Chapter 32

Chapter 32

#32. Northern Region Agriculture (2)

It all tilted when Ariana took a job undercover at Arad Trading Company with added weight.

“Ahh! That’s right! And I’ve already told Lord Arad. I’ll be sending one staff member to Arad Trading Company soon.”

“Huuuuh?!?”

Isabel pressed her advantage and hammered it home.

“Don’t worry too much. They can read, write, do some math, and they’re an entry-level adventurer with around 2nd Circle low mana.”

“I have a 2nd Circle in my heart too. Even if I transform, people will suspect me. There’s no way to hide my tone and actions.”

“Miss? I may look this way but I’m the Great Witch. I’ve prepared for all that~”

Isabel said this while pulling out a necklace.

“It doesn’t just change appearance. I’ve enchanted it with mental magic too.”

“Mental…magic?”

“If anyone like Lord Arad or others start guessing your true identity, this necklace will activate mental interference.”

“At least anyone under 6th Circle won’t notice a thing.”

“Lord Arad might be an ancient one, so he could be over 6th Circle.”

“Nope. I’m sure his actual magical skill isn’t high.”

“…”

There was nobody else in the room with the Duchess and the Spring Great Witch, but their conversation continued in low voices just in case.

“In any case, you’ll officially be helping with the trading company’s paperwork.”

Though there are other reasons like monitoring Arad and uncovering his true identity and purpose, Isabel didn’t say this aloud.

Ariana would figure it out without being told.

“And assisting when Arad makes magical tools.”

“He makes magical tools? Me?”

“You’ve read magical theory books as part of your education, so there shouldn’t be big problems working.”

“That was only to prepare for fighting mages!”

“But these are just surface level tasks. The real mission is different.”

However, Isabel who was already half immersed in her own world paid no attention to Ariana’s words.

“The real mission…?”

In the end, Ariana gave up halfway and decided to listen to Isabel first.

“Simply put, seduce him! Since Lord Arad has already been rejected by Your Highness once, he won’t try confessing again. It’s not easy to confess twice to someone like you.”

“!!”

“Therefore, you need to maintain a relationship with him in another identity. Eventually, you’ll get a confession. Plus, you can keep an eye on other women approaching him.”

“Keep an eye…!”

“Then when Lord Arad falls for you, reveal your true identity. Look! Even without the background of being a Duchess, I’m a charming woman!”

“Ughhhh…”

At Isabel’s words, Ariana wobbled with a confused expression.

Always building walls but having zero proper dating experience, Ariana found this conversation difficult to accept.

Ignoring her lord’s struggles, Isabel continued talking.

“Also, Arad Trading Company’s headquarters is here in High City. It shouldn’t interfere much with Your Highness’ official duties or training.”

“Ah, Arad is a merchant. He’ll be going on trading trips often. And I haven’t fully recovered my strength yet.”

Ariana made her final objection.

“Don’t worry Miss. You can go on trading trips occasionally too. Just not every time!”

“Eh…?”

“Since you’ll be going incognito anyway, this is better.”

“No…”

“This is much safer than going incognito with a small group like before. As an imperial trading company, there will be plenty of High Knights and Frosthaven members guarding you.”

“…”

Isabel knew Ariana too well, and all her various concerns and objections were canceled out by the Great Witch.

“By the way, only I, Haytai, and Valkyrie know that you work at Arad Trading Company.”

When Ariana was still conflicted at the very last moment, Isabel glanced at her and dropped this line.

“But…if you really don’t want to, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll send an appropriate girl from the Coven instead. Though…it would be strange if there’s no romantic feelings between a man and woman working closely together everyday, right?”

And that was the finishing blow.

“…”

A brief silence followed, then Ariana spoke after not too long.

“…Disguise magic. It’s safe and won’t be exposed, right?”

“Of course! I’ve even planned for the bag you always carry around.”

In the end, Ariana couldn’t refuse.

“Then~ I’ll take that as acceptance. Oh! What alias would you like to use?”

“Mary. Let’s go with Mary.”

“Ah, the late Duchess’ nickname.”

“…Yeah.”

Despite her carefully managed expressions and voice, Ariana’s inner thoughts were already blooming with anticipation and excitement.

* * *

The next day.

Arad Trading Company headquarters located in the middle-class district of High City.

Knock knock knock knock knock

Persistent yet cautious knocking sounds came early in the morning.

“Who’s here so early?”

I stopped what I was doing and headed to the first floor entrance.

“Who…?”

Finally, the gently opening door revealed a woman I’ve never seen before.

She had striking white hair and deep gray eyes – quite a beauty.

She wore unremarkable female tunics commonly seen everywhere, and at her waist was a derivative of the bag I made, typical for northerners, though it looked like something extra was added to the leather.

“White hair and gray eyes? Hmm…”

Her hair color and eye color especially caught my attention.

“…?”

“….!”

A brief silence hung between us.

“Uh…that…yesterday Lady Great Witch mentioned introducing a staff member…”

Finally, her husky voice broke the silence.

“Aah…!”

I immediately realized who this woman was.

“Not a witch, huh? So what are you planning later? Or…has the Duke finally given up on me?”

“Come in.”

Confirming she was the staff member Isabel mentioned yesterday, I nodded and guided her inside.

“I’ll speak casually. Don’t mind my appearance, I’m a viscount.”

“Um, of course…yes!”

The woman sitting at the first floor table made a slip of the tongue due to tension.

Of course, since I’m the MZ owner from modern Earth, I decided to be lenient.

“What’s your name?”

“Mary! My name is Mary!”

“Mary?”

“Yes!”

“Mary, you say?”

“Yes, is there any problem…?”

Talking with this employee named Mary gave me a strong sense of déjà vu.

“A white-haired woman with dark gray eyes named Mary. Though only 2nd Circle level, considering her age…”

I realized belatedly that this was the same feeling I got from text and 2D.

“Could it be…? This girl is the Snowfield Great Witch?”

Eh, come on now, does that even make sense?

But thinking about the luck stat inherent in this body, trustworthiness inexplicably shoots up.

“No, no. Very pretty name.”

“Ah…! Yes! Thank you.”

With that conversation concluded, silence flowed again.

“Hmm…since we just started the trading company, things are a bit chaotic. I’ll be back shortly from the basement, please drink tea in the meantime.”

“Yes!”

I muttered to myself while heading downstairs.

“Phew…really, the Snowfield Great Witch? Well, they wouldn’t just place an ordinary human as my assistant. An affiliate of Frosthaven?”

My muttering voice trembled.

“Instead, she has another main job.”

Isabel’s words came to mind.

Not a witch, huh?

‘That 2nd Circle must be a disguise. No way she’s not the future Snowfield Great Witch.’

Considering all the circumstances and my own deductions…

Now I’m certain she’s the Snowfield Great Witch.

And I also understand why I haven’t seen any witches similar to the Snowfield Great Witch until now. If she’s affiliated with Frosthaven, that makes sense.

‘Anyway, placing a powerful hidden Frosthaven witch beside me to both protect and monitor me, huh?’

Thinking about it that way made me feel reassured.

Honestly, I was feeling a bit uneasy relying solely on the Frosthaven knights assigned by High City, but with the future Great Witch here, it’s impossible not to feel secure.

‘I should also suspect there’s an intention behind the Beauty Trap.’

Of course, I’m planning to return to Earth eventually.

No way I’d fall for such an obvious Beauty Trap.

“Great! Then I can focus more on business!”

After sorting through my thoughts and emotions, I immediately walked upstairs from the basement workshop.

Mary was sitting there staring blankly after finishing the tea I provided.

“Then let’s start working today.”

“Yes! What shall I do first?”

“We’ll head to the greenhouse farm.”

“Yes! Understood!”

For some reason, Mary’s speech pattern is unique.

“Her speech pattern…sounds knight-like?”

So far, I’ve conversed with various witches including Isabel, but the witch (probably) in front of me now is completely unlike a witch.

“Well, she’s probably rigid and cold all the time, which is why she excels at ice magic.”

Of course, I didn’t dwell too deeply on this point.

There are all kinds of people in the world, and not all witches go “Ohoho~, what did you do~.”

Thus, the two of us left the Arad Trading Company building and moved to the stable beside it.

There were two horses in the stable, the same ones that pulled the golden carriage before.

“You can ride a broomstick fine.”

As I was about to mount the horse, I cautiously offered to Mary.

“I can’t ride a broomstick because my circle is too low. Besides, I’m not a witch.”

“Is that so…? How about riding a horse?”

“I ride horses well.”

“…Hmm?”

‘So, if you’re hiding your power and identity, you need to be this thorough.’

Impressive, no wonder Frosthaven.

I involuntarily nodded at her answer.

* * *

Isabel said that within High City, Frosthaven knights secretly follow and guard me.

And when we go on trading trips, additional high-ranking knights from High City disguised as mercenaries will accompany us.

For a trading company owner and viscount-level noble, this is overly generous protection. Even Northern Duke Ariana wouldn’t receive this level of protection.

‘This shows how much value Lenslet places on me.’

Thanks to this, I haven’t encountered any unpleasant incidents while operating in High City so far.

Of course, the good public security of Lenslet’s northern capital helped too.

Anyway, thanks to riding horses, the two of us quickly arrived at High City’s greenhouse farm.

There, almost all the witches from the Coven were gathered doing something.

“You’ve arrived?”

“Lord Arad, Viscount Arad Jin is here!”

“Lord Jin! Are you really abandoning the golden carriage?”

The witches stopped what they were doing and greeted me en masse.

“Hey? Who’s that beside me…?”

At that moment, a young witch tilted her head in pure curiosity looking at Mary beside me.

“Oh my! You’ve already decided to work! Mary!”

At this, Isabel seemed slightly flustered and acknowledged Mary.

“Y-Yes! Thank you very much for introducing such a great job opportunity!”

An extremely awkward exchange followed, one that would probably be more natural reading from a textbook with students.