Chapter 101

Basil looked puzzled. "…Am I the only one who doesn't understand this situation right now?"

I looked at Basil, who was still bewildered, and smiled faintly.

Although the risk is great… if they attack all at once, we can wipe them out all at once.

If they had no intention of sparing the blood relatives of Marquis Kinnoa, it would be an inevitable head-to-head confrontation anyway.

Then I just have to make it as advantageous as possible for me.

How should I deal with it?

"If we reveal the identity of the holy water and holy relics sold by Sheria and Lennox, they won't be the only ones who will be ruined. Now even the Pope will be affected."

The Pope had drawn a line, saying that the Holy Sword was a mistake, but the Holy Water and the Holy Relic were real.

'Holy water and holy relics are fine!'

This was his official statement. But what if even holy water and holy relics were clearly found to be fake? The authority of the Pope would also disappear like a dandelion puff.

"First of all, you just need to do your best to uncover the identity of the holy water." If we put it all together and process it, the scale will be too large. However, nothing can be solved by just sitting still and trembling.

"Is it easy to find out?"

I kept my mouth shut and smiled. "It won't be easy. It's going to be tough. But it's not enough to just despair."

"Let's take it easy and think about what we have to do anyway! This is it!"

"That's right." I nodded and smiled contentedly. In addition, there was one more good thing in return. I leaned back and said to Basil. "Listen, they even issued a statement like that, so I'm going to be the talk of the capital again."

"Yes…? But is that good? I became an enemy of the Pope! Aren't the fanatics harassing us?"

Isaac interjected quietly. "She's famous on the continent now. For better or for worse."

I took a look at the parchment I was making and grabbed Basil on the shoulder. Basil screamed, crouched down in his chair even more, and sat down. I was the Marquis of the Empire and the owner of the hero's sword, but I was also the owner of a small stationery store. In fact, I stood at the opposite point of the head of the great Holy Kingdom, the Pope.

"As you said, I, an ordinary nobleman with only a stone mountain estate, have become an antagonist of the Pope."

In other words, wasn't it at the level of Cinderella?

"That's right! I might die now…" Basil smashed his front teeth.

I smiled cheerfully and looked into his eyes. "I'm sure everyone is paying attention to me. What I will say, what attitude I will show."

"That's right. You may be wondering how the situation will change rapidly… Huh?"

"And from now on, I'm going to make a big announcement about the agreement between Malton Academy and my stationery store and talk about the future."

Then Basil's eyes widened as if he had realized something. "Everyone is paying attention to Meldenik right now, so whether you are a theist or an atheist, you will be interested in the stationery store and come to you… Is that it…?"

"Exactly. That's how we expand our business."

If I survived this crisis well, my stationery store would now lay a solid foundation for the empire and then spread across the continent! Basil shook his head in admiration at my strategy.

"…I never imagined that this would happen because I was so excited."

I grinned and whistled. "As the old saying goes, a crisis is an opportunity." I quickly thought. I had to start with media play so that not only our cute little nobles, commoners, but also people outside the empire knew for sure about my stationery store! I was going to live as a stationery store owner for the time being, but I was grateful that the adulterous couple always increased the scale in many ways.

Basil opened his mouth, wiped the corners of his mouth, and said, "Really, Lady Meldenik is not enough to be just a stationery store owner."

"Really?" After all, flattery feels good no matter when you hear it.

I said seriously to Basil. "If I open my second stationery store later, I'll put Basil as the manager."

Then Basil's eyes sparkled. "If all of our blood relatives were alive, they would have been very happy to hear that. Everyone lived in hiding."

I nodded and said vigorously. "If things go well, I'll give you a place for everyone."

"Oh. Then I will also bring back the blood relatives hiding at the mouth of the mountain range in the estate!" At Basil's words, I shook my head.

A few hours later.

As Basil said, the Pope's statement swept the newspapers of the entire continent. People discussed the situation in many ways and brought up stories about Lennox, Sheria, and the Pope. Perhaps I was challenging the authority of the Pope. People began to compare Dominic, the heroic sword, with the Pope, who had great divine power.

The board is about to be laid.

And I threw my card into the quiet situation. I announced that I would hold a business conference to publicize the agreement with the Academy. Many people, including presidents of various academies, expressed their desire to participate in my conference. However, the first invitations I sent were to the children's reporters of each academy.

I pressed down on the slime shape that felt soft to the touch. I had brought rubber tree latex for a soft touch and asked for help from the Mage Tower's wizard.

"Apparently, it doesn't come out as smooth as slime in the first place."

A slime that was moderately soft so that it didn't strain your hands, and it wasn't too soggy so that it didn't get on your fingertips. The purpose was to create and distribute soft slime that helped children relieve stress and inspired their motivation to learn.

If you have a quill that can automatically write down what you think in your head, it will appeal to all reporters regardless of age, right? Then we will be able to hit the nail on the head.

I was overflowing with ideas in my head, but I still didn't have enough mana to implement them. Would I be able to make a quill by the day of the conference?

I have to think about something else.

I grabbed my head and looked towards the demon sword. It seemed to be a rustling sound near the sword.

Am I mistaken?

I looked puzzled and fell back in front of the table. Was this my intuition as a contractor? It seemed like Dominic was preparing for a big event…

At that time, Malton Academy was conducting individual interviews with professors and several students. It was a regular interview held once a month to discuss aptitude and career paths. During the interview time with the other friends, the elementary school kids, including Axion, Mirisa, and Carat, were given free time.

Carat sat on a small seesaw in the playground and played with his feet, while Axion and Mirisa sat on a bench. They were quite encouraged by the Academy conference that Meldenik was hosting.

Axion, who had recently lost his front teeth and had a slight lisp, scratched his head and asked, "But the conference isn't going to be held, right?"

Carat pretended to be proud and continued. "I'm going to rent a conference hall and present a business plan."

"Oh, Carat. You're really smart." Carat's shoulders began to dance in Axion's pure admiration.

But then Mirisa scratched her chin and said sharply, "Your business is going to be great soon! You will be able to take revenge well. We just have to cheer hard from the side. But what about your sister's love life…"

"Why is Mel's love life?"

Mirisa shook her head. Obviously, in Mirisa's eyes, there were many men around her who liked her. However, my sister didn't seem to notice it for a moment. A quick-witted older sister who usually read her own thoughts well, but she didn't pay attention to her love life. That's why she was caught and hurt by that vicious Duke Hesmann.

"…My sister is a little, very little, lacking in love affairs."

"Oh…" Axion nodded.

Mirisa casually sat down on the dirt floor of the playground. With a tough and cheerful face, the little girl flicked her head back.

"Actually, I've been so busy that I've forgotten about it. Do you remember? The kid Henry was talking about."

The children frowned and recalled the past. Axion asked as he opened his mouth wide enough to protrude his temporomandibular joint.

"Huh… Come to think of it, what happened? Did Mel really have a child?"

"Heh, didn't Henry see it wrong!" Axion had a face that almost collapsed the sky. Carat also looked confused.

Mirisa shook her head and continued. "…I think Henry misunderstood the child's story. But Isaac and I definitely seemed close."

"Oh…"

"To be honest, Isaac said that my sister and I were like sisters. I like that feeling. Actually, Dominic seems to be pretty good." A proud smile appeared on Mirisa's lips.

Seeing Mirisa like that, Axion frowned. "I don't know yet, that's it! My brother also sometimes writes letters asking about Mel?"

But Mirisa did not listen to Axion. "It's not enough to get involved with my sister. My sister should meet the strongest, most handsome, coolest, and most loving person in the empire."

"Honestly, that's true." Carat nodded seriously.

Mirisa carefully said something she couldn't bear to say in front of her sister because she was embarrassed. "The most important thing is to meet a good person that your sister likes."

Axion and Carat pursed their lips, but then nodded in agreement. Then Axion opened his mouth seriously and asked, "Then isn't it me? Mel likes me the most."

"No, it is not. She likes me the most."

Watching Axion and Carat argue with each other, Mirisa smiled with a sense of superiority.

My sister only gave me a notice. Let's not talk. You should just keep it in your pocket!

At that moment, a small light began to flicker behind Mirisa's back. As if something was throwing a shockwave, a red laser-like dot was aimed at the back of Mirisa's back.

"Why does my head hurt so much?" Mirisa suddenly pressed her sticky temples.

Carat shook his head with a puzzled face. "You are like that sometimes these days. In that case, I should just eat the cotton candy Mel gave me."

It was then. The academy's senior professor stepped out of the playground and stood in front of the three children with graceful steps.

"Mirisa?" The professor held out his hand to Mirisa. "Do you want to come this way? It's time for an interview."

My heart seemed to keep beating. Mirisa replied with a cheerful rise. "Yes, sir!"

Carat stood up from the seesaw and asked, as if puzzled, "Teacher, aren't interviews usually held in groups of two?"

"…No, today's Mirisa is special." The two children's eyes sparkled with puzzlement at the professor's words.

Mirisa continued with great force. "Yes, I'll go for now."

Carat and Axion exchanged glances.

Come to think of it, I think Mel casually asked me to let you know if there was anything suspicious, didn't she?

"Is this suspicious?" Axion whispered softly into Carat's ear.

"I think that's the case…" The two looked at each other and shook their heads.