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The next day, Arl and Rosetta visited the commercial district. He was surprised to find it looked… completely normal.
The main street was bustling with energy, filled with everyone from children to the elderly, all living their lives in peace. If Arl hadn’t known better, he might have been fooled by the tranquil scene. But the knowledge that a Serpent’s nest was hidden here changed everything.
“So the Serpents’ base is somewhere in this city!”
Rosetta, walking beside him, sounded energized.
“I swear on the name of <Blacksmith>, I’ll find it! You finally relied on me for something, Boss. I’m going to catch these Serpents, and I’m going to take back the honor you were supposed to have as an Imperial Knight!”
“…Rosetta, I appreciate the thought, but you’re a little loud.”
“Ah! S-Sorry!”
Arl had already told Rosetta the truth about his past as an Imperial Knight. He’d decided that if he was going to be a worthy ‘Master,’ there was no point in hiding it.
“We don’t know who’s watching. Let’s be careful.”
“R-Right! You can count on me!”
Rosetta thumped her chest, a gesture that seemed endearingly appropriate for her age. She didn’t look at all like the president of a massive merchant guild.
“I’ll be the one to escort you, Boss!”
“That’s reassuring.”
Arl smiled, and he meant it. To investigate this district, the one place suspected of harboring the Serpents’ main base, Arl had chosen to rely on the economic power of the Firebird Merchant Guild, <Blacksmith>.
“I’ve heard <Blacksmith> controls most of the commerce in the capital, using the wealth they’ve earned from manufacturing and distributing arms. That of the three organizations, your influence on the city is second to none.”
The title ‘arms dealer’ conjured a bloody image, but Rosetta’s guild was surprisingly well-loved by the citizens. As ‘Master,’ Arl had heard the praise himself.
“They call you… the ‘Arms Dealers of Justice,’ I hear.”
“Hmph. Not bad, right?”
The girl, one of the key figures who had rebuilt the capital, clearly enjoyed the public’s approval. In the chaotic aftermath of the Great Collapse, Rosetta had provided firearms to the citizens who were trying to protect their homes but lacked the power to do so.
It was an act that could have easily spiraled into more violence. But she had been careful to arm only those she could trust, and then she’d armed herself, fighting alongside them to restore order.
“You’re the one who built that order, and you maintain the city’s balance with the wealth you’ve earned. You’re a power player. I was betting you had cards to play, even against a noble.”
“You’ve got a sharp eye, Boss,” Rosetta said. “The <Blacksmith> name carries weight, even in this corrupt city.”
She suddenly stopped in front of a clothing boutique. The sign bore a crest: two crossed rifles under a pair of outstretched wings.
“Is this… your guild’s crest?”
“It means they’re under our umbrella. Our main business is weapons, but we’ve branched out. This shop caters to the wealthy… it’s a favorite of the nobility. In fact,” she added, “it’s so popular that rumors of our dear Count being a regular customer have even reached my ears.”
“…So you already had a lead. Getting close to the Count would certainly be a shortcut to the Serpents’ base. But he’s not just going to talk.”
“Fufu, leave it to me. I’m very good at… ‘talking.’“
With that, she pushed open the door. Arl, slightly wide-eyed at her confidence, followed her in. The store was, as advertised, filled with high-end clothing. The other patrons were all impeccably dressed.
“Ah, Lady Rosetta!”
An older man in a perfect tailcoat hurried out from the back of the store to greet them. His every move was refined; Arl guessed he was the manager.
“It’s been a while, Manager,” Rosetta said, her tone regal. “How’s business?”
“Excellent, thanks to you. It is an honor to have you visit us personally. My apologies for not preparing a proper welcome.”
The manager discreetly signaled his staff, who began to gently and skillfully usher the other customers out of the store.
“Sorry about that. Send them a gift later, as an apology.”
“Of course. Now, what can we do for you today?”
“I just have a few questions,” Rosetta said, drawing out the moment. Arl watched, impressed. She was clearly about to negotiate. As president of one of the Three Great Organizations, she must be a skilled politician. He felt a swell of pride, like a father watching his daughter succeed.
Rosetta took a breath and announced, “I’ll be direct. I want all the information you have on the Count’s illegal activities.”
The room went dead silent. Arl froze. The manager’s jaw dropped.
“…L-Lady Rosetta, I don’t… understand what you mean…”
“I’m not here to play games,” Rosetta said, her voice ice-cold. “Laundering dirty money, brokering deals with his shady clients… I know this shop is involved. Did you really think you could hide it from <Blacksmith>?”
The manager began to sweat.
“…You must understand. In this city, betraying the Count… it’s impossible.”
“I know. He’s tied to the Serpents. I get that you’re scared. So just talk. If you cooperate, I’ll… let’s say… exempt this store from seventy percent of its ‘dues’ to <Blacksmith>.”
“Wha—! P-Please, my lady, wait!”
“Not enough? Fine, I’ll give you the contracts for a few of our new storefronts. I don’t know how much the Count is paying you, but it can’t be more than what I can offer.”
The manager was speechless, his expression a mix of agony and, just perhaps, greedy calculation. Arl stared, dumbfounded. This is a bribe! She’s just straight-up bribing and threatening him! This wasn’t a negotiation; this was a power play, plain and simple.
“The Count is finished either way,” Rosetta declared. “I won’t let him run his filthy business in my capital any longer. …My Boss… won’t forgive him. And whatever my Boss wants, the guild gets.”
I never said anything that threatening! Arl screamed internally, but the manager didn’t need to know that.
“My Boss,” Rosetta said, leaning in for the final blow, “wants the Count’s life. You understand… don’t you?”
“…We… We have always been loyal to <Blacksmith>.”
The manager bowed deeply.
“I will tell you everything I know about his black market operations. It… may take a moment to gather the information.”
“Excellent. …Oh, one more thing. Can we borrow the shop while we wait?”
The deal done, Rosetta spun around to face Arl, her intimidating aura vanishing instantly, replaced by a radiant smile.
“Now, Boss! Let’s get you some new clothes!”
So… this is what it feels like to be ‘out of your element.’
Arl stood in front of a full-length mirror, staring at himself in an outfit so expensive and fine it almost hurt his eyes.
“Kyaaa! Boss, you look amazing!”
Rosetta was practically vibrating, her eyes sparkling. It was hard to believe this was the same girl who had just been conducting a high-stakes shakedown.
“I knew a fitted jacket would look perfect on you! You’re slender but you’ve got muscle, so the way the fabric pulls across your arms is just… ugh, I love it! How does it feel?”
“…This fabric is so expensive I think it’s making my chest tight.”
“Then it’s perfect! It fits! Yesss! Okay, what’s next?”
She dashed off to grab more clothes, the staff eagerly helping her.
“A-Are we still doing this? Rosetta, we can’t just… take over their shop.”
“It’s a <Blacksmith> shop, don’t worry about it! Besides… all the clothes in this boutique? This whole brand? I made it for you.”
“…What!?”
“I wanted to be able to give you the perfect clothes when we finally met again,” she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “And I was right! Everything looks great on you!”
The brand’s secret origin story… was him. Arl felt a cold sweat as the depth of her… devotion… hit him.
“Here, try this one next! And don’t worry about the money!”
“Ah… thanks. I didn’t realize… just trying on clothes would make you this happy.”
“Don’t be silly! I’m finally getting to repay my ‘debt’ to you. Of course I’m happy!”
Her smile was dazzling, as innocent as a child’s.
“Making you my kept man and supporting you… that’s been my dream for five years! Food, shelter, and clothing. I had the first two covered, but I never had a good chance for this. I can finally give you the clothes you deserve!”
“Ghk…“
Her pure, innocent joy made the content of her words that much more devastating. The guilt of having inspired this in a child was crushing him.
Who do I apologize to? Should I commit seppuku? Her parents!?
“Rosetta… I need to go and meet your parents…”
“Wha—!? E-Eh!? Is… is that… like… ‘Sir, I’d like your daughter’s hand in marriage!?‘ It’s… it’s so sudden! But, I mean, if you’re asking, then YES! YES, PLEASE!”
“Wait, wait! Don’t jump from ‘hello’ to ‘I do’ in two seconds!”
“It’s fine! I’m sure Mom and Dad will love you! I tell them about my ‘savior’ all the time!”
“…They know about me?”
Arl suddenly worried about what her parents must think of the current Rosetta. A daughter who blurted out that she wanted to make the savior she just reunited with after five years her ‘kept man.’
“Speaking of which, are your parents not in the Imperial Capital?”
“Yeah. The public order in the capital is so bad right now, it’s too dangerous. I bought a mansion in the suburbs and had them move there. I’d like to bring them back here eventually, though.”
At least their family relationship seemed to be good. Arl felt a quiet sense of relief.
“Still, they must have objected to their daughter living all alone in the Imperial Capital, of all places, right?”
“I may look like this, but I’m the president of the top trading company in the capital. They trust me. Besides, they both know full well that I want to grow the company to repay my debt to you, Boss.”
“I-Is that right…?”
Arl once again felt a sudden wave of apprehension about what her parents must think of him. He was, after all, the person their daughter was constantly saying she wanted to make her ‘kept man.’
“Oh, yeah. They’ve been cheering me on! They’ve been super supportive of my ‘kept man’ dream!”
“…Aren’t you… disappointed?”
The parental opinion was one thing, but Arl had to know. She’d looked up to him, her hero.
“I mean… in a guy who says he just wants to be a ‘kept man’… How can you… still want to serve someone like that?”
“…Fufu. Wow, Boss. There are things you don’t understand.”
Rosetta smiled, a little sadly.
“When you saved me… you looked so… tired. I just… I wanted to make you feel better.”
She looked back on the memory.
“So, I… I gave you a piece of candy.”
Arl remembered. A faint, sweet taste on his tongue.
“It was just a cheap piece of candy… but it was my candy. It wasn’t anything worthy of you. But… you took it. You didn’t laugh. You just… smiled. A little. And you said… ‘thank you.’“
“…Yeah. I remember.”
For Arl, who was so worn down… that simple, pure gesture of kindness… it had been sweeter than any candy.
“And that’s when I realized…” Rosetta said, her eyes getting a dreamy, faraway look. “Spoiling someone… feels so… good.”
“…”
Arl had no idea that his simple, tired smile had completely and utterly broken a young girl’s brain.
“It was like… a jolt, from my head to my toes,” she sighed, lost in the memory. “Just one piece of candy… and I made him feel better. I thought… ‘what would his face look like if I gave him something more?’ This strong, cool, amazing person… who also looked so cute and vulnerable when he was tired… I just… I wanted to be the only one who could make him smile like that…”
She was, with meticulous detail, explaining the origin story of her ‘gifting’ obsession. Every word was another spike of guilt in Arl’s soul.
“So, no. I’m not disappointed at all. If anything… it just makes me want to give you more.”
“…After we’re done with the Serpents… I am insisting on meeting your parents. Please.”
“!? B-Boss! You really mean it! Okay! We need to buy you a formal suit, then! Ooh, try this one, and this one, and… oh! Whichever one you like best, you can just wear it for the rest of the investigation today!”
She shoved a new pile of clothes into his arms. Arl, completely defeated, retreated to the changing room. He stared up at the ceiling and let out a dry, broken sound.
“…Heh. Hehehe…”
Take responsibility. Be a worthy Master. He was committed. But… he really, really needed to just curl up in a ball for a few minutes.
“…I’m going to find you, me-from-five-years-ago… and I’m going to kill you…”
The sin of turning a pure-hearted girl into a ‘sugar mama’ was, indeed, a heavy one.
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