My name was Marcos.
I was a man. Sometimes people mistook my name for Marx or Marcus, but I never let it bother me much.
I was reasonably strong, quick on my feet, and fairly good with my hands. While I wasn't the best at any one thing, I had been called a jack-of-all-trades back when I lived in the slums. However, in Village One, where I lived now, I was merely a "master of none." Perhaps even less than that. There were times when I wanted to lament my own lack of talent.
But the Village Head... ah, when I say Village Head, I don't mean the one in charge of Village One, but the Village Head of the Village of the Great Tree. Village One didn't actually have its own Village Head; instead, someone known as the Acting Manager handled those responsibilities.
To get back to the point—the Village Head didn't give up on me. He encouraged me, telling me that I simply hadn't found the right job for my skills yet. He was a truly kind man. He had power, wealth, and many wives. In the past, I might have been consumed by envy, but now I felt nothing but genuine admiration. For a man of his stature, it wouldn't have been strange for him to live a life of pure luxury, yet he worked harder than anyone else. It was incredible.
That was likely why the Village of the Great Tree was so prosperous. I wanted Village One to work just as hard so we wouldn't fall behind, though with our smaller population, it wouldn't happen overnight. Still, I believed that one day, we would get there.
While I was going about my daily life, the Village Head gathered us to speak. He explained that he was opening a shop in Shashato City and wanted someone to go there to run it. It wasn't meant to be a permanent move; he was thinking of it as a rotating position. He even bowed his head to us, apologizing for asking such a thing when we had barely settled into Village One. There was no way I could refuse a request like that.
However, I had a wife to consider. I needed to consult Paula first, but when I looked over at her, she had already raised her hand. Before I could even ask her opinion, her eyes glared back at me, as if demanding to know why I wasn't raising mine yet.
Luck was on our side. When we drew lots to decide which couple would go to Shashato City, Paula and I pulled the winning ticket. I thanked God for the opportunity.
We began our preparations. Since it wasn't a permanent relocation, we left our house as it was. The Nyunyu-daphne agreed to look after it for us. I had expected to head straight to Shashato City once we were ready, but I was mistaken. First, we had to undergo training at the Village of the Great Tree. It made sense; neither Paula nor I had any knowledge of how to run a business. As expected, the Village Head was thorough.
The shop was to be a restaurant. Our cooking skills were only average, so I wondered if we would be hiring a professional chef. But the Village Head told us we would only be serving one main dish: curry. Since both Paula and I knew how to make it, and we could offer different toppings to keep the menu interesting, I started to feel like we could actually make it work. Still, I wondered what all the intensive training was for.
Eventually, Paula and I arrived in Shashato City with a massive amount of luggage. We traveled via teleportation magic, so it felt as if we arrived the moment we left the village. If I were being greedy, I would have liked to experience the feeling of a real journey, but I put such idle thoughts aside.
I thanked Beezel-sama for the teleportation and Michael-sama for coming to meet us personally. Before I could even ask for a place to store our things, Michael-sama’s subordinates rushed to move our luggage into a prepared warehouse. They even set up a rotating guard to watch over it. I wasn't sure if a simple "thank you" was enough for that level of service.
Just as I was about to discuss our schedule, we received a visitor: the Magistrate of Shashato City. Since the city was under the direct control of the Demon Kingdom, the Magistrate was the highest authority in the region. Despite his rank, he was incredibly humble and didn't look down on us in the least. He seemed particularly interested in the clothes Paula and I were wearing. I wondered if he was a fan of fashion, but since they were handmade by Zabuton-sama, I couldn't possibly give them away. I remembered that the Village Head had given me some fabric to use for formal greetings. It wasn't the right time to present it with so many eyes on us, so I decided to have Michael-san deliver it later. I didn't expect to meet the Magistrate often, but I hoped we could maintain a good relationship.
Our immediate plan for the first two days was simply to sightsee. We were told to walk around the city with the mindset of a customer. We weren't slacking off; the Village Head had specifically instructed us to understand the customer's perspective. At the same time, we conducted a price survey. Normally, you would set a price based on ingredients and labor, but the Village Head warned us that misjudging the local market would be a disaster. It couldn't be too expensive, but it couldn't be too cheap either. He told us to aim for a price slightly lower than the average city lunch.
To figure that out, I wanted to eat out at local spots, but the guide Michael-san provided paid for everything in advance. Not only that, but he took us to what looked like high-end establishments. While the food in the Village of the Great Tree was better—and I had the sense not to say that out loud—I was a bit disappointed. I quickly found myself craving the miso and soy sauce I had grown used to. The only real takeaway from the tour was the confirmation that curry would definitely be a hit here.
Next, Michael-san showed us the location of the shop. It was on a corner of a crossroads with plenty of foot traffic. There was a vast, empty lot measuring two hundred meters on each side—roughly the size of sixteen of the Village Head’s fields.
"So, where will the shop be built?" I asked.
"Right here," Michael-san said, pointing to the very corner of the lot.
"Here? In such a prime location?"
"I personally requested it. This is the least I could provide."
The location was perfect. The surrounding area was bustling with shops, though this specific corner felt a bit lonely since it was empty. I realized there must be a development plan for the area, and we were expected to be the pioneers. I felt a renewed sense of determination.
"We will handle the construction," Michael-san continued. "Since it’s a restaurant, fire safety is the main concern."
"Yes. And water as well."
"Understood. Since we're near the sea, there aren't many wells, so we'll bring in a dedicated waterway for drinking water."
I didn't know much about construction, so I left it to Michael-san, just as the Village Head had suggested. In the meantime, I had to prepare for the opening, starting with hiring staff. Paula and I could have managed on our own, but the Village Head insisted we hire locals to prevent any friction with the community. I didn't know anyone in the city, so I considered asking Michael-san for help again, but I didn't want to rely on him for everything. I needed to take some initiative.
Just then, Paula appeared with about ten girls in tow. Apparently, they were the employee candidates. I told them that while I appreciated them coming, they couldn't work in the shop looking the way they did. I agreed to pay for their water and firewood so they could wash, and I went out to buy towels and new clothes for them.
Paula and I were staying at an inn Michael-san provided, but I didn't feel right bringing a dozen girls there, so I rented a separate inn for them. The Village Head had told me to provide well for our employees, even suggesting I rent housing for them if necessary. It was as if he had seen this coming.
While Paula handled the supplies, I did some legwork. The girls Paula found were likely from the back alleys, just like I had been. Michael-san told me there was an organization in the city that looked after such children, providing them with work and food. I doubted Paula had bothered to clear it with them, so I went to speak with the organizers. I expected a world of violence and threats, but the conversation ended up being surprisingly civil. The Demon Kingdom certainly had its own way of doing things. Before I arrived at Village One, I thought this land was filled with nothing but monstrous, evil beings, but it was actually a good city. The people were a bit more eccentric than those in the human kingdoms, though they couldn't compare to the residents of the Village of the Great Tree.
There was still much to do before the building was finished. I borrowed the kitchen and yard of our inn to practice making curry. The Village Head had given me several goals: stabilize the flavor, create a version using local ingredients, and ensure the shop was welcomed by the residents.
I decided that a seafood curry using local catches would be our best bet, but I reminded myself not to rush. Making assumptions was dangerous. As for being welcomed, the Village Head had told me to always remember we were guests "intruding" on their city. I took that to heart.
As I worked, I noticed the inn's staff and guests staring at me—or rather, at the curry. I hadn't even finished simmering it or cooked any rice, but I figured the inn's bread would suffice for a test.
"If you want a taste, bring some bread..."
I didn't even get to finish the sentence before I was swamped. I realized finding taste-testers would never be an issue.
Ten days later, Michael-san called me. The exterior was finished, and he wanted to discuss the interior.
When I arrived, I stood frozen. The once-empty lot now held a massive building. It was colossal. Even though it was a single story, the roof was as high as a two-story house. There were no walls; it was an open-concept design that people could enter from any direction. Without walls, the massive pillars supporting the roof were quite prominent. The outhouses were tucked into the corners, hidden behind partitions so they weren't visible from the dining area.
In the center was a kitchen surrounded by a counter that was thirty meters long on each side. I had never seen anything like it. It was set at a forty-five-degree angle relative to the building's square shape, which I realized was a clever way to provide a clear view of the entire floor from the kitchen. There were dedicated paths for the staff, and water was piped in along the roof. It was a marvel.
Inside the kitchen area was a large larder, a break room, a changing room, and staff toilets. The ventilation was designed so that smoke would rise into a chimney and be vented outside, even in the rain. Some of it looked like it was powered by magic tools.
I had to be sure. I walked over to Michael-san.
"Michael-sama."
"The '-sama' is unnecessary. Just Michael is fine."
"Right... Michael-san. Is this entire place... our shop? The Village of the Great Tree’s shop?"
Michael-san laughed. "With the help of the Merchant's Association, we're planning for the opposite corner to be one of the village's shops as well. We're negotiating for the other two. Eventually, we hope the entire crossroads will be village-run."
I was speechless.
"Also," Michael-san continued, "the building under construction across the street isn't a shop. It's the residence for you and Paula. We're also building an inn for the employees next to it."
I felt my head spin. In my mind, I had imagined a small, cozy little place. I was pretty sure the Village Head had felt the same way—he'd described it as barely more than a food stall. Our customer service training had been for ten people at a time, not... this.
But I couldn't afford to be dazed. I had to act. I remembered the Village Head’s advice: don't overextend, and don't be reckless. Just because the shop was huge didn't mean it would be full immediately. I shouldn't panic.
Then it hit me. I realized why the Village Head had given me those specific items. He wanted me to use this vast space effectively. As expected, his foresight was incredible.
He had given me Mini Bowling sets. They were incredibly popular with the children in the village, and even the adults loved them. With this much room, I could set up multiple lanes. I only had three sets with me, but I realized he likely wanted me to have more manufactured here in the city.
I quickly formulated a plan. I divided the shop into four areas based on the counters: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest. Since the Southeast corner faced the main crossroads, that would be the primary dining area. Even as a quarter of the building, it was still spacious. I decided to make the Northeast area a play area for the Mini Bowling, with fewer tables and chairs. We would start with just those two areas until we saw how many customers we actually attracted. A massive, empty room would feel far too cold.
I explained my vision to Michael-san and began giving instructions for the interior. There was even a cellar, and an underground passage that led to our future residence. It was more than I could have ever imagined.
I told Paula we would definitely need more employees. I didn't want to think we would be that busy, but the memory of the crowd at the inn made me nervous. It was better to be safe. I also needed more equipment, but I was careful not to waste the funds the Village Head had entrusted to me.
"By the way, Michael-san... what about the land and construction costs?"
"The Village Head has already paid for everything. I'll bring the title deeds to you later."
My name was Marcos. I was the man serving as the Acting Shop Manager of this soon-to-open establishment. Why "Acting"? Because the true Shop Manager was the Village Head himself. I wondered if I was truly up to the task of representing him. I had to give it my all. I would not allow the Village Head’s name to be tarnished.