josette, Caro, and Patty rushed over to Kent. Marie stood there in shock at the sudden event. Catherine, who had returned inside the shop, watched the course of events with concern.

“Customer, we can’t have you laying hands on one of our employees.”

“What is this runt? Are you saying you want to fight me? I won’t hold back just because you’re a child.”

Al stepped between Kent and Mark and glared at Mark while making a motion as if cracking her knuckles.

“For the crime of injuring my master, do not think you will return alive.”

“Guhah!”

When Al said that, before Mark could understand what had happened, intense pain ran through his stomach. Emily had closed the distance and delivered a powerful blow to Mark’s abdomen. Using that as the signal, the shop employees attacked Mark.

“How dare you do that to Kent-san!”

“To think someone born into a knight’s family would act so rashly. I have misjudged you!”

“Apologize to Broth… to Kent-san!”

“I will not forgive you for laying hands on someone precious to me!”

“Um… I have to do it too, right? Ei!”

Caro’s kick landed, Josette’s slap exploded against him, Catherine hit him with a ladle she had brought from somewhere, and Marie also added a strike with all her might. Then Patty, though reservedly, also joined the attack.

“It’s kind of noisy downstairs… Whoa, what happened?”

Because there had been a loud noise, Rachel came to check on things and said that when she saw Mark being beaten to a pulp.

“This looks kind of interesting, so I’ll join in too.”

Even Rachel ended up joining in as well.

“Master, I will heal you now.”

“Emily, thank you. I feel better now.”

Emily came to Kent’s side, used healing magic, and treated Kent’s injury. Emily could only use healing magic for injuries that happened inside the shop. Thanks to this, even if someone got burned on the oven or cut their hand while cooking, they could be healed easily, which helped everyone.

“Um, it would be bad to leave a noble in this kind of state, wouldn’t it?”

Patty said that worriedly while looking down at Mark, who had been beaten up and had lost consciousness.