Chapter 173. Joining (3)

Enoch was inwardly surprised and stared at her intently.

At first, he thought she was just saying it, but he really didn't expect her to keep looking for him so tirelessly.

“Well, I’m not sure about that, but at least it’s certain that we won’t be fighting in the same squad in this operation.”

“……Hmm, really?”

For a moment, his spine chilled at April, who was glaring at me with somewhat sharpened eyes. Enoch managed to nod his head.

In fact, he felt a little guilty even after answering.

Last time, he had asked a favor of Amelia, who had said she would deliver the ampoules from the Holy Séjour to the site.

─“Ah, can you deliver this case along with it?”

─“This case is…?”

It was the long rectangular portable case containing the SIEG Industry-made tactical robe that Enoch used as a freelancer in the outsourcing district, and the Sword Saint’s two-handed sword.

He had asked her to deliver it along with the ampoules.

It was because he felt more at ease with Amelia, his trustworthy Follower Family, rather than relying on the Main House, which was still under suspicion.

He felt like he had been a bit more reckless than usual because of the lack of time, but he had sealed the inside of the case with a lock so that others couldn’t open it.

…It probably wouldn't be a problem.

At that time, when he had entrusted the delivery to the Holy Séjour, Enoch had been a little anxious when Amelia had made a slightly puzzled expression, but.

As expected of the broad-minded Saintess, she had agreed without asking any further questions, so things had proceeded quite smoothly.

In fact, that was why he couldn’t give a definite answer to April that ‘he hadn’t come here.’

Because he might have to take it out if he had to inevitably use his sword while hiding his identity as Enoch, or if he had to appear as a freelancer.

Enoch nonchalantly asked April, who was twirling her hair with her fingers in front of him.

“By the way, you seem quite interested in that person, asking about him constantly since last time. Is there a reason?”

April’s eyes widened for a moment and she pouted, then turned her head away with a huff.

“Che, it’s a little annoying!”

“Annoying?”

When Enoch tilted his head, April’s eyes shone as if she had finally caught him, and she strode forward.

“No! Really?! Listen to me, direct lineage-nim!!”

April, who had come right up to his nose, placed her hands on her hips and looked up at him as if asking, isn’t this too much?

“I’ve been trying to contact him diligently on CodeTalk for a while now, but he’s not replying!”

“……Hmm.”

“Ah, no way!!”

For a moment, as she was speaking, she seemed to have realized something on her own, and she grabbed her head and let out a groan full of anguish.

“Ugh, is he really ignoring just my messages?! Maybe, do I look like an annoying woman to you too, direct lineage-nim?”

“I’m not so sure about that.”

When Enoch responded calmly, she seemed a little crestfallen and pulled her ball cap down and muttered.

“Or maybe I’m not attractive as a woman…?”

“Hmm.”

Enoch thought about it for a moment, then brought his head closer and stared at her intently.

“……Ah!”

Without caring that April was startled and her eyes widened, Enoch examined her with a calm gaze.

April had a beautiful appearance overall, and she was wearing hot pants so tight they were like a lower body disappearance.

Her lower body, which revealed her shapely thighs, and her top, which fit perfectly without being awkward even while revealing her armpits. A voluptuous yet slim figure.

Looking at it this way, April’s worries were clearly unfounded. It was strange that she was even having such worries in the first place.

Enoch came to a clear conclusion and shook his head.

“No way, you’re not unattractive at all.”

“Ugh, you’re really staring at me so meticulously…”

On the other hand, April, with Enoch’s face right in front of her, staring at her intently, seemed to find his gaze burdensome and slightly averted her eyes.

“Even so, t-this is a little embarrassing…”

“Why? It seems you were the one who asked the question first.”

Enoch tilted his head with a blank expression.

Then April, with her neck flushed red, laughed awkwardly and muttered.

“Ah, ahaha. You’re so nonchalant, you’re just like him, aren’t you? Really…?”

For a moment, Enoch almost froze.

…Come to think of it, he hadn’t really acted differently with his tone of voice when he was working as a freelancer, so was that why she felt a sense of familiarity?

But if he got flustered and changed his tone now, it would look even stranger. Enoch decided to just put on a brave face.

Just then, as if her patience had reached its limit, April, with her face flushed bright red, hit her palm with her fist as if she had just remembered something. Then she awkwardly changed the subject.

“Ah, r-right! The prize!!”

Ah, come to think of it, was this an event where you get a prize?

Just then, at a good timing, a female staff member came running over and held out a tablet to April.

“Ah! Customer, you were really amazing just now! Congratulations on first place, you broke the highest record! Please choose your prize from this catalog!”

“Yes, yes! Thank you.”

April, as if still conscious of me, glanced at me several times, and then scrolled down the screen with her finger.

Then, she suddenly spotted something and her eyes widened. And then she let out a small gasp.

“Ah, this is nice! I’ll have this for my prize!”

The prize she pointed to in the prize catalog on the tablet was a thin bracelet made of black metal. Seeing that, Enoch’s eyes widened for a moment. It was a familiar item.

Is that……?

“Here you go! Congratulations once again!”

“Ah, thank you!”

Just then, the host brought the prize. April took it, tore off the packaging, and held the product up high to the sunlight.

It was a simple metal bracelet in matte black, with the triangular white logo of SIEG Industry stylishly engraved on it.

“This, is it the latest survival gear from SIEG Industry? Did they supply this to the outsourcing districts too?”

It had a design like a smartwatch, with a clock displayed on the screen, and it was also designed as a high-performance portable survival gear.

Just then, the event host explained with an excited voice.

“This is a product that can be used by non-mages in the outsourcing district. It’s a design gear with a built-in function to launch a flare in case of an emergency! It’s the latest prototype product from SIEG Industry, you made a good choice!”

“Ah, as expected!”

April also let out a small exclamation of admiration as she looked at the bracelet.

“The SIEG Industry catalog is so expensive I only ever looked at it, but I’ve never seen this before!”

Well, the design was cool, and it was quite practical too. As expected, it felt like a prize for an event in an outsourcing district where survival was no laughing matter.

April looked at the bracelet in the sunlight for a moment and asked.

“This, it looks expensive just by looking at it. Is it really okay to offer such a good item as a prize at an outsourcing district festival? Will the budget allow for it?”

At April’s question, the staff member laughed, scratching the back of his head as if he was also surprised.

“Ah! For this outsourcing district event, Lady Elena of SIEG Industry personally took an interest and personally sponsored the prizes.”

Enoch tilted his head at the name. He hadn’t expected Elena’s name to pop up here. And it seemed the same for April.

“Huh? That high-and-mighty luxury tactical company?”

“Yes. It seems the young lady of that company is interested in products that can be used without mana. Even though it’s a small amount, sponsoring an outsourcing district in another Main House’s domain is a very unusual thing for SIEG Industry’s marketing.”

“Hmm. I see? Why would a rich young lady…?”

It seemed to be an unusual enough event for even April to openly tilt her head.

Well, the sharp triangular logo that symbolized SIEG Industry was synonymous with ‘luxury.’

Considering the black label of the tactical product world, which was custom-made at a high price, it probably wasn’t a common thing for them to release their products in an outsourcing district like this.

Just then.

In front of Enoch, who was lost in thought, April held out the bracelet she had received as a prize.

“Ah! If it’s okay, you can have this, direct lineage-nim!”

Enoch looked at it blankly and then tilted his head.

“……It’s the prize you won, but you’re giving it to me?”

“Yes. This is also, well, a connection if it’s a connection. Besides, it seems this only comes in men’s sizes.”

“……”

“Well, it’s probably a very humble gift for the direct lineage of a count’s family, but it’s the sincerity of the person who received the request. You’ll accept my heart, right?”

As Enoch was staring at the bracelet blankly for a moment, April smiled bashfully.

“Ahaha, with this, if I can get on the good side of the direct lineage-nim, I might be able to get various contracts with the Main House in the future, and maybe even get some good deals?”

“…Hmm.”

Enoch tilted his head.

Strictly speaking, it seemed quite a modest bribe, but he had no intention of refusing her goodwill either.

Useful items that a non-mage like Enoch might be able to use someday were not always easy to obtain in the Magic Empire.

“Now! Give me your left hand! I’ll put it on for you!”

April smiled brightly and led Enoch’s arm with her slender hand. An unexpected thin and soft touch on his wrist made him hold his breath for a moment.

Just as she rolled up Enoch’s sleeve and put on the bracelet,

“Ah! And, as a bonus!”

April, in the posture of putting on the bracelet, stood on her tiptoes, brought her lips to Enoch’s ear, and whispered softly.

“If it’s okay, can you put in a good word for me to that person in the future?”

Enoch glanced at her whispering in his ear and tilted his head.

“Put in a good word, what for?”

April glanced at me, and as if to hide her flushed cheeks, she swept her pink hair slightly to the side.

“Ah really, you’re so frustrating! Th-that is…!”

Just as April said that, suddenly, a gunshot that seemed to tear his eardrums rang out from the side.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!!!

In an instant, everyone in the outsourcing district’s gaze turned in that direction.

In an instant, a sharp, tense wind swept through the noisy crowd in the square. Enoch and April also flinched for a moment.

It was April who spoke first. Her tone of voice had instantly become cold and professional.

“Hey, this gunshot……”

April’s sharp eyes glanced to the side. She looked straight at Enoch and whispered in a cold voice.

“Anyone can tell it’s a live round.”

“It seems so.”

As soon as Enoch nodded calmly, a loud shout was heard from somewhere in the city center beyond the wide square.

“-Hey! Isn’t this crazy!”

“-I’m going crazy, someone!!”

Enoch looked for a moment in the direction of the shout.

Gunshots might not be a rare occurrence in this outsourcing district. But a gunshot now, on the eve of a massive attack by magical beasts?

“Client-nim, so what should we do?”

April released one of the one-touch locks on the weapon case she was carrying on her back, turned her head, and asked.

“I think it’s best to check it out first.”

Enoch came to a calm conclusion at once.

At the very least, it seemed necessary to find out what was happening in this outsourcing district right now.

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