Side: Calm Norad
I woke to a wonderful aroma.
It was the breakfast Shelma was preparing—though this morning, the scent was different than usual. It was pleasant, certainly, but I couldn't quite place it.
For over six months now, this peaceful morning routine had been my constant. I got dressed while trying to guess the menu, but when I headed down to the dormitory dining hall, I found an unexpected sight.
"Ah, good morning," the Manager said.
For some reason, he was right there, helping with the breakfast preparations.
"Good morning, Manager. You're unusually early today."
Since the Manager also handled the management of the northern mine, he typically commuted to the shop from there. He was almost never here at this hour. When I asked him what had brought him by, he gave me a sheepish smile.
"To be honest, I stopped by Serge-san’s shop yesterday before heading home, but we got quite wrapped up in our conversation. That led us to the Commerce Guild to meet with the Guild Master, where things got even more heated. By the time I realized how late it was, the Guild Master was kind enough to offer me a bed in the guild's nap room."
"So that's why you're here so early."
It made sense; he hadn't gone all the way back to the mine. I hoped he had rested well, but another thought immediately sprang to mind.
"Just what were you discussing that required the presence of both Serge-sama and the Guild Master?"
"Oh, right. I don't think it will interfere with the laundry shop's operations, but I wanted to keep you in the loop, Calm-san. You see—"
"Good morning!"
Jane and the others arrived just then, interrupting him.
"Wait, what?! Manager?!"
"Oh my... is that really you, Manager?"
"Good morning, Manager."
"Good morning, everyone. Sorry for the intrusion. Ah, Calm-san, let's continue this over the meal."
"Certainly."
The Manager returned to his work assisting Shelma. I watched him for a moment, concerned. He had just returned from a long journey, yet he was already jumping into late-night meetings and early-morning chores. I wondered if he was actually getting any sleep at all.
As I pondered this, the rest of the employees trickled into the dining hall. Soon, breakfast began.
"—And that's the gist of it," the Manager concluded.
He spoke of his latest, world-altering plans as if he were discussing the weather.
"So, you intend to expand into other industries as well?" I asked.
"From my perspective, it’s simply preparation for my goal of returning to the Shulls Great Forest. It's an investment in myself—a way to accumulate knowledge and technology. But yes, it looks like that will be the result."
I understood his logic. Take "preparations for the journey," for example. Since the Manager could use Space Magic, he could carry far more cargo than an ordinary person and sleep in relative safety. However, I had heard that in an adventurer's line of work, there were many times when supplies ran low and one could rely only on their own physical strength.
The Manager was planning to head into a region considered one of the five most dangerous places in the country. He had to prepare for scenarios where his mana might be depleted or where magic simply wouldn't work. It was only natural that he would want the best camping gear and preserved foods to ensure he could rest his mind and body effectively.
I remembered my own journey to Gimul. Even though I was a non-combatant protected by guards, the trip had left me utterly exhausted. For someone who traveled and camped constantly, it was only natural to seek out the best equipment if they had the financial means.
But even so, was there any other adventurer in the world who would start by researching the chemistry of preserved foods from scratch?
I looked at the boy in front of me. No, probably not.
Furthermore, his interests were incredibly broad. He had spent the previous night discussing exactly how far this "broadness" would go, whom he needed to contact to lay the groundwork, and how much capital would be required. He had already written letters to various Guild Masters and had somehow secured a spot in a high-level meeting of Guild Masters scheduled for three days from now. He dropped these bombshells with his usual nonchalant air.
"Hey, Vice Manager? How much of that was actually real? Most of it sounded unbelievable to me," Yudum, our newest recruit, whispered as he leaned in.
"The Manager is serious about every word. All of it."
While the other employees were somewhat surprised, they were used to the Manager's antics. Only Yudum looked like he couldn't wrap his head around it. That was the natural reaction, really.
Under normal circumstances, a commoner couldn't just barge into a guild and demand a meeting with the Guild Master—especially not late at night. Even a wealthy merchant like Serge-sama would usually have to leave a message with a subordinate and wait for a scheduled appointment. The level of hospitality the Manager received was practically unheard of.
However, when I considered the current crisis regarding the surplus of laborers in the city, I could see why the authorities were so eager to listen to him.
"You're doing this to provide jobs for the laborers, aren't you?" I asked.
"Not you too, Calm-san... Serge-san and Grisiela-san kept saying the same thing. I told them over and over that an individual like me shouldn't have to shoulder such social responsibilities. This is an investment for my future. I won't deny that it might provide some work for people as a byproduct, though."
The Manager insisted it was for his own sake, but I found that hard to believe. He always claimed he ran this shop as insurance to stabilize his income for his adventurer work, yet his primary concern was never his own profit. He worried about the treatment of his employees and the well-being of his slimes. That was why morale was so high here. Beyond that, he worried about the customers. He always put himself last.
When Serge-sama first introduced me to him, he warned me to keep an eye on that trait. Even without that warning, I would have noticed. The Manager was simply too good-natured.
While that was a virtue in a human being, it made for a precarious businessman. I believed my sister and I were sent here specifically to compensate for that weakness.
"It is true that you have a lot of preparations to make," I said, offering a small concession.
"Exactly! Since I'm going somewhere dangerous, I have to be thorough."
It was likely true, but it also sounded like a convenient excuse to provide relief for the unemployed. Looking around the table, it seemed the other employees felt the same. No one said a word, but their faces told me they weren't taking his explanation at face value. Only Yudum seemed genuinely confused as to whether the Manager was a saint or a madman.
Regardless, the funding for these new ventures seemed more than sufficient. If the risks were truly too high, Serge-sama or the Guild Master would have stopped him. The fact that they were moving forward meant it was a viable business plan. My job was to handle my responsibilities and ensure the shop ran smoothly.
"Oh, that reminds me, Manager. I have a report regarding the investigation you requested into the shops that tried to imitate our laundry business."
"Ah, right. I did ask for that before I left. Tell me."
"In short, over ninety percent of them have failed. Without Cleaner Slimes, they had to rely on manual labor. They couldn't compete with our speed, quality, or pricing. However, one shop is still hanging on."
"Oh? What kind of shop?"
"It's in Western Gimul, in the artisan district. It’s a home-based shop run by a mother and her two young children—a son and a daughter. They're using their late husband's former workshop as a storefront."
"Are they making a profit?"
"Not at all. From what I've gathered, the husband was a very well-liked man. The neighborhood is essentially propping them up out of respect for his memory. They're barely scraping by."
The Manager nodded thoughtfully. "Western Gimul... it’s on the opposite side of town from us. If we opened a branch store there, it would be much more convenient for our customers coming from that direction. I remember we had several large-scale clients from the artisan district, including the ironworks. The location is good. If we could partner with someone who already has the trust of the locals, it would be a strong move."
He paused, his eyes narrowing as he thought it through.
"But they have their own lives to consider. We can't just decide things on our own. I'll need to draft a formal proposal for an acquisition and a management plan, then go and introduce myself properly."
"Exactly. This isn't something a proxy can handle; it would be seen as a slight. You should go yourself. I will help with the preparations and accompany you to handle the contract details."
"Understood. Could you teach me the proper etiquette for an acquisition? I've never done this before."
"Rest assured, I am well-versed in the procedure. For now, let's finish our breakfast."
After the meal, we moved to the Manager's Office. Between explaining the acquisition process, drafting documents, and catching up on the backlog of paperwork, we spent the entire day working. By sunset, everything was finished.
There wasn't actually anything so urgent that it needed to be completed in a single day, but the Manager seemed determined to clear his plate. He was likely going to try and shoulder more work elsewhere.
"Vice Manager?"
I jumped slightly at the voice. "Oh, Yudum-san. You startled me..."
"I did knock. Were you lost in thought? Is the boss gone? Shelma-san asked me to bring some tea and snacks for you two."
"Yes, we've finished for the day. He said he was going home for sure tonight."
"I see. In that case, can I have the extra tea and snacks? Hate to see them go to waste."
"Go ahead."
Yudum immediately began digging in. His manner was often frivolous, but he was surprisingly easy to be around.
"So, is the work really done?" he asked through a mouthful of cake.
"It is. Why do you ask?"
"Most kids that age can't handle paperwork like that. If I were eleven, there's no way I could sit still that long. Just studying was torture."
"I suppose so," I replied.
Come to think of it, I didn't know where the Manager had learned his administrative skills. When he first asked me to teach him, he had struggled with the specific formats used by the local guilds, but the work itself? He had the efficiency and focus of a seasoned veteran.
"I started learning paperwork at a young age as well," I said. "It's not impossible for some."
In my case, it had been a fraction of the Manager's current workload. But given everything else he had accomplished, it was easy enough to accept.
"I've seen kids with talent in specific areas before," Yudum said, his face suddenly turning serious. "But the boss... he feels different. He's not like a child at all."
I chuckled. "I can't deny that."
"Right? Well, that's one thing, but there's something else that’s been on my mind."
"And what's that?"
"Maybe it's just me, but doesn't the boss seem a little... on edge?"
"On edge?"
"Yeah. Especially when I first met him. He felt incredibly tense, like a bowstring pulled too tight. I’d heard he was a gentle, easygoing guy, so I didn't think he was even the same person. And today... it feels like he’s hiding that tension. Like he’s forcing himself to be bright and cheerful. Does that make sense?"
I went quiet.
"You've noticed it too, haven't you?" Yudum prompted.
"I wouldn't have said he was forcing himself to be cheerful, but he was certainly more focused than usual. He was working at a frantic pace to get everything done. I assumed it was because he knew how busy he’d be starting tomorrow."
"See, that's what I don't get. He went to check on the Chairman of the Morgan Company after the arson, right? How does a check-up turn into a whole new business venture?"
"If you're not used to it, the Manager’s leaps in logic can be overwhelming," I explained. "He often skips several steps in the middle of a process."
"Is he just a genius? That sounds like a nightmare to talk to."
"It can be a bit intense at first. But if you ask him to slow down and explain how he reached a conclusion, he's very patient and will walk you through it. It's a common quirk among researchers. To be honest, compared to some of the researchers I dealt with at my old job, he’s a dream. He actually answers your questions instead of acting like you’re an idiot for not knowing."
Yudum laughed, sounding like he related to that a little too well. "I guess that is pretty kind of him."
"But looking back," I continued, "what you said about him being 'on edge' and 'not child-like'... the Manager has a tendency to treat every 'problem' as something that must be immediately 'solved'."
"What do you mean?"
"He doesn't cry or complain like a child would. He switches gears instantly. It's hard to explain..." I trailed off, trying to find the right words. Yudum waited patiently.
"For example," I said, "the arson. To a child, a fire is scary. To a friend, it’s a reason to offer comfort. But the Manager looks at it as a merchant. Bluntly put, words of concern don't earn you a single copper coin."
"That is blunt!"
"Of course, he is genuinely worried. But the damage from an arson is immense: lost stock, ruined buildings, lost revenue during repairs, the cost of increased security... it all adds up. If the victim has already handled the immediate emergency, the only remaining problem is the financial burden. From a management perspective, one profitable deal is worth more than a thousand words of sympathy."
As far as I knew, the Manager was funding these projects with the inheritance he had received. His plan for a joint factory with the Morgan Company was effectively a way to provide them with a massive influx of capital. Serge-sama's business wasn't going to collapse over one fire, but unplanned expenses were always a headache. Being offered a lucrative partnership at exactly that moment was an incredible lifeline.
"I see," Yudum said. "So when a kid would normally cry because things are hard, he just starts calculating the best way to fix the situation. He’s realistic and rational. That’s just who he is."
"Exactly. He’s an unusual person—always talking about slimes and showing off knowledge from gods-know-where—but his drive to solve problems and his work ethic are incredibly reassuring. Even if he looks like a child, he’s a partner I can trust. The parts he lacks, the rest of us can supplement."
"You really trust him, don't you?"
"I do. Though I worry about his habit of trying to do everything himself."
"Hah! I can't relate to that," Yudum said as he stood up, dusting crumbs off his shirt. "I’m a 'minimum effort' kind of guy. Anyway, thanks for the chat. I should get back to my post."
In a blur of motion, he collected the empty dishes and vanished from the office.
"He certainly didn't waste any time finishing those snacks," I muttered.
Still, what Yudum had said about the Manager being "on edge" stayed with me. The man was surprisingly perceptive when it came to the hearts of others. I had felt a similar unease myself. I would have to keep a much closer eye on the Manager's well-being from now on.