Chapter 107
Chapter 107
“A spectacular failure.”
“…”
“I wasn’t deeply involved, but Leilyranda, you were careless.”
Sian Terezia sat on a couch with sunken cushions, crossing his legs and flipping through a newspaper. The newspaper was covering the hugely successful launch of ‘Lu & Cream.’
Leilyranda stared blankly at him acting so boldly, as if it were his own palace despite not being his space.
Cassis, her half-brothers, and all those born with everything think the world belongs to them.
Leilyranda clicked her tongue inwardly and replied:
“Yes, I was careless. I apologize.”
In truth, Marquis Cloi was more at fault than herself. Leilyranda thought this while clicking her tongue internally.
There are too many restrictions on her direct actions. If she could quickly make her social debut and begin operating officially, she could move using her own power. Unfortunately, conditions don’t allow it.
Marquis Cloi, whom she had drawn in thinking he must be remarkable for bankrupting the great Luwin, was a fool like no other.
“There’s nothing to apologize for.”
Sian added with a smile.
“After all, the world’s destruction and wanting everyone to fail is your goal, not mine.”
Leilyranda’s expression hardened instantly.
Resurrecting demonic beasts is extremely difficult. Lower-level demonic beasts in animal form can somehow be managed with Leilyranda’s power and by pouring in Rose’s sacred power.
But higher-grade demonic beasts are different.
Especially in the current period, when there aren’t many who have died from demonic energy.
That’s where Sian Terezia had helped.
While she was satisfied with summoning just one humanoid demonic beast, Sian Terezia resurrected countless spider-type demonic beasts and two humanoid ones with just a flick of his finger.
And that wasn’t all.
The giant demonic beast that appeared by tearing through space was a terrifying entity that made even Leilyranda nauseous with fear.
At the final moment.
When there was no longer any way out, ‘it’ revealed itself.
That demonic beast which everyone was too afraid to even name, calling it simply ‘it,’ tore through space and revealed itself.
<Wh-what are you doing?>
<You said you wanted to destroy the world.>
Sian looked at the panicking Leilyranda with a puzzled face.
<Not right now, not immediately.>
<Why? Isn’t destruction now or destruction in the future the same thing?>
<…>
It is the same. It is.
But she…
Leilyranda didn’t simply desire the world’s destruction. More precisely, Leilyranda wanted revenge.
She wanted to show everyone that this world, which she had tried to save hundreds of times through repetition, would ultimately be destroyed by their greed.
But it was such a pathetic excuse that she couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud, and while she was hesitating, Sian Terezia laughed as if he had figured out everything.
It was almost a sneer.
<Fortunately, it stopped there due to my limited ability.>
<…>
<Well, Leilyranda. Try to do well.>
At that time, Sian Terezia said this and left without any lingering attachment.
That’s how he was.
He casually provided all the key forces central to this situation and then pulled out.
Sian gently smiled as he looked at Leilyranda’s stiff face. However, unlike his smoothly curled lips, his eyes were expressionless.
“Since it’s what you want to achieve, you should apologize to yourself, not to me.”
This is precisely why Leilyranda cannot fully trust Sian. His detachment from everything. And his chilling nature.
His thoughts that are impossible to read.
‘Perhaps it would have been much better if he were a demonic beast rather than human.’
She might not have been able to borrow such great power then, but even a limited force under her own control would’ve been better.
And if things didn’t work out later, she could strip away his consciousness and release the demonic beast Sian Terezia into the world.
Sian didn’t seem particularly interested in what Leilyranda was thinking. He was reading an article highlighting Irina, who had spearheaded ‘Lu & Cream.’
“Irina was more impressive than I thought.”
Sian mumbled this to himself as he folded the newspaper and placed it on the table.
“Oh, right, what about the escaped demonic beast?”
“We’re keeping it on our side.”
“Really? Just kill it. You can summon another if needed.”
“…”
Leilyranda closed her mouth again and watched Sian Terezia carefully.
Seeing her thoughtful face, Sian burst into a hollow laugh and asked:
“What do you want to say, Leilyranda?”
“…I’m worried about executing the next plan immediately when the first attempt failed so badly.”
“Oh, my. Leilyranda.”
Sian suppressed his annoyance and said:
“As I said earlier, it’s your goal. I’m just cooperating. If it fails, you’re the only one responsible.”
Leilyranda bit her lip at Sian’s cunning words.
When she sees such reactions from Sian Terezia, she thinks about how twisted a person he is.
How could such a person be the world’s hero? How could such a human sacrifice everything for the world?
Leilyranda stopped being cautious and simply made her request.
“I’m anxious about Cassis Luwin.”
“The master of our house?”
“That person… even after being betrayed and frustrated, he always rushes in to save.”
“…”
“I can’t stand the sight of him.”
If you’re going to die, if you’re going to sacrifice, bear it alone. Why should I be caught up in that pain too?
Why am I the only one who has to repeat? Why am I the only one who comes back?
He’s never had to repeat like she has, so he can make such nonchalant statements.
“He rushes in, acting like a hero… Then what does that make me, who doesn’t want to do it?”
“Hmm.”
“I don’t understand why I’m the only one who becomes trash, who becomes a terrible person.”
Leilyranda’s voice became increasingly agitated. Sian asked in a calm voice:
“So in the end, it’s more about revenge against Cassis rather than revenge against the world.”
“…Well.”
“While you’re pitifully cowering in the north, I’ll destroy the world. I’ll break the world you tried so hard to protect.”
“…”
Leilyranda felt as if everything she had hidden deep inside was exposed. She felt her face burning red with shame.
“You should have just said so.”
“…”
“That you want to see Cassis Luwin suffer. That’s why you deliberately targeted ‘Lu & Cream.'”
Sian expressed genuine admiration, as if he finally understood. He laughed “hahaha” for quite a while.
“Hah…”
After barely stopping his laughter, he said:
“Interesting.”
“I don’t find it amusing.”
“You should have said this earlier. I thought you had some grand philosophy.”
“…”
“I’ll help you.”
Leilyranda’s pride was severely bruised. However, she was reassured by Sian Terezia’s ready offer of help.
Leilyranda’s green eyes became tinged with madness, and Sian burst into genuine laughter as he watched this.
“Tell me, Leilyranda. What do you want?”
‘Chapter 11. Omen’
[SYSTEM | 99,091,223 jurang remains until debt repayment.]
‘Lu & Cream’ was a success.
Everyone talked about nothing but ‘Lu & Cream’ for a whole year. Moreover, prices that even commoners could easily afford led to even faster sales.
At its peak, daily sales reached 10,000 jurang.
Demand truly outpaced supply.
In this situation, internally, there were discussions about whether fundamental issues needed to be fixed to supply ice cream.
However, considering that there was only one store for now, and uncertainty about how long this fame would last, we put it on hold for the time being.
“Construction for the second and third stores has been completed.”
“Really? I’ll have to go down again.”
Instead, we decided to open a second and third store.
The second store was established on Chering Street, an upscale shopping district, and the third store was opened in the port city of Hyzen, a place so wealthy and bustling that it’s called the second capital.
“It’s a huge hit!”
“The daily sales at ‘Lu & Cream Hyzen Rutwal Branch’ has hit an all-time high!”
It was a massive success.
“The second store on Chering Street also approached with a premium strategy, and we’ve received a regular order from the Imperial Palace!”
“We’re short on supply!”
“Do you have any more ice cream?”
“I think we need to reduce travel time to Hyzen!”
It wasn’t just a success, it was a phenomenal success.
Just when the main store seemed to wither a bit, the second and third stores, which opened with different concepts, became huge hits again.
Even running the ice cream magic circle all day wasn’t enough.
“Let’s create an automated process!”
The current method involves making ice cream through magic circles. So the ice cream is placed in containers, and those containers are moved to the stores as needed.
However, there were many cases where the philosopher’s stone needed replacing, or where overload occurred.
Moreover, for the ice cream cones that were selling like hotcakes, about ten people were manually baking them one by one.
“Ice cream is one thing, but the ice cream cones are the problem.”
The method I chose to mass-produce ice cream cones was a conveyor belt. But one that would run on magic power.
I provided the idea, and Lemiere handled the design and production.
“Making the dough, measuring the dough, placing it on the plate, baking it directly on the plate, and then immediately rolling it to make it into a cone. I’ve made it all.”
“Great!”
“But Irina, will this really… be effective?”
“I gave you the time for each process, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
And so, the basement of Luwin became a giant ice cream cone factory.
With cones being produced consistently in large quantities, we only needed to solve the ice cream part.
For this, we received significant help from Luka, who installed a triple magic circle system. While still using only one skill stone and recipe, by using three philosopher’s stones, we achieved about three times the efficiency.
“No more supply issues from the first to the third store!”
Having successfully achieved mass production of ice cream, I had nothing to fear anymore.
“The Blende County family has requested ice cream delivery.”
With no supply concerns, we could respond to delivery requests from most noble families. Although the only mansion where delivery was possible was in the capital.
“Let’s increase the number of stores, Irina.”
“Please approve this!”
“The Second Prince has requested ice cream delivery for his upcoming party.”
Just eight months after its launch, ‘Lu & Cream’ was operating a total of 11 stores throughout the empire: 9 directly managed stores and 2 stores managed by Lemiere.
