I was Youko, the Nine-tailed Fox.
I served as the Acting Village Head of Village Five.
……
Hm?
Why didn't I take my younger form, you asked?
What happened to the promise to transform into that child-like state once every ten days?
I knew nothing of the sort!
What promise was that anyway?
Stop fabricating things!
……
I didn't actually make a promise like that, did I?
There was a slight possibility I might have said something while under the influence of sake…
Or perhaps I rambled while my mind was fractured from the sheer volume of paperwork…
A fabrication?
So it was a fabrication after all.
That was a relief.
Wait, no, that wasn't it.
Stop telling lies that make me so anxious!
Regaining my composure, let us look at today’s schedule…
I was scheduled to participate in the trial opening—the pre-open—of the western confectionery shop.
Hmph.
Western Confectionery Shop Fairy Fairi.
It was a new establishment that would sell cakes, items that until now could only be ordered at Kuro and Yuki or Cafe Blue.
Once the decision to open the shop was made with the Village Head’s cooperation and Village Five’s capital, things moved quickly, though the process was fraught with hardships.
First, as for the circumstances leading to the opening…
Public outcry among the residents of Village Five had reached a fever pitch. People complained that they wanted to eat cake, but because Kuro and Yuki and Cafe Blue were always full, they could almost never get any.
Normally, the administration of Village Five wouldn't involve itself in the affairs of individual private shops, but both Kuro and Yuki and Cafe Blue were the Village Head’s establishments.
Therefore, we handled the matter.
In addition to the voices of the residents, there were requests from the noble class of the Demon Kingdom.
Apparently, it caused a loss of authority if commoners could obtain something that nobles could not.
Personally, I felt that any authority that could be toppled by a piece of cake should simply be discarded, but without such pretenses, the social order would grow chaotic.
Well, it wasn't as if everyone possessed true power, after all.
I wanted to tell the nobles to simply make the sweets themselves, but it seemed they were unable to replicate the taste.
That was understandable; those recipes yielded a supreme flavor that even the Fairy Queen acknowledged.
Replicating them would never be a simple task.
In truth, this village, where one could taste such delicacies just by waiting in line, was likely the anomaly.
At any rate, not all nobles in the world were sensible.
When foolish nobles with deep pockets became serious, they would have their associates line up even before a shop opened, effectively monopolizing Kuro and Yuki and Cafe Blue.
Fortunately, many people related to the nobility—former nobles, or the parents and grandparents of current lords—stayed in Village Five, so it hadn't come to that yet…
But the situation could have changed at any moment.
Regarding this, we couldn't even ask the Demon King to issue a formal warning.
Doing so would only draw the attention of those who were currently uninterested.
We discussed the matter in the council and concluded that something had to be done. The solution was to create a takeaway specialty shop for cakes.
Of course, a single shop would be like throwing a drop of water onto a parched stone.
Everyone understood that.
Therefore, we planned to eventually expand to about ten locations.
However, opening so many stores all at once was too much of a gamble.
We also lacked sufficient employees.
For the time being, we decided to open one shop as a trial to gauge the management situation and provide training for the staff.
Then the discussion turned to where to build that crucial first shop…
Should it be near Kuro and Yuki or Cafe Blue?
No, that area was already developed, and we couldn't secure a large enough plot of land.
The upper area of the mountain was impossible.
The mountainside was also out of the question.
The only available space was in the foothills…
But the closer to the mountain one got, the more difficult the terrain became.
That meant the shop had to be at the very, very edge of the Village Five Foothills.
There was nowhere else.
Currently, there was nothing there, but in the future, it would become a hub connecting the central district with new residential areas. Furthermore, looking further ahead, the Village Five New Road—which would newly connect Village Five and Shashato City—was scheduled to pass through that exact spot.
Plans also existed nearby for the construction of high-end inns, large dining halls, theaters, departure points for shared carriages, and large-scale commercial facilities like Big Roof Shashato.
As a location, it was perfectly fine.
Though there was nothing there for the moment.
……
There truly was nowhere else.
Unfortunately.
But the future would be amazing!
I truly believed it would be incredible!
Once the location was settled, I left the design of the building and the shop to the Village Head.
Whether it was Kuro and Yuki, Cafe Blue, Sake & Meat Niz, Korin Sweets Shop, or Noodle Shop Buritoa, the Village Head’s instructions regarding food and beverage establishments were always detailed and precise.
It was best to let the experts handle what they were good at.
In the meantime, I gathered the employees.
I reached an agreement with Kuro and Yuki to provide two leaders for the craftsmen and sales staff.
I felt sorry for them while they were so busy, but I requested that they also handle the recruitment and education of the new staff.
I didn't ask Cafe Blue.
That place was a bit… unique.
No, it wasn't that there was a problem.
It was just that they served customers with sweet, romantic words at all times.
At any rate, that should have been fine.
All that remained was to wait for the building to be completed and for the employee training to finish.
I thought that was the case about a year ago.
Then the Village Head overdid it.
What on earth was this building?
I didn't mind the size.
I didn't care about the inclusion of a dormitory for the employees.
The presence of a bath, a reception room, and a business meeting room received high marks from me.
The problem was the equipment and the interior…
It was so advanced that one might suspect it was a showroom for experimental magic tools.
Lady Lu.
I really didn't think it was right to simply adopt every single thing the Village Head desired.
And you, Mountain Elves.
Even if you joyfully explained the mechanism that opened the doors automatically, I didn't quite understand it.
The box for moving people up and down was the same device from Village Four.
As for the moving stairs… apparently, they were sturdy enough that it would be fine even if ten Minotaurs or Giants rode them at once.
Naturally, the durability checks had been completed.
They were even equipped with emergency switches to stop them safely.
However, I found myself hesitating at the timing of when to step onto them.
Ah, I decided not to worry about the interior.
If I accepted it as it was, things would be fine.
It would work out.
The real problem was outside.
That large box outside.
What was that?
A washing machine box?
If one put clothes in there, they would become clean?
The reason they weren't used in the Village of the Great Tree was because the High Ogre Maids resisted, fearing their roles would be diminished.
I see.
Ah…
F-From the perspective of security, I wanted those hidden away.
Please.
I realized that we now required security guards.
A building like that would naturally attract villains.
Once the surrounding area developed, it would become somewhat safer…
But in its current isolated state, we had to guard it.
I wondered if I should hire adventurers to protect the site.
Just as I was thinking that, one of Master Zabuton’s children arrived.
They were children I hadn't seen before.
Snipe Spiders.
I see.
Master Zabuton also believed that security guards were necessary.
However, you all tended to make those who saw you faint.
It was due to the skill you possessed.
Because of your siblings lurking in Village Five, the symptom of suddenly fainting had come to be called the Village Five Disease…
Was it all right?
Had that skill evolved?
You used to make everyone faint constantly, but you had learned to control it?
Oh, was that not amazing!
Moreover, you could target only the person you intended to knock out?
Did that mean you could pick out just one person from a crowd and make them faint?
Furthermore, whereas before a person could only be affected once, now it was possible to do so as many times as necessary.
You were perfectly suited as security guards.
The range was apparently as far as the forest over there.
Hmph, how reliable.
However, that fainting effect wouldn't work on those with a certain level of strength, would it?
What would you do then?
You properly possessed other means of attack, I see.
At the same range… you would fire hardened thread.
I see.
This… because the thread was so thin and small, it was practically invisible.
Even I would have been hit if I hadn't known it was coming.
And the volume you fired was incredible.
The target was completely obliterated.
Hahaha!
…………
Was that not excessive force?
No matter how much of a villain the opponent was, you could show a little mercy.
Obliterating them was a bit much, regardless of the circumstances…
There was a Teleportation Gate?
Eh?
In the basement of this building?
It connected to my mansion?
Village Head, I hadn't heard a word about this!
A Teleportation Gate.
I was surprised at first, but upon reflection, it wasn't a bad idea.
If anyone watched the entrances and exits of my mansion, they could track my movements or those of the Village Head.
This would allow us to confuse anyone watching us.
Furthermore, Master Zabuton’s children would be guarding it.
Heh heh.
I see; the Village Head intended for this place to be a cornerstone of Village Five’s defense.
The Village Head likely knew about the Village Five New Road as well, and considering future development, this was the optimal location.
Counter-intelligence was also possible.
Indeed, indeed.
As expected of the Village Head.
He didn't stop at simply opening a shop.
…
No, it was likely a coincidence.
That Village Head wouldn't think of such things.
Could it be that the Angel Race had guided him?
It seemed the position of Acting Shop Manager had also been handed over to a Beastman girl…
Should I tell them not to do anything unnecessary?
Hm?
Master Zabuton’s children would also keep a proper watch?
Heh heh.
How reliable.
I shall leave it to you.
The trial opening of the western confectionery shop finally arrived.
The shop was a takeaway specialty shop, but for this occasion, we decided to sample the products in the waiting space.
The Village Head and the children had been invited, and the little ones were overjoyed.
The one most delighted was likely the Fairy Queen.
Since there were no problems with the taste, all was well.
Right, what became a major topic regarding the takeaway aspect was how the customers would carry their purchases home.
The Village Head wanted to use boxes assembled from stiff paper, but paper was a precious commodity.
For the general public, we decided to use wooden baskets.
The baskets were not disposable; they were for rental.
The system was to add the cost of the basket to the price of the product and then refund that deposit when it was returned.
Such systems had existed since ancient times, so it would likely be easily accepted.
Then, we would use paper boxes when selling precious chocolate or when selling to nobles.
Paper boxes looked impressive because decorations could be drawn on them.
The members of the Goroun Company who came to the trial opening also praised the paper boxes.
Heh heh.
The illustrations drawn on the paper boxes this time were each hand-drawn for the trial opening by my beloved daughter, Hitoe.
You should praise them even more.
And as for you, my beloved Hitoe.
I understood that you liked the moving stairs… but was it truly all right to spend all your time going up and down without even trying a single sample?
No, it wasn't as if it was forbidden.
I understood, I understood; I shall ride them with you.
Ah, w-wait, it was quite difficult to find the right timing to step onto these things.
W-Do not leave me behind!