NOVEL WEB Chapter 199
Chapter 199. Rei
Shizuku thinks. Playing the role of Rei is fun. No one complains even if she acts like a chuunibyo. And it’s a rewarding role.
Why is it rewarding? Because she gets to eat cake all she wants when she’s Rei.
In a Western-style mansion of the Taira family, which holds the top power in the Inner City. She was munching on the cakes lined up on the table in the reception room.
The elegant interior and numerous furnishings immediately recognized as expensive catch the eye. Placed with taste to avoid being vulgar, it’s hard to believe this family rose to power in the last few decades. Shizuku internally gives a harsh critique, thinking it lacks the ostentatiousness of nouveau riche. Or perhaps her critique is just nonsensical.
Sitting on a plush sofa, she elegantly eats cake. Unlike humans, fairies don’t get fat, so she can eat as much as she wants. As she happily munches away, the human girl sitting across from her speaks up in a displeased tone.
“Is the cake good?”
“Yes, it’s delicious. This is a flavor that Amatsugahara Corporation still can’t replicate.”
Amatsugahara Corporation has also started a cake shop. However, it’s a bit pricey, so it’s not selling well. So, they lower the price to sell it.
Of course, that means reducing production costs. Cakes are a luxury item, and since they’re made by people who’ve never made them, they taste mediocre at best and even worse after cost-cutting. Shizuku once gaped in disbelief at a buttercream cake, thinking it probably didn’t even use real butter.
Compared to that, as expected of the inner town where the rich gather, the cakes are elaborate in appearance and delicious. So she eats without hesitation.
“Glad to hear that. Now, if you don’t mind, could you listen while you eat?”
“Go ahead.”
Asking for a refill, she calls to a maid standing in the corner of the room. The maid takes two cream-filled shortcakes from a wagon—one for Shizuku and one for the maid herself, who seems to be enjoying the cake buffet too.
“The creation of the oil field has been a great help. The government is overjoyed with the large reserves.”
As Konoha thanks her for the oil field made with E-rank spirit stones, bowing her head, Shizuku waves it off.
“I don’t know anything about it. It was just a disposable magic tool from Narashino City.”
It was a useless item, able to make only cat-sized changes to the terrain. Using 1000 of them, Sakimori-san created the oil field. Many a little makes a mickle, they say.
“We don’t need formalities between us. So, is that the only magic tool for creating oil fields? The government wants to buy more if you have them.”
“Heh. It’s not the government, but the Taira family that wants to buy them.”
Laughing, Shizuku flutters the cape she had prepared for today. Though it’s a bit cumbersome for sitting, she flutters it with her hand.
“You’re raising dust, Rei-sama.”
“Then please flutter it for me when I signal.”
The maid stops her, so she hands it over, requesting her to flutter it on cue. Formalities are necessary, Shizuku thinks. The maid accepts with a thumbs-up.
“You two get along well… Well, that’s fine. But regarding the oil field, didn’t you negotiate with the Minamoto family? The Minamoto family’s share of the profits is too large, and I’m being pushed as the leader of the Jester’s Knights.”
“Narashino City’s people should have told you to split it among the Three Great Families.”
Tilting her head, she looks at Konoha. Sakimori-san had slyly told Sei to lend it to the Three Great Families. Why is the Minamoto family standing out?
“They increased their share as a negotiation fee. We then split the remaining amount, so the Minamoto family stands out!”
Thinking it reminiscent of an old comedy band’s division of spoils, Shizuku can’t help but laugh. Seeing her giggle, Konoha pouts more in annoyance. She might turn into a blowfish at this rate.
“Also, I’m rumored to have amazing skills! Using giant monsters and powerful support magic remotely! Any idea why?”
“I spread the word that all the various skills used were your doing as the knight leader.”
At Shizuku’s cue, the maid flutters the cape dramatically. Nice timing. That maid is quite good. Even if the timing is a bit off, it’s fun.
Seeing the maid foolishly flutter the cape while hopping around, Shizuku sighs and Konoha grumbles at her.
“Even if you confess, I won’t forgive you! Because of that, I’m called a versatile magician everywhere!”
As Konoha protests, pounding the table, Shizuku shakes her head.
“No need for such poor acting, Leader Konoha. You’ve solidified your position quite well as the leader of the Jester’s Knights.”
Stopping the playful act, Shizuku coolly smiles and folds her arms.
Konoha falters at Shizuku’s attitude, speechless because it hits the mark. The days of being mocked as a clown are behind her.
At school, she’s surrounded by many self-proclaimed friends, basking in attention. Once called a fool even within the Taira family, she is now invited to tea parties and asked to introduce members of the Jester’s Knights.
At evening parties, men line up to ask her to dance with fervent words. Although Minamoto Fuuka looked exasperated, saying, “This is Japan, and we’re having evening parties?”
It is indeed the springtime of her life. Compared to her past miserable treatment, she was at a level where she could afford to feel on top of the world.
The problem is that even in situations unrelated to me, I get pampered, making it awkward and hard to get carried away.
Konoha, who is the contact with Rei, has become even more solidly positioned thanks to the oil field magic tools provided by Narashino City.
To be honest, there are only a few complaints. I just wish this secretive girl would open up a little more.
So, while voicing complaints and smiling to forgive, I hoped to become closer to her, but it seems she saw through it.
I feel that the maid who wears Rei’s cape and jumps around claiming to be the wind is closer to Rei.
“Well, it has been helpful… But I wish you would be more accommodating. People’s perceptions have changed though…”
She is no longer the person who understood the cold stares of those around her and hid, hurt by the mockery.
“Then isn’t it fine? If you get too greedy, you’ll get hurt. You’ve strengthened the power of the Three Great Families. You should be satisfied with that for now.”
Sakimori-san planned to strengthen the Three Great Families. If the power in the inner town stabilizes, it becomes easier to predict and strategize business plans. Peace and prosperity go hand in hand, he said. He also smiled cunningly, saying it’s a double benefit to deepen ties with the Three Great Families.
In such cases, when I asked if we should destroy the powerful Three Great Families and strive to build a good country with honest politicians,
[Hey, hey, honest politicians? Such contradictory beings don’t exist.]
He laughed heartily.
In Sakimori-san’s mind, honesty and politicians are mutually exclusive. I chuckled, thinking that was so typical of him. Remembering that, I turn my gaze to Konoha.
“Indeed, there’s no word of gratitude. With this, the foundation of the Three Great Families is solid.”
Seeing Konoha cough and fumble to hide her awkwardness, I wonder what to do.
Usually, while playing Rei, I would seek Sakimori-san’s advice to gain maximum benefit… But I don’t feel like sending him a mental message. It’s somehow awkward. Lonely, but very lonely.
While waving my fork, I ignore Konoha, who wants help to show her leadership, and think deeply.
I know why it’s awkward. I sensed a strangeness in Sakimori-san’s attitude since defeating the Dungeon Master.
Sometimes he looks troubled when he sees me. Although I can usually understand Sakimori-san’s heart intuitively, recently it’s been hard to grasp.
The reason is clear. I must have done something strange. I inferred this from Sakimori-san’s attitude.
And I don’t remember doing anything strange. I’m always fooling around but excluding those actions.
So, I found it strange and asked Serika-chan and Yukihana-chan, but they said nothing was odd.
Nothing strange at all. Among the fairy devices, there was no doubt. Serika-chan and the others had no doubts. I had none either. But Sakimori-san felt something was off.
So it’s clear who is odd. We are. Fairy devices aren’t human; we are designed beings. Our memories and knowledge are restricted. There might be some restriction that prevents us from questioning it.
However, I have combat talent. I can sense if something is disadvantageous in combat. Worsening relations with Sakimori-san will significantly impact future battles.
My combat instinct is screaming that something is wrong. There’s a fatal restriction.
“Are you listening? Would you attend the evening party with me?”
“Oh, yes, yes. More cake, please.”
Holding out the empty plate for a refill, I respond half-heartedly to Konoha’s words, full of dissatisfaction.
“Conversations with you like this are difficult.”
Without Sakimori-san’s instructions, I can’t take actions that yield cunning strategies and profits. Sakimori-san isn’t sending me thoughts either.
“Then let’s have a dress made. Express delivery.”
Lost in thought, Konoha says something nonsensical.
“What’s a dress?”
Tilting my head, I’m puzzled. What are we talking about? A dress?
“There’s an evening party with Narashino City officials soon. It’s a banquet to thank for creating the oil field! Weren’t you listening to my explanation?”
“Oh, that’s what it was. Narashino City officials… The top ones are coming?”
Having thought of something, I ask, and Konoha nods.
“Yes, the saint of the Hijiri family will be leading the delegation.”
“Ah, I see, that girl is coming too.”
The answer was as expected. The early model Nymph is coming…
I’ll talk with Serika-chan and secretly see if we can remove the restrictions.
The Nymph is an outdated model. Compared to me, its restrictions are loose or even non-existent. If we can share knowledge well, we might be able to loosen our restrictions.
I’ll act secretly, keeping it from Sakimori-san. Then I’ll lift the restrictions and prove that I’m the most useful in the world, I thought, humming in satisfaction.