How to Survive at the Academy

[Aiden] Double-armed scales (1)
No matter which branch of the Elte Chamber you go to, there is a large double-armed scale in the lobby.

It’s obvious what the scale, precisely leveled, symbolizes. It is fair.

This group is rumored to do whatever it takes to maintain its grip on the business district. It’s funny to see such people claiming fairness, but the bigger the body, the more important the cause.

Hypocrisy is a necessity, not an option.

Some people may swear by the hypocrisy of this Elte company, but those who have their eyes open even a little nod their heads.

At the end of the day, leading a group means that you have to have a good cause for every little decision you make.

Even if it’s naked hypocrisy, you have to act like a good person.

Lortel Keheln knew damn well. Although he always hides his new black and gloomy inner self, he puts a smile on his face, emphasizing fairness to his opponents.

“Is it a cause…”

Slog Keldrux, the owner of the Elte Company, chanted with his head bowed.

On the desk was a portrait and a biography of Lortel Keheln, the current vice president of the Elte Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the heavily bloomed beard, the wrinkles that show the signs of time are harmoniously placed on the face.

The merchant’s signature flat leather coat, which was neither luxurious nor modest, had antique fur decorations.

The sharp narrowing of the eyes was a habit that veteran veteran Slog Keldrux took whenever he concentrated on something.

Commercial City Old Deck.

The port city, which stretches along the Samiel coastline to the west of the Chloel Empire, is responsible for almost half of the Empire’s logistics and distribution. From the ecliptic Chloeron, the Chengdu Carpea, the land of innovation, Talkaren, the Lamelen Mountains, the Cohelton Lawless Zone, to the Aken Island at the southern tip of the continent… must pass.

The arena of large and small business associations. It is a land of gold where merchants who are tired of self-interest have gathered to earn even a penny more.

If you walk around the marina of the city in the early morning, you can see the merchants and workers running around on the streets earlier than the morning sun.

A city of those who are busy trying to put a penny more in their pocket.

Those who were born, raised, and spent their whole lives in these places have similar mindsets. The same goes for Lortel Keheln.

“Is this business expansion…”

As he read Lortel’s business plan, which was intended to penetrate the trade route leading to Saint Carpea, Slog fell into thought.

The nominal shareholder of the current Elte Company is Slog Keldrux, but Lortel Keheln holds most of the real power. Sooner or later, Lortel will try to rise to the chair of the Society.

Now is the right time to take action.

“Yes. What is always important is the law.”

As he recites those words, Slog silently closed his eyes.

“It has been a long time since the Golden King Elte left this floor. It was time to give up the name of ‘Elte Sanghoe’…”

In the spacious office of the owner of the central branch of the Elte Chamber of Commerce, there was only silence.

“Have you been to Pulan? For research work?”

Lortel Keheln stopped by the Rothtaylor mansion after the heat of the summer had passed.

It still feels a bit muggy to call it autumn, but it was cool to call it summer.

After graduating from the Sylvania Academy, Lortel, who had been managing the company at Old Deck for a few months, decided to expand a new business and started going out.

To open a new trade route with a few trustworthy henchmen is not usually the job of the owner himself. I was trying to finish as much as possible the most important work in practice when I was a relatively free person, who had not yet been returned to Slog as a shareholder.

Especially, he was concentrating his whole mind on opening a new trade route with Chengdu Carpea.

Carpeia, where Telos are gathered, is very easy to identify the items in demand due to its cultural characteristics, and the quantity demanded by period itself is not difficult to calculate.

If we can provide not only the Great Prayer Period of Telos Cathedral, Lent, Saints’ Prayer Ceremony, 11 Saints’ Feasts, Solemn Holidays, and Central Baptism Day… but also the basic maintenance materials of the central institution, the Holy Hwangdo, the sales will be enormous. will do.

Lortel, who received the information that Seonghwangdo’s materials are currently being purchased by Junggu Heating in one or another store, wanted to come up with a way to somehow talk to the key figures in Seonghwangdo. If Elte Trading Company is dedicated to helping with the purchase, the Seonghwangdo side will also be able to save a lot of incidental costs.

In the process, it was Ed Roth Taylor.

“Yeah, I’ve been doing some research on the highest-ranking spirits on the Pulan side. In the process, I got some valuable stuff, and I might need some help with emotions.”

“It’s not difficult, Ed. Please provide appropriate correspondence when necessary.”

Sylvania Academy is about to open.

Ed Roth-Taylor, who was in charge of the selection and placement of freshmen, and the class for Class A students, will be very busy during the semester. In particular, she had high expectations at the undergraduate level because she had to manage the most promising students.

I’m cleaning up my life at home right now, but it’s going to be hard to see your face sooner or later.

Ed Roth-Taylor didn’t take on any major tasks, whether he wanted to spend a little more leisurely as it was a short break. In the garden of the mansion, I was only organizing brief reports.

The central garden of the Duke of Roth Taylor can only be described with clichéd expressions of brilliance and beauty.

As it was a mansion site managed exclusively by a competent maid, it was equipped with a luxurious and beautiful mansion comparable to that of an imperial garden.

When you see a suitable refreshment table set in the middle of the mansion, sitting side by side with your younger brother, each doing their own business… They look pretty similar to each other, so it’s as if you’re looking at ordinary siblings that are everywhere.

However, one is the continent’s best character magic researcher and the youngest high-level spirit thinker to hold the title of full professor, and the other is a girl who holds the title of head of the continent’s best duke family.

If there is anyone who should never be turned into an enemy, it must mean this brother and sister. Fortunately, thanks to their long relationship, the two are infinitely favorable to Lortel.

“Lortell-senpai must have been busy with his business these days~. Old Deck has been getting a lot of rumors lately, is there any big setbacks in running the company?”

“Okay. There are always plenty of problems. I’m just working on solving them one by one.”

Lortel responded with a smile to Tanya, who was watching her work while teasing her quill.

Even though Tanya gained power to the point where she was ranked among the best on the continent, she continued to call Lortel “senpai”. To be honest, even if Lortel was treated as inferior, she was in a position where she would not be dissatisfied, but she felt a strange intention as if she was constantly entwined with academia, so she felt uncomfortable.

Of course, Lortel put down her position as a senior and was respectful, but Tanya seemed to want to keep that attitude. Still, she always smiles and doesn’t give a specific reason.

It’s no longer Tanya, who was swung here and there according to Lortel’s intentions. When I think of the first time I entered Sylvania, Lortel’s time seemed to pass by with a smirk to the point that I thought it was the same person.

“Well, if we talked about business-related matters, it would only be superficial, but… ugh, uh huh!”

However, it’s still absurd to try to bring black tea to your mouth and burn the roof of your mouth because it’s hot, so I can’t get used to it.

“Brother… the temperature of the tea… It looks like a new maid came out…”

“Leave it alone, Bell should have already checked it and went to rebuke it.”

“Buehek- Buehueek-”

Tanya, who was poking her tongue out to make a porridge, put down her quill and closed the papers she was checking. Perhaps the work to be dealt with immediately was completed.

Ed, who was reading the papers from the conference, still had his legs crossed and his eyes closed. As a distinguished guest named Lorthel came to visit in person, she appears to be busy trying to get the job done as quickly as possible.

The fact that the deputy chairman of Elte, who is treated as a distinguished guest wherever he goes, is pushed behind the business documents in front of him is not well suited to him. but he can’t help it This is the Duke of Roth Taylor.

Rather, Lortel smiled at ease.

No matter how long it takes to see you, Ed Roth-Taylor is always Ed Roth-Taylor. It is truly this man’s personality that he does not procrastinate for the time being, even though he seems to be happy with the Lortel who has come to visit him.

As we waited a little more, Tanya was openly lifting the tablecloth and staring at the space under the tea table.

“Don’t think useless, Tanya.”

“Hey! Oh, no… Can’t we just stare? You can check it out.”

“…why are you checking…”

Lortel had no choice but to tilt her head at such a subtle discourse between siblings.

At last, Ed put down his quill and confided the paperwork to see if the task he needed to check was completed.

“By the way, my impression has improved a lot. Lortel. I think it’s a lot brighter than it was in Sylvania. I guess I need to show off my appearance in many ways in order to go about formally pretending to be a Hoiju. It suits you.”

“Oh, that’s right~. It’s pretty reddish brown hair, so it’s nice to have it loose like that if possible. Lortel-senpai.”

The two praised Lortel’s appearance, but the meaning was completely different.

Ed is literally speaking purely of Lortel’s appearance as beautiful, but Tanya clearly sees through Lortel’s efforts. Is it her intuition as the same woman?

As usual, she dared to untie her hair that was easily tied down to one side, put on a pretty blue rose hairpin, and wore a royal blue skirt. It looks like it’s decorated or it’s not, but even that feeling is intentional. It is the result of hard work.

When you ask why you came out to change the exterior, as Ed said, you are now trying to secure your authority as a member of the society in advance… but it is correct to focus on the fact that you are actually here to meet Ed.

p>

It’s a natural story, but it can’t be helped that Ed’s words, purely complimenting his appearance, make him feel a little better.

Living as a merchant, I’ve heard a lot of ceremonial compliments, but it’s a strange feeling to shrug my shoulders and lift my head when Ed says it all. I thought that immunity to compliments was complete, but in any case, there is no defense to such a degree that it is disastrous.

“Yes!”

Lortel himself swallowed his breath at the sudden voice. I mean, the end of the speech is floating by being excited by a ritual thrown at you. It is a rudimentary mistake that cannot be imagined on the commercial front.

Fortunately, this isn’t a commercial front, it’s an outdoor tea table at Roth Taylor Mansion.

“Hmmm… Thank you for looking at me like that. It’s time for me to check my status…”

Ed doesn’t seem to mean much, but should it be a woman’s intuition… Tanya’s eyes were already narrowing slightly. What does her smile mean? How did she get Tanya that she has become such a tired person. There is nothing wrong with the saying that the environment makes a person.

“Well, you must be busy, but it’s nice to see you come all the way to Roth Taylor’s home like this. There are a lot of desires to unravel the past, but let’s talk candidly at a dinner party. First of all… let’s talk about business. Isn’t it?”

Ed came right in from the start.

Yes. Even after graduation, Lortel Keheln kept flirting with Ed and expressing affection like a sly fox…

At this point, it is already determinable whether Lortel visited for business reasons, or whether he was simply visiting Ed to flirt.

“And when the business story is over, I have a story to tell. Ummm… I mean in Pulan…”

“Brother, now is not the time to talk like that! Work! Work comes first! isn’t it? Ah!”

Suddenly, Tanya swung the table and raised her upper body, raising the tempo of the story.

“Actually, it’s obvious that it’s about Elte. I heard the reason Lortel sunbaenim is busy these days through various sources. I thought she would come soon.”

At the end of the day, all important decisions of the Duke of Roth-Taylor come from Tanya Roth-Taylor, Duchess.

“Do you want me to connect you with Seonghwangdo? If possible, to Saint Clarisse at the top.”

Did you get that far? In fact, if you know Lortel’s track record, it’s not difficult to infer that much.

Rather than answering, Lortel grinned.

“Networks are assets. In addition, if we can work directly with the person who is the heart and idol of the Telos denomination… We will give you the utmost in return…”

“I don’t need a reply.”

Ed’s words came out without warning, and Tanya didn’t even show a sign of embarrassment.

The attitude of just saying things that are obvious. As if it was nothing, sipping tea and throwing it roughly… It was both expected and unexpected.

The chief executive of the Elte Chamber and the supreme decision maker of the Duke of Roth Taylor.

Where power meets the pinnacle of power, there are always words to follow.

Difficulty of interest, negotiation, warfare, contract, guarantee, confidentiality, deadline.

Amidst that cold line of frozen words, they stare at even a single period in the contract to grab another penny in each other’s hands.

In Lortel’s life in the past, the negotiating table was such a space.

However, the guy in front of me casually says he’ll just do it.

Actually, it’s natural. The two have already confirmed each other’s existence to the dreadful.

Ed Rothtailer is from Lortel Keheln.

Lortel Keheln is from Ed Roth Taylor.

It is ‘my person’.

He transcends the loss of interest and, in the end, takes his side until the very end… For Lortel Keheln, he is the first human being who entrusted everything to him.

Even though they were busy with each other’s business and duties, it seems to be the moment when they are confirmed that they have never forgotten… Lortel was speechless for a moment.

From the point of view of Duchess Tanya, who is in charge of this Roth Taylor mansion, she would want to use this as an excuse to make more demands on Elte.

However, when Ed made such a nail-biting declaration, Tanya didn’t say anything more. Basically, Ed entrusts Tanya with all matters of mansion management and trusts Tanya’s judgment… If Ed comes forward and talks like a nail, Tanya doesn’t really react.

It’s usually because there’s a good reason.

Here, Lortel felt a tingling sensation on the tip of her nose, but it was not the right answer to wipe her tears and say thank you.

This is natural for Ed, and it is natural for Lortel.

If Ed needs help, Lortel helps. If Lortel needs help, Ed helps.

There are no calculations or calculations involved in the process.

Like the proposition of work plus work, it has become a fact.

“Yes.”

With a creeping voice, Lortel succeeded in creating an alluring smile like a fox. Indeed, the expression management was so perfect that even Tanya, who had become her snarl, did not notice her.

“Let’s talk about detailed practical work at dinner.”

Lortel smiled and said so to Ed. Ed nodded her head to understand.

“Well, I’ve taken care of all the urgent matters right now, so go in and rest until the evening! You just came back from Pulan!”

Once the story was over, Tanya spoke again in a lively tone.

“Yes? I’m not that tired.”

“Fatigue of the body accumulates without realizing it. Yennika, who went to Pulan together, didn’t even go back to her baron, and she was lying in bed all day today!”

There, Lortel’s expression hardened slightly.

When I heard the name Pulan, I had an idea…

“Yenika… Senior…?”

“Oh my gosh, Lortel-senpai… You don’t know the detailed itinerary, as expected. That’s… Ed’s brother went to Yenika-senpai’s hometown, just the two of us.”

Is it a misunderstanding to say that Tanya’s words are slightly exhilarated?

Hiding a strange smile, Tanya whispered to Lortel in a tone that seemed to contain a deep inside.

“Well, since it’s so far away, it’s a bit difficult to send a lot of people… So I gave out a wagon so that only the two of us could go there alone. With one driver. You know, it’s not like the two of you are going to be kidnapped, right? So, well, going alone is the most efficient way. alone.”

Only the two of us.

I didn’t like the tone that seemed to emphasize something, but Lortel had a difficult time managing her expression, so it was difficult to get into the details.

“I don’t know what happened in Pulan, but anyway, since it’s just two people, they’re sure to get things done right. I don’t know how reliable it is from my point of view. Someone like Ed’s brother is perfectly safe in the mansion, and someone like Yenica-senpai is coming in as a vassal.”

Tanya continued to speak quietly, while waving her tail.

“If there is another job next time, would it be ok to send just the two of you?!”

“Don’t make a fuss, Tanya…”

“Yes…”

Tanya answered politely and sat down on the chair, but the way she raised her nose and smiled humbly seemed to have a lot of intentions.

Lortel took one look at the tip of his chin, then inhaled and exhaled a little. He really doesn’t have much to be embarrassed about.

But, I can’t help but be curious.

Where the hell did these two go?

After sending Ed away to rest for a while, Lortel walked along the garden.

Actually, the main reason I came to the Duke of Roth Taylor was to open a deal with Seonghwangdo, but after hearing about Yenika, I seem to be a little confused.

Due to the merchant’s unique calmness, he didn’t show any flair, but he couldn’t help but have a random thought. They must have stayed together for a long time in a space of just the two of us, with no vassals and no servants of the mansion.

I know that Ed’s personality doesn’t mean he won’t cross the line, but he doesn’t know that it’s a worldly thing.

What if two people crossed over to an unknown world? What if we held hands side by side and walked through a fairy tale across the rainbow?

Dancing hahahoho along the garden where the pretty pansy flowers bloom……. In short, what if you slept in this way and that?

Lortel was forced to swallow dry saliva.

I heard that Yenika hasn’t returned to the baron’s house yet, but is resting here at Roth Taylor’s mansion.

If you ran into Yenika, how would you react?

Lortel was not difficult to imagine.

In the midst of being busy surviving day by day on the commercial front, the expression that Yenica would make after leaving Ed’s arms and going to a country of just the two of us…

Extract all the numerous cases.

Are you going to snort and snort triumphantly toward Lortel?

Will you laugh at Lortel with a compassionate expression?

Or will you brag and mock Lortel?

For Yenika, the first case seems most likely. Anyway, Ed and I have been communicating a lot with just the two of us for a long period of time, so I’m going to try to express a sense of psychological superiority.

Lortel had to be prepared to somehow handle that proud expression that looked cute on the outside.

“I…”

In the distance, I saw Jenica sitting in a small pavilion in the garden. Did she come out to get some wind? It was an unwelcome meeting from Lortel’s point of view, but it was an ordeal that one had to face someday.

It is not possible to predict exactly how far Ed and Yenika’s progress will go or how Yenika will react. Still, Lortel somehow approached Yenika with a smiling mask on.

Yenica thinks of all the many ways to express her superiority to Lortel, and has finished simulating how to deal with them all.

In any case, Lortel’s smiling mask will never come off. Having thoroughly prepared her mind, she raised her voice in a gentle tone.

“Oh, Yenica-senpai. You were there.”

Yenika, who had been gently touching the persimmon flower hanging on one side of the pavilion, shook her head. She then makes her eye contact with Lortell.

Yenika, who always looked up at Lortel who came to the mansion, or made a wary expression on her face. She thought she would reveal anything this time she got the chance, but….

“Hey, Lortel is here! Long time no see! Are you very busy with business these days?!”

Yenica said hello to Lortel with a smile as pure as white paper.

There is not even a single warning or sense of danger in it.

“Still, the days are getting cooler! I’m glad it’s not hot… Anyway, I’ll have to go back to my room. We’ve been out for too long so the vassals might be worried… see you at dinner later! Yes!”

With a smile full of brilliance and pure backpour, Yenika returned to the mansion, waving her hand cheerfully. Even as she went so far away, she continued to wave her hand to Lortell with her dazzling smile.

Lortel stood still and organized her thoughts.

“……”

“……………………”

And cold sweat came out.

This was the most dangerous reaction I had ever expected from Yenica…