The idea had only come up because of my talk with Elise, but the more I thought about it, the more fun opening a stall sounded. I could pay Alice to whip up a booth and some cooking gear, and since I could pack the whole setup into my Magic Box, assembly would be a breeze.
If I prepared everything in advance, I could handle things even if more people showed up than I expected.
"Elise-san, where exactly do I go to apply for this?"
"They accept applications at the District Management Office in each area. You just fill out the paperwork and pick a spot for your stall."
The General Management Offices were essentially the local version of a city hall. Most of the paperwork Aoi and Hina had needed to become adventurers had been processed through them.
"Though, you won't be able to get any of the popular spots this late in the game."
"I figured as much. I suppose some locations are a lot more contested than others."
"Obviously. The places where the crowds gather are the most popular. The top choice is always the large plaza in front of the Royal Castle where the Founding Anniversary Ceremony is held. They hold a lottery for those spots, but the odds are so astronomical that you usually can't get in. The next best spots are along the Main Street leading to the plaza, followed by the central thoroughfares running in each cardinal direction."
"I see. Can you set up a stall anywhere else?"
"Generally speaking, as long as it isn't private property and the land is managed by the crown, you can set up anywhere that doesn't significantly block traffic."
"That makes sense... Actually, I’d prefer somewhere that isn't too crowded anyway. I'm just an amateur at this."
To be honest, even if I could have secured a popular spot, I had no intention of doing so. This was more of a hobby for me—I just wanted to experience the atmosphere of the festival from the other side of the counter. It was like a school festival; as long as I had a steady enough trickle of customers to keep things interesting, I’d be happy.
"If you move a bit away from the main streets, it gets relatively quiet. Hang on a second."
With that, Elise retreated to the back of the shop and returned with a map of the Royal Capital.
"Around here, or maybe this area... you'll have an easier time finding space, and the foot traffic isn't too heavy. You'll be able to work at your own pace."
"I see... Thank you for the advice. I haven't officially decided to do it yet, but I'll definitely give it some serious thought."
"Well, do what you want. The deadline is ten days before the festival starts. If you have more questions, come back... If I'm bored, I might answer them."
As I thought, her tone was sharp, but Elise was fundamentally a kind person. After all, even though I’d shown up at a terrible time while she was preparing for a temporary closure, she hadn't told me to get lost. She’d welcomed me in and even served me coffee.
In fact, she always complained, but she rarely turned me away. The only time she really acted hostile was when I happened to stumble upon her running a stall during a festival.
Back during the White God Festival, her "get out of here" aura had been palpable.
"I have a feeling you're thinking about something rude right now."
"N-No, of course not... Anyway, I shouldn't take up any more of your time. I'll be heading out now. Thanks for everything today."
"Yeah, yeah... Oh, wait. I have some leftover chiffon cake I baked yesterday. Take it home and eat it."
She even insisted on giving me a souvenir as I left. Despite her prickly attitude, she really was a caring person. I knew she’d probably snap at me if I said that out loud, though, so I just thanked her again and left.
On the way back from Elise's shop, I found myself considering the stall quite seriously. If I were going to do this, I couldn't handle it alone. I’d need to find someone to help me.
Ideally, I wanted someone reliable who was good at cooking. Sieg came to mind first, but since it was the Founding Anniversary Festival, there was a high chance she’d be busy accompanying Lilia to the castle. It might be difficult for her to get away.
I wondered if there was anyone else who would be a good fit...
"You look like you're agonizing over something, Kaito."
"..."
While I was lost in thought, a figure appeared a short distance ahead. Tre stood leaning against a building with her arms crossed in a deliberate attempt to look cool.
Setting aside the question of how she’d gotten there so quietly... her timing was impeccable, and she certainly looked the part, just like when we played basketball. However, I couldn't help but feel like she wouldn't be much of a help in a practical sense.
As an exasperated expression crossed my face, Tre gave a faint, sharp smile.
"I've heard everything! I shall lend you my strength!"
"What...?"
That took me by surprise. If she'd heard everything, that meant she must have been eavesdropping on my conversation with Elise. We had been inside the shop, though. How could she have...?
"Really? That's impressive. How much did you hear?"
When I asked, Tre's cool facade shifted into a nihilistic grin.
"...Oh, actually, I just 'wanted to try saying that once.' I didn't actually hear a word of your conversation, so 'I have no idea what's going on.' To be honest, your reaction makes it seem like something actually is happening, so I'm the one who's surprised here."
"..."
She was just making it up!? As expected of Tre—she was all about the vibe and the momentum of the moment.
Serious-senpai: "Tre's personality is so overwhelming that just having her show up drains all the tension out of a scene. It's like the story just gives up and defaults to the Comedy Route the moment she arrives."
???: "It really does feel like things are heading in that direction."
Serious-senpai: "By the way, from Alice's perspective, is Kaito's stall plan actually okay?"
???: "Eh? It's perfectly fine. The real issue with Kaito-san working is that some people can't stand the idea of him being employed by someone else. Plus, if he started a business for profit, Anima-san would feel responsible, and Kuro-san or Shallow Vernal-sama might get involved because it would mean less time spent with him. But in this case, it's just a way to enjoy the festival. There's no problem at all."
Serious-senpai: "I see."
???: "Actually, maybe I—ahem, maybe Alice-chan should help out as a mascot character in a Kigurumi."