I like going together with my father to his work when I was a kid. I often hear some arguments inside his office when he works. It was pretty much a war zone he said.

***

I told everyone about my conversation with God Lithius. At first, they didn’t believe me. But when I showed them the ring she gave me, they gave thought of it differently.

“So we need to travel to six places huh. Good thing you’re rich enough to travel the whole world 20 times if you want.”

Like Sora said, we needed to travel to six places.

This is because, the [key] in unsealing God Lithius from the Void is separated all over the world. The [Key] is in six pieces and is used by different races as tools. The first piece is in the [Bottomless Scabbard] which is said to be a treasure of the Royal Family. How did I know this? Sora saw it before and told me about it.

The second one, the [Immortal Sword of the Giants], it is owned by the Dwarves and is treated as a godly weapon. Sora also saw that one, but he told me that he didn’t know about it before.

The third is the [Evergreen Bow of Nature], a weapon that is kept only by the strongest Elf in the Elven village. Cherry and Matt heard legends about it since they like stories about elves.

The fourth is [Crown of the Sea] which is not a hand-held weapon but a tool to manipulate water. No one knew about it, so I just implied its ability from its name. It will probably be the hardest one to find.

And the fifth is called the, [Staff of Sands] which obviously has the ability to manipulate sands. Sora has a good idea where to find it, so I’ll ask him before I start my journey.

The sixth one is different from the first five. God Lithius said that the sixth one is inside me, and at the same time it’s not. I can clearly understand it since I can use magic endlessly. But she didn’t feel her power from me so there’s the probability that this is not hers.

“Gods surely are vague being huh.”

“But how do you cross borders between territories? I heard from my father that they have to go through something complicated just to get across even though he’s an Earl.”

Cherry speak out her thoughts while listening to us. By the way, they aren’t sticking to me like they did a while ago. My arms are lonely.

“Hmm… that sure is a huge problem. I only have clearance to get to the Royal Capital and here in the second capital. But if we’re talking about something like ‘traveling the whole world’, we have that kind of problem.”

If a Royal Knight such as Sora can’t pass through territorial borders legally, what can a mere aristocrat like me do?

“It would be easy if Key is a [Paladin Mage] like the Headmaster or a Trader, that way, we can easily pass through territories.”

So the Headmaster has that kind of privilege huh.

If we put that into consideration, it would take me a long time to be one, not to mention the number of hurdles. But a Trader, I wonder…

“Hey Sora--”

“Wait dude, I got a call.”

Sora picked the glowing paper in his pocket.

“Please tell me this is not about the princess again.”

[Sorry, Captain!]

Sora looked at me with apologetic face.

“It’s fine, you can go. I’ll just tell you the details later.”

“Okay, but make sure you include me in your plan. I also want to travel the world you know.”

Sora picked his dagger and chanted a short chant. Then he jumped into the shadow but—

“Ouch!”

--Ended up hitting the hard wall instead.

“It seems your Villa’s Barrier is interfering with my magic.”

“Then use the front door.”

Seriously, this guy, can’t he just do things normally sometimes?

After leaving, Cherry, Matilda, and I are the ones left in the room.

“Okay, continuing. Do you two know a firm around the Capital?”

“I’m not familiar with one since I’m always at the mansion with Ghena.”

“I heard there’s one in this Capital. But my Grandfather said that they are about to get shut down since they don’t have enough suppliers and funding.”

Perfect. Matt must be talking about that guy who negotiated with me during my party. I don’t really remember who that guy was, but he’s an important piece.

After telling Petal that I’m leaving and told Gen about it, I headed to the only Firm in the Capital. For some reason, Cherry and Matt came with me.

Arriving at a large building, I’m slightly in awe for its size since it’s slightly larger than most structures around this area. Although I’ve seen this building from afar before, I didn’t think that this was the firm’s office.

When I got down the carriage, a girl wearing formal clothes welcomed me.

“Sir, I apologize for not welcoming you much sooner.”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t send any letter of notice in the first place. Is the owner of this place here?”

“Master Roldenrauf? He’s inside his office.”

“Tell him that the Master of Chardelier household is here to meet him.”

I still feel awkward speaking like a noble should. I wonder if I didn’t sound weird.

After bowing to me, the girl rushed back to the building. I can hear a commotion happening inside, but it’s probably just them in a panic. I wonder what they’re doing inside.

Seconds later, the girl came back with another girl with her. They guided me and the girls inside their building to the office where Chevalier Roldenrauf is at.

“Sir Chardelier, what brings you?”

“Sir Roldenrauf, I only came here on a whim. I came here since I have a proposition to make. It might help you with your business.”

After saying that, he offered me a seat in front of his table.

“So what are you trying to propose?”

“Before I answer that, is your business still on a verge of collapse?”

Roldenrauf put a grim face and looked down on the table.

“Sadly, yes. Since I failed in endorsing my firm to nobles and did not get any funds, I’m afraid that this place my get closed up before the month ends if the supply of magic cores will not be continued.”

Rock bottom huh, it sounds like I came here just on time. It might help him if I lend some of my money. After all, I have too much of it.

“What if I buy this place? Will the firm be saved?”

“Excuse me?”

Roldenrauf tilted his head in confusion. I think he didn’t expect that I would propose such idea.

“I said I’m buying this place.”

“I heard you, but why would you?”

“I can’t tell you much about on detail, but I’m here to buy this place because I want to start a business. I don’t have any ground to work on, so I thought of buying this place as a start.”

Roldenrauf objected my proposal.

“No, I cannot sell you this firm. This place has been in the hands of my family for generations. If I sell it to you, it would be huge shame on our family’s name.”

Okay… I didn’t expect that reaction. I do understand what he feels, but isn’t he trying too hard.

“But if you won’t sell it, this place will get closed down and the workers in this firm would lose their job. Not to mention the number of labourers.”

“I know that, but I just can’t sell it to you just like that.”

Matt suddenly walked into the room and grabbed my shoulder from behind.

“Sir Roldenrauf. If you don’t want to sell this place and save it. Why don’t you borrow funding from my Fiancée?”

“Miss Balerishk? I didn’t know you’re Sir Chardelier’s fiancée.”

Roldenrauf got surprised by her sudden appearance.

So the news of me getting engaged to Matt is still a secret huh. I wonder what the Headmaster was thinking.

“Leave the trivial matters aside, what do you mean by ‘borrow’?”

I didn’t think deeply about this matter, but if my thought is correct, this way, everyone gets a win-win. Everything will be fine if I just play my cards right.

“By ‘borrow’, she must be talking about me lending you funds. How about this, why don’t you borrow funding from me. This way, you don’t have to sell your business but save it as well.”

“And how much are you willing to lend me?”

I leaned on his table and put my chin on my left hand to make myself look serious. I think this much will do.

“I can lend you as much as you want or need.”

Roldenrauf eyes grew in shock. He didn’t expect that I, an aristocrat, can be so generous in terms of money. I myself am scared of the power of money because of this.

“Going such lengths, how much will I need to pay for the interest?”

“No, no, no, no. I’m not going to ask for any interest. I’ll only ask for two things. First, I want to be the company’s second owner. But still, you will be the one who governs and controls the business.”

“Second owner? What can you achieve if I’m still the owner? Isn’t that just making you a phantom businessman if you did? You can’t have credit if you’re not the real owner.”

“I don’t care much about credit. All I want is for my business to move. Moreover, I’m thinking of letting your firm sell the fur coats I bought outside the capital. That way, we can sell it four times the original price when winter arrives.”

“Fur coats? That’s impossible. The supply of it was short last week. The market price should have sky-rocketed. Just where did you secure its supply?”

“I went to the place myself, but it’s just a trivial matter. For now, listen to my second request. I want you to give me [Trader Rights].”

Upon hearing, Roldenrauf leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms. Judging from his smile, it looks like he finally figured something out.

“[Trader Rights], so that’s what you really seek huh. I’m afraid I cannot grant you that, no, more like I can’t.”

“You can’t huh.”

I was climbing the wrong tree huh.

“But I can help you get it. Only a territory viceroy can grant you [Trader Rights]. Lucky for you, I’m acquainted to one.”

All ended well for the both of us. He promised to arrange a meeting between me and this capital’s viceroy. Although he tried to ask something else like a jewel in my mansion, but I reject it since it would be dangerous for him. After all, most items inside that mansion were weird cursed stuff.

Just when I was going to climb the carriage, the girl that welcomed me before entering called out to me.

“Sir, master forgot to give you this letter.”

“Is it from him?”

“No sir, it came from the mail company. It’s our job to send it. Since you’re already here, might as well give it to you.”

When I received the letter, the girl immediately rushed back to the building.

To my surprise, the words written on the envelope are in English which says, “To Key Godfre Chardelier”. I know this hand writing. It’s probably from mom.

“What was that Key?”

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

***

When I arrived at my villa, I went to the kitchen to start turning the Cocoa into Chocolate.

The girls were behind while watching me. They didn’t make any noise which makes me at peace. But somehow, I can feel weird vibes from their gaze.

Before I started mixing the prepared ingredients, I took a knife and opened the envelope.

--Dear Key,

As I put the letter on the table, I started to slice the butter and put them into the large bowl.

--I hope your life in Marzenthura is stable. Although it was selfish of me, I would like to apologize for the sudden change.

After I crushed the cacao seeds, I crushed the nuts next and turned them into powder using earth magic > with low output.

--How is father’s house? Did Petal teach you about my world? There are so many things I’d like to ask you when I come home together with our family. I really miss you. So does your sister and father.

After properly mixing the nuts, cacao seeds, and melted butter, I poured the fresh milk I bought yesterday chilled with water magic > I learned from Cherry. While mixing, I also poured the improvised sugar from the Sweet Ball fruit.

--About magic, did you manage to learn it? Even if you didn’t, I’m still happy and proud for you since I know your personality well. I know the part of you that’s very competitive even though you hate it. And about that, I have some good news for you. Just two days ago, your sister also awakened as a magician.

I finished mixing all of them. All that’s left to do is to mix it hard until I get the texture I want. I did taste the mixed product, it tasted good. Since it still needs more ingredients before becoming the chocolate bar I want, I’m just going to use this as a sandwich spread.

--Moreover, I found out that your best friend, Pauline, has a magician ancestor. I didn’t notice this until yesterday when she came at the house looking for you. She was already an [Awakened] before you. Right now, I’m telling her the truth about you, me, and what she really is. For now, I’ll be teaching them a lot of things since it will take me a few months to recharge the mana I lost when I sent you off. After that, she’ll be coming with us.

I put the finished [Chocolate Spread] into a large glass jar. Since there’s no refrigerator in this world, I cooled it down with magic inside a wooden box. Since the milk in the ingredients would surely let the sandwich spread expire early, I used force magic > which I made myself. It took me a whole night inside the library researching and making this. This spell cannot be copied by others since the length of the chant is 6 pages worth. Anyone would be out of breath before reaching the third page.

--I really wished that I can get there soon. I miss my only son.

Your Loving Mother,

Crystal Chardelier

P.S. Your best friend told me that she misses you so much. Is she actually your secret girlfriend?

Come on mom… You really have to make it sound weird?

As I finished reading the letter, the two girls looked at me while smiling.

“What are you two thinking about?”

“Nothing, it’s just your serious mode is really seductive. If I saw your face, I would have attacked you.”

Matt’s too straight forward despite looking calm. She makes me nervous.

“What about you Cherry?”

“Ah me?! Nothing, it’s just… it’s my first time seeing a guy cook. Moreover, your long hair together with the glance of the side of your face is really… you’re making me say such things!”

Cherry’s shy side is cute. Since her face turned red, she covered it with her hands. But I can see her ears bright red, truly cute. But her way with words is lightly annoying.

“Is it weird for a guy to cook?”

“No, it’s not. I heard that the Chefs in the Royal Capital are mostly male, but the ones outside are pretty rare.”

“Is that so? Thanks for the praise.”

I took two spoons and scooped the chocolate spread that just cooled and give it to them. Their making slightly complicated faces. So Sora said about chocolate not existing in this world was actually true. I need to work on making it smell inviting.

“What is this?”

“It’s something I love to eat back on Earth. It’s something every man on that planet craves for. It’s [Chocolate].”

If you need to express something you love, you got to do it with all your heart without minding looking like an idiot. Don’t.

“This dirty-looking thing, people of earth eats weird stuff.”

--How rude! Don’t call chocolate dirty.

“Just try it. It’ll change your opinion of it.”

Judging from their reactions, I better start researching about candy coating to give it a better appearance.

When they reluctantly put the spoon into their mouths, they tasted it as slowly as possible. And then—

“It’s good.”

As expected, I get good reactions. After all, it is chocolate we’re talking about.

It’s probably a good idea to make flavour variations next time. I should make that Chocolate with liquor in the center as a surprise to Sora who’s a heavy drinker, and probably a spicy one as prank…

“Can I have more?”

Cherry who just licked her spoon clean offered her spoon and asked for more. Quite a glutton—wait, it’s to be expected. Her face is exactly like my infant niece when I let him lick a piece of chocolate.

“I think it’s a bad idea to eat more. I’m really not yet confident about the current recipe I just made. It might give you a stomach ache if you eat too much dairy.”

I’m not lying. I was just totally flying on instinct when I was making the chocolate. I’m not yet confident in my pastry skills even though I was taught by my aunt who was a pro at it.

“Cheap skate, Come on! Just one more scoop.”

“No, no. It’s totally bad.”

Then, Cherry snatched the letter in front of me and tried to read it, since it’s in English, she can’t.

“Then, tell me about this letter instead of the Choco-late, was it? You we’re smiling while reading this.”

“That?”

“Me too, I want to hear about it. Although my grandfather tried to teach me how to read English, I can’t since it’s confusing.”

So she’s curious too, I guess I could tell them. It’s just a harmless request anyway so why not?

“It’s from my mother. She’s saying that the whole family’s going to move here next month.”

“Your mother’s coming?”

“And my sister also. She’s actually the real reason why they’re coming.”

“Sister too?! Oh my god, I’m excited to meet them.”

I wish I didn’t tell them. Now they’re hyper. Maybe it’s the chocolate doing its magic?

“And there’s also another one coming with them.”

“Let me guess, your father.”

--oops, I forgot about him.

“Well obviously he’s also included, but I’m not talking about him. I’m talking about my best friend who turned out to be a magician like us. I’d like to prepare something for her when she comes here.”

Then, the spark in Cherry and Matt’s eyes suddenly disappeared. They’re looking at me with scary calm faces. I think their eyes turned dark. Are they angry or something?

“Did you just say ‘her’?”

“Y-yeah, I did.”

“And you want to prepare something since ‘she’ is coming.”

“It’s not actually just for her. What I actually meant was that, I’ll prepare a party for the whole family. I was just emphasizing her since she’s not a member of my family and she’s an important childhood friend.”

“So she’s a ‘Childhood Friend’. You’re planning in making a party for her despite having trouble happening around you.”

It’s not a party just for her Cherry.

Although I retorted within my mind, I didn’t say it since I just remembered something important.

There are currently many people who’re trying to kill me. If I don’t clear this trouble before they mom and the rest comes, I might put them in danger.

I looked up back to Cherry and Matt. I grabbed their arms and looked straight into their eyes.

“Leaving that aside for now, there’s something I want to ask from both of you.”

When I said that, their cheeks suddenly turned pink and their bodies became stiff.

“Y-yes--”

“Anything, if you want.”

I should calm down a bit myself. I’m getting nervous for some reason.

“Can you two help me, please?”

I can’t put it into correct words, but this is the only thing I can think of to convey what I feel.

Cherry and Matt were surprised by my question. They looked at each other and then suddenly, giggled.

“What are you talking about Key?”

“Are we not your future wives? Of course we’ll help you.”

Looks like they understood the meaning of my words, good thing they’re smart girls. Although they’re pretty crazy at some point, but I won’t say it out loud.