The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 49

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

But you don’t throw food around. Why waste perfectly good food? You should eat it.

However, mouths aren’t just for eating.

You can use them for shouting too, can’t you?

“People of the neighborhood-! There’s a thief here… mmph!”

“W-wait! Look at this first before you say anything!”

Crescens, startled by my shouting, covered my mouth with a piece of paper.

After spitting it out, I looked at the paper rolling on the ground and frowned.

‘Isn’t that the Temple of the World Tree’s emblem?’

It was letter paper made of obviously high-quality material with the Temple of the World Tree’s symbol stamped on it.

Why does this person have something like this?

Taking advantage of my suspicion, Crescens quickly picked up the letter and unfolded it, holding it out to me.

“Here, read it! You remember the promise, right?”

Promise?

Don’t tell me…?

[I said I would send someone to your shop, didn’t I? Please take good care of Brother Crescens who brings this letter.]

“So, you’re…?”

“Yeah. I’m Crescens. Did you forget my name?”

“No, that’s not what I’m asking! Why on earth were you chosen as the Priestess’s errand boy?”

Then what was all that thievery until now?!

As I looked bewildered, Crescens shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, maybe it’s because of my uniquely pure beauty…?”

“…”

“Wait, wait! Manager! Don’t close the door! Open it! I won’t say things like that! Sorry!”

A few minutes later.

Holding my head in my hands in front of Crescens who was deliciously eating blueberry cake, I asked in a hoarse voice.

“So, to summarize what you’re saying.”

“Mmhm.”

“A Cardinal told you to atone for your wrongdoings by serving at the Temple. So you became an errand boy working at the Temple. Something like that?”

“That’s right. Exactly. To the World Tree, we are all sinners, and those who work at the Temple are all the World Tree’s errand boys.”

Crescens made a praying gesture and smiled brightly.

Setting aside the pretentious words that didn’t suit him, thinking about it.

‘He got caught stealing and is working as atonement, something like that I guess.’

It seemed like putting a cat in charge of fish, but if that’s what the Temple wants, well.

Pressing my throbbing temples, I checked the letter.

It was definitely the Temple of the World Tree’s symbol.

When I turned it over, there was a business card inside.

『Crescenziano Diosa Pilgrim – Cardinal』

‘So that mute Priestess was a Cardinal. That’s quite a high position. But the name…’

“Are you brothers with that Cardinal?”

Cough.

Crescens, who had been drinking tea and choked badly, mumbled.

“Wh-what-what are you saying?”

“Well, Crescenziano and Crescens have similar names. Anyway, wipe up the tea you spilled.”

Why are you so surprised?

As I looked puzzled, Crescens pulled out tissues and cleared his throat.

“Ah, I thought.”

“You thought?”

“No, um, it might be disrespectful to the Cardinal. Linking the Cardinal and me as family.”

“What’s wrong with that? He’s not even here. And it’s possible to have a troublemaking younger brother or two. Is that really a flaw?”

Just like how Grandfather has nephews with terrible personalities.

I said it casually, but Crescens looked at me intently and smiled.

“I’ve been thinking since before, but you’re surprisingly tolerant?”

“About what?”

“Giving chances until the end, saying that much isn’t a flaw. Are you tolerant to everyone, or just tolerant to me?”

“Well, how about you clean the floor first and then think about it?”

“No, you’re so cold…”

Crescens’s light green eyes peeked up as he cleaned the floor looking dejected.

“Ahem. The similar names, it’s baptismal names! We use baptismal names as our names.”

“Baptismal names?”

“Yeah. Just like how there are thousands of people named John, Johannes, Joanna in the Empire. Manager, you’re not a believer?”

Since I got a new life, maybe I could be called a believer in a way?

As I smiled without saying anything, Crescens stared at me.

Why are you looking at me like that? I made an X with my hands.

“If you’re trying to convert me, I’ll pass.”

“It’s not that. My belief is that faith cannot be forced. It’s just… I think this is the first time I’ve seen you smile genuinely.”

“I see. Could you give me the trash?”

“Still so cold…”

Watching Crescens grumble and sit back down in his chair, I put on gloves.

“So what brings you here today?”

“Ah. I was having so much fun talking that I almost forgot. First, about that crystal bird relic? It really was fake. He told me to tell you thanks.”

‘So it really was a counterfeit.’

Whoever it was had some nerve trying to deceive the Temple, I thought, when Crescens’s eyes lit up.

“But that was the first time you’d seen that crystal bird relic, right?”

“That’s right.”

“So you’d never seen it before, but you knew it was fake the moment you saw it? With just your naked eyes, no tools?”

“Something like that.”

“How?”

I narrowed my eyes.

Crescens, looking guilty, waved his hands.

“I’m really not some kind of industrial spy, the Cardinal was curious about it. Hm? Can’t you tell me? I can’t go back empty-handed.”

“For someone going back empty-handed, you’ve eaten more than half a container of blueberry cake.”

“Aw, you know that’s not what I meant by empty-handed.”

“It’s a trade secret passed down through generations in our shop, so it’s a bit difficult to tell you. I have to make money too.”

I didn’t have anything to tell him anyway.

You just know if you look carefully, that’s all.

And even if I explained the appraisal method in detail, there’d be no benefit for me.

If I told him everything, how would I do business?

“If you really want to know, tell the Cardinal to come in person.”

“Hmm… Would you tell me if we became closer?”

“Are you the Cardinal, Crescens?”

I said it jokingly, but Crescens hesitated and looked dejected again.

“Don’t you want to become friends with me?”

“I think you misunderstood, that’s not what I meant.”

“Then you’re saying you want to become friends with me?!”

“You have a tendency to think very black and white.”

“Well… that’s because I want to become friends with you, Manager.”

“While openly saying you have an ulterior motive? Is that how you normally make friends?”

Crescens blinked his eyes.

“…I don’t have friends so I don’t really know how that works…”

After staring at his teary eyes for a while, I shook my head from side to side.

“I don’t have friends either.”

“Huh?”

“So don’t make that lost puppy expression. It won’t work on me.”

“Oh my.”

Crescens flipped his silver hair while laughing ‘She really won’t fall for it…’ and tilted his head.

“But Manager, I’m sincere about wanting to become close. And about not having friends too.”

“Yes. What’s your next business?”

Crescens, who had been staring at me intently, smiled saying ‘I lost, I lost.’

He took out a bracelet studded with gems from his bag.

“Please take a look at this.”

“Whether it’s a holy relic or not?”

“Just, overall.”

I picked up the magnifying glass and filter.

Examining the bracelet carefully, I opened my mouth.

“First of all, it is a holy relic.”

“Really? That’s good.”

“But the gems are fake. They’re all cubic zirconia.”

“What?! The gems are fake?”

“It’s not strange. Divine power can dwell in wooden blocks or stone fragments too, can’t it?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Water in a clay bowl and water in a gold bowl are both still water.”

When I lowered the magnifying glass, I saw Crescens staring at me blankly.

“What?”

“…I said it before. That you resembled Michele.”

“You did.”

That’s why I thought he was a liar.

I shrugged my shoulders and Crescens continued in a slightly lower voice.

“But now I see… what really resembles him is your way of thinking.”

“My way of thinking?”

“Yeah. I mean it as a compliment. I really liked Michele. There weren’t many people I could have conversations like that with.”

‘A compliment… I guess?’

As I heard those rather puzzling words, I suddenly became curious.

“Crescens, how did you become close with our grandfather?”

“Wow, finally.”

Finally?

“You’re curious about something regarding me? I’m so happy.”

“Never mind. Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Hey, but you already heard it.”

“Then I’ll pretend I didn’t say it.”

“But you already said it? It seems like it’ll be quite a long story, so could I ask for another cup of tea…”

That’s when it happened.

Crescens, who had been talking excitedly, flinched and quickly turned his head.

Wondering what it was, I looked toward the window.

“Excuse me.”

Ailren was standing in front of the window.

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