Langsent, a city near the Outer Lands.

The employee at the Dieta Trading Company’s Langsent branch blinked at the insignia before him. Hadn’t he seen that insignia somewhere? It did not take long to remember exactly where.

Ah, during employee training. Hadn’t they told him that anyone bearing an insignia with the company’s emblem was a VIP and should be treated with the utmost courtesy? As his recollection reached that point, his eyes widened.

He inspected the insignia before him with his eyes stretched wide. The Dieta Trading Company issued several kinds of insignia, each carrying a different significance according to its engraved emblem. And the insignia before him bore a golden flower.

A golden flower, not a gold coin.

An insignia granted to one person alone.

He recalled the branch manager and executives repeatedly stressing, ["If anyone visits the company bearing this insignia, send them straight upstairs. No questions asked."] He also remembered just who its bearer was.

The honored guest of the Dieta Trading Company’s Company Head.

Someone who could meet her privately whenever he wished, and for whom she would cancel every appointment. Indeed, he was also the reason the company had established a branch in this frontier city bordering the Outer Lands.

The employee caught his breath with a gasp.

Springing to his feet, he looked at the man before him. Only then did he see the face that had been hidden beneath the robe. A young man with gray hair and sunset-colored eyes. The very person who had lately set the Empire abuzz.

"I-I’ll escort you!"

The youngest Sword Seeker.

The Nova who had become the youngest ever to attain four stars.

Dawnstar, Najin.

The company’s most honored guest, who had contributed enormously to the rise in its share price. Faced with someone who warranted several extra V’s before “VIP,” the employee bowed at a ninety-degree angle for the first time in a very long while.

2.

Before long, a carriage arrived for Najin. The company had provided it, but when he rummaged inside his robe and took out his wallet for the first time in ages, the employees waved their hands in alarm before he could open it.

"No, please! Make yourself comfortable! Truly, please use it without any concern! We at the Dieta Trading Company’s Langsent branch welcome your return, Master Najin, and will continue to do everything in our power to ensure you experience no inconvenience during any future stays in Langsent..."

With the Langsent branch manager personally bowing to him, Najin climbed into the carriage. It set off smoothly with him aboard. The ride was quite comfortable.

The carriage was bound for the imperial capital, where the Dieta Trading Company had its headquarters.

Najin glanced out the window of the moving carriage.

A blue sky and warm sunlight. Clean air and an utterly peaceful atmosphere. It was so relaxing he could have fallen asleep. Returning after four months, he found the continent’s atmosphere decidedly unfamiliar.

'It’s peaceful. Normally, we’d have seen one or two of the Lost by now...'

—You realize things like that shouldn’t be on the continent, right?

The imperial capital was quite far away, so they stopped in small cities along the way for meals and lodging. Eating a well-cooked steak, Najin briefly remembered the “giants’ special meat” he had eaten in the Outer Lands and smiled without thinking.

That had tasted pretty good.

About a week later, Najin arrived at the imperial capital. As an honored guest of the Dieta Trading Company, he was allowed into the city without any particular inspection.

Camelot, the imperial capital.

It was astonishingly magnificent no matter how often he saw it, but neither its dazzling artifacts nor its architecture captured his attention. He merely raised his head and looked toward the imperial palace.

The palace was surrounded by five towers symbolizing the Empire’s pillars. Najin looked at the one standing foremost among them.

The residence of Gerd, the Empire’s foremost warrior.

The moment he looked at that pillar, Najin felt a gaze upon him. Just as he was looking that way, the old man dwelling there was looking back at him. Of that, he felt certain.

'Come to think of it, didn’t they say the imperial capital was practically that old man’s front yard?'

The instant one stepped into the capital, one was effectively within Gerd’s range. Najin had heard that rumor before. Taking it as fact, he moved his lips while gazing at the First Pillar of the Empire.

Countless people, noises, and buildings lay between them, yet Najin and Gerd conversed across them all.

The seven stars hanging above the First Pillar of the Empire briefly twinkled. Najin announced that he would visit soon, and Gerd granted permission. After a slight bow of his head, Najin stepped out of the carriage.

He had arrived at his destination before he knew it.

The headquarters of the continent’s most prominent trading companies were gathered along this street. Each building flew a flag bearing its company’s emblem. Looking around, Najin tilted his head.

Hadn’t the Dieta Trading Company’s building been around here?

He thought it had been near this spot when he visited with her, but the building he looked up at did not fly the company’s emblem. Apparently, they had relocated in the meantime.

"This way, Master Najin."

As he looked around, an employee in the Dieta Trading Company’s uniform came to guide him personally. After following the man for a while, Najin blinked.

"This is the company headquarters?"

"Yes, this is the place."

The center of the street, where the most splendid buildings stood.

Here in the central district were the headquarters of the Loktid Trading Company and the Cornelhild Trading Company, two enormous firms competing for first and second place across the entire continent. Between their soaring buildings stood the Dieta Trading Company’s building.

Its flag flew high overhead.

Najin could not help laughing at the sight. Far from some shabby building, the Dieta Trading Company occupied a fine one that held its own against those of the continent’s foremost trading companies.

Apparently, while he had spent four months being knocked around in the Outer Lands, the Company Head had not been sitting idle either.

3.

Dieta, The Snake That Swallows Gold.

Having built a legendary success story in Cambria, the City of Opportunity, she was admired by countless merchants. Establishing a company that represented an entire city from nothing in just five years was an achievement worthy of such admiration.

But merchants belonging to major trading companies rather than small businesses would point to the Dieta Trading Company and remark, “Isn’t it still just a company with clout in Cambria?” They insisted there were limits to its growth. To merit being called a major trading company, after all, a firm had to exert influence across the continent, not just one city.

A frog in a well.

A company esteemed only in Cambria.

That was how they belittled the Dieta Trading Company, sneering that it would grow no further. It did not take long, however, for those sneers to turn into astonishment.

The slaying of the red dragon and the white dragon.

Once Dieta monopolized their materials and began making moves with that monopoly behind her, the tide began to turn. In no time, she established herself in the imperial capital and secured a contract with the Platinum Tower, a heavyweight among heavyweights.

Those watching the process scoffed that she had “merely been lucky,” that it was “a one-season business,” and that “she would fall as easily as she had established herself.” But those voices did not last long either.

The Dieta Trading Company expanded at an outrageously rapid and aggressive pace. What accelerated that expansion was none other than a remark from the master of the Platinum Tower.

"You know the Dieta Trading Company’s Company Head? Such a diligent, cheerful girl. Nothing like young people these days! So pleasant, so polite, and quick on the uptake, too. I happened to mutter to myself, ‘It would be nice to have this and that...’ and would you believe it? She sent them over the very next day! I hadn’t even asked her to! Isn’t she a dear?"

Cypria Gachevska, the Ever-Radiant Point.

The center of imperial logistics, overseeing the majority of the Empire’s artifacts, and one of the pillars supporting the Empire. As master of the Platinum Tower, she had initially considered the contract with the Dieta Trading Company of little importance, but she changed her stance as time passed.

At first, she had sent her secretary to conclude the contract with Dieta. At some point, however, she began inviting Dieta to her mage tower. An archmage who was no less than a pillar of the Empire was meeting privately with the head of a mere trading company.

And each time Dieta visited the tower, Cypria’s attitude changed.

"Such a pleasant girl. She has such a lovely way with words!"

Indifference gave way to smiles.

"Company Head Dieta sent a gift? Again? What is it this time? Oh, she really shouldn’t have... Wait, isn’t this a Romarien vintage from the year 134? How did she know I liked this...? What? She sent a letter, too? Hold on a moment. Where did I put my quill?"

“That girl” became “Company Head Dieta.” Cypria even began sending handwritten replies to Dieta’s letters.

"Company Head! Welcome! I’ve been waiting for you!"

Eventually, Cypria began coming out to the front of the mage tower to meet Dieta when she visited. As an added surprise, the tower’s mages stared wide-eyed as Cypria climbed to the top floor arm in arm with Dieta, chatting and laughing.

They had never before seen their prickly tower master smile so brightly.

"The company I originally contracted with... Which one was it? Loktid Trading Company? How long is left on the contract? Six months? Hmm. Sixty years is a long time. Perhaps it’s time for a change?"

When she let slip remarks suggesting she was reluctant to renew her contract with the Loktid Trading Company, which had held an exclusive contract with the Platinum Tower for nearly sixty years, the company found itself in a crisis.

Its Company Head personally brought gifts to the Platinum Tower, but Cypria merely sent him away with an indifferent air.

By that point, people could not help wondering.

How on earth had Dieta won over Cypria Gachevska? What means had she used on that impossibly prickly archmage? Merchants could only marvel at the eloquence with which Dieta had won over a transcendent being in less than four months.

Four months after the Dieta Trading Company entered the imperial capital, trading companies large and small were gathering beneath its banner. Using the companies she had acquired as a foundation, Dieta began extending her distribution network across the continent.

Four months. Just four months.

The speed was so absurd that merchants would jokingly ask whether the heavens ought to grant her a star.

Dieta, The Snake That Swallows Gold.

Just as adventurers, knights, and mercenaries spoke the name “Dawnstar Najin” countless times, merchants never stopped speaking of Dieta.

「A merchant magnate.」

「A born merchant.」

「Sit down with her and exchange a few words, and you’ll find yourself signing a contract as though enchanted. If you want to negotiate properly, don’t talk for too long.」

「Don’t have a lengthy conversation. You might be better off dealing with her in writing. She’ll bewitch you.」

The young Company Head with eyes like gold coins.

Her stature rose without end.

Naturally, Najin had no way of knowing any of this.

"Gasp!"

Recognizing Najin, an employee at the headquarters caught his breath and escorted him to the top floor. Others brought all sorts of bribes to secure an appointment, hoping for even a single conversation with Dieta. Najin had no need for that.

The moment he showed his insignia, the entire path to the top floor opened before him.

At last, he reached the reception room on the top floor. Dieta was waiting there. Sitting demurely on a sofa, brushing back the hair beside her face and sipping coffee, she raised her head.

She flinched.

The instant their eyes met, her shoulders gave a brief tremble.

Dieta had known about Najin’s visit for roughly a week and had been waiting in the reception room fully armed for his arrival. Yet seeing his face after so long left her momentarily flustered.

It truly had been a long time. Perhaps that was why delight and excitement surged to the fore. Her past self might have blushed and become tongue-tied right then.

But she was different now.

Ahem.

Clearing her throat, she gave Najin a radiant smile.

"It’s been a while, Najin. Have you been well?"

Even she thought it was a perfect smile. It brought out her beauty to its fullest, enough to melt countless men’s hearts and make them fall for her. It was an expression she had further honed over the past four months.

More natural, more beautiful, more elegant.

In that time, Dieta had polished every expression, every gesture, every tiny movement. She had mastered the art of speaking to win another’s favor. Now it was time to show this man how far she had come.

'After so long apart, he’ll be happy to see me, won’t he? This time, I’ll make things a little more definite...'

Countless plans formed in Dieta’s mind. Her lips twitched as she imagined a rosy future. Their relationship had made no progress while distance kept them apart, so this time she would close the gap decisively. With that resolve, she was just about to redouble her efforts at managing her expression when—

"I can’t say I’ve been well, but the time I spent there was quite valuable. Yes, it’s been a while, Dieta."

Najin smiled.

A smile that showed how delighted he truly was to see her.

A smile full of sincerity.

That was enough to wipe every bold fantasy from Dieta’s mind. Caught by a perfectly executed surprise attack, her eyes wavered.

Her carefully practiced expression shattered. Her tongue, oiled to pour out pleasing words without pause, creaked like an old hinge. Her breathing faltered, and after catching her breath awkwardly, she began to hiccup.

"Hic."

Covering her mouth with her palm, Dieta whipped her head away. Neither the eloquent speaker who had won over the master of the Platinum Tower, nor the extraordinary businesswoman who had firmly established herself in the imperial capital in just four months, nor the head of a great trading company dominating the continent was here.

In the end, before Najin, Dieta was only a girl.

And one whose weakness lay utterly exposed.