The day after I signed the contract with Ralina papa, I went to report to Jered papa, who had endured the same kind of hell as me.
「So, I don’t have to keep making these anymore?」
「That’s right. …Ah, unless you ‘want’ to keep making them? Ralina papa even said, 『If possible, I’d rather he kept producing them』」
「You’ve gotta be kidding me. I’ve had enough. I never imagined cranking out the same thing dozens, hundreds of times would be this brutal…」
Jered papa picked up a half-finished Reversi piece, his face full of distaste as he spoke.
Well, yeah… anyone would hate it.
Still, he never once cut corners and kept making them day after day. I couldn’t help but admire him, he really was a professional craftsman.
「I asked that the Reversi pieces made in that workshop be sent to our village as a priority. That way, we probably won’t have to keep making them ourselves」
「That’s a relief. I’d started to regret agreeing so easily」
「For now, though, we’ll still need to make a few more as samples. And the workshop can’t just start full-scale production today or tomorrow. It’ll take some time before things are running. So… we’ll have to keep making them for a while longer」
After all, the contract had only been finalized yesterday. It was going to take time before things moved forward.
「I see… Well, just knowing there’s an end in sight is enough. Thanks」
「No, thank ‘you’. I’ll still be counting on you for a while」
I bowed and left Jered papa’s shop after exchanging farewells.
Good, good. With this, his store, on the verge of becoming a dedicated 『Reversi shop』, could finally go back to being a 『home center』.
Now then, with business done, what should I do? Should I head back? Maybe get some sleep?
I’d left at dawn to tell Jered papa as soon as possible, so I was a little drowsy.
Actually, I’d left so early the shop wasn’t even open yet, so I had to wait outside until it did.
「――Well, since I’m already out, maybe I’ll stop by somewhere」
◇
「Helloー. Is Laudette-san hereー?」
After leaving Jered papa, I headed to the Forest and World Tree Church, Meiyu branch.
I still come here once every two weeks like always.
Well, it’s just to check my status. That’s the only reason. I’m definitely not treating this holy church like some kind of cabaret club.
「Laudette-saaan. …Laudette-san? Laudette-saaan」
She’s asleep, huh…
I kind of feel bad about waking her up. But if I wait until she wakes on her own, who knows how long that’ll take…
I mean, it’s weird, right? I came to the church because I have business, but the nun’s asleep, so I just sit here waiting until she wakes up?
So, I kept calling her name.
「Laudette-saaan…」
「Fwaah… y-yes. I’m hereeee…?」
「Ah, helloー, it’s Alecー」
Her voice came from the back of the chapel. Sounds like she woke up. …But she didn’t show herself.
「Ahhh. Go aheaddd, come on innn. The door’s not lockeddd」
I followed her voice through the chapel and went to the reception room in the back.
Not too long ago, Laudette-san got lazy about carrying the appraisal crystal back and forth, so she started inviting me directly to the reception room.
But this time, it seems she couldn’t even be bothered with that. She didn’t come out of what was basically her private room at all.
「Hellooo, here for your appraisal, right? I’ve already set it up for youuu」
When I entered, the crystal was already placed on the table in the center of the room.
Ah, so she ‘did’ prepare it. Maybe she was just trying to make the appraisal go smoothly.
Maybe I misunderstood her as being lazy.
…Yeah, let’s go with that. Let me believe it was just a misunderstanding. I really hope the day doesn’t come when she says, 『The crystal’s over there, so just appraise yourselfff』.
「Thank you. Well then, I’ll be in your care today too」
「Yesss, thank you as wellll」
I greeted Laudette-san, who had a bit of bed hair, and sat down on the sofa.
「Here you go」
「Thank youuu」
I took a few coins out of my magic bag and handed them to her.
Come to think of it, until now I used to make Reversi sets and get a little money from the villagers. But that income’s gone now.
Well, in exchange, now I’ll be getting license fees or royalties or whatever from Ralina papa.
I don’t know the exact details of the contract, but my income won’t be less than before. I’ll just keep taking a small share for myself.
And in the end… I’m still just spending it all on Laudette-san anyway…
「Well then, let’s begin… What’s with that look?」
「Eh? Oh, nothing at allll…」
Laudette-san keeps sneaking glances at me.
What is it? That usual gesture of asking for money again… but I already gave it, didn’t I?
Ah, could it be…
「Ah… please wait a moment, okay?」
「Ah, yes!」
When I rummaged through my magic bag again, Laudette-san looked strangely excited. …I knew it.
「Please accept this」
I handed over some extra coins to Laudette-san.
「Thank you very muchhh. …Wait, huh? Why? I already received it, you know?」
「I thought maybe it wasn’t enough…」
「N-no, that’s not ittt」
Huh? It’s not? Then what was it?
Actually, if that’s not it, I’d really like my money back…
「Um… then why were you staring at me?」
「Well… the other day you said you’d make a doll of me, didn’t you? I was wondering if it’s ready yet…」
「Ah…」
Strictly speaking, what I said was “if there’s a chance”, not that I’d actually make one…
「Eh, you really want it? I thought that was just small talk…」
「I do want ittt…」
I was so sure it was just sales talk, like something a hostess would say, and I had resolved not to be fooled. But… she actually wants it?
「I see… well, I don’t mind making one, but it won’t be anything special, you know? If that’s fine…」
「Please dooo. I’m looking forward to ittt」
Just saying I’d make it was enough to make Laudette-san happy.
Now I have no choice… But can I really make a doll that lives up to her expectations?
My doll-making basically relies on my 【Woodworking】 skill, which only recreates the model I imagine. If I don’t have a clear image in my head, it won’t turn out well.
So far, the only dolls I’ve made are of my mother and my father’s head. I don’t have much confidence in making one of Laudette-san.
「It might not turn out well, and it’ll probably take some time… but I’ll try my best」
「Thank you very muchhh. I’ll be counting on youuu」
Well, it can’t be helped. I’ll do my best.
…But this means another tribute to Laudette-san. She really can’t be underestimated…
Come to think of it, when I first met her, I remember thinking “Laudette-san can’t be underestimated.”
Laudette-san really can’t be underestimated, Laudette-san…
next chapter: Extreme Dexterity, Apprentice Woodworker
Leave a Reply