This was a few weeks after the fall of the Holy Tree.

　In the Republic of Alsel, where the reconstruction work was still going on, me and Marie were investigating Zilk's fraudulent activities.

''You found it!''

"I found out right away. One of the victims was a wealthy merchant who collected antiques as a hobby. He paid a fortune for a single teacup.

　I get up from the couch and fold up the blankets when I hear the report from Creare.

　I notice that the sun is high.

　Apparently I've slept through it.

'Wake me up faster,'

'You were tired. There's no need for you to push yourself, Master. Pushing yourself can't have too much effect on the whole operation.

　I suppose my efforts alone are insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

I'll see you soon. Call Marie.

'You're going to apologize?　But the Master is the winning side. Why don't you call him out?

'And that's another thing. Let it be known that Zilk has committed a fraud. Of course Roland is going to be picky and nasty to me.

'It's certainly not funny. I'd better keep my best stuff under wraps before I retort.

　He's got some kind of Roland-related story to tell.

　I'll ask him later.

"Where's Marie?

He's asleep at the soup kitchen.

I don't think we'll get much of a break from Zilk.

　When I left the room complaining, there was a flurry of people moving about in a hurry.

　We rented a room at the embassy and it was very busy everywhere.

　Outside, there were places where buildings were crumbling and piles of rubble.

　There are so many monsters, and we're short on manpower and tools.

''-- It's really busy.''

◇

　The head of the wealthy merchant family - the head of the merchant family that Zilk had tricked - was a smart man with a little beard.

　When he heard we were coming, he greeted us in a suit and prepared a cup of tea, which surprised me.

　He didn't look like he had that kind of time to spare.

　The head of the house looked nervous.

Count Baldfalt--what can I do for you?

　In fact, I didn't say why when I asked for a visit.

　I can't say, "My idiot cheated and tricked you - I can't tell you.

　Still, the reason you're meeting me is because I'm a celebrity.

　Marie was tense beside me.

　She's complaining in a whisper.

'That idiot. How did you manage to fool this man? He's an absurd gentleman and not a stern person. What are you going to do if he apologizes and doesn't forgive you?

　It's not easy to be the caretaker of those five people - and it's not easy for Marie, the mother, either.

　I feel sorry for her.

　It's none of my business, though.

　I'm going to clear my throat and then...

Uh, we'd like to talk to you about some of the items that our Jilk sold you.

　The head of the family widened his eyes as he began to speak.

'I knew it,'

You knew about this?

　When the head of the house approached the servant and told him to bring me the goods, he looked at me and dropped a paragraph.

'--I knew this would happen. I knew he was from the kingdom, you know.

　He seems to know a lot about Zilk.

　It helps that he's talking so quickly, but the atmosphere is not right.

　Marie is also troubled.

'Brother, is there something wrong with you?　This guy is extremely depressed?

Why is that?

　As they were babbling together, a servant came in with a teacup that looked like it was very important.

　He wore gloves to avoid touching it directly with his hands, and furthermore, he put it away in a neat box.

　Doesn't he realize he's been grabbed by a fake?

　The head of the family is severely depressed.

'This is what you're looking for.

　The teacup was taken out of the box and looked quite shiny.

　It must have been carefully polished and carefully stored.

　Marie trembled.

'Do I have to tell you that this is a fake?　Do I have to say it in this atmosphere?

　You have to tell them that their treasures are fake.

　I don't want to be in this role either.

　But I can't leave it to Marier alone.

"Oh, uh, well, I mean--

　When I opened my mouth, the head of the family was in tears.

'D-Do you mind?!'

　I hurriedly asked the head of the family what was going on.

'No, I beg your pardon. I was sad to think that I would never be able to acquire such a treasure again in my lifetime. I had hoped to keep this one as a family heirloom, at least.

　The fact that he cared for me so much makes it all the more poignant.

'Oh, I see. Did you like it that much?

Of course!

　The head of the family suddenly began to speak passionately.

''Look! This crystal-clear white!　And the tone!

　He tapped his teacup gently, and the head of the household closed his eyes and listened to the clear sound.

　Marie, too.

Oh, that sounds so beautiful.

　The head of the family was impressed.

This item was manufactured in a foreign country over 500 years ago. The technology from that time is gone, and it's probably a lost item in the sense that it will never be used again.

　Apparently, they were made in a foreign country where everything has been destroyed and there are very few of them.

Oh, do you know a lot about this?

　I asked him if he was just tricked, but he went into a lot of detail.

　Then he said.

'Of course. I had the same thing in my possession. But that one was in bad shape. But this one is in almost perfect condition. I couldn't believe at first that it was in such perfect condition.

Well, have you made a mistake?

'This is still a merchant. I'm not an expert, but I know a lot of people who know a lot about it. All of them admitted that it was genuine. It's one of those items that even my business enemies have asked me to sell with my head down. There can be no mistake.

　It's said to be one of those items that real connoisseurs have raved about and shed tears over.

　Marie is surprised.

"Oh, it's the real thing?

　The head of the family sheds tears at Marié.

I'm a merchant from a defeated country, so I have no choice but to respond to your request to present it to you. I'm sure you should have volunteered to give it to me. But I couldn't bring myself to give it to you. I wanted to keep this one with me.

　Seeing the head of the family crying in frustration, I shook my head.

　The more I looked at it, the more it seemed to shine, the more the teacup looked different from the mass-produced product that Zilk had been raving about.

　Practical, yet beautiful curves and whiteness - even a sigh.

　Hadn't that guy sold her a fake one?

　To be honest, I'm tempted to take it home with me as it is--''

'No, no, it's not a problem if you're taking good care of it. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one. Ah, I was surprised to hear that he was an antique dealer.

　The head of the company hears my words and gives me a big smile, as if I were a flower in bloom.

　The nice middle with blushing cheeks is also - well, I won't tell you.

'He's a genius!　He makes the task of finding a small diamond in the desert a breeze. There's no doubt that his talent for finding the real thing in the rubbish that's just a name for antiques is unorthodox!　I was astonished at what a tremendous talent the kingdom has in store for us.

　You're telling me that Zilk is getting a pat on the back?

　Me and Marie couldn't believe it.

　If that's the case - what was it all before?

'Oh, um - can you tell me who else knows about Ziruk?　You can keep your teacup as it is.

　The head of the family was happy to see tears in his eyes.

'Thank you!　What a gentleman the Heroic Lord of the Kingdom is, even though he was prepared to have his entire fortune taken away!　You can't rely on rumors!

　Ugh, rumors?　Is my rumor really that bad?

　What do you think I am?

　He then asked people who had purchased products from Zilk.

◇

'Look at this painting. It was treated like trash in a shop where it was dirty and of unknown value, but he found it for me. He saved one precious piece!
I've fallen in love with your talent, Mr. Zilk. I can't help but feel sorry for myself at this point. He has a real sense of taste.
'The talent to pick only the real thing out of many forgeries - no, that was a gift from heaven. There's a difference. It's hard to describe in such simple terms. --He is a man chosen by the god of art.

　--everyone was raving about Zilk.

　The experts had checked it out and it seemed to be the real thing, and it turned out that Zilk had been making a decent amount of money selling the real thing.

　But I can't be honestly happy about it.

　Marie and others fell off their knees as they came back home.

'What the hell!　Then why would you let them grab a fake one?　You didn't sell a single gift you gave me!

　Such is the case with Zilk, he made a rough deal on the real thing and none of the things he got were worth anything.

　It may be worth it to him, but they are all incomprehensible items to others.

　Clairé looks down at Marie.

''This is that, right?　I wonder if it was the efficiency play that the master was talking about, selling the gifts the hero received immediately to redeem them?''

It's awesome because when you do it in real life, you don't want to donate, but when you see Marie, you want to feel sorry for her.

　In the game, there is a way to make money by selling the gifts that the target of the attack gave you.

　At the time, I was muttering something like, "If I saw her in real life, I'd think she's a b*tc*.

　But what about reality?

　I can only pity Marie when I see her.

　--too pitiable to laugh at.

　Zilk, who had called her up, was in trouble.

'Ho, was it real?　As far as I'm concerned, that was just a selection of things you guys might like?

　Marie pointed at Zirku, crying and angry.

'Choose properly if you can!

No, the gifts I gave to Marie-san were truly the ones I chose myself. There are no falsehoods there.

　Cleare laughed.

''It's funny how it was more to Marie-chan's liking if you were faking it. Why don't you just get a fake one as a gift from Zilk's point of view?''

　When Marie heard this, she instantly regained her energy.

'That's it!　Zilk, from your point of view, collect the fakes. We'll sell them this time!

　Zilk was troubled, but he would do it for Marie--'

''Huh, it's a complicated feeling, but it's a small price to pay if it will bring a smile to Marie-san's face!

'Fun!　This time, pick out a piece of art that I deserve.

Yes!

　The two of them leave the room in high spirits.

　As for me--

'Anyway, it wasn't a scam, so what does it matter? That's a relief.

'Yes. Master, more importantly, Lelia has requested a meeting with you?

...rejected.

◇

　A few days later.

'Zilk idiot!

I'm sorry...

　In front of a pile of antiques that were all forgeries that couldn't even be sold, Marie was sobbing.

　If Zirk chose a fake, it would be the real thing, right?

　--That's sweet.

　The guy's aesthetic sense seems to have been dulled because of his greed for Marie and all that.

　It's not as if he's dull to begin with.

　The ones I got were all fakes and didn't even sell.

　By the way, the cost of the purchase--

'My navel-gazing!

　Zilk cringes at the sight of Marie, who is down on the ground, pounding the ground and crying.

　Around him, Gregg, dressed in a loincloth, was looking at him with a dumbfounded look on his face as he slung a hand towel over his shoulder.

　I mean, isn't this guy and Chris both wearing a loincloth as normal clothes?

　Where the hell are you guys headed too?

What do you want me to do with the presents I can't even sell!

　It's a lousy thing to say, but I wonder why - I'm starting to feel sorry for Marie.

　It's hard to take care of these guys.

　I'll give her some pocket money to comfort her later.

　I would never want to take care of these guys.