The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 84

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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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I jumped up from my seat without realizing it.

 

“W-wait a moment. I need to step away for a bit.”

 

I left Alter and Tilly behind for now and headed to a secluded spot with Hanna.

 

As soon as we arrived at a deserted alley, I asked urgently.

 

“What was the content about?”

 

“Unfortunately, since it was old material, it was quite damaged. There were insect bite marks, and so many stains as if something had been spilled on it.”

 

“Ah… I see.”

 

I bit my lip, but Hanna smiled brightly.

 

“But who am I? I’m an ancient document restoration expert who serves as a consultant for the Manager’s Pawnshop, aren’t I?”

 

“…Which means?”

 

“Yes! I’m restoring it right now. I’ve successfully restored about half of it, so the rest won’t take long. A week at most?”

 

“Really? That’s such a relief… Thank you so much, Hanna.”

 

“Oh, save your thanks. It’s also work for filling the archives. I’ll transcribe it and bring it to you as soon as the restoration is complete!”

 

I was holding Hanna’s hands and jumping with joy when she whispered.

 

“Um, Manager. About those herbs.”

 

I had told Hanna that it was material for herb appraisal.

 

I said someone had left me a pile of herbs, and I needed materials to appraise them.

 

Since Hanna knew that our pawnshop handled various items, she probably vaguely thought there might be herb appraisal requests too.

 

“The person who asked for the appraisal, they weren’t dangerous or… strange, were they?”

 

“Huh? Oh, no. I didn’t get that feeling. Why?”

 

But why is Hanna asking something like this?

 

As I tilted my head in confusion, Hanna scratched her nose and said.

 

“Ah, it’s nothing. It just seemed like incredibly rare and expensive herbs, so I was wondering where they could have gotten such a pile of them.”

 

“Ah, that’s true.”

 

Since I couldn’t tell her it was because of Grandfather’s illness, I just mumbled vaguely.

 

Anyway, if I just wait a week, I can get information about Grandfather’s illness!

 

I repeatedly expressed my gratitude to Hanna and was coming out when I heard her muttering.

 

“Right, I must have seen it wrong…? Once I finish the restoration, I’ll know for sure, I guess.”

 

Was there some suspicious content in the ancient document?

 

I desperately wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to rush Hanna, who was helping me wholeheartedly even though it wasn’t her own business.

 

‘I can get the materials in a week, so I’ll ask again then.’

 

When I returned to my seat, Alter and Tilly were really glaring at each other like stones, which made me laugh.

 

Tilly was even completely turning his back to Alter and just reading a book, then when he spotted Hanna, he nagged.

 

“Let’s hurry back to the Book District, Hanna. They say we can make bookmarks now! Manager, see you again next time!”

 

“Yeah, Tilly. Anyway, it was fun today thanks to you, Manager. I’m looking forward to the event at the Guild Hall later too!”

 

‘Right, Hanna would know the detailed contents of the festival.’

 

I waved goodbye to Hanna and Tilly and turned around.

 

I was about to apologize to Alter for making him wait, but he glanced at me and spoke.

 

“Where do we look next?”

 

“Uh…”

 

The two hours we had originally promised had long since passed.

 

Of course, there was still some time before the Guild Hall event started, but didn’t Alter say he was busy today?

 

‘Still, it would be a bit cold to just eat and part ways, wouldn’t it?’

 

Looking around, I pointed to one place.

 

“The bean shooting game booth I mentioned earlier is nearby. Should we stop by there before we go?”

 

“Are you confident you can beat me?”

 

“Huh…?”

 

How did we reach this conclusion?

 

When I looked puzzled, Alter looked even more puzzled.

 

“You said it’s a game booth. Isn’t trying to win what games are about?”

 

“Oh, I meant it to help digest our food, and since it would be sad to part ways like this, I wanted to play a bit more.”

 

At the words ‘it would be sad to part ways,’ Alter’s Adam’s apple bobbed briefly.

 

He gestured with his chin.

 

“You shouldn’t propose a game with such a half-hearted reason. Why do you have so little fighting spirit?”

 

“It’s not even a matter of fighting spirit, and I’ve never thought my fighting spirit was inferior to anyone else’s…?”

 

“Then that’s perfect. Let’s bet something on it.”

 

“Gambling games that harm public morals are prohibited at festivals, though?”

 

“We can bet something other than money, can’t we? What, aren’t you confident you’ll win?”

 

My goodness, such an obvious provocation.

 

But?

 

“I am confident I’ll win!”

 

My spirit, which had been full and drowsy, felt like it was completely awakened by the word ‘bet.’

 

Right, considering what I have to do later, it’s not bad to start burning with fighting spirit now!

 

‘I was so busy watching the spectators’ reactions that I never got to try it myself.’

 

I clenched my fist and walked toward Emma’s bean shooting booth.

 

“Emma! Two people will participate!”

 

“Sure, sure. Our Elisha came? But what do you mean two people…?”

 

Emma’s eyes, which had been welcoming me, widened.

 

She stared at Alter, who was standing a few steps away with his arms crossed, then asked quietly.

 

“Is that man with you?”

 

“No. He’s my competitor.”

 

“Ah…?”

 

Alter approached and stood beside me as I answered firmly.

 

“What are the game rules, Emma?”

 

“You blow five paint-coated beans with an air gun to hit targets. However, those targets…”

 

Purple flames sparked from Emma’s fingertips.

 

Then the spinning street-shaped targets moved swiftly as if running away.

 

“Move irregularly like this. If you hit all five beans, there’s a prize. Even hitting just one gets you a participation prize.”

 

After finishing her explanation, Emma looked back and forth between me and Alter.

 

“Well, since there are two of you, the target colors will be black and pink? Elisha gets pink, and that dark competitor gets black.”

 

“That’s Emma’s game rule. What should we bet on?”

 

Alter, who had been checking the air gun, stared at me.

 

“Just hit it once somehow. Then I’ll consider it your win.”

 

“At least you have some conscience.”

 

“You seem to have spoken your thoughts out loud again.”

 

“That’s exactly what I was going to say to Alter. So what do you want to bet? Don’t tell me you want me to make you a real consultant instead of a temporary one?”

 

“No, I don’t think we need to bet on that.”

 

Says who?!

 

As I was dumbfounded, Alter’s eyes tilted slightly. For a moment, it seemed like he was smiling.

 

“Let’s make it so the winner gets to have the loser grant one request.”

 

“…I don’t have anything in mind right now, but you’re planning to somehow come up with a troublesome demand to torment me, aren’t you? Are you getting revenge because I ate all the shrimp?!”

 

“Don’t fight in someone else’s establishment, you people. Anyway, shall we start? 3, 2, 1!”

 

I picked up the air gun and paint-covered beans with determination.

 

With Emma’s signal, two targets began moving around chaotically.

 

‘Surely I can’t fail to hit even one out of five?’

 

However, the first blue bean flew helplessly toward the wall.

 

I glanced at Alter.

 

‘What, he’s already hit two?!’

 

Did this person practice shooting beans for a living or something?

 

In the meantime, Alter even hit his third bean.

 

Taking a deep breath, I blew the second pea.

 

But unfortunately, it grazed right past the target.

 

“Do better, Elisha!”

 

“I’m trying my best here!”

 

Building on Emma’s encouragement, who was disappointed as if it were her own business, I took another shot.

 

However, the third pea nearly hit Alter’s target instead of mine.

 

“Your skills are terrible.”

 

Glaring at Alter, I saw he had hit all four shots and was left with only one pea.

 

From his smirking, he was clearly planning to tease me.

 

Annoyed by how he leisurely tossed and caught his pea, I forcefully blew the fourth pea.

 

“Ah, that was really close!”

 

It barely missed the target by a hair’s breadth.

 

Only one remained.

 

As I carefully loaded the pea covered in red paint into the blowgun, Emma patted my shoulder.

 

“Elisha, you can do it!”

 

Then she slightly winked at me…

 

‘Hm? What’s that about?’

 

Anyway, since it was encouragement, I nodded briefly and took a deep breath.

 

As I carefully calculated the direction, Alter casually blew and hit his fifth pea as if it were nothing.

 

Ugh, how annoying.

 

But I’ve got the hang of it too!

 

‘Now’s the time!’

 

The moment the target peeked its head out.

 

I blew with all my might and pulled my face back to see the result.

 

But…

 

“Ubububub?”

 

Instead of flying away, the pea bounced back out.

 

When the pea that had been rolling around on my face dropped with a thud.

 

I looked back at Emma with my paint-covered face in bewilderment.

 

“Emma… how did this happen…?”

 

“I, I wonder. Why did this happen?”

 

Through Emma’s flustered voice, I suddenly heard clear, open laughter.

 

“Ha…”

 

Alter was looking at me and laughing.

 

It was a very refreshing and pleasant smile.

 

‘So he… was someone who could smile like this.’

 

It was at that moment when I found myself captivated by this expression I’d never seen from Alter before.

 

Alter, who had approached with long strides.

 

“What is this? So foolish.”

 

Wiped my cheek with his large hand.

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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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