Chapter 18 | The Assassin Keeps an Ally in Check
While eating dinner with Maha, I couldn’t help but think that dates were fun.
Spending time with Dia and Tarte was amusing, too, of course, but Maha’s dates differed in key ways.
Dia would give herself entirely to my lead and voice various demands throughout the date.
Tarte also left the decision-making entirely to me. Unlike Dia, however, she would watch my mood and give me meticulous care, never acting on her own desires. She would even pretend to enjoy the date for my sake, even if she had no interest in whatever we were doing.
Maha and I, on the other hand, would take turns taking point, and she would actively come up with ways to give me a fun time.
I’m not saying that dates with the other two were boring, of course. Dia’s self-indulgence was cute, and the directness of her demands made it easy to know what she wanted to do.
Tarte’s tendency to fake like she was having fun made things a little difficult, but her behavior proved how much she loved me. The concern she displayed throughout our dates was a little embarrassing, but it was nice at the same time.
In short, all of them were fun in unique ways.
“Today’s date was so great… I really hate that I already have to go,” Maha said with a sigh.
“I had fun, too. I guess we’ll see each other again at the next party,” I replied.
“That’s right. It’s the last one I couldn’t turn down. I’ve had enough of the royal capital. All the bigwigs have too much time on their hands,” she complained.
The aristocracy had become enthralled with Natural You. Upon learning that Maha was coming to the royal capital, every noble in the city invited her to a social function. They did so partially out of a desire to obtain Natural You products before anyone else and learn more about the brand… But most of all, they wanted to brag to others about having Maha at their party.
“I’ve been considering something for a while now. I hardly ever act as Illig anymore… I think it would be a good idea to remove the proxy from your title and make you the true representative of Natural You,” I stated.
Illig Balor was another name of mine, a son of the distinguished Balor Company.
“I don’t want that,” Maha answered immediately.
“You already have the position in all but name. Your job would become a lot easier if it was official,” I protested.
“I understand that it would be beneficial from a management standpoint. I’m often reminded of how differently people view the titles of representative and proxy representative when I’m in negotiations,” Maha remarked.
I was the Natural You brand representative, but Maha’s authority was technically no different than mine. That wasn’t how people saw it, however. They would always think of Illig Balor as the person in charge of the brand and Maha as a mere substitute.
“Then why not? Are you holding back for my sake?” I questioned.
“That’s not it. I just like working below you, dear brother. I want to labor for you, and I’m not interested in letting go of anything that connects us, no matter what it is. That is my selfish desire. I want to remain your Maha until the end.”
“That doesn’t sound like a merchant. They always prefer to have their own store over working for another. Most dream about starting their own enterprise.”
“…I have that dream, too. A dream of growing as a merchant, saving money, collecting my scattered friends, starting a new business, and taking back the company that was stolen from my father.”
“You could see it all accomplished if Natural You was yours.”
Maha smiled boldly. “I’d rather you didn’t underestimate me. I can make that happen even without owning Natural You. Actually, I’m very close to achieving it already. I sent you a report. The new people I’ve hired are all performing very well.”
“That’s true.”
Maha had been an orphan before she’d met me, and she had run a business together with others like herself. Those days came to an end when her group was split up and placed into orphanages throughout the city.
Recently, Maha had been searching for her old comrades and hiring them on as Natural You employees. Although she did so partially for personal reasons, it was also to the company’s benefit.
Maha’s old friends had grown tough from their harsh lives. Maha had led them, but the orphans had still run a successful business as children. They possessed valuable experience.
The children that Maha had recruited were easily outperforming our investment in them. Natural You had gained some gifted personnel.
“I’ve also been able to split my father’s former business to a third of its original size. I showed you my acquisition plan, right?”
“You did.”
Maha’s father’s former company had been suffering ever since the new owner took over. Lately, it had even started selling off assets.
Maha was acquiring stores her father’s old business put on the market and was turning them into Natural You branches.
I once told Maha, “I won’t tell you to keep personal feelings out of this, but if you decide to follow your heart, make sure you succeed.”
She had done exactly that.
“I can achieve my dream while remaining under you. I’ll save my former colleagues, reclaim my father’s company, and support you. Don’t tell me to choose one. I’ll take it all. That is how skilled I am, and that is why I can remain in my current position,” Maha declared.
I smiled. She really was tough. Her strong affection also moved me.
“Thanks, Maha.”
“You’re welcome. At first, I felt like I owed you. If you had never adopted me, I would have either been killed or sold off to some perverted noble. You saved me and allowed me to grow as a merchant. That was why I always thought I needed to repay my debt to you.”
“And now you think differently?”
“Not exactly. I still feel like I owe you. But more than that, I’m working hard simply because I love you, dear brother.” Maha beamed. Her expression radiated happiness and satisfaction.
My heart began to pound. I was reminded once again that Maha was no longer a child, but a beautiful woman.
“I love you, too, Maha.”
“I know… Still, it’s frustrating that it never goes further. With how well things went today, I thought we might have gone all the way. I really need to leave. Give me my goodbye kiss, dear brother.”
Maha stood and waited expectantly with her eyes closed.
I was unduly aware of her long eyelashes, beautiful skin, and the smell of her body mixed with her light perfume.
Letting that emotion carry me, I kissed Maha on the lips. When I broke away, her face went red, and she pressed her hands to her mouth.
“…Thank you. Normally, when I ask for that, you give it to me on my cheek or my forehead.”
“I felt like this was more fitting today.”
“Hee-hee, I’ll do my best at work!” Maha said excitedly with a smile before running out of the restaurant.
Seeing her dash off like that was rare. She must have stayed with me until the last possible second.
I decided to order some herbal tea to help me calm down. As I was enjoying the beverage, someone made a noise to get my attention before sitting down in front of me.
It was my newly gained ally.
“You’re so popular with girls. The cute little sorceress, the big-chested lance-wielding maid, the fake princess, and now that beautiful merchant. They’re all so adorable and talented and head over heels in love with you.”
“Mina. I had no idea you were in town.”
It was the snake demon, the criminal responsible for dominating the prince whom I had to kill yesterday. Why was she here, and how did she know where to find me?
Perhaps I had an information leak. I would need to investigate that later.
“I’m pretending to be human because I want to enjoy your culture. There’s no way I would miss a festival. Oh, it was so much fun! I don’t know how humans can create something so wonderful despite being so small, frail, and ugly. It just warms my heart.”
It amazed me that Mina could consider infiltrating the depths of noble society as Countess Granfelt to be mere amusement.
“Did you come here to make small talk?” I demanded impatiently.
“Truthfully, I’m shocked. You really got me. You broke my plaything. That was my second-favorite one,” Mina lamented.
“What are you talking about?”
That was a leading question. I wasn’t stupid enough to give Mina evidence of my assassination.
“Oh, we’re playing dumb, are we?”
“I honestly had nothing to do with it. I am a noble with undying loyalty to the Alvanian Kingdom. I would never so much as point my blade at the second prince.”
“Is that your roundabout way of demanding proof? I don’t have anything of the sort, dear. However, I do make an effort to maintain the health of my playthings, and that one should not have collapsed. Thus, I can only conclude that someone hurt him. The only person in the world who could have made it look like he died of an illness under the circumstances is you. That means you killed him.”
“That’s quite the leap in logic.”
“Yes, I know that what I’m saying is preposterous. Yet I am certain. I’m quite angry, you know. So much so that I feel myself bursting with a desire for retaliation. Since you’re wrecking my playthings, how about I break a couple of yours?”
“Should I take that as a declaration of war?”
“Oh, come now, you’re the one who struck first.”
Mina and I glared at each other silently.
Neither of us showed a hint of killing intent in our eyes. That was what worried me.
Demonstrating aggression gave your opponent information, including your goal, timing, moves, and more. People who were used to killing only revealed their intent to do so when they needed to intimidate another.
Thus, if one accustomed to violence displayed absolutely no killing intent in this kind of situation, I took it as an omen that they were about to act.
“Ha-ha, I’m joking, dear. I quite liked that plaything, but you are much more interesting. It would be foolish to lose you over something like this,” Mina remarked, relieving the tension by shrugging.
Still, I couldn’t let my guard down. She could start a fight at any moment.
With that in mind, I decided to probe for information. “Once again, I did not kill him. But even if we suppose I did, you acted first. I told you not to lay a hand on my friends.”
“Oh my, you found out about that? He’s my current favorite. He’s such a nice boy, so innocent, funny, and clumsy. That was why I scooped him up. Ah, but that puts me in a real pinch. I admit I did reach out to one of your friends, which means I don’t have the right to kill one of your lovers. We’ll have to call this one a draw.”
My doubt became conviction. Mina was involved in Naoise’s disappearance.
“…What did you do with Naoise?”
“You’ll understand soon enough. How about we go ahead and drop this tedious talk? I want to move on to why I’m here.”
“That wasn’t why you wanted to talk to me?”
“Nope. I don’t really care about that stuff.”
What was this demon doing? I had killed one of her favorite puppets, she’d threatened to do the same to one of the girls, and she was connected to Naoise’s recent disappearance. Yet she wasn’t interested in any of that?
“The next demon is about to appear. He is extremely strong. You and your adorable attendants won’t be able to defeat him alone. Don’t worry, though. You’re going to receive reinforcements.”
“Reinforcements? You’re not going to help us, are you? I thought you didn’t want the other demons to find out you’re opposing them?”
“Heavens, no. I’m looking forward to this. I’m sure you’ve already reasoned out what I mean.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
That was a lie. Judging from our conversation, I could guess what Mina was alluding to.
“I compiled some information on the demon. Have a look at these papers. Ah, but don’t read them here. I’ve given you all the knowledge I can share, and I don’t feel like telling you anything else. Your way with words might cause me to let something slip.”
At that, Mina took her leave. Left alone, I read over the files she’d left.
I could never have imagined that something like this would happen right after my date.
The appearance of a new demon was concerning, but we weren’t going in blind this time, so I was confident we could handle it.
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