Ria Percus had a keen eye for people.
It wasn’t an innate talent.
Perhaps it could be called an aftereffect of her childhood, when she’d tried desperately to blend into a family with whom she shared no memories.
It was little different from a side effect she’d developed from constantly trying to read the room.
That was why the girl was so sensitive to other people’s psychology.
It stemmed from a compulsion to analyze every visible factor—gazes, expressions, gestures, and everything else that entered her sight.
The tendency had weakened after she began receiving the love of Ian and the rest of House Percus, but remnants of those days still remained buried in Ria’s unconscious.
Like a thorn embedded beneath the skin.
Normally, it was a useless talent except when she wanted to act cute toward her second older brother or throw a childish tantrum.
After all, she no longer needed to watch everyone’s mood within House Percus.
But after choosing the path of a merchant, the opposite became true.
It turned into an extraordinarily useful asset.
And the same was true now.
Just look.
Hadn’t she managed to distinguish a monster wearing human skin?
“You seem somewhat bewildered.”
It was a benevolent tone.
There was no trace of malice whatsoever on the wrinkled face of the old man who spoke.
He looked like the very image of an elderly scholar possessing both learning and years of experience.
Even so, Ria wanted to scream at the top of her lungs.
The old man before her wasn’t human.
That was neither metaphor nor exaggeration.
Her five senses…