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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Frozen Faux Down
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The flustered man glanced around the dark room, wondering if someone had spilled water somewhere.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"…!"
But this was no time to check.
The pounding on the shop door grew louder, and the shouts from outside became clearer.
"You scammer!"
"Give us our money back! We want refunds!"
Only then did the man realize something was wrong. Forgetting the cold, he rushed to inspect every duck down coat displayed in the shop.
But there was no need.
"……."
The man stared in dazed horror at the shop's sole merchandise, now utterly soaked.
Coats made from eternal snow duck feathers, priced at ten thousand Uba each.
All of them were drenched.
The ones displayed near the glass windows had even frozen solid.
Unable to accept reality, the man numbly squeezed a nearby duck down coat as if it were someone else's problem.
Drip, drip. Water poured out.
The droplets running down his hand soon formed a small puddle.
"Duck... down…."
Nibelria read the front-page newspaper article slowly, enunciating each word carefully.
"Duck down coat... defective…."
"Defective."
"Defective items, and the damage from them…."
The front page of today's Drameno Empire daily was dominated by the story of the eternal snow duck down coats that had gained popularity for their affordable ten-thousand-Uba price.
But the problem was that they were fakes.
The coats gradually lost their insulation, feathers shed due to shoddy finishing, and the down inside even absorbed moisture.
Water leaking from the coats stained clothes in wardrobes, and those hung by doors or windows froze solid.
Victims who wore them suffered frostbite on their backs.
The emperor, informed of the situation, issued an emergency order to dispose of all the fake duck down coats.
He also expressed his intent to investigate everyone involved in their production and distribution and punish them severely.
"The clothes froze!"
Understanding the article, Nibelria turned to her side.
Kaleo nodded gravely, and Nibelria mirrored his expression.
"Clothes freezing in winter. What in the world?"
"Daddy. Will all these people freeze to death?"
"No fatalities yet, apparently. That's a relief."
"Okay."
So far, only property damage had surfaced.
But winter had only just begun, with at least a month left—colder than usual.
If things continued, frostbite deaths were inevitable.
"……."
Nibelria climbed onto Kaleo's lap.
He leaned back slightly to make her more comfortable.
The child tapped the back of her father's hand.
"Cold is hard. Right?"
"Yeah. Cold is tough."
That's why people flocked to Lubeo Department Store for new winter clothes.
But the winter sale had already ended.
With Petra Bank's collapse making spending difficult, many had no choice but to turn away….
"If we ignore this, we wouldn't be Lubeo."
By pure coincidence, Seletrina Dayamor Lubeo, out inspecting the store, ordered discounts on the spot for those leaving.
"Just one week. Special sale starts now."
Moved, people bought clothes in a rush.
Lubeo won public favor and cleared out all its carryover inventory.
Sales of non-seasonal items rose significantly too.
Expecting full price for winter clothes, they got them cheaper thanks to Lubeo's president.
With financial breathing room, wallets opened more easily.
Of course, Nibelria, unaware of this, simply pitied the cold sufferers.
"Daddy. At kindergarten, they said if someone's struggling, we help each other."
"How should we help?"
"Medicine!"
Nibelria thrust her clenched right fist forward forcefully.
"Give them medicine!"
The Dayamor-Lubeo joint pharmaceutical company opened quietly.
It wasn't intentional.
A grand opening ceremony had been planned, but the chaos through autumn led to its natural cancellation.
Instead, President Seletrina Dayamor Lubeo promoted it differently.
"Oh my! I just applied it, and…?"
"The bleeding stopped right away!"
"Mom, this one's yummy! Super sweet and tangy!"
She distributed new medicines through Lubeo-affiliated merchant caravans, selling them directly in every village they visited.
Pharma company staff even joined the caravans.
"Tastes great, right? But don't overdo it or you'll get a tummy ache. Just one spoonful after dinner."
"Clean the wound with water first, then apply this ointment thinly. Keep your hands clean."
"These are pills for easy powder dosing. Totally safe. You know gelatin? Like for jelly…."
"This one's corn starch to solidify the powder."
Thanks to their excellent efficacy, word spread quickly.
Within a month of opening, they secured supply contracts with territories covering nearly a third of the empire.
Two months later, imperial pharmacists visited.
They inspected the products and bought several on the spot.
Days later, they returned to sign a supply contract.
Rumors of the emperor himself using them skyrocketed popularity.
"Slept soundly after this medicine, and my cold vanished."
"The pills are so convenient. Especially the gelatin ones…."
"What's this company's name again?"
People recalled it.
"Philia Tere."
An ancient name for witches once praised as daughters of the earth.
"How does Nini think just like me?"
Returning from work, Seletrina swept Nibelria into a hug and peppered her cheeks with kisses.
Nibelria squealed with delight.
"My daughter for sure."
"Give medicine to sick people. Help them!"
"Such a kind heart. Mommy asked the witches too."
Philia Tere gladly accepted.
They quickly produced emergency remedies for winter ailments.
Plans were made to distribute them to cold northern poor areas with limited medicine access.
"And for frostbite victims, we'll deliver treatments to hospitals."
"Mommy's so cool! So kind!"
Mwah. Now Nibelria kissed Seletrina's cheeks.
The family, hearing Seletrina return, gathered to greet her.
Muniel Dayamor especially clasped her chilled hands, looking proud.
"You worked hard."
"No, what did I even do?"
"I believed in you. Who else?"
"With Mother-in-law always believing in me, how could I fail? It's pressure!"
"That's why I believe—because you can handle it."
The family, together after so long, shared dinner.
Seletrina scooped a well-cooked carrot from the thick cream soup.
"Oh, dear."
She turned to Kaleo.
"Entering the palace soon?"
"Two days."
For the emperor's emergency council.
"With the cold persisting and Petra Bank unresolved, it's a mid-check meeting."
"I was summoned too."
"You? Ah, perhaps…."
Solles Dayamor, listening quietly, glanced at Nibelria and Arep.
The three exchanged looks, then headed to Solles's room after dinner.
"If my guess is right…."
Solles's serious face relaxed slowly.
"The meeting in two days should bring results."
"Was the info from Ater that helpful?"
Arep asked cautiously.
"It helped!"
Nibelria had no doubt.
"Arep said so. Evil dragons don't lie!"
"Yeah. I'll believe it too."
"Yay! Kiss time!"
"No, no, no…!"
Solles wedged between his siblings as they lunged.
"Not now! Kisses are only three times a day in front of adults."
"This isn't a kiss. It's a peck."
"S-still, we're in the middle of something important!"
Even as the big brother, Solles couldn't watch Nibelria and Arep kiss comfortably.
It felt awkwardly guilty.
Thankfully, they listened.
Solles, relieved, continued.
"With Father and Mother so confident…."
Rima's right-hand fingernails were all gnawed down to the quick.
"Oh my god! What happened to your nails?"
"Someone get medicine!"
The maids washing her gasped in shock.
Her small, pale hand was a grotesque mess of wounds.
Her thumbnail especially had tender flesh exposed; even slight pressure drew beads of blood.
Unable to wash properly, Rima blankly watched the maids treat her hand.
What do I do? Really, what…?
This isn't right?
It's not going how I expected…!
