The clerk is trying to recall his memory while squinting his eyes as he looks at me in suspicion.
I try to search for my memories as well from where I could possibly met this man.
.
[…This person, I have really met him before!]
.
The clerk’s exclamation made the manager’s eyes open wide while Emmy’s squimer around.
Sybilla looks pretty calm though.
.
[I do remember meeting this clerk before as well.]
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The soldier and the manager turns on me while their doubts continue to deepen.
.
It was three days ago, and he’s the clerk of that stall… Or so I think but it’s really hard to remember since it’s not possible for me to recall every person I met in the city…
I think I saw him before when I bought Emmy’s bracelet but that shouldn’t be the stall he’s been working on.
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[…Is there anything you would like to say?] (Manager)
[Yeah, and there’s no way that could be true.] (Sybilla)
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Sybilla then bluntly cut the words of the merchant.
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[Russell left all of his silvers back in our inn. He used his adventurer tag to pay and that transaction is recorded in the guild. That being the case, it isn’t possible to fake his payment nor the seller to fabricate the receipt.]
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The young man groans in frustration but it seems he isn’t just about to give up.
It’s his chance to clear his name afterall. I doubt he’d just immediately let things go.
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[T-then are you telling me that I just happen to remember this guy’s face…!?] (clerk)
[That’s probably the case. We don’t really know anything yet about the culprit but… what do you think, Sybilla?] (Russell)
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The conversation goes back and forth until Sybilla who’s falling in thought looks at Emmy.
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[Emmy-chan, would you mind showing us your bracelet?]
[Hm? This?]
.
Emmy’s bracelet shouldn’t have anything to do with the young man’s stall according to Sybilla.
The manager saw the bracelet as well earlier and he held no regard.
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[…Excuse me, could you allow me to take a better look at that bracelet?]
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The clerk then decided to speak up.
Is there anything about the bracelet that’s not even bought from his own stall?
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Emmy then hearing the clerk’s words started to move closer to the prison cell.
The clerk took a long look at the bracelet before he assuredly nodded his head.
.
[This one’s the bracelet from next door.]
[Next door?]
[The stall beside me, sir manager. It’s a jewelry stall set up right next to ours. I think it’s from someone who is a sole proprietor…]
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Oh… He’s the clerk from the stall beside where I bought Emmy’s bracelet.
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[Oh, now I remember.]
[…Hm? Do you finally remember where you met me?]
[Yeah. I was the one who bought Emmy’s bracelet using my tag from that stall. I am dressed similarly back then so it’s probably why you find it easier to remember.]
.
It’s the same day when we’re about to go home after enjoying a large feast and accidentally meet Eve.
I was lightly dressed back then as well and when Eve’s about to get dolled up, Sybilla kicked me out of the inn and was forced to roam around.
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It was around that time where I used my tag for the first time and bought Emmy’s accessory.
I even wondered why that stall nearby closed out the next morning but to think he was arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, huh.
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[…Is that so, but… Yeah, people with black hair and eyes are pretty rare so I ended up remembering you after you bought from the stall besides ours. It’s quite the slack time where customers aren’t really that much. That’s why I ended up watching you buy the bracelet to the side…]
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Well, to keep the young man’s story short-
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The man is a clerk of a jewelry store in the market.
I bought a bracelet for Emmy right next to it.
The color of my hair and eyes was pretty eye-catching so he ended up remembering it.
.
[I see… and now the dots connect… but, with this, we’re now back at square one…]
[…That’s… yes…]
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The clerk’s head and shoulders hang down in disappointment.
He had high hopes where they can now get the real culprit behind this incident but it ended up being a fail.
.
–Huh? Wait.
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[Sybilla.]
[Yes?]
[If it’s so, where did you get the bracelet then? I only bought Emmy’s bracelet and the culprit should be the one who bought that one. Still, the culprit bought it using cash which you never do. If it’s currently in your hands, does it mean that you got it from the real criminal?]
[Hm~~~, seems like Russell’s quite sharp today. Is it because you’ve finally cleared up your head?]
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Everyone’s gazes then moved to Sybilla which made her widely grin.
This girl, just how much did she already figure out so far… Just let it all out already.
.
[It’s not that I really know who’s the culprit, y’know~. But… How do I say this? Someone dropped it and I ended up keeping it, I guess.]
[Oh, so it ended up as a lost item.]
[Yep. Let’s just say it dropped from someone’s purse and I ended up borrowing it.]
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How can the real culprit drop behind something so expensive…?
Is that even possible?
.
Unless you’re a nouveau riche or a higher noble, you’d really put great care on your extravagant accessories and luxurious items.
I mean, I was really anxious when I bought Emmy’s bracelet because someone might pickpocket me again like Eve you know!
.
So yeah, one shouldn’t casually carry around such items unless you’re filthy rich or a noble…
…Casually carrying such a bracelet…
.
A nouveau riche… A noble…
.
!
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I remember all of a sudden what Sybilla said when she happily laughed in her swimsuit when we’re at the beach.
Yeah, the swimsuit part isn’t really necessary so let’s stop thinking already of how sexy it was. Hm, what did Sybilla say back then again?
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—[The correct answer is ‘people who dress like an associate baronet’.]— (Flashback)
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That way, no one will be wary about her.
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—[People who dress flashily give the impression ‘Take a look at me as I have nothing to hide’ and so everyone believes that to be the case.]—
.
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–Somehow, I can now see the right path coming all together.
The bracelet which will open our path to victory rings then beautifully into my ears.
.
.
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I look at Sybilla’s bracelet.
It’s quite the luxury.
It uses pure gold as its base and the surface is obviously meticulously designed by the hands of a master craftsman.
.
Still… It was just casually kept inside a pouch.
The pouch was left hanging on that person’s waist without any concern for it to be stolen.
.
[I can now recall as well the person who bought Sybilla’s bracelet.]
[…eh?]
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Sybilla’s eyes then widened in bewilderment as she remained dumbfounded.
.
Oooh, it’s been a while since I saw her this caught off guard. Seeing her this surprised really heals my heart.
.
It took a moment for Sybilla to recover herself.
And so, the bombardment started.
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[–Noooo!! How could that be! So you know who bought this bracelet!? Then aren’t everything that just happened stupid and useless!?]
[Yep, I know him. Also, I ended up remembering it due to the current flow of what’s happening so it really isn’t useless or stupid.]
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I calm Sybilla down as she catches her breath after she keeps on ranting and grumbling before I look at the young man.
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[Hey. When I bought the bracelet from the stall beside yours, the bracelet Sybilla’s currently wearing… It immediately got sold right after, no?]
[Y-yes. That was certainly the case.]
.
Yeah, something really made an impression at me right after I bought Emmy’s bracelet.
I thought that person was someone I am familiar with after seeing him at a glance but… The way he casually put that bracelet inside the pouch on his waist made me certain that I don’t know him as there’s no one I am familiar with who will unbelievably and casually do the same.
.
[It’s a tall noble. He’s wearing a hood so I wasn’t able to see his face. He just threw the bracelet inside his pouch, ‘which made me think that rich people really have it different’, and got really impressed at that moment.]
[ah…! Yes..! It certainly is what that man said! Indeed, I forgot about it… I thought that there’s no way such a noble would lack gold to pay and thus let down my guard…! That man should be the real criminal!]
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The manager and the soldier then raise their voices upon hearing what we said.
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[There’s no mistake about it, yes!?]
[Y-y-yes!! Ofcourse! His memory matches to such an extent with that man. There should be no doubt about it!]
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The soldier then immediately turns to our direction then bow his head.
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[I am thankful for hearing such information. I will now gather the rest of the soldiers to look for nobles who might be using the fake money. Similar cases have been reported before already so the officials and the lords of the city are quite eager to arrest the culprit.]
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The soldier straighten his back and is about to leave as he excuses himself when Sybilla then–
.
[STOP RIGHT THERE!]
Coffee for Simply~.
Appreciate the post? Maybe you can buy me a cup of coffee?~
$2.00
Sorry but for me this all makes no sense are all.
Hey, thanks for raising this so I looked back and fixed quite a few of the characters (merchant = manager, young man = clerk) and some grammars. But yeah, the story is so abrupt from their fight against the Demon King. But it will be related at the end. After 2 chapters I guess. Part 2 will be released tomorrow and the next update the day after.