After returning to the inn, I sat down to brainstorm the content for my advertisements. One crucial detail remained undecided: the name of the shop. Every idea that came to mind felt far too basic.
While I was agonizing over it, Sebas arrived.
"Master Ryoma, have you returned?"
"Yes, I’m in here," I replied, opening the door.
"The Young Lady and her parents were wondering if you would care to join them for tea."
"That sounds wonderful. I’ve just hit a dead end with my work, so I would be happy to accept."
I followed him to the family’s suite.
"We have been waiting for you, Ryoma-san," Eliaria said with a smile.
"Come, sit, sit," Elise added.
"Thank you very much."
Tea was served, and I took a refreshing sip. Reinhardt was the first to speak.
"You’ve been working quite hard lately. You aren't overdoing it, are you?"
"No, I’m doing fine."
"And how is the work progressing?" Reinbach asked.
"The shop is nearly complete. Tomorrow, I plan to sow grass and flower seeds around the perimeter and use Wood Magic to grow them. Once I’ve finished the main signboard and the 'Open' sign, the minimum preparations should be in order."
"What?! You’re already that far along?" Reinhardt exclaimed.
"Ryoma-kun, are you certain you aren't pushing yourself too hard?" Elise asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
"No, I haven't run into any particular problems."
"Master Ryoma," Sebas interjected, "I heard you were constructing the building using Earth Magic. Exactly how much mana are you consuming each day?"
"Let's see... I usually stop using magic shortly before the symptoms of mana depletion set in. After that, I spend the rest of the day on tasks that can be done by hand."
Hearing those words, everyone in the room except me let out a collective sigh.
"That is definitely working too hard..." Reinhardt muttered.
"Master Ryoma," Sebas said gently, "if you are working until you are on the verge of exhaustion, it means you are utilizing a volume of mana that would cause a typical mage to collapse outright. For a single person's workload, it is undoubtedly an overexertion."
I supposed he had a point. I tended to forget that my mana pool was abnormally large compared to the average person.
"You have the look of someone who only just realized that," Reinbach noted with a dry chuckle.
"I’ve suddenly become quite worried," Elise said. "I wonder if it’s really alright to let him live on his own..."
"I’ll be fine. Compared to my old workplace, this is nothing."
"What kind of work did you do at your old workplace?" Eliaria asked curiously.
"Eh...?"
The comment had slipped out. Even if I told them I was a programmer, they wouldn't understand the concept. I decided to pivot to my past part-time jobs.
"I did many things. I worked as a porter, and I even spent some time making dolls."
"Is that so? Ryoma-san, did you ever find the work to be a burden?"
"There were hard times, certainly, but I couldn't survive if I didn't work. However, it wasn't all misery. The porter work was for a construction site, and I found it fascinating to watch a building gradually take shape. I felt a real sense of accomplishment when it was finished. Doll-making was a repetitive task—applying specific colors to specific areas—but I was always happy when the final product turned out well."
"I see. I hope that I can find a job in the future that feels as rewarding as that does to you."
Wait, was the Young Lady planning to work? Even as a Duke's daughter?
As I pondered that, Eliaria’s gaze lingered on the mention of dolls. She really was a young girl at heart.
"If you like, perhaps I could make one for you next time?"
I blurted the offer out in the heat of the moment, only to immediately regret it. The models I used to make back on Earth were almost exclusively for boys or "adult enthusiasts"—hobbyists who collected highly detailed figurines.
"Truly?! If you can find the time, I would love one!"
This was bad. In many ways, it was very bad. While I had made various figures for both hobby and profit, the cultural references wouldn't translate here. Moreover, the types of figures meant for "big friends" that a girl her age shouldn't see were strictly out of the question.
"Is something the matter?" Eliaria asked, noticing my hesitation.
"No... it’s just that the models might be an issue. The part I specialized in was the painting, and now that I think about it, I don't have the proper bases to work with..."
"Oh? But Ryoma-san, aren't you quite skilled with Earth Magic?"
She had me there. The sheer convenience of Earth Magic was starting to haunt me. There was no backing out now. Since I had brought it up myself, I would just have to try and create something harmless and appropriate.
"Understood. I’ll make something as soon as I have a moment."
"I look forward to it."
"Sebas-san, where might I find art supplies and paint?"
"In that case, I shall have them prepared for you by tomorrow."
"Thank you very much. I intend to use them for the shop's signboard as well, so please procure a large amount of paint. I’ll reimburse you for the cost later."
"Certainly."
After some more idle chatter, I returned to my room. On my way out, they reminded me once more not to overexert myself. I really needed to be careful.
Now, about the name of the shop... It didn't need to be fancy. Memorability was far more important.
We’ll clean even Goblin stains cheaply! Laundry Agency: Bamboo Forest.
With that, the advertisement was finally decided.
Day 8 of Shop Construction
I received the art supplies and paint from Sebas, thanked him, and headed to the guild. As I walked through the doors, Meilyne, the receptionist, called out to me.
"Oh! Ryoma-kun! I was worried because you stopped coming by after the abandoned mine request."
"My apologies. I've been quite busy with various errands."
"That’s right, you’re building a shop, aren't you? The Guild Master told me. It’s incredible for someone your age."
"Thank you. Actually, I wanted to ask you something regarding the shop."
"What is it?"
"I heard somewhere that I might be able to post advertisements on the guild's bulletin board. Is that true?"
"Advertisements? Hmm, the guild doesn't offer that kind of service. Ryoma-kun, what you heard was probably about that."
Meilyne pointed to a small, isolated board in the corner of the room.
"That’s the party recruitment board. It’s for people who want to find teammates to list their info and requirements. We don't have a board for commercial advertisements."
"I see. Thank you anyway."
It looked like I would have to promote the shop myself or wait for word of mouth to spread. Printing flyers or posters was difficult because paper was still relatively expensive.
Toilet paper was the only exception—it was plentiful and cheap. Apparently, there had once been a man (likely a fellow traveler from Earth) who invented magic tools to mass-produce toothbrushes and toilet paper and spread them across the world. However, I couldn't exactly hand out ads written on toilet paper; they would be flimsy and likely discarded immediately.
I decided to put the marketing on hold and focus on work.
"Meilyne-san, are there any requests for trash disposal or general cleaning today?"
"In that case, could you head to the Guild Master’s office first? He told me to call for you the moment you showed up. He likely has a specific job in mind."
"Understood. I’ll head up."
When I entered Wogan’s office, he greeted me with a wide grin.
"Ryoma! You finally showed up!"
"Hello. It’s been about a week, hasn't it? I've been occupied with the construction."
"Sorry to dump this on you right away, but I need you to take a request to clean the cesspools."
"What? I thought that job was being handled by the rookies and the people from the slums."
"About that... well, people have started taking the jobs, including that group of six you helped. But we’re still desperately shorthanded. I’m even making Satch’s old cronies work the pits as part of their light penalties, but it’s still not enough. Plus, the clients say the results aren't nearly as clean as your method."
Wogan sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"Look, I want to give work to the people who need money as much as you do, but as a guild, we can't keep clients waiting forever. Those five months before you arrived were brutal for the city. People finally got a taste of an odorless environment, and they refuse to go back! The complaints are piling up. 'Make it like it was before!' they say. Please, just cover the gaps where we’re shorthanded."
I supposed I had done too good a job. Once people's standards of living improved, it was hard for them to accept anything less. Those five months must have been truly miserable for the residents.
"I understand the situation. That smell was quite impressive... in a bad way. I’ll take the job."
"You’re a lifesaver."
I accepted the request and immediately set to work. By utilizing the Scavenger Slimes to their full potential, the cleaning was finished in no time. After reporting the completion and collecting my reward, I headed back to the shop site.
I asked the Scavenger Slimes to use their Nutrient Return skill to process their "meals" into fertilizer. I mixed the odorless, mud-like substance into the soil around the building, planted the grass and flower seeds, and gave them a thorough watering.
The sun began to set just as I finished. Since I had been warned about overworking only yesterday, I decided to call it a day.
Day 9 of Shop Construction
Early the next morning, I watered the soil again and used the Wood Magic spell 'Grow' to accelerate the seeds' development. In just over three hours, I succeeded in surrounding the shop with lush green grass and blooming flowers.
It was a convenient spell, but if the soil lacked water or nutrients, the mana consumption spiked significantly. Rapid growth also tended to deplete the soil's nutrients almost instantly. Without the fertilizer from the scavengers, I never could have covered such a large area in so little time.
With the landscaping set, I used Wind Magic to trim the grass to an even height and let the scavengers eat the clippings. Finally, it was time for the shop's face: the signboard.
I painted a large wooden board white and, in bold letters, wrote Laundry Agency: Bamboo Forest. On either side of the text, I painted a serene scene of a bamboo grove with slimes nestled quietly at the base of the stalks. I set it aside to dry, intending to waterproof and polish it later.
While the sign dried, I worked on the smaller details, like the price list for services, and performed a final walkthrough of the shop.
The next step would be a trial run of the service and customer flow.
I considered asking Jeff and the others to help me with a test opening... but then I thought, why not celebrate the completion at the same time? With the shop essentially ready, I decided to stop by Serge’s office before returning to the inn.
"Welcome, Master Ryoma," Serge greeted me.
"Good evening, Serge-san. To get straight to the point: the shop is finally in its finished form as of today."
"Truly?! That was remarkably fast..."
"I had several acquaintances at the Adventurer Guild telling me they were eager for the opening, so I’ve been putting all my effort into finishing it. Now that the building is ready, I’d like to gather everyone for a pre-opening check to ensure there are no issues with the workflow."
"A final verification before full-scale operations begin, then?"
"Exactly. I plan to start official business the day after the trial. For the trial day itself, I’d like to host a small completion party with snacks once the check is done. I would love for you to attend, Serge-san, if your schedule allows."
"Thank you for the invitation. Let's see... I have some business tomorrow, but I’m free for the two weeks following that. Any time you choose will be fine."
"Thank you. I’ll confirm with my other guests and let you know."
"Master Ryoma, would it be alright if I brought two others with me?"
"Of course. Are you referring to Pioro-san and the Guild Master?"
"No, members of my own company. I’d like to introduce the people I promised would assist you with the shop. It would be best for them to meet you as soon as possible so they can acclimate to the work."
"I appreciate your thoughtfulness."
I had almost forgotten about the shop staff. I had built the employees' quarters, but without help, I would never be able to maintain my career as an adventurer. I thanked him again and left.
Next, I went to the Adventurer Guild to relay the same information to Wogan and Meilyne. It turned out both of them had the day after tomorrow off. They promised to reach out to Jeff and the others who had participated in the cleanup operation.
Finally, I headed to the Commerce Guild. When I asked to leave a message for the Guild Master, I was shown into the reception room instead.
"You’ve come," Griselda said. "It’s been about a week. Is the work going well?"
"Thanks to your help, the shop is finally finished."
"Already? Depending on the quality of the masonry, you might have a future as a contractor."
"I can only manage simple structures, I’m afraid."
"That’s all anyone needs. Only nobles and eccentrics build complicated houses anyway."
"I’m here to report the completion, but I’m also planning a trial run of the business followed by a small party. Since you’ve been so helpful, I was hoping you might attend."
"You’re inviting me?"
"I won't be able to provide anything too extravagant, and there will be other acquaintances there, but if you’re alright with that..."
Griselda let out a raspy chuckle. "A casual party? That’s much more to my liking. In my position, I don't get invited to those anymore. Even the ones that look casual on the surface turn into stiff, formal affairs the moment I walk in. But if your adventurer friends are going, you really do mean to keep it informal, don't you?"
"Yes, I’m not very fond of formality myself."
"Fine. When is it?"
"I’m aiming for the day after tomorrow, but I’m still coordinating everyone’s schedules. I’ll leave a final message at the guild tomorrow. Also, could you tell me how to reach Pioro-san? I’d like him to come if he has the time."
"He’ll be fine for the day after tomorrow. His main base is in another city, and he’s using tomorrow’s meeting here as an excuse to take a vacation. I’ll give him a heads-up for you."
"Thank you very much."
I left the Commerce Guild and stopped by the Tamer Guild to drop off a message before returning to the inn. When I invited the Young Lady and her family to the pre-opening, they were delighted. The four members of the Ducal family, Sebas, Arone, and Lilian all confirmed. Furthermore, Jill and the other three guards also agreed to attend.
Counting them all up, there were 11 from the Jamil household, 11 from the Adventurer Guild, and 5 from the Commerce Guild—a total of 27 people. Including myself, that made 28. If Branch Master Taylor from the Tamer Guild could make it, the total would be 29. The employee breakroom would have to serve as the venue; it was the only space large enough.
Day 10
At the guild, I confirmed that all the adventurers would be attending. I also received a note from the Tamer Guild saying that Branch Master Taylor would be delighted to join.
I sent out the final word to Serge’s shop and the guilds: the trial opening would begin the morning of the day after tomorrow, followed by the party in the afternoon.
I spent the rest of the day inspecting the abandoned mine—which I had neglected for a week—and hunting a few monsters on the way back. After returning to the inn and informing the Young Lady's family of the final schedule, the day drew to a close.