The air in the alley turned awkward for a moment…

The blond bombshell, looking utterly bewildered, tilted her head at herself before nervously stammering out five words: “An-chan… g-good morning?”

“Mm, good morning. Though you already said that once! Wh-what’s wrong, Natasha-chan? Is the loan… a bit tricky?”

The blue-haired loli’s expression grew flustered. Or rather, her heart had been pounding nonstop since bumping into Gawain earlier. That mishap had only brought minor embarrassment and shame—but this? This was life-or-death.

What’s going on? Is the first step of my plan already failing? Am I really about to lose even my starting funds…?

Yet Natasha’s dazed look lasted only a moment. She scratched her head, slipping back into her usual airheaded cuteness, and waved her hands. “Nah, it’s just… seeing you first thing and asking for money threw me off! Cough… no problem! Tiny stuff, tiny stuff. How much do you need, An-chan?”

“Hmm…”

Olivia pinched her chin, calculating. She wasn’t sure what price to offer for those seeds—just a rough estimate—but she lacked confidence, fearing inaccuracy…

After all, if she didn’t bring enough cash now, and the seller rejected her offer later, scrambling for funds would waste time. By then, Caius would’ve bought everything.

So, after a pause, the blue-haired loli turned, patted Natasha’s shoulder, and fixed her with a determined gaze. “Natasha-chan… how much do you have?”

…

“Eh?! That much? I… I only have fifty thousand denars left. An-chan, are you in big trouble? Hmm… you could’ve talked to me about it.”

Natasha grew even more worried. Olivia’s frantic urgency gave her the look of someone about to flee after committing a crime.

Hearing this, Olivia pinched her chin again. Fifty thousand denars… She weighed it mentally. Not a huge sum, but not small either—yet embarrassingly meager for a duke’s daughter. Olivia didn’t doubt Natasha’s honesty; her dad was clearly tightening her allowance.

For the blue-haired loli, securing those seeds meant big opportunities. The only priority now was guaranteeing she got them. So… more money was better.

Olivia gripped Natasha’s hands tightly again, her face earnest. “Natasha, lend me fifty thousand. I’ll pay you back fast!”

“Eh?! But… that includes my lunch money! If I give it all to An-chan… I’ll starve at noon…” Natasha looked troubled.

“No worries!” Olivia shook her head. “I’ll bring you homemade bento from my mom every day. You won’t go hungry!”

“Mm… b-but, An-chan, you still haven’t told me what you need the money for…”

“Uh… well… fine! Truth time, Natasha-chan! I found a huge business opportunity—I need startup cash to make big profits. And… after success, I’ll split half the earnings with you! Half! Way more than fifty thousand, I promise~!” Olivia thumped her chest, gritting her teeth. Coldworm grass profits were massive—sharing with her bestie was worth it.

“Uh, but…”

Natasha tried to warn about business risks, but the blue-haired loli cut her off. Olivia leaned closer, her slightly dazed eyes locking onto Natasha’s as her words sank in like a spell…

“No buts! Natasha-chan, think: what can fifty thousand denars do in your hands? Just buy more luxury junk and fall into the consumerism trap—meaningless, meow! But if you give it to me? I’ll manage it for you. You’ll save 100% by not buying anything, slash expenses, AND enjoy my mom’s delicious bento—free lunches for two weeks! Then, after two weeks, you get your fifty thousand back plus tons of interest. Better than the Imperial Bank! Risk-free, sky-high returns… Natasha-chan, you really won’t take this deal?”

“Mm… but An-chan, you…”

“Don’t doubt me! Natasha, look at me—so cute, so sincere, a merchant’s pretty daughter. I’ll succeed, right? Right?! Trust me, trust me, trust me~!”

The blue-haired loli’s face drew nearer. Her smooth-talking barrage hypnotized Natasha, who finally blushed, fumbling her wallet open. Her shy fingers flipped through denar bills as she stammered: “Y-you… how much for the night? Ah, no—how much are you borrowing?”

“Fifty thousand!”

“Mm… t-take it all! An-chan… keep the profits. Just repay the principal next fortnight. G-good luck! I won’t fall into the consumerism trap… sniff… uh… what’s consumerism again?”

Natasha looked up, sensing something off. Olivia coughed twice. “That’s… a technical term. Skip it. Oh—Natasha, does your family have any unused land? Can I borrow it for a few months?”

“Eh? Is this another consumerism trap? Hmm… I have some, An-chan can use it. But it’s just barren wasteland…”

“Perfect!”

Olivia nodded, pulled out a map, and had Natasha circle the duke’s vacant plot. With everything settled, the girl didn’t even bother entering school. She waved at Natasha. “Gotta run, Natasha-chan! I’ve got stuff today—skip class. Tell the teacher I’m absent, ‘kay? Bye~!”

With that, Olivia darted off like a flash. Only Natasha remained in the alley, her eyes slowly losing their sparkle…

No, wait—An-chan…

What about Auntie’s bento? I…

I didn’t keep a single denar… sniff!

…

At the school gate, Gawain was about to step inside when urgent footsteps caught his ear.

His gloomy heart lurched. He turned instinctively—and in the flood of late students, he spotted a small figure moving against the tide. Blue hair fluttered slightly; her steps were frantic…

S-senpai? Why isn’t she entering? Is she skipping today…?

Gawain frowned. He hadn’t properly thanked her yet. After their earlier misunderstanding, guilt gnawed at him—and now worry: was she in trouble?

He turned away, hesitating at the gate.

Screw it…

Find Senpai first!