I carefully secured the ‘Legend 25 Years’ I had obtained. Now I need to use this to lure in the illegal dealer.

They said it was hard to meet them, but what kind of sucker would come running for just one bottle of alcohol? And for such a niche drink that only enthusiasts seek…..

‘Oh, come to think of it, wasn’t there an NPC in <Marino> who liked this drink?’

I remember giving it as a gift to raise their affection. But I couldn’t quite recall if I only gave it once or twice.

‘Who was it…?’

At that moment, the muscular maid approached. In her hands were the worn robe I had requested, along with an unfamiliar box.

“Young miss. I brought inconspicuous clothes as you asked… but you’re not planning anything dangerous, are you?”

“What’s that in your hand?”

I smoothly dodged the muscular maid’s question and asked my own.

“Don’t tell me it’s another gift from Dietrich?”

“No. This is from Vice Archmage Marcel.”

“From the Vice Archmage? We’re not that close though.”

Curious, I immediately opened the package and found an unexpected item.

“……A mana recovery potion?”

And not just any potion – it was a supreme-grade one in a special container.

Even Calliphe, a direct descendant of House Offensa, couldn’t freely use supreme-grade potions.

Not only were they expensive, but they were also produced in extremely limited quantities.

In fact, ‘Calliphe’ had requested supreme-grade mana potions several times to recover her mana, but all requests were rejected.

“Why would he send this?”

“I wonder too. He usually sends flowers.”

“Flowers? Why would he send flowers?”

When I asked in even more confusion, the maid’s eyes widened instead.

“Young miss, have you forgotten what day it is?”

“Do I need to know?”

“Oh my goodness, young miss.”

The muscular maid wore a somewhat pitying expression at my indifferent response.

“Today is that day. The day……”

I was a bit taken aback by the maid’s following words.

It was heavy information that never appeared in the game.

‘This feels strange.’

While I had been naturally recalling Calliphe’s memories as my own until now, this time I felt some resistance.

Like learning information I didn’t want to know.

Still, once I recalled it, it integrated seamlessly into my memories.

Even the urge to run away felt like my own.

“Ah, I forgot. I’ve been so busy lately.”

“To forget because you were that tired! And I didn’t even know… This won’t do. Let me massage your shoulders. Or should I call other maids for a proper full-body massage?”

Oh, judging by her attitude, she seems to have properly settled into her role as head maid.

I patted the praiseworthy maid’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry about it, just know that I’ll be coming home late today.”

“Coming home late? Then I’ll quickly call someone to escort you.”

“No need. They’ll just get in the way.”

A noble lady going out alone at night would draw criticism.

But Calliphe used to go out alone well enough, glaring back at those who gave her disapproving looks. Thanks to that, the muscular maid didn’t try to persuade me further.

“Don’t tell Noah what day it is today.”

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

After leaving the mansion, I sent back the Marquisate’s carriage midway and switched to a regular one.

And finally.

“This is it.”

I arrived at the run-down bar where the person I planned to bribe with Legend 25 Years would be.

The bar faced the market street and was bustling.

People who had finished their daily work flocked to the market, and hawkers’ calls targeting them could be heard everywhere.

“It’s cheap, so cheap! End-of-day clearance!”

“Lots of extras! First come, first served!”

“The owner’s gone crazy!”

The more outrageous the deal, the more people gathered.

Watching this gave me a good idea.

“Hey, you there.”

“Me?”

I called out to some boys gathered nearby.

And with a smile, I flipped them a silver coin.

“Want to run an errand for me?”

* * *

Calliphe entered the bar alone.

Lynen, who had been watching her, also stepped inside.

And pretending to be an ordinary customer, he took a seat at a table near Calliphe.

“What can I get ya?”

“Beer. Whatever else is fine.”

Having received payment in advance, the owner just nodded vaguely and disappeared.

Lynen was showing his face naturally.

Thanks to his perception-interfering magical tool, to others he appeared as common and unmemorable as a tree by the road.

A little while later.

“My, my, I wondered who would be so bold, and it turns out to be such a beautiful lady. Pleased to meet you.”

The dealer appeared before Calliphe.

Calliphe, who had been sitting with her arms crossed like an arrogant noble, showed a momentary look of surprise upon seeing him.

‘Does she know him?’

But before Lynen could wonder further, they got straight to the point.

“Ahem. I hear you improve existing magical tools to make them better? To the point where they can even tame special pets?”

“Pets, you say…. Well, you could handle rabbits or dogs without magical tools, couldn’t you?”

“Let’s skip the long talk since we both know what’s what.”

Thud.

Calliphe put down the Legend 25 Years.

“Here’s my sincerity.”

“…Hmm, such a beautiful lady turns out to be quite shrewd as well……”

The dealer pretended to contemplate, but couldn’t hide his gulp of anticipation.

Finally, he picked up the bottle, acting reluctant.

But then came an unexpected move.

“What are you doing?”

“You see, I can’t trust someone who can’t hold their liquor better than me.”

The dealer grinned as he filled Calliphe’s glass to the brim.

“How about this – if you, a delicate lady, can beat me, I’ll trade with you no questions asked.”

“Are you suggesting a drinking contest?”

“Yes indeed. If I pass out first, the lady wins.”

This is a trap.

Lynen, who had been listening to their conversation, immediately saw through the dealer’s intentions.

Calliphe seemed to sense something suspicious too, raising an eyebrow slightly.

It would be very dangerous to accept the dealer’s challenge here. She should reject it rather than try to maintain unnecessary pride, but.

Gulp gulp!

Instead of answering, Calliphe boldly downed her drink.

As expected. Calliphe Offensa would rather die than lose her pride.

Lynen, sighing internally, stayed alert to intervene at any moment. He couldn’t let Calliphe be in danger, no matter what.

Thud!

“Phew. Your turn.”

“Hahaha! You’re more spirited than you look. Have another!”

“You too.”

The two competitively emptied their glasses.

Lynen furrowed his brow.

Did she really come all this way just to get some special pet? But this time she was in over her head.

‘These illegal organizations don’t fear nobles. Especially not when the noble is alone.’

The dealer would soon show his true colors.

After the drinking contest continued for a while.

Finally, the drunk dealer started rambling.

“Oh my, I admit defeat. You’re really serious about this. This is just a one-time deal, you hear?”

He held out a magical tool shaped like handcuffs.

“Put these on and say the command word, and it’ll subdue even the most powerful magical beasts. They snap on like magnets, so they’re not hard to use.”

“Hmm. How’sh it different from the magic tower’s tools?”

Calliphe asked with slurred speech.

“The function’s the same. But I removed the safety features from the magical tools. That makes them more powerful.”

“Then isn’t it dangerous?”

“That’s the user’s responsibility, isn’t it? Besides, how can you make good items if you worry about such things?”

“Oh, you’ve got strong principles, huh?”

Calliphe smirked.

“Is a good item just about performance? Seems like you make these yourself, but with that attitude, you’ll never be called a master craftsman. You know?”

“What do you know to be running your mouth?”

The dealer snapped, speaking faster.

“I only sell to people who appreciate my work. There’s already a noble who bought a bunch saying they’d use them at a banquet—”

“Banquet?”

Oops. The dealer quickly shut his mouth.

“W-what? I don’t know anything.”

“You’re such an idiot……”

“What?”

“Now I know exactly why you’re here doing this. Bye bye.”

Bye-bye, Calliphe waved her hand and staggered to her feet.

However, pressed down from above, she had to plop back down.

“Why don’t we talk a bit more instead of leaving so hastily?”

The dealer, firmly pressing down on Calliphe’s shoulder, smiled vilely.

“You must be getting sleepy by now.”

“What do you… ugh.”

Calliphe shook her head at her suddenly heavy eyelids.

The dealer snickered.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know you’re the troublemaker from House Offensa?”

“How dare you… drug my drink……”

“Don’t worry. When you wake up, you’ll forget everything that just happened.”

He giggled while pretending to support Calliphe as he pulled her up.

“Though there might be some side effects where other memories get a bit damaged too? Not that anyone would care about a troublemaker like you.”

This was the expected outcome. Lynen, who had been listening to their conversation all along, reluctantly started to rise.

However, just as he was about to step in.

Calliphe spoke in clear, precise pronunciation.

“You were like this when I was playing too, you’ve always been a b*stard with no business ethics, huh?”

Then she forcefully struck the back of the dealer’s head with her palm.

“Urk!”

The dealer fell forward after being hit in a vital point he didn’t even know about.

“W-what? I definitely drugged your drink, how are you still fine!?”