Coming back to the Stokes mansion after about 3 weeks, there were no signs of any particular change. If there was a change, it was that Jake had started cultivating crops on his own using the LP farming method in his home garden. It seemed as though he was still dubious after only listening to it.
And then, on a certain day after about 10 days had passed after returning back from the Sumeragi territory, when the practical implementation of the LP farming method was imminent, Kazuki, who was performing his daily training, received a notification that a visitor had come for him.
「A visitor for me?」
「Yes, that’s true」
Even if such a thing was told all of a sudden, Kazuki had no idea about who it might be. As expected, even he didn’t know about the relationships Harold might have had in his childhood.
「The visitor’s name is?」
「It is Erika Sumeragi-sama」
Hearing the name Norman spoke of, Kazuki stopped swinging the sword.
(Why has Erika come………)
「Send her to the terrace」
Different from the other day’s Kimono, today’s outfit was that of a Hakama that students wore. It was a scene where it was considerably imbalanced for her, who was wearing pure Japanese-style clothes, to be sitting on a Western wooden chair.
「What did you come here for?」
「In this situation, normally shouldn’t the first sentence be “Sorry for making you wait” ?」
「Unlike you, I’m not free. Be grateful that I actually showed up」
「Uh……….Certainly, it is my fault for visiting all of a sudden, but………」
「Fuh, well, fine. What is your business?」
「First of all, on behalf of the Sumeragi family, I want to thank you. On this occasion, thank you for saving many people」
Erika deeply lowered her head. Saved, which meant that after creating the compounding item that Kazuki had written in the letter, they had actually used it and it was effective.
「To jump at a counterfeit like that, it seems as though even the Sumeragi are considerably cornered」
Towards Harold who was sneering, Erika’s expression didn’t break down.
「It is as Harold-sama says. At present, the Sumeragi don’t have any method」
「Then, I will sell that favor for a high price. But you are mistaken」
「What do you mean?」
「The thing I suggested to you bastards was just a makeshift solution. It doesn’t solve anything fundamentally, and there might be side-effects」
「In other words, Harold-sama’s medicine won’t cure them completely, is it?」
「If the degree of the symptoms is less, complete recovery might be possible, but for patients whose symptoms are severe, it is impossible. And I don’t have any intention to care about them to such an extent」
Because, the ones who would solve that was Liner’s protagonist crew, and it would also be the event which would cause Erika to join the protagonist party.
(Made it………? The “medicine”?)
It was impossible that it was done after the engagement to Erika had been decided. Even she knew that it was impossible for her to develop a medicine in just a few days, when she had no expert knowledge in that field.
(In that case, how in the world……..?)
「Is that all?」
「There’s more. I have been entrusted with a letter from father to Harold-sama」
「Hand it over」
While sympathizing with Erika for a bit, thinking that she must have been unwilling to come here, Kazuki looked over the letter from Tasuku.
(Nn?)
Casually thinking that there were only 2 sheets of paper, he noticed that there was 1 more sheet. It had a P.S. at the beginning.
『P.S.
He endured from holding his head with his hands and falling flatly on the table, but still, the voice that was squeezed out from him contained deep resentment.
「What is the meaning of this………」
「What is the matter?」
「Oh, this is troubling. Even though I am the fiancee, I would be troubling many people by living under the same roof」
「………..Oi」
「But the carriage which brought me here has already left. There is no way other than being saved by Harold-sama’s compassion」
「Oi Bastard」
「Yes, what is it?」
A grinning Erika. This was the first time she had shown a full-faced smile.
「You have quite the guts」
「I am honored to receive your praise」
「I don’t have any duty to accept such a one-sided proposal」
「You’re cold, aren’t you. Even though you have saved the people of another territory, you would treat your fiancee in such a blunt manner」
「That was estimated as selling a costly favor. But for this matter, the compensation for me is too less」
「Is that so. If you are saying that much, I can’t keep requesting Harold-sama any more than this」
Erika, who stood up quickly, once again bowed deeply towards Harold.
「Once again, I express my gratitude towards Harold-sama. For saving the people of the Sumeragi, really, thank you very much」
Her bow was polite ,to the extent of making him think that if they were sitting on tatami, she would have bowed while pressing 3 fingers of each hand on the floor. He felt as though he seen the true Erika, and also felt that she truly thought about the people. But just because of that, he wasn’t the least bit willing to let her freeload.
「I will collect this loan in grand proportions at a later time. While you have the time, increase the number of cards you can break out as much as possible」
「Much obliged to the degree of your consideration. Well then, excuse me」
He would come to know the answer to that question a few hours later, from Hayden’s mouth.
