After having breakfast, I was about to go to my store, when a carriage stopped in front of the Saionji Firm.
Hmm? The things loaded on its roof rack are…
“Karla-san!” [Ryouma]
“Eh… Boss!” [Karla]
The one who responded to my voice was Karla-san. Apparently, because she had her back turned and was ordering other people, she wasn’t able to notice me.
“So you’ve arrived. Well done, you must be tired from your journey.” [Ryouma]
“Sorry for making you wait, boss. By the way, where’s the store?” [Karla]
“It’s that building over there that’s separated by the road.” [Ryouma]
I said, pointing to the store’s location. In response, Karla-san gave orders to some people I don’t know, and made them go to the store. Those guys are probably new employees. Afterwards, I brought Karla-san, Caulkins-san and the others with me, and dropped by Pioro-san’s place to say hi. Finally, the store's getting started.
Four days after.
It took us two days to settle the details regarding the store, and after reviewing the work to be done, we opened on the third day. Interestingly enough, the work actually went smooth for a first day. But apparently, it’s because they had given the new employees a crash course while travelling.
This new store has five new employees. One is exclusively for cooking, and the other four are clerks and at the same time bouncers. These four are apparently C Rank adventurers. When I asked why they decided to join the store, they said it’s because they’ve started to see their limits as adventurers. Moreover, when they happened to meet a magical beast outside, they even lost two of their friends.
During that time, they just ran away and were only able to survive because of luck and because their two friends who died frantically tried to get the magical beast’s attention when they realized they wouldn’t make it anymore.
Having been able to survive, they ran to the guild, submitted information about that beast, and had it subjugated. And as luck would have it, there was an A Rank party in that town, allowing the quick subjugation of the magical beast. In order to settle their feelings, they went to take a look at the place where the killer of their friends had died. But then they found out at the guild there that it was apparently a B Rank magical beast.
A magical beast that they couldn’t fight against at all was only one rank above them. Moreover, it was easily hunted by a party of adventurers. After finding that out, they just gave up on becoming B Rank adventurers up. To begin with, even C Rank requests alone are already sufficient enough to make money. So they just did those while saving money. And at the same time, they looked for a workplace they could settle down with. It was then that they heard about my store.
Although these guys can’t fight B Rank monsters, their strength is more than enough for handling ruffians. So there shouldn’t be any problem with them working as bouncers.
Moreover, they also asked whether I was an adventurer or not. And then when they found out that I was, they told me of their experiences, and warned me to prioritize my safety above all else. They’re good people. So I’m sure they’ll get along just fine with other employees.
Incidentally, just a few days ago when the store had just opened, Ken-san and his group came over. There were barely any customers at the time, so taking the opportunity, I serviced them to get them as regular customers. I also explained to them how the store works, and also introduced to them the employees. But somehow they ended up talking about the case a few days ago regarding the smash boars, and Ken-san’s story tugged at the heartstrings of the four employees, leading to them talking about various things, and the four giving advice to ken-san and his group. Actually, that talk about the employees being retired adventurers is something I only found out when I introduced them to Ken-san.
In any case, with nothing left for me to do, I left the branch store in Renauph to Karla-san, and went back to the town of Gimel.
Right now, Pioro-san and Karla-san along with the others are sending me off at the gate.
“Ryouma, do your best, ok? Because from now on’s a match! A match of whoever can multiply his store the fastest!” [Pioro]
“Please take care.” [Kurana]
“Boss, please rest assured and leave all the work here to us.” [Robelia]
“We’ll learn how to manage a store as soon as possible, boss!” [Tony]
“Don’t worry, and just leave things to us. Wasting money like what had happened before won’t happen anymore, and I’ll definitely show you a prospering store!!” [Caulkins]
“Boss, please take care of your body.” [Karla]
“You too, take care of yourself, alright?” [Ryouma]
“Ryouma-han, it’s no good to push yourself too hard, ya know? I don’t know when we’ll get ta meet again, but don’t die, ok?” [Miyabi]
“Of course, I won’t die just yet.” [Ryouma]
After all, I still have my grandparents’ inheritance, their research, the matter regarding the slimes, and my promise with Elia. Oh, speaking of which, Miyabi-san’s going to the Imperial Capital’s Academy in half a year, right? Then in that case she might meet up with Elia.
Elia did say she didn’t have friends, and Miyabi-san is going there to meet with nobles, so…
“Oh right, Miyabi-san.” [Ryouma]
“Yeah?” [Miyabi]
“You’ll be going to the academy at the Imperial Capital this year, right?” [Ryouma]
“Yep, what about it?” [Miyabi]
“Then in that case, I have a request.” [Ryouma]
“What is it? If it’s something I can do, then go ahead.” [Miyabi]
“There’s a girl who will be enrolling this year named Elialia. If you could, please be good friends with her. She’s a good kid, and she’s also a noble. And also please tell her, “Do your best!” for me.” [Ryouma]
“Well we can’t have such a nice kid getcaught up with some no good bunch now, can we?” [Miyabi]
“Thank you very much. Miyabi-san, please do your best.” [Ryouma]
“Of course. You do your best to, ok?” [Miyabi]
I bowed my head to everyone who came to see me off, and I went on my way back to Gimuru.