Not a single word passed between Calm-san and me until we had walked a good distance away from the Commerce Guild.
As the silence stretched on, I realized I had to be the one to break it and apologize.
"Calm-san. I’m sorry for the harsh and rude way I spoke to you back there."
"I am well aware that those words didn't reflect your true feelings, Manager," he replied, his voice quiet but thick with suppressed emotion. He was clearly angry. "More importantly, why did you choose to take that attitude?"
"In that situation, I absolutely didn't want you to intervene," I explained. "What I feared most was the possibility that, by some fluke of fate, the shop and its employees would end up being socially ostracized. I don't know what that man Wands intends to whisper to the other participants from here on out, but I judged that if we refused to cooperate on the spot, he might brand us as selfish, uncooperative management—or worse, stigmatize the shop itself."
In any business or transaction, refusing to cooperate because the conditions don't align with your goals is a perfectly natural judgment. Logically, there’s nothing wrong with it.
However, the "emotions" of those who are rejected are far more troublesome. Once a mood of "mutual cooperation" takes hold and becomes the expected norm, anyone who refuses can easily be branded as "evil."
"Saying one is 'refusing to yield to peer pressure' sounds noble, but I see it as nearly synonymous with 'disturbing the harmony.' Back in that room, I was the one who disrupted the unity Wands was trying to build. I made myself the villain. I acted that way because I felt it was necessary to take that role on myself, but there was no need for there to be two of us."
"So that was it after all," Calm-san said, letting out a long sigh as he began to recount the events, as if checking off each point. "As I listened to the discussion in that meeting room, I came to my senses. That man Wands certainly was suspicious. There may well be some ulterior motive hidden behind words like 'cooperation' and 'crime prevention.'
"While I think you might be overthinking the bit about total ostracism, I understand that simply refusing back there would have left a poor impression on the others. There is certainly nothing to be gained from a bad reputation. And... back there, you first ordered me to be silent, and I simply stood there, appearing bewildered by your attitude. In other words, you wanted to make it look as though the decision to refuse was your 'sole discretion' as the Manager.
"Your attitude was the final nail in the coffin. People tend to notice someone's bad traits first, and if a child meeting them for the first time acts that arrogant, many of those adults would feel a sense of loathing or discomfort regardless of what was actually said. Since it was their first impression of you, it would have stuck.
"Furthermore, when we first met, I myself thought of you as a 'noble’s child running a shop for fun.' I suspect those merchants saw you in a similar light. By acting arrogant and ordering me around, you ensured that in their eyes, I appeared unable to defy you due to your status or authority. You believed this would make it easier for them to blame the decision entirely on you... Am I correct?"
"It’s a relief to have a subordinate so brilliant he understands even before I explain," I said.
"Don't you dare joke about that!"
Calm-san’s voice cracked like a whip—the first time I had ever heard him truly raise it. I understood that his outburst came from a place of genuine concern, and it pained me to see him looking so distressed because of my actions. But I stood my ground.
"I’m not joking, Calm-san. I trust you. That’s exactly why, if the worst were to happen, I could leave everything to you. As long as the Cleaner Slimes are here, along with you as manager and our employees, I am not strictly necessary. I believe the Bamboo Forest could continue its operations without me."
"So, you're saying you're perfectly fine with being discarded? Why are you always trying to sacrifice yourself alone!?"
"Sometimes that kind of judgment is necessary. I believe a leader is someone who takes responsibility when the time comes, and a superior is someone who protects their subordinates. That's just how I see it. Though, of course, resignation is only the final resort."
"Even so! ...Wait. A 'final resort'?"
"Yes. Why do you look so surprised? I intended to prepare for the absolute worst-case scenario, but I wouldn't do something as drastic as throwing everything away from the very start."
That meeting had been a trap. Once you fell in, you couldn't get out unscathed. We had noticed the snare and managed to avoid it, but the fact remained that we had refused to cooperate, which would leave a bitter taste in the mouths of those who agreed with Wands. I had experienced the crushing weight of peer pressure and the risks of social retaliation more than enough in my previous life.
I knew I was being hypersensitive, but I felt it was better to be safe. Even if it meant cutting myself off, I would protect the shop and the staff. That was my duty as the one in charge.
"Ostracism is just a possibility, after all," I continued. "We don't know what the future holds, and I have no intention of letting myself be discarded before a real problem even arises. Besides, even in a worst-case scenario, I haven't committed a crime. If I handed over the manager's seat to you and simply remained an investor, I could still provide input and take a share of the profits. Practically speaking, almost nothing would change."
Furthermore, if we found it impossible to do business in Gimul, we could simply move our main shop to another city—perhaps Gaunago, where the Duke's mansion was. Reinhardt-san had personally requested that I open a branch there once I was ready. Most of our current staff had come to Gimul from elsewhere for work anyway. While they had grown accustomed to the city over the past year, I didn't think there was any reason they absolutely had to stay here. Gaunago was in the same duchy, and it was close enough for someone like Dolce-san to return home periodically if he wanted to. Of course, their personal wishes would come first.
There were still so many options and measures we could take.
"So, you see? I understand you're worried, but please don't look at me with that face. Let's look forward and do what we can now. We need to work to ensure that 'worst-case scenario' never happens. When you think you've made a mistake, that's when you must assess the situation and move correctly to recover."
I asked him if he would lend me his wisdom and strength once again. Calm-san started to speak, stopped, and tried again several times, his expression shifting through a kaleidoscope of emotions. It seemed he didn't quite know whether to be angry or sad.
Eventually, he let out a massive, weary sigh.
"Manager."
"Yes?"
"I was the one who asked for the reason first, and perhaps you were only ever talking about 'what-ifs' regarding that worst-case scenario."
"Yes."
"I suppose there was some misunderstanding and jumping to conclusions on my part. However! Even so, you were incredibly misleading!"
"I'm sorry," I said, unable to offer much else. Calm-san sighed once more.
"Manager, I am frustrated. Just the other day, I told you that I was here to support you."
"You did."
"And yet today, I was nearly led astray by that man Wands, caused you to even consider discarding your position, and then ended up being lectured by you on the very things I, as your assistant, should have considered first. It's true that we have no time to look backward, but... am I really good enough for this job?"
Calm-san laughed weakly, but I wasn't having it.
"It might be strange for me to say this, but you're still young, Calm-san. And compared to the people in that meeting, you didn't seem inferior in ability at all. Or do you think you've already reached the level of a merchant like Serge-san?"
"Of course not! Serge-sama is far more experienced than I. To say we are equals... the very thought is absurd."
"Exactly. Serge-san has overcome countless successes and failures. Compared to him, both you and I are still inexperienced youngsters. But if we lack experience, we can start accumulating it now. If we lack knowledge, we can study. I believe we still have the time and the opportunity to do just that."
"...I suppose you're right." Calm-san nodded. "I wonder why it is? When I talk to you, Manager, I sometimes feel as though you are older than me."
"Hahaha."
I could only dodge that with a vague laugh. He didn't seem to mind, though.
"I may still be immature, but there was no lie in my promise to support you. I’d like to hear more of your thoughts on leadership and responsibility another time—for my own education. I look forward to continuing our work together."
"Likewise."
We both bowed at almost the exact same time.
"That said," Calm-san continued, "I haven't run out of things to say to you, especially regarding the fact that you arbitrarily laid the groundwork to cut yourself off. I expect a very thorough conversation about this at a later date."
"Wait, what?"
"Furthermore, Serge-sama and the Duke's family gave me strict instructions to contact them immediately if anything happened. I will be reporting this incident to them."
"Reporting it!? Calm-san, you're my subordinate, aren't you!?"
"I am, but I have my own personal relationships to maintain. I’ll just be having a little chat with some acquaintances. Venting to a friend about a boss's troublesome habits is a common sight at any tavern, isn't it?"
It was true that people did that, and it wasn't like he was leaking corporate secrets, but... wait, was he actually still angry? I couldn't tell if he was serious or teasing me; his poker face had returned with a vengeance.
"Look, the preparation for the worst-case scenario was just a precaution, okay? Everything is still fine, right?"
"If that’s the case, then there should be no problem in telling them."
"Wait, let's talk about this!"
"About our future response, I presume. At the very least, I don't believe we'll be participating in that association anymore—"
As we walked back to the shop, I found myself in a back-and-forth with a Calm-san who had become uncharacteristically sharp. It was probably my own fault.
"—And that's why... wait. Calm-san, did we have any guests scheduled for today?"
"Guests? That was a sudden change of subject."
"No, look over there."
Three unfamiliar carriages were parked in the vacant lot next to the shop.
I wondered if something had happened, but I didn't sense anything dangerous. Even the Weed Slimes I had hidden among the grass for security didn't seem to have detected any intruders.
"That is strange. That’s a lot of carriages for unauthorized parking."
"Let's just get inside for now."
We hurried into the shop, only to be met with a surprise.
"Welcome back, Ryoma-sama."
"Hey, Ryoma! You look better than I expected!"
"...What?"
Lulunese-san, a maid from the Duke's household, stood there alongside Hughes-san and several other guards.
A large group of my acquaintances were waiting for me inside the shop long after business hours had ended.