The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 95

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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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After business hours ended.

 

I went to the Information Guild and William welcomed me.

 

As I skimmed through the attendee list he handed me, I pressed my temples.

 

‘This headache has been going on for quite a while. I should take some medicine when I get home.’

 

As expected, Rosaline and Hugo’s names were on the list.

 

But?

 

‘Hugo must have applied quite late? He’s at the very bottom of the list.’

 

Which means?

 

I smiled wickedly.

 

‘Hugo didn’t really want to go to the Founding Festival. But since Rosaline needs someone to escort her, he’s being forced to attend.’

 

This was clear evidence that the relationship between the two siblings was deteriorating.

 

It was also proof that Rosaline was definitely planning to cause some serious trouble at the Founding Festival.

 

If it was just attending the festival normally, there would be no reason for Hugo to be reluctant.

 

‘Good. This is enough.’

 

As I was reviewing this information along with what I had seen in my previous life, William spoke to me.

 

“How is it? Is the information satisfactory?”

 

“Of course. Thank you, William.”

 

“I have more to tell you besides this.”

 

“Oh, what is it?”

 

“Although they’re not on the list, I have information that priestesses from the Temple of the World Tree will also be attending this Founding Festival.”

 

Priestesses?

 

I recalled the articles about the Founding Festival I had seen before my regression.

 

There definitely wasn’t any mention of temple people attending.

 

‘The Emperor might be one thing, but Crodil didn’t seem to have much interaction with the temple.’

 

As I remembered, after seizing power, Crodil had found various faults to reduce the temple’s influence.

 

Since he commanded mages, the temple would be troublesome for him.

 

Then it must have been Lina who invited the priestesses.

 

‘Well, the more eyes watching, the better.’

 

“There’s talk that some high-ranking officials are coming too.”

 

“Is His Holiness the Pope coming?”

 

“Well, there are rumors that His Holiness the Pope’s health isn’t good, so I’m not sure if he’ll come personally. Anyway, keep that in mind. Oh, and this too.”

 

What William handed me was data about Malcolm’s businesses.

 

He must have been really angry. I laughed at the investigation results that looked like he had turned everything around Malcolm upside down.

 

As I was looking at it, William grumbled.

 

“Lord Parnon came to the capital faster than expected, so it’s a disaster. I was thinking of bribing people around him to dig up more, but he brought everyone up with him.”

 

“Oh, are you saying Count Hugo Rionet is currently in the capital?”

 

“Yeah. He’s probably at the 2nd Street Hotel? It seems like he came separately from his sister.”

 

‘Perfect.’

 

The note seems to have worked exactly as intended.

 

As I was gauging when Hugo might arrive, William asked me.

 

“Isn’t that a prize from the pea shooting contest? Is the young manager good at shooting too?”

 

William was pointing at the sheep doll I had brought.

 

I waved my hands dismissively.

 

“This isn’t mine. I came to return it.”

 

“Return it? To whom?”

 

“To Alter. This is a prize Alter won, but it suddenly disappeared so I took it for safekeeping. But I haven’t seen Alter lately, is something wrong?”

 

“Uh…”

 

Just like last time, I don’t understand why his reaction is so strange whenever Alter comes up.

 

William’s olive-colored eyes danced.

 

“It hurts my pride to say this, but I don’t know either.”

 

“There are things even William doesn’t know?”

 

“That’s why it hurts my pride… He said he was going somewhere on the afternoon of the festival day, and there’s been no contact since.”

 

William, who had been mumbling, gave me a subtle look.

 

“But did you do the shooting contest together with that Alter Guild member? You two must have gotten quite close?”

 

I nodded while gently stroking the sheep doll.

 

“I think so, but I’m not sure what Alter thinks.”

 

“If you’re confused about it, then you’re close. I can say definitively that I’m not close with that Alter Guild member.”

 

William, who was smiling with his chin propped up, muttered.

 

“Right… well… he didn’t say I couldn’t tell anyone? And the young manager doesn’t seem like the type to spread rumors.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Never mind. So, would the young manager like to visit the neighborhood where that Alter Guild member lives?”

 

“Me?”

 

“Mm-hmm. I think he won’t get angry if the young manager goes looking for him, and I’m also curious about what that Alter Guild member is doing alone.”

 

Alter, how exactly are you building your relationships…

 

“It’s just a feeling! But if you check for me, I’ll give you half price on the next commission.”

 

However, half price on the commission fee was a hard offer to refuse.

 

I took the address card from William and headed out.

 

When I checked the card, I was dumbfounded.

 

‘What kind of person gives just a rough street name instead of an exact address? How am I supposed to find it like this?!’

 

So that’s why he offered half price!

 

I was walking while holding my throbbing forehead when I felt something was off.

 

‘Huh, come to think of it…’

 

Shouldn’t I have tripped by now?

 

Looking around the street, I was puzzled to see that the statue that had been in the middle of the road, which had caught my ankle twice, was gone.

 

No way.

 

“Someone should just smash that thing.”

 

Did Alter really break it?

 

I looked around the spot where the statue had been in bewilderment, then chuckled.

 

No way, that couldn’t be.

 

They probably moved it while doing road maintenance or something.

 

‘Let me just go find this place first.’

 

Who knows, maybe there’s a house with a nameplate saying “Alter’s House”?

 

After walking for about 10 minutes, I arrived at the street on the card. It wasn’t far from the pawnshop.

 

Of course, there was no house with a nameplate saying “Alter’s House,” but I was still looking around the street just in case.

 

That’s when I saw a house in a street corner with all its curtains drawn, even at this late hour.

 

‘Could that be it?’

 

Just as I was getting a little closer.

 

The curtain was suddenly pulled back and the window opened.

 

“Are you saying he’ll arrive soon? Yes, understood! I’ll prepare!”

 

While I was startled, some man muttered urgently, looked outside the window, then closed it again.

 

Fortunately, that man didn’t seem to see me, but I could see him.

 

Brown hair, unusually upright posture.

 

Could it be?

 

The doctor’s words came to mind.

 

“He was a man with short brown hair and a very rigid posture, and as soon as he saw me, he asked if the original owner of the pawnshop had ever used this place.”

 

Could the man who was looking for Grandfather possibly be…?

 

As I clenched my fist, I heard a clicking sound behind me, like a clip being fastened.

 

I had been frantically trying to pull out my defensive magical tool at the presence, but I stopped.

 

‘Wait. He said the sword would vibrate to warn me if a dangerous person approached.’

 

The sword strapped to my thigh was quiet.

 

When I slowly turned around, what I saw was.

 

“…What are you doing here.”

 

The very person who had given me that sword.

 

It was Alter.

 

Leaning against the wall, he was looking at me.

 

“What are you doing… I asked.”

 

“Yes. I heard you.”

 

“Then why aren’t you answering.”

 

Moonlight poured down over the dark street.

 

His face revealed under the pale moonlight was…

 

“This isn’t the time to answer that! You’re hurt right now!”

 

Covered in blood.

 

I rushed to Alter and examined him.

 

My hands trembled as I looked at his blood-splattered cheek, torn clothes, and wounded body.

 

“What happened… Are you okay?”

 

“It doesn’t hurt much.”

 

“You call that an answer right now! Let’s go to the hospital first, Alter. I know a place, so…”

 

As I grabbed Alter’s arm, his sigh settled near my ear.

 

“As if you know whose blood this is.”

 

At those words, I looked up at Alter.

 

Eyes mixed with gray and red looked down at me.

 

“Aren’t you scared?”

 

It was an extremely low voice mixed with sighs and self-mockery.

 

However, that voice sounded more…

 

“Don’t try to help me when you don’t even know what kind of person I am.”

 

“…”

 

“Just take care of yourself. Go home, quickly.”

 

A little bitter.

 

I blocked the path of him who was avoiding my gaze and turning to walk away.

 

“You’re right. I really have no clue what Alter actually does for a living.”

 

I said firmly.

 

“But I do know what kind of person Alter is.”

 

“…What?”

 

“So I think there must have been your own reasons. Reasons for appearing covered in blood like this.”

 

I bit my lip and gestured with my chin.

 

“If you have circumstances that prevent you from going to the hospital, let’s go to our shop. It’s not far and we have most medicines stocked.”

 

Taking a deep breath, I looked into his eyes and said.

 

“And I know that Alter isn’t a scary person or someone who poses a threat.”

 

I whispered to Alter who was quietly looking at me.

 

“The sword you gave me told me so.”

 

Saying only that, I walked ahead toward the pawnshop.

 

Soon, I heard the sound of footsteps slowly following behind.

—————
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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