(EP-239.1) Summer Vacation #4

239 – Each Summer Vacation #4

I might not know much about the Bellhawk family, but I did know a bit about the elves.

As mentioned before, elves were a race that liked to show off.

This extended to their interpersonal relationships.

When elves made friends or form relationships, they strictly followed the logic of “Will this benefit me?”

If elves took someone as a subordinate, it would be someone “worth boasting about as a subordinate.”

If they served someone as a leader, it would be someone “worth boasting about as a leader.”

In this sense, the former head of the Bellhawk family, Opal Von Bellhawk, was a brilliant man deserving of the gemstone Opal.

He was an elf leader straight out of a fairy tale.

The story of how he single-handedly held back a thousand-strong army with a longsword and a bow in the final battle against the Demon King Angmar had become a legend that would represent the valor of elven swordsmen.

Thanks to this, the saying “Don’t fight an elf swordsman” had become a common adage among adventurers, warriors, and mercenaries.

However, after losing the jewel that was Opal, his successor, and his younger sister Stella Von Bellhawk, did not live up to her name of a “star.”

I knew well enough, having met her myself.

As a result, many of the Bellhawk family did not recognize her as the family’s head, and even kicked her out. Thus, Stella settled in Ark’s research building.

But that was now in the past.

“Stella Von Bellhawk.”

“…….”

Deneb’s complexion changed in an instant when I mentioned the name that could be said to be the weakness of the strict elves.

She quickly regained her composure, but I was not so foolish as to miss the momentary “aha” moment. I didn’t know about money making, but I had my way of dealing with people.

“Professor Stella… Regarding her recent charges at Ark. Well, given your position as a representative, I’m sure Deneb-ssi is already well aware.”

“……”

Deneb stopped speaking and took a sip from her teacup. I could tell that she was trembling slightly.

Should I push a little further?

“If you didn’t know, it’s an attempted assassination of the Queen to clarify. Among other charges, of course.”

“Ehem.”

Hearing my words, Deneb put down her teacup and took out a handkerchief. She then wiped the sweat pouring down her forehead like rain.

“Huuu, that’s right. But as I mentioned before, this has nothing to do with our guild or family.”

“However, it’s also a well-known fact that the adventurer party summoned by Professor Stella shot the Queen. And Professor Stella is part of the Bellhawk family.”

“Heuuu….”

“Professor Stella, or rather, the Belhawk family, trying to assassinate the Queen—it’s inevitable that such rumors would spread, isn’t it?”

“… That’s true.”

“As a result, I’ve heard that the guild is facing difficulties both internally and externally. Various national contracts are being terminated… But there’s no need for me to explain, I’m sure Deneb-ssi knows better.”

“So, what you’re trying to say is…?”

It seemed Deneb had no intention of prolonging this conversation. As she was eager to leave this situation, I decided to especially show her mercy.

“I’d like to loan 750,000 gold without interest.”

“Yes-?”

Deneb’s eyes widened, her pupils dilating, and her mouth gaping so much that I could stick my finger inside.

“Pfft-.”

In the end, she burst out laughing.

After a while, she wiped her tears and said.

“Sir Theo, that’s absurd. I thought you were a wise man. But how could you be so rash? I’d rather give you Miss Stella’s head.”

How ruthless.

Stella Bellhawk…

You had too little standing within the family…

But I couldn’t back down here.

“It wouldn’t be a bad deal for the guild either. You could at least patch up some of the already broken trust. Additionally, you could acquire various rights for upcoming projects in Angmar.”

The carrot and the stick were important.

As I felt my job “Trainer” showing its effectiveness, Deneb finally let out a deep sigh.

“Though I am one of the board members of the Bellhawk’s merchant guild, it would be difficult for me to make a decision of this magnitude alone. I’ll bring it up on the agenda.”

“I hope to hear back soon. As you know, our Queen is a bit impatient.”

* * *

A reply from the Bellhawk merchant guild arrived that evening.

As Aira, Narmi and Elga were chatting over a bonfire in a secluded garden.

Pirreuk-.

A large bird of prey flew from somewhere and delivered a letter to me.

The seal on the letter bore the emblem of a fierce hawk.

“It’s a letter from the Bellhawk merchant guild.”

Elga was the first to frown at this news.

“A letter from the elves?”

Though I didn’t know the details, it seemed Elga didn’t harbor good feelings toward elves.

“The only good elves are the dead ones.”

Narmi seemed to feel the same way as she uncharacteristically furrowed her brow, unlike her usual cheerful self…

“Even dead elves cause problems! Elf corpses always turn into banshees, which are incredibly difficult to control. They just wail loudly everywhere!”

Banshees?

I think I’d heard of banshees before. When fairies such as elves and nymphs died with a deep grudge, they would come back as undead beings called banshees.

They were not on the same level as liches or death knights, but they were still considered mid-to-high-level undead.

Narmi then rattled off what she knew about banshees.

“They always seem to be involved in trouble. A few years ago, a banshee named Talvanas formed a labor union and organized a strike!”

‘I see…’

The strength of undead workers lied in their need for neither rest nor money. If a banshee arbitrarily formed a union and caused the undead to go on strike, it would indeed be problematic.

While Narmi went on about the bad of elves, I used the dagger at my waist to break the seal on the letter.

Edited by: faker