The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 83

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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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At first glance, he seemed angry, but I knew better.

 

There was a hint of playfulness in his expression.

 

“You said you were curious about an outsider’s evaluation? So I gave you one. Want me to say it again?”

 

“Yes! Could you please say it just one more time?”

 

“Hah…”

 

He probably didn’t expect me to actually ask him to repeat it.

 

Alter let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded and shook his head.

 

“What’s wrong, Alter? Were those just empty words?”

 

Since I was half-joking myself, I was laughing and about to let it slide when it happened.

 

Gently, Alter’s hand brushed against my shoulder.

 

“Good work… Elisha.”

 

He patted my shoulder lightly a couple times, then quickly withdrew his hand. It was a somewhat clumsy touch.

 

Like someone who had never done such a thing before.

 

But that made it seem all the more sincere.

 

As I looked up at him, surprised by his unexpected reaction, Alter rubbed the back of his neck a few times before turning around and walking away.

 

‘Wait, did he just call me by my…?’

 

Mulling over his words, I smiled and ran after Alter.

 

“You just called me by my name, didn’t you?”

 

“You heard wrong.”

 

“Come on, I definitely heard it. Someone who always says ‘hey,’ ‘you,’ ‘listen’! By Alter’s standards, that was really high praise, wasn’t it?”

 

“I told you, you heard wrong.”

 

“Huh, your ears look a bit red too, don’t they?”

 

“…That’s just your imagination. Maybe you should get checked at the hospital…”

 

“What? What were you trying to say?”

 

“Never mind.”

 

Despite his words, Alter slowed his pace for me.

 

*

 

After taking a tour around the street, we sat down at the food court.

 

The food we ordered came out quickly.

 

‘We decided each stall would only sell one main menu item to manage turnover.’

 

Being hungry from walking around and then having to wait a long time?

 

That’s a surefire way to increase visitors’ dissatisfaction.

 

Fortunately, judging by the good expressions on people eating, the strategy seemed to have hit the mark perfectly.

 

It was also an opportunity to let people taste food from various shops.

 

“Guild Member Elisha! Oh my, are you finally taking a break? Hurry up and eat, quickly.”

 

“Hello, Manager! …Oh my, why is the portion so big?”

 

“Special service! What would have happened if we hadn’t listened to our Guild Member Elisha and sold multiple menus? What if we couldn’t manage the ingredients and they spoiled? Phew, how frightening.”

 

The seafood restaurant manager winked and pushed a mountain of seafood pasta in front of me.

 

The situation was similar at other stalls.

 

Thanks to that, our table had…

 

“…Are we having a village festival or something?”

 

“That’s what I’m saying…”

 

There was no empty space left with dishes of seafood pasta, french fries, and grilled steak.

 

Looking at the dishes in bewilderment, I first quenched my thirst with lemonade.

 

Of course, the lemonade also came in a large bowl, which was confusing…

 

But unlike me who was overwhelmed, Alter, who had recovered quickly, picked up his fork and knife.

 

Then.

 

“Eat.”

 

He cut the steak and placed it on my plate.

 

“So you’re someone who can show such manners too.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

Oops.

 

I guess I still hadn’t recovered from the shock of the bowl of lemonade.

 

I must have spoken my thoughts out loud.

 

“Oh dear, I was just thinking to myself.”

 

“Just what do you think of me?”

 

“But it was pure admiration. I would have had to see Alter’s dining etiquette before. Come to think of it, this is the first time we’re eating together, isn’t it?”

 

“…Just eat.”

 

While grumbling, Alter neatly cut even the garnish and placed it in front of me.

 

Then after organizing all the seafood, he finally started his own meal.

 

This was already surprising, but his unexpectedly neat movements, as if he’d been well-taught in dining etiquette, were also unexpected.

 

I expressed my gratitude briefly and picked up my fork.

 

“Thank you, Alter. Wow, this is delicious! Try the shrimp in this pasta quickly, okay?”

 

“I’ll eat what I want, so you just worry about your own plate.”

 

Though his words sounded somewhat cold, instead of being intimidated, I smiled and asked.

 

“Why are your words and actions so different?”

 

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

 

“You speak so coldly, but when I said the shrimp was delicious, you quietly pushed some over to me. For me to eat.”

 

“…I just don’t like shrimp much.”

 

I saw him eat all the shrimp that came as garnish with the steak earlier.

 

But since his expression clearly said ‘Can’t you just pretend not to know?’, instead of teasing him more, I obediently put the shrimp in my mouth.

 

“Okay, then I’ll eat all the shrimp.”

 

“Do whatever.”

 

All the food was delicious.

 

Seeing that even Alter, who seemed quite picky about food, ate well, all the other customers must have been satisfied too.

 

Of course, there was so much food that we left almost all the french fries, but we could pack them and eat them later.

 

As I was drinking the bowl of lemonade, Alter asked.

 

“How do you usually handle meals?”

 

“Well, I usually make do with bread or cookies. Since I have to serve customers. Sometimes I can’t eat when I’m busy with customers.”

 

“Wouldn’t it be better to hire staff at that point? It’s not just about meals – if you got sick and had to be hospitalized… if something like that happened, you’d have no choice but to close the shop.”

 

“I have thought about that.”

 

Salary wasn’t a problem.

 

I currently had over 200 million gold in my possession.

 

I had quite a lot of money, including what I earned from selling The Forest of Cologne.

 

However, there was an obstacle I’d have to overcome to hire staff.

 

‘Setting aside the basic requirement of being able to appraise, it wouldn’t be easy to distinguish Rosaline’s people.’

 

Let’s assume I posted a job opening in this current situation.

 

Rosaline and Hugo would definitely try to plant spies.

 

‘I can’t take that risk.’

 

I smiled and deflected.

 

“It’s hard to find someone I can trust and rely on.”

 

“…If it’s someone trustworthy.”

 

Alter was about to continue when it happened.

 

I added jokingly.

 

“What if I hire someone and they turn out to be a thief targeting the safe? Or someone who changed their appearance with a magic tool! That would be terrible.”

 

“Someone who changed their appearance… with a magic tool?”

 

Alter asked back in a somewhat strange tone.

 

I shrugged.

 

“Yes. They’re hiding their identity, so it’s natural that it would be hard to trust someone like that.”

 

“…Even if they had unavoidable circumstances?”

 

“What kind of unavoidable circumstances would require someone to change their appearance…?”

 

What if they were someone being pursued under false accusations, like Chloe in my previous life?

 

If that were the story, I might be able to understand.

 

But other than that, I didn’t think there would be any convincing reason.

 

“Well, I’d have to be in that situation to know for sure. But if it wasn’t a truly necessary reason, I think it would be hard to understand. Especially if they hid that fact for a long time.”

 

“…”

 

“Alter?”

 

It was just when Alter’s long silence was becoming puzzling.

 

Someone’s cheerful voice called out to me.

 

“Manager!”

 

“Oh, Hanna!”

 

Hanna, who had been running over energetically, flinched when she saw Alter.

 

She hesitated, looking back and forth between me and Alter once each, then approached with an “Aha!”

 

“Oh my, I was wondering who it was. You’re the person we met at the auction house last time, aren’t you? Hello? I didn’t recognize you since I only saw you wearing a mask.”

 

Alter nodded with an indifferent attitude.

 

Regardless of Alter’s response, Hanna pulled out a woman who had been hiding behind her.

 

“You don’t need to be scared, Tilly! This man helped me! And this woman is the pawnshop manager I told you about!”

 

“Ah, this person?”

 

Tilly, who had seemed intimidated by Alter’s appearance, brightened up at my introduction.

 

“Hello, I’ve heard so much about you from Hanna! I’m Tilly, Hanna’s colleague.”

 

“Hello. Did you enjoy the festival?”

 

“Of course! It was so, so wonderful. I especially loved how there was a separate ‘quiet rest booth’ for introverted people! I even made this wonderful book cover through the leather crafting experience! This place is truly amazing!”

 

Tilly, who had been explaining the good points until her cheeks turned red, suddenly coughed awkwardly as if embarrassed.

 

“I heard from Hanna that you have many good books? I’ll stop by the shop sometime.”

 

“Yes, you’re welcome anytime.”

 

Hanna, who had been watching that scene fondly, whispered quietly.

 

“Um, Manager. The festival was fun of course, but actually that’s not the only reason I came. You know, there was something you asked me to do?”

 

“…Did you find materials related to ‘Root of Blindness,’ Hanna?”

 

No way?

 

As I looked up at her, Hanna nodded resolutely.

 

“Yes. I finally found it.”

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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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