The Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company stood as one of the Five Great Trading Companies and the undisputed titan of the global economy. While others, like the Lord Trading Company, operated as general conglomerates, Seditch sat at the pinnacle of the mercantile world through magic tools alone. Its financial resources and political influence were on an entirely different magnitude.
To put it bluntly, the balance of power in the magic tool industry was so heavily skewed in their favor that they existed in a state of absolute, unchallenged dominance.
The Sharon Trading Company, managed by the Sharon Count House, was considered quite a large firm within the Human Realm. Even so, the difference in scale was so vast that they could not even be called a rival.
However, Kuromueina—the founder and effective head of the company as its Honorary Chairman—did not view this monopoly as a positive. Driven by the philosophy that a certain degree of competition was necessary for the industry to evolve, she provided generous support even to potential competitors.
Whether it was patented magic tool production technologies or highly versatile systems, she released them either for free or at minimal licensing fees. She also provided educational curricula for magic tool technicians and offered operational advice to other companies whenever necessary.
Because of this, regardless of their size or wealth, many companies owed a profound debt of gratitude to the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company. The Sharon Trading Company was no exception, having been under their wing many times in the past. To Cornelia, they were an entity that demanded absolute, unwavering respect.
Oh gods, please… I have to endure this. If I don't, I’m going to lose consciousness. The Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company… and four of their Special Advisors, all at once… I have to pull myself together. If I offend even one of them, the Sharon Trading Company could be erased from history with a single word.
Beneath the Chairman who served as the public face of this global powerhouse, there were five Special Advisors personally appointed by Kuromueina to oversee her departments.
These advisors held authority that effectively superseded the Chairman’s own, and each possessed immense power over both the magic tool industry and the global economy.
Zex, the "Great Sage of the Undead," was the Special Advisor for the Magic Tool Production Department—the company’s crown jewel—and held final decision-making power across various sectors.
Tre, the "Ruler of Magic Crystals," served as the Special Advisor for the Magic Crystal Department. It was her brilliance that ensured a stable supply of rare, high-purity magic crystals, and it was said that no one in the world understood the stones better than she did.
Nove, the "Player of Talent," was the Special Advisor for the Personnel Department. Her network was unparalleled, stretching from the highest nobility down to the common citizenry. She was said to be able to discern a person’s true worth and aptitude at a single glance, ensuring that every individual was placed exactly where they belonged.
Tetra, the "Conqueror of the Golden Veins," was the Special Advisor for the Accounting Department. She was the cornerstone of the company’s staggering wealth management; a single decision from her could move capital equivalent to a national budget.
Trois, the "Monster of Eloquence," was the Special Advisor for the Sales Department. Renowned as invincible and undefeated in negotiations, he was the vanguard of the company, effortlessly closing massive, high-stakes contracts.
Every person in the trading world knew these names. The fact that four of these titans were currently standing in the same place was a development of staggering proportions.
As Cornelia trembled with anxiety, these sharp minds were already quietly assessing her worth.
So, she’s Kaito’s friend. At a glance, her capabilities as a noble are average. Based on her dress, she has a good eye for fashion and art, but nothing revolutionary. Is it her character, then? Kaito has an eye for people that surprises even me. If he values her, there is definitely merit in fostering a friendly relationship.
Nove, who ran the Personnel Department, held Kaito’s intuition in high regard. She believed that if he considered this girl a friend, it was worth maintaining good terms with her.
…There will be an impact. I was going to ignore the movements of the Rich Baron House because they didn’t overlap with Seditch’s interests, but this is a magic tool company. There will be repercussions, and we should definitely tighten our ties with Sharon Trading.
Tetra was certain that Sharon Trading would experience a meteoric rise due to Cornelia’s connection with Kaito. She believed that moving now would secure future profits for Seditch, and her mind was already drafting budget proposals for a business alliance with the Sharon family.
I recall Chrome-sama mentioned meeting a young lady from the Sharon family at a tea party. That was likely Cornelia-dono. Hmmm, she wasn’t particularly active in management before, but now that Miyama-dono is involved, things will undoubtedly change… My, my, I feel for her. Cornelia-dono is in for a very busy future…
Zex understood the situation with more accuracy than the others, correctly identifying the "stomach pain" and general hardship Cornelia was facing. He felt a twinge of sympathy for the girl, knowing her life was about to become much more complicated.
By the way, Kaito has a private table at Nifty, so he doesn't need a reservation, right? I want to try all the different kinds of Baby Castella that Chrome-sama was raving about. I’ll have to get him to take me there next time~.
As was often the case, Tre was thinking about something completely unrelated. To Cornelia, however, Tre’s relaxed attitude was likely the only thing keeping her sane.
Unfortunately, even if Tre alone was acting carefree, Nove and Tetra were already shifting the gears of the world. Tre’s playfulness wouldn't do much to lessen the overwhelming pressure Cornelia felt.
Nove (The Sharp Mind): "We must build a good relationship."
Tetra (The Sharp Mind): "We need to strengthen ties with Sharon Trading."
Zex (The Sharp Mind): "Miyama-dono’s influence is terrifying. I pity Cornelia-dono for the work ahead."
Tre (The Usual Big Sister): "Forget all that, I just want Baby Castella."
Serious-senpai: "…In a way, even if she’s high-ranking, isn't Tre the safest bet for a Stomach Pain Warrior to deal with? She hit it off with Aoi and Hina immediately, and even with An, she managed to break the ice through Razulia… she’s surprisingly approachable."