Everything had been a whirlwind since the Little Witch declared her intention to sell every drop of Saint Nectar she had on hand.
Dealing in such a massive quantity of the rare substance was apparently unprecedented for the Pilz Trading Company, and the news sparked a literal festival of commotion. It wasn’t just Mr. Speck, the merchant handling our affairs, who showed up; even the President of the company made a personal appearance.
We were ushered into a reception room, where we sat across from Mr. Speck and the President over a desk that looked like it cost a fortune. I, meanwhile, remained perched on the Little Witch’s back for the meeting.
“This is my younger sister. She can't walk, so I always have to carry her around like this,” Rufe explained.
I was using that cover story to maintain my human disguise. Thanks to my cloak, everything but my face was hidden, so unless something truly bizarre happened, I was unlikely to be exposed. However, the setting seemed to be working a little too well; I’d been receiving a constant stream of pity for some time now.
To an outsider, the sight must have been quite moving—a child like Rufe working a high-stakes job while carrying her disabled younger sister. I could practically feel the waves of sympathy coming from across the desk.
After the President offered a series of overly grand welcoming remarks, Mr. Speck cleared his throat with a polite cough.
“Regarding the Saint Nectar you provided, Rufe-san, we’ve finished our appraisal. There is no mistake; every drop is genuine.”
“I am the Original Nectar Merchant,” Rufe replied flatly. “Of course it’s genuine.”
“Furthermore, to our immense surprise, we found it to be high-quality nectar with one hundred percent purity. The black market is flooded with diluted Saint Nectar, so I cannot hide my astonishment that such a vast quantity of pure product even exists!”
“Watering it down would be a waste,” Rufe said. “I would never do that.”
I see. So there were vendors out there thinning the nectar. While I was confident it would still taste good even when mixed with water, as the producer, I really wanted people to experience it exactly as it was. Everyone prefers one hundred percent fruit juice over the diluted stuff, right? It seemed the Little Witch felt the same pride in the product.
“My Saint Nectar is harvested directly from an Alraune. Therefore, the quality is guaranteed.”
“...I actually spoke with someone who recently returned from the Tower City,” the President added. “I am already aware that you are a famous nectar merchant there, Rufe-san, and that you are in a position to contact Crimson Flower Princess Alraune herself.”
I was taken aback. I hadn’t expected them to investigate her history in such a short amount of time. I suppose that was the efficiency of a high-level merchant for you. They had been quietly verifying our story, which meant I couldn't afford to be careless.
On the other hand, I was very interested in their information network. If they were this thorough, they might already know quite a bit about the House of Duke Edelweiss.
“Now then, Rufe-san. For thirty barrels of Saint Nectar, how does this price strike you?”
The amount the President presented was five times the market rate in the Tower City. My eyes widened. Was it really okay for them to pay that much?
“Our company hopes to foster a long and prosperous relationship with you, Rufe-san. So... what do you say?”
“Yeah, this works.”
“Y-You accept?!”
“Yeah. This is more than enough for me.”
The deal was concluded in an instant, and the President and the Little Witch shook hands. Honestly, I think we could have squeezed even more out of them; the President looked like he’d been bracing for a long negotiation.
But we weren't exactly hurting for money, and since I could generate Saint Nectar inexhaustibly, we could earn as much as we wanted later. Besides, traveling while carrying a mountain of gold was more of a headache than it was worth. It was better to leave the Pilz Trading Company feeling like they owed us a favor. The amount offered was already enough to build several mansions, anyway.
Still, it was a bit surreal to realize that the nectar coming out of my own body was worth that much.
Rufe looked positively dazed, a look of misty-eyed satisfaction on her face after completing her first high-value trade. Since she was off in her own world, I decided to take over the conversation.
“Mr. President, before we finalize the contract, there is something I would like to ask.”
“...And what would that be?”
“The price for the nectar is fine. However, in exchange, I want you to give us information.”
“Information?”
“That is our condition for the deal. If you can provide us with truly useful information, I will add three more barrels of Saint Nectar as a bonus.”
“Three more barrels?!”
We didn’t have any more in stock, but I could easily craft the containers using my Plant Generation. Once the barrels were ready, I just had to fill them. Since my battle with the Goddess of Darkness, Hecate, my powers had surpassed those of a mere spirit. Even in this small, young form, mass-producing nectar was trivial for me.
“Um, Rufe-san’s sister? Just what kind of information is it you seek?”
“Tell us about the House of Duke Edelweiss.”
The moment the words left my mouth, I saw Mr. Speck’s expression flicker. During my time as the Saint, I had interacted with all sorts of people. Without that experience, I never would have noticed such a subtle shift.
“...The House of Duke Edelweiss rules this city,” the President said slowly. “What do you intend to do with information regarding them?”
He was clearly on guard. A beast-ear girl from out of town who looked like a child, carrying a massive supply of rare nectar, suddenly asking about the local ducal house—it was undeniably suspicious. If we were legitimate merchants, we could have claimed we were looking for high-end business leads, but we didn't exactly fit that mold.
The Pilz Trading Company was based here, right under the Duke’s nose. No matter how much profit was on the line, they wouldn't risk selling out their liege to a total stranger. I realized I needed to give them a nudge. Specifically, I needed to show them that we had noble connections of our own.
“Rufe, take out that thing.”
“That thing? You mean the one from the Lord?”
“Yes. The one Manfred-san gave us.”
Rufe reached into her bag and pulled out a wooden certification plate. It was a board-like permit with a gold plate affixed to it, engraved with the crest of the Lord authorizing the trade of Saint Nectar.
Upon seeing it, the President let out a sharp gasp, staring at the permit as if it were a legendary relic.
“T-This is...!”
“That’s right,” I said. “We are under the protection of Margrave Turmburg, the Lord of the Tower City.”
“I’ve seen copper and silver permits before, but I’ve only ever heard rumors of a gold plate. To think one actually exists...!”
“We are currently traveling to the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Gardenia,” I continued, weaving the half-truth. “We are transporting offerings for the upcoming wedding between Margrave Turmburg and the Princess of the Glanz Empire.”
“So you were transporting the nectar for the royal wedding?!”
To be honest, we hadn't actually been invited. However, the President had no way of knowing that, and with the gold permit in his hand, he had no reason to doubt us.
“...I understand now. So that is why you were carrying such a staggering amount of nectar. It was meant as a tribute for the capital.”
“I guess our secret is out,” I said with a small smile.
It was a total misunderstanding, but given the evidence, it was the only logical conclusion he could reach.
“But... was it really alright to sell your entire stock to us?”
“We have ways of replenishing it. Don't worry about us.”
“I-I see...”
The President stared at my face for a long moment. Then, as if reaching a decision, he exhaled a long breath.
“Actually, the reason our company was so desperate for Saint Nectar was also because of the wedding between Margrave Turmburg and Princess Freundliche.”
It seemed the President had finally decided we weren't a threat. Perhaps as an apology for his earlier suspicion, he began to speak candidly about their situation.
“Duke Edelweiss ordered us to secure Saint Nectar as a wedding gift to be presented at the Royal Capital. However, our company had no leads on how to procure it. We were at our wits' end.”
And then we had walked through the door. This was why he was so happy; it meant he could finally get one over on their rival, the Edelweiss Trading Company.
“Lady Rufe, and her sister—please forgive my earlier rudeness. If the information you seek is something our company can share, I will tell you everything I can.”
“Thank you. But before that, I have something important to tell you in return.”
To make sure I got everything I could from the President, I decided to play my biggest card.
“The Demon King’s Army is approaching Edelweiss. The bandits appearing outside the city walls are almost certainly their vanguard.”
“Wh-What?! Is that true?!”
“We have fought the Demon King’s Army many times in the Tower City. We personally extracted the plan to march on Edelweiss from a captured soldier.”
I was referring to the Beast Ogre Mantiger. Since the President knew about Rufe’s reputation in the Tower City, he likely knew she could fly and fight. If they had also heard rumors that the Crimson Flower Princess Alraune had defeated a member of the Four Heavenly Kings, they wouldn't be able to doubt a word we said.
“I will leave it to the Pilz Trading Company to decide how to handle that news.”
“...Understood.”
The President would almost certainly report the threat to Duke Edelweiss. Once he did, the knights would be mobilized to prepare for the invasion. I didn't want to see my hometown burned to the ground, so I would protect it from the shadows.
As the President fell into deep thought about the impending crisis, Mr. Speck turned to me.
“Still, you really do look like Lady Iris did when she was small. I only met her once, many years ago, but I’d say you’re the spitting image of her!”
—Then it clicked.
I had met Mr. Speck once when I was a child. He hadn’t been nearly as plump back then, which was why I hadn't recognized him. Now that I thought about it, the gift he had brought me that day was iris-shaped bread. He was the one who had brought the bread from that village to the manor for me.
Since the Pilz Trading Company handled the village’s wheat, he must have used that connection to deliver it. Between the Village Chief and Mr. Speck, I was realizing that my past and present were linked by a very strange thread of fate.
I felt a sharp, burning gaze on the side of my head. It was Rufe. She had that look on her face—the one she got when she was wondering why Saint Iris and the Alraune version of me looked so much alike.
Sensing my discomfort, the Little Witch turned back to Mr. Speck.
“My sister does seem to resemble Saint Iris. I’ve always been curious—this city was her birthplace, wasn't it?”
“Indeed it was,” Mr. Speck replied. “Lady Saint Iris was the only daughter of Duke Edelweiss.”
“But she was killed by the Demon King’s Army. Is that the truth?”
“I don't know the specifics, but that was the official announcement from the Royal Family. The Duke’s grief over the tragedy is well-known throughout the city.”
A dull ache throbbed in my chest. Father... he really did mourn for me.
“So, can I meet this Duke Edelweiss?”
I nearly choked. Rufe, what are you saying?! Even with Manfred-san’s gold permit, a merchant couldn't just walk in and demand an audience with a Duke!
“Unfortunately, the Duke is not in the city at the moment,” the President answered. “He and the Duchess left for the Royal Capital just the other day.”
“Why go there?”
“As we mentioned, it’s to attend the wedding of the Margrave and the Imperial Princess.”
Duke Edelweiss was a high-ranking pillar of the Kingdom of Gardenia. If a wedding involving the Princess of the Glanz Empire was being held in the capital, his attendance as a guest was mandatory.
“So there are no members of the family left in the city?” Rufe asked.
“Not quite. Someone is staying behind to act as the Duke’s Proxy.”
In that moment, I knew exactly who it was.
“Lady Tulpe, Iris-sama’s elder sister, is currently at the mansion as the Proxy.”
By the way, I’ve never formally introduced him, but the Lord of the Tower City’s full name is Margrave Manfred Turmburg. He governs a territory on the front lines against the Demon King’s Army, but thanks to the Dryades' Forest and the sisters who protect it, his lands have held out against the invasion for many years.
Next time: Saint Iris’s family circumstances.