The bell rings to signal the end of the last lecture of the day, and the teacher who was facing the blackboard stops his hand holding the chalk.
"Well, that's it for today's lecture, but I also have an expedition training next week, so make sure everyone is well prepared. I don't think there's a guy like that, but I don't want to go into the day with no preparation in time."
When the teacher turned around and left the lecture room with the message, the room was immediately filled with noise by the students who had been relieved of their tension.
"Good job, Ojou-sama, how are your plans after school?"
At the top row overlooking the students, I asked the Ojou-sama sitting next to me while putting the writing instruments spread out on the desk in my bag.
"Well, come to think of it, what's going on with my new equipment?"
The Ojou-sama stretches lightly to relax her stiff body in the same position all the time, and asks about the new equipment she ordered for next week's training.
"Yes, then we have been informed by the Libra Company that it has already been completed."
"Well, then I'm going to get it today——"
Then I want to go with you!"
It was Miss Maria who interrupted the Ojou-sama's words and suddenly interrupted our conversation.
Before I knew it, she was in the front seat, and when she stuck her face out between me and the Ojou-sama, she waved her hand up and appealed to me annoyingly.
"Mr. Crow! I want to get everything I need for next week, so let's go together!"
"You..."
Miss Maria's too profane attitude of completely ignoring herself and talking only to me makes the Ojou-sama have a blue streak on her forehead.
No matter how much the prince is on his side, there are not many people who can take care of the daughter of the duke's family so much.
It's impressive in a way, but unfortunately this development is expected.
"Come on——"
"Maria, I'm sorry, but will you stay with me today?"
Just as the Ojou-sama was about to lift her hips to complain about Miss Maria, another person broke in.
"I just got a premium ticket to the Royal Theatre, let's go together."
"Uh... Wow! Hey, hey! Leon-kun!?"
Coming up between the cuts and the stepped seats was Leon, a red-haired young man who was Prince Albert's bodyguard.
Leon grabs Miss Maria's hand and forcibly tries to take her out of the lecture room without having time to get her approval.
"What are you going to do, Leon!?"
"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but excuse me for today."
"Hey, wait!"
The prince, who arrived late, was surprised and tried to hold him back, but Leon bowed lightly and took Maria with him.
Only the stunned prince and us were left behind.
「... I wonder what it was, now?"
I don't know."
After a while, I answered the Ojou-sama who had a question on her face by giving her a shrug.
Well, it's not accurate to say that I don't know.
That Leon and his actions were prepared by me.
But it's not really a big deal.
All I did was summon him a little bit and set him on fire.
"Now we can all play good friends, but have you forgotten that only one person will be chosen by Maria-sama in the end?"
"And as it is, it is unlikely that you will be chosen by Mary."
"Do you really think that you, who can only wield a sword, will be chosen by her? Wouldn't it be better to look at reality calmly and calmly?"
"Eighty-nine out of ten, if we continue like this, His Highness will be chosen, after all, he is the prince that everyone admires. And you can only watch it.'
"I see, loyalty? In other words, you can freely give the woman you love if the Lord wants. Oh no, it's really stunning.
Then for the rest of your life you will lose everything to your highness.'
"You don't want to take her as His Highness, do you? Then the story is simple. You can steal her heart. Then His Highness will also have no choice but to give up on her. And she will be yours alone.'
"You as a smart person should be able to figure out what to do to achieve this, right?"
And so on, if you stir it up appropriately, it was quick to fall.
I gave some advice, and even went out of my way to prepare that premium ticket that was hard for even royalty to obtain, and it would be nothing short of a shame if I didn't take any action on this.
It was unexpected that he would abandon the role of the prince's bodyguard, but—
"But now that there are no disturbing people, isn't it good?"
"Well, I can't stay like this forever, let's go."
"Hah..."
As a result, the presence that disturbed the Ojou-sama disappeared.
Let's be okay with that.
I left my seat with the Ojou-sama and left the lecture room, leaving the prince still stunned and stiff.
The nobility of the kingdom has a duty to fight the enemy and protect the people.
Therefore, equipment for fighting is very important for the aristocracy.
It can be said that it is the duty of the nobility to take care of it so that it can always perform at its best, and to make it available at any time.
Naturally, armor wears out as you use it.
Swords and armor, of course, deteriorate as you use them, even your staff.
Therefore, regularly replacing one's own equipment is a common sight in the kingdom.
However, it would be a Ojou-sama to replace expensive equipment that does not cost 100 gold coins every time with a fashion sense.
"This is Isabella, Crowe, and welcome to our firm today."
After leaving the school, we moved in a horse-drawn carriage, and when we arrived at the target firm, the chairman of the firm himself greeted us with a smile.
Located in a prime location in the upper commercial district, the Libra firm is the Kingdom's premier firm with a wide variety of goods and is also the duke's purveyor.
The head of such a firm cannot be an ordinary person.
At first glance, Serpan, the chairman of the company, seems to be just a good man, but he is a skilled merchant who can compete with nobles on an equal footing despite being from a commoner.
"So, where's my equipment?"
"Yes, we have it here."
Serpan leads them to a room in the firm, and the employees of the firm bring her new equipment.
On the desk was a set of common magicians' equipment, including wands and robes.
However, all of them are first-class products made by first-class craftsmen.
"What do you think, Isabella?"
"Hmm, it's not bad... Oh?"
The Ojou-sama was picking up the equipment lined up one by one and checking it, but when she touched the dark green robe that was inside, her expression changed to a suspicious one.
"This robe is different from ordinary material, isn't it?"
"Oh, Isabella-sama, that's right. This time, the robe is made from the thread of the unique individual instead of the usual spider breed."
"Come to think of it, I heard that a peculiar individual monster has been sighted in the east recently..."
Monsters are a general term for vermin that are generally born under the influence of magic, and are enemies of humanity with cruelty that attack mercilessly when they find humans.
It would have been nice if it had been just a vermin, but monsters are born with magical powers.
Therefore, mere commoners can never compete with them, and instead nobles are contracted to exterminate monsters.
Yes, magic is by no means the exclusive monopoly of aristocrats.
More precisely, the nobles are imitating monsters.
Monsters not only have strong bodies forged by magic, but each race uses their own magic in various ways.
It can be a scorching breath that melts steel, a giant body that flies into the sky against the laws of physics, and some types of things that humanity has not yet been able to elucidate.
Humanity has named the special magic used by these monsters "magic".
The "magic" used by the aristocracy is the analysis of the "magic" of demons and systematizing it as a technique.
Now, back to the Ojou-sama's equipment.
The equipment used by nobles is often made mainly from materials taken from monster carcasses.
One of the reasons for this is that the body of a monster that has changed under the influence of magic from birth is a very good material.
Dragon species' scales and claws are sturdier than ordinary metals, and spider species' spitting threads are more resistant to slashing and impact, so they are often used for equipment that utilizes these effects.
Another reason is that the demon's body is itself a catalyst for using magic.
Therefore, it has a high affinity with magic, and its effect works effectively in "magic" that imitates "magic".
In particular, if you use a special individual material that is said to have more power than an ordinary individual, the effect will be enormous.
"I'd like to try this equipment, can you lend me some space?"
"Then the underground training ground is vacant, so feel free to use it."
Apparently, the Ojou-sama liked this equipment very much.
The fact that he strokes the magic stone loaded into the tip of his wand and is fascinated is proof of this.
I can see that he is already itching to try shooting somewhere.
Serpan understood this and gave instructions in a snappy manner, and the employees who had been waiting for him followed and left the room.
"Mr. Crow, I will pick up the rest of the goods in another room, so please come here."
"Well then, Ojou-sama, I will take the rest of the goods, please try them to the fullest."
"yes, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Hah."
The Ojou-sama is completely absorbed in the equipment, so Serpan turns to me and leads me to another room.
I called out to the Ojou-sama when I left the room, but I probably didn't hear her in that way.
However, since Eins and the others are left by their side, it should be okay for the time being.
... It's okay, right?
"Mr. Crow, here first."
The grade is one step lower than before, but the product you asked for was still offered to you in another room that was luxurious enough.
It consisted of consumables such as healing pills, bandages, and portable food in small bottles, as well as a few knives that were my equipment.
The Ojou-sama is indifferent to these kinds of consumables, so we have to prepare them properly.
However, the things themselves are usually available in the kingdom.
I'll check it for the time being, but the man in front of me won't make a mistake with such a simple product.
Naturally, there was no problem.
This is where the real story begins.
"As requested, we have prepared four cutting power enhancements and two basic four-attribute magic engraved ones, and six pieces engraved with explosive magic for throwing."
All the knives here are magic tools.
To be honest, it's natural that I, who don't have magical power, won't be any strength if I just have a knife.
Since the kingdom does not make magic tools, they are all imported from the empire, but the things themselves are all basic among weapon-type magic tools.
Throwing knives are meant to explode at any time, and other knives are merely as effective as strengthening the blade.
However, it is sturdy and reliable as a weapon, so I love it.
"So..., this is the last product."
After checking the knife, Serpan finally took the box out on the desk, and he opened his eyes unusually with a mysterious expression on his face.
"Confirm"
I take the box and check its contents.
Inside the box was a bangle.
It is a bangle with a simple design that is only engraved with a magic formula engraved on it centered on a loaded magic stone.
"As it turns out, the item you ordered didn't even exist in the Empire, so we had a craftsman from a contracted workshop in the Empire make it specially, and although it can only be used once, it should work as you want."
"Enough, it helps."
I thanked him and picked up the bangles and attached them to the opposite arm from which I had already worn the bangles of the storage.
That's all I can do to prepare.
All that remains is to hope that next week's expedition training will end safely.
If you have something to say, go ahead."
The delivery of the goods should have been finished by now, but I was a little worried because Serpan was looking at me with a wistful expression.
"Are you serious about using it?" It's strange that we prepared it, but it's clearly defective. Even the craftsmen who entrusted me with the production of this product were often taunted for using such a thing, saying that it was like a suicide volunteer."
"It's unusual, I can't believe you would say that."
This man in front of him is a staunch merchant who always places the highest priority on securing profits and is ruthless when necessary.
It's rare to be on someone's shoulders, and I've never been worried about them like this.
To be honest, I reflected a little on the fact that I was cursing inwardly with a money-worshipping merchant without blood or tears.
He's a human being.
Until now, he may have been worried about his customers just by not showing it.
"Crow-sama is a regular member of our company, because if he dies, he will no longer be able to buy our products."
"Oh..., that's right..."
Withdrawing from the foreword, Koitsu is a merchant after all.
Return my remorse.
"And I personally expect a lot from you, don't I?"
"I'm just a butler, not the kind of person you expect. Besides, this is just insurance."
I've been told the same thing by Imperial servants before.
What do you expect from a mere butler?
Besides, I don't have suicidal thoughts.
I don't want to use this stuff, and if I don't have to, that's better.
But I remember the last practical exam.
It was good that he happened to notice something was wrong with Miss Maria at that time, but if he had been even a moment late in rushing under the Ojou-sama, there was a possibility that the body of the Ojou-sama who had become cold was lying in front of him.
"Hmm..."
Visioning the worst scene, he clenches his back teeth unknowingly.
Only such a worst-case scenario must be avoided at all costs.
I will do everything I can to protect her, and I will make any sacrifice if necessary.
If you need to give my life, I'll give you anything.
Serpan looked at me with a smile as I renewed my determination.
Name: Leon Russell
Gender: Male
Age: 17 years old
A rather stiff young man from the Countess family with fiery red hair and a well-tempered body.
He serves as Prince Albert's bodyguard and is a childhood friend of the prince.
His father is Gunther Russell, a knight commander and hero who is credited with bringing victory in the last war against the Empire.
While he respects his father, who is described as a hero, he struggles every day with the expectations and heavy responsibilities of his son.