My name was Rorone, and I served as the Acting Shop Manager of Western Confectionery Shop Fairy Fairi.
The staff had already been hired, but before the grand opening, the only people in the building were myself and the members of the Angel Race acting as my assistants. Oh, and I shouldn’t forget Zabuton’s children. They were the shop's guards—a group of rather special individuals personally dispatched by the Village Head and Zabuton.
As for how they were special... they were incredible masters of stealth. Even though these children were roughly the size of a large cooking pot, I somehow couldn't notice them even when they were standing right in front of me. Unless they deliberately acted in a way that made their presence known, I simply couldn't perceive them.
Furthermore, these children could harden short lengths of their silk until they were as stiff as needles. They would then launch these needle-threads in rapid succession with incredible force. Their power was sufficient to punch holes through an iron target, and because they fired without a sound, it looked as though the holes were spontaneously appearing all on their own. It was a very reassuring sight.
Lady Versa had informed me that these special children belonged to a species called Snipe Spiders, an evolution of the Hangman Spiders known for their mastery of thread. These children, too, were members of our shop.
When I introduced them as such, one of the Angels raised her hand, stating she had a question. I told her there was no need to be so formal, but I listened anyway. She wanted to know how many Snipe Spiders were currently in the shop. I explained that while they rotated shifts with the Village of the Great Tree, there were always six to eight of them on-site.
When asked about their attack range, I mentioned I’d heard they could strike accurately from quite a distance. Almost as if on cue, they provided a demonstration. Standing at the shop entrance, one of them struck a small piece of rotting wood far off in the distant forest. The wood looked as if it had simply dissolved upon impact. It was truly impressive.
Of course, I felt a bit bad for the children, but I knew it would be for the best if a situation requiring their combat skills never actually occurred.
Eventually, the rest of the employees arrived at the shop. The staff consisted of ten cooks—three men and seven women—and five sales staff—one man and four women. That made fifteen in total. They had arrived a bit later than us because they had been busy preparing for their move.
The shop was located at the Village Five Foothills, and while there was nothing else around it yet, it wasn't so remote that they couldn't have commuted from elsewhere. In fact, if the location were truly inaccessible, it would have been difficult for customers to visit at all. However, the employees had appealed to the Village Head, explaining that they wanted to spend the time they would have used commuting on their work instead. As a result, an Employees' Dormitory was built into the structure.
The third floor and a portion of the second were dedicated to these quarters. While the space wasn't overly large, the second floor featured two baths. These were separated by gender, and since everyone couldn't fit at once, the plan was to have them use the baths in shifts.
Furthermore, there was an employees' dining hall on the second floor, where I also planned to eat my meals. The cooks took turns preparing our food. I had agonized over whether to hire a dedicated chef for the staff, but the pastry staff insisted on doing it themselves as a way to unwind.
They spent all day making cakes and sweets for work, and then cooked meals to relax? It sounded intense. I told them to let me know immediately if it became too difficult, as I could cook as well, and I would find a professional chef if necessary. I also made it clear that overworking was strictly forbidden. If I allowed any of them to collapse from exhaustion, I would be the one facing a scolding from the Village Head.
Once the staff was settled, the cooks began trial production and tastings, while the sales staff carried out customer service and sales training. The most important goal, however, was simply getting everyone used to life here. There was nothing in the immediate vicinity of the building, but if they walked toward Village Five for a short while, they would find the stadium and Ramen Street. I doubted they would get bored.
That was what I thought, at least, but the cooks spent every waking moment in the kitchen.
"Watch yourself. It’s not enough to just add sugar. Avoid a vulgar level of sweetness; we’re aiming for something elegant here."
"When you’re cracking eggs, mind the shells! I’m sure I don't need to tell you this, but crack them one by one into a small bowl to check them before adding them to the large one."
"Ugh. I’m still so far from the ideal flavor..."
"To think I can bake as many cookies as I want... this must be paradise."
"I’m using the new molds over here. Don't worry, there are plenty more in the back."
"The pudding... I should make it a little firmer."
"For the caramel, wouldn't it be better if it were a bit more bitter? The balance between bitterness and sweetness is vital, after all."
"Temperature control is essential for chocolate! Hehehe... this is how you get a perfect sheen."
"This oven is amazing... I want more of them."
"This freezer is the best, isn't it? We have access to ice whenever we need it."
Even when I told them to take a break, they refused. They were making cakes, cookies, puddings, and chocolates one after another. They seemed to be having the time of their lives. They mentioned that back when they were training at Kuro and Yuki, they hadn't been allowed to experiment this freely. However, I kept reminding them that pushing themselves too hard was no good.
"Take the finished products to the Acting Shop Manager! Have her check the taste!"
"Acting Shop Manager! Please, try this one!"
After so much continuous tasting, my mouth was coated in sugar, and I felt like I couldn't stomach another bite. I found myself desperately craving something salty. Eventually, I decided to let the customers waiting outside help with the sampling. We were providing them with space and outhouses, after all; the least they could do was assist us. I told the staff they mustn't take any money for the samples, but they were to listen carefully to the customers' feedback.
It wasn't just the cooks; the sales staff were also practicing non-stop in the sales area.
"Yes, that will be one cake. That will be ten medium copper coins, please."
"This cake features a fruit called a strawberry. It is truly delicious."
"Thank you very much! We look forward to seeing you again!"
It seemed like there were no problems, until I heard someone shout, "Listen well! This cake is weightier than your very life!"
I had to step in and remind them that the cake wasn't nearly that heavy.
"Death to the fool who crumbles a cake! Since I have failed, I shall now die..."
That was also a problem. I couldn't have my staff dying on me. I told them that if they crumbled a cake, they should simply reflect on the mistake and try again. I also told them they had to dispose of the crumbled cakes themselves.
"Is that allowed?" they asked. "Won't people crumble them on purpose just so they can eat the cake?"
Good grief. I told them I had faith in them and that no one would ruin such a beautiful cake for such a petty reason. Once they understood, I had them clear away the ruined samples and forced them to take a break. They had been practicing so intensely that fatigue was surely the cause of the accidents. I told them to consider the rest period their punishment.
Of course, if they actually listened when I told them to rest, I wouldn't have been so worried. But I remembered how I was when I first arrived at the Village of the Great Tree. I was constantly working on whatever task I’d been given, refusing to stop even when Lady Sena told me to. I suppose I should just accept that it will take time for them to adjust, just as it did for me.
Now then, about the shop itself. Western Confectionery Shop Fairy Fairi had a basement. Most of it was used for storage, but it also contained the workspaces for me and the Angels, as well as our private rooms. Since it was a basement, there were no windows, making it less than ideal for living quarters. However, we chose the basement for security reasons, as we would be managing the shop's revenue there.
Furthermore, at the deepest point of the basement lay a teleportation gate. It connected directly to the storehouse of Yoko’s mansion in Village Five—the same location as the gate leading back to the Village of the Great Tree. The Village Head had requested Lady Lu to install it for us as a commuting route for myself, the Angels, and Zabuton’s children, as well as an emergency evacuation route.
I felt nothing but gratitude. Thanks to this gate, we could return to the Village of the Great Tree whenever we wished. The Village Head's mansion was only a short run from the other side.
Hehehe.
Oops, but the gate's existence was a closely guarded secret. No one outside of those connected to the Village of the Great Tree was allowed to know about it. That was why it was hidden in the deepest part of the basement. The only minor hassle was that I had to occasionally show myself walking toward Yoko’s mansion to maintain appearances.
When I muttered that aloud, the Angels immediately prepared a luxury carriage for me. I just laughed and told them I’d be going on foot. I wasn't of the social standing to ride in such a grand carriage anyway, and no matter how much they insisted, I wasn't going to budge.
Western Confectionery Shop Fairy Fairi
Building Layout: 3rd Floor: Employees' Dormitory (20 private rooms). 2nd Floor: Dormitory Facilities (Baths, Dining Hall, etc.), Reception Space, Business Negotiation Space. 1st Floor: Kitchen, Food Storehouse, Sales Space, Waiting Space. Basement: Food Storehouse, Acting Shop Manager's Office, Managerial Living Quarters (6 private rooms), Teleportation Gate (to Yoko's Mansion). Yard: Well, Washing Area, Drying Space (Drying Platform).
There are multiple outhouses on each floor, as well as one in the yard.