Overwhelming Negotiations
"Ah-re?" Liliana, who traveled wherever she pleased and dreamed of becoming the world's number one bard, blinked her eyes, caught somewhat off guard.
Regarding the matter of her being invited to the Roswaal mansion to sing, it had indeed been shown in the light curtains.
However, just as the light curtain filtered out Echidna's trait of making people vomit upon sight, it also filtered out Liliana's Divine Protection. Therefore, while her singing was still beautiful, it wasn't so beautiful that it caused mass discussion across the world; she merely received a few simple compliments.
She had assumed that after that, she wouldn't have any further intersection with the prestigious camps of the Royal Selection candidates.
She hadn't expected to have another chance to appear. Even though the Emilia camp was fraught with danger day in and day out, to someone like her, they were actually quite unreachable.
「"Mr. Kiritaka is known in Pristella as a 'songstress fanatic.' While the entire city's residents are fans of the songstress, in terms of sheer fervor, I hear he is second to none."」
「Hearing Julius say this, Hikigaya Hachiman and Emilia exchanged a glance, essentially confirming that the Liliana and Kiritaka mentioned here were indeed the two people they knew.」
「"Lady Anastasia considered having the Hoshin Company step in directly to buy those magic stones. However, because there is more or less a level of competitive interest between merchant companies, she was worried it might instead firm up Mr. Kiritaka's resolve not to sell."」
「As a knight serving his lord and a best friend, Julius sincerely prayed that these two could get along. He was still mindful of the events from a year ago, fearing whether Hikigaya Hachiman might hold a grudge against Lady Anastasia.」
「However, the kind words he spoke to polish Anastasia's image in Hachiman's eyes weren't made up; they were the truth.」
「"Yeah." Hikigaya Hachiman nodded. "She's thought this through. I've met Kiritaka once before. While we aren't exactly close, it'll certainly be better than the Hoshin Company going to negotiate."」
「When mentioning Kiritaka, Hachiman's eyes grew deep, and his tone became meaningful.」
「Back then, Kiritaka had stalked Liliana and saw her enter the Roswaal mansion. He was filled with a love-rival's rage toward Hachiman—the man who could get close to Liliana—and so he hired people to put a sack over Hachiman's head and beat him up.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman very decisively called upon Ram, Rem, and Emilia, taking out all of his mercenaries in one fell swoop. Kiritaka himself was beaten by Ram until his very soul was terrified; if no one had called for a stop, he would have been beaten to death by Ram right then and there.」
「...From this perspective, Kiritaka should hate him. However, because Hachiman later saved Liliana, Kiritaka—being Liliana's simp—immediately flipped his attitude and became friendly and harmonious.」
「Conversely, it was Hikigaya Hachiman who later grew to hate Kiritaka.」
「Reaching Kiritaka's company required a boat. The four of them enjoyed the beautiful river, and Julius acted as if he had an endless supply of things to say, firing them off like bullets. He sat by Hachiman's side the entire way, and the two chatted about many things, from food preferences to various hobbies, as well as their recent situations.」
「Hachiman also asked Julius if Kiritaka had successfully wooed Liliana yet; the answer was not yet.」
「"...! ...!! ...!!"」
「Beatrice endured again and again, but she was reaching her limit. Right now, she was absolutely the only spirit in the world who would dislike Julius.」
「Just before Beatrice was about to explode, they finally arrived at the company.」
「"I can handle the negotiations alone; you guys go have some fun outside," Hachiman instructed. "Have a good time, Emilia, but take good care of Beatrice. I'll leave them in your care as well, Julius."」
「Beatrice turned her head. "Betty doesn't need someone like this to watch over her, hmph!"」
「Despite her angry words, she actually couldn't resist Hachiman's request. Julius could only manage a bitter smile; for the first time in his life, he was being loathed by a spirit, leaving him truly between laughter and tears.」
「Ultimately, he and Beatrice both gave a little ground. Julius still followed them, but he stayed behind, watching from a distance.」
「Watching the three depart, the solitary Hikigaya Hachiman's gaze turned sharp. His gentle aura shifted abruptly, replaced by a murderous solemnity. He straightened his clothes and stepped into Kiritaka's company.」
「"Y-You—You, it's you!?"」
「Brewing tea in the guest room, leisurely waiting for the guest recommended by Anastasia to arrive, Kiritaka had been wearing the unscrupulous smile of a businessman, an aura that suggested he was ready to drive the price to its absolute peak. That aura snapped instantly the next second, the moment he saw the person who pushed open the door.」
「Kiritaka, letting out a startled yelp like a duck, scrambled to his feet, trembling like a sieve. He felt a chill through his whole body, nearly ready to kneel on the ground and beg for mercy.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's voice was full of killing intent. "Yes, it's me. Long time no see, Kiritaka."」
「"Y-You, you-you-you—" Kiritaka shook violently, stuttering so hard he couldn't even form words.」
「"However, Ram didn't come."」
「"—"」
「As if he had become a different person, upon hearing that terrifying maid wasn't here, Kiritaka immediately recovered his composure and reverted to his capable businessman persona. He glanced sideways, "Ahem..."」
「He acted as if nothing had happened, as if the man who was just scrambling in terror wasn't him.」
「"In other words," the calmed-down Kiritaka quickly figured out why Hachiman was here, "you are the guest recommended by Miss Anastasia?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman let out a cold laugh. "If you dare show that 'I'm going to rip you off' expression again, I'll have Ram throw you into the river to feed the fish."」
「Kiritaka, who had just felt like he was back in the game, immediately tucked his neck in and gave a sheepish, awkward laugh.」
「"Bring out the magic stones. All of them. At the lowest price."」
「Speaking tyrannically, Hachiman sat in the chair that originally belonged to Kiritaka with a cold posture, looking as if he were the master of the place, while Kiritaka became the submissive one.」
「It was only natural for the two of them to be like this.」
「Back then, after Liliana finished singing at the Roswaal mansion, she stayed temporarily in a village on the territory and was kidnapped. Hikigaya Hachiman rescued her and discovered
that the kidnappers were a group of elite, down-on-their-luck mercenaries who also had a decent moral code, so he intended to recruit them.
「As it turned out, before he could make his move, the equally sharp-eyed Kiritaka had already intervened, sneakily snatching away that elite mercenary group known as the "White Dragon's Scales" by promising them a vast fortune.」
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