Chapter 79

When Lutz returned, Adelheid and Leonora came back to the table.

"Feeling a bit relieved?"

"Isn't that so? I was worried this would drag on and affect us."

The two nobles exchanged glances.

"It's good we didn't have to use the branch manager's power."

"Oh, we should also report to the branch manager what Lutz told us."

Erika suggested.

"That's a good idea. And let's discuss what to do next... Wait, where does the branch manager live?"

The branch manager is working from home.

He should be writing reports about this incident.

"Oh, I'll show you. Let's all go."

Erika stood up, so we did too.

"What about Dorothea? Is she coming with us? Or should she go for a walk in the sky?"

"I'll come along since I have work to do."

Work?

"Do you have work? Is it the investigation of my surroundings you mentioned before?"

"Something like that."

"Why would Chris do that?"

He's not that interested in me, is he?

"Chris-sama is concerned about someone above him."

Above him? The head of the headquarters?

"I don't get what he wants..."

"I don't know either. Come on, let's go."

We decided to visit the branch manager's house and left Erika's place.

"Ha... It's depressing to see it every time."

Erika sighed as she looked at the burned branch.

"Unfortunately, there are really people who do such things. We work hard to make things, and they destroy them for trivial reasons."

"That's terrible."

"People like that get what they deserve. We have our jobs to do."

"Right."

We walked past the burned branch and turned onto the main road, hiding the sign.

"Erika, which way is the branch manager's house?"

"This way."

Erika pointed north and walked, so we followed.

After a while, we reached a residential area.

"The branch manager's house looks luxurious."

He's a noble, so he must be wealthy.

"No... It's here."

Erika stopped and pointed to a two-story apartment building.

"Here?"

"Yes, on the first floor."

It doesn't look old, but it's about the same size as the dormitory we live in.

So it doesn't seem like the rent is that high.

"Hmm..."

Maybe he's not that wealthy?

If that's the case, I feel a bit awkward about always treating us.

"That's the room."

Erika stepped forward and pressed the doorbell of the corner room.

The door opened immediately, and the branch manager appeared.

"Huh? It's you guys... What are you all doing here?"

"This Dorothea is here too!"

What a loudmouth crow...

"Of course, familiars don't count. You really are a bird brain..."

Helen mocked her with a sigh.

"Shut up, you can't even fly!"

None of us can fly, and neither can your master.

"Stop fighting. Branch manager, can we talk for a moment? Lutz from the military came by earlier, and we have a report to make."

"Oh, I see. I have something to discuss too. There's a café nearby, so let's go there."

"Alright."

We left and followed the branch manager.

"The branch manager lives in an apartment?"

"Yeah... I'm on a solo assignment. I live alone, so there's no need to buy a mansion."

So his main residence is in the capital.

"Are you not bringing your family?"

"My youngest child will be taking the entrance exam for the magic school you and Adelheid attended next year. So I'll be on a solo assignment until they graduate and become independent. After graduation, we'll reconsider."

I see.

Family matters.

"Just to ask, is the branch manager planning to stay here permanently?"

"Probably. There's no one who wants to take over as branch manager, and both my wife and I think it wouldn't be bad to spend our retirement here."

"Wow..."

The branch manager isn't planning to transfer.

That's good for me.

He's not an expert in alchemy, so he doesn't interfere and leaves things to me, making it very easy to work.

Plus, he's a good support.

He's a great boss, I think.

We walked to a café and took our seats, ordering drinks.

"Are you all working in your respective rooms?"

After the drinks arrived, the branch manager took a sip of coffee and asked.

"We gather at Erika's place. And by work, we mainly mean studying for the upcoming exam. We can't really work since the materials burned."

I can make firestones with magic stones, but I'm putting it off for now.

I don't mind, but considering the branch burned because of the firestone, it's better for the three girls' mental health.

At least until the exam is over, it's better not to make firestones.

"I see... Well, it can't be helped."

"I heard from Lutz that the deadline for the recovery ointment has been extended. We haven't discussed the extension for the other firestone because we can't reach Mr. Rübeleit at the office."

I planned to go to the office to talk, but he wasn't there.

"The office is busy. After all, a senator was arrested."

The branch manager knows about the senator's arrest.

"That's true. But I heard they weren't in a rush before, so I think it's fine."

"Understood. It seems there are no issues with the work."

I'm not sure if it's okay to say there are no issues.

"For now, at least."

"Right... I have something to discuss, but first, let's hear your report."

"Yes. First, you know that the senator who backed Adolph was arrested, right?"

"Yes. It was in this morning's newspaper, and I had heard from the colonel beforehand."

I didn't know because I don't get the newspaper.

"It was already in the newspaper?"

Considering he was arrested yesterday, isn't that fast?

"Yes, the newspaper seems to have had the information beforehand."

Oh... I remember, I told them something suspicious during the interview.

No wonder it was fast.

Thank you for reading.

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