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Chapter 28. The Price of a Life
“Ah, it’s for personal reasons.”
“I see.”
I wish he would show at least a little jealousy.
But Nox’s favorability didn’t budge from the stagnant 28%.
It seems that anything in the 20% range isn’t enough to trigger jealousy.
Maybe it’s just at the level of, ‘I care a little more than I would about a random woman.’
Honestly, I regretted that +10% favorability that had gone to Damian more than anything.
“I won’t interfere. Right, Leon?”
“Of course. Go ahead and talk freely.”
“Thank you.”
Leon answered without hesitation and stepped away from the conference table, leaning against the wall next to the door.
The faint, crooked smile on his face as he stood there with his arms crossed somehow felt mischievous.
It almost made me think the back of my head was burning from his gaze.
“Are you still getting harassed by the investors?”
“Yeah.”
Nox gave a wry smile, clearly uncomfortable.
I knew that some of the investors—excluding Damian—were giving Nox a hard time, blaming him for the loss of their principal investment.
Of course, they had been warned of the risks from the start, but now that the money was really gone, they were panicking like their lives depended on it.
And I couldn’t exactly blame them.
If it were my livelihood on the line instead of spare funds—and if it hadn’t been my own fund—I might’ve reacted the same way.
“If there’s anything I can do to help—”
“It’s fine. This is my responsibility.”
I knew Nox was managing everything on his end so that I wouldn’t have to get involved or stressed out.
As the representative and final decision-maker of this investment body, he was more than fulfilling his role—and even going above and beyond to consider my well-being.
I was grateful for that, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. Maybe he didn’t really see me as an equal business partner?
“At least Duke Ortiz has been understanding, so that’s a relief.”
“…”
“He’s also been persuading the other investors.”
“He must really trust you.”
“About that property… it seems to have shut down.”
Nox stared at me for a moment before abruptly changing the subject.
The way he did it left me feeling strangely uneasy, but what he brought up next piqued my curiosity.
“Nobles used to go in and out constantly, and now it’s as quiet as a grave. Looks like it’s closed.”
I instinctively turned to look at Leon.
When our eyes met, he gave me a playful wink.
As if to say, “Just play dumb.”
“Then maybe we can get it back? We don’t need it anymore.”
“Who knows. They probably bought it cheap and are trying to resell it at a high price.”
Right. Since their secret slush fund was taken, they’re probably trying to recover the loss.
“But it was ours. That building was ours.”
I had designed the whole resale structure, and now some rotten scoundrels were going to walk off with the profit.
It made me want to scream with frustration—but I still had no solution.
“Sigh… Even if it’s unfair, there’s nothing we can do. The fastest way to recover is to accept the loss and focus on the next opportunity.”
“You’re right.”
“But I still think the investment structure I designed is valid. It would be such a waste to abandon it after just one failure. I want to try again.”
“I agree. Everyone had a positive view of your idea from the start.”
Nox gave a small nod, signaling that he supported my proposal—for now.
That was a relief.
“And this time, Duke Ortiz has agreed to forfeit both his principal and his compensation, so we’ve caught a break—”
“What?! Why?!”
Apparently surprised by my reaction, Nox tilted his head.
“You didn’t know? He said to give his share of the compensation to you, so I assumed there was some agreement.”
“…”
So this is the power of 40% favorability.
Or maybe it was just guilt.
“He said he had some in-depth discussions with you about the investment structure.”
“We did. He asked a lot of questions, and I answered as sincerely as I could.”
“Then I’d like to proceed with the next project under Duke Ortiz’s leadership. If that’s alright with you.”
Nox glanced at me, probably aware of the awkward relationship between me and the Duke.
After thinking for a moment, I made up my mind.
“Even though it’s my structure, if Duke Ortiz is willing to take the lead, I have no reason to object. Let’s do it, sir.”
“Are you sure? Personal feelings won’t help your investments.”
“I know. And… sir.”
I handed over a fairly thick stack of documents I had prepared.
“I made some adjustments to the old investment structure. Would you take a look?”
Nox scanned the papers coolly.
A faint, satisfied smile crept onto his face—as if I had met his expectations.
I let out a sigh of relief, but then Nox handed the documents back abruptly.
“I’ll review them more thoroughly and get back to you. Good work, miss.”
[Nox Green’s Favorability: 30% ⟶ 37%]
Ah, good. Looks like he really did like it.
* * *
On the way home, after walking in silence for a while, Leon finally spoke.
“You called him ‘sir.’”
“Yes. He is my teacher.”
I hugged the document folder Nox had given me tightly, like it was a treasure.
Today’s meeting had caused a change in Nox’s favorability.
From experience, if he reviews this document and offers feedback with interest or admiration, I’m sure I’ll get an even more positive response next time.
‘No matter what, I have to get a higher favorability than Damian.’
If a mission pops up where favorability becomes a reward, I’m definitely going to invest it all into Nox this time.
That’s when it happened.
While I was deep in thought, something large and dark suddenly blocked my path.
Leon was now walking backward in front of me, looking me in the eye.
“What did you learn from him?”
“Survival strategies.”
“You don’t even look strong enough to hold a skewer. What survival?”
“Is this a deserted island? Why would I survive with a skewer?”
Yep, he really is a mercenary. That’s just where his brain goes.
I shot him a glare, but he just shrugged and smiled.
“Obviously, I meant knowledge. Professor Nox is the youngest to ever teach at the Academy. He looks smart, doesn’t he?”
“That’s all?”
“He’s also my business partner. And…”
How should I explain this?
What do you call someone you’re trying to get to fall in love with you?
My lips moved, but I couldn’t get the words out.
Leon noticed immediately, like he read my mind.
“Aha. So you’ve got a thing for the professor? That’s unethical.”
“We’re not in a formal student-teacher relationship, and it’s not an affair. Besides, my parents are fully in favor of it.”
“You mean the parents who kicked you out after your broken engagement?”
“…”
“Well, marriage is just another way to make a living. It’s actually pretty stable.”
Leon walked alongside me again, hands in his pockets, smiling calmly.
He didn’t seem to mind that I might marry someone else. Didn’t even flinch.
Is 8% favorability just… “I kind of know that person”? Like, the level where you give generic advice and nothing more?
“I have no plans to get married. After getting dumped, I realized I can’t rely on marriage alone.”
“…”
“I’ll make a living using my own abilities.”
“Do you even have any?”
“I may not look like it, but I’m smart.”
“…”
He stared at me like he didn’t believe a word of it.
Okay, maybe I hadn’t shown many signs of brilliance, but still, that was a bit much.
But then, Leon nodded.
“Yeah, that thing earlier—your investment idea—it was pretty solid. But how’s anyone supposed to know that? All you’ve got is a single failed project.”
Oh, so he had been listening quietly the whole time.
“And just because a noblewoman says she’ll work doesn’t mean she will.”
“But these days, noble ladies do get jobs.”
“Academy graduates, mostly.”
“…”
Ugh. My education.
My head dropped without me realizing it.
Leon lightly patted my head.
“Cheer up. Your investment idea was clever.”
“You understood it?”
“Yeah.”
Some of the terms were advanced. Without a basic understanding of finance, it wouldn’t make sense at all.
Some sections were downright technical.
Yet he understood it all just from listening in?
I stared at him in surprise, eyes wide.
Leon chuckled.
“What, don’t believe me?”
It wasn’t that I doubted him.
I just didn’t want him to take it the wrong way, so I quickly shook my head.
“No, I was just surprised. It’s hard to understand without background knowledge. We had to explain it to investors over and over.”
Though, technically, that was Nox’s job.
And I had struggled to write guides that would help investors grasp the concept more easily.
“Mercenaries tend to have strong financial sense. It’s the price of our lives—we can’t spend it carelessly.”
The price of a life.
Leon always acts playful and open, so it’s easy to forget what kind of person he really is.
But sometimes, like now, I’m suddenly reminded—he’s a mercenary.
And not just any mercenary, but a battle-hardened member of Atrox, infamous for their brutal combat work.
In his neat black shirt, tailored pants, and light jacket, he could pass for a regular academy student walking down the street.
But in moments like this, I’m startled all over again by the reality of who he is.
Someone who walks battlefields for money.
Like right now.
