The application for a custom brush at the Victor Trading Company was completed without issue. Of course, ordering doesn’t mean the brush will be ready immediately, it will be shipped at a later date.
Yes, that’s the proper way of things usually are. Recently, though, with Canalis-san being so absurdly capable that she can prepare things instantly upon request, my sense of what’s normal has gotten a little dulled. But naturally, it takes time, so I’ll just enjoy waiting for it.
[How should I say this…… We finished faster than I imagined.]
[Yes. Normally, considering the material or combination for the brush would take time, but since you went with ordering all types, that step was skipped. In a way, it was inevitable……]
[I guess so. That part usually takes the longest, doesn’t it?]
That was exactly right, normally, the most time-consuming part is choosing the shape or material of the brush while working within a budget.
But I forcefully cut through that, ordering every possible combination, so it was only natural that the order was finished quickly.
[Well, anyway, just like we talked about on the way here, let’s go listen to the Allegra Symphony perform…… ah, but there’s the matter of the concert times, right?]
[Yes, I had Anne look into the performance times and available seats…… Let’s see, how is it?]
[Yes, Lady Cornelia. Here’s a summary of today’s schedule. The next available one is at this time. As for seats, the top-tier ones are already full, but the others still have openings, so I think tickets can be purchased without issue.]O- Ohhh, impressive preparation. While I was handling the order at the Victor Trading Company with Cornelia-san, it seems she’d already instructed Anne-san to gather details about the concert times and seat availability, so the information we needed was provided right away.
As I was thinking that, Alice suddenly appeared before me.
[Kaito-san, want to buy tickets? I’ve got two adjacent top-tier seats here, and one seat just behind them that’s perfect for a bodyguard……]
[……Hmmm. Sure, better seats are always preferable, so I’ve no problem buying them…… but that look on your face, you’re scheming something, aren’t you?]
[My, whatever do you mean? Oh, and don’t worry about resale or anything shady like that. I own the rights to that concert hall, so I just secured them using that authority.]
Alice waved the three tickets in her hand with a playful grin, the kind she always wears when she’s up to mischief.
That said, the seats themselves are undeniably good, and the arrangement seems ideal too. But still, I can’t shake the feeling she’s scheming something……
[……Cornelia-san, what do you think? No doubt they’re good seats, but I’m pretty sure she’s scheming something.]
[Well…… given that we’re talking about Phantasmal King-sama, a person of such insight and strategy, it’s only natural that even a single action of hers would carry multiple intentions……]
[No, it’s not that sort of thing. This feels more like the kind of mischief she has when she finds something amusing…… though I can’t really figure out what exactly.]
Cornelia-san, on the other hand, wasn’t familiar with Alice’s mischief, so she seemed to be viewing the situation as though the Phantasmal King had some lofty scheme in mind…… and looked inclined to agree to the purchase.
[…Well, alright then, Alice. I’ll buy those seats.]
[Yes yes, thank you for the purchase~~ Regular price is fine.]
Just as Cornelia-san had said, they really were good seats, so though still doubtful, I purchased the tickets. Once she finished taking my payment, Alice gave a soft smile, then clapped Cornelia-san lightly on the shoulder.
[……Honestly, I find you a bit pitiful, so I’ll tweak things on the information side and cover for you.]
[……P- Phantasmal King-sama……? W- Why are you looking at me with such pity……? Am I going to suffer some kind of tragic fate in those seats?]
[No, no. If it’s Kaito-san we’re talking about, things will probably happen regardless of the seats, or even before you get to them, really. So in that sense, the seats don’t really matter…… Anyway, good luck!]
[P- Phantasmal King-sama? Phantasmal King-sama!!!]
After giving a firm thumbs-up, Alice vanished. Cornelia-san, face gone pale, called out to her, but she never reappeared.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [……So, seats close to the Megiddo and Magnawell?]
? ? ? : [More like right next to them. Well, honestly, ticket or not, they’ll probably end up running into them in front of the theater anyway…… so in the sense of sitting near acquaintances you “happen” to bump into, this is actually a good cover. If Gorilla-san or Kaito-san are around, they might even force their way into nearby seats too……]
Serious-senpai : [Yeah, true. Even if you don’t do anything, running into them is a given. And in the end, if the outcome just guarantees a bit of backup, then for Cornelia it’s actually a plus……]