"Even if I collapse from the Self-Eating, you don't have to blame yourself,
Not wanting to show her a pathetic crying face, I carried Myne on my back.
But because I was carrying Myne, I couldn't wipe away the tears falling from my eyes.
Spots of wetness began to dot Myne's arms.
I wanted to help her, but I couldn't.
I gritted my teeth at my own powerlessness.
Myne was always saying, "I'm useless," but to me, she was someone I couldn't do without.
When I said I wanted to become a merchant, even my family had mocked and ignored me, but Myne had laughed and affirmed my dream.
Even when
Something I could never have managed on my own — because Myne had thought it through and taken action with me, a path to becoming an apprentice had opened up.
Even now, everything — how to become a merchant, how to write, how to read numbers, how to calculate, how to think about money — Myne was teaching me all of it.
And yet, I couldn't even save Myne from the Self-Eating.
I didn't have the money to help Myne. I'd started earning a little, but that was all from something Myne had come up with.
If someone more powerful, more grown-up had cooperated with Myne instead of me, paper could have been made much sooner, and she could have been earning money ages ago. If that had happened, maybe Myne would have earned enough money to save herself.
All I could do was think things like that. I was miserable, frustrated, and pathetic in my powerlessness.
If I weren't just a kid — if I were an adult — could I have saved Myne? If I were running a big business like Benno and had money, then I could have…
Gritting my teeth hard, I walked with Myne on my back. Toward Benno's shop — where there would surely be enough authority and money to save Myne.
Surely Benno would help Myne. He recognized the value of the things she made, so he definitely would.
When I arrived in front of the shop,
I didn't want to show them my tear-streaked, pathetic face — unable even to wipe my tears — so I hung my head and stared at the cobblestones.
Benno's shoe tips entered my field of vision.
"Haa… honestly."
The moment I thought Benno had approached with a sigh, my back suddenly felt light.
"Whoa!?"
Startled by Myne's voice, I looked up to see that she'd been plucked up and tossed toward Mark like it was nothing.
Watching Myne sail through the air made my heart nearly leap out of my mouth.
"Wh—!?"
"Oh!?"
Relief flooded me as Mark caught her firmly, but that relief instantly gave way to mounting anger toward Benno.
"How could you do that to a sick person!?" I was about to shout — I sucked in a breath — when Benno jerked his chin toward the shop.
"Lutz, you. Inside. Come."
Deflated, I clamped my mouth shut, then followed Benno into the back of the shop.
Myne would be fine with Mark. At least it was more reassuring than handing her to Benno. Telling myself that, I hurriedly wiped my face with my sleeve as the door swung shut behind me.
He gestured to the usual table, and the moment I sat down, Benno's reddish-brown eyes gleamed. He looked me over from head to toe, then spoke.
"…So the Self-Eating symptoms appeared?"
"How did you…"
"Myne was riding on your back, but she seemed fine. I figured it was the kind of Self-Eating that spikes and drops all at once. You've been with her this whole time, but this was the first time you've seen it?"
I nodded. I'd gone to the forest with her, to the shop, made paper — I'd always been by Myne's side. But this was the first time I'd seen the symptoms.
There had been absolutely no warning signs of deterioration. Her temperature had spiked so suddenly I thought her body might melt away, and something yellowish was seeping from her like steam rising from her entire body. It was terrifying.
"Benno, sir. Please save Myne. I can't do anything. I'm just a kid, I don't have money, I can't do anything…"
"I can't."
Benno flatly rejected my plea with a quiet voice.
"Why not!? You're an adult, you have money, you do business with nobles…"
As I desperately pressed on, Benno's face twisted in pain. He gritted his teeth in frustration and shook his head.
"Even if I say I'm expanding my business, I'm still a new face with barely any connections among the nobility. I'm still someone they take advantage of and rip off. …I'm in the same boat as you, Lutz. I don't have enough power."
"You can't… either?"
I was stunned by words I never expected. Benno — with such a huge shop, with connections to nobles — even he didn't have enough power to save Myne? Didn't that mean treating the Self-Eating was practically impossible?
Just as darkness was closing in on my vision, I remembered someone who had been cured.
"But Frieda was cured! If it's the Guild Master…"
"I've already negotiated."
"Huh?"
Benno let out a short breath and ran a hand through his hair. He wore a troubled expression and let out a wry smile, shrugging his shoulders.
"I was told that with enough money, temporary life extension is possible. Apparently, there are still some Magical Tools left that she bought from fallen nobles to keep her granddaughter alive — tools that look like they could break at any moment. A single-use Magical Tool costs over two small gold coins."
"G-Gold coins!?"
I'd been excited about the one small silver coin I'd gotten from selling paper, thinking it was a lot of money. But apparently, what was needed to save Myne was measured in small gold coins.
The unreachable sum made my head spin.
"But that would only buy six months to a year. Once you spend the money to extend her life, you'll need more right away. Especially since Myne is still small. Every time she grows, the Self-Eating symptoms progress. Eventually, it'll be needed more and more frequently. Can you afford that kind of money for a single apprentice? I can't."
Benno's words weren't wrong. There was no way that kind of money could be produced.
But giving up — saying it was impossible — was the same as giving up on Myne's life.
"There's only so much I can do. Buy the unusual knowledge she has and help with her finances a little. When things get really dire, use my connections to pull some strings. …So, what can you do?"
Glared at by those sharp, beast-like eyes, I found myself glaring right back.
If even Benno — an adult with power, intelligence, and money — could barely do anything, what could I possibly do?
"…There's nothing I can do. I'm just a kid. No power, no brains, no money, nothing. If there's something I can do, tell me."
"Don't make Myne worry. Don't put that burden on her."
"!?"
The words thrown back at me so instantly made me catch my breath. He'd hit the nail on the head, and I had no comeback.
As frustration heated the corners of my eyes, Benno's expression softened slightly — though his eyes remained sharp.
"Listen, Lutz. That girl isn't really a kid, at least not the way she looks. When things are tough for her, she can still put on a smile and worry about you. Just don't let her coddle you or pull one over on you."
I remembered Myne grinning through ragged breaths after the Self-Eating fever had broken. Seeing her smile had certainly put me at ease, but maybe that had been a mistake.
"If you're a man, don't add to Myne's worries any more than you already have. You can't pretend you don't know — so help her buy as much of her own life as she can. You say you'll make the things she designs? If you're going to make grand claims like that, then churn them out one after another and sell them! If you have time to cry, use your head. Move your body. Earn money!"
"…I understand."
Shown what I needed to do, I raised my head.
Benno's lips curled into a grin.
"Now there's the face I want to see."
"Oh, Lutz. Are you done talking? Look, look! The settlement for the hair ornaments I brought today is all done!"
When I stepped out of Benno's room, I was greeted by Myne's usual smile. She looked carefree, but remembering Benno's words, I watched her more carefully — and sure enough, even while smiling, there was worry in her eyes.
Wanting to click my tongue at myself for causing her concern, I smiled back just as brightly.
"That's a lot of money."
"This should be enough for two or three days, I think."
"Two or three days…"
"Honestly, I have no idea how far Mom will go on a spending spree. And Turi's all riled up and eager too, since Mom's pulling her along…"
Keeping up the lighthearted banter, I could feel Myne's tension gradually easing. I think I managed to reassure her a little.
Benno emerged from behind me and, in his usual manner, shrugged.
"If you're done with your business, stop chatting and go home to sleep. Lutz said you're not at full strength."
He waved us away with flicking gestures, then — as if something had just occurred to him — added: "Mark, walk them home. It's dangerous to let kids carry that kind of money."
"As you wish."
The payment had been prepared entirely in medium copper coins for easy distribution to Turi and the others. Thirty-three of them would jangle loudly with every step. Even clutching a few in one's hand was one thing, but for a pre-baptism child to carry that much was far too conspicuous.
Having been warned about the risk of being robbed or accosted, Myne — who normally refused with a cheerful "It's fine, don't worry" — handed the bag of money to Mark without protest.
Mark exchanged a glance with Benno, then tucked the bag under one arm and scooped Myne up with the other, setting off.
"I-I can walk on my own!"
"And the girl who rode here on Lutz's back says what, exactly? Be a good girl and stay still for everyone's peace of mind, won't you?"
"Ugh…"
Myne seemed to lose her means of protest. She drooped and went still. Apparently, she couldn't bring herself to resist Mark's gentle but firm manner.
A useful discovery. I should learn Mark's approach as soon as possible.
On the way back, Myne discussed with Mark how to delegate winter handicraft work and how to manage the finished products, then listed the same points of caution for me.
I thought we'd part ways at the well square, but Mark said, "I'll deliver the money to Myne's house and explain things to her family as well," and showed no sign of putting Myne down.
Grateful for Mark's thoughtfulness, I parted from the two of them at the well square.
"I'll come by later, Lutz!"
After watching them disappear into the building, I dragged my suddenly heavy feet home.
"I'm home."
"Oh, you're empty-handed today?"
Gathering materials from the forest was supposed to be my job as a pre-baptism child, but lately I'd been going to Benno's shop so often that my collecting had suffered. I knew the family wasn't happy about it.
"What's this? Didn't you bring back any money?"
If I brought money home, their attitudes improved — but only slightly.
I went to my room, set down my things, and let out a long breath on my bed. Ever since I'd said I wanted to become a merchant, the atmosphere in the house had been stiff and uncomfortable.
Maybe it would feel better if I gave up on being a merchant and said I'd become a craftsman instead, but I'd regret it forever.
Knock knock!
"Hello, Aunt
"My, if it isn't Myne. I thought I heard someone come home not long ago… Lutz, Myne is here!"
At my mother's voice, my brothers — already hooked like fish on a line — rushed out to greet Myne with eager eyes. By the time I made it out of my room, Myne was almost hidden behind them.
"What's up? A new dish?"
"I'll help! What are we making?"
"Nope, it's different today. I just brought Lutz his payment."
"Payment?"
"Yep. For helping me with my handicraft work. This is his reward."
Myne emerged from the circle of brothers, wearing that grin she always wore when she had a scheme, and stood before me.
"Lutz, hold out your hand." I did as told, and Myne proceeded to place medium copper coins one by one onto my palm.
"Five hairpins, so five medium copper coins. One, two, three, four, five. Right?"
"Mm."
I could feel my brothers' eyes locked onto the coins clinking onto my hand. Their stares felt almost physical, making my palm tingle. I heard someone swallow hard.
"Hey, Myne. This handicraft work — it's those wooden sticks Lutz was making yesterday, isn't it?"
As if she'd been waiting for Ralph's words, Myne beamed with an almost theatrical smile.
"Yep! I'm making hair ornaments, so I asked him to make the hairpin parts. One hairpin pays one medium copper coin."
"One medium copper coin for that!?"
Zasha's eyes went wide and he shouted, then stared intently at my hand.
Thinking there was no point in doubting since I really did have the money, Sig shook his head lightly, then fixed Myne with a steady gaze.
"…That work — it doesn't have to be Lutz, right? Could I do it too?"
Sig's question represented what all the brothers were thinking. Every pair of eyes turned to Myne. She bore the weight of their stares with ease and answered with a smile.
"Sure, it doesn't have to be Lutz. But the size has to be exact, and you have to sand them carefully so they don't catch on hair. You can't do a half-hearted job, okay?"
Hearing this, my brothers' faces lit up and they all started talking over each other.
"Myne, Myne! I'm better at woodworking than Lutz is. I do it every day for work, after all!"
"I'm better than Lutz too."
"If we're talking years of experience, it's me, right?"
Hey, hey, wait a minute.
Those same guys had said "that stick-making is stupid" yesterday. Every last one of them.
"Yesterday, all three of you said it was ri— mmmf!"
"Lutz, you didn't mention anything about payment yesterday, did you?"
"You were planning to keep it all for yourself, weren't you?"
I had actually mentioned the payment. But they'd either tuned me out or assumed I was making things up.
Cash had the power to rewrite even my brothers' memories. I was now thoroughly the villain. Glared at by all three, I learned firsthand just how frightening money could be.
As I was cornered by my brothers, Myne clapped her hands.
"Well then, next time will you three make them? Five each. If you make more than that, I won't be able to keep up. I'll come pick them up in three days."
Myne's proposal was apparently so attractive that I was unceremoniously tossed aside. My brothers faced her with beaming smiles and thumped their chests in confidence.
"You got it!"
"Three days is way too long."
"I can knock 'em out in no time!"
Myne raised one finger with a mischievous grin.
"Speed isn't important — carelessness is. If they're not made carefully, they can't be used, and you'll have to redo them. …Oh right, ask Lutz about the size and what kind of wood to use. I'll be back in three days!"
Myne headed out, and my brothers waved her off with big smiles. But the moment she vanished from sight, they did an about-face.
I was firmly grabbed by the collar and herded into the room.
"So what kind of wood?"
"What size?"
"Since there's no reward for your part this time, hurry up."
Tools were immediately assembled, and I was cornered into explaining the method. The brothers who hadn't so much as glanced at my work before now wanted a full tutorial. I was stunned at their turnaround.
"Stop spacing out!"
"Just tell us already!"
"A-Ah."
As I told them about the type of wood and how to make them, my brothers picked it up quickly and got to work. In no time at all, I was obsolete.
And frustratingly, because they were practiced from their actual jobs, my brothers produced hairpins faster and more cleanly than I ever could.
So this was how Myne felt when she said, "I'm not very useful."
Sidelined, I pulled out my Slate and Calculator. I had my own job to do. The hairpin-making could be left to the craftsmen.
Myne had given me three tasks on the way back.
One: record on the Slate how many hairpins each person made.
Two: store the Slate somewhere hidden so no one could add to it on their own.
Three: each completed hairpin earned me four medium copper coins as a handling fee, so I was to add up the fees on my Calculator.
"There, done."
"I can do it now too."
"Ralph, yours is a bit rough. You need to be more careful, or you'll have to redo it, won't you?"
Chattering like that, my brothers competed to make hairpins one after another.
"Lutz, is this one okay?"
"…Yeah. Nice work, Zasha."
Zasha finished one — four medium copper coins.
"See, I made one too."
"Sig's is perfect too."
Sig completed one as well. Add them up — eight medium copper coins.
As I practiced writing on my Slate, I could see on the Calculator that my handling fees were piling up, even though I hadn't made a single one myself.
So this was what it meant to be a merchant.
Witnessing the power of money firsthand, I renewed my desire to learn how to wield it properly.
Lutz: struggling at home.
But the reason he can keep going without giving up is because Myne is here.
He'll keep working hard to save Myne.
Next time: despite Lutz's resolve, Myne collapses.