The Unwitting Heroic Tale of a Corrupt Merchant - Chapter 5, 6

---READ CHAPTER 1-4 ON NOVELONOMICON---

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The Unwitting Heroic Tale of a Corrupt Merchant ~The Heir to a Large Company Whose Evil Deeds Are Mistaken for Good, Saves the World Without Knowing?~
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The Gallard Trading Company, a name known across the continent.
Its heir, Lake, is a reincarnated soul.

With memories of a past life as a corporate drone who lived and died in servitude, he holds a grand ambition:

"I won't end this second life as a lowly worker like before. I'll commit every conceivable evil and dominate the world from the shadows!"

Determined to enjoy life in a new world, he begins working tirelessly, amassing competent personnel to serve as both subordinates and members of his growing harem.

Lake believes he's gaining loyal pawns by indebting others to him, yet the girls he gathers grow inexplicably devoted to him, and he becomes an object of admiration from those around him.

Though he aspires to live as a villain, destiny seems bent on casting him as a paragon of virtue.

This is the story of a slightly misguided "Villainous Merchant" who unknowingly becomes a savior, leading the world to peace.

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The Pride of a Craftsman
After Garbel left, I walked over to Lucina.

Noticing my presence, she turned her gaze toward me, seemingly recognizing me as the opponent she had faced in the Royal Academy's entrance exam.

“What are you doing here? If you’ve come all the way to mock my defeat, then you’ve got a pretty questionable hobby.”

Her voice echoed through the workshop. It sounded hollow, as if she had given up on everything.

I decided to be forthright with her about my purpose for being here.

“I’ve been looking for you.”
“For me?”

Lucina frowned, understandably puzzled.

We had no real connection.
The only time I had seen her before was in the capital, but I hadn’t even spoken to her then.
This was our first time conversing face-to-face, so her suspicion was natural.

But I had thoroughly investigated her circumstances.

Since there were no photos to go on, it took time to confirm her identity.
Once I was certain, though, I knew how to proceed—with the persuasive skills the Gallard family excels at.

“When I heard you had been exiled from the capital due to that incident, I could hardly believe it.”
“!?”

Lucina glared at me sharply, clearly unwilling to revisit the subject.

She had once been an exceptionally skilled blacksmith, so much so that she had earned the endorsement of the Kingdom’s Knight Commander at a young age.

The Timmons family had been blacksmiths in the capital for generations.
Among them, Lucina was regarded as one of the finest, drawing significant attention.

However, a rival trading company to the Gallard family set its sights on her.

This company had been supplying materials to the Timmons workshop since the era of its predecessor.
One day, the representative suggested secretly substituting inferior materials for the swords supplied to the Knights Order and inflating the cost.

They claimed they could secure similar materials themselves, but naturally, Lucina refused.

The Timmons family, known for their upright and old-fashioned craftsmanship, valued their honor too much for such deceit.
Lucina was no exception.

She reported the company’s scheme to the Knights Order.

Yet, the situation was twisted.
The company accused Lucina of proposing the fraudulent idea herself.

This outcome was due to the rival company's thorough preparation and influence.
Additionally, they had allies within the Knights, so her testimony was dismissed.

Lucina’s workshop lost its license, she became the target of public scorn, and she fled the capital in disgrace.

She ended up here, at this underground arena, having lost faith in people.

“A tragic tale. If you had partnered with us instead of that third-rate company, you could still be thriving in the capital.”
“Hah. What’s the point in saying that now? I’ve tarnished the Timmons name that has stood for five generations... It’s all my fault for being naïve and too trusting.”
“No, the ones at fault are those scumbags who deceived you. You’ve done nothing wrong; you’re simply a victim.”
“... Huh?”

Lucina stared at me, dumbfounded, as if she hadn’t expected such words.

Alright, just one more push.

“Besides, the name of the Timmons family isn’t dead yet. As long as you’re alive, you still have a chance to redeem it.”
“No, I—”
“You sought that chance when you took the Academy’s entrance exam, didn’t you? Even going so far as to secretly craft a replica sword and bring it to the event.”
“Wha—!? Y-you noticed?”
“I’m a merchant who deals in weapons. It’d be shameful if I couldn’t notice something like that.”

I’m not like those third-rate merchants who tricked her.

If I deceive, it’s only to the end.

I’ve spent 14 years in this world acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary for that.

“But… there’s no opportunity left for me. I failed the exam. I’ve lost my chance to enroll.”
“If you don’t have one, I’ll give you one.”

I clasped her hands in mine.

“... These are beautiful hands.”
“D-don’t be ridiculous! My hands aren’t beautiful! They’re... They’re so rough and worn...”

Indeed, her hands were rugged compared to those of other women her age.

But to me, they were beautiful.

These were hands imbued with a craftsman’s spirit, a perfect blend of strength and femininity.
Even her well-worn work clothes spoke to her dedication to her craft.

“These are the hands of a true artisan.”
“... I...”
“You’re too talented to waste away here. Come work for me and reclaim the brilliance of your past.”
“Ah...”

Tears began to fall from her eyes in large droplets.

Her heart wavered.

Sensing this, I pressed on.

“Become my personal secretary and blacksmith. Let’s attend the Academy together and carve out a path to dominance in this world. I need your strength.”

Hearing my plea, the light returned to her once-dull blue eyes.
She knelt before me and bowed her head.

“... I pledge these arms to you, Lord Lake.”
“Thank you, Lucina.”

Everything had gone according to plan.

Lucina Timmons was now my personal secretary, bound to work for me indefinitely.

She could strive to reclaim her title as the righteous blacksmith if she wanted.
That didn’t concern me.

I would profit handsomely from the high-quality weapons and items she forged.

Not only that, but her absence would inconvenience the underground arena, allowing me to insert a craftsman loyal to the Gallard family in her place.
With materials supplied by us, the profits would flow in.

Whether Garbel accepted this or not was uncertain, but the Gallard family’s legendary persuasive skills would ensure his compliance.

This marked the first step toward my path of conquest—or so I thought.

“Let’s stop there, shall we, young master?”

A voice came from behind me.

Turning, I saw Garbel, accompanied by a large group of fighters.

“I suspected something was amiss, but to think it was poaching... That’s unacceptable. She’s a vital asset for us, you see.”
“What?”

So he knew.

Garbel had recognized Lucina as the once-renowned blacksmith of the capital.

Feigning ignorance was merely his way of biding time.

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A Blacksmith Dancing Under the Moonlight
"Now then, let’s put an end to your scheming here. Kindly take your leave for today."

The words were spoken with courtesy, but even that had to be a facade.

He’s probably planning to have one of his subordinates tail us, then use the cover of night to kill us.
If I resist here, he’ll crush me without hesitation.

There’s no turning back for me now, but this was within my calculations.
I’ve already considered the possibility of being cornered like this.
It’s all part of the plan to manipulate them and bend them to my will—

"Get out of the way, you rotten bald geezer."

As I reviewed my plans, Lucina suddenly hurled an unexpected insult at Garbel.

"Wh-Who are you calling a rotten bald geezer!? I’m not bald yet! Look, the sides still have a presence!"

That’s what he’s angry about?
I couldn’t help but retort internally.
Meanwhile, Lucina pressed on relentlessly.

"You’re finished! My new master is none other than Lake Gallard!"
"You ingrate! How dare you forget the debt you owe me!"
"You were planning to sell the weapons I crafted to foreign merchants, weren’t you?"
"How do you know that!?"

Wait, seriously?
If that’s true, the Knights Order and the Mage Corps wouldn’t stay silent about it.

The illegal underground arena thrived because certain nobles were repeat patrons here.
But if he’s involved with foreign dealings, even those nobles won’t stand by him.
After all, for self-serving nobles, there’s no benefit in siding with someone who betrayed their country.

"If we search your desk, I’m sure we’ll find plenty of incriminating documents."
"Ugh…"

Come on, ease up already.
I was planning to use him to make a quick profit before enrolling in the academy, but her accusations might ruin everything.

"Kill them! Finish them off here! I’ll reward whoever lands the final blow!"

Predictably, Garbel, now desperate, ordered his subordinates to attack us.
Damn it, my plans are falling apart.
Convincing them seems impossible now; retreating to regroup might be our best option.

I was about to suggest this to Lucina when—

"This is getting exciting."

… Huh? Did her demeanor just change? Her eyes look... intense.
Have they always gleamed like that?

"To create swords for justice… to wield them… Ahh, I can feel the pure bliss filling my body."

With an ecstatic expression, Lucina licked the blade in her hand.

Have I... recruited a total maniac?

Before I could delve further into that thought, Lucina grabbed a sword and an axe nearby.
Her logic seemed absurd, like combining two strong weapons would yield even greater power.
Yet, it led to unexpected results.

"Yaaahhhh!"

Her fierce battle cry echoed under the night sky.

With incredible agility, Lucina closed the distance to the fighters in an instant.
She swung her weapons deftly, scattering them like leaves.

Her petite frame belied her unmatched speed and overwhelming strength.
Her combat style was equally bold.

When her sword broke, she switched to a whip.
When the axe broke, she grabbed a hammer.

Mastering all kinds of weapons, she toppled opponents far larger and heavier than herself with ease.

W-What kind of combat prowess is this?

Lucina Timmons—not only a top-tier blacksmith but also a formidable warrior with unparalleled skills and instinct.

"Im-Impossible!?"

Garbel finally realized the gravity of the situation, but it was too late.
Lucina had already rendered his elite fighters incapacitated in no time.

"Give it up. This is the end of your wickedness."
"N-No! The arena still has plenty of fighters! One shout from me, and they’ll rush to this spot!"
"Then call them all right now. It’ll save me the trouble of hunting them down."
"W-What!?"
"… Tonight, I feel like I could take on a whole pack of wyverns and not lose."

Honestly, Lucina’s sense of justice was on fire.
Though, I was the one who encouraged her to follow her convictions, I didn’t expect this level of effectiveness.
She seems surprisingly easy to rile up.

She kept felling every fighter that came at her.
It was as if she was venting all the frustration she had bottled up until now.
The pure white moon might as well have turned crimson from the sheer ferocity.

Though I supported her with my swordsmanship, it honestly felt unnecessary.

Eventually, not a single fighter was left standing.

"Y-You… How am I supposed to arrange tomorrow’s matches now!?"

Even at this stage, he still cares about that? It’s far too late for any of that.

"Don’t you realize the underground arena is finished? The only thing you should be worrying about is how comfortable the inside of your coffin will be."
"Eek!?"

At last, Lucina’s righteous wrath was directed at Garbel.

Since he was unarmed, Lucina challenged him barehanded as well.
Even so, she subdued him instantly with brute force. I could hear sounds coming from his body that shouldn’t be possible.

Despite telling him to worry about his coffin, she left him half-dead rather than killing him outright. It seems unnecessary slaughter doesn’t align with her sense of justice.

"Phew… I suppose this is enough for now."

Finally calming down, she flashed a warm smile.

As for me, I was utterly drained.

I had planned to cleverly exploit these guys and earn some quick cash before heading to the academy… Now that’s all gone.
While I was lamenting, I noticed Lucina’s gaze fixed on me, her eyes sparkling as if asking for praise.

Honestly, I didn’t feel like commending her, considering the massive losses I incurred.
But upsetting her now would be unwise.

Lucina is indispensable for my plans moving forward, so I can’t afford to demotivate her.
Thus, my course of action was clear.

"Well done, Lucina."
"Evil deserves to be vanquished! Besides, they were trying to harm you, Lord Lake!"

Lucina declared, as if waiting for this moment. Her strong sense of justice and her loyalty to me were surprising, to say the least.

… If she ever finds out how crooked I really am, that could spell disaster.

Well, I’ll just have to bluff my way through it.
The Gallard family’s legendary skill in persuasion, "The Art of Talk," will see me through.

As long as she trusts me, I can count on her to carry out even the flimsiest of my excuses.

Although I missed out on a business opportunity, I gained something far greater.
Lucina’s devotion to me exceeded my expectations, allowing me to progress to the next stage of my plans.

And so, I successfully secured my first loyal secretary—and corporate slave.

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