The interior of the store is surrounded by white walls furnished with golden decors while the corridor has paintings up almost all the way to the ceiling.
However, the manager who is leading us, nor Emmy walking next to him, aren’t showing even a least bit of fascination with these expensive things.
With each of us full of vigilance, we entered the room at the back.
.
We are urged to sit on a large sofa and sit face to face with the manager.
Sybilla sits at the center of the sofa where me and Emmy sit towards her left and right.
He is an elderly man clothed in red fully accessorized in gold.
.
[I am the owner of this jewelry store in Seiris. First of all, I would like to offer an apology. We, by all means, have no intention nor hold hostility towards the Holy Knight, however…]
[Just what are you saying all of a sudden?]
[…ha?]
[You shouldn’t apologize to me, but to Sybilla-san instead. Am I wrong?]
.
Emmy is usually a cheerful girl but there’s no trace of it on her right now as she stops her words while giving the old man a very stern look.
…As what Emmy had said, if they really feel even a shred of guilt about their suspicion, then they should have apologized to Sybilla first. Considering how fond Emmy is towards Sybilla, a one sided accusation like they have made wouldn’t be anything but offensive.
Besides, even though they apologized first to Emmy because she’s the [Holy Knight], they shouldn’t be acting so proud. If they only know who Sybilla really is, they won’t ever compare since she is a Goddess…
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[…That makes sense. Dear customer… Sybilla-sama, we apologize for rudely accusing you.]
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Sybilla looks towards the manager who has bowed his head without speaking.
Still, her eyes are stabbing daggers to the man’s very being and it appears that Sybilla right now isn’t the right person to ask for a peaceful reconciliation with.
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As the manager carefully raises his head noticing the weirdness of the silent treatment, Sybilla chooses this moment to bluntly speak.
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[Reason.]
[…Wh-what do you mean?]
[Considering how you’ve suspected me of being the culprit behind the counterfeit incident, you must have some reason why, no? You guys have been really assertive too. That’s why I’m asking for the reason. You aren’t to tell me that after all the things that have been said and done, you’ve got nothing on your hands, no?]
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Sybilla then coils her harm towards Emmy as she looks at her before Sybilla gives her a nod. It’s as if that was enough for them to get an understanding of what each other is about to say.
It took Emmy a little bit of surprise though so she got somehow embarrassed but she nodded back. The trust they built towards each other is clearly visible with such an exchange.
With such a spectacle in front of him, the manager begins to look quite agitated.
.
[O-ofcourse. Then I shall impart to the dear customer what has happened that led to such an event. First, let’s talk about the reason why–]
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Hearing the words coming from the manager’s mouth, I can’t help but get a strange feeling about it.
Like, is it possible that all the things that are unfolding right now has been planned out by Sybilla or something similar.
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[–It’s the bracelet the dear customer has on her wrist.]
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As the man mentioned the thing that Sybila told us as the ‘key to victory’… the victorious goddess that has been pensive since we entered the room laughs boldly for the first time.
.
.
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[….From a souvenir stall, is it?]
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Hearing Sybilla’s response, the manager nods and a briefcase has been brought in front of us. He opened it and shows us what’s inside of the case as he proceeds to explain himself.
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[Yes. The stall is located on the west side of the city where we cater not just to the people who went there to visit the sea, but also the officials and nobles that are travelling in between the port and the beach.]
[Well, that’s to be expected, isn’t it? Jewelry isn’t meant for the common folk afterall.] (Sybilla)
[Yes. However, the city’s administration decided to ascertain whether everything in the city is in order so they spread out their personnel in undercover within the city. It’s because they want to protect the daughters of nobles who’ve been craving for the taste of what a commoner’s life as well as the nobles who hold the classes the same prestige as a Holy Knight who chose to wander in the city than decorate themselves by fancy clothing.]
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There are really different types of people even for the nobles, huh. Rather than just looking at the top from their seats up high, some nobles prefer to see firsthand how the common citizens live their lives.
And even for nobles who has the same level of a Holy Knight, they seem to prefer living the social and administrative life rather than the combative one, I guess.
Are such people really lurking around us? Maybe, the person Emmy mentioned earlier, Katie, is one of them.
.
Sybilla picks up the accessory from the case and traces it delicately with her finger.
.
[Hm, this looks quite the same with mine, no?]
[Does it make sense now?]
[Russell doesn’t really look quite convinced though. Emmy’s bracelet has a design like it’s been swayed by the wind as its surface was carefully crafted. But this one from the said shop on the other hand… Especially this ring.]
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Sybilla picks up the ring and lines it up beside her bracelet.
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[The accessories in this shop are made of wide and thick gold carved with fine details. Ofcourse, it costs more than Emmy’s bracelet, the carving must have taken a greater amount of time too, so it’s reasonable for it to be more expensive.]
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Is there such a thing? Now that I think about it, rather than Emmy’s bracelet, doesn’t it make Sybilla’s bracelet a close thing to it?
I don’t really understand much of what Sybilla said but the man looks quite astonished as he nods his head.
.
[Ye-yes… It’s just like how Sybilla-sama has surmised. We have thought that the bracelet you are wearing was one of the items lined up in our stall.]
[I thought so too… But, how does it relate to me being a suspect for the fake money incident?]
Translator’s Note:
- A value of jewelry depends on how much the pawnshop wants cash it. Easy. Nah, I’m just kidding. Not really a fan of these little expensive things.
Coffee for Simply~.
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