I Became the Narrow-Eyed Villain in a Dropped Novel

Chapter 111:

As the one paying the wages fell, the remaining workers quickly fled.

The furniture workshop soon regained its usual tranquility.

It was a result that satisfied everyone, except for the merchant covered in injuries.

The workshop master was especially delighted.

“You are the saviors of not only my business but also my life. I don’t know how I can ever repay this kindness….”

“There’s no need for that.”

“No, if I let you leave just like this, it would be a disgrace to the name of Ruhindorf. At the very least, I must treat you to a meal.”

After the workshop master, who had been spewing thanks with spittle flying, left.

Only the three people, who at a glance seemed to have no connection, remained.

“Well now, it seems I’ve ended up doing a good deed and getting treated to a meal. Ah, my name is Falsh.”

“I’m Anat. Thank you for your help.”

“Well, I just watched, Mr. Brauder did everything, hahaha! I didn’t know you were a mage, Mr. Brauder.”

“Mr. Brauder… Hmm, I see.”

Anat gave a knowing smile upon hearing my alias.

I had just blurted out the first name that came to mind because I was in a hurry, and it had become a bit embarrassing.

“May I ask what brings you to Ruhindorf?”

“Well, it’s for business. What other reason would there be to visit a rural workshop?”

Falsh answered so quickly that I decided to remain quiet.

There was no need to complicate the situation by pretending to know something.

“It seems you aren’t a native here either, Ms. Anat. Why did you come to a rural place like this?”

“There’s something I must take care of. And to see a friend while I’m at it.”

When she said friend, Anat glanced at me slightly.

I neatly ignored her gaze.

As a brief, awkward silence fell, Falsh quickly opened his mouth to fill the gap.

“Wow I was impressed by how you stepped forward alone to stop those who were practically robbers. Didn’t you think it was dangerous?”

“I stepped in because I can protect myself. I didn’t just jump in without thinking.”

“Haha, my apologies. I never imagined you had a hidden talent.”

Anat furrowed her brow ever so slightly.

It was so faint that I would have missed it if I had just glanced past.

I hadn't met the Commander of the Eight Council that many times, but this was the first time she had shown such displeasure towards someone.

This time, it was my turn to say a word to lighten the mood.

“How long have you been staying in this area?”

“It hasn’t been many days. I came in with another traveler, but that person left first, and I remained.”

Is she talking about Ede?

I heard she had been loitering around for several days already, so why did she only start staying in the village after meeting Ede?

There were many other things I wanted to ask, but with Falsh next to me, it was awkward to ask openly.

In the end, just as I was carefully selecting a question to ask, the workshop master thankfully returned.

“My wife will bring it soon, so please wait just a little longer.”

“That’s perfect timing. There’s something I wanted to discuss with you, workshop master.”

“Yes? What is it….”

“Ah, there’s no need to be nervous. I heard that you might need some financial assistance. It won’t be a bad proposal.”

Falsh smiled brightly, putting his arm around the workshop master's shoulder as if they were close friends.

The workshop master was clearly flustered, but I could see he was tempted by the words 'financial support'.

“I’ll handle these practical matters, so Mr. Brauder, you should rest! You must be tired from fighting.”

He said with a considerate tone that didn’t quite match the mischievous expression on his face, and then left with the workshop master.

At the table in the workshop’s backyard, only Anat and I were left.

I waited until the two were far away before speaking quietly.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“That merchant, where did you meet him?”

Anat asked me bluntly as I attempted small talk.

Considering how she had beaten around the bush to the point of frustration until last time, this was unusual.

I could have just brushed it off, but her expression, unusually serious, bothered me.

“I met him after coming here. Is there something strange about him?”

“Be careful of that man. No, sever your cooperative relationship as soon as possible.”

Seeing the Commander suddenly tell me to be careful, it was my turn to frown.

She wasn’t the type to say such things without any grounds, but it was strange to be suspicious after just exchanging greetings.

“May I ask why.”

“Falsh isn’t a common name, is it? Isn’t it strange that someone with the same name as the alias you often use suddenly appeared.”

I had thought it was strange from the moment we first met too.

It had too many connections to Valheit to be dismissed as a coincidence.

“It is strange, but I’m too short-handed to liquidate the cooperation based on that alone.”

“If you’re talking about the Ravens, you can handle them sufficiently without him. There’s no need to create a debt.”

To think she knew the Ravens were involved.

That was more surprising than her strong warning to be careful.

“Then will you help me, Commander? It’s true that I’m short on hands.”

“I will.”

“…Pardon?”

Given her past actions, I expected her to refuse in a hard-to-understand way, but her acceptance was unexpected.

“I’m not saying I’ll return to the Eight Council. The Commander’s seat will still be vacant.”

“Does that mean you’ll help from outside the Eight Council. Without letting Til or the other members know.”

“Yes.”

“Why go that far? Do you know how much Til whines about wanting to see you?”

I voiced the long-held question I’d had since my days as a reader.

Why on earth does the Commander of the Eight Council just wander around?

In the past, I had concluded it was because the author was lazy, but now I couldn’t just think so comfortably and move on.

There seemed to be no better moment than this to ask that long-standing question.

“That is….”

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting!”

Anat’s soft voice was buried by the boisterous noise.

The workshop master and Falsh approached, their arms full of food.

“…We’ll talk about that later.”

“Wow, it looks like you two have gotten quite close while I was away. I guess there’s something that connects people of high standing.”

“I don’t know if it will suit your tastes, but I did my best to prepare it. Other houses helped too, so please think of it as a treat from Ruhindorf.”

Seeing the naively smiling workshop master, I smiled and nodded my head.

It should be fine to hear it a little later.

I had gotten her promise to help, even if she wouldn’t reveal herself openly.

“I will eat well.”

***

It couldn’t be called a feast of delicacies from land and sea, but it was a very satisfying meal.

It might have been because I had been tearing at dried beef jerky for days to avoid leaving a trace.

“I ate so much I’m about to burst. Please be sure to tell your wife thank you.”

“Hoho, this is nothing. Mr. Brauder and Mr. Falsh’s proposal is more appreciated. I was struggling to even pay the wages, and you offered to help.”

The workshop master wiped his mouth with a broad smile.

The compliment was one thing, but it seemed he was extremely pleased with the business proposal Falsh had made.

“I’m glad you liked it. Speaking of which, could you tell me how business has been lately?”

“It’s been good. We’ve been getting a lot of orders and people’s interest has grown! The only problem was the lack of immediate funds, but since you’ve solved that for us, only good days are left.”

The workshop master laughed heartily, satisfied.

I don’t know what Falsh said to sweet-talk him, but it seemed to have been perfectly to his liking.

“If orders have increased, does that mean more people are having new furniture made?”

“I’m not too sure about that myself. We’ve got twice as much work as usual, which is great for business, but honestly, the quantity purchased from around here is fixed.”

It was only natural since the Ravens had bought a ton.

What I was curious about was why they had bought so much.

“Perhaps something special about Ruhindorf has been discovered.”

“Hmm, if that’s the case, it must be because of Ruhindorf’s timber.”

The workshop master lifted his head with a proud expression.

Is there something special about it?

“I understand that Ruhindorf’s forest was a gift from the previous Duke Stetten, is that correct?”

“You are well-informed! He bestowed it in praise of a soldier from Ruhindorf. It produces very high-quality timber.”

At Anat’s words, the workshop master began to recite the history of the forest.

To summarize the long story, the timber from the Ruhindorf forest was considered the best in this area.

Of course, that was just talk around here.

If the quality was top-grade, people would have flocked here smelling money even if they were told not to come.

Especially the Vestolians.

“Then is all the furniture that leaves the workshop made with timber from the Ruhindorf forest?”

“Not necessarily. Trees don’t grow indefinitely, you see. However, lately, there have been many orders specifically requesting it to be made with timber from Ruhindorf.”

“It seems people have finally recognized the true value of Ruhindorf.”

“Haha, I hope so. After we finish processing the current orders, we probably won’t be able to touch the trees in the Ruhindorf forest for a while. The trees need to grow back, after all.”

While humoring the workshop master who was engrossed in boasting about his town, I inwardly cheered.

‘The Ruhindorf timber is the medium.’

At first, I thought they had simply bought a lot as a disguise, but now I see it was clear they were going to use the furniture, or more precisely, the timber that becomes the material, as a medium.

This much information would be enough for Kaseph to analyze.

“Thank you for today. I’ll be on my way to hand over that former merchant, current robber to the police.”

“Ah, you could stay a bit longer….”

“I have other things to do. I hope we have a chance to meet again.”

“Of course. You are always welcome, Mr. Brauder.”

As I shook his hand and turned away, I felt Anat’s gaze on me.

“I will contact you soon.”

“Understood.”

As a reader, the thought of working with a character I once considered a MacGuffin made me feel strangely pleased.

***

Not long after Valheit left, Anat and Falsh also departed from the workshop.

The ceaselessly and frivolously chattering Falsh and the quietly listening Anat formed a contrast.

“I’ve been talking too much about myself. This… might be a sensitive question, but what was that about contacting Mr. Brauder?”

“Mr. Falsh.”

Anat, who had been silent until now, uttered a single, low word.

It was a chillingly cold word, but Falsh just kept smiling gleefully.

“I thought you had disappeared.”

“Do you think the old snake of the Empire would disappear so easily?”

“What scheme are you up to this time?”

“Since when did the Saintess suffer from paranoia?”

Falsh, who had been chuckling to himself for a moment, let out a few coughs at her sharp gaze.

“I just woke up and found myself like this. I’m a victim too.”

“…Let’s just say that’s the case. Falsh, no, Valheit. What is the reason for suddenly popping out after being in hiding all this time?”

“That’s my business….”

“If you’re thinking of touching Valheit, drop it. Did it twist your insides to see an Acting Commander so much better than you?”

As Anat taunted, the smile vanished from Falsh’s face.

Because Anat spitting out sarcasm meant she was thoroughly angry.

“Hey, Saintess. I like that friend too. In terms of leading the organization, he’s definitely better than me. Though I’m better at the rest.”

“Just get to the point.”

“What I’m saying is that as long as he doesn’t point a sword at you, I have no complaints about that Valheit. The reason I stepped forward this time is actually for his sake.”

Anat stopped walking and looked at Falsh.

Under the pressure to explain in detail, Falsh let out a long sigh.

“It’s for your sake as well.”

“I’m listening.”

“…There is someone targeting Valheit’s and your life.”

“Hasn’t that always been the case.”

“No, this time is different.”

Falsh’s expression momentarily turned fierce.

Anger flickered briefly in his eyes.

“If things continue like this, both you and Valheit will soon die.”