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The Unwitting Heroic Tale of a Corrupt Merchant - Chapter 17, 18, 19
🕑 Added 2024-12-22 06:32:59 +0000 UTCThe Night of the Ball Finally Arrived
The venue was a dance hall located within the academy's grounds.
Although primarily attended by first-year students, some members of the student council were also present, seemingly involved in the event's preparations.
Among them stood Tricia Heartland, the student council president and a lady from the distinguished Heartland family, one of the Three Noble Houses.
She appeared deep in conversation with the faculty, likely discussing the final details.
Even so, her commanding aura was incomparable to that of any first-year student.
Meanwhile, I waited outside the dressing room, anticipating Connie's appearance.
Like any woman, Connie was taking her time getting ready.
While most male students engaged in light conversation with one another as they waited, I, being a social outcast, had expected this to be a particularly awkward time for me.
But things turned out differently.
"Hey, Lake. Do you have a moment?"
"I heard about that incident."
"It’s amazing how you faced it head-on despite not being able to use magic."
To my surprise, several male students approached me, eager to discuss the Craig incident.
This was… unexpected.
I had anticipated that resolving the matter would improve my reputation somewhat.
However, I didn’t think it would happen so quickly, especially given the divide between nobles and commoners.
After all, aside from Connie and me, every student attending this ball was a noble.
Analyzing the situation, I recognized it as an opportunity.
If I could improve my standing and earn their trust, I could eventually gather enough leverage to control them from behind the scenes.
And the more people I influenced, the closer I’d get to my ultimate goal—making easy money.
As I enjoyed a pleasant conversation with the boys, Lucina emerged from the dressing room.
"Thank you for waiting, Master Lake."
"Is Connie ready?"
"Yes."
Right behind her, Connie stepped out in a dazzling yellow gown.
It was the kind of extravagant dress a commoner would never have the chance to wear in their lifetime.
As I and the boys exchanged glances, our collective gaze inevitably gravitated toward the deep neckline of her dress.
"I-incredible..."
"Connie Lyle... I underestimated her because she’s a commoner..."
"Did Lake Gallard foresee this all along...?"
As planned, Connie instantly became the center of attention, lifting my spirits and bringing a smile to my face.
"Connie, you look stunning. You were beautiful in the dressing room, but seeing you here in the dance hall is something else entirely."
"T-Thank you."
Connie gave a bashful yet radiant smile, which seemed to captivate the boys even further.
—But it’s too late for them.
Connie is already under contract with the Gallard Company.
She is my diligent and adorable pawn number two, working solely for my benefit.
"Now then, shall we?"
"Yes!"
Taking Connie’s hand, I escorted her into the dance hall, walking past the stares that followed us from behind.
The event began with a greeting from Tricia Heartland, the student council president.
"Welcome once again to the Royal Fontbart Academy."
Contrary to her reputation, the speech was remarkably ordinary and unremarkable.
Was she deliberately holding back? She remains as enigmatic as ever.
"Please enjoy yourselves this evening."
With that, the music began.
A live orchestra provided the accompaniment, befitting the grandeur of a royal academy ball.
"Connie, are you nervous?"
"With such a grand setting, I can’t help it..."
Connie had been rigorously practicing her dance for this day, with Lucina as her instructor.
Despite being a former blacksmith with no prior experience in dance, Lucina had mastered it under the tutelage of our strict head maid.
Our head maid had always been demanding.
Even I had been drilled on manners and etiquette in my younger days.
Lucina absorbed everything effortlessly, being the genius type, while Connie, though slower to learn, made up for it with sheer determination and hard work.
The contrast between the two was striking, yet they got along well, resembling affectionate sisters when viewed from afar.
"H-How am I doing?"
"Not bad. But avoid talking too much during the dance, or you might bite your tongue."
"Y-You’re right."
Initially tense and hesitant, Connie gradually found her rhythm.
"Keep it up."
"Yes!"
With time, her steps became lighter, and she began to move with more grace.
As the only commoner pair in the hall, we should have been ignored entirely.
However, the Craig incident had made both Connie and me more recognizable, and I began to feel the weight of countless eyes upon us.
"It feels like a dream being here."
"I won’t let it stay a dream. I’ll make this our reality."
"Young Master Lake..."
A perfect line delivered at the perfect moment.
Even I was impressed with myself.
The ball proceeded without any major incidents—or so I thought.
At the end of the event, an unexpected announcement was made. Apparently, a “Best Pair Award” was given to the most outstanding duo of the night, and to my astonishment, Connie and I were chosen.
"I don’t quite understand, but we did it, Young Master Lake!"
"Congratulations, Master Lake, Connie."
"Ehehe~"
Connie beamed with joy as the crowd applauded, while Lucina offered her congratulations.
… Not bad.
This will surely boost my reputation even further.
It’s possible Tricia Heartland, one of the selection committee members, had a hand in this outcome.
But without definitive proof, I couldn’t say for sure.
Well, no matter.
For now, I’ll simply bask in the moment.
----------
A Summons from My Father
A month had passed since the resolution of Craig's incident.
While working on an assignment in my room, I found myself reflecting on my life as a student so far.
When we first enrolled, Connie and I were outsiders in our class, but now we had fully integrated.
Connie, in particular, had drawn attention from many male students who had finally noticed her charm.
For a while, she was receiving daily confessions, but she turned them all down with, “Everything about me belongs to Young Master Lake.”
This naturally earned me some resentment from the guys, but in the end, their conclusion was to leave the "commoners" to handle things among themselves.
Lately, the confessions had dwindled to almost none.
Talk about sour grapes.
Not just the guys—Connie’s looks, style, and her talent as a mage had begun captivating even the girls.
The fact that someone as exceptional as Connie was so devoted to me made me wonder if I wasn’t a bit of a sinful man myself.
Still, I preferred to avoid any actions that might stoke animosity.
To me, these people were more than peers—they were future business partners, essential to my plans.
By winning their favor now, I would pave the way for their support later.
After graduation, when they faced challenges, they’d turn to the Gallard Company for solutions.
Others in the company would handle the problem-solving, and I’d simply sit back and enjoy the hefty profits.
A flawless plan, if I do say so myself.
I’d already secured two valuable allies in Lucina and Connie.
Their loyalty to me seemed to grow stronger with each passing day.
My plans were proceeding so smoothly it was almost unsettling.
The last piece of my pre-enrollment strategy awaited execution.
I had already received approval from the academy, so now it was just a matter of preparation.
Yes, everything was coming together.
My vision of a life of indulgence and ease in this world was nearly within reach.
“Master Lake, may I have a moment?”
I was mid-assignment when Lucina knocked at my door.
Though I’d asked her to leave me alone until I’d finished, her timing suggested something important had come up.
Opening the door, I found Lucina holding a small piece of paper.
“What’s that?”
“A letter from the master.”
“From Father?”
That was unusual.
Even if trouble arose, I wouldn’t have expected him to call on me.
Taking the letter from her, I unfolded it on the spot.
The contents read:
“Return home the day after tomorrow during your break.”
“That’s quite sudden.”
“Indeed… Could something have happened?”
The academy schedule allowed for one day of rest after five days of classes.
Any additional absences required special approval.
With many students frequently stepping out for noble obligations, absences weren’t uncommon, though supplementary lessons were often required afterward.
Leaving Lucina to handle the necessary arrangements for my leave, I contemplated my father’s abrupt summons.
“What about Connie?”
“Connie?”
“I think she’d be delighted to accompany you if invited.”
“Hmm… introducing her to Father isn’t a bad idea.”
Once I officially took over a branch of the trading company after graduation, Connie would become an indispensable asset.
A prior introduction might make things smoother later on.
“Alright, I’ll invite her tomorrow.”
“Understood. Please make sure to phrase it in a way that avoids any misunderstandings.”
“Misunderstandings? What do you mean?”
“… Never mind.”
What kind of reaction was that?
I’m just inviting her to meet my father. How could that be misconstrued?
Lucina’s as sharp as ever, but sometimes I just don’t get her.
◇◇◇
“An introduction to Young Master Lake’s father at his family estate!?”
The next day, when I brought up the idea to Connie in class, she seemed stunned, and the other students nearby were equally abuzz.
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“N-No, not exactly, but… it’s all so sudden…”
“I see. I won’t force you. If it’s too much—”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t go!”
Connie raised her voice unexpectedly, then took a deep breath, muttered something under her breath, and steeled herself with a determined “Alright!”
Does she really need that much resolve just to visit my family?
“I understand. I’ll do my best to earn your father’s approval!”
“Good. –Wait, what?”
Something about her tone felt a little off at the end… Maybe it was just my imagination.
Even the surrounding students were reacting strangely.
“So they’re already at the ‘introduce to the parents’ stage?”
“Ugh, so jealous…”
“Well, with them winning the Best Couple Award at the ball, it’s just a matter of time before they officially end up together.”
Let them talk. I wasn’t going to dwell on the gossip.
All I could hope was that my father’s summons didn’t involve some unpleasant complication.
----------
A New Business Opportunity
Using my holiday, I returned home with Lucina and Connie in tow.
However, since this trip was prompted by Father’s summons, I couldn’t say I was particularly looking forward to it.
Calling me back specifically by letter—what sort of trouble could have come up?
The only thing that came to mind was the incident with Craig, but that was already resolved with the Beckart family’s decision to expel him.
With no clear idea of what to expect, I arrived at the mansion and headed straight to Father’s study, where he was waiting.
“You’ve come, my son.”
“Receiving a sudden letter like this—did something happen?”
“Indeed. But first... who is this young lady?”
Father’s gaze landed on Connie.
Realizing this, she straightened her back and gave a deep bow.
“N-Nice to meet you! I am Connie Lyle, a classmate of Y-young M-ma-ster L-lake!”
She fumbled her words at the end.
Though Father raised an eyebrow at my bringing a classmate, my explanation of the circumstances soon satisfied him.
“I see. I’ve heard about the Beckart incident—it even reached me here. The family head sent word, asking me to pass along his regards to you.”
Apparently, while I was unaware, ties between my family and the upper ranks of the Magic Corps, including the Beckart family, had grown closer.
“So, does this summons have something to do with that?”
“No, that’s just a side note. There’s another matter.”
Father’s eyes sharpened. It was the look he had when negotiating—a sign he was serious.
“You know of the town of Ganos, don’t you?”
“Of course. It’s an essential trading hub for our country.”
Any merchant worth their salt would know of Ganos.
That town is indispensable—a key economic hub and one of the largest in the nation.
With canals running through it, even foreign ships can dock there, making it a place where one can find nearly anything.
For merchants, opening a store in Ganos is a dream.
However, the high taxes make it a bold venture.
“Our trading company already has several shops in Ganos, but I’ve decided to entrust one of them to you.”
“R-Really!?”
“I don’t joke about such things. Moreover... according to Lucina’s reports, your plan has finally been approved by the academy, hasn’t it?”
“...!”
I was genuinely shocked.
Not only had Father remembered my plan, but he had also secured cooperation in Ganos, a major city, to support it.
Such decisive action was uncharacteristic of him, who usually played it safe.
“A-Are you sure about this?”
“Of course. Seeing your recent accomplishments convinced me. You have the qualities of an excellent merchant. Initially, I considered starting you off in a small town, but that no longer seems necessary.”
Father appeared to hold me in very high regard.
This wasn’t a bad development. It was yet another pleasant surprise.
Though I had been frustrated about losing leverage in the Craig incident, having a store in Ganos more than made up for it.
Moreover, this would provide a strong tailwind for the plan I was implementing at the academy.
“Ganos isn’t far from here. Why not visit today? The staff there know who you are and can arrange accommodations if it gets late.”
“Good idea. Since I’m here, I might as well take a look.”
The last time I visited Ganos was years ago, as a child, accompanied by Father.
Even though it was a distant memory, the lively and vibrant atmosphere of the town was still etched in my mind.
However, that was when I was a child. Many things must have changed over the years. Seeing it with my own eyes again was certainly worthwhile.
“Ganos, huh… I’ve never been there before,” Connie said wistfully.
“I’ve been there a few times for work,” Lucina added.
Though I had grown accustomed to seeing her in a maid’s uniform, I was reminded that Lucina was originally a blacksmith.
It was a time when her serene smile suited her well.
Now, however, she’s formidable enough to single-handedly take down an entire underground fighting ring.
