Now that I was back in the city, I had a long list of things I both needed and wanted to do. First on the agenda was to drop by the shop and get a briefing on everything that had happened while I was away.
"Welcome back, Manager," Caulm greeted me.
"Caulm-san."
As I stepped into Bamboo Forest for the first time in five days, the man I’d left in charge was there to meet me. Since he was standing right by the staff entrance, I wondered if he had been waiting specifically for my return.
"I had a rough idea of your arrival time since the Adventurer Instruction Course follows a schedule, but..." He was quick to dismiss the notion that he had been standing there the whole time. "I was actually just observing them."
"Them?"
He stepped aside, opening up my field of vision. I saw several women I didn't recognize busy moving crates.
"Are they new employees?" I asked.
"Yes. I’ve moved forward with the plan we discussed—hiring extra hands specifically for our busiest hours."
"I see." So these were the part-timers.
"I have several other matters to discuss as well. Please, make yourself comfortable in the Manager's Office."
"Several other matters," he’d said. That was unusual. Usually, our reports were fairly routine, so I wondered if something significant had occurred.
I waited in the office as instructed. When Caulm arrived, he was carrying a considerably larger stack of documents than usual.
"Shall we start by clearing the routine financial reports first?"
"Yes, please."
I was well-accustomed to this part of the job by now. I scanned the figures, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. While our revenue hadn't seen a massive spike, there were no red flags either, so we moved on.
The list of supplies to be replenished—no issues. Approved. The report from the Lenaf Branch—likewise, no issues.
Because the capable Caulm summarized everything so efficiently, my work mostly involved reviewing and granting permissions. The mental load was incomparably lighter than in my previous life. We tore through the paperwork until only the final standard documents remained.
"Thank you very much. From here, I have a few specific updates. First... there has been movement regarding the friction between the Slum and the Town Office, which I know you were concerned about."
"What happened?"
"To summarize: the Town Office made a few concessions, which has eased the tension in the Slum significantly."
"That's a relief."
I listened as he went into the finer details. Apparently, the Town Office had conducted a survey of how public spaces like the Square were being used by the homeless and had officially granted residency status in several areas.
"The government’s core policy remains the same, but by demonstrating they don't intend to resort to the aggressive measures people feared, the residents have calmed down. Some are even starting to utilize the government's employment support programs. There are still many who remain wary and are waiting to see how the situation develops, but it is fair to say that relations are gradually improving."
There were undoubtedly still hurdles to clear, but at least they had reached a temporary lull. I decided I should visit that cafe again soon. The owner had mentioned going there five times a week, after all.
"What's next?"
"Serge-sama of the Morgan Company sent an invitation for you, Manager."
The invitation was to accompany him to give formal greetings to the Jamil Ducal House. As Roche-san had mentioned the day before, this was the peak season for merchants. Between taking year-end orders from regular clients and the fact that nobles would soon be consumed by the winter social season, many merchants made their rounds now.
Someone of Serge’s standing had so many connections that he’d already begun his visits just to ensure he finished in time. He proposed that we meet up next month in Gaunago, where the Jamil family’s primary estate was located, so we could pay our respects together.
"What do you think? Should I even be going?" I asked, feeling a bit hesitant. "I mean, I'm honored, but..."
"I understand your hesitation. Our business is thriving, but we are still newcomers. There is no shortage of merchants looking to profit by cozying up to the Ducal House, and normally, a newcomer wouldn't be granted an audience so easily."
However, Caulm noted that this wasn't a "normal" situation.
"In your case, you are already held in high regard by the Jamil family, so I expect they will make time for you if you ask. If a formal greeting is possible, it is always better to perform it. It isn't uncommon for a merchant to bring along someone they are mentoring, and by going with Serge-sama, you are less likely to attract unwanted attention. There is a chance you might be mistaken for an attendant based on your age, but... that has its own advantages."
Formal greetings were a business staple, so I decided to take Serge up on his kind offer. But that raised other questions.
"I’ll need to prepare Formal Wear and a gift, right?"
"Indeed. I have already scouted a Tailor and a shop that sells quality ready-made garments. I have the details summarized here."
As expected, he was incredibly efficient.
"The real challenge is choosing a gift," Caulm continued. "Business owners usually offer items related to their trade."
"Our shop only really has Deodorizing Fluid, though..."
"I can handle standard gifts like high-end alcohol. I was hoping you might be able to find something more unique for your personal contribution."
"That's probably for the best." We decided to divide the labor for the gift-hunting.
"Furthermore... please take a look at this list."
"Medicines," I noted. "A lot of them."
"This came from Grisiela-sama, the Guild Master of the Commerce Guild. The Guild is currently buying the medicines on that list at a premium. She asked that if you have any in stock or are able to manufacture them, you should bring them to the Guild immediately. This is also due to the season."
"...Does that mean demand from the nobility is up?"
"Precisely. More people are looking to stock up on essentials just in case."
Noble society surely was full of political intrigue and backstabbing.
"And finally, Tigger-sama of Tigger's Weapons and Armor Shop sent word. The prototype is finished, and he would like you to drop by whenever you have a moment."
I remembered consulting him about whether we could create adventuring gear using Slime materials. So, it was finally ready.
"Understood. I'll head over there soon."
"That concludes my report."
"Thank you, Caulm-san."
After thanking him, I sat down to draft a new to-do list. With the end of the year approaching, my workload was undeniably piling up. I needed to get organized before I got overwhelmed.
The highest priority was the Ducal House visit. I needed to decide on a gift, but I should order the Formal Wear first. After that, Tigger’s shop... oh, and the aptitude test at the Tamer Guild. Looking at the clock, that would have to wait until tomorrow.
Once I got home, I had to check on the abandoned mine, replenish the feed for the Slimes and Rimur Birds, and then there were the experiments with the Bloody Slimes... I wanted to get to those, but they weren't urgent. I’d let them rest for a bit. I also needed to set up a dedicated space for the mushroom cultivation trials.
It was definitely going to be a busy stretch. I wrote down every task that came to mind, checked for gaps, and prepared to tackle them in order of priority.
"Is this the place?"
Using the information Caulm-san provided, I arrived at the Tailor shop. Several outfits were displayed in the window—samples, presumably. The shop itself wasn't huge, but the small flower bed by the door felt welcoming, and the second-floor balcony added a touch of class. The whole place was meticulously maintained; it felt like an expensive establishment. Then again, Formal Wear in this world was almost exclusively made-to-order, so that was to be expected.
"Welcome," a refined-looking man greeted me as I entered. He was wearing a long-tailed coat, something close to a tuxedo. "You must be Takebayashi-sama from Bamboo Forest. We have been expecting you."
"You know who I am?"
"Vice Manager Caulm briefed me. He mentioned you’d be granted an audience with a certain noble house and would require appropriate Formal Wear. Congratulations are in order."
Caulm had already paved the way during his initial research. He was fast—and I could feel his determination to see this go well.
"Thank you. I’d like to place an order, but could you help me decide on a style? I'm not entirely sure what's appropriate."
"Of course. Please, look this way."
One wall of the shop was lined with wardrobes, filled with top-and-bottom sets. I assumed they weren't all Formal Wear, but every piece was made of high-quality cloth or leather. The variety was staggering.
"These are all samples. You can use them to select your preferred cut, material, and color. Let’s start with the silhouette. The basic styles of Formal Wear range from here... to here."
He pointed to a section that was only a fraction of the stock, but it still contained more clothes than I could carry. As I looked through them, I saw many designs that looked like they’d been plucked from a history textbook back on Earth—except the eras were all jumbled together. Then, I spotted a massive, incredibly gaudy lace collar. It must have been a meter wide.
"Does that Ruff catch your eye?"
"It’s... certainly hard to miss. Are these popular with the nobility?"
"Indeed. Our noble clients often prefer large, extravagant Ruffs. Many use such details to display their wealth. In fact, some might take offense if a merchant wore a Ruff flashier than their own. While a degree of ornamentation is expected, you are quite young, Takebayashi-sama. It would be safer to aim for something more understated."
"That’s a relief. I’m not much for flashiness anyway." I would have been at a loss if he'd tried to talk me into wearing that.
"In that case, how about this?"
"This is..."
It was the kind of prince-like outfit I’d only ever seen in stage plays.
"These Haut-de-chausses—the padded breeches—and the Bas-de-chausses—similar to stockings—are made from the finest silk. They offer not only an exquisite appearance but superb comfort. The Doublet features quilting meticulously applied by master craftsmen, and the Slashes in the sleeves suggest an adventurer's strength beneath a layer of pure elegance..."
His sales pitch was relentless. When he saw I wasn't biting, he moved on to the next outfit, but I couldn't find anything that felt right. I understood the terminology thanks to my imparted knowledge, but my aesthetic sense was still rooted in my previous life. I just couldn't appreciate the "greatness" of these styles.
Wait...
"Excuse me, is that one over there also Formal Wear?"
"That one? Yes, it is still within the formal section, but..."
"Let me see it!"
I reached back and pulled out a set of clothes that had been buried behind a pile of lace-heavy outfits.
"I knew it..."
There was no mistaking it. It was the garment most familiar to me from my previous life: a business suit. A business suit wasn't exactly the same as formal evening wear, but if it passed as Formal Wear here, this was what I wanted.
"This is a traditional style of Formal Wear said to have been favored and popularized by a King several hundred years ago," the tailor explained. "It still maintains a dedicated following among noble houses that prize tradition. You could wear this anywhere without issue, though it is quite far removed from modern trends. Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. I'll take this one!"
This was what I was used to wearing. For me, there was no other choice.
"As you wish. A 'Suit' it is, then. Since you like this sample, would you like it in white as well?"
"Actually, could you make it black? Or perhaps a very dark navy." A white suit just made me think of a host club or a comedy act.
"Black or dark navy. Yes, those would complement your hair and eyes perfectly. And what of the embroidery?"
"If possible, I'd prefer it plain."
"In that case, we should select some accessories to add a touch of flair."
"Accessories?"
"Most men opt for rings or bracelets. Necklaces and earrings are also acceptable, though with a Suit, one popular option is a Tie Pin set with a gemstone."
After that, we still had to choose the materials for the ornaments and the specific gems. I wasn't used to the etiquette of this world, but the tailor was patient and thorough.
Now that I’d found a Suit, I felt a strange, comforting sense of relief.