Chapter 99
Chapter 99
‘Chapter 10. Lu & Cream’
[Breaking News] ‘Ice Cream’ Summons ‘Demonic Beasts’?! Revealed to be Completely False!
[Breaking News] The Origin of ‘Ice Cream’: Divine Power.
[Breaking News] ‘Ice Cream’ Discovered to Purify Magi
“Hmm.”
“Oh my, Irina. Your cheeks must be hurting from smiling so much?”
“Hahaha! This is too good, senior.”
“To be honest, I feel the same.”
Roen and I burst into laughter while holding newspapers in the reception room.
Wickedly reading one newspaper in the corner, one laugh. Another laugh at the well-made ‘Lu & Cream’ poster tucked inside the breaking news, and yet another laugh at the next breaking news.
In between, I patted Yuri, who was looking at us with expectant eyes, and gave praise to Yen, who had arrived exhausted at our mansion after distributing posters all day.
Discovering us repeating these actions, Cassis approached with an incredulous laugh.
“Are you two still at it?”
Roen and I both turned our heads simultaneously.
“Lord Cassis, I think we’re going to be a huge success!”
“Lord Cassis! When did you deliver the posters to the newspaper companies?”
For reference, all newspaper companies had simultaneously published special editions to deliver the breaking news.
And surprisingly, these special editions included ‘Lu & Cream’ posters.
This was something we hadn’t managed to arrange due to all the chaos.
“I thought it would be better, so I contacted the newspaper companies in advance and delivered the posters.”
“That seems like a perfect idea.”
“However, since the posters have been exposed to the public too much, I think it’s better not to distribute them for a while.”
“Yes.”
I had been somewhat concerned that distributing so many posters might lower the brand value.
Considering this, we deliberately chose high-quality paper and a beautifully colored design that people would want to keep.
“Instead, I think we need to place posters with different designs in front of the store when we open.”
For reference, ‘Lu & Cream’ already had numerous poster candidates designed by Yuri. Among them, there were four final designs carefully selected, and one of them had just been revealed for the first time.
“Yes, that sounds like a good direction… Roen, exactly how much time do we have until the launch date?”
“Exactly two weeks left.”
“Then we’ll be incredibly busy showing everything we’ve prepared during that time.”
It’s nearly impossible to showcase all the marketing we’ve prepared within the next two weeks.
So we’ve kept only those things that can show the greatest efficiency in a short period.
“We’ll have to work frantically starting tomorrow.”
Not just us, but precisely…
* * *
“Is this really right?”
“Yes, you’re doing well.”
“…Really?”
Isiel was holding an ice cream cone topped with appetizing ice cream, posing naturally.
And I was standing in front of him, taking pictures with a camera, click-click.
“What on earth is that thing anyway?”
“Don’t talk! Ah! Yes, that pose just now!”
I pressed the shutter eagerly again.
Isiel tried to object but seemed intimidated by my momentum and quietly closed his mouth.
“Ah, let’s check our progress so far, shall we?”
“I thought you wanted me to be a model for a portrait.”
“Ah.”
Looking at Isiel’s suspicious yet disgruntled face, I smiled as sweetly as possible.
“It’s similar, but there’s something even better.”
For reference, this is a ‘Magic Camera’ that I received as a reward for successfully completing the quest ‘Marquis Cloi’s False Accusation.’
Originally, I planned to paint a portrait of Isiel holding ice cream. For reference, I also planned to paint Seiren.
This was because I intended to use the Lemiere siblings, who are the most beautiful people in the imperial social scene, as the faces of the brand.
Isiel, the highest authority in the social scene with countless followers, and currently holding the position of the queen of the social scene.
And Seiren, a former saint candidate with powerful divine power and silver-white hair as if to prove it.
And the direct lineage of the great Lemiere ducal family, that doesn’t fall short anywhere.
The two didn’t overlap in image at all, yet had unity due to being siblings.
Both Isiel and Seiren didn’t seem to understand the concept of becoming models, but they nodded in agreement anyway.
Of course, I frustratedly placed a small amount of money in their hands.
Here, the idea of celebrities modeling or sitting for portraits doesn’t exist; instead, promotional images feature only everyday models holding specific items.
Which explains why ‘Lu & Cream’ manages to land the empire’s top stars—for a price that almost feels unreal.
“Still, I’m an investor, so can’t you explain it to me? If I know what it is, I’ll cooperate more enthusiastically.”
Isiel seemed unwilling to give up until I explained.
I finally sighed once and put the camera down on the table.
“Yes, it’s called a photograph. It’s similar to a portrait. But it captures things exactly as they appear to the eye.”
‘Magic Camera’
This uniquely had a skill attached to the item.
So, when equipped with ice cream…
[SYSTEM | ‘Magic Camera’ has been equipped.]
[SYSTEM | Limited skill ‘Take Photo’ has been activated.]
This is how a specific skill gets activated.
For reference, this camera had another limited skill besides ‘Take Photo,’ which was ‘Record Video.’ However, it seemed I needed to level up the camera to use that skill.
[SYSTEM | If you build recognition through photos?]
[SYSTEM | The camera’s grade will naturally ‘Level Up!’]
That’s what it says.
Anyway, from the perspective of planning to paint portraits, a schedule with only two weeks left is very tight.
But such a camera!
So thanks to this, I canceled all the portrait-related schedules and came to the Lemiere mansion with only Yuri, who would help with the design.
I connected the camera’s photos to a magic crystal ball and projected them in the air.
“Wow… it’s much more detailed than a portrait?”
“It’s not just detailed. It’s almost like an exact copy of what’s there.”
Isiel examined the photos I took with interest.
I showed him each photo I had taken, one by one.
Isiel continued to express amazement.
“What on earth is this? Where did you get it?”
“It’s a family heirloom of ours.”
Finding explanations troublesome, I roughly claimed it was a Seike family heirloom.
Isiel continued flipping through the photos. He didn’t care at all whether he looked good or bad in them.
“Wow… would you consider selling this to me?”
“No, I wouldn’t. Now it seems you’ve seen all the photos, so please return it. I need to take more photos.”
I applied force to retrieve the camera from Isiel’s hands, but he was faster.
He hastily grabbed the camera, and in the process, some button was pressed, causing the photos to flip rapidly.
“It’s Cassis.”
“…Please give it back.”
“And that’s Cassis sleeping.”
Of all things, the photos flipped to the very first one.
And the first subject I photographed right after receiving this camera was the person right in front of me.
I pressed the button again to switch back to shooting mode.
“Please give it back. I just took a picture of whoever was right in front of me as a test.”
“Really? Really? You just happened to take a picture of Cassis, who was right in front of you, and he just happened to be sleeping?”
“Yes, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t misunderstand.”
Isiel blocked me with his chin and grinned. Seeing the mischief at the corner of his mouth, my first thought was, ‘Ah, I’ve made a mistake.’
“It doesn’t seem like a misunderstanding.”
“It is. Now go and pose again.”
“Who would take pictures of their boss? It’s not a misunderstanding.”
“Ah, how noisy.”
I snatched the camera and gestured with my head.
“Go back and pose again.”
“Hmm.”
Isiel walked leisurely back to where he had been standing, smiling from ear to ear, and said:
“Alright, because I’m so benevolent, I’ll keep it a secret from Cassis.”
Damn it, it’s really not like that.
I grumbled while holding the camera.
With a better understanding of photography, Isiel seemed to pose much more naturally than before.
He smiled while holding ice cream, devoured it cheerfully, and even smeared some on his nose and smiled roguishly.
“How is it, how is it? Don’t I look handsome?”
“…Yes. You’re annoyingly handsome.”
“Hahaha, are you going to make this photo into a poster too?”
“We’ll produce only a small number in poster form.”
We can’t have posters with the face of a noble family’s heir rolling around on the ground.
“All produced posters will be managed by ‘Lu & Cream.'”
After taking all the photos, Isiel came out, stretching lightly. I moved to take pictures of the next subject, Seiren.
We decided to take Seiren’s photos in the garden.
The Lemiere duchy’s garden was incredibly beautiful, so I thought it would be good to get permission, and the Duke granted permission more easily than expected.
“Seiren, aren’t you too pretty?”
“If it’s going to be recorded, I should look pretty.”
Seiren, who entered the photo shoot again, truly captured beautifully just by being seen. Some photos were elegant, some were lovely.
But in all of them, ice cream cones and colorful ice cream were present.
“But is there much meaning in taking our photos like this?”
“Of course there is.”
“But you said you won’t widely publicize them.”
“I said I won’t distribute them like flyers, not that I won’t publicize them.”
As soon as I finished speaking, both Seiren and Isiel looked at me with puzzled expressions.
“Isn’t that what it means?”
“No, it’s not.”
“How so?”
Well… because I’m going to erect enormous signs.
In all the places in the capital that are the most frequented, the most bustling, and the most famous.
I will have them made into huge signs placed up high.
“What is it? Why are you smiling?”
“Yeah, big sister?”
Instead of answering, I just smiled brightly.
