Side: Calm Norad
The following morning.
"Good morning!"
The manager arrived at the shop at his usual time.
He seemed less "on edge" today and more uncharacteristically cheerful, which actually made me even more concerned.
"Good morning, Manager. Were you able to get home and rest properly yesterday?"
"Eh? Ah, yes, more or less."
There was a strange hesitation in his voice just now.
"Manager? Did you actually get some sleep?"
"I went home and I slept, I promise. It’s just that some of the slimes evolved right after I got back, so I ended up going to bed a little later than I intended."
"Not again. Please, try to do things in moderation."
"It’s fine. It won't interfere with my work, and I think this evolution rush is almost over anyway. The slimes have been rapidly accumulating nutrients and preparing to evolve thanks to all the waste I collected from the villagers back in the Fatma Territory.
Oh, by the way, two new species emerged last night. Both came from Sticky Slimes that ate the 'Water Spiders' used as food over there. One is the 'Spider Slime,' which has the 'Nesting' and 'Binding' skills. Based on that result, it seems those Water Spiders really were spiders after all. I'd assumed they were crabs... well, that's a minor detail. The other one became a 'Crust Slime' with the 'Carapace Shaping' skill.
Both have basic abilities and appearances similar to Sticky Slimes, but—"
"That reminds me, Manager. We received a reply from that laundry shop."
"—Ah, already? We only sent the letter yesterday. That was fast. I thought it would take longer."
I felt a little guilty for interrupting him while he was speaking so enthusiastically, but once the manager started talking about slimes, he could go on for hours. I showed him the letter that had arrived first thing this morning to divert his attention. If it had been a lunch break or after hours, I wouldn't have minded, but he had to refrain while the shop was open. It would set a poor example for the staff if both the Manager and the Vice Manager were neglecting their duties.
The manager understood that well enough; he was fundamentally a serious person, so it wasn't a major issue. However...
"Hmm... This letter says we can visit the shop whenever we like. Should I take that at face value and assume it's alright to go today?"
"May I see it?"
I took the letter from him and scanned the contents. I see.
"It does state that a visit at any time is fine. I believe we should be alright as long as we don't arrive when they are clearly in the middle of a rush."
"I see. Then let's head over after lunch. I want to change into more formal clothing, and I'd like to avoid intruding during their own break if possible."
"Understood. I shall make preparations as well."
As I spoke, perhaps because clothing had just been mentioned, my eyes were drawn to the manager's wrist.
"That's unusual. Are you wearing a bracelet?"
The manager generally didn't wear accessories. In all the time I'd known him, I had never seen him wear a single piece of jewelry.
Depending on the customs of one's birthplace, some people wore specific items regardless of age or gender, but I hadn't heard of anything like that from him.
However, on his left wrist today was something resembling a bracelet—a metal cord wound around his arm, secured by a clasp adorned with a decorative stone.
Or so I thought, until...
"This? Hehe, does it look like jewelry to you?"
"Is it not?"
"Well, I'm making it look that way, so you're not wrong. But this is actually a slime. It's called a Wire Slime, one of the ones that evolved in the Fatma Territory. It can stretch its body into a thread-like form. I'm testing whether it can pass for an accessory if I combine it with a decorative stone."
"Is that so..."
I wondered if there was really any point in using a slime as a substitute for jewelry.
The question crossed my mind, but seeing the manager's joyful expression made me hesitate to say it aloud. I waited for a suitable break in the conversation and steered the topic back to business.
After lunch, we finished our preparations to depart.
"We'll be in your care, Yudum-san."
"Leave it to me!"
To my surprise, Yudum-san had joined us as an escort.
When I learned that the manager himself had requested a guard, I was inwardly shocked.
The reason for my surprise was that the manager almost never brought a guard with him.
While I fully understood now that the manager was an adventurer of considerable skill, back when I first met him, I primarily saw him as a child despite his mature behavior. When the shop became successful and we started facing harassment from petty, jealous rivals, I had urged him many times to keep a dedicated guard by his side.
The manager generally listened to my sister and me and adopted our suggestions, but on that one point, he was stubborn.
"I'm an adventurer," he would say. "I can protect myself. It's fine, really."
He would gently but firmly refuse any request to have a personal guard. The only exception had been a visit to the Ducal House, where he asked Fei-san to accompany him purely for the sake of formality. That truly was the only time.
Fei-san, Li Ling-san, Dolce-kun, Ox-san... he went to great lengths to ensure there was no chance of anything happening to the shop or us employees. Despite gathering a level of combat strength that was excessive for a single business's security, he was completely indifferent toward his own safety.
Perhaps a mediocre guard would only be a hindrance to him, but...
"Calm-san, is something the matter? You've been staring at me for a while."
It seemed I had been following him with my eyes without realizing it.
"I was just thinking it's rare for you to ask for a guard yourself, Manager."
"Eh? ...Now that you mention it, you and Carla-san did recommend it many times, didn't you?"
The manager likely remembered my sister's and my past suggestions—and how he had ignored them. He looked away, appearing slightly awkward.
"I'm not angry. I understand now just how strong you are. I was just genuinely curious why you reached out to Yudum-san today."
"I've been hearing that things have been quite volatile lately. I even saw some people being hauled away by the guard this morning. Besides, this suit isn't meant for vigorous movement. Oh, but it might be a good idea to have a suit made from monster hides or high-mobility materials next time."
"Mobile formal wear, huh? I'm not sure about combat use, but if formal wear becomes easier to move in, there would probably be a market for it. It's always better for even regular clothes to be flexible."
Speaking of which, if the manager came to the city from his home in the North Mine, he would pass through the North Gate. I recalled there being a detention center near the city guardhouse in that area. It made sense that he happened to see people being arrested, but similar things must have happened before... He said the clothes were restrictive, so he brought a guard just in case?
"For example, if we used specific materials on the joints—"
"In the place I used to visit—"
"There are skins and plants like that?! Monsters really are diverse. In that case—"
...Anyway, Manager, please don't get so engrossed in discussing mobile formal wear with Yudum-san.
"Manager. I truly admire your ability to produce ideas as if you've just remembered them from a casual conversation, but all your ideas are leaking out of your mouth."
"Ah, sorry. Yudum-san, let's talk about this later."
"Understood!"
Honestly, the manager had the temperament of a craftsman, or perhaps a researcher. Even if it was just a passing thought, it was information that could potentially generate a fortune. As a merchant, I could not overlook him blurting out plans to actualize those ideas while walking through the city streets.
There were times when I thought Serge-sama or the Guild Master were being overprotective, but since things like this happened occasionally, I could see why they grew worried while watching over him.
Occupied by such thoughts, I followed the two of them as they chatted casually about the surrounding shops and buildings.
And then—
"...Um, Calm-san?"
"Yes."
"That's the shop over there, right?"
"It should be... but..."
We entered the street where the laundry shop was located and our feet stopped naturally. A mass of people stood just a short distance—a few steps—away from the entrance. What's more, they were well-built young men carrying wooden beams and hammers. They gave off a menacing atmosphere that didn't make them look like customers at all.
"This doesn't look peaceful no matter how you slice it. What's the plan, Manager?"
"Even if you ask me for a plan... it seems some of them have already noticed us. Even if we were to come back another day, we won't know whether the timing is better without hearing what they have to say. I'll be counting on you if anything happens."
The manager spoke in a slightly tense voice and walked boldly toward the group.
Yudum-san and I flanked him to stay close.
As we approached, many scrutinizing glares were directed at us.
"Hello. May I ask a question? Did something happen?"
When we were within a few yards, the manager was the first to speak.
The group stirred, and one man spoke up.
"It's nothing."
...I could hardly believe it was nothing given the situation, but if that was his answer...
"I see. Then could you let us through? We have business with that shop."
The moment the manager said that, the man's expression twisted from displeasure to fury.
"Hey, you said you have business with this shop. What kind of business?"
"Well, are you associated with the shop?"
"What the hell does it matter?!"
"It matters quite a bit."
His attitude was so abrasive that I couldn't help but interject.
The man naturally turned his glare on me.
However, I continued.
"We have come for a business meeting with the person in charge of this shop. We have no obligation to disclose the details of our business to someone not associated with the establishment, and it would also affect our credibility as merchants. It is only natural to confirm whether you are a concerned party. To begin with, we have already contacted the manager of that shop in advance by letter. If you are not an associate, please step aside."
"...Tch!"
When I said that, he seemed unable to offer a rebuttal. After falling silent for a few seconds, he spoke again.
"Tch! Always with the clever talk... But I knew it! You're the land sharks trying to steal this shop with some crooked contract!"
"...What?"
What on earth was this man talking about?
"I didn't think they'd bring a kid along, but if you're land sharks, that explains the brat's nerves of steel."
"No, that's simply because the manager—"
"Think you can smooth things over with talk? Not a chance! We heard all about it—that a letter was sent demanding this shop be sold!"
"That is—!"
It was true that we had sent a letter yesterday discussing an acquisition, but calling it land sharking was preposterous. Looking back at the main points of the letter:
Objective: To increase convenience for customers and reduce the burden on a single shop by distributing customers across multiple locations. Conditions: Purchase of the current home and workshop owned by the other party. (Purchase of the workshop alone is also acceptable; terms are open to negotiation.) After the acquisition, those who wish to do so may continue their employment. No demand for eviction from the current residence. Fundamentally, the difference before and after the acquisition would be the nature of the work, which would be standardized to the Bamboo Forest method. However, care will be taken to keep changes to branch employees and the chain of command to a minimum.
It had contained content like that. We had no intention of kicking out the mother and her children. In fact, we thought it would be better if they continued working there, so I didn't think we deserved this kind of treatment.
"Please, wait a moment. Let's speak calmly."
"Don't screw with me! That's your game, isn't it? Deceiving people to snatch away their money and homes!"
"That's right, that's right!!"
"Because of people like you, there are folks who were kicked out of their homes with nowhere to go!"
"Even this shop! People have been coming by repeatedly, pressuring them to sell!"
Starting with the first man's angry roar, the other men around him began to raise their voices as well.
People had already been kicked out of their homes? People had been coming to pressure this shop to sell?? That meant...
"Calm-san."
"Manager. I suspect we are thinking the same thing."
"I mean, we've definitely been mistaken for someone else, haven't we?"
I had heard that various problems were occurring in different parts of the city lately. It seemed this place was no exception. Undoubtedly, there were scoundrels performing the acts they described. However, that wasn't us, and it was frustrating to be lumped in with them.
"I have a general understanding of what you all wish to say. However, we are not the ones who committed those misdeeds. We are from Bamboo Forest, the laundry shop located in the east of Gimul."
"We also received a reply from the manager of this shop, saying that 'any time is fine' for us to visit."
Following the manager, who clearly denied the charges and gave the name of our shop, I explained that we had received a reply to our letter. Then...
"Bamboo Forest... that's that place, right?"
"Yeah, I think our workshop uses them too."
"You say the Madam replied to the letter?"
"Come to think of it, I heard rumors that a kid was the manager of that shop... Eh? Are you serious?"
It seemed there were people who recognized our shop's name.
Voices began to rise from the group, and just as their hostility started to fade...
"Don't be fooled!!"
That man shouted once again.
"There were guys who used the name of an actual shop to approach people too!"
"O-Oh, right!"
"No, but that shop seems to be making quite a lot of money."
"Right? Maybe we should at least let them talk."
"You idiot! Remember! How many people have been lured in by listening like that and ended up forced into a contract?! The Guild just kept saying 'there's a contract' and didn't do a thing! If the Madam and the kids end up on the street because of this, can you look their old man in the face?!"
At the man's words, the expressions of the people who were starting to become inclined to listen clouded over one after another. Perhaps some of the people here had actually been deceived. The part about the Guild doing nothing was a bit concerning, but...
"Even if you're a kid, if you lay a hand on this shop, I won't show any mercy! I'll beat you out of here so you'll never feel like coming back!"
This was bad; there was no reasoning with them at all.
"...I see..."
"Eh? Mana—!?"
I couldn't catch the words he muttered, but the moment I looked at him, I saw a look in the manager's eyes I had never seen before.
The manager had occasionally looked downcast in the past while remembering something, but this was incomparable. I felt something dark and heavy emanating from him.
"Manager? Is something wrong?"
"No, looking at the current situation, I just feel disappointed... Of course, I'm sure it's because of everything you've all been through... but if the city's residents are like this, you're no better than thugs, are you?"
I believe those words were filled with a deep sense of letdown and disappointment.
I could understand why he would want to say that. In fact, I agreed with him—but in this situation, those were the worst possible words to add fuel to the fire.
Yudum-san immediately tried to step forward—
"?! Is it alright?"
—but he was stopped by the manager himself.
"This is the result of me saying what I thought. It's up to me to deal with it. Yudum-san, please just make sure nothing happens to Calm-san."
"...Understood."
"You've got some nerve."
"I don't believe I said anything wrong. I have no intention of taking it back. Nor do I think there's a need to."
The atmosphere worsened further at those words, but the manager went on.
"A group of grown men gathering together, brandishing weapons like that, doing nothing but shouting to intimidate others, unable to have a decent conversation. Nor having any intention to. How are you any different from the thugs causing trouble in the city? That is what I thought, and what I said. Am I wrong?"
"Y-You little brat..."
Manager... I agree, but you didn't have to say it all over again. His tone was polite and detached, but I felt sharp thorns in every word.
"Yudum-san, I understand now. That 'on edge' feeling you were talking about yesterday."
"Glad to hear it. So, how are we handling this?"
"...I don't know. Usually, he's the kind of person who would just laugh and let things slide with an 'Is that so?', no matter what was said to him. This is the first time I've seen such a reaction."
We should force our way out of here for now—
"By the way, is the person standing in the shadow of that door the manager of this shop?"
"!"
"Ah...!"
I hadn't noticed because I was focused on the manager and the man. The door of the shop where the men had gathered was slightly ajar, and it seemed a thin woman, still relatively young, had been peering out to see what was happening. Most likely, she was the owner of this shop.
"W-What are you doing, Madam! Get back inside, quick!"
"Um... I..."
"May we speak with—"
"Don't you go butting in on other people's business!"
"—May we speak with you?"
"It's alright! We'll protect you and the kids!"
"Ah..."
The woman's gaze shifted back and forth between the manager, us, and the gathered men. During that time, the man desperately threw words at her, and she showed clear signs of hesitation.
"...I'm sorry."
Finally, the owner retreated back into the shop.
The manager then looked at us.
"You two, let's go home."
What was that exchange just now? As if he had already lost interest, he started to head back the way we came. The man who had been arguing with him also seemed taken aback by his sudden change of heart.
"Eh, ah? Hey!"
"Ah, sorry for the intrusion. I've judged that we were able to confirm the Madam's intentions, so we're leaving. I don't think we'll ever come here again, but if you have any complaints about earlier, please make an appointment at the shop."
"An apo... what's that?"
"Pardon me, it means a meeting arrangement. I won't run or hide. You can even bring those things with you. However, if you do anything to frighten or harm my employees or customers, I will respond with everything I have."
There was a quiet but undeniable pressure in those words.
"Yudum-san, let's go too."
"Right!"
Fortunately, the manager was only walking slowly, so it was easy to catch up.
"Manager. What happened? So suddenly."
"Calm-san. I'm sorry. But it's better to give up on the acquisition of that shop... no, I've lost interest in it. It's a shame, but let's either look for another shop and person or just build a regular branch."
"I have no objection to that. There's no need to rush, and we can take our time to think it over from scratch."
"You're right."
After that, the manager fell silent.
His tendency to overthink things was a bad habit of his, and it wasn't all that rare, but considering his prickly response earlier, he must be in a worse state than usual this time. The reasons for the manager to be angry were easy enough to think of, logically. However, the things that came to mind were all things the manager would usually just let slide.
Being unable to let things slide that he usually would... in other words, did he no longer have any composure left?
"Manager. You seem to be very much on edge. Are you alright?"
When I asked that, the manager probably intended to deny it, but the words wouldn't come. After letting out a sigh as if reflecting on his own actions, he said,
"You're right. It seems I was a bit too tense."
He acknowledged my words.
"If there is something on your mind, would you be willing to tell me?"
"I think things would be fine as they are. But I've been feeling like I need to be extra prepared, just in case. For example, when it comes to the shop, I have you, Calm-san. It might sound like I'm talking behind her back if I bring it up here, but if it were that woman instead of you, I certainly wouldn't feel like leaving a shop in her care."
"I am in complete agreement with you on that. To put it mildly, her shop has probably only been able to continue until now because it was 'supported by those around her,' as the previous information suggested."
The manager nodded. Our opinions seemed to coincide on this matter.
"As the rumors those men were talking about say, I'm not at the shop very much. But as the manager, as someone who stands above the employees, I believe I have a responsibility to stabilize the management and protect the shop and the staff."
The manager judged that this was possible for me but impossible for that woman. This probably meant that he trusted me enough to leave the shop in my care.
"But unexpected situations and irrationality often come out of nowhere. No matter how much you layer precaution upon precaution, as long as we are human, there is no such thing as 'absolute'... And losing something takes only a single moment. A moment of inattention. A moment of carelessness. It's not unheard of for something precious to become beyond repair in an instant."
"..."
Those were words that carried the weight and experience of an elderly person. The manager, who had spoken them quite naturally, gave a wry smile.
"I wanted to make sure there were as few surprises as possible, to be extra prepared. It seems I was naturally tensing up while thinking about that."
"As I thought, you can't settle down with the city in such a state?"
"I won't deny that, but in the end, it's a matter of my personality. You, me, and even the people in the city all feel the deteriorating public safety, and everyone is taking the necessary measures. It's not that I suspect anyone is cutting corners. But no matter how many measures you take, there will always be people who think 'it's still not enough,' right?"
"That is true."
"I'll try to be careful. That said, it's just my nature to think that way, so I look forward to your continued support."
The manager said that with a smile, as if he had succeeded in a prank, but there was no need to tell me that now.
"Of course. That is why I am here."
When I said that, the manager laughed again and said, "That's right," as he headed back toward the shop.
I didn't feel the heavy atmosphere from earlier in his gait, and I believe his pace was slightly lighter.