The warm afternoon sunlight streamed onto the terrace. I sat in a chair, biting fiercely into a hard cookie, but my anger wouldn’t subside.
“So, because Raymond had a huge fight with the kangaroo and abruptly ended the contract, he had to bring in the Horse family, huh?”
It was a rumor I overheard while walking down the annex corridor.
Due to Raymond’s quarrel with Mark Robney, the leader of the kangaroo territory, an important deal fell through, and they had no choice but to arrange a political marriage with Zeb Horse to secure a new contract.
I learned about it through maids who hadn’t noticed I was nearby.
I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. Even as the leader responsible for managing the weak Sheep territory, he got into a fight with the most important business partner? Although the maids didn’t know why the fight happened, with his personality, how significant could the reason have been? He probably just lashed out when provoked.
Where had he sold off the good public image he’d maintained all this time?
News of Raymond fighting with another territory leader had already made headlines in Sheep territory newspapers: “Shock! Raymond Morton Clashes with Mark Robney! Breaks Historic Magic Support Contract.”
“How long has it been since he became the head?”
It had only been two years since our parents passed away, and he had already broken the contract they maintained by investing a vast amount of money in such a short time.
“So, that’s why they said the arrogant kangaroos.”
But to sell me off instead? I’d rather take money like the kangaroos in exchange for a deal. What kind of situation is it to demand a person, not money?
No one entered my room as I fumed, unable to contain my anger.
“Do they think I’ll just sit quietly?”
* * *
I crossed my arms and glared at the pen and paper on the table.
“What should I write?”
From my memory, after the original heroine entered the Magic Tower, the Sheep territory received support from the Magic Tower.
Until then, it was unimaginable for the Magic Tower to support any territory.
The Magic Tower was a thoroughly profit-driven group, indifferent to the continent’s affairs to the extent that they ignored various magic-related crimes occurring in the continent.
Moreover, the Magic Tower was a subject of fear for all beastmen. There were widespread rumors that if a non-magic user visited the Magic Tower, they would never escape the surrounding Dark Forest for their entire life, and those who angered the Magic Tower would face gruesome torture or be used as magic experiment subjects.
The Magic Tower was so unpredictable that it was nearly impossible to discern what would offend them.
“Actually, it’s best not to even dream of contacting the Magic Tower if you want to live safely.”
Even decent wizards would become ferocious in the Magic Tower, considering how much the original heroine struggled to adapt there.
Reflecting on that episode, it was clear that the Magic Tower’s wizards were indeed terrifying.
But staying idle and marrying that greasy guy? It’s better to take a small chance on the Magic Tower. The original heroine did it, so why can’t I?
“The Magic Tower wasn’t so ruthless as to kill a beastman over a single letter in the original.”
It was a gamble based solely on the atmosphere of the Magic Tower depicted in the original, but doing nothing wasn’t in my nature.
Just as I picked up the pen, I saw a glimpse of sky-blue hair fluttering near the armrest of the sofa.
It was Ed, who had been following me around since early morning and had fallen asleep in the warm afternoon sunlight.
I couldn’t see him clearly from the distance, but it was a shame.
The sofa facing the window was my doing.
“To work well, one must be smart.”
“Don’t be a nuisance, and quietly read your book.”
Thanks to that, Ed, who was reading under the warm sunlight, dozed off and soon fell asleep.
“A child reading such a difficult book is bound to get sleepy.”
In his arms was a book as thick as any major textbook.
Having to resort to such means to put him to sleep. If only I could kindly tell him to lie down and take a nap.
“Well, for now…”
Let’s handle what needs to be done first.
I diligently moved my pen. Even though I didn’t have Remis memories, I had the basic knowledge necessary to live in this world, so I could write these letters well.
In the letter to the Magic Tower, I briefly described the recent events and requested magic support for these reasons, asking for a transaction.
I also added that it was still a secret from the head of the family, so the reply should be sent to Remi Morton’s side.
After neatly folding the letter and placing it in a white envelope, I dripped wax on it and stamped it with the family seal, then a new worry surfaced.
To send this, I’d need someone to deliver it, but if I used the Morton family servants, it would surely reach Raymond’s ears.
Since I needed to handle this without Raymond knowing, I needed a secret errand runner.
“The only reliable person in the mansion right now is… Ed.”
Most ordinary beastmen didn’t know, but each territory had a magic circle connected to the Magic Tower.
It was a network created by the first tower master as a kind of continental welfare, but after the tower master changed, the number of beastmen using it rapidly decreased.
Following the first tower master, the succeeding tower masters were notorious for their capricious and cruel nature.
As a result, the fear of the Magic Tower among beastmen grew, and the use of the magic circle diminished over time. Many beastmen weren’t even aware of its existence, let alone its location.
However, I knew its location because I read the original.
Ed just had to go there, place the letter on the magic circle, confirm that it vanished, and then return.
I quickly sought out Ed.
***
Tap tap tap-
The sound of anxious fingers tapping the table filled the quiet room. It had already been over a week since I sent Ed to deliver the letter to the Magic Tower. However, there was no reply from the Magic Tower.
“If they don’t want to trade, they could at least send a reply.”
Did the letter not get there?
“No, Ed definitely confirmed that the letter disappeared.”
Sitting still and waiting for a reply made me increasingly anxious and fidgety.
I felt like running to the Magic Tower right now and grabbing someone to negotiate a deal.
“Sigh…”
If the Magic Tower refuses to trade, the second plan is…
The jewels spread out on the table sparkled chaotically.
Remi had bought so many jewels that the table was full, and there were still plenty left on the vanity table.
“I’ll sell these, raise some funds, and leave the mansion.”
Then I’ll find a small house in a quiet village and live alone. If someone comes looking for Ed… If it’s that idiot Raymond, maybe not, but as the leader of the wolf territory, he should be able to find my whereabouts, right?
I would love to take Ed to the wolf territory, but I couldn’t think of a way to send him there myself. Normally, with Remi’s body, I wouldn’t even think of such a plan, but with my six years of experience living alone, as long as I had the funds to get a house, housework was no big deal.
Thump thump-
Just then, a sound came from the window, as if something was tapping on it.
Tap tap-
No, it sounded more like it was being pecked at with a beak?
I wondered if a sparrow was pecking at the glass, not realizing it was a window, and approached the large window on one side of the room.
“Eek!”
I almost fell over in surprise.
A black bird with glowing eyes was pecking at the window at regular intervals with its beak.
Click, I opened the window, and the bird flapped in and flew to the table as if it was its home.
“Hey? I didn’t invite you in.”
– Didn’t you open the window, implying I could come in?
Suddenly, an unfamiliar male voice echoed in the room.
Shivers ran down my spine. Did that bird just talk? Oh, could it be a beastman?
Were there any beastmen with glowing eyes?
– Come over and sit down.
Although I was the owner of this room, the bird acted as if it were its own, inviting me to sit. Then it twisted its neck eerily and looked at me.
“W-Who are you?”
My voice, filled with caution, wavered slightly. I blushed with embarrassment at my voice crack, but this wasn’t the time to worry about that.
– Strange, didn’t you send a letter requesting a trade?
“Ah!”
I quickly moved to the table, pulled up a chair, and sat down, swiftly changing my suspicious face to an innocent one.
“Are you the reply from the Magic Tower?”
My nervous hands were damp with sweat. Attempting contact with the Magic Tower was a huge deal for me, who had been mostly confined to the mansion since my possession.
If it weren’t for the information from the original work, I wouldn’t have dared to think of sending a letter to the Magic Tower.
‘Since they didn’t ignore me and even sent such a bird, it must be a positive response.’
Optimism surged. If I could trade with the Magic Tower, it would benefit the Sheep territory much more than trading with the zebras. I could hold my head high!
– Yes. The reply is a bit late.
Thump thump.
– Our answer is…
Why are they dragging this out? It’s not an audition program result announcement.
Since this was a crucial matter for my future, my mouth went dry. Unconsciously, I leaned forward more and more.
I cupped my hands around my ear, preparing to listen intently.
The bird’s beak slowly opened.
– The Magic Tower does not engage in such trades, so we recommend you trade with the zebra territory.
All right! Finally… huh?
☆ ☆ ☆
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