Chapter 193
Simon and Kamibarez passed through the crowded fountain plaza and entered a narrow alley.
"I'm really sorry, Simon!"
Kamibarez bowed in apology, her violet hair fluttering, revealing the crown of her head.
Simon hastily waved his hand.
"N-No, I'm really okay! I'm not hurt or anything."
"Still, I'm sorry. I thought he'd show some restraint with so many people watching... I'm so embarrassed of my father."
She covered her burning face with her palm. Simon spoke gently.
"He's just a little mischievous, that's all. I don't think he meant anything bad."
"M-Mischievous? Simon almost died just now!"
She cried out in shock.
'Well. If he had truly meant to kill me…'
He would have already been split in half and rolling on the ground.
But there was no reason to continue that line of conversation. Simon pulled a paper case from the wrapper he was holding.
"Want some ice cream bread? I picked it up at a street stall on the way here."
"Huh?"
Kamibarez, flustered, said it wasn't the right time for snacks and refused once, but eventually gave in under Simon's persistent offer.
She took a small bite.
"?!"
Her violet pupils widened like a startled rabbit's eyes. After another bite, she slightly furrowed her brows, then couldn't help but smile, her shoulders trembling with delight.
"Aaah, it's so good!"
At last, a bright smile bloomed across her face.
Gripping the ice cream bread tightly with both hands, she chewed each bite with delight. She really enjoyed it.
'Looks like we got through that somehow.'
Simon subtly glanced back. Kamibarez seemed unaware, but a short distance away, Dietrich was watching with gleaming eyes.
"Alright then, should we go meet Dick now?"
"Yes!"
She smiled brightly, ice cream still on her lips.
When Simon silently offered her a handkerchief and gestured to her lips, she turned red up to her neck, took the handkerchief with both hands, and wiped her mouth.
"I'll make sure to wash it and return it!"
"Okay."
After their snack, the two walked side by side through the narrow alley.
Having been apart for nearly two months, they had plenty to talk about. Kamibarez chatted away like a baby bird, and Simon nodded along, listening intently.
"Simon, you're really good at talking!"
Simon made a face like, Huh?
"I didn't really say much though."
"It's just a feeling! I get nervous talking to other people, but when I talk with you, it just feels comfortable and the words come easily. I really like that."
He didn't know exactly why, but since she liked it, it made him feel happy too.
"There's still today and two more days until the semester starts, so let's keep talking lots."
"Yes!"
As they'd discussed before the break, she had received Professor Sillage's recommendation and visited his students to learn how to control the wild blood of Ursula.
Of course, Ursula's power was best learned from the Ursula family itself, but in Kamibarez's case, though she had vampire blood, her body was closer to a human's.
The problem of a human using Ursula's blood, a completely new challenge.
This wasn't something Ursula could teach her, and Professor Sillage believed it would be better for her to learn from fellow humans.
"What was Professor Sillage's student like?"
"Oh! The doctor? He was really nice! I visited rather suddenly, but he was kind and considerate, so I was able to adapt quickly."
"That's good to hear."
Simon nodded and folded his arms.
"I thought Professor Sillage would teach you himself."
"The doctor said Professor Sillage went off to do a secret mission in Keyzen during the break. Apparently, it's something only the best haematologist on the continent can do."
Keyzen professors didn't just rest during breaks, they usually went off to fulfill backlogged missions.
They were both professors and active necromancers, after all.
"What about you, Simon? How did you spend the break?"
"Me?"
He had gone to the Holy Federation and fought the Blood Heaven Cult. Now he could use holiness freely and had awakened to a completely new domain: holy undead.
…But of course, he couldn't exactly say that.
"I did vacation homework, helped out with my father's territory work and stuff. That alone kept me super busy."
"Being a lord must be really tough!"
As the two chatted about this and that, they left Camellord and arrived at a bustling district packed with shops.
Simon pulled out Dick's letter and looked around.
"Simon. Where is Dick?"
"He said he's been working part-time in Langerstine since a week ago. Should be around here… Ah!"
Simon's eyes widened as he scanned the store signs.
"Here it is! The sign says 'Blue Hobbit'."
"That's a unique store name."
"Let's go in."
Ding-a-ling.
The two opened the door and stepped inside. Immediately upon entering, their eyes darted around at the shelves crammed with merchandise.
"Oh, you guys are here?"
"Dick!"
Dick, wearing a casual apron, quickly walked up to them. He wasn't in his Keyzen uniform but the store's uniform.
"Ahaha! You've all been doing well, yeah?"
Laughing brightly, Dick greeted them with fist bumps, then clapped his hands.
"Wait! This isn't the time to chat! I get off work in two hours, so help me out for a bit!"
"…Out of nowhere?"
"The sale starts in ten minutes, so hurry and go change! The boss said he'd pay you too. Come on, come on."
Dick pushed Simon and Kamibarez forward. Before they knew it, the two were in the changing room, switching into uniforms.
'I just wore it because he told me to, but… what kind of situation is this now?'
He kept on the Keyzen uniform pants, wore a striped brown apron over it, and tied a scarf around his neck like a necktie over a navy shirt.
"Simon~"
Kamibarez shyly stepped out of the women's dressing room. Simon chuckled.
Cute.
She wore the same outfit as him, but it was oversized, and only her fingertips peeked out of the sleeves. The brown apron suited her well.
"Are those the part-timers here to help?"
"Yes, boss!"
A short, stocky middle-aged man walked over with Dick. He gave Simon and Kamibarez a once-over and smiled in satisfaction.
"You two will be in charge of the event corner."
"Huh?"
"Understood, sir! This way!"
Dick expertly guided the two of them.
"Surprised, right? Sorry, sorry. This shop sells household goods that use necromancer technology. I'm working here to get ideas and do market research."
"Forget the apology. If you were going to make us work, you should've told us in advance."
"Haha! Life's all about unexpected events! Kami, you take care of this. It's the dessert corner."
Kamibarez awkwardly took her position at the dessert corner.
"Just open one box at a time, place them on paper plates, and tell people to try a sample. Easy, right? Good?"
"Ah, yes!"
Already nervous, she started trembling her legs. Dick brought Simon to the opposite side.
"This is your spot!"
Simon blinked. It was an area lined with clothing.
"Just help people try things on here, and talk them into how good they look. Easy, right?"
"…No, you have to at least tell me what the clothes are if you expect me to sell them."
"There's waterproof magic and some other stuff, but eh, just say it looks good and that's it! Ah, here they come!"
The door Simon and Kamibarez came through wasn't the front entrance. Another door opened, and customers started pouring into the store.
"I'll deal with you later."
Simon adjusted his necktie and muttered. Just then, a woman in her forties browsing the clothes turned to him.
"Excuse me…"
"Welcome, ma'am! Would you like to try it on? This model's been selling well."
Simon was the type to give his all no matter what he did.
As words flowed from his mouth like water from a spring, Dick quietly let out a sound of admiration and gave him a thumbs-up.
A one-hour event with a 40% discount on all items. Many people came, and as expected, the top seller was—
"I'd recommend this brand's products over that one, ma'am."
"And why is that?"
A picky-looking woman folded her arms.
"Your skin is quite fair, so darker tones suit you better than pastel shades."
"Oh hohoho!"
Elegant ladies continuously flocked around Simon. And on the other side, Kamibarez wasn't falling behind either.
"Th! Try some strawberry chocolate before you gooo!"
Though trembling with nerves, Kamibarez worked hard to promote the dessert.
At first, her lack of customer service skills showed, and people brushed her off when she offered chocolates, making her increasingly hesitant. But—
"Is this free?"
"Yes!"
A customer tried a chocolate and said it was delicious. Even though they hadn't bought anything, Kamibarez gave a beaming smile.
"Thank you!"
That customer, as if under a spell, bought two boxes right away.
Soon enough, people started lining up. Kamibarez began selling out her stock.
"Alright, the event is over!"
The two-hour event ended quickly. Other corners struggled with their high prices, but Simon and Kamibarez completely sold out.
"Really, thank you. You're Keyzen students, right? If you ever need some extra pocket money, come by and work again."
The store owner gave them a big smile and handed over extra pay.
Finally, the two of them returned to the fitting room and changed back into their school uniforms. Dick, now also changed, was chatting with the owner.
"You've really got a knack for this. No, actually, today's success wasn't your ability, it was thanks to those two, huh?"
"No, no. My ability is in having friends like those two."
"Hahaha!"
Simon couldn't help but think how shameless Dick could be. Dick waved as the two approached.
"Come on, let's go! We've gotta throw a party to wrap up the break! My treat today!"
"Yaaay~"
Kamibarez clapped and laughed. Simon said,
"Now we just need Maelyn to show up tomorrow and we're at full power."
Dick snapped his fingers.
"Oh right! I just got some new info about Maelyn, and you guys are gonna be shocked! Come on, I'll tell you."
"New info?"
The three stepped out of the store.
* * *
Ding-a-ling.
The store door opened, and a massive man in a black cloak entered. He was so tall that the back of his head almost touched the ceiling, and he had to stoop slightly.
The store owner rushed out.
"Welcome! The event's over, so everything's at regular price now, but if that's okay with y—huh?!"
At the killing aura radiating from his eyes, the store owner collapsed flat on the ground. The rest of the staff froze in place.
'Va-Vampire?'
'Should we call the guards?'
The man pulled a coin pouch from his cloak and dropped it onto the floor, then said,
"Bring me all of this shop's strawberry chocolate."
"…Excuse me?"
The owner looked up at him in a daze.
With the utmost solemnity, Dietrich said,
"Strawberry chocolate."
Still dazed, the owner, slowly regaining his senses, hastily replied,
"S-S-Sorry, but we're completely sold out of strawberry chocolate! How about this orange chocolate instead?"
At those words, the man silently retrieved the pouch from the floor, and in an extremely solemn voice, said,
"If it's not strawberry chocolate, I don't want it."
Dietrich stomped out of the store.
The owner stared blankly in the direction he'd left, then finally let out a bewildered sound.
"…Is he insane?"