Episode 120. Someone's Copying My Business
Inside the carriage heading to the capital,
Rose's heart pounded anxiously.
"Are you alright?"
Neruan asked, keeping an eye on Rose's expression.
"It's okay. I'm just going to check."
The Grand Duke of Artaeum couldn't join her due to personal matters and was traveling to the capital with Neruan.
"I wish Gwen had come with us, too. That's too bad."
Gwen had a mountain of work to do, dealing with brand representatives.
She felt bad dragging someone so busy.
"No. It's actually better that I came with Neruan."
Rose gave Neruan a faint smile. Neruan's body stiffened at Rose's words.
"...You're happier with me?"
"Yes, thank you, Neruan."
As soon as Rose finished answering, Neruan's face flushed brightly.
Neruan, who had been locking eyes with Rose, suddenly turned his head away. His ears were flushed, making him feel dizzy.
'Damn it. It’s so hot all of a sudden.'
He looked out the window, trying to cool his flushed face.
Rose felt a pang of guilt at Neruan’s sudden turn away before speaking.
'As expected... I guess that was too much to ask.'
She had thought it was okay since he readily agreed to come with her, but it seemed he had forced himself to come along.
'I said it because I thought we were getting a little closer.'
It must have been just her own delusion. Rose scratched her cheek for no reason. Silence fell on the carriage. Rose and Neruan each looked out the window in silence.
The carriage, which had been speeding by, began to slow down.
“I see we’ve arrived,”
Neruan said, breaking the silence. Rose nodded quietly and prepared to leave.
Neruan left the carriage first, and Rose, escorted by Neruan, disembarked.
“Are you saying a department store is coming here?”
Rose looked around with a puzzled expression. There was no suitable site for a department store here. It was filled with existing commercial districts.
“Are you saying they’re going to tear down this place and build a department store...? The timing is a bit off for that.”
Rose’s department store was scheduled to open in June or July.
However, rumors had it that the capital’s department store would open even earlier.
It was hard to believe that a department store would open in this place, which hadn’t even been demolished yet, within three months.
Rose, who had been looking around with a puzzled expression, turned her head at the sound of a commotion.
“No! How could you kick us out like this!”
“Oh my gosh, I’m dying. I can’t leave the store until I get my money!”
“Just let us do business here! How can you kick us out so suddenly!”
In the midst of the chaos, Rose quickly surveyed the situation.
'Armed people and... people holding out.'
They were facing off. The armed people were recklessly trying to drag people out.
"Are you crazy and desperate to die? Get out of this building immediately! I'm demolishing this place today!"
"Demolition! That's not possible! Absolutely not until you return my money!"
"Huh, where's your money here? Shouldn't you be paying more? The landlord here was supposed to forgive your unpaid rent, but you're just throwing a tantrum."
"That's just how the poor are. Tsk tsk."
"Those guys!!"
The merchants clutched their backs and fell to the ground at the disdain.
"You're such shameless bastards! You're saying the poor are worse? No! Speak clearly!"
The merchants didn't back down an inch.
"Who raised the rent twentyfold in just three months?"
“That’s right! If you suddenly raise the rent like that, how are we supposed to afford that much money?”
They complained about the landlord who suddenly raised the rent twentyfold.
“The rent here was cheaper than in other places to begin with. The landlord is just now raising the rent to match the market price.”
“Don’t lie to me! Don’t you know that you’re just trying to evict us without giving us a single penny of our deposit and key money! What kind of business pays that much in rent?”
“That’s right!”
“Get out now!”
“Get out! Get out!”
They chanted together and raised their fists into the air.
The armed men sighed deeply as if they were tired.
Rose and Neruan, who had been watching this, whispered softly.
“It seems like this is the right place for a department store.”
“Yeah, I thought so too. It seems they were planning to evict the residents and build a department store on top of it.”
She was curious how they were going to build a department store in such a short period of time...
‘So this is the method they used.’
The building owner was incredibly vicious.
Not only had he arbitrarily taken their land, but he had also resorted to the cowardly method of raising the rent to avoid giving them a single penny.
And to top it all off, a twenty-fold increase, not even common sense. It was a blatant declaration.
He had no intention of returning your money.
Rose sighed and turned to Neruan.
“Can you find out who the building owner is?”
“Yes. I should be able to find out in a few hours.”
“I need you to do me a favor.”
“Let’s get out of here for now. We could get caught up in something if we stay here.”
At Neruan’s words, Rose glanced back.
People who wouldn't leave even if they died, and people who had to tear down the building.
It didn't seem like it would end easily.
Rose and Neruan took refuge a little further away, in a second-floor cafe with a clear view of the scene. Rose and Neruan took a seat on the terrace.
'First, we need to find out if the building owner and the person trying to build the department store are the same person.'
They needed to know if he was simply selling the building or if he was also building the department store. And then they had to negotiate with him.
'Let's try to get him to open the department store as late as possible.'
That first impression was crucial.
Someone had to open a department store before them. It was frustrating to lose the title of "first," but Rose was more worried about something else: how successful a first-time business owner could be.
Some people were already skeptical of Rose's lack of business experience, and a bad first impression could affect the future of the department store. Stereotypes wouldn't go away easily.
'This side hasn't even been demolished yet, so we have a chance.'
Rose had already completed the design and started construction on the building.
Rose sipped the tea at the table, unable to take her eyes off the commotion.
"I sent someone, so they'll contact you soon."
"Yes."
Rose nodded calmly and looked at Neruan.
"Thank you. It's reassuring to have Neruan."
"Ah... yes."
Neruan turned his head away again at Rose's expression of gratitude.
Rose felt slightly embarrassed by Neruan's sullen reaction, not once, but twice.
"Let's not be upset. Neruan must have a lot to do, but he put it all aside and came all the way here with me."
Whatever his intentions, the fact that he came with her was important.
Silence fell again. Rose and Neruan just fidgeted with their teacups, clattering together. As the awkward silence settled in, Rose was the first to speak.
“By the way, Neruan, aren’t you dating? You seem like you’d be popular.”
Neruan blinked, flustered by Rose’s question.
“Oh, did I ask something too personal?”
It was a casual topic, but she didn’t know if it would make the other person uncomfortable.
“Oh, you don’t have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“...”
Neruan stared blankly at Rose, taken aback by the unexpected question.
“No. It’s not that I’m uncomfortable. I’m just not particularly interested in women.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes.”
He had lived only for revenge, so he had no room to care about women.
“What kind of person does Neruan like? Are you perhaps a bit too picky?”
“Well, I’ve never really thought about it...”
He trailed off and looked at Rose.
He had never once thought about what kind of person he liked.
“What kind of woman...”
Neruan thought it over carefully.
“Really?”
Rose blinked, as if surprised by Neruan’s words.
"Then, since we have nothing else to do, should we have a World Cup of Ideal Types?"
"Huh? What's that?"
"Hmm. It's just a matter of choosing one of the two. For example, I prefer taller people, or I prefer shorter people. If that's the problem, choose one of those."
Rose said with an innocent smile. Neruan made a sour expression at Rose's suggestion.
"It seems like it'll be a hassle."
It wasn't a game she really wanted to play. It was because she thought, "Why bother?"
Besides, she felt a sense of rejection at first, as she was hearing about such a strange game for the first time in her life.
Rose, seeing Neruan's expression, smiled awkwardly.
"Ahaha... It's not that great, is it?"
Seeing her embarrassment, Neruan hesitated and looked at Rose.
"...No, we have time until they contact us, so let's give it a try."
He didn't really want to do it, but he had time.
Rose's face broke into a childlike smile at Neruan's answer.
"Then, let's start with the first question. Do you prefer people with short hair or long hair?"
"Long hair."
"Then what about the height? Tall or short?"
"It doesn't have to be particularly tall."
"Would you rather be shy or confident?"
"I like confident people."
Neruan seemed to have a clearer ideal type than Rose had expected. Rose, who was asking a few more questions, closed her eyes into half-moons and spoke.
“Your ideal type is clearer than I thought. Petite, long hair, and a confident personality. Also, someone with pale skin is good, and oh! You also said you like someone who laughs a lot, right?”
Rose went on, listing off the things he liked.
“I was just saying it without thinking.”
A faint smile appeared on Neruan’s face as he watched Rose talk excitedly. Neruan imagined the things Rose had listed and combined them in his head.
'By the way, if you combine all of those...'
Neruan, who was thinking one by one, suddenly stopped smiling.
'Petite, long hair, and someone with light hair color would be good...'
Neruan muttered to himself and then glanced at Rose.
"Someone with pale skin and a smile... And a confident personality.'
Rose scratched her cheek at Neruan’s blank gaze.
“Oh, I laughed too hard by myself again.”
Rose smiled bashfully. Neruan couldn't take his eyes off Rose, staring blankly at her.
A gentle breeze blew, gently fluttering Rose's hair.
For a moment, he felt as if she were surrounded by a halo. Nothing entered his vision. Only Rose's figure filled his eyes.
Rose tilted her head as Neruan stared blankly at him.
"Neruan?"
"Ah..."
Her call finally brought Neruan to his senses.
His heart suddenly pounded. His face flushed.
He lowered his head to hide his face.
'What... What?!?'
Why was the person who came to mind as his ideal type... Rose?
His eyes were filled with confusion.
And then, just then, the person Neruan had sent arrived, holding a letter in one hand.
"Building owner, I have information."
Neruan quickly accepted the letter to hide his confusion.
Inside the carriage heading to the capital,
Rose's heart pounded anxiously.
"Are you alright?"
Neruan asked, keeping an eye on Rose's expression.
"It's okay. I'm just going to check."
The Grand Duke of Artaeum couldn't join her due to personal matters and was traveling to the capital with Neruan.
"I wish Gwen had come with us, too. That's too bad."
Gwen had a mountain of work to do, dealing with brand representatives.
She felt bad dragging someone so busy.
"No. It's actually better that I came with Neruan."
Rose gave Neruan a faint smile. Neruan's body stiffened at Rose's words.
"...You're happier with me?"
"Yes, thank you, Neruan."
As soon as Rose finished answering, Neruan's face flushed brightly.
Neruan, who had been locking eyes with Rose, suddenly turned his head away. His ears were flushed, making him feel dizzy.
'Damn it. It’s so hot all of a sudden.'
He looked out the window, trying to cool his flushed face.
Rose felt a pang of guilt at Neruan’s sudden turn away before speaking.
'As expected... I guess that was too much to ask.'
She had thought it was okay since he readily agreed to come with her, but it seemed he had forced himself to come along.
'I said it because I thought we were getting a little closer.'
It must have been just her own delusion. Rose scratched her cheek for no reason. Silence fell on the carriage. Rose and Neruan each looked out the window in silence.
The carriage, which had been speeding by, began to slow down.
“I see we’ve arrived,”
Neruan said, breaking the silence. Rose nodded quietly and prepared to leave.
Neruan left the carriage first, and Rose, escorted by Neruan, disembarked.
“Are you saying a department store is coming here?”
Rose looked around with a puzzled expression. There was no suitable site for a department store here. It was filled with existing commercial districts.
“Are you saying they’re going to tear down this place and build a department store...? The timing is a bit off for that.”
Rose’s department store was scheduled to open in June or July.
However, rumors had it that the capital’s department store would open even earlier.
It was hard to believe that a department store would open in this place, which hadn’t even been demolished yet, within three months.
Rose, who had been looking around with a puzzled expression, turned her head at the sound of a commotion.
“No! How could you kick us out like this!”
“Oh my gosh, I’m dying. I can’t leave the store until I get my money!”
“Just let us do business here! How can you kick us out so suddenly!”
In the midst of the chaos, Rose quickly surveyed the situation.
'Armed people and... people holding out.'
They were facing off. The armed people were recklessly trying to drag people out.
"Are you crazy and desperate to die? Get out of this building immediately! I'm demolishing this place today!"
"Demolition! That's not possible! Absolutely not until you return my money!"
"Huh, where's your money here? Shouldn't you be paying more? The landlord here was supposed to forgive your unpaid rent, but you're just throwing a tantrum."
"That's just how the poor are. Tsk tsk."
"Those guys!!"
The merchants clutched their backs and fell to the ground at the disdain.
"You're such shameless bastards! You're saying the poor are worse? No! Speak clearly!"
The merchants didn't back down an inch.
"Who raised the rent twentyfold in just three months?"
“That’s right! If you suddenly raise the rent like that, how are we supposed to afford that much money?”
They complained about the landlord who suddenly raised the rent twentyfold.
“The rent here was cheaper than in other places to begin with. The landlord is just now raising the rent to match the market price.”
“Don’t lie to me! Don’t you know that you’re just trying to evict us without giving us a single penny of our deposit and key money! What kind of business pays that much in rent?”
“That’s right!”
“Get out now!”
“Get out! Get out!”
They chanted together and raised their fists into the air.
The armed men sighed deeply as if they were tired.
Rose and Neruan, who had been watching this, whispered softly.
“It seems like this is the right place for a department store.”
“Yeah, I thought so too. It seems they were planning to evict the residents and build a department store on top of it.”
She was curious how they were going to build a department store in such a short period of time...
‘So this is the method they used.’
The building owner was incredibly vicious.
Not only had he arbitrarily taken their land, but he had also resorted to the cowardly method of raising the rent to avoid giving them a single penny.
And to top it all off, a twenty-fold increase, not even common sense. It was a blatant declaration.
He had no intention of returning your money.
Rose sighed and turned to Neruan.
“Can you find out who the building owner is?”
“Yes. I should be able to find out in a few hours.”
“I need you to do me a favor.”
“Let’s get out of here for now. We could get caught up in something if we stay here.”
At Neruan’s words, Rose glanced back.
People who wouldn't leave even if they died, and people who had to tear down the building.
It didn't seem like it would end easily.
Rose and Neruan took refuge a little further away, in a second-floor cafe with a clear view of the scene. Rose and Neruan took a seat on the terrace.
'First, we need to find out if the building owner and the person trying to build the department store are the same person.'
They needed to know if he was simply selling the building or if he was also building the department store. And then they had to negotiate with him.
'Let's try to get him to open the department store as late as possible.'
That first impression was crucial.
Someone had to open a department store before them. It was frustrating to lose the title of "first," but Rose was more worried about something else: how successful a first-time business owner could be.
Some people were already skeptical of Rose's lack of business experience, and a bad first impression could affect the future of the department store. Stereotypes wouldn't go away easily.
'This side hasn't even been demolished yet, so we have a chance.'
Rose had already completed the design and started construction on the building.
Rose sipped the tea at the table, unable to take her eyes off the commotion.
"I sent someone, so they'll contact you soon."
"Yes."
Rose nodded calmly and looked at Neruan.
"Thank you. It's reassuring to have Neruan."
"Ah... yes."
Neruan turned his head away again at Rose's expression of gratitude.
Rose felt slightly embarrassed by Neruan's sullen reaction, not once, but twice.
"Let's not be upset. Neruan must have a lot to do, but he put it all aside and came all the way here with me."
Whatever his intentions, the fact that he came with her was important.
Silence fell again. Rose and Neruan just fidgeted with their teacups, clattering together. As the awkward silence settled in, Rose was the first to speak.
“By the way, Neruan, aren’t you dating? You seem like you’d be popular.”
Neruan blinked, flustered by Rose’s question.
“Oh, did I ask something too personal?”
It was a casual topic, but she didn’t know if it would make the other person uncomfortable.
“Oh, you don’t have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“...”
Neruan stared blankly at Rose, taken aback by the unexpected question.
“No. It’s not that I’m uncomfortable. I’m just not particularly interested in women.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes.”
He had lived only for revenge, so he had no room to care about women.
“What kind of person does Neruan like? Are you perhaps a bit too picky?”
“Well, I’ve never really thought about it...”
He trailed off and looked at Rose.
He had never once thought about what kind of person he liked.
“What kind of woman...”
Neruan thought it over carefully.
“Really?”
Rose blinked, as if surprised by Neruan’s words.
"Then, since we have nothing else to do, should we have a World Cup of Ideal Types?"
"Huh? What's that?"
"Hmm. It's just a matter of choosing one of the two. For example, I prefer taller people, or I prefer shorter people. If that's the problem, choose one of those."
Rose said with an innocent smile. Neruan made a sour expression at Rose's suggestion.
"It seems like it'll be a hassle."
It wasn't a game she really wanted to play. It was because she thought, "Why bother?"
Besides, she felt a sense of rejection at first, as she was hearing about such a strange game for the first time in her life.
Rose, seeing Neruan's expression, smiled awkwardly.
"Ahaha... It's not that great, is it?"
Seeing her embarrassment, Neruan hesitated and looked at Rose.
"...No, we have time until they contact us, so let's give it a try."
He didn't really want to do it, but he had time.
Rose's face broke into a childlike smile at Neruan's answer.
"Then, let's start with the first question. Do you prefer people with short hair or long hair?"
"Long hair."
"Then what about the height? Tall or short?"
"It doesn't have to be particularly tall."
"Would you rather be shy or confident?"
"I like confident people."
Neruan seemed to have a clearer ideal type than Rose had expected. Rose, who was asking a few more questions, closed her eyes into half-moons and spoke.
“Your ideal type is clearer than I thought. Petite, long hair, and a confident personality. Also, someone with pale skin is good, and oh! You also said you like someone who laughs a lot, right?”
Rose went on, listing off the things he liked.
“I was just saying it without thinking.”
A faint smile appeared on Neruan’s face as he watched Rose talk excitedly. Neruan imagined the things Rose had listed and combined them in his head.
'By the way, if you combine all of those...'
Neruan, who was thinking one by one, suddenly stopped smiling.
'Petite, long hair, and someone with light hair color would be good...'
Neruan muttered to himself and then glanced at Rose.
"Someone with pale skin and a smile... And a confident personality.'
Rose scratched her cheek at Neruan’s blank gaze.
“Oh, I laughed too hard by myself again.”
Rose smiled bashfully. Neruan couldn't take his eyes off Rose, staring blankly at her.
A gentle breeze blew, gently fluttering Rose's hair.
For a moment, he felt as if she were surrounded by a halo. Nothing entered his vision. Only Rose's figure filled his eyes.
Rose tilted her head as Neruan stared blankly at him.
"Neruan?"
"Ah..."
Her call finally brought Neruan to his senses.
His heart suddenly pounded. His face flushed.
He lowered his head to hide his face.
'What... What?!?'
Why was the person who came to mind as his ideal type... Rose?
His eyes were filled with confusion.
And then, just then, the person Neruan had sent arrived, holding a letter in one hand.
"Building owner, I have information."
Neruan quickly accepted the letter to hide his confusion.
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