I Was a Dropout Who Couldn’t Use Magic for 16 Years, but Then I Remembered My Past Life as a Scientist and Became OP in Another World - Chapter 12

Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble.

The cart, laden with goods, sped down the gentle slope with surprising momentum.

Carla and I clung desperately to the edges, trying to keep ourselves steady amidst the rush.

“Ronnie-oniisama, there’s a fork ahead. Which way should we go?”

“Uh, right. Take the right.”

“Right it is.”

At Fiolette’s command, the cart veered sharply to the right, as if drifting into the turn.

Beside us, Carla let out a series of panicked noises, “Ahwahwahwahwahwahwahwahwa…” as the vibrations shook her. Meanwhile, I was absorbed in observing the ground beneath the cart’s wheels with keen interest.

The ordinary dirt path beneath the wheels seemed to come alive, shifting and pushing to propel the cart forward. And yet, looking back, the ground returned to its undisturbed state as if nothing had happened.

Earth magic.

It was a rare magical attribute in the Narazario territory, seldom seen and even less documented, making it a low priority in my research.

“To manipulate the soil without direct contact—could that ever occur naturally? Landslides are ruled out since the conditions don’t match, but earthquakes, vibrations… that could be worth exploring. If, like water magic, it’s all about imparting directionality to individual grains of soil…”

“Ronnie-oniisama, we’re almost there. Should I stop the cart? …Ronnie-oniisama?”

“But the weight and mass of the material being moved make it significantly different. This path isn’t loose soil; it’s compacted and hardened by foot traffic. To move it would require considerable force. So where is the energy coming from…?”

“Ronnie-oniisama!”

“Hm?”

“Our destination appears to be just ahead, does it not?”

“—Oh, yes! It does! Let’s stop the cart here.”

Fiolette raised her hand, and the cart slowly decelerated before coming to a natural stop.

“Did we make it in time?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

“Ufufu, I’m glad to hear that.”

Fiolette smiled warmly as I expressed my gratitude. Clad in a pale pink dress that complemented her golden hair, she looked like a living doll. Though I still couldn’t fathom why she had insisted on accompanying me, she seemed more spirited than when I first saw her in the backyard. Perhaps the outing was serving as a welcome distraction.

In any case, I had my own task to focus on.

As Carla climbed down from the cart, she asked, “Is there really someone here who will buy these antiques?”

“Well, honestly, I’m not sure.”

“Ehhh?”

“I just remember overhearing as a child that Father used to visit an antique dealer at the morning market. Whether that’s still the case, I don’t know.”

“An antique dealer…?”

Carla frowned, unfamiliar with the term. Given that she was relatively new to her role, it wasn’t surprising she hadn’t encountered such a profession.

“This town’s morning market is held three times a month, early in the day. People come from other towns and territories to buy and sell all sorts of goods.”

“I see…”

With a half-understanding nod, Carla followed as I pulled the cart toward the bustling square. Walking alongside me, Fiolette glanced around with interest, taking in the sights of the marketplace.

“There seems to be an abundance of vegetables and fresh produce. Well, I suppose that’s to be expected.”

“Indeed.”

As Fiolette observed, vendors had laid down cloths and boards on the ground, displaying their wares along both sides of the pathway. While the market was technically scheduled to start at 7 a.m., it seemed trading had already begun. With such a heavy load, I wanted to wrap things up before the market got too crowded.

—

“Hey, what’s that cart about?”
“Dunno. Look at all that luggage—and he’s got a beauty with him.”
“Wait, isn’t that Ronnie-sama?”
“Ronnie? You mean that useless Ronnie? Ow, hey!”
“Idiot! He’s still a noble, so watch your mouth.”
“But didn’t they say Ronnie-sama fell down some stairs and got seriously injured?”
“Beats me. What’s he doing at the morning market anyway?”

—

It had been a while since I last visited town, but the whispered gossip wasn’t any better than I remembered. Back when I was just Ronnie, I used to avoid coming to town alone for this very reason.

—

“Forget the servant behind him—who’s the gorgeous lady next to him?”
“I don’t know… She looks kind of familiar, maybe?”
“There’s no way that useless Ronnie is on a date with her, right?”

—

The attention was beginning to shift toward Fiolette.
As a noblewoman from another territory, her face wasn’t recognized here. However, if even one person identified her, rumors would spread like wildfire.

Hoping to avoid attracting any more attention, we hurriedly made our way through the rows of stalls. Despite the lively market surrounding her, Fiolette seemed perplexed by my single-minded focus.

“Ronnie-oniisama, where are we headed? The crowds are thinning.”

“If I remember correctly, the dealer should be somewhere near the back of the market… Oh.”

As I scanned the area, something caught my eye.

“My, what an unusual-looking carriage over there.”

“That must be it… I’ll go check. It might take some time, so perhaps you and Carla can explore the market while you wait.”

“Oh, is that so? What do you think, Carla-san?”

“Ah-wha—!? U-uh, um…!”

Leaving the flustered Carla and the cheerful Fiolette behind, I parked the cart near a large, ornate wagon.

The wagon’s canopy was intricately embroidered, and a sign on the back door read, Paté’s Antiques.

“Glad I found it. This must be the place.”

Relieved, I swung open the double doors. Inside, the dimly lit wagon revealed a tall, slim man with slicked-back black hair and round glasses, seated at the far end. He appeared to be in his fifties.

“…We’re not open yet,” he said.

“Sorry, I’ve brought quite a lot with me. Are you Monsieur Paté?”

“I am Paté, but this isn’t a place for children—… Hmm?”

Paté stopped mid-sentence, adjusting his glasses as he stood up and approached me.

“Could you be… Lord Ronnie of Narazario?”

“Yes. I’ve heard my father has done business with you.”

At my confirmation, Paté’s demeanor shifted instantly, as if someone had flipped a switch.

“Ah, yes, yes! Lord Dawson has been a valued client. It’s a pleasure to meet you! I must say, it’s been a while since I’ve seen him at the market. And now here you are—the famous Ronnie-sama himself.”

“Oh? Father mentions me?”

“Oh, all the time! He’s always bragging about his son.”

“Is that so?”

Bragging, huh? If my father ever mentioned me, it was probably to vent his frustrations. But of course, I didn’t voice that thought aloud. No merchant would ever say, ‘Your father complains about you constantly.’

—

“So, what brings you here, Lord Ronnie? Surely you’re not here to browse antiques?”

Paté gestured toward the shelves of pottery and ceramics in the wagon. I shook my head.

“No, quite the opposite. I’d like you to appraise these items.”

“You’re looking to sell? Of course! Had I known, I would’ve come to the estate myself.”

“Next time, I’ll take you up on that.”

“Wonderful, wonderful. Here, take my card. Our main shop is in Glastark. The address is written here.”

“Thank you. Now, let me show you what I’ve brought.”

“By all means.”

Even as a poorly regarded son, the Narazario name had its uses. Paté practically bounced with excitement as he followed me to the cart. I pulled back the cloth covering the items, and his eyes widened in astonishment.

“What a collection…!”

“Just clearing out some old junk from storage.”

“Ah, this piece is quite old, Lord Ronnie. Oh, and this cat sculpture—why, it’s the work of a renowned sculptor! Incredible. I fear today’s business will end with just appraising these treasures.”

“Will it take long?”

“N-not at all! I would never keep Lord Ronnie waiting. Allow me to appraise them at top speed—consider it a special service.”

“That would be helpful, thank you.”

True to his word, Paté dove into the task, sorting through the items with remarkable speed. This was only a fraction of what had been in the storage room, but I had chosen the pieces that seemed most likely to fetch a good price. Judging by Paté’s reactions, my selections weren’t bad.

As Paté examined the items, flipping over vases and cross-referencing a list, I sipped on the fruit juice he had offered. I would’ve preferred coffee, but I kept that thought to myself.

—

〇

Thirty minutes later, Paté approached me, slightly out of breath.

“Thank you for waiting, Lord Ronnie! What a delightful assortment of treasures you’ve brought me!”

“Is that so? I’m glad to hear it.”

“There are too many to go over individually, so here’s the total. And as a token of appreciation for your first visit, I’ve added a bonus.”

“Th-this much?!”

Glancing at the paper he handed me, I was stunned. The amount was more than triple what I had hoped for.

“Are you sure it’s okay to offer this much?”

“Of course. As I mentioned, these are exceptional finds. Many are decades old and in excellent condition. I’ll more than recoup my costs when I resell them.”

“Well, if you say so… Thank you.”

“Are you satisfied, Lord Ronnie?”

“Very much so. Please proceed.”

“Excellent! I’ll gather the payment immediately. One moment.”

Paté nodded enthusiastically and began heading back to his wagon—when:

—

“Oh, Ronnie-oniisama. It seems things went well.”

Fiolette and Carla returned, several bags in hand, suggesting they’d done a bit of shopping.

“Yes, the appraisal just finished.”

“That’s wonderful. Oh? Could that be Monsieur Paté?”

Fiolette’s cheerful smile faltered as she glanced past me at Paté. I turned to see his face.

—

“Fi-Fi-Fi-Fiolette-sama…!!”

For some reason, Paté was now trembling, sweat pouring down his face.