「I’m thinking of putting an end to this organization.」
「What? What do you mean by that?」
Not in the usual office of the Magical Schenker Group (MSG), but in the guest room of the Slayra family…
Chicken, dressed sharply in a pinstriped suit, looked genuinely shocked as I informed her.
「Chicken, do you think my children could manage the Magical Schenker Group (MSG)?」
「Noah-sama and Lacus-sama…? Well, that depends…」
「It depends on their magical aptitude, right?」
Laura-san, sitting next to me, chimed in, causing Chicken to look around nervously and nod slightly.
「But in that case, wouldn’t it be better to wait until we know for sure…?」
「I’ve thought about that too, but if we expect too much from the start, it might become a burden and limit the choices available to the kids.」
「Choices, you say…」
Unlike me, my children have access to many opportunities; they could even move to the capital and rapidly advance their careers. If they’re inclined, their uncle in the capital would surely take care of them.
「Well, I figured it’s best to settle things in my own time.」
「…Then, where do you intend to sell us…..?」
「Sell you? Why would I? I’m talking about freeing you.」
「What?」
Yes, what I decided last night after talking with Laura-san was a plan to emancipate the slaves.
It might be tough, but I want them to walk their own path as much as possible from now on.
I could still perform monthly healing magic until I die, at the very least.
「Freeing… us slaves?」
「That’s right. We have some contracts to fulfill, so it can’t happen immediately… but I plan to grant emancipation when Noah and Lacus come of age.」
Now that the mana crystal factory has been exposed, and my brother-in-law regularly audits us, there’s hardly any crucial information held by our slaves.
There’s no longer any need to keep them enslaved to protect secrets.
「But I’d like to ask you, Chicken… Would you be willing to stay on as the steward after your release? I’ll pay you more than the market rate… Wait, Chicken?」
As I read from my notes, I realized I wasn’t getting any response…..
When I looked over at her, I saw that tears were streaming down Chicken’s wide-open eyes.
「A-areh? What’s wrong?」
「It’s… nothing, really…」
She placed a hand on her cheek, looking bewildered, but the tears kept flowing and staining her suit black.
Laura-san’s gentle voice came from beside me, even more confused than Chicken.
「Chicken, go and fix your makeup.」
「Y-yes…」
「Take your time. I’ll have the tea remade. I think the maid might have made a mistake. Today’s tea seems unusually bitter.」
I see. So, Chicken had been worried all this time about possibly being sold.
When I set up the retired slave system, that option was completely off the table…
Maybe I should have been clearer about that.
Chicken, with her eyes red from crying, returned around the time Laura-san and I finished our freshly brewed tea.
She bowed her head in embarrassment, sat back on the sofa, and spoke as if nothing had happened.
「So, I heard the emancipation will coincide with the young master and lady’s coming of age…?」
「Exactly. By then, the issues in the dungeon special district should be resolved. If they aren’t, we can negotiate individual contracts to continue the same work.」
「Then, does that mean the organization known as Magical Schenker Group (MSG) will still exist?」
「With fewer people, it might not be the same, but I want to keep as many jobs as possible.」
「If anything, I think the number of people might increase…」
「Huh? Why is that?」
「Even now, there are quite a few people who want to work for us…」
…It seems there are many things to consider before the emancipation.
「By the way, Chicken, what about the offer to stay on as steward? You can also continue running your clothing store…」
「…Regarding that, I would be honored to accept.」
Chicken said this with a deep bow.
「Oh, really? That’s great to hear.」
「Also, I have a suggestion regarding the household. If you haven’t decided on a candidate for the housekeeper position, could I suggest hiring Roast?」
「Roast as the housekeeper?」
Unlike the steward, who handles administrative and accounting duties, the housekeeper manages household chores.
Well, considering Roast leads an adventurer party, she could handle such tasks efficiently.
「If you’re keeping the Magical Schenker Group (MSG), there might be times when we need to use personnel from there. Roast is very caring and quite meticulous, so I think she would manage everything well.」
「I see, that might be a good idea.」
「But I can’t give her the key to the liquor store.」
「I will take care of that.」
Roast, the fishkin with bright red hair who is always seen drinking, has been with us as long as Chicken.
There’s no concern about trust here.
It wouldn’t suit someone like Pickles the Centaur, Vongo the wingkin, or Mince the scalekin.
We could bring someone in from outside, but I’d prefer someone familiar.
「Alright, could you talk to Roast about it, Chicken?」
「Understood.」
「And since it’s Roast, you can go ahead and tell her about the emancipation plan.」
「Are you sure?」
「If she accepts, she’ll be living closer to us than ever. It wouldn’t be fair to hide her potential freedom in the future and trick her.」
「I understand.」
-0-
With that, I left the arrangements to Chicken, feeling relieved.
But a few days later, in the afternoon, at the office of the Magical Schenker Group (MSG) headquarters, I was caught off guard when Chicken gave me her report in the reception area.
「What? She refused?」
「Yes…」
「Ah, maybe she has something else she wants to do?」
「It doesn’t seem like that’s the reason…」
「What? Then what is it?」
After hesitating, Chicken rose slightly from the sofa and leaned closer to me, whispering.
「It seems Roast wants to be invited by you personally, master…」
「Oh, so that’s it…」
Well, even if she’s technically part of the family, this is about her future.
It would indeed be rude to go through someone else, even if she is still a slave at the moment.
「Alright, I’ll go ask her myself.」
「You could call her over…」
「No, it’s fine. I’m the one making the request, after all.」
Roast is probably at the tavern today as usual.
It’s better to settle this quickly before it gets complicated.
「Do you have any idea where she might be?」
「I think she should be on Schenker Street…」
「Alright, I’ll ask around there.」
Today, we’re dealing with highly classified information, so I’ve had my guards wait in a shop near the entrance of Schenker Street.
If Roast is on Schenker Street, then that works out perfectly.
-0-
As I left the office and headed to the main dining hall, it seemed I had arrived just as meal time was starting.
Most of the seats were already occupied, and the hall was filled with the chatter of women who had just finished work, making it extremely noisy. In the kitchen, one of Schenker’s top culinary developers, Seele, was stirring a large pot while shouting orders at the men running around.
It seemed I’d picked a bad time to come… things looked busy, so I considered heading somewhere else.
But just as I thought that, Seele spotted me, and our eyes met.
Before I could gesture to her that it wasn’t necessary to come over, Seele quickly handed off the pot to someone else and hurried over to the entrance of the dining hall.
I guess I ended up making her feel obligated.
「Master, is there something you need?」
「Oh, uh… Sorry to bother you while you’re busy, but do you happen to know where Roast might be?」
「Roast? I heard she’s been frequenting a place that serves northern cuisine lately.」
「Thanks. I’ll check it out.」
「Not at all.」
After she replied with a polite bow, I thought about Seele, with her pink hair…
I think she was a gift from my brother when I first started the business.
Her partner, Hunt with the green hair, is currently on maternity leave, but what about Seele?
I wonder if she has any plans for the future?
As I was pondering this while looking at her, Seele tilted her head with a smile.
「Seele, have you thought about your future?」
「Huh…? My future…? Ehto…」
At my question, she seemed a bit troubled as she fiddled with the hem of her clothes, casting a glance at the man in the kitchen.
He’s the son of a cloth merchant, here to learn how to make hayashi rice, right?
Ah, so Seele’s spring has come too.
「If you ever decide to open a shop in the future, talk to Chicken. She’s got connections.」
「Oh, thank you very much…」
By then, Hunt should be back, and the dining hall should be fine.
I thanked Seele and left the main building.
As I walked out and casually glanced back at the headquarters building, I saw the scalekin men and our clockmaker slurping some kind of noodles in front of the midnight store on the second floor.
There’s always someone at that midnight store, no matter what.
It has expanded rapidly, and I hear there are about four stores now across different locations.
I wonder if it will eventually franchise out like the convenience stores from my past life?
I sometimes use it in the middle of the night myself… It would be nice if there was one just five minutes away from my place.
As I was thinking about that while looking at the banner in front of the midnight store, someone suddenly tapped me on the shoulder from behind.
「Hmm? Areh?」
「…………mas…ter?」
「Master, good work today!」
When I turned around, I saw Pickles the centaur, loaded with weapons on her back, and Vongo the wingkin sitting on her hindquarters.
「…………Wh…..at?」
「Oh, I was just looking for Roast.」
Vongo probably said, ‘What are you doing here?’.
She was the second slave I purchased.
Maybe because I’ve known her longer than my wife, I kind of understood what she meant, even though she’s so quiet.
「I heard Roast has recently been into northern cuisine.」
「Oh, yeah? Do you know where exactly?」
「I heard there’s a place on the second floor of Building Three.」
「Got it, thanks.」
As I spoke, I gave Pickles a few pats on her horse body.
She was my first slave.
A centaur, the same age as me, and the start of everything.
「Hey, Pickles. Do you have any plans for the future?」
「Eh? My future?」
「You know, like, something other than being an adventurer…」
「Oh, if it’s about that…」
As she spoke, Pickles glanced back at Vongo, who was sitting on her back.
「Well, Vongo-chan says she wants to run a food stall someday, so I was thinking I’d help out with that.」
「………rig….ht.」
「Really? What kind of food stall?」
「………fri……ed」
「Fried bread or something like that! Vongo-chan’s specialty dish, so we thought it might actually work out…」
For some reason, Pickles hastily covered Vongo’s mouth… What’s going on?
Maybe they’re still ironing out the details?
「That’s a good idea. If you two run a food stall, you could even take it outside the town to sell food to adventurers.」
「That sounds great. In that case, we could stock it with various things and make it a general store, like the midnight shop.」
Well, both Pickles and Vongo have been adventurers for a long time, and they have a lot of connections and experience.
If they brought along some packed lunches or something, they might become quite popular with adventurers working out in the field.
「When you decide to do it, let Chicken know. She’ll give you good advice.」
「………ok….ay」
「Thank you.」
「Well then, see you around.」
I’m already eighteen.
Pickles has been in this town for eight years now, so it might be time for her to start thinking about a life beyond adventuring.
Most adventurers save up enough money to start another job and then retire.
Thinking back over the past eight years, I felt a bit sentimental as I made my way toward Building Three.
-0-
Just then, I was overtaken by what seemed to be the back of Jiren, a manager, rushing off somewhere.
There are more candidates for management positions, but there are still not enough actual managers.
Among them, Chicken and Jiren are exceptional at their jobs, so they’re probably busy with various requests.
They must be getting paid well for it, but… I wonder if Jiren will continue after being set free?
「Well, there’s no point in thinking too far ahead.」
Not even next year—it’s still a decade away.
It’s not something to laugh about like a demon’s prediction.
To clear my mind, I took the stairs to the second floor of Building Three two steps at a time, looking for the northern cuisine restaurant.
As I walked down the shared hallway, reading the nameplates on the doors, I suddenly locked eyes with someone coming out of a room further down.
「Oh… Master, good day.」
「Isuka? Are you here for the northern cuisine too?」
Isuka, the timid, large-framed tigress beastkin, gave a small nod.
「This place has been gaining some quiet buzz recently.」
「Really, now?」
Is it one of those hidden gems?
I haven’t eaten yet, so maybe I should grab a bite here too.
But if I’m eating at a shop on Schenker Street, other people might not feel comfortable…
「Did you come here to eat too, Master…?」
「No, I’m actually here to see Roast.」
「Oh, she’s inside.」
「Thanks… Oh, by the way, Isuka. Have you thought about your future?」
I asked Isuka the same question I’d been asking everyone, and she tilted her head with a puzzled look.
「My future…?」
「Yeah, like, what you want to do after being a manager.」
「After being a manager…? I don’t think I have anything in mind.」
「Oh, I see.」
Back in the day, she used to work with tears in her eyes, but now she seems to be managing just fine.
「Lately, I’ve finally started getting along with the younger ones… and the senpais have been treating me well too…」
Come to think of it, I once told her to treat her juniors to a meal with a gold coin. I wonder if that advice helped.
「By the way, did you end up treating your juniors to a meal?」
「Oh, of course, I did… but, um…」
「They turned you down?」
「No, actually, it’s that they all got boyfriends… so they don’t really…」
Ah, so they’ve stopped hanging out with her after work.
Asking if Isuka has a boyfriend might stir up trouble, so I’ll just keep quiet.
「Well, when you get new juniors, treat them again. Do you have enough money?」
「I’m fine. I get a lot of allowances.」
「That’s good to hear.」
I watched Isuka walk away, standing a little straighter than she used to.
Then I entered the northern cuisine restaurant, which didn’t even have a sign.
Inside, the layout was basic, with just three tables that could seat three or four people each.
Fortunately, there were no other customers…
Roast was sitting at the table in the back, drinking with what looked like a stew of potatoes as a side dish.
「Mind if I join you?」
When I asked, she looked up and raised her glass.
「Oh? Young master Sawadi, you came all this way?」
「Yeah, something like that.」
As I took a seat across from her, the shopkeeper emerged from the back and exclaimed, ‘Whoah!’.
「…..eh! Master!?」
「I’m here to talk to Roast.」
「Oh, well… please take your time…」
「Kinny, could you give us a moment?」
「Ah, sure, sure… Take your time～」
At Roast’s words, the shopkeeper seemed relieved and headed out of the shop.
I hope I didn’t cause any trouble for her in her own place.
「So, did you hear from Chicken?」
「Yeah, I heard. About freeing the slaves. Honestly, it doesn’t seem like it’ll be that different from now.」
「Well, still, it’s something to think about.」
Roast poured herself another drink, then slid a glass filled with amber liquid over to me.
Curious, I took a small sip and almost winced at the strength of the alcohol.
「Got anything else you’d want to do?」
「Well, originally, I figured I’d make as much money as I could as an adventurer and then maybe start a shop or something.」
「Huh? What kind of shop?」
「A tavern, of course, with a stage. If I occasionally sing on stage, the customers will be thrilled…」
「But knowing you, if there’s booze, you’ll drink it all. You won’t have anything left to sell.」
To be honest, she’s not great at singing or acting… Even without thinking about the housekeeper duties, I don’t think she’s suited for it.
「Well, there might be a slight chance of that happening…」
It’s more than just a slight chance.
Every time I see her, she’s drinking… Without my healing magic, she probably would’ve destroyed her liver a long time ago.
Well, it’s her choice, but losing this drunkard would definitely feel a bit lonely.
「Hey, Roast, I’m really asking you to stay. With you and Chicken around, I feel more secure about the kids.」
When I said that, she took a big gulp from her glass and stared at her scaled right hand.
The right hand she didn’t have when I bought her, being watched by the left eye she didn’t have either.
Then, as if murmuring to herself, she quietly said:
「Got my arm grown back… got to drink… made some friends… Maybe I’ve received too much. Maybe it’s too much.」
「Roast?」
「…Alright. I’ll give the rest of my life to you, young master Sawadi.」
「No, it’s not about giving me your life… I just want you to work with us, but also find your own happiness.」
She looked at me while I spoke, then, for some reason, burst out laughing with her mouth wide open.
「Ha, ha-ha-ha… What the hell, you may have grown a bit taller, but you haven’t changed at all… Well, fine. Housekeeper, was it? I’ll give it a shot.」
「Is that so… Thank you.」
「Nooo.」
When I bowed my head, Roast, for some reason, bowed back to me.
「…Still, don’t you think it’s a waste to free us? With this many, we could do anything, right? They’re slaves you went through the trouble of gathering.」
「I’ve already taken enough commission off the top from you all. If I keep this up, I’ll become a slave to the slaves.」
Hearing that, Roast burst into laughter again for some reason.
Leaving her in her fit of laughter, I stepped out of the shop.
-0-
I wonder if she had held back the customers who had come in after me.
Outside, I handed a silver coin to the shopkeeper, who was chatting with a few women, as compensation for the trouble.
Then, I walked down the street towards Chicken’s place.
Schenker Street at the end of the year was always bright with illuminations, and I could see a few couples who seemed to be there just to see the lights.
I let out a breath, which came out white in the cold air.
My hands, which held neither a wife’s nor a child’s, felt strangely empty.
A breeze carried the smell of food from some nearby eatery, and my stomach growled. I quickened my pace.
I’d get home, see the kids’ faces, and have a meal. There were so many things I needed to do, so many things I needed to think about…
But right now, that’s all I could think of.
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