Chapter 82
Chapter 82
‘Lu & Cream’, as a business of House Luwin, should have grown rapidly with investment from the Grand Ducal family.
However, due to the Grand Ducal family’s severe financial difficulties, filling the funding gap was ‘Lu & Cream’s’ most urgent problem.
They were so short on money that they were fortunate just to be able to use the mansion on Hails Street in the capital as a shop.
Before ‘Lu & Cream’ could even launch, their method of earning money and securing funds was supplying ice cream to noble family parties.
However, simply supplying could damage ‘Lu & Cream’s’ brand image, so they request that parties be conducted with some focus on the ‘ice cream’.
For nobles who always need to be the center of attention, focusing on ‘ice cream’ at their parties could certainly damage their pride.
But unlike my worries, Cassis pushed forward, saying that ‘ice cream’ had an image of exclusivity that made it hard to approach.
Also, since Isiel kept visiting ‘Lu & Cream’, everyone was begging “Please sell to our family.”
Anyway, we were earning enormous amounts of money every time we supplied to parties.
“Since we’re making money so well, do I really need to work hard?”
[But… that money won’t be enough to pay off all the debt.]
“…”
Damn it.
That’s true.
While the income from the cart that Yen manages and my direct sales with Vroom-vroom isn’t small, it’s not very efficient.
For that reason, we temporarily suspended cart sales last week.
Though it’s unfortunate we can’t promote more, we judged that maintaining the cart would damage our image more when we’re about to open a large shop on Hails Street.
But we decided to maintain the ice cream truck, randomly visiting everywhere in the capital.
“But Lady Irina, you said you’d hire me even after closing the cart, but what about Harvey?”
“We’re hiring Harvey too.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Once the shop opens, you’ll all be super busy. I’d appreciate it if you could introduce more good people if you know any.”
“Yes!”
For reference, Yen is resting in the capital with nothing to do after the cart closed.
He only runs to help me when I summon the ice cream truck in his area.
“How is Yuri doing?”
“Everyone in the north lives for the joy of feeding Yuri.”
“And the drawings?”
I smiled and pointed to the posters hanging on our Vroom-vroom.
“These are all Yuri’s work.”
Yuri’s posters were frequently stolen because they were very popular beyond just showing the ice cream truck’s location.
Thanks to that, I frequently visit the capital’s printing house to mass-produce posters.
“So after selling this today, what are you doing tomorrow?”
“Well. Tomorrow there’s a party at House Hellis’s duchy.”
“Even duchies are seeking you out now?”
Yen looked at me with quite envious eyes.
It was very cute.
The person I currently serve is the empire’s only Grand Duke, and ‘Lu & Cream’s’ investor is the Lemiere heir.
“That’s how it turned out.”
“That’s amazing!”
Yen doesn’t seem to know that the academy girl who visits every day is Duke Hellis’s younger sister.
“House Hellis even gave us an invitation, so we might attend the party.”
“Wow… will I ever be able to even step foot in a duchy?”
Seeing him marvel so innocently showed he was still a boy, not yet twenty.
I smiled while touching my chin.
“Well. I can’t speak for the duchy, but Luwin Grand Duchy is possible.”
“Really? But I’m… an orphan?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“And you’re Lu & Cream’s proud salesperson.”
“…”
“Yen, I’ll give you a lot of support. Right now you’re wandering the capital, but once the shop is complete, you’ll officially be an employee of Lu & Cream’s first store.”
Since making him manager right away would be bad for both the brand and Yen, I put that off.
Instead, I decided to make him a store employee so he could become more skilled at dealing with nobles and take the manager position when he comes of age.
“Then you’ll be just an employee of Lu & Cream.”
“Just an employee? I really like this position!”
“But, if Lu & Cream gains more power, if we get money and influence, no one will look down on you just because you’re an orphan.”
I cut off Yen’s words and continued.
I gave a slight smile to the face blankly staring at me.
The scruffy appearance from when we first met was hard to find now.
I think Yen is amazing just for appearing with a neat appearance, wearing clothes that are still old and worn but cleanly washed.
“…Yes.”
“So I need you to work hard.”
“Yes, Lady Irina.”
“I believe in you.”
Yen’s strength is clear.
It might be innate business sense, or talent for attracting and drawing attention from people.
He’ll probably do his best with these memories.
Thinking that was enough for Yen, who seemed to have made some resolution, I clapped my hands together.
“Now, let’s work. Customers are coming over there.”
“Yes, I’ll handle it!”
People had already gathered in front of Vroom-vroom.
Yen was skillfully scooping ice cream onto waffles and handing them to people.
I was leisurely sitting and chatting with the system while watching the scene when the system urgently called me.
[Irina, ifl8&@ s s ㄴ ㅏ!]
[Irina close your dk 2! think dm *(! qdo ㅂㅣ우 ㅓ91!$!)]
A pressure swept over me.
I’d felt a similar feeling before.
Time seemed to flow slowly, and memories quickly flashed before my eyes.
When was it?
I focused on the memory while caught in a gasp.
When was it?
When Sian Terezia intimidated me with his power?
No, before that.
Earlier…!
‘When I first encountered Sian Terezia’s power.’
Specifically, it was the exact same pressure as when the system became completely scrambled then.
Because I had that memory, I closed my eyes and tried to empty my thoughts.
Just as I was struggling to think the system didn’t exist, broken text once again filled my vision.
Letters quickly flashing by.
Ding-!
[SYSTEM | System entering forced reboot due to signal error.]
[SYSTEM | 10, 9, 8…..]
Among the jumbled text, the only unbroken notification window was showing another system error.
I barely managed to keep breathing.
[SYSTEM | 3, 2, 1]
[SYSTEM | Shutting down system.]
The system turned off.
* * *
Fortunately, I didn’t lose consciousness like last time.
I just barely maintained awareness while trembling in my chair.
Still, thankfully, I was able to come to my senses not long after.
“Lady Irina, why are you sweating a cold sweat?”
“Yen, can you watch the shop alone?”
“I can, but where are you going?”
Instead of answering, I looked at the long line stretched in front of Vroom-vroom.
The end of the line extended far into an alley.
When I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, cold sweat came off.
“Something’s there.”
When Sian Terezia first exerted his power, the system stopped working, as if it had broken down.
Specifically, it said he distorted divine power.
Because of Sian’s constitution, the systems not only couldn’t mention him at all, but they didn’t like me getting involved with him.
I still don’t know why Sian Terezia, the hero who saved the world, disturbs divine power.
But it seems he’s not the only such being.
“Sian is… in Luwin. Then who?”
I instinctively tensed my body.
With the system off now, I have no means to protect myself.
But I couldn’t let this go.
It must be related to this world’s secrets, or its destruction.
So I shook off Yen who was trying to hold me back and walked toward the alley.
The long line was cut off inside the alley, and strangely, it was dark.
My legs moved on their own when I saw someone running away as if escaping.
The man seemed to slow down after noticing I was following, but soon picked up speed again and started turning through several alleys.
“Ah, if only I had the system…!”
If only I had the gods, remembering the path wouldn’t be a problem.
But what could I do?
I had already started running, and it was too late to turn back now.
However, only after running through several more alleys did I realize I had made a wrong decision.
“Haa, haa. Did they go this way?”
The problems were that I’m not very fit, I’m not familiar with the capital’s geography, and the sun was setting.
As if waiting for my stamina to fall, the person in the black robe suddenly rushed at me.
I collided and was thrown to the ground.
“Ugh, it hurts…”
The person I was chasing had already disappeared somewhere unknown, and I stood dazed in the empty alley, trying to recall the path I came.
“Damn it. I can’t remember…”
While getting confused about the path, I now felt a presence behind me.
‘A pickpocket?’
Swallowing dry saliva, I briefly counted how much money was in my wallet.
I’ll just give them some and send them away. I hope they’ll go away.
As I was thinking various things and trying to slowly move my feet, a large, familiar figure suddenly appeared from the opposite alley.
“Irina.”
“Lord Cassis!”
He held me close protectively.
Though he tried to hide it, he must have been tense.
I felt immediate relief when I confirmed Cassis was right beside me.
“Are you in your right mind?”
He grabbed me and immediately scolded.
I agreed with the dark alley where even light was dim.
I don’t seem to be in my right mind.
But if I say that, I’ll get scolded.
I quietly closed my mouth and looked up at Cassis, trying to appear as pitiful as possible.
Sweat had formed on Cassis’s forehead as if he had searched all these alleys for me, and the leather gloves that were always neatly on his hands were off.
“But how did you come here?”
“I received a message from Yen Kavitz.”
Cassis’s voice cracked at the end, making a strange scratching sound.
He said while unbuttoning his shirt that was buttoned up to his neck:
“Irina, you need to increase your worry and anxiety.”
“…”
“Why on earth did you come in here?”
