Starting a new brand was actually quite a bit of fun. Of course, that was largely because Anima and Caraway were handling all the complicated logistics, but even so, the project was proceeding with remarkable smoothness.
Regarding the name, after much deliberation and a few consultations with Alice, we eventually settled on Nifty. Apparently, it was an ancient Demon Realm word meaning Mountain Where Spirits Dwell.
Given that Nebula, a spirit, had crafted almost every product we intended to sell, and the logo featured a mountain range, I thought the name was an excellent fit.
"Well then, I'll take care of the PR. Considering our target demographic will primarily be the aristocracy, I think we should skip the flashy advertisements and focus on spreading high-end rumors instead."
"I'm counting on you, Alice-dono."
Alice began hammering out the finer details of the marketing strategy with Anima. With those two working together, I felt like success was already a foregone conclusion. Then again, considering the sheer quality of everything Nebula produced, failure was never really an option to begin with.
"Hey, Alice, Anima. Do you think I should reach out to some of my own acquaintances to help promote the brand?"
"You sure do say some terrifying things, Kaito-san... Hmm. If you're the one making the rounds, your targets would basically be the powerholders of every major circle. Brand image is everything, so leveraging your connections with famous figures would be a brilliant move."
"I feel terrible about troubling Master with such tasks... but I also hate to dismiss your desire to help."
In truth, Alice could likely have handled the publicity alone, but as Anima pointed out, I really did want to contribute since I had the chance.
"In that case, why don't you bring some prototypes to your tea-loving friends and see if they'll recommend them?" Alice suggested.
"That is a good idea," Anima agreed. "It would be best to approach those like Ein-dono or Jutia-dono, who not only love tea but possess vast social networks of fellow enthusiasts."
"That makes sense... Ein-san has been asking for tea leaves lately, so the timing is perfect."
According to what Kuro had told me, Ein-san was so desperate for tea leaves and sugar cubes that she had been dropping roundabout hints three to five times a day. She would likely be ecstatic if I showed up with samples.
"Exactly," Alice added. "It would turn into a huge hassle if I went to see her myself... and besides, that woman prioritizes her maid duties above all else. She doesn't usually grant audiences to average visitors. However, you're a special case. She already declared that you are her second highest priority in the entire world, and she'll happily put her work on the back burner just to see you. It's definitely smoothest for you to handle the delivery."
Since I met with her so frequently, it was easy to forget how reclusive she actually was. Outside of events like Maid Olympia, Ein-san almost never appeared in public.
But as she had promised, I was the one exception. She prioritized me even over her identity as a maid, and she was always willing to clear her schedule for me. It made her incredibly easy to talk to.
I suppose Alice could have forced a meeting if she really wanted to, but given their rivalry, it would have inevitably devolved into an exhausting headache.
"Alright, then I'll take the samples to Ein-san and Jutia-san and ask them to spread the word to their tea-loving friends."
"Yes, please do."
With our course of action set, I prepared to visit them both. I wasn't sure what Jutia-san was up to, but Ein-san seemed like she was at the end of her rope waiting. I figured I should send a Hummingbird to let them know I was coming and get moving immediately.
Serious-senpai: Kaito's personal network and Alice's information web... what a terrifying combo. Even if they strictly target the nobility, the demand is going to be so high it'll turn into an all-out war for reservations.