Chapter 24: The Noble Returns

Finally, goods other than the soldier’s disease medicine began selling. But the shampoo and cosmetics? Nuh-uh.

...Why?!

Instead, I’d been selling items that could be appraised for quality just by looking at them: Glassware and ceramics.

For glassware, I’d been using crystal glass, which was clearly higher quality than other glass in this time period, despite having the transparency lowered quite a bit. As for ceramics, I sold imitation maiolica and Otani ware for crockery, and imitation Imari ware and Kutani ware for porcelains.

I actually liked pottery, so I knew about clays, glazes, and firing temperatures to make them. I’d seen many of them at exhibits and handled them in person myself. Even though I wouldn’t be able to fire them up myself, I had no problem “ordering” them from the goddess’s manufacturing factory.

I felt a little guilty about stealing designs from famous artistic pieces, but no one could really blame me for paying a homage to the genre of “x ware.” Though I did make sure to be extra careful not to soil the name of the original work.

One thing that had been on my mind was that I suspected people may be reselling my products.

Yes, I know. Buying low and selling high was the basics of business. The buyers were able to find out about products they couldn’t have otherwise thanks to the middleman, and they paid the fee that they found most reasonable.

Creator, buyer, seller... It was a legitimate economic activity that made everyone happy.

...Screw that!

I absolutely despised resellers. Ever since the day I was a second too late in clicking “buy” to get some concert tickets and I saw the same ticket being resold online for five times the price!

There must be a way to punish those horrid resellers...

Cling...

“Hmm, so this is the place...”

I was deep in thought when a sketchy-looking group entered the shop. One noble, one servant-looking person, three guards, and the realtor who leased this shop to me.

Ahhh, I smell trouble again...

“Welcome!”

“Welelcooome!”

There was Layette’s super stuttered greeting, a running gag at the shop. She must have been feeling obligated to do it now or something... She may succeed in observing neutrino at this rate.

But once again, I missed my chance to have Layette take cover upstairs. I needed to think of a better method to prevent these situations. Maybe I’d make an ejection seat that could let her escape with a push of a button... Actually, she’d just hit the ceiling and break her neck doing that.

“I am not a customer. I’m the owner of this shop, Count Oram.”

“Huh?”

I’d rented the shop from a realtor, and heard it used to be a general goods store owned by an old couple. But I’d also heard they closed shop because their children didn’t keep the business going and rented it out to use that income to retire. It shouldn’t have belonged to any noble. I wouldn’t have rented it if it was connected to nobles in the first place.

I looked at the realtor, who seemed rather apologetic...

“Don’t worry, I don’t plan on kicking you out or anything of the sort. But since the owner has changed, the previous contract is now void. You will need to sign a new contract with me, so I took my time to come here in person. Bring out the contract.”

“Yes, sir!” The servant-looking person next to him produced documents from a leather bag and presented them to me. I took them and began skimming through...

Henceforth, the lessor will be referred to as “A” and the lessee will be referred to as “B.”

B is to make payments to A worth half of this store’s earnings as part of rental expenses.

B is to obey A’s designations on pricing of the products sold at this store.

B is to obey A’s directions regarding which buyers products from this store will be sold to.

B is to disclose any and all information regarding the suppliers and manufacturing methods of products sold at this store.

B is to...

Haha.

Hahahaha.

Ahahahaha!

...What sort of bad joke is this?

“Excuse me, but 60% goes into purchasing materials, 20% into expenses for processing the products here, and profits are 20%. With these terms, we would lose more money the more we sell...”

“Then you only need to raise your prices. Simply double your prices to keep the same profits, and triple them to increase them even further. Use your brain!”

Oof! I couldn’t believe I was just told to use my brain by someone like him!

...Fine. Use my brain, you say? Okay then.

“Very well. Then let us sign the contract. There must be two copies, correct?”

“Y-Yes, of course...”

Count Oram seemed a bit taken aback that I agreed to the contract so quickly. The realtor had a similar look on his face. I mean, no one would normally agree to such a ridiculous contract. Maybe he thought a little girl couldn’t possibly oppose a noble, so he looked down with a look of pity and apathy.

After some time, the contracts were signed and we went over the various terms. The count left with a satisfied look. I figured he wasn’t just after half of the earnings, but wanted to control the sales of soldier’s disease medicine, glassware, and ceramics that had been gaining popularity, and the political sway that’d come with it.

As a count, he was about the same social standing as the lieutenant colonel’s family, who was only the third son with a low chance of inheriting the title. On the other hand, the count was the head of the family himself. The difference in standing between the head and a third son was obvious, and since he was unaffiliated with the military, he had no reason to listen to the lieutenant colonel’s orders. In fact, there’d be a big problem if a serviceman tried to give orders to a noble.

Military personnel were nobles themselves, but they couldn’t give orders to someone with a higher standing. He must have heard about our shop and leapt at the chance to gain more privileges.

A noble who wasn’t a serviceman would likely have a servant wash and apply scented oils to their feet, so he likely didn’t have soldier’s disease himself.

In any case, he’d done it now. Yeah, I was preeetty harsh against those who opposed me so maliciously.

“Please explain,” I said to the realtor after the count and his crew left.

“I apologize... Though, to be fair, we haven’t made any mistakes on our end, so I hope you do understand that.”

With that preamble, the realtor explained the situation. A messenger of the count had appeared at the realtor’s place yesterday, claiming he’d purchased this shop. He requested that the realtor arrange a meeting with the new lessee to sign a new contract. Taken by complete surprise, the realtor quickly checked with the old couple who owned the store, who explained they were asked to sell the property for an offer higher than market price. They didn’t want to get on the bad side of any nobles and the terms weren’t bad by any means, so they agreed to selling it.

Such were the circumstances. The owner had changed, so I had no choice but to agree to the lending terms proposed by them.

“Therefore, we had little choice in the matter... I’m very sorry the terms have changed from the previous contract, but if you don’t agree to it, you will need to terminate it. In fact, that’s what I thought you would have done...”

Yeah, he must’ve been quite confused when I agreed to those terms. I mean, if I were to find another store for rent, modify the interior, and move everything, it’d take so much time and money, and I would have to put a pause on business for some time.

...Normally, of course. Usually, one would prefer that to agreeing to such ludicrous terms.

...Yeah, usually.

But as soon as I reopened my business, that noble may appear again, saying he was the new owner of that shop too. And so, I brought up an idea to the apologetic-looking realtor.

“Um, I have a sort of request...”

Women and merchants couldn’t let people walk all over them.

Behold the wrath of the Nagase clan!

＊　　　＊

“Hmm, I suppose it’s time to go retrieve the products from that shop...”

First thing in the morning, Count Oram decided to visit the medicine shop he’d basically acquired whole. He was a bit hesitant to do anything immediately after making the agreement so he’d left after signing the contract yesterday, but he had no intention of leaving it alone for too long.

First, he’d take any product that seemed useful to him. He’d instruct the girl not to sell them to anyone else, but set it at a low price. The prices for everything else would be hiked up, then he’d reap half the sales.

The sales of a small shop such as this were hardly significant to someone of his title. However, the reason he acquired that store wasn’t for such petty earnings. The goal was to obtain the shop and every product being sold there.

All of it.

The supply route for the materials, manufacturing methods, methods of obtaining the glassware and ceramics—everything. And he wasn’t reluctant to the idea of taking care of that shopkeeper either. She was quite young, but that wasn’t in opposition to his tastes.

Should be any minute now...

“We’ve arrived, sir.”

With the servant’s call, the guards who had been accompanying him got off first and checked their surroundings for any danger. The count then descended the steps that had been prepared for him and slowly got off the carriage. When he opened the door to the medicine shop...

“Welcome!”

Two well-spoken and synchronized voices greeted him.

“Huh...?” The count’s eyes widened.

...They were gone. The product shelves lining the walls, the medicine pots, glasswork, ceramics, and indescribable miscellaneous goods—all of them. The emptied shop only had one table, with what seemed to be some box lunches on the table. At the register was a young man who seemed to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, and a girl who seemed around eleven or twelve. The shopkeeper girl and her younger sister were nowhere in sight.

“Wha...”

Count Oram was dumbfounded. He was frozen for ten whole seconds, then began shouting at the young man.

“Wh-Wh-What’s the meaning of this?! Where’s the medicine and ceramics? Where are those damn sisters?!”

He hurried over to the counter and leaned in, spitting and shouting. Emile leaned away from him and began explaining.

“Oh, our manager? She’s at the shop.”

“Where?! I don’t see her anywhere!” the count exclaimed.

Emile seemed to realize the issue, then began explaining in detail, “No, she’s at the branch store. Since she’s only bleeding money here and has to keep her promise with her suppliers about their details, she said we’ll only sell items here she doesn’t mind disclosing how to make. So now, we’re selling those meals over there. We make boxed lunches in the morning to sell to hunters and craftsmen. After some time, we close up shop and head to work ourselves. We sell thirty meals for three small silver coins each, which comes to ninety small silver coins. We do this twenty days a month, for a total of eighteen small gold coins. Half of it goes to rent, so that’s about nine small coins a month, which sounds about adequate. Though that is if we sell out every day... So, starting today, this store will be a warehouse slash residence slash box lunch shop, and the medicine shop will be moved to the branch store.”

“Wh-Wh-Whaaaaaat?!”

Indeed, Kaoru had a stern word with the realtor and demanded he find an open shop that could be rented out right away. The realtor had tried to claim he wasn’t responsible, but she wasn’t going to take that excuse for an answer. She pulled out the original contract from the Item Box and repeatedly read the terms, told him what happened to businesses that lost the trust of their clients, and managed to at least get him to find her a temporary shop.

All on the same day.

Of course, she had no intention of doing business there permanently, so she wasn’t as picky as she was with choosing the main branch. She just needed some place that could be used right away. She’d rented it out for the irregular terms of no deposit and no rent for the first week, thus “Layette’s Atelier Mk-II” was created.

It was called the “branch store” or “second store” externally, but in her mind it was “Mk-II.” She had quite a hard time deciding between naming it with “G” or “Mk-II.”

Count Oram made a scene demanding to be taken to the branch store, so Emile showed him the way. Even if they’d ignored him, he’d look for it eventually and find it quite easily. In that case, it was better to take him there already while Emile was around. That was the thought process for Emile’s decision.

“You watch the shop, Belle. Kaoru would cry if we leave too many unsold meals on the first day.”

Indeed, these meals were made by Kaoru and Belle by hand, instead of being created as potions. Of course, it was possible for Kaoru to use her ability to “create any medicine with the effect I want it to have” to make them appear in an instant.

She usually called them “potions,” but it was actually the “power to create medicine” and wasn’t limited to fluids. If it contained even a little bit of water or fluids it could be classified as a potion, but it wasn’t a prerequisite. It could create solids without any issues whatsoever.

But Kaoru thought that wasn’t quite right. She didn’t mind creating “medicine that was like a box lunch” if she were hungry. Selling that as medicine was one thing, but the idea of “creating medicine with her powers and selling it as a meal” went against her personal policy. That was something Kaoru just couldn’t bring herself to do, and she had no intention of changing this.

“...Fine.”

Although Emile might soon end up in a dangerous situation, Belle waved her hand without any deep display of emotion.

It wasn’t that she didn’t care. If this were some other case, Belle would’ve stopped Emile or insisted to go with him.

But this was related to Kaoru’s safety. She wasn’t much of a fighter, and she’d take out one or two people with her hidden knife at best. Or she’d be taken as hostage and make the situation worse. In that case, it was better for her to protect Kaoru’s sanctuary. If Emile fell, she’d take vengeance by ambushing their enemies and become Kaoru’s shield in his stead, continuing to protect her by the Goddess Celestine’s blessing until the day they’d meet again.

This was Belle’s loyalty.

In addition, she couldn’t get in the way of Emile carrying out his duty and show of loyalty. After all, they’d been saved by the Goddess and pledged their devotion to her as members of “The Eyes of the Goddess.”

Completely oblivious to Belle’s strong determination, Kaoru was tending “Layette’s Atelier Mk-II,” with Layette sitting on her lap.

＊　　　＊

Cling...

“Welcome!”

“Welelcooome!”

Layette, I think that can almost be considered traditional performing arts.

“Emile? What are you doing here...? Wait, Count Whatshisname?”

“Count Oram! Girl, why have you done such a...”

“Of course I’d retaliate if you impose unreasonable terms on me and demand my money, products, and secrets. I’m not stupid.”

“Wh-What...?”

The count had a surprised look on his face, but was that really so shocking?

“I haven’t broken any promises and have done as the contract stipulates. I just need to turn in half my earnings from the box lunch sales every week, correct?” I asked nonchalantly, and the count’s face turned bright red.

“Wh-What nonsense is this? Do you realize what would happen if you anger me by keeping up this foolishness?!”

“Nothing, I’d guess?”

“What?!”

No, I really didn’t think anything would come of it.

“If you try buying this building again, I’ll just move somewhere else. For my next location, I could ask to use the lieutenant colonel’s family connections, or, if need be, rent out a room on military property and use it as a PX.”

I also had the option of renting out a stall as a mobile shop, but there was no need to reveal that card just yet. Count Oram likely assumed that transferring shops would take far too much work and time for it to be worth the trouble. But seeing how easily I moved everything out in one night, he should’ve realized he had the wrong idea.

“Ugh, urrrgh...”

Military, nobility, and business were all separate. But the lieutenant colonel’s father, a count, would likely need to save face if some other noble disrespected him by interfering with the store his son was doing business with. If word of this got out, it’d become apparent who was the one acting immorally here.

In the world of nobility, who put heavy emphasis on honor and appearances, this would be rather inconvenient for Count Oram. Not to mention, he’d be completely unable to do anything if I were to move my shop within military territory. The only thing that’d be left was the incredible dishonor of trying to force such an outlandish and ridiculous move, then being easily outmaneuvered by a little girl, and a commoner at that.

“If I really have to, I’ll just close up shop and move to another country. It’s not like I was born here, so I don’t have to stay here by any means. All I’d have to do is reopen my shop somewhere else. And before I move, I’ll be sure to let the townspeople, Lieutenant Colonel Vonsas, the royal army, guard regiment, and sentries know that I’m moving because I couldn’t stand Count Oram’s unreasonable demands. It’d be rude to close down without stating my reasons, after all.”

The count fell silent, his face completely red. If that happened, word would spread throughout the royal capital, and he’d make enemies out of the royal army, guard regiment, and sentries.

The military had many connections, from the head of noble families to their children, and many, many more. Of course, this would include well-known merchants as well. Count Oram had tried to take control of the soldier’s disease medicine to make connections with these merchants, but this incident would turn them into enemies instead. This would be a fatal blow for a noble, not only for himself, but for his family and entire faction. In fact, his faction would likely cut ties with him immediately out of fear of becoming associated with the whole ordeal.

Should I have been making such aggressive moves against a noble? Well, this country was quite proper, and even nobles couldn’t bring harm to a commoner for the purpose of monetary gain. If such a practice were to be accepted, it’d become impossible to do business with nobles, as every rich merchant would be getting attacked for their wealth. This would ruin the kingdom’s entire ecosystem.

But what if he lost his temper from being mocked by a little girl and ordered his guards to murder me? Well, Francette and Roland saw Emile come in with the noble and his guards, so they’d been positioned to draw their swords and attack ever since. They were acting like normal customers, but even an amateur like me could tell they were focusing all their senses to watch the guards for any hostile movements.

The bodyguards likely knew this too. They’d been sweating profusely for a while now.

It seemed Count Oram wasn’t going to make any stupid moves and decided to give up. The guards seemed rather relieved knowing he was going to withdraw quietly. I guessed people past a certain level could tell by their aura or something that some people shouldn’t be messed with.

“Damn, I took that girl too lightly! I suppose pushing any further would only tarnish my reputation...”

The count seemed to understand when it was time to fold. As with most matters, it was much more important and difficult to know when to withdraw and when to move forward.

Many couldn’t stand to lose the funds they’d already invested or hope for a shot at a big comeback, and only made their losses worse by not admitting their failure. But the count at least had that much sense in him.

“I will sell your shop back. It’s too much trouble to keep that property for the petty sales from boxed meals. It would only lose me money than gain any. I don’t need strange rumors going around about me either... Though I don’t know how many people you’ve hired to pull off such a feat... I won’t bother you any further, so return to your original location and, uh... you should make sure false rumors don’t start spreading. Right.”

Ah, so he was putting up the white flag and asking for mercy. Then I supposed I’d comply.

“Very well. And you wouldn’t be selling it back for a higher price, would you? It would be common courtesy to offer a very low price, considering the inconvenience caused to everyone from your unreasonable actions and demands.”

“Ugh... O-Of course. Naturally, that goes without saying...”

He seemed rather bitter, but reluctantly agreed. I doubted he’d be lowering the price too much, but I wanted to let the old couple who were happy about selling it for a high price and the realtor who went through all the guilt to have something out of all this.

Count Oram left soon after. I had Emile return to the main store right away. Belle was likely worried, so I didn’t want to leave her wondering what was going on.

I then asked the realtor to come by the branch store in the afternoon. The count had said he’d go see the realtor directly, so I wanted to ask about the results. I couldn’t begin moving again without confirmation, and I wanted to know how the conversation went.

It was unlikely he’d try something at this point, but there was the possibility of the realtor trying to come out on top from all this. He was a victim from all the trouble he went through this time around, but all he did was obey the count’s orders, so the majority of the profits should be going to the old couple who owned the main store, and me.

I mean, really.

And I shouldn’t have to trouble myself by going to see him. He should be coming to see me.

“I apologize for all the inconveniences...”

It wasn’t really the realtor’s fault, and I understood it may have been hard to decline a count trying to get their way. And the count’s offer wasn’t bad by any means, so the realtor was only doing his job as the middleman by selling it for a price they’d agreed on.

I understood.

I understood, but...

“You could have backed me up a little...”

Yeah, I couldn’t help but think that. He probably wasn’t expecting me to accept those terms, but the count surely had another line at the ready, and would’ve pressured me more and more. It was that one trick where you’d offer ridiculous terms, then trick the customer into thinking you were giving them a good deal by compromising with slightly less ridiculous terms.

Since I easily accepted his initial offer that was obviously going to be turned down, we were able to sign a flimsy contract that was easy to poke holes in. His final version was likely going to be much more polished.

But hindsight was always 20/20. It would’ve been one thing if he showed any effort to protect his client, but he brought the count right over without giving me any sort of warning to provide a chance for me to think up a plan. He could’ve offered to bring the count by at a later date or send someone to warn me, or any number of other opportunities.

And so, I asked the apologetic-looking realtor about the count.

“What did Count Oram say to you?”

“He asked me to buy back this property.” He began answering my question without seeming particularly bothered by it. “At first, he asked for the same price he paid previously and offered an inconvenience fee for the original owners and me, but I couldn’t tell them to buy it back when they’ve already begun preparations to move into the city where their son and his family lives. He did purchase it for a great deal... Therefore, I told the count as such and we decided to purchase it ourselves. In other words, rather than acting as an intermediary for this property, we are now the owners.”

Huh, he seemed awfully happy about that...

“So, how much did you lowball him for?”

“Huh...?” The realtor seemed surprised.

Don’t play dumb!

That count was after the products being sold at Layette’s Atelier and wasn’t trying to make a quick buck. Sure, there were some poor counts, but this one seemed wealthy, and even had some guards with him. He knew when to back out, too, so he probably wasn’t desperate for money. Most of all, he seemed worried about damaging his reputation from rumors about this incident going around.

...So, he wasn’t stingy about paying the big bucks. I figured the only reason the realtor seemed to be in such a good mood would be because he profited from all this.

“...My rent is going down, right?”

“What?”

“My rent. It’s going down, right?!”

“Huh? Well, uh...”

“My! Rent! It’s! Going! Down! Right?!”

“...Y-Yes.”

All right, victory!

And so, I confirmed that the ownership of the main store had been transferred to the realtor. We agreed the contract for the branch store would be terminated today and that I wouldn’t owe any rent for it. I mean, we’d already agreed to the rent being free the first week.

After the realtor left and closing time came around, I locked the doors and closed the curtains. Then I put the entire shelf of products into my Item Box. The chairs, desks, and everything went right in there. I was intending for it to be a temporary branch in the first place, so I hadn’t brought too much stuff. I still anticipated it taking three to four days, or possibly even longer, but it ended faster than I’d imagined.

Finally, I put a notice on the door:

“The second branch is now closed. We will be selling medicine back at the main store.”

It was only for a day, but a few customers went to the main store and came here after hearing we’d moved. We told them this was only temporary and we’d return, but I figured a notice would still be necessary.

I returned to the main store empty handed, escorted by Emile, Francette, and Roland. I would likely never return to this branch—no, former branch store. Unless some weird noble showed up again or something.

“I’m back!”

It was past closing time for the branch store, which obviously meant the main store was closed too. The door and windows were shut, but left unlocked. There was no way Belle would lock the door before I returned. Inside, Belle was waiting for my return at the register...

Or not.

Huh?

“Ah, Lad—I mean, Kaoru! You’re late! Please, come help!”

Belle emerged from the back after hearing my voice. She was wearing an apron for some reason. She must’ve been pretty flustered, because she almost called me Lady Kaoru instead of just Kaoru, as she’d begun calling me lately.

“Huh? What? Why are you in such a rush?”

I stood there, confused, and Belle yelled, “The meals! We need to start preparations for tomorrow’s box lunches! We won’t make it in time if we start in the morning!”

I mean, we’d done prep work like soaking the ingredients last night for the meals we made today, but...

“Oh, that whole situation with the count is already taken care of. I returned the branch store and we’ll be back to business as usual here starting tomorrow, so we don’t need to do that anymore.”

I thought Belle would be relieved, but she shook her head.

“No, that’s not acceptable. Some of our customers who came in today returned in the evening. They put in orders for tomorrow’s meals already... Their colleagues who came with them put in orders as well. The orders total up to over fifty meals! We can’t simply make just those orders, so we’ll need at least eighty...”

“Whaaat?!”

We’d made thirty meals to sell just for today. That was already hard enough with the prep work the previous night and waking up early to make them. And now we needed to make eighty?

“H-How many did we sell today...?”

“We’re sold out, of course. It was a bit slow to begin without any advertising, but they were gone shortly after as soon as word about our box lunches spread. At this rate, we can sell out even if we make a hundred...”

“Wh-Wh-Wha?!”

Food service was hard work. Purchasing, prep work, cooking, customer service... The working hours alone were simply too long, with little downtime and tons of kitchen work. Miscalculate the estimated sales, and you’d end up with a mass of discarded food items. Though in my case, there wasn’t much loss there thanks to the Item Box.

In any case, I had no intention of staying in the food service industry for long!

“Then why did you start a box lunch shop?” Roland asked after hearing me mutter to myself.

“I wanted to sell something other than medicine and pottery or anything that seemed obviously profitable or desirable to nobles. But I also wanted to sell something that would make customers happy. The only thing I was confident in and could make normally was food... I thought it’d only be for a few days, and thirty a day wouldn’t be a big deal... So why’d you have to go and accept orders for tomorrow?!”

Belle made an apologetic face, but I was being unfair. This morning, we had no idea this would all be resolved in a day, and of course Belle would gladly accept orders if it made the customers happy. She did it for me.

It was true that I’d much rather sell out than have leftovers. Not because of the profit, but because the hard work we put into making those meals would lead to making customers happy. Belle must’ve felt the same way, since we’d made the meals together.

“...Sorry.” I apologized sincerely.

“So, what should we do...”

I grabbed Francette by the shoulder as she tried to sneak out of there.

“You’re not going anywhere.” The more people, the better.

The guys? Nah, I doubted many people would want meals made by them. I doubted Emile and Roland would be of any use here anyway.

“All right, let’s do this!”

With that, I dragged Francette behind me as I headed into the kitchen in the back of the store.

Oh, but first, I should get the medicine shelves out of the Item Box... I’ll make the guys tidy up the shelves.