..is it not now?

Then just how long do I have to wait?

I was about to sigh quietly, thinking I might actually need to threaten him when Wit flew over carrying a tomato as big as his body.

“Kekeke. Master, did you put away the bad jewel?”

Wit seemed to struggle with the tomato’s weight as he staggered before collapsing onto the table.

Even while doing so, he kept holding the tomato high so it wouldn’t touch the table.

I slipped the fairy’s tear into my skirt pocket and asked Wit.

“Isn’t it heavy carrying that around?”

He could just use magic instead of carrying it.

Wit always moved tomatoes by hand, treating them like treasures.

“Master, Wit can lift a tomato easily!”

Why is he getting so worked up?

Is this a matter of pride for him?

Tsk. I rephrased my question.

“What I meant was, you could use magic instead. Why go through the trouble of carrying it by hand?”

Wit carefully placed the tomato on the table.

Then he put his tiny palm on top of it and looked at me.

“Kekeke. When using magic, you can’t lose concentration, Master. Wit carries it by hand because it would be terrible if the magic broke because Wit found an even more wonderful tomato. Kekeke.”

Come on, a tomato is just a tomato. What’s a ‘wonderful tomato’?

And if you drop it, you can just throw it away and eat another one, it’s not that big a deal…

“Wit, why do you like tomatoes so much anyway?”

“Hmm?”

What’s this? Wit suddenly brightened at my casual question.

“Master, are you curious about Wit? Kekeke.”

“……”

Is it just my imagination that I feel like I asked something I shouldn’t have?

“Have you started to like Wit?”

“Huh?”

What kind of random comment is that?

“Wit knows. Human interest is proof of affection.”

Affection…?

“Master has grown to like Wit, so you’re showing interest. Right? Right? Keke.”

“That’s such nonsense…”

Just because I asked a question doesn’t mean I like you.

By that logic, Adriel who just bombarded me with questions must…

“Master likes Wit! Keke.”

Must…

“Master likes Wit too!”

It’s Stockholm syndrome.

One hundred percent Stockholm syndrome.

The symptoms must have gotten worse from spending too much time together.

“Since Master likes Wit, I’ll tell you something special. Kekek.”

“…Huh?”

While I was deep in serious thought, Wit suddenly grabbed my cheeks and looked into my eyes.

“Wit likes growing plants. Pumpkins, lemons, apples, strawberries…”

“…Oh. Have you grown all those?”

A demon with farming as a side job? That’s rather fresh.

“No, Master.”

But Wit suddenly drooped his shoulders dejectedly.

“All the plants Wit grew withered and died…”

“That’s natural when a demon’s hand touches them, demon.”

At Adriel’s words, Wit bounced up and down as he replied.

“Eek…! You called me demon twice, stupid, stupid Adriel!”

I stroked Wit’s head as he jumped around excitedly and asked.

“So what was different about tomatoes?”

“That’s right, Master! The sprout that was only as big as a finger grew tall, then bore fruit and became a red tomato!”

“Like the knight’s eyes?”

“Kekek. Red like Adriel’s eyes…!”

Wit, who had been laughing innocently, suddenly had the corners of his eyes turn upward.

“Master! Even if you are my master, I don’t like you insulting tomatoes!”

Tch. I clicked my tongue.

I was trying to help him get closer to Adriel.

“Fine. I won’t say things like that anymore.”

By the way, Wit, so you like growing plants.

Maybe I should buy some sweet potato seedlings later. I heard they’re relatively easy to grow.

I wrapped up the situation and rolled up the magic contract, putting it away in a corner.

“More importantly, since everyone’s here, I thought we could talk.”

“Master?”

“…?”

Adriel and Wit looked at me simultaneously.

I faced them seriously and continued.

“I think we need to share our current situation.”

“Is there something serious going on?”

In response to Adriel’s question, I took out a money pouch I had prepared.

I untied the string and showed them the inside of the pouch.

“What do you think this is?”

“…Isn’t it the money that the young lady values more than her life?”

“Correct. It’s money. And not much of my precious money is left.”

I stared glumly at the empty pouch before looking up.

Adriel still seemed not to understand what I was saying.

I tied the pouch string again. Then I continued seriously.

“My guild is about to go bankrupt.”

“What do you mean…”

“I’ll explain it simply. Paying customers aren’t coming. No, forget money. The last person who came actually caused damage to the property, so we’re at a loss.”

When I first opened the Red Thread Information Guild, I thought customers would flock to us like bees.

I thought it was an untapped blue ocean.

So I was quite confident in this business, but…

I never dreamed I’d learn the lesson that there’s always a reason why no one else is in a certain business.

“So I think we need a strategy at this point. What do you all think?”

Wit and Adriel couldn’t give any answer.

Well, I can understand Wit, but Adriel might be bewildered.

It must be frustrating enough to be kidnapped, and now he has to share concerns about livelihood too.

“I know you might be unhappy about having to worry about these things when you’ve been kidnapped, Sir Knight…”

But what can I do?

“The food that goes into your mouth, Sir Knight, doesn’t just come out of the ground.”

If you didn’t like this, you should have signed earlier. Who told you to hold out?

I was preparing what to say in anticipation of Adriel’s incredulous objections.

“……”

But he was quieter than I expected.

With his eyes lowered, he actually seemed to be seriously considering my concerns.

“Master, should Wit go sell tomatoes?”

When I lowered my head, I met Wit’s eyes looking up at me with moist eyes.

Wit’s hand placed on the tomato was trembling.

This is really making my non-existent conscience prick me.

“No, it’s okay… You said tomatoes are precious to you.”

“But Wit cherishes Master more than tomatoes. If Master wants, Wit can go sell tomatoes!”

“Wit…”

Goodness.

This is… quite touching.

“Because Master is my woman! Kekeke.”

“……”

Ah, right.

He’s acting this way because of the love potion.

I quickly packed away my feelings of being touched.

“If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do it.”

Just then, Adriel spoke to me in a serious voice.

I looked at him in disbelief.

“No, what do you think I’m going to ask you to do that you’re making such easy promises?”

“I can do anything.”