Volume 1 - CH 40

After a moment’s pause, the surroundings instantly began to buzz. Julio said in a muffled voice.

“What? Are you kidding me? What about Raltoze? You’re a different person, aren’t you? Totally, obnoxious and anyway, I don’t want to get into it with someone else, so I’m not going to talk to you.”

Falk looked at Alme’s face with a troubled look. He seems to have stopped talking to Julio.

“Miss Alme, what happened?”

“… Well, I’m going to use the money I tried to deposit here to pay off my debts. I can pay off some of it early, but I have to make ends meet with my finances, so it’s difficult to pay the full amount…”

“I’m sure that’s true.”

After a thoughtful look, Falk made a proposal to everyone in the room, including Alme.

“I’ll be the backing of the Titty family and make the payment for the time being. That way, I can be a part of the dispute between the two families.”

“…Huh!?”

Understanding was delayed, and a dumbfounded voice came out of Alme’s mouth.

Julio cringed and rolled his eyes. The conversation has gone in a direction he did not expect, and he is beginning to show impatience. Sweat was beading on his neck.

Mrs. Beatos intervened, perhaps trying to protect her upset son.

“Well, please don’t proceed with the conversation on your own…! I refuse to exchange money with people I don’t know and don’t understand! Please don’t get involved in the problems of both families!”

“That’s not going to work. I will do my best to solve the problem for the sake of the Titty family, with whom I have a close relationship with. If you say that you don’t want to proceed on your own, would it be okay if we discuss it together? There are people’s eyes here, so let’s borrow a room.”

Falk easily dodged Mrs. Beatos’ squeaky voice and faced the counter clerk.

He took out a glittering silver metal plate from his bag—a card that looked like an ID card, and handed it over to the confused young bank employee.

“Sorry for the urgency. In my name, I would like to borrow your room and a witness for our discussion now, is that possible?”

“Eh, yeah, I’ll accept it–but… I’m sorry, but this ID card is…”

The bank clerk looked at the information written on his ID card and Falk’s face alternately, and looked puzzled. Even though it’s the ID card of “Shirotaka” that everyone knows, it’s probably because his appearance is different from the one he’s familiar with.

In a formal discussion with witnesses, it is necessary to inquire about the identity of the person who has established the meeting.

Alme thought it was a social system that had nothing to do with a commoner girl like her, but… she didn’t expect to be able to see the interaction up close like this.

It will be a good lesson in social experience. Though her back is sweating from the cold sweat of tension.

Seeing the clerk’s condition, Falk was taken aback and put his hand on the silver necklace.

“‘Oh, sorry, I forgot. How about this?”

After saying that, he removed the necklace without any hesitation.

The magic of metamorphosis is broken, and small particles of light dance. Shirotaka with silver hair and golden eyes appeared in the glittering light.

The commotion all around increased, and there were breathless screams and gasps of women inside.

Children are scolded by their parents for pointing their fingers and shouting, “It’s Shirotaka!”

Alme, on the other hand, was abruptly moving away from Falk, shrinking back so as not to stand out. She’s going to try to be part of the background.

Julio, Mrs. Beatos, and Campbellina all gawked and stared blankly.

With a pale white face drawn of all it’s blood, Julio moved his mouth and whispered something.

“What…Mr….Raltoze? Is this real? …Alme’s backing…isn’t that a lie…why?”

His muffled mutterings were drowned out by the bustle of his surroundings. Not a single word more came out of Julio’s mouth, which was usually full of petty complaints.

The magic of the disguise startled the staff at the counter, but as soon as the ID matched the appearance, he immediately began the procedure. He was very serious about his work.

They stood at the counter and waited for the procedure to be completed.

The Beatos family was so quiet that Alme wondered where their previous energy had gone.

As if she had made up her mind before long, Mrs. Beatos spoke to Falk while feeling awkward.

“……Well, I never thought that you were really Mr. Raltoze……I apologize for being so rude. In fact, it was the Beatos family that helped Alme-chan’s grandmother with her medical expenses! We wanted to support Alme-chan in hopes that her grandmother wouldn’t suffer, so we supported her with a large sum of money.”

Mrs. Beatos began to speak fluently with a flattering voice. Alme had never been called ‘Alme-chan’ by her, so she was taken by surprise and got goosebumps.

Falk looked at Mrs. Beatos with golden eyes that had returned to their original form and increased in power.

“You promised to write off the repayment of the aid once, and later on made a complaint to pay it back with interest. Also, set a strict repayment deadline. I know most of the circumstances. I’m sorry, but I think it’s difficult to change the impression of your family. Of course, after this, I would like to hear your side’s claims for the time being.”

When he said that with a sharp look, Mrs. Beatos straightened herself.

“That’s… because Alme-chan was doing something shady… this kid was playing around with men on the side! My son Julio said he saw it at the market last week, so there’s no doubt about it. I’m sure they had a relationship even before she got engaged to Julio, she was in love with the playboy, so she disrespected Julio.”

“M-mother…! That’s enough!”

Julio was in a great hurry to stop Mrs. Beatos from speaking out of turn. Unfortunately, however, the conversation was firmly picked up by Falk.

“Playing with men, huh? When did you witness it? At that time, I was walking around the city with Miss Alme, Mr. Julio approached me at the market. Are you talking about that time? …I see, is my sightseeing a ‘shady thing’? I wanted to enjoy the town of Luorio, but it seems like I was being treated badly.”

Falk’s matter-of-fact voice finally silenced Mrs. Beatos and she kept her mouth shut.

Falk turned to face the Beatos family, who had become quiet, and said in a harsh voice.

“Heartless words, harassment, and harsh attitudes toward people become habits before you realize it. If the habit becomes persistent, it will become a disease, and eventually it will be irreversible. You bring harm not only to those around you, but to yourself as well. It’s a serious illness that can’t be cured even with the healing magic of a priest. Keep that in mind.”

The members of the Beatos family were silently looking down with bitter faces.

–But Falk didn’t take it well.

He said sternly, like an academy teacher scolding a student.

“Can’t you hear me? Reply.”

“… Ah, that… Yes… I’m sorry…. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Mr. Priest, I understand…I’m sorry…”

“…………”

Julio and Mrs. Beatos bowed their heads in reply, but Campbellina remained silent with a complicated expression on her face.

Grabbing the back of Campbellina’s dress, who was unmoving, Julio forcefully forced her to lower her head.

For a moment, Alme felt like she could see Campbellina’s distorted face as if she had swallowed a bitter bug.

Before long, the room and witness was ready. Receiving the guidance, everyone moved from in front of the counter.

Alme had been out of sight and was devoted to the background, but she was returned to the center of the situation again. With Falk’s flowing gestures, he hugged her shoulder and started walking.

Even when she’s looking down, she can feel people’s eyes on her…

Beside Alme, who was in a cold sweat, Falk quietly brought his face closer to her ear.

“I’m sorry, I’m afraid I’m taking up too much of your time.”

“No, I’m the one who started the dispute, and …… I’m really sorry you ended up getting involved in it. Um, but it’s bad enough that I’m going to have to ask you to be the backing for my family’s debt.”

“If the advance payment is not accepted, I will make a donation to the ice cream shop and not ask for repayment.”

“That one is unacceptable…!”

As expected, she can’t get a lot of money just like that. A sense of guilt overwhelms her, and she felt sick…

“Well then, it’s still can be repaid. It’s easier to pay me back. I don’t have a deadline in particular. Miss Alme, you’ll be friends with me for a long time, right? We have plenty of time. Therefore, you can pay it back slowly.”

Falk is so nonchalant in the midst of a dispute. She felt her own strength draining away, but she manage to hold it together and reply.

“But, after all, I’m sorry for getting Mr. Falk involved in a personal problem…”

“Miss Alme, it’s okay to lean on someone who will support you. I’ve leaned on people a lot in my life. It’s my turn to support someone, and hopefully I want to support you. Please, will you go along with my selfish wish?”

With such a kind and cunning way of putting it, she decided to comply with his wish.

A sweet, itchy, begging voice was blown into her ears, and she groaned.

“… I understand… Well then, I’ll take your word for it… Thank you very much for everything. I’ll do my best to repay you as soon as possible.”

“Don’t worry about it. Ah, but if you’re worried about it, I might be able to introduce you to a side job that will add to your income.”

“Do you have a side job?”

They talked about business and her ears perked up at the mention of cash. If he had a good recommendation, she’d love to hear it.

“Well, it’s a job to replenish ice magic power to the sky magic stones. In the temple, a lot of ice magic stones are used for medicine storage and treatment, so it’s said that it doesn’t matter how many ice mages that can be contracted with.”

“Is that so! I heard that for the first time.”

“How about a job as a replenishment worker to the extent that it doesn’t become a burden on the shop? I’d have to check with the temple first, so I can’t make any promises yet.”

“If you could help me find a side job, please do, thank you.”

Just during this festival, Alme had a side job of replenishing ice magic to the sky magic stones brought in from the other stalls, and she felt it was a pretty solid job.

Sales at the shop fluctuated from day to day, but if she can get a fixed income from a side business, her life will be much more stable.

After leaning forward and replying, Falk smiled and nodded.

–Somehow, it feels like a small bone that has been stuck in her throat has been removed.

Falk’s offer to replace the money would mean she can finally cut ties with the Beatos family, and on top of that, he would try to help her get a good side job.

When she thought about it, ever since her grandmother fell ill, she’s been living with the feeling of ‘I have to do it right” in the center of her heart. Unconsciously, while being overwhelmed and strangely reluctant.

When she talked to Ena about the breakup, she said something like ‘I’ll try to take it easy from now on’ but it seems that this kind of self-conscious habit can’t be completely eliminated.

……But now that she is leaning on a strong backing, she felt like this stubborn habit has loosened a little.

Falk’s words, “It’s okay to lean on someone.” reached her heart as if by magic.

It’s said that healing magic doesn’t work on the heart, but for this troublesome heart that was stubborn like ice, it seems to be a sufficiently effective magic.

Someday, when this stiffness in her heart is completely healed and cured, she may truly be able to live life with ease.

Alme didn’t know when it will be, but she hoped to make a full recovery, even if slowly.

Once again, Alme politely thanked Falk

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring about me. Mr. Falk is really kind.”

“Miss Alme, I’m the one who should feel thankful. Because you’re kind, I’m just trying to return the same kindness.”

“I didn’t do anything in particular…. I didn’t give Mr. Falk anything as a gift…I just received it–oh, I’ve been serving a lot of ice cream.”

Even though Alme’s been treated well in many ways by Falk, it’s a pity that she’s only been able to return it with ice cream…

Despite Alme’s complicated feelings, Falk smiled softly, squinting his sparkling gold eyes.

“I also received a lot of wonderful things from Miss Alme that healed my heart. Ever since we first met.”

“Well if you say so…it’s definitely ice cream.”

After all, Alme can only offer ice cream… From now on, she wanted to give Falk something a little bit better.

Alme thought so and made a difficult face, and Falk softly patted her on the head.

“Whoa, hey, what was that for?”

“Hmm, I felt like patting your head for some reason.”

“What’s that mood …… I’m not a street dog or cat.”

Please don’t play with her like that as the Beatos family members with a mysterious aura are walking behind her. It’s somewhat awkward to feel their eyes on her.

Without worrying about it, Falk was smiling. Alme thought that someday she’ll do the same thing to him as payback.

Shortly after, they moved on to the meeting room.

The discussion took place in a private room at the back of the bank under the watchful eye of a witness.

That being said, rather than a discussion, the procedure was exchanged in a flowing manner, and it was over almost immediately.

Falk paid the full amount in the form of a replacement payment and the Beatos family received it. A document proving this, as well as a document between Alme and Falk, was made and signed, and that was the end of it.

At the end, after only exchanging formal greetings, Alme and Falk stood up together.

Now it’s over. After this they can have a nice lunch. –Thinking that, her face naturally smiled.

Falk also seemed to be thinking the same thing, and the two of them looked at each other with carefree faces and smiled.