Chapter 74: Orlando store
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Meisa and the others gave me a glittering look and I was about to walk back into the guild when I saw Donovan-san standing there with his arms crossed.
As expected, I was embarrassed to be grabbed by the neck at this time, but Donovan-san indicated the counter with his chin and walked ahead of me.
As I walked behind the counter with a pecking order from the staff, Mr. Donovan was preparing tea.
Could he be using me as an excuse to make himself tea?
'You don't want to be an S-ranked adventurer, so you're going to switch to being a teacher?'
No, I didn't mean to... But I wonder if it's better that way...
''Hmm, don't worry about it seriously. You can't become a teacher without graduating from higher education and getting a certificate.
'Huh.......that's right. I can't become a teacher easily, can I?
That's what I'm talking about...
Mr. Donovan brewed and served the tea again with a dexterous hand.
''Hmmm ... different tea leaves again, today's has a fresh aroma.''
You've been getting some sleep. You were half asleep yesterday.
Ugh ... I'm sorry, I mean, Mr. Donovan, are you the one who's sleeping properly?
Of course, what the f*ck do you think I am...
It's a trick that works with magic stones but it's a lie, I'm sorry, just kidding.
"Hmph, don't go with your family...
Yes ... that is, of course ...
So what can I do for you?
'Yes, as a matter of fact...'
I told him that the teacher wanted to say hello to Mr. Klaus on behalf of his classmates on their stay in Volzard, and that I had come to ask him about his plans.
'Okay, but we're rattled by the cleanup of the polar outbreak, so the beginning of the week, Tuesday morning, should be fine. You can bring him in here.
I get it. Are you having a hard time cleaning up afterwards?
Well, after all that mess, it's never been easy, but still, it's a relief to know that no one was killed.
It's always tough when there are deaths, isn't it?
'Of course we have to offer condolences to the bereaved families, but if the dead one was the family's mainstay, we have to set up a path for the rest of the family to live in peace.
When an adventurer who was forcibly called up like this one died, the response is said to be the same as the treatment of a member of the garrison.
In addition to the lump sum condolence payment, money in the form of a survivor's pension will be paid, and various assistance will be provided to help the bereaved family members make ends meet.
It's a very generous package, isn't it?
If you don't, no amount of forceful requisitions will boost morale, and if you're not, you won't be able to get people in.
'I see but for someone who cares about his family, it's probably a natural step to take.
Well, that's the thing ... is there anything else I can do for you?
'Well, you see, the goblins that escaped to the inner city rather than Volzard...'
I asked Amanda-san about the effect on the price of grain and other items that she told me about, and the need to defeat them.
''Well it's true that you're right, even if goblins appear on the roads, the price of grain will go up. But escorting merchant troops and defeating demons is also a lucrative job for adventurers. If you use your subordinates, maybe that's exactly what you can do to defeat them by the roots, but we'll have to wait and see first.
Does that depend on the price of grain?
Yes, adventurers have to make a living, but when it comes to the price of grain, it's a problem that directly affects the lives of the citizens. If the price rises to a boil, I may ask for a nomination.
Yes, please let me know if I can help you at any time.
Hmmm, I don't think there's anyone who seems so unreliable and so dependable.
No, I'm not denying it, but isn't it terrible to giggle, staff members?
Can I get you anything else?
No, that's all I have to do today. I'm going to go home and put together some material for the negotiations.
Well....
Mr. Donovan took a gulp of his slightly lukewarm tea, and nodded one nod before he began to speak.
'Kent, the owner of the Orlando store, Delitz, has requested an interview.
What? For me?
Yes.
Because of the extreme outbreak and the rush to rescue the rescue mission, the Orlando store had slipped out of my mind.
Nazario's father, who has a sideways love affair with Beatrice, is the father of Nazario, the employer of the Flame Hound, and the owner of the best shop in Volzard.
In this light, he seems like a straightforward person.
Even if I were to interview him, I would have to do a careful preliminary investigation of what kind of person he is.
Are you worried...?
With the flamehound incident...
I mean, the part about being Nazario's father is what's stuck with me.
If my goal was to create a blood relationship with the lord's family while fulfilling my son's wishes, I'm definitely an obstacle.
Since I've nailed him so much, I don't think the Flame Hound will come to mess with me unless there's a lot going on, but Orlando Shoppe is a different story.
'From the other end, they want you to come to the shop when it's convenient for you. If you're not busy, you can go afterwards.
What, now? That's a bit...
'Well, it's good to be cautious, but this time it's a request for an interview through the guild, so nothing should happen against you.
Is that so?
Donovan says that by requesting an interview through the guild, you are also signalling that you will not harm them or allow them to enter into a contract that will be detrimental to them.
If they harm him or make him sign an unfavorable contract, they will be forced to stop doing business with the guild altogether.
'But if it's a big shop like Orlando Store.......well, it would have the opposite effect....
''That's right. The suspension of business with the Guild would be a punishment not only for Volzard, but for the whole of Landsholt. If that happens, the more extensive we are in procuring materials, workers, and delivering goods, the greater the impact will be on us.
Well, I guess there's nothing to worry about when Donovan-san tells you to go, but since you just got hurt because you were careless, let's be careful not to let your guard down.
I asked Donovan-san about the visit between the teachers and Klaus-san and left the guild.
''Reinhardt, what do you think?''
''Well........when you're the owner of a large store, you should be able to discern profit and loss. It's unlikely that you'll be able to harm Kent-sama.
"Well... let's just go with it.
The Orlando Store is a large shop with about three times the frontage of its surroundings on the main street.
The goods they carry range from fine jewelry to household goods, and they also sell equipment for adventurers.
While I was looking at the merchandise, I was approached by a young female clerk who said to me, "Sir, what can I do for you?
'Sir, can I help you find something?'
I'm sure she is in her late teens or early twenties, and she's a winning-looking dog-beast woman with big fishing eyes and a slightly annoyed expression on her face.
When you look closely, the place where I'm at is an area where there are quite a few expensive items of adventurer's equipment.
Perhaps they thought that the chickadee adventurer who couldn't even afford it was chilling out.
''Well.......I'd like to meet you, Delitz-san, not for shopping.......''
When I told him that, the clerk looked even more dubious.
Perhaps he thinks that some naive child has come to ask me to hire him.
'Excuse me, sir, but do you have an appointment?'
''Well ... I have an appointment, or rather, a request for a meeting with the guild...''
Yeah! Are you going to tell me that you're a 'demonslayer'?
No, no, no, sister, I know how you feel, but are you okay with your bare expression?
''Huh ... it's kind of called that.
Hahaha you're going to have to be a better liar if you're going to lie.
It was as if they didn't believe me, and the shopkeeper spoke to me in a tone of admonition to a small child, but at the same time, I could hear whispers from all over the shop.
'That's the Demon King...'
You're kidding me, it's just a kid...
'Don't let looks deceive you you'll get hurt.
A murmur spreads throughout the store, and the surrounding gazes come towards us.
''Eh ... eh ... eh ... dammit, it's really you ...''
As the clerk was puzzled, a stern man with the appearance of a butler interrupted her.
I'm very sorry. I'm Gustave Gustav, the butler of Delitz. You must be Mr. Kent. The Lord is waiting for you. Please, come with me...
Güster-san politely bowed his head and handled the customers who were looking at me with curious gazes as he smoothly led me to the back of the store.
Yeah, it's the aura of a butler that allows onlookers to pave the way like that.
As I walked out of the shop into the back space, there were a lot of waiters working there, and they all came over to give me a deep and polite bow.
But this doesn't mean I'm not who I am or anything, it means they recognize me as an important person because Mr. Güster is showing me around.
'Please make yourself at home here until the Lord comes.
As soon as we were shown into the reception room, a maid brought us tea and sweets.
There were some cookie-like baked goods, some scone-like cakes and some, I don't know what they were, like dried fruit.
A cup of fragrant, deep-colored tea poured into it also looks simple but expensive.
'Master Kent, you're being observed from the next room,'
"I knew it was something like that...
After enjoying the aroma for a moment, the tea is slowly savored.
A complex, harmonious taste spreads in your mouth.
The tea brewed by Mr. Donovan seems to be expensive, but this is a taste of something else.
The dried fruit, if you look closely, appears to be a processed reable.
When eaten fresh, it tastes like a combination of grapes and kiwifruit, but the dried fruit is nettlesome and has a concentrated sweetness to it.
It had a strong sweetness to it, but because it was the sweetness of the fruit, it had no bad taste, and it was a blissful taste with tea.
"Master Kent, here he comes....
Copy that.
Quietly, he stood up as the door was pulled open and greeted the owner of this shop.
Delitz was a small, fat man, maybe in his late forties, with neatly oiled indigo hair that had begun to recede a bit, and a mustache.
He felt vaguely similar to Nazario, because they were father and son, after all.
'Well, well, well, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Kent... or should I call you Mr. Kent... I'm the owner of the Orlando store, Delitz.
Hi. Nice to meet you, Kent.
Now, you don't want to stand around and talk. Please have a seat.
Yes, thank you.
Mr. Delitz has a big smile on his face, but it's like there's a sharp light behind his eyes.
Nazario looked like a rich bon vivant, but his parents wore the air of a do-gooder businessman.
He waited for the maid to finish brewing a new cup of tea, and then broke off the conversation.
'Well, let me tell you frankly, the reason why you have taken the trouble to visit us, of all people, is to improve your relationship with us, the Orlando store.
Mr. Delitz cut off his words once and gave me a look to see if I would respond, but when I was having trouble answering, he took the liberty of continuing.
'I didn't mean to be rude, but I had to do a little research on Mr. Kent.
You will be able to find out that I was summoned from another world, that I can use the two attributes of light and dark, the type and number of dependents, and that I was busy rescuing my classmates.
It's not only that, but it's also that Nazario has been messing around with you, and we've received reports of the Flame Hound. I'm sorry to have caused you so much trouble.
Mr. Delitz straightened up and bowed.
I would have used this opportunity immediately after the incident, but I saw that you were so busy that I didn't want to speak to you.
''In the end, what is this person trying to say?''
'Perhaps, but instead of apologizing unilaterally and repairing the relationship, they want to make it clear that they are not a simple matter, either.
I see.
You don't have to go out of your way to do that, but from the point of view of a kid like me, most adults take notice of him.
Not to mention, when you're the owner of such a large store, it goes without saying that you should be respectful and wary of them.
'Well, I mean, it's about improving the relationship, but what exactly is going to happen?'
"Before I go any further, I would like you to understand that all the trouble we have caused Master Kent has been at the sole discretion of the Nazarene and the flame hounds who have tried to get into the Nazarene's good graces.
'Does that mean, Mr. Delitz, that you knew about it, but were not involved?
That's right. My son and the adventurer I hired to do this, so I'm not saying he's entirely without responsibility, but I hope you understand that this was not the result of my instructions.
It's true that the adventurer Nazario had with him didn't feel like he was receiving instructions from Delitz-san, and the incident with the Flame Hound was also caused by a letter of provocation from my side, and this isn't Delitz's instruction either.
''But........then there's no need to call me out and apologize......?
You say that while you were kneeling in a shoe store apologizing for what your friend did to you?
Oh....
'As I said earlier, I'm not directly responsible for this, but I can't escape my responsibilities as a supervisor. Isn't that right?
'Sure....'
It's true that Mr. Delitz is right, but it doesn't seem to be one thing that's chic at the moment.
''Um ... can I ask you one question?''
I'll be happy to...
As Mr. Delitz-or perhaps as the Orlando store, do you think it is desirable for Mr. Nazario and Miss Beatrice to be married in the future?
"Ha ha ha, no disrespect, yes, it's the start of everything, and it's natural to be curious. But to answer your question frankly, it doesn't really matter.
What, you don't give a shit?
I'm a little disappointed to see Mr. Derlitz smiling really funny.
"You may have heard this in many ways, but we use many different means of doing business.
But we haven't fallen so low that we have to rely on our son's wife.
The grin on his face was that of a tough businessman.
''It's true that there are times when you may benefit from having a blood relationship with the lord's family. But, Kent-san, it's not such an advantage that you need to go to the extent of antagonizing you, who can defeat the salamanders alone, to get it.
So, well, you see........me and Miss Beatrice, well....
If Beatrice chooses you, it can't be helped. As a parent, I'd like to see my child's wishes fulfilled, but if I can't have the girl I love without her parent's help, I'll have to rethink the idea of letting her take over this store.
Apparently he doesn't think the marriage of Nazario and Beatrice is as important as I thought it was.
'And you may have noticed, Mr. Kent, that Klaus Volzard is a very tough man. Even if he were to establish a relationship with a blood relative, he has the judgment to cut off the man if he sees him as a disadvantage to the city. And to put it another way, if he thinks it will be beneficial to the city, he will join hands with you, regardless of whether you are related to him or not.
It's true that Klaus-san usually looks like a light-hearted, choosy old man, but when you look at his castle wall extensions and preparations for the extreme outbreak, it looks like he's deliberately hiding the fact that he's a madman.
With that Klaus-san, it seems difficult to suck the sweet juice from blood relations alone.
''I see.......I understand. So what exactly am I supposed to do?
There's nothing ... nothing for you to do.
What? You don't have to do anything...?
Since you went to the trouble of requesting an interview through the guild, I was expecting some kind of request, so I was a bit surprised.
''As far as we are concerned, we would like to establish a good relationship with Kent-san, but considering the history of the past, it would be impossible to do so suddenly. So we would like to ask you to return to a flat......like it or not. After that, I would like you to judge the existence of the Orlando Store once again by looking at it with your own eyes, Kent-san. That's what I'm asking you to do.
You can sense the confidence and style of a businessman from Mr. Derlitz, who speaks with a soft smile.
I see, this is not a simple man.
I understand. I, too, apologize for causing trouble by going a little too far with the flamehound.
Imitating Delitz-san from earlier, I straightened my posture and lowered my head.
I'm not sure if it's the original qualities, or the environment that trained me, or both. If possible, I hope you won't become a business avenger.
''No, no, I'm still just a kid at all, and I don't know anything about the business...''
Excessive modesty is seen as sarcasm by some people, you should be careful.
Huh... yes, maybe, but it's a power I suddenly acquired, so it doesn't really feel like it's there.
Not many people know who you were before. Most people only judge you by who you are now. I suggest you keep that in mind.
'Well thank you for the advice.
After this, we talked about the influence of the escaped goblins and other bland topics, but I got the impression that Mr. Derlitz is a thorough businessman, to the extent that he said he might submit a request for appointment if he thought it was best.
I get the impression that he's a pretty tough guy, but since his decision-making criteria are clear, his reactions are easy to read.
''Yes, but it's unlikely that they'll make a move on a small short-term profit, so I think they're a difficult opponent after all.
Yes, but I suppose we should be glad that the hostilities are over for now.
On the way back from the Orlando store, I also asked Reinhardt's opinion, and he mostly agreed with me.
Well, as far as Nazario is concerned, it's a bit of a laissez-faire approach, so when he comes up with something chokey again, feel free to shut him down.
When we returned to the lodge, it was almost time for the evening business to begin.
Spend the time until dinner making materials for negotiations.
'I'm back,'
Oh, Kent, you're back.
'Kent, there's a letter here for you...'
Oh, for me?
What Meisa brought me was a high-class looking envelope, stamped with wax and sealed.
This coat of arms was engraved on the walls of the city, as I recall.......
An invitation from Master Klaus...
"Hey, Kent, read what it says.
'Eh, yeah, well...'
The invitation said that they wanted to thank the goblins for their work in the extreme outbreak and invite them to dinner.
'Well, it sounds like you've worked hard and they're going to treat you to dinner tomorrow.
Yeah, well, Kent I'd like to go too.
'Eh, I don't know if I can go with you...'
Maysa, you don't work. If you want to go, you need to be able to do the kind of work you're invited to do.
'Ugh... okay, I'll bear with you...'
Maybe if it was just one person, Meisa, it would be fine, but let's just follow Amanda's opinion here.
Let's get her some snacks instead.
''Um, Amanda-san, what should I wear in a situation like this?''
'Oh, come to think of it, Kent only has his former lodger's second-hand items. Hmmm ... you can go and buy one tomorrow afternoon, you have the money, right?
''Well...hmmm....
What do you want to do, make a long face?
I have a catastrophic lack of taste in clothes and such, so...
Ha-ha, you can leave all that stuff to the dressmaker.
Oh, yes, of course.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Meisa and the others gave me a glittering look and I was about to walk back into the guild when I saw Donovan-san standing there with his arms crossed.
As expected, I was embarrassed to be grabbed by the neck at this time, but Donovan-san indicated the counter with his chin and walked ahead of me.
As I walked behind the counter with a pecking order from the staff, Mr. Donovan was preparing tea.
Could he be using me as an excuse to make himself tea?
'You don't want to be an S-ranked adventurer, so you're going to switch to being a teacher?'
No, I didn't mean to... But I wonder if it's better that way...
''Hmm, don't worry about it seriously. You can't become a teacher without graduating from higher education and getting a certificate.
'Huh.......that's right. I can't become a teacher easily, can I?
That's what I'm talking about...
Mr. Donovan brewed and served the tea again with a dexterous hand.
''Hmmm ... different tea leaves again, today's has a fresh aroma.''
You've been getting some sleep. You were half asleep yesterday.
Ugh ... I'm sorry, I mean, Mr. Donovan, are you the one who's sleeping properly?
Of course, what the f*ck do you think I am...
It's a trick that works with magic stones but it's a lie, I'm sorry, just kidding.
"Hmph, don't go with your family...
Yes ... that is, of course ...
So what can I do for you?
'Yes, as a matter of fact...'
I told him that the teacher wanted to say hello to Mr. Klaus on behalf of his classmates on their stay in Volzard, and that I had come to ask him about his plans.
'Okay, but we're rattled by the cleanup of the polar outbreak, so the beginning of the week, Tuesday morning, should be fine. You can bring him in here.
I get it. Are you having a hard time cleaning up afterwards?
Well, after all that mess, it's never been easy, but still, it's a relief to know that no one was killed.
It's always tough when there are deaths, isn't it?
'Of course we have to offer condolences to the bereaved families, but if the dead one was the family's mainstay, we have to set up a path for the rest of the family to live in peace.
When an adventurer who was forcibly called up like this one died, the response is said to be the same as the treatment of a member of the garrison.
In addition to the lump sum condolence payment, money in the form of a survivor's pension will be paid, and various assistance will be provided to help the bereaved family members make ends meet.
It's a very generous package, isn't it?
If you don't, no amount of forceful requisitions will boost morale, and if you're not, you won't be able to get people in.
'I see but for someone who cares about his family, it's probably a natural step to take.
Well, that's the thing ... is there anything else I can do for you?
'Well, you see, the goblins that escaped to the inner city rather than Volzard...'
I asked Amanda-san about the effect on the price of grain and other items that she told me about, and the need to defeat them.
''Well it's true that you're right, even if goblins appear on the roads, the price of grain will go up. But escorting merchant troops and defeating demons is also a lucrative job for adventurers. If you use your subordinates, maybe that's exactly what you can do to defeat them by the roots, but we'll have to wait and see first.
Does that depend on the price of grain?
Yes, adventurers have to make a living, but when it comes to the price of grain, it's a problem that directly affects the lives of the citizens. If the price rises to a boil, I may ask for a nomination.
Yes, please let me know if I can help you at any time.
Hmmm, I don't think there's anyone who seems so unreliable and so dependable.
No, I'm not denying it, but isn't it terrible to giggle, staff members?
Can I get you anything else?
No, that's all I have to do today. I'm going to go home and put together some material for the negotiations.
Well....
Mr. Donovan took a gulp of his slightly lukewarm tea, and nodded one nod before he began to speak.
'Kent, the owner of the Orlando store, Delitz, has requested an interview.
What? For me?
Yes.
Because of the extreme outbreak and the rush to rescue the rescue mission, the Orlando store had slipped out of my mind.
Nazario's father, who has a sideways love affair with Beatrice, is the father of Nazario, the employer of the Flame Hound, and the owner of the best shop in Volzard.
In this light, he seems like a straightforward person.
Even if I were to interview him, I would have to do a careful preliminary investigation of what kind of person he is.
Are you worried...?
With the flamehound incident...
I mean, the part about being Nazario's father is what's stuck with me.
If my goal was to create a blood relationship with the lord's family while fulfilling my son's wishes, I'm definitely an obstacle.
Since I've nailed him so much, I don't think the Flame Hound will come to mess with me unless there's a lot going on, but Orlando Shoppe is a different story.
'From the other end, they want you to come to the shop when it's convenient for you. If you're not busy, you can go afterwards.
What, now? That's a bit...
'Well, it's good to be cautious, but this time it's a request for an interview through the guild, so nothing should happen against you.
Is that so?
Donovan says that by requesting an interview through the guild, you are also signalling that you will not harm them or allow them to enter into a contract that will be detrimental to them.
If they harm him or make him sign an unfavorable contract, they will be forced to stop doing business with the guild altogether.
'But if it's a big shop like Orlando Store.......well, it would have the opposite effect....
''That's right. The suspension of business with the Guild would be a punishment not only for Volzard, but for the whole of Landsholt. If that happens, the more extensive we are in procuring materials, workers, and delivering goods, the greater the impact will be on us.
Well, I guess there's nothing to worry about when Donovan-san tells you to go, but since you just got hurt because you were careless, let's be careful not to let your guard down.
I asked Donovan-san about the visit between the teachers and Klaus-san and left the guild.
''Reinhardt, what do you think?''
''Well........when you're the owner of a large store, you should be able to discern profit and loss. It's unlikely that you'll be able to harm Kent-sama.
"Well... let's just go with it.
The Orlando Store is a large shop with about three times the frontage of its surroundings on the main street.
The goods they carry range from fine jewelry to household goods, and they also sell equipment for adventurers.
While I was looking at the merchandise, I was approached by a young female clerk who said to me, "Sir, what can I do for you?
'Sir, can I help you find something?'
I'm sure she is in her late teens or early twenties, and she's a winning-looking dog-beast woman with big fishing eyes and a slightly annoyed expression on her face.
When you look closely, the place where I'm at is an area where there are quite a few expensive items of adventurer's equipment.
Perhaps they thought that the chickadee adventurer who couldn't even afford it was chilling out.
''Well.......I'd like to meet you, Delitz-san, not for shopping.......''
When I told him that, the clerk looked even more dubious.
Perhaps he thinks that some naive child has come to ask me to hire him.
'Excuse me, sir, but do you have an appointment?'
''Well ... I have an appointment, or rather, a request for a meeting with the guild...''
Yeah! Are you going to tell me that you're a 'demonslayer'?
No, no, no, sister, I know how you feel, but are you okay with your bare expression?
''Huh ... it's kind of called that.
Hahaha you're going to have to be a better liar if you're going to lie.
It was as if they didn't believe me, and the shopkeeper spoke to me in a tone of admonition to a small child, but at the same time, I could hear whispers from all over the shop.
'That's the Demon King...'
You're kidding me, it's just a kid...
'Don't let looks deceive you you'll get hurt.
A murmur spreads throughout the store, and the surrounding gazes come towards us.
''Eh ... eh ... eh ... dammit, it's really you ...''
As the clerk was puzzled, a stern man with the appearance of a butler interrupted her.
I'm very sorry. I'm Gustave Gustav, the butler of Delitz. You must be Mr. Kent. The Lord is waiting for you. Please, come with me...
Güster-san politely bowed his head and handled the customers who were looking at me with curious gazes as he smoothly led me to the back of the store.
Yeah, it's the aura of a butler that allows onlookers to pave the way like that.
As I walked out of the shop into the back space, there were a lot of waiters working there, and they all came over to give me a deep and polite bow.
But this doesn't mean I'm not who I am or anything, it means they recognize me as an important person because Mr. Güster is showing me around.
'Please make yourself at home here until the Lord comes.
As soon as we were shown into the reception room, a maid brought us tea and sweets.
There were some cookie-like baked goods, some scone-like cakes and some, I don't know what they were, like dried fruit.
A cup of fragrant, deep-colored tea poured into it also looks simple but expensive.
'Master Kent, you're being observed from the next room,'
"I knew it was something like that...
After enjoying the aroma for a moment, the tea is slowly savored.
A complex, harmonious taste spreads in your mouth.
The tea brewed by Mr. Donovan seems to be expensive, but this is a taste of something else.
The dried fruit, if you look closely, appears to be a processed reable.
When eaten fresh, it tastes like a combination of grapes and kiwifruit, but the dried fruit is nettlesome and has a concentrated sweetness to it.
It had a strong sweetness to it, but because it was the sweetness of the fruit, it had no bad taste, and it was a blissful taste with tea.
"Master Kent, here he comes....
Copy that.
Quietly, he stood up as the door was pulled open and greeted the owner of this shop.
Delitz was a small, fat man, maybe in his late forties, with neatly oiled indigo hair that had begun to recede a bit, and a mustache.
He felt vaguely similar to Nazario, because they were father and son, after all.
'Well, well, well, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Kent... or should I call you Mr. Kent... I'm the owner of the Orlando store, Delitz.
Hi. Nice to meet you, Kent.
Now, you don't want to stand around and talk. Please have a seat.
Yes, thank you.
Mr. Delitz has a big smile on his face, but it's like there's a sharp light behind his eyes.
Nazario looked like a rich bon vivant, but his parents wore the air of a do-gooder businessman.
He waited for the maid to finish brewing a new cup of tea, and then broke off the conversation.
'Well, let me tell you frankly, the reason why you have taken the trouble to visit us, of all people, is to improve your relationship with us, the Orlando store.
Mr. Delitz cut off his words once and gave me a look to see if I would respond, but when I was having trouble answering, he took the liberty of continuing.
'I didn't mean to be rude, but I had to do a little research on Mr. Kent.
You will be able to find out that I was summoned from another world, that I can use the two attributes of light and dark, the type and number of dependents, and that I was busy rescuing my classmates.
It's not only that, but it's also that Nazario has been messing around with you, and we've received reports of the Flame Hound. I'm sorry to have caused you so much trouble.
Mr. Delitz straightened up and bowed.
I would have used this opportunity immediately after the incident, but I saw that you were so busy that I didn't want to speak to you.
''In the end, what is this person trying to say?''
'Perhaps, but instead of apologizing unilaterally and repairing the relationship, they want to make it clear that they are not a simple matter, either.
I see.
You don't have to go out of your way to do that, but from the point of view of a kid like me, most adults take notice of him.
Not to mention, when you're the owner of such a large store, it goes without saying that you should be respectful and wary of them.
'Well, I mean, it's about improving the relationship, but what exactly is going to happen?'
"Before I go any further, I would like you to understand that all the trouble we have caused Master Kent has been at the sole discretion of the Nazarene and the flame hounds who have tried to get into the Nazarene's good graces.
'Does that mean, Mr. Delitz, that you knew about it, but were not involved?
That's right. My son and the adventurer I hired to do this, so I'm not saying he's entirely without responsibility, but I hope you understand that this was not the result of my instructions.
It's true that the adventurer Nazario had with him didn't feel like he was receiving instructions from Delitz-san, and the incident with the Flame Hound was also caused by a letter of provocation from my side, and this isn't Delitz's instruction either.
''But........then there's no need to call me out and apologize......?
You say that while you were kneeling in a shoe store apologizing for what your friend did to you?
Oh....
'As I said earlier, I'm not directly responsible for this, but I can't escape my responsibilities as a supervisor. Isn't that right?
'Sure....'
It's true that Mr. Delitz is right, but it doesn't seem to be one thing that's chic at the moment.
''Um ... can I ask you one question?''
I'll be happy to...
As Mr. Delitz-or perhaps as the Orlando store, do you think it is desirable for Mr. Nazario and Miss Beatrice to be married in the future?
"Ha ha ha, no disrespect, yes, it's the start of everything, and it's natural to be curious. But to answer your question frankly, it doesn't really matter.
What, you don't give a shit?
I'm a little disappointed to see Mr. Derlitz smiling really funny.
"You may have heard this in many ways, but we use many different means of doing business.
But we haven't fallen so low that we have to rely on our son's wife.
The grin on his face was that of a tough businessman.
''It's true that there are times when you may benefit from having a blood relationship with the lord's family. But, Kent-san, it's not such an advantage that you need to go to the extent of antagonizing you, who can defeat the salamanders alone, to get it.
So, well, you see........me and Miss Beatrice, well....
If Beatrice chooses you, it can't be helped. As a parent, I'd like to see my child's wishes fulfilled, but if I can't have the girl I love without her parent's help, I'll have to rethink the idea of letting her take over this store.
Apparently he doesn't think the marriage of Nazario and Beatrice is as important as I thought it was.
'And you may have noticed, Mr. Kent, that Klaus Volzard is a very tough man. Even if he were to establish a relationship with a blood relative, he has the judgment to cut off the man if he sees him as a disadvantage to the city. And to put it another way, if he thinks it will be beneficial to the city, he will join hands with you, regardless of whether you are related to him or not.
It's true that Klaus-san usually looks like a light-hearted, choosy old man, but when you look at his castle wall extensions and preparations for the extreme outbreak, it looks like he's deliberately hiding the fact that he's a madman.
With that Klaus-san, it seems difficult to suck the sweet juice from blood relations alone.
''I see.......I understand. So what exactly am I supposed to do?
There's nothing ... nothing for you to do.
What? You don't have to do anything...?
Since you went to the trouble of requesting an interview through the guild, I was expecting some kind of request, so I was a bit surprised.
''As far as we are concerned, we would like to establish a good relationship with Kent-san, but considering the history of the past, it would be impossible to do so suddenly. So we would like to ask you to return to a flat......like it or not. After that, I would like you to judge the existence of the Orlando Store once again by looking at it with your own eyes, Kent-san. That's what I'm asking you to do.
You can sense the confidence and style of a businessman from Mr. Derlitz, who speaks with a soft smile.
I see, this is not a simple man.
I understand. I, too, apologize for causing trouble by going a little too far with the flamehound.
Imitating Delitz-san from earlier, I straightened my posture and lowered my head.
I'm not sure if it's the original qualities, or the environment that trained me, or both. If possible, I hope you won't become a business avenger.
''No, no, I'm still just a kid at all, and I don't know anything about the business...''
Excessive modesty is seen as sarcasm by some people, you should be careful.
Huh... yes, maybe, but it's a power I suddenly acquired, so it doesn't really feel like it's there.
Not many people know who you were before. Most people only judge you by who you are now. I suggest you keep that in mind.
'Well thank you for the advice.
After this, we talked about the influence of the escaped goblins and other bland topics, but I got the impression that Mr. Derlitz is a thorough businessman, to the extent that he said he might submit a request for appointment if he thought it was best.
I get the impression that he's a pretty tough guy, but since his decision-making criteria are clear, his reactions are easy to read.
''Yes, but it's unlikely that they'll make a move on a small short-term profit, so I think they're a difficult opponent after all.
Yes, but I suppose we should be glad that the hostilities are over for now.
On the way back from the Orlando store, I also asked Reinhardt's opinion, and he mostly agreed with me.
Well, as far as Nazario is concerned, it's a bit of a laissez-faire approach, so when he comes up with something chokey again, feel free to shut him down.
When we returned to the lodge, it was almost time for the evening business to begin.
Spend the time until dinner making materials for negotiations.
'I'm back,'
Oh, Kent, you're back.
'Kent, there's a letter here for you...'
Oh, for me?
What Meisa brought me was a high-class looking envelope, stamped with wax and sealed.
This coat of arms was engraved on the walls of the city, as I recall.......
An invitation from Master Klaus...
"Hey, Kent, read what it says.
'Eh, yeah, well...'
The invitation said that they wanted to thank the goblins for their work in the extreme outbreak and invite them to dinner.
'Well, it sounds like you've worked hard and they're going to treat you to dinner tomorrow.
Yeah, well, Kent I'd like to go too.
'Eh, I don't know if I can go with you...'
Maysa, you don't work. If you want to go, you need to be able to do the kind of work you're invited to do.
'Ugh... okay, I'll bear with you...'
Maybe if it was just one person, Meisa, it would be fine, but let's just follow Amanda's opinion here.
Let's get her some snacks instead.
''Um, Amanda-san, what should I wear in a situation like this?''
'Oh, come to think of it, Kent only has his former lodger's second-hand items. Hmmm ... you can go and buy one tomorrow afternoon, you have the money, right?
''Well...hmmm....
What do you want to do, make a long face?
I have a catastrophic lack of taste in clothes and such, so...
Ha-ha, you can leave all that stuff to the dressmaker.
Oh, yes, of course.
Meisa and the others gave me a glittering look and I was about to walk back into the guild when I saw Donovan-san standing there with his arms crossed.As expected, I was embarrassed to be grabbed by the neck at this time, but Donovan-san indicated the counter with his chin and walked ahead of me.As I walked behind the counter with a pecking order from the staff, Mr. Donovan was preparing tea.Could he be using me as an excuse to make himself tea?'You don't want to be an S-ranked adventurer, so you're going to switch to being a teacher?'No, I didn't mean to...But I wonder if it's better that way...''Hmm, don't worry about it seriously. You can't become a teacher without graduating from higher education and getting a certificate.'Huh.......that's right. I can't become a teacher easily, can I?That's what I'm talking about...Mr. Donovan brewed and served the tea again with a dexterous hand.''Hmmm ... different tea leaves again, today's has a fresh aroma.''You've been getting some sleep. You were half asleep yesterday.Ugh ... I'm sorry, I mean, Mr. Donovan, are you the one who's sleeping properly?Of course, what the f*ck do you think I am...It's a trick that works with magic stones but it's a lie, I'm sorry, just kidding."Hmph, don't go with your family...Yes ... that is, of course ...So what can I do for you?'Yes, as a matter of fact...'I told him that the teacher wanted to say hello to Mr. Klaus on behalf of his classmates on their stay in Volzard, and that I had come to ask him about his plans.'Okay, but we're rattled by the cleanup of the polar outbreak, so the beginning of the week, Tuesday morning, should be fine. You can bring him in here.I get it. Are you having a hard time cleaning up afterwards?Well, after all that mess, it's never been easy, but still, it's a relief to know that no one was killed.It's always tough when there are deaths, isn't it?'Of course we have to offer condolences to the bereaved families, but if the dead one was the family's mainstay, we have to set up a path for the rest of the family to live in peace.When an adventurer who was forcibly called up like this one died, the response is said to be the same as the treatment of a member of the garrison.In addition to the lump sum condolence payment, money in the form of a survivor's pension will be paid, and various assistance will be provided to help the bereaved family members make ends meet.It's a very generous package, isn't it?If you don't, no amount of forceful requisitions will boost morale, and if you're not, you won't be able to get people in.'I see but for someone who cares about his family, it's probably a natural step to take.Well, that's the thing ... is there anything else I can do for you?'Well, you see, the goblins that escaped to the inner city rather than Volzard...'I asked Amanda-san about the effect on the price of grain and other items that she told me about, and the need to defeat them.''Well it's true that you're right, even if goblins appear on the roads, the price of grain will go up. But escorting merchant troops and defeating demons is also a lucrative job for adventurers. If you use your subordinates, maybe that's exactly what you can do to defeat them by the roots, but we'll have to wait and see first.Does that depend on the price of grain?Yes, adventurers have to make a living, but when it comes to the price of grain, it's a problem that directly affects the lives of the citizens. If the price rises to a boil, I may ask for a nomination.Yes, please let me know if I can help you at any time.Hmmm, I don't think there's anyone who seems so unreliable and so dependable.No, I'm not denying it, but isn't it terrible to giggle, staff members?Can I get you anything else?No, that's all I have to do today. I'm going to go home and put together some material for the negotiations.Well....Mr. Donovan took a gulp of his slightly lukewarm tea, and nodded one nod before he began to speak.'Kent, the owner of the Orlando store, Delitz, has requested an interview.What? For me?Yes.Because of the extreme outbreak and the rush to rescue the rescue mission, the Orlando store had slipped out of my mind.Nazario's father, who has a sideways love affair with Beatrice, is the father of Nazario, the employer of the Flame Hound, and the owner of the best shop in Volzard.In this light, he seems like a straightforward person.Even if I were to interview him, I would have to do a careful preliminary investigation of what kind of person he is.Are you worried...?With the flamehound incident...I mean, the part about being Nazario's father is what's stuck with me.If my goal was to create a blood relationship with the lord's family while fulfilling my son's wishes, I'm definitely an obstacle.Since I've nailed him so much, I don't think the Flame Hound will come to mess with me unless there's a lot going on, but Orlando Shoppe is a different story.'From the other end, they want you to come to the shop when it's convenient for you. If you're not busy, you can go afterwards.What, now? That's a bit...'Well, it's good to be cautious, but this time it's a request for an interview through the guild, so nothing should happen against you.Is that so?Donovan says that by requesting an interview through the guild, you are also signalling that you will not harm them or allow them to enter into a contract that will be detrimental to them.If they harm him or make him sign an unfavorable contract, they will be forced to stop doing business with the guild altogether.'But if it's a big shop like Orlando Store.......well, it would have the opposite effect....''That's right. The suspension of business with the Guild would be a punishment not only for Volzard, but for the whole of Landsholt. If that happens, the more extensive we are in procuring materials, workers, and delivering goods, the greater the impact will be on us.Well, I guess there's nothing to worry about when Donovan-san tells you to go, but since you just got hurt because you were careless, let's be careful not to let your guard down.I asked Donovan-san about the visit between the teachers and Klaus-san and left the guild.''Reinhardt, what do you think?''''Well........when you're the owner of a large store, you should be able to discern profit and loss. It's unlikely that you'll be able to harm Kent-sama."Well... let's just go with it.The Orlando Store is a large shop with about three times the frontage of its surroundings on the main street.The goods they carry range from fine jewelry to household goods, and they also sell equipment for adventurers.While I was looking at the merchandise, I was approached by a young female clerk who said to me, "Sir, what can I do for you?'Sir, can I help you find something?'I'm sure she is in her late teens or early twenties, and she's a winning-looking dog-beast woman with big fishing eyes and a slightly annoyed expression on her face.When you look closely, the place where I'm at is an area where there are quite a few expensive items of adventurer's equipment.Perhaps they thought that the chickadee adventurer who couldn't even afford it was chilling out.''Well.......I'd like to meet you, Delitz-san, not for shopping.......''When I told him that, the clerk looked even more dubious.Perhaps he thinks that some naive child has come to ask me to hire him.'Excuse me, sir, but do you have an appointment?'''Well ... I have an appointment, or rather, a request for a meeting with the guild...''Yeah! Are you going to tell me that you're a 'demonslayer'?No, no, no, sister, I know how you feel, but are you okay with your bare expression?''Huh ... it's kind of called that.Hahaha you're going to have to be a better liar if you're going to lie.It was as if they didn't believe me, and the shopkeeper spoke to me in a tone of admonition to a small child, but at the same time, I could hear whispers from all over the shop.'That's the Demon King...'You're kidding me, it's just a kid...'Don't let looks deceive you you'll get hurt.A murmur spreads throughout the store, and the surrounding gazes come towards us.''Eh ... eh ... eh ... dammit, it's really you ...''As the clerk was puzzled, a stern man with the appearance of a butler interrupted her.I'm very sorry. I'm Gustave Gustav, the butler of Delitz. You must be Mr. Kent. The Lord is waiting for you. Please, come with me...Gster-san politely bowed his head and handled the customers who were looking at me with curious gazes as he smoothly led me to the back of the store.Yeah, it's the aura of a butler that allows onlookers to pave the way like that.As I walked out of the shop into the back space, there were a lot of waiters working there, and they all came over to give me a deep and polite bow.But this doesn't mean I'm not who I am or anything, it means they recognize me as an important person because Mr. Gster is showing me around.'Please make yourself at home here until the Lord comes.As soon as we were shown into the reception room, a maid brought us tea and sweets.There were some cookie-like baked goods, some scone-like cakes and some, I don't know what they were, like dried fruit.A cup of fragrant, deep-colored tea poured into it also looks simple but expensive.'Master Kent, you're being observed from the next room,'"I knew it was something like that...After enjoying the aroma for a moment, the tea is slowly savored.A complex, harmonious taste spreads in your mouth.The tea brewed by Mr. Donovan seems to be expensive, but this is a taste of something else.The dried fruit, if you look closely, appears to be a processed reable.When eaten fresh, it tastes like a combination of grapes and kiwifruit, but the dried fruit is nettlesome and has a concentrated sweetness to it.It had a strong sweetness to it, but because it was the sweetness of the fruit, it had no bad taste, and it was a blissful taste with tea."Master Kent, here he comes....Copy that.Quietly, he stood up as the door was pulled open and greeted the owner of this shop.Delitz was a small, fat man, maybe in his late forties, with neatly oiled indigo hair that had begun to recede a bit, and a mustache.He felt vaguely similar to Nazario, because they were father and son, after all.'Well, well, well, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Kent... or should I call you Mr. Kent... I'm the owner of the Orlando store, Delitz.Hi. Nice to meet you, Kent.Now, you don't want to stand around and talk. Please have a seat.Yes, thank you.Mr. Delitz has a big smile on his face, but it's like there's a sharp light behind his eyes.Nazario looked like a rich bon vivant, but his parents wore the air of a do-gooder businessman.He waited for the maid to finish brewing a new cup of tea, and then broke off the conversation.'Well, let me tell you frankly, the reason why you have taken the trouble to visit us, of all people, is to improve your relationship with us, the Orlando store.Mr. Delitz cut off his words once and gave me a look to see if I would respond, but when I was having trouble answering, he took the liberty of continuing.'I didn't mean to be rude, but I had to do a little research on Mr. Kent.You will be able to find out that I was summoned from another world, that I can use the two attributes of light and dark, the type and number of dependents, and that I was busy rescuing my classmates.It's not only that, but it's also that Nazario has been messing around with you, and we've received reports of the Flame Hound. I'm sorry to have caused you so much trouble.Mr. Delitz straightened up and bowed.I would have used this opportunity immediately after the incident, but I saw that you were so busy that I didn't want to speak to you.''In the end, what is this person trying to say?'''Perhaps, but instead of apologizing unilaterally and repairing the relationship, they want to make it clear that they are not a simple matter, either.I see.You don't have to go out of your way to do that, but from the point of view of a kid like me, most adults take notice of him.Not to mention, when you're the owner of such a large store, it goes without saying that you should be respectful and wary of them.'Well, I mean, it's about improving the relationship, but what exactly is going to happen?'"Before I go any further, I would like you to understand that all the trouble we have caused Master Kent has been at the sole discretion of the Nazarene and the flame hounds who have tried to get into the Nazarene's good graces.'Does that mean, Mr. Delitz, that you knew about it, but were not involved?That's right. My son and the adventurer I hired to do this, so I'm not saying he's entirely without responsibility, but I hope you understand that this was not the result of my instructions.It's true that the adventurer Nazario had with him didn't feel like he was receiving instructions from Delitz-san, and the incident with the Flame Hound was also caused by a letter of provocation from my side, and this isn't Delitz's instruction either.''But........then there's no need to call me out and apologize......?You say that while you were kneeling in a shoe store apologizing for what your friend did to you?Oh....'As I said earlier, I'm not directly responsible for this, but I can't escape my responsibilities as a supervisor. Isn't that right?'Sure....'It's true that Mr. Delitz is right, but it doesn't seem to be one thing that's chic at the moment.''Um ... can I ask you one question?''I'll be happy to...As Mr. Delitz-or perhaps as the Orlando store, do you think it is desirable for Mr. Nazario and Miss Beatrice to be married in the future?"Ha ha ha, no disrespect, yes, it's the start of everything, and it's natural to be curious. But to answer your question frankly, it doesn't really matter.What, you don't give a shit?I'm a little disappointed to see Mr. Derlitz smiling really funny."You may have heard this in many ways, but we use many different means of doing business.But we haven't fallen so low that we have to rely on our son's wife.The grin on his face was that of a tough businessman.''It's true that there are times when you may benefit from having a blood relationship with the lord's family. But, Kent-san, it's not such an advantage that you need to go to the extent of antagonizing you, who can defeat the salamanders alone, to get it.So, well, you see........me and Miss Beatrice, well....If Beatrice chooses you, it can't be helped. As a parent, I'd like to see my child's wishes fulfilled, but if I can't have the girl I love without her parent's help, I'll have to rethink the idea of letting her take over this store.Apparently he doesn't think the marriage of Nazario and Beatrice is as important as I thought it was.'And you may have noticed, Mr. Kent, that Klaus Volzard is a very tough man. Even if he were to establish a relationship with a blood relative, he has the judgment to cut off the man if he sees him as a disadvantage to the city. And to put it another way, if he thinks it will be beneficial to the city, he will join hands with you, regardless of whether you are related to him or not.It's true that Klaus-san usually looks like a light-hearted, choosy old man, but when you look at his castle wall extensions and preparations for the extreme outbreak, it looks like he's deliberately hiding the fact that he's a madman.With that Klaus-san, it seems difficult to suck the sweet juice from blood relations alone.''I see.......I understand. So what exactly am I supposed to do?There's nothing ... nothing for you to do.What? You don't have to do anything...?Since you went to the trouble of requesting an interview through the guild, I was expecting some kind of request, so I was a bit surprised.''As far as we are concerned, we would like to establish a good relationship with Kent-san, but considering the history of the past, it would be impossible to do so suddenly. So we would like to ask you to return to a flat......like it or not. After that, I would like you to judge the existence of the Orlando Store once again by looking at it with your own eyes, Kent-san. That's what I'm asking you to do.You can sense the confidence and style of a businessman from Mr. Derlitz, who speaks with a soft smile.I see, this is not a simple man.I understand. I, too, apologize for causing trouble by going a little too far with the flamehound.Imitating Delitz-san from earlier, I straightened my posture and lowered my head.I'm not sure if it's the original qualities, or the environment that trained me, or both. If possible, I hope you won't become a business avenger.''No, no, I'm still just a kid at all, and I don't know anything about the business...''Excessive modesty is seen as sarcasm by some people, you should be careful.Huh... yes, maybe, but it's a power I suddenly acquired, so it doesn't really feel like it's there.Not many people know who you were before. Most people only judge you by who you are now. I suggest you keep that in mind.'Well thank you for the advice.After this, we talked about the influence of the escaped goblins and other bland topics, but I got the impression that Mr. Derlitz is a thorough businessman, to the extent that he said he might submit a request for appointment if he thought it was best.I get the impression that he's a pretty tough guy, but since his decision-making criteria are clear, his reactions are easy to read.''Yes, but it's unlikely that they'll make a move on a small short-term profit, so I think they're a difficult opponent after all.Yes, but I suppose we should be glad that the hostilities are over for now.On the way back from the Orlando store, I also asked Reinhardt's opinion, and he mostly agreed with me.Well, as far as Nazario is concerned, it's a bit of a laissez-faire approach, so when he comes up with something chokey again, feel free to shut him down.When we returned to the lodge, it was almost time for the evening business to begin.Spend the time until dinner making materials for negotiations.'I'm back,'Oh, Kent, you're back.'Kent, there's a letter here for you...'Oh, for me?What Meisa brought me was a high-class looking envelope, stamped with wax and sealed.This coat of arms was engraved on the walls of the city, as I recall.......An invitation from Master Klaus..."Hey, Kent, read what it says.'Eh, yeah, well...'The invitation said that they wanted to thank the goblins for their work in the extreme outbreak and invite them to dinner.'Well, it sounds like you've worked hard and they're going to treat you to dinner tomorrow.Yeah, well, Kent I'd like to go too.'Eh, I don't know if I can go with you...'Maysa, you don't work. If you want to go, you need to be able to do the kind of work you're invited to do.'Ugh... okay, I'll bear with you...'Maybe if it was just one person, Meisa, it would be fine, but let's just follow Amanda's opinion here.Let's get her some snacks instead.''Um, Amanda-san, what should I wear in a situation like this?'''Oh, come to think of it, Kent only has his former lodger's second-hand items. Hmmm ... you can go and buy one tomorrow afternoon, you have the money, right?''Well...hmmm....What do you want to do, make a long face?I have a catastrophic lack of taste in clothes and such, so...Ha-ha, you can leave all that stuff to the dressmaker.Oh, yes, of course.
