Though the uproar involving Iris, Sicilia-sama, and Origol had finally settled, for some reason they decided to take their break right at our stall’s resting area.
At least they were being quiet now, happily enjoying their cotton candy in the back.
「Still, this is delicious. Sweet, fluffy, and mmm, it melts so nicely!」
「Indeed. These threads are quite fine… To think that simply spinning coarse sugar into fibers would create such a texture.」
「Fufufu! How about that, how about that? My citizen, my onii-chan, is amazing, right?」
「Yes. That one of mine truly lives up to expectations.」
「…Such results from just a small idea…. I really must find a way to bring him back with me…」
They were quiet….
Yes, they were being quiet. That was enough for now.
「Nom nom! Mmm! It’s so sweet and fluffy and delicious, isn’t it, Ayame-san!」
「Y-Yes… it certainly is. But, um, you don’t have to share it with me. Just eat your own.」
「But but! It’s so good! It’s so sweet and soft that my cheeks might melt right off! You should’ve gotten one too, Ayame-san!」
「I’m on duty as your escort…」
Despite being on guard duty, once Sicilia-sama gave permission, Selen immediately bit into the cotton candy with sparkling eyes.
She then offered a bite to Ayame-san, who had refused at first, but was eventually persuaded to take a small taste.
When I saw her expression soften for just a moment, I couldn’t help but grin.
…Then she noticed my gaze and glared daggers at me.
「Yo, nii-chan. What’s up? Looks like things are getting pretty lively around here.」
「Ah, hey. Welcome. You came to eat too?」
It was the adventurer guy who had shown up on the first day.
His wife didn’t seem to be with him this time.
「Yeah, I had some free time. But… there’s even more beautiful women around you again, huh? No, never mind. I won’t even comment anymore.」
「Hey, they’re just guests, alright? Don’t say anything weird or careless, and don’t get the wrong idea.」
If you go around saying things like “my new slave!” or something, my head will ‘literally’ roll, got it?
Especially with Ayame-san, her reaction would be instant and lethal.
Not to mention, this crowd looks like they could invoke ‘actual’ charges of lèse-majesté.
「R-Right… fair enough. But, huh, it’s not as crowded as I thought it’d be. I made sure to spread the word to most of the adventurers though… what gives?」
「No idea. But hardly any adventurers have shown up today.」
If anything, most of our customers were families or couples.
As for adventurers… the few I saw didn’t seem to be from Einzheil.
「Huh? I definitely told them, you know? 『Hey, nii-chan’s opening a sweets stall at the festival. Sounds like he’s doing something outrageous again!』, just like that.」
「…Hey, was that supposed to be advertising?」
「Of course it was, right?」
No, that sounded more like slander to me.
What’s with “doing something outrageous again”?
Don’t lump me in with people like Reinrich or Darwin.
At least he mentioned it was a sweets stall, but still…
「「「Ahhhh!」」」
「Hm?」「Oh?」
A loud shout came from behind the male adventurer.
When I turned toward the voice, three female adventurers were pointing straight at me, practically screaming.
「Found you! Finally found it!」
「We’ve been looking everywhere! You weren’t at the big stores in the north district or the foreign stalls in the west!」
「Who would’ve thought you’d be at such a tiny stall in the central square… Why didn’t you tell us where you were?」
…….
「Hey.」
「Ah, hahaha, sorry. I, uh, forgot to mention the location. Thought it’d be too obvious.」
「That makes no sense…」
So that’s why there were no adventurers earlier, they didn’t know where my stall was?
They’d been running around the north and west districts searching for it all this time…
「Honestly! You really need to get it together!」
「I’m telling your wife.」
「H-Hey! Don’t do that!」
「Anyway, we’ll go tell everyone where the stall is!」
The girls dashed off, no doubt to inform the other wandering adventurers in the north and west districts, leaving the male adventurer standing there alone.
「…Anything to say for yourself?」
「L-Let’s just call it a happy accident, yeah? There’s still one more day left, after all!」
Well… true enough.
It was only the second day, and with one more to go, his blunder might end up being good publicity in the long run.
Still…
「…Please make sure to advertise properly next time.」
「When Mizera-san says it like that… I can’t even argue…」
She must’ve been listening from the back, because Mizera perfectly voiced what I was thinking.
「Ah! So, this is where it was!」
「See? Another victim of yours has appeared.」
This time it was a burly male adventurer.
I remembered him well, the one whose tail I’d massaged.
Yes, the very same man who’d been groaning from my handiwork.
「You weren’t planning to keep this to yourself, were you?」
「Of course not! I just… forgot to tell everyone, that’s all!」
「Yeah right… Ah, hey nii-chan, gimme one! I wanna eat it before the others and brag!」
「Hey, that’s not fair! I haven’t even ordered yet! Get me one too!」
「Alright, alright. Coming right up.」
Since there wasn’t a line yet, I quickly made a few and handed them over.
Still, seeing a couple of burly old men happily munching on cotton candy… no, no, they’re customers.
Even grown men like sweets sometimes.
And well, I’ve already got one foot in that world myself, so I have no right to judge.
「Damn, this is good! So sweet! And that texture, it just melts in your mouth!」
「Yeah, honey’s sweetness is nice, but pure sugar hits differently once in a while.」
「Didn’t think you’d make something this good, man! I’m impressed!」
Of course it’s good. This is a business, after all.
If they really wanted something outrageous, I could always throw in a surprise or two for them.
After that, other adventurers must have spotted the two standing around my stall.
Before long, a small crowd started to form, and things got busy.
Even so, those two stayed right there, peering curiously at my hands as I worked.
They were good for drawing attention, so I let them be, but honestly, they were kind of in the way.
「Hey, nii-chan!」
Oh, another customer?
Your handiwork’s brought me plenty of trouble today, hasn’t it?
Wait, the voice sounds young… oh, it’s one of the boys from the orphanage.
「Nii-chan, it’s bad! The griddle’s acting up!」
「What? Really?」
「Yeah! We’re managing with just one for now, but we’re not gonna keep up at this rate!」
The boy, still wearing his apron, came running in a panic.
Ah, hold on, just a second!
「J-Just wait a bit, alright? I’ll come right after I finish, no, Mizera, can you go check on it?」
「Me? But even if I look at it, I can’t fix it.」
「I know. Only someone with A-rank certification can do alchemy outside.」
Then I added,
「But since you’ve seen the whole process from the start, you’ll be able to tell what’s wrong. Go ahead first and find the cause.」
「…Got it. I’ll do my best.」
I helped Mizera crawl under the counter, and she followed the boy out.
「Shiro will go too.」
「Yeah. I’m counting on you.」
Still in her yukata, Shiro leapt clean over the counter and ran after them.
「Hey, you sure that’s fine?」
「What do you mean?」
「Well, I know Mizera’s gotten better lately, but… you think she’ll really figure it out?」
「Yeah, she’ll be fine. It’s not built that complicated, and Mizera’s sharp.」
Besides, this would be a good learning experience for her.
Most likely, the continuous use caused some of the finer channels to clog up with excess magic power, disrupting the flow.
It should be easy enough to fix temporarily by realigning the flow, even without alchemy.
With that magic power-absorbing ring I gave her, she could just place her hand over it and stabilize it for a while.
「…You’re quite the teacher, huh.」
「What can I say? I’ve got a talented apprentice.」
She’s a hard worker, after all.
As her master, I can’t help but feel I have to live up to her efforts.
「Heh. Says the guy who usually slacks off whenever he can.」
「Of course. If I didn’t have to work, I’d never work a day in my life.」
That feeling has never changed.
Everyone wants an easy and happy life, but that’s not how the world works.
Still, there’s no harm in holding on to the dream.
「So, how long are you two planning to hang around?」
「Come on, what’s the rush? You’re almost done for the day, right?」
「When you’re finished, let’s go get a drink. There’s a festival-only place where the girls wear really bold outfits.」
「You idiots… I have work tomorrow.」
So that’s why you’re not with your wives, huh? You bastards.
I’ll be sure to tattle on you later.
I glance around to make sure no one’s listening.
「…So, where is it? I’ll sneak out after going home, so tell me the spot.」
「Hah, that’s the spirit, nii-chan.」
「Naturally. So, which place is it? 『Forest Spring Inn (The Elf Place)』? Or maybe 『Wild Garden Tavern (The Beastkin Place)』? How revealing are the outfits, 」
「Master? Are you going out tonight?」
「…Nooo, I’m noooot?」
Impossible. I made sure no one was nearby.
And wasn’t Wendy supposed to be at the reception desk?
Wait, when did Aina take her place?
On top of that, Sorte’s giving me a frosty glare for the first time in ages.
Curse those sharp canine ears…
「Ahahaha. If you’re that desperate to see some skin, I can give you a little show tonightssu」
「Ah. That’s unfair. Then I’ll do it instead, Master.」
「Knowing my lord, you’ll just tell us to wear this outfit, right?」
「Mmm. I want to join too… Welcome! Two servings, right? Renge, two orders please.」
Even while working properly, they’re chatting away.
Thanks to that, the male adventurers in line are glaring at me, while the girls are squealing with excitement.
「…We shouldn’t have tried inviting him.」
「Yeah. Let’s ask someone else.」
Wait! Don’t go!
I only wanted to visit that place to study the outfit designs, not because I wanted to see scantily dressed girls… well, not ‘mostly’.
But turning down such a chance… that’s painful!
Oh, goddess, why must you put me through such torment? How am I supposed to choose?!
What should I do… what should I,
『Hey, what the hell do you think you’re doing?!』
Just as I was lost in my desperate thoughts, a loud shout suddenly rang out.
「Huh? What was that? A fight?」
「It’s a festival, can’t people just enjoy themselves?」
A fight…?
I can’t see who’s involved, but the voice came from the direction of the orphanage kids’ okonomiyaki stall.
For some reason, I have a really bad feeling about this.
『Don’t let that half-elf touch our food!』
The moment I heard that, I threw down what I was doing and leapt over the counter.
Just seconds ago, I’d been struggling with ridiculous worries, but now, they all seemed meaningless.
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