Chapter 45

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June.

Speaking of June, it's the time for the Clan Competition.

According to Carla, we need to be in a winning posture! However, the challenges change each time, making it difficult to prepare.

Last year, the Student Council led by Lady Krishnas achieved a two-peat, and this year they are aiming for an unprecedented three-peat.

"Finally, the preliminary round starts the day after tomorrow. Even though we are all first-year students and only five of us, we will make it to the top!"

Carla is fully pumped up.

"Hey, Carla, let's celebrate before the prelims!"

"Sounds good! Alright, let's get permission to go out tomorrow and head to Restaurant Cook!"

"Wait, that's my house!"

"If Peron is with us, we can go without a reservation, right? And they'll give us extra, too!"

Carla is as shrewd as always.

So, the next day, we ended up at the front of Restaurant Cook.

Peron is apparently called 'young master' by the staff, and he had asked them to stop calling him that because it made him feel embarrassed.

Thanks to Peron, we were led to a private room, and we each ordered our favorite dishes.

I've never tasted any dish in this capital, except for those made by our mansion's chef, that I found delicious, so I chose the grilled salmon with herb flavor, which Peron recommended.

"That looks delicious. Christopher, can I have a bit?"

"Sure."

Is Carla really from a noble family?

Her speech and behavior don't seem to match a noble's at all...

"It's good. What did Pritz order?"

Indeed, it's delicious.

This is the first time I've tasted a delicious dish while dining out in the capital.

Since Peron's father is the owner and head chef, I can honestly praise his cooking skills.

In the end, Carla managed to take a little bit of everyone's dishes, and Clara joined in as well.

"Hey, let's go to the Brutus Trading Company after this. I've never been there before."

"Sure, I want to go too."

Pritz also agreed with Carla's suggestion, so we decided to go to the Brutus Trading Company.

"Christopher, do you have a friend discount?"

"It depends on the item, but I can consider it."

By the way, you two are the only ones at the Royal Magic Academy who have the right to purchase and use Brutus Trading Company's magic items, so it's a bit late for that, isn't it?

Carla and Clara talk a lot.

During the meal, one of them was always talking.

When Carla was chewing, Clara would talk, and when Clara was chewing, Carla would talk, in a continuous cycle.

This is the first time I've spent a leisurely time with friends in this world.

It feels good to relax like this.

Just as we finished our dessert, Peron's father came in.

"My son has been in your care. I was worried if he would make friends because he's quite introverted, but I'm glad. Please continue to take care of Peron."

He's a dandy father with a face similar to Peron's, wearing a chef's hat.

Everyone introduced themselves, and I did so as well.

"You are Lord Brutus Zelser. That refined sugar is really good. It's sweeter and cheaper than the usual sugar."

"Thank you. I hope you continue to support us."

Refined sugar has been selling well since its release.

Partly due to the high price of regular sugar, but also because Brutus Trading Company provides free recipes for simple sweets, it's gradually becoming popular among the common people.

Peron's father briefly concluded the conversation and returned to work, leaving a refreshing smile behind...

"Peron's father is so handsome, isn't he? Peron is handsome too, but he lacks initiative with women, so he's not quite there."

"R-really..."

Carla often... no, frequently makes comments that chip away at people's self-esteem.

Peron, stay strong!

I'm on your side!

I patted Peron's shoulder and gave him a comforting look.

After that, we left Restaurant Cook and headed to my Brutus Trading Company.

Recently, the sales aren't as high as when we first opened, but they are steadily increasing.

"Welcome! Oh, Master Christopher!"

When we entered the Brutus Trading Company, Clara greeted us energetically.

By the way, she was also a slave in my house.

Since she was a commoner before becoming a slave, she doesn't have a family name.

If I call her Clara von Hekart to distinguish her from Pritz von Hekart, it gets confusing.

"I've brought some friends. Can you show them around? And is Filia here?"

"Yes, the manager is in the back. I'll call her."

"No, that's okay. I'll go myself. Please take care of everyone."

"Sure!"

I left everyone in the store and went to the back.

Filia was having a late lunch but had just finished.

After a brief greeting, I asked about the thing I was concerned about.

"How are the sales of that item going?"

"They are going well. Many people are buying the Ring of Strength and the Ring of Defense together with it."

"That's good to hear. We might be able to give everyone a bonus at the end of the month."

"Everyone is very happy. We are provided with food, clothing, and shelter for free, and we also receive a salary and bonuses, so other slaves would start a rebellion if they heard about it."

"...You say scary things so casually. But it's good to know the slaves are happy."

By the way, the item in question is the Ring of Speed.

After making Rings of Strength and Defense, I tried making a Ring of Speed. My father ordered 200 of them, and sales at the store are also going well.

The Ring of Speed requires wind magic, so I entrusted its production to Rock. However, Rock is producing three types of items, which is quite a workload, so I need to think about it.

On the other hand, Jamon is only producing the Ring of Defense, so he still has some capacity. I think I'll release a new magic item that Jamon can produce next.

"Did you find anything good?"

After a brief meeting with Filia, I returned to the four friends who were browsing the store.

Carla chose the Ring of Defense and the Ring of Speed, Peron chose the Ring of Speed and the Watering, and Clara and Pritz each chose the Ring of Speed.

"The Barrier Bracelet is quite expensive, isn't it? I'll ask my father for it next time."

"I can't afford 200,000 S. It's a shame, but I'll have to give up."

"Clara and I have the Barrier Bracelet. My father made a considerable effort to get us to wear them."

I thought Clara and Pritz's family were knights, and it's hard to imagine them being able to afford two 200,000 S Barrier Bracelets...

"Clara's family has a gold mine. It's enviable."

I see, a golden goose.

But it's hard to imagine a knight family being given a gold mine...

"The gold mine was found by my mother, so our finances will be stable for a while."

So that's it, Clara's mother...

After that, we took a light stroll around the city and returned to the dorm in the evening.

At the Brutus Trading Company, Carla managed to haggle down the prices, but that's fine.