"Uh… haha, I just heard it from other people."
The clumsy girl scratched her head awkwardly and said rather foolishly,
"That's what everyone says, so I just believed it."
"Is that so?"
Tina nodded, her suspicions easing somewhat. Given the girl's personality, it really wasn't surprising that she would take rumors as facts.
Still, it wasn't impossible that the merchant truly was as terrible as she claimed.
Back in Desert, Tina had witnessed plenty of crimes committed openly in the streets. But people like that either had powerful backing—or they dragged their own patrons down with them.
Public opinion and scandal were the most effective weapons nobles used against political enemies.
Once a noble's reputation was thoroughly ruined, the lightest outcome would be social isolation by other nobles. In severe cases, it became the king's justification to take action.
Tina didn't know how things worked in Savant, but in Desert, even she—a former street beggar—knew that the royal family and the great nobles were at odds.
Growing up, she had often heard stories of some powerful noble being punished by the king for committing atrocities—sometimes even stripped of title and land.
Whenever that happened, the commoners would applaud and flood the streets in celebration.
They believed their king to be wise and just—yet conveniently forgot how he had once imposed crushing taxes to renovate his palace.
These were words an older sister from the Wild Dog Gang had once told her. Only after growing up did Tina truly understand what they meant.
Sadly, that older sister had left when Tina was still very young—and never returned.
Clearly, no one had explained such things to the clumsy girl. Just like the ordinary townsfolk back then, she would rage at the scandal of some great noble, and praise whoever punished them as enlightened and righteous.
But to Tina, whether king or noble—they were rotten to the core.
At that moment, she recalled something Lyco had once said:
"True liberation isn't about letting a few people 'use privilege benevolently.' It's about making sure no one needs to look up to privilege at all."
Yet in Savant—no, in the entire world—the system existed precisely to preserve noble privilege.
They could fabricate excuses to oppress commoners at will. They could treat the people on their lands as slaves.
In the Ymir Empire, someone without power or backing might simply disappear off the streets—snatched by slave traders.
That was why she and the other homeless children had formed their own gang.
Only by sticking together could they survive. Only that way could they avoid being bullied.
But clearly, the clumsy girl did not belong to the powerless.
At least in Savant, with her status, she would not simply be kidnapped.
So Tina reassured her,
"Don't worry. You're a freshman at the Arts Academy. Even nobles wouldn't risk offending the academy by acting against you."
"R-really?"
The clumsy girl sounded hesitant. Clearly, she was still worried the merchant might retaliate after she parted from Tina.
So she carefully added,
"But there are rumors that Sir Weston especially likes targeting ordinary students from the Arts Academy. Last year, a second-year senior from the Higher Academy was tricked by him into owing massive debts. In the end, she had no choice but to sell herself as his slave.
So… Senior, could I stay with you for a while? I promise I won't slow you down.
I'm a Savant native—I know the city well. And I come to the Merchants' Guild often. I can definitely help you."
"…Well…"
Tina hesitated.
Rationally, she knew bringing along such a burden while handling business was inconvenient.
Emotionally, however, she couldn't abandon someone she considered one of her own.
After thinking it over, Tina finally agreed.
"Fine. You can stay with me. But when I go to negotiate business, I might not be able to bring you inside.
Don't worry—inside the Merchants' Guild, no one will dare harm you.
As a local, you should know that better than I do."
"Um… Senior, the Merchants' Guild isn't actually obligated to guarantee the safety of clients here."
The clumsy girl said weakly. Afraid Tina might leave her behind, she quickly added,
"Actually, Senior, you could handle your business at the public counter instead."
"At the counter?"
Tina frowned instinctively.
Recently, because the amounts involved in her trades were so large, she had been conducting transactions in private rooms.
But those rooms weren't spacious, and bringing the girl along would be inconvenient.
Judging from her anxious state, leaving her with the staff wouldn't reassure her either.
Perhaps the counter would be better. After all, the guild counters had confidentiality measures comparable to the private rooms.
Just as Tina was about to take the girl to draw a number—
A staff member in the distance called out loudly:
"Number 174, please proceed to Counter Three."
"174? Oh—that's my number! Ah, I almost forgot!"
The clumsy girl slapped her forehead and hurriedly fished a number slip from her pocket.
It read 174.
She glanced at it, then looked at Tina with pitiful eyes.
In an almost pleading tone, she said,
"Please, Senior… could you come with me?"
"…All right."
After a moment's thought, Tina nodded.
As the two walked toward the counter, the clumsy girl chattered nonstop about various rumors in Savant.
Like an unstoppable chatterbox, she always seemed able to find topics Tina found interesting.
Only when they reached Counter Three did she finally stop.
Behind the counter, a staff member politely asked,
"What service would you like to handle today?"
"Oh, it's like this."
The clumsy girl handed over the documents she had been clutching all along and said earnestly,
"I'd like to process a short position on Softwind Slime Gel.
The total amount is…"
She dug through every pocket she had, finally presenting a large handful of coins.
"One gold, fifty-three silver, and seventy-two copper."