Chapter 24

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: The Princess Only Deals in the Real Thing 31

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공녀님은 진짜만 취급합니다

31화

A polite thug trying to shake me down for protection money—what kind of warm iced coffee combo is this?

I didn't even have time to be flustered by this brand-new breed of human.

'If he's here for protection money, I can't just send him packing nicely.'

This was finally my chance to test out a new magic tool.

I hid the orb-shaped magic tool I'd bought from Emma in my hand and smiled as I replied.

"Permission? I think you have the wrong idea. This is my building. Would you like to see the property registry?"

"Holy artifacts."

The thug cut me off in that unnecessarily nice voice of his.

Holy artifacts?

"You're trading in holy artifacts here, aren't you? Does the World Tree Temple know about this?"

"The Temple?"

"I'm asking if you've reported it."

In principle, you had to report it to the World Tree Temple if you handled holy artifacts.

Since they were under Temple jurisdiction.

'But that's a rule from like 500 years ago.'

No one followed it anymore—it was a dead letter.

Not only had many of the Temple's own holy artifacts been lost over time, they simply couldn't manage every newly blessed one that popped up after the law was made.

And they couldn't go around ransacking every believer's home just for failing to report.

But this thug in front of me was dragging out a law from centuries ago.

When I shot back, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

"I'll take that as a no on the report. In that case..."

"No. I never said that. Silence isn't always an answer."

I held out the file to the thug, who hesitated.

"See for yourself. Imperial Year 912, February 7th—reported to the Temple on the same day the pawnshop opened."

It was the paperwork Grandpa had filed himself.

'Looks like Grandpa wasn't the only stickler for the rules.'

A stickler who shook down others for protection money was a rare type, sure, but the world was wide and full of all sorts.

I watched the thug pore over the documents.

More importantly, how did this guy even know we had a holy artifact? Word on the street?

But right now, the shop only had one in stock.

'...Rina's Emerald Pendant.'

Of course, I'd only taken it as collateral—I'd never traded it.

I hadn't told a soul. Rina surely hadn't either.

So this thug—was he...

"As long as it doesn't end up in Uncle's hands. If I keep it... I'm powerless, so he'll definitely take it from me."

'...one of that uncle's underlings?'

My blood ran cold.

That's when the man snapped the file shut.

"I've confirmed it."

"Then care to apologize for jumping to conclusions?"

"No. Based on the shopkeeper's way of thinking, I suspect there'll be more apologies in my future, so I'll hold off."

First time I'd seen someone say they still had suspicions in such a convoluted, polite way.

As I gawked in disbelief, the thug turned around.

He was heading for the second floor.

"Open the door."

Where the collateral was stored.

In other words, where Rina's pendant was.

"What did you say?"

"Last warning. Open the door."

Whether this guy was a knight playing thug or a thug in knight cosplay didn't matter anymore.

Either way, it was a problem.

'Going up against official authority would be idiotic, but...'

Right now was exactly the time for some idiocy!

"If it's not open by the count of three, I'll force my way in."

The man was about to start counting.

I hurled the magic tool from my hand at him.

"One."

The orb arced through the air.

The self-defense magic tool I'd thrown was a binding one.

Emma had said it would wrap around someone like spiderwebs on impact.

I'd bind this thug and drag him to the guild assembly yelling, 'This guy's trying to extort protection money from me!'—public execution time!

'He didn't even say who he is anyway. I can play dumb and say I didn't know he was a knight—what's he gonna do?'

That was the plan.

"Two."

Or it was supposed to be.

"Three."

Thud. Thud.

Roll roll.

"..."

I stared blankly at the orb as it bounced limply off him and rolled across the floor.

Emma sis, did you sell me a dud...?

'Now this isn't just idiotic—it's straight-up stupid!'

The man frowned at the rolling orb.

"What is this?"

"Haha, I just have a hobby for catch."

Failed.

How do you even excuse this?

"Nice try at concealment. Anyway."

I dashed over and blocked the door.

The man's handsome brow furrowed even deeper.

"Step aside."

"Can't do that. How can I, as the owner, stand by while you try to damage my goods?"

"Then I'll just open it myself."

"I'd love to, but I lost the key. I'm a bit scatterbrained."

"In that case, you should step aside even more. I'll open it for you."

"The stuff inside is super expensive. What if you break the collateral trying to force it open? Can you take responsibility?"

"Gladly."

Sigh.

I crossed my arms with a sigh.

"You're looking for a holy artifact, right?"

Guess he didn't expect me to just come out and ask.

His expression soured by the second as he stared at me.

"Would that change anything?"

"It would. How did you know there's one here?"

I flicked my eyes toward the brooch, its light blinking faster than when I'd been at the counter.

'The Temple uses some tool to track holy artifacts, huh? Must detect holy power.'

"That's how you knew?"

"No obligation to disclose."

"Ah, I see. Got it."

Planning to hide behind the law, huh?

"Fine. Perfect, actually."

"You'll open the door?"

"Of course. Why not? Resisting just hurts me. I can't beat your strength anyway. So."

I beamed at him.

"Bring a search warrant."

"..."

"Oh, and evidence too. At least a sworn statement or an anonymous tip, right?"

If he wanted to play legal while doing shady crap, I could shove the law right back at him.

The thug, momentarily speechless, finally spoke.

"My granted authority supersedes personal property rights."

"Yeah, we'll see what the judge says about that."

So Rina's uncle must be pretty high up, huh? That's who you're banking on?

Hugo and Rozanne Viscountess came to mind, and I couldn't help but get snippy.

"So come back with the warrant. Before I call the whole neighborhood."

He'd come alone, so that uncle probably didn't want a fuss either.

No way he'd want rumors flying about causing a scene over his young niece's pendant.

That's when I shoved aside the thug's arm as he closed in aggressively.

"...Ugh."

The man, whose face had been pinched the whole time, clutched his head.

I was baffled.

'Wait, if you're gonna fake self-harm for blackmail, shouldn't I be the one doing it? Why are you...?'

And I'd only pushed his arm—why grab his head?

His expertise in self-harm blackmail was beyond imagination. A true pro thug.

Half amused, half awed, I watched him—then he hit me with the most out-of-left-field question.

"If it was subtle enough I wouldn't notice... what magic tool did you use?"

"Huh?"

"The more you try to hide it, the stronger my suspicions get."

Now he was blaming me outright? Textbook self-harm blackmail.

The man's face looked genuinely confused.

Any outsider would've bought it hook, line, and sinker—perfect acting.

The saving grace was...

"Threaten me yourself and then spout nonsense? Please."

There was a witness who knew better.

"What are you doing?"

It was Alter.

"As you can see, dealing with some crazy nonsense."

"Wasn't asking you."

Alter, who'd been leaning in the doorway watching, walked over.

He'd actually arrived around when I'd brought up the warrant.

He'd looked ready to barge in upon seeing me half-hidden by the thug, but I'd signaled him to stay put.

Mentioning the neighborhood was half to tip him off.

'Man, this situation is getting weird...'

"Asking again. What are you doing here?"

A showdown between criminal and thug?

No clue who to root for.

'Whatever. Whichever side wins is my side.'