The Decisive Battle

While we were on our way home, a major crackdown was already unfolding at Etsigoya’s bakery.

“Everyone, don’t move!”

Shouting loudly, the city guards stormed into Etsigoya’s shop.

“Well now, officers, what brings such a large group to my humble establishment?”

Etsigoya responded calmly, as if nothing were wrong.

Even as he spoke, the city guards moved through the shop, restraining the employees one after another. Most of them looked utterly confused, as if they had no idea why they were being arrested.

“Etsigoya and the employees of this shop are suspected of arson at the Bakers’ Guild warehouse. Submit quietly.”

“Oh my. Do you truly believe that I, an honest merchant, would commit such a grave crime? I’m sure this misunderstanding will be cleared up soon enough.”

Ropes were placed on Etsigoya as well, and since there were no customers inside, everyone in the shop was restrained and taken away. Outside, a large crowd of onlookers had gathered after hearing the commotion.

“So they really were up to something bad.”

“I never heard any good rumors about that shop anyway.”

The onlookers whispered among themselves.

By the time we reached home, a carriage I recognized—the one belonging to Baron Kroise—was already stopped in front of Marie’s bakery.

“Damn it… are we too late?!”

Worried about Marie, I rushed toward the shop. Josette, Caro, and Rachel followed behind, but I ran at full speed and quickly pulled ahead, leaving the three of them behind.

[A little earlier—inside Marie’s bakery]

“Pardon the intrusion.”

Saying that, Baron Kroise entered the bakery with his private soldiers. He forced all the customers outside, leaving only Marie, Catherine, and Emily inside.

“Oh ho. So you’re Marie, the shop owner. You’re quite the beauty, just as the rumors say.”

“You’re interfering with business. Please leave.”

Kroise slowly looked Marie up and down, as if licking her with his eyes. Knowing it was probably futile, Marie still tried to get him to leave.

“No need to rush. I came to negotiate today. I am Baron Kroise. I’ve decided that this shop will come under my control. You’ll be under noble protection. With a powerful patron, your business will surely flourish. You should be happy, no?”

“I refuse.”

Marie rejected his proposal outright.

“There’s no need to answer so hastily. Let’s take our time discussing this.”

At Kroise’s signal, his soldiers restrained Catherine and Emily.

“Mom…”

Catherine looked at Marie anxiously. Emily, meanwhile, was held without saying a word.

“Please, stop.”

“Oh ho, quite a nice feel.”

Taking advantage of the fact that Marie couldn’t resist, Kroise groped her chest.

“How about it? Become my mistress. A beauty like you would receive very generous treatment.”

With his free hand, he lifted Marie’s chin roughly as he spoke.

“I refuse. There is someone I’ve already given my heart to.”

“Mom, stop it! She doesn’t want this!”

“That’s right. Marie-san clearly doesn’t want this,”

Catherine and Emily protested verbally, unable to move.

“Oh? Someone you’ve given your heart to? I heard you’re a widow—are you still clinging to your dead husband?”

“No! The one I love is Kent-san!”

“W-What?! Mom, what do you mean by that?!”

“Master, good job,”

Emily cheered for me, even though I wasn’t there.

“So if I deal with this Kent fellow, you’ll be mine. Interesting. Where is he?”

“I’m right here!”

I shouted as I entered the shop from behind Kroise. Confident in his noble status, he hadn’t posted anyone outside to guard.

“So you’re Kent? What’s this, just a student? And she fell for someone like you? Hah! How amusing.”

“You’re Baron Kroise, right? Let go of Marie-san.”

“This? You probably haven’t experienced it, but it has quite a pleasant feel.”

He deliberately groped Marie again, showing it off to me.

“T-To do something so shameful in front of Kent-san…”

Marie said tearfully.

A moment later, Josette, Caro, and Rachel rushed in as well.

“Baron Kroise—no, Kroise. I won’t forgive you for making Marie-san cry.”

“Oh? And what do you think commoners like you can do to me?”

“Emily, cleaning duty.”

“Yes, Master.”

In the next instant, Emily vanished. Kroise’s private soldiers collapsed one after another, unable to even resist. Josette and the others, who had just arrived, stared in shock.

“What… what just happened?”

“Now there’s no one left to help you. Take your filthy hands off Marie-san.”

At my signal, Kroise was violently flung into the wall, as if struck by something unseen.

“Gah!”

“How pathetic. So this is a noble, huh?”

“You… what did you do?!”

“That’s a secret.”

“Well done, Kent-dono. I didn’t expect you to prepare things so thoroughly before I arrived.”

Clapping, a man entered the shop.

“Father!”

Josette exclaimed.

It was her father—the duke.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I was actually watching from the moment Kroise entered. I never imagined things would turn out like this.”

“D-Duke…”

Kroise looked at him in shock.

“First, Kroise—did you act knowing this shop was under my protection?”

“I-I had no idea this shop was under your protection. I’ve done something unforgivable. I sincerely apologize. I’ll make amends later. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

Kroise tried to gather his injured soldiers and leave.

“Wait. We’re not finished yet.”

“Eh?”

The duke stopped him.

“I thought I’d tell you this first. Etsigoya has been detained on suspicion of arson at the Bakers’ Guild warehouse. That should tell you enough, shouldn’t it?”

“I… I know nothing about that.”

“Is that so? Kent-dono, if you would.”

“Yes.”

I brought over the CD cassette deck inside the shop and pressed play.

“How did it go?”

“Everything is proceeding perfectly. We burned down the Bakers’ Guild warehouse and destroyed the flour. Bakeries that ran out of stock are shutting down one after another.”

“Excellent. Then all that’s left is to sell the flour at inflated prices.”

“We’ve already shipped flour to two bakeries through merchants under our control. As for one bakery that had its own supply route, we hired thugs to smash it.”

The recording of Etsigoya and Kroise’s past conversation played.

“What is this?! I don’t know anything about this!”

Kroise shouted in panic.

“This is a recording of your conversations with Etsigoya. I can’t explain how it was obtained, but you remember it, don’t you?”

The duke said sternly.

“So then, what happened to that bakery—the biggest nuisance?”

“They seemed to have more supplies than expected, so it took some time, but as planned, they ran out of materials and have been closed since yesterday.”

“I see, I see. They must be panicking. How delightful! But you had products made with ingredients from that bakery, didn’t you? If they’re closed, how will you obtain them?”

“There’s no problem there. Tonight, we’ll send thieves to that wretched Marie’s bakery and strip it of all materials.”

“Hahaha, Etsigoya, you’re quite the villain.”

“Not compared to you, my lord.”

“Hahaha!”

The recordings continued one after another.

“And then you had the audacity to send thieves to a shop under my protection.”

“Eek!”

“If this were all, I might let commoners handle it among themselves. But you know Baron Frederick, don’t you?”

“I know the name, at least…”

“I see.”

Another recording played, revealing how Kroise had framed Baron Frederick to delay the plan.

When the playback ended, the duke spoke.

“The evidence is complete. What you did to Baron Frederick is clear. Framing a man who worked tirelessly for the country, simply because you feared your crimes being exposed—this is unforgivable!”

“So this is the end…”

Kroise muttered, drawing the sword at his waist. His remaining soldiers followed suit.

“Oh? You draw a sword against a duke? You understand what that means, don’t you?”

The duke said calmly.

“The man here isn’t a duke—it’s an impostor! Everyone, attack!”

“Well, I’d rather you not wreck the shop.”

Contrary to Kroise’s desperation, I spoke casually.

“Emily, cleaning duty.”

“Understood.”

Emily moved at inhuman speed, knocking down every last soldier. Soon, only Kroise remained.

“What is that maid?!”

Kroise shouted.

“I cannot answer without my master’s permission,”

Emily replied crisply.

“Then I suppose it’s my turn to show my worth.”

The duke drew his sword and faced Kroise.

“Father!”

“Duke!”

Josette and Caro cried out.

“No, really—please don’t fight inside the shop.”

I stepped between them and grabbed the blades of both swords.

“What?!”

“Kent-dono?!”

I held the blades barehanded without a care. Both men were stunned. The duke understood and sheathed his sword, but Kroise refused. I grabbed Kroise’s blade with my other hand, holding both edges firmly.

“Why… won’t it cut?!”

No matter how he struggled, he couldn’t slice through my hands.

“Emily, please.”

“Yes, Master.”

With a dull thud, Kroise collapsed unconscious.

“Kent-saaaan, are you okay?!”

“Kent-san, are you hurt?!”

“Big brother, that was so cool!”

“Thank you, Kent-san!”

“Big brother, I was so scared!”

Caro, Josette, Rachel, Marie, and Catherine all rushed over and hugged me at once.

“I never imagined this shop had a resident fairy. I’ve seen something remarkable today,”

The duke said quietly to Emily, then signaled outside. A group of knights entered, swiftly restraining Kroise and his men and taking them away.

“Kent-dono, you grabbed sword blades—are you all right?”

the duke asked worriedly.

I removed the gloves I’d been wearing.

“I’m fine. These are cut-resistant gloves—special gloves that protect against blades.”

“Such a useful item exists? You never cease to amaze me. To be honest, I’ve been curious about the equipment in this shop…”

In the end, I had to explain every detail of the shop’s setup to the duke.

“I see. Very well. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave. Josette, are you coming?”

“No, I’ll return a little later.”

“I see. Then Kent-dono, I’m entrusting my daughter to you.”

“Yes. Please take care as well, Duke.”

At the time, it sounded like a casual exchange—but I would later learn it carried far deeper meaning.