IBVFL 34

Chapter 34

‘Do you even realize how many things I’m good at?!’

I’m great at making potions, decent at using magic, and excellent at eating cake! I know how to enjoy all sorts of snacks too!

‘Okay, maybe I’m bad at reading contracts!’

But still—overall, I’m pretty capable, aren’t I?!

“Our Lady Ria, of course, has so many talents,”

“…‘Our’?”

“Yes. First of all, you have an excellent grasp of reality. You’re exactly the type of person well-suited to living in Proud. And, like me, you have a sharp sense for money. You’re practically obsessed with it. You’ve got the spirit of a businesswoman.”

…Wasn’t that basically an insult?

‘Well, if I’m being honest, he’s not wrong.’

Still, it didn’t feel great hearing it said out loud.

“What are you even talking about?”

Felix seemed to share my sentiment; his eyes narrowed sharply.

But Gilbert didn’t back down in the least.

“Do you have any idea how capable the Lady is? She’s quick to understand things—just like me! Highly competent, sharp-minded, and with a wonderful personality—again, just like me!”

“You.”

Felix suddenly turned toward me.

“Yes?”

“Don’t hang around him.”

“Ah, I think that’s a good idea.”

For once, we were in perfect agreement.

“W–wait, why! I was only speaking the truth!”

Gilbert protested in wounded outrage, but nobody was listening. Felix ignored his business partner entirely and rang a small bell.

“Did you call for me?”

A staff member waiting outside entered the room.

Felix glanced sideways at the menu sitting in front of me.

“Bring everything.”

“…Excuse me?”

What now?

I turned to him, startled.

“‘Everything,’ as in…?”

“Right away, young lord,”

the employee replied cheerfully, snatching the menu from my hands before quickly disappearing.

And just like that, I was about to experience a full-course Western omakase meal.

I sat there, dumbfounded.

‘I just wanted a little shark fin, some caviar… maybe a bit of tenderloin?’

Sure, I could enjoy pretending to be rich if someone was paying for it, but—

“Something to say?”

His tone made it clear he was paying some attention.

“Isn’t that a bit much, though?”

I asked weakly, out of the last bit of conscience I had.

Felix frowned.

“From what you were picking, ordering everything seemed more efficient.”

“Ahem.”

Thinking back to how many dishes I’d been eyeing, I couldn’t exactly argue. Felix raised his glass and added,

“If you don’t like it, send it back.”

“Thank you very much. I’ll enjoy it.”

Right. He’s the one paying, after all.

When someone else’s wallet is on the line, you don’t complain.

While I wisely stayed quiet, a line of waiters poured in carrying dish after dish.

‘Wow, this is insane.’

It really was an omakase experience. There were so many courses it took a while just to set the table.

“Hah, thanks to you, my lady, I get to enjoy such luxury today.”

“Because of me?”

Gilbert said dreamily as he raised his fork.

“If I ever ask him to treat me, he either tells me to shut up or to get lost. Sometimes he just says, ‘Are you insane?’”

“Well, that’s because you’re saying insane things.”

“See? You heard that, right?”

Apparently used to this dynamic, Gilbert popped a cherry tomato into his mouth.

He didn’t bother with etiquette, and Felix didn’t seem to care—so this clearly wasn’t their first time eating together.

But hearing that exchange made me look at Felix curiously.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Felix caught my gaze and frowned slightly.

I hesitated before cautiously asking,

“Why are you treating me to dinner?”

“What?”

“This meal.”

The only person who knew I was a potion maker was Gilbert.

And for some reason, he didn’t seem eager to tell Felix the truth.

So as far as Felix knew, I was just some ordinary guild employee.

‘Don’t tell me—it’s because of the first love buff?’

“If you don’t like it, you can leave.”

Okay, so it’s not that.

So much for that theory.

Felix took a sip of his water.

“No reason.”

“No reason?”

“Yeah. Just because.”

His tone was flat and unbothered. I simply nodded and picked up my fork again.

“Pffft—”

Gilbert, who’d been stuffing his mouth with meat, puffed out his cheeks trying to hold in laughter.

Felix’s gaze turned instantly razor-sharp.

“Do you want to get thrown out?”

“I—I didn’t say anything! I’m just quietly chewing my steak—pffft!”

Sir, please—he’s glaring at you like he’s about to kill you.

‘Why is he even laughing?’

I didn’t know the reason, but watching him chuckle under that death glare was honestly impressive.

This man really was a guild master—someone who could smile even while staring down a predator.

‘Yeah, to survive in this line of work, you’ve got to be built different.’

To avoid becoming collateral damage between whales, I quietly focused on the shrimp in front of me.

Felix, apparently done engaging, resumed cutting his steak.

Clink, clink.

The meal settled into a brief, peaceful rhythm—until—

“So, by the way,”

Gilbert swallowed his bite and spoke up again.

“After our last mission, I discovered something incredible—wait, why are you looking at me like you want to kill me again?”

“Because you’re about to say something stupid.”

Felix took another calm bite of steak.

“S-stupid? When have I ever said something stupid?”

“Right now.”

“…You’ll regret not hearing this.”

“What is it this time.”

Felix sighed irritably.

“Back when we wiped them all out, I think I might’ve found the lord’s location—”

Gilbert’s words trailed off as he suddenly noticed me sitting there.

But I knew how to read a room. I immediately pretended I hadn’t heard a thing and focused on my food.

Felix glanced my way and murmured,

“Go on.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Yeah.”

Then he looked back at me.

“She doesn’t exactly seem like someone with a hidden agenda.”

Ah. So I’m not even worth being cautious about, huh?

‘Perfect. I love being underestimated.’

I silently continued eating. In situations like this, the best move is to hear nothing, see nothing, say nothing.

Gilbert nodded quickly.

“Yes, well, I can guarantee that—”

“But if a word leaks, you’re cleaning it up.”

Hack—!

I choked on my food before I could stop myself.

“Are you all right, my lady?”

Gilbert asked, patting my back in alarm.

Meanwhile Felix continued calmly savoring his steak.

“Don’t worry. As long as the Lady keeps her mouth shut, nothing will happen.”

“…Are you sure nothing’s going to happen?”

Of course, I had zero intention of telling anyone—but getting a firsthand threat from the underworld still made my skin crawl.

‘If it’s that important, couldn’t you have said this after dinner?!’

Why now, when people are eating?!

…But then again, he’s the one footing the bill.

So I swallowed my pride along with my food.

“I didn’t hear anything… at all…”

“Good. The Lady didn’t hear a thing today. Understood?”

I wiped my mouth with a napkin and nodded obediently.

Gilbert, after making sure I was fine, cleared his throat.

“I believe… I’ve found the Lord’s whereabouts.”