In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 37

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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This Life, I Will Become the Clan Head Episode 37

Recently, there was one particular topic of conversation in Heslot Market.

It was the large green building that had been boldly constructed on Heslot Central Road.

That expensive green dye had been applied to the entire large building.

The four-story building that had been renovated and repaired from the old building that was originally there boasted such a luxurious exterior that it seemed a bit out of place in the market.

So among the people who used the market, there was much talk about what the purpose of that building might be.

Some said the building would become a high-class tavern, while others said it would become a high-class inn.

The common point among all the opinions was that everyone expected it to be a place that sold very expensive goods.

And today, finally, a large sign was hung on that building.

<Gallahan Clothing Store>

People who had been walking busily down the street began to slow their steps one by one as they looked at that sign.

The sign, written in elegant script as luxurious as the building’s exterior, would have been more fitting in Sedacunaga, the nobles’ district over there.

“A clothing store?”

Hanson, who ran a large fruit shop nearby, muttered while looking up at the glossy sign.

“Didn’t they mean to write ‘atelier’?”

Robert, who ran a bakery next to Hanson’s shop, approached and said.

“Right. If it’s an atelier, then it’s an atelier, but I’ve never heard of a ‘clothing store’ before.”

“How would I know.”

Robert, who didn’t like the flashy building towering among the shabby buildings, grumbled.

“But are they planning to use that entire big building as an atelier?”

Margaret, who ran a pottery shop right next to the clothing store building, asked as she joined the men’s conversation.

“Such a flashy atelier should be built in Sedacuna. Who in this Heslot would go there.”

The others agreed with Hanson’s words.

However, even as they said this, they couldn’t take their eyes off the dark green building.

That’s when it happened. The closed door of the clothing store opened and a young woman greeted the merchants with a brightly smiling face.

“Hello!”

She wasn’t overly dressed up, but somehow she had an appearance that made people feel intimidated yet unable to look away.

“I’m Violet, the manager of ‘Gallahan Clothing Store’! Please treat me well from now on!”

She had originally been a middle manager in the textile department of the Lombardi Guild, but this time she was scouted by Cleribane and transferred her affiliation.

For her, who was skilled at dealing with all kinds of textile merchants from across the Empire, handling people was as familiar as breathing.

At Violet’s cheerful greeting, the merchants nodded one after another and introduced themselves.

And Felicia, the bakery owner’s wife, couldn’t contain her curiosity and asked Violet.

“A clothing store, is it like a high-class atelier?”

“We’re a bit different from an atelier. Think of us as a place that sells pre-made clothes!”

“P-pre-made clothes?”

People looked at each other’s faces alternately, bewildered.

As if accustomed to such reactions, Violet smiled brightly and said.

“The store opens in two days! Come take a look! You’ll be able to buy clothes for less than 1 silver!”

At her words, people who had blinked a few times all burst into laughter at once.

“Hey, young lady! You’re good at joking for someone so young!”

“How could a set of clothes sold in a place like this cost 1 silver! Even at the cheapest atelier, you’d have to pay 1 silver and 50 copper!”

“These days you have to pay 1 silver just to get the fabric!”

But Violet spoke with a serious face.

“It’s true. You’ll see on our opening day. But you should come quickly, right? The goods will sell out fast.”

At her serious attitude, people who had been holding their stomachs laughing stopped laughing one by one.

“R-really?”

“Yes, of course!”

But people still had doubtful expressions.

Violet shrugged her shoulders, thinking that everyone would know once opening day came.

And she didn’t forget to remind them one last time.

“Don’t forget to spread the word around! Our ‘Gallahan Clothing Store’ starts business in two days!”

* * *

Today was a day with classes.

And one more thing.

It was also the day that the clothing store named after Father would open in Heslot Market.

Perhaps because he was nervous, Father, who couldn’t sleep a wink all night, left early in the morning, and after eating a simple breakfast alone, I headed to the classroom a bit early.

There had been word that today’s class would start a bit earlier due to Cleribane’s schedule.

He probably planned to go to the clothing store in the afternoon to observe the situation.

I passed through the now-familiar path and opened the classroom door.

The classroom, where I had expected at least Larane to be present reading books as always, even if not the twins or Belesack, was completely empty.

“Am I the first one?”

That’s unusual.

I settled into the classroom without much suspicion.

It was the seat where I always sat with the twins.

But then I heard the sound of the classroom door opening again.

“Hello, teacher!”

I smiled brightly toward Cleribane.

It was a business smile.

Cleribane always smiled back when I smiled like this.

But today something was different.

He was smiling slightly out of habit, but his stiffly hardened eyes were looking at me.

“Teacher, is something wrong?”

Cleribane, who had approached where I was sitting, took out a small jar from his chest and placed it in front of me.

“Do you know about this product that’s been called Estira ointment lately and selling like hotcakes?”

“Hmm…”

I didn’t know how to answer.

It was the ointment I had moved directly for the recommendation letter and made a deal with Grandfather about.

Moreover, I heard that Grandfather had gathered Lombardi’s retainers and even bragged that it was my creation.

So it would be fine to answer that I ‘know it well.’

But not being able to understand the intent behind Cleribane’s question made me hesitate.

Instead of answering, I looked at him for a moment.

Cleribane’s light blue eyes met my gaze head-on.

“…Then let me share my thoughts.”

Cleribane said in a low voice.

“The other vassal families think that when the clan head held a meeting last time and said that Young Lady Pirenthia made this ointment, it was just ordinary granddaughter bragging. So they think they’ve understood the clan head’s intentions by placing large orders for this ointment through the Lombardi Guild to distribute to their employees.”

Actually, that would be normal.

I’m only eight years old, after all.

“But I know you too well for that to be the case.”

“Me…?”

“The idea and method for creating this ointment probably came from you, Young Lady. Estira just added technical knowledge. Isn’t that right?”

“No! I really just helped Estira!”

I tried pretending not to know for now.

But as expected, it didn’t work on Cleribane.

“Then are you saying that Estira invented that ointment?”

“That’s right. The important parts were all Estira’s…”

“The idea of not simply selling medicine but putting it in beeswax and vegetable oil to solidify it, you mean. And mixing it with hipsi too.”

“Estira is smart!”

“Of course, I know that Estira has a brilliant mind. But she’s not someone who comes up with ideas that break out of the mold.”

Wait, when did he figure out so much about Estira?

Cleribane seemed already convinced.

That the ointment was created under my leadership, not Estira’s.

Actually, I’d been noticing his suspicions for a while now.

It was the day Father and I had a meeting about the pricing of ready-made clothes.

Cleribane clearly knew that this ready-made clothing business should aim for high volume, low margin sales.

His sudden mention of a high-price policy back then must have been to test my intentions.

It was only after some time had passed that I felt something off about Cleribane’s attitude.

But since he said nothing afterward, I thought it might have been my imagination and let it slide.

To think I’d be ambushed like this.

I chuckled softly and asked.

“The message about today’s lesson being moved up was only delivered to me, wasn’t it?”

Then Cleribane similarly lifted one corner of his mouth and answered.

“That’s correct. The others received word that today’s lesson was canceled. I judged that I needed time to have a proper conversation with the Young Lady, so I did so. Please forgive me.”

“There was no need to go to such lengths. If you had just asked, I would have answered.”

Just as Cleribane had done, I was only testing his thoughts and had no intention of denying it to the end.

Though it was a bit earlier than I had planned, this was bound to happen eventually.

This was none other than Cleribane Pellet.

A commercial genius I had to make my ally by any means necessary was approaching me first with curiosity – this was actually something to welcome.

“Then please tell me the truth.”

Cleribane spoke in a serious voice.

At that moment, I realized.

If I didn’t properly answer Cleribane’s questions now, no matter what I tried in the future, I would never gain this genius’s cooperation.

I straightened my back and corrected my posture.

“First, your guess is correct. I made that ointment with Estira’s help.”

“As I thought…”

Cleribane’s eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

“Then is Lord Gallahan’s current business also your idea, Young Lady?”

“That’s not the case. Making and selling ready-made clothes was Father’s idea.”

“Ready-made clothes. I see. That’s what we should call them.”

Ah, right.

In this place where the concept of ‘pre-made clothes’ doesn’t exist, naturally the term ‘ready-made clothes’ doesn’t exist either.

Cleribane now looked at me with what seemed like admiration, nodding his head repeatedly.

“I knew it when I heard you say ‘we need to lower the price.’ You are someone who completely exceeds what I had expected, Young Lady.”

So it was that moment after all.

I can’t forget Cleribane’s brightly smiling face.

Especially because he was so handsome.

“Actually, I’ve had my suspicions since the Koroi-Yung business.”

“S-since then?”

A bead of sweat trickled down.

Just how perceptive is this man?

“The reason the business rights transferred from Lord Biejie to Lord Gallahan back then was because of you, Young Lady. More precisely, because you suddenly dragged Lord Gallahan in front of the cargo wagon.”

My face burned with embarrassment at how hard I had tried to act like I knew nothing.

“Back then, it was important to open the floodgates for Father.”

“I understand that feeling. Lord Gallahan is too talented to just be reading books.”

As expected, Cleribane has a good eye.

He was the first person to praise Father in front of me, so I felt pleased.

Actually, if I had my way, now that things had come to this, I’d want him to intervene in Father’s business on my behalf.

But I mustn’t push too hard.

Cleribane was a talent I absolutely couldn’t let slip away.

Whether Grandfather’s talent-collecting obsession had been inherited by me, I barely calmed my heart that was boiling with the desire to make Cleribane my person right away, and said.

“Anyway, please continue to pretend you don’t know. I’ll try not to cause you any trouble…”

I was speaking as politely as possible to cater to Cleribane’s preferences.

Since I had successfully conveyed to Cleribane that I was no ordinary child, I judged this was enough.

And I planned to gradually show him better sides of myself, building trust and making Cleribane my ally.

But before I could even finish speaking, Cleribane’s face hardened instantly with an audible snap.

“…Teacher?”

“Why is that?”

Cleribane was angry at me.

“Pardon?”

“Am I lacking after all?”

“What do you mean by that…”

“I asked if this Cleribane Pellet’s abilities are insufficient in your eyes, Young Lady.”

“That can’t be!”

You’re someone who will accomplish great things in the future!

Besides establishing the Pellet Guild, Cleribane’s achievements were too numerous to count.

Especially after he became the person in charge, the Lombardi Guild’s profit rate drew an almost vertical curve.

At least in commerce, no one could match Cleribane’s almost animal-like instincts.

Cleribane, who had been looking at me, bit his lower lip slightly as if frustrated.

And with a slightly trembling voice, he said to me.

“Please… don’t push me away.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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