The classes for today ended, and it became after school.
Today, Kent and Caro decided to go home together.
“It feels like it’s been a while since we’ve gone home just the two of us,” Caro said, walking while holding onto Kent’s arm. To anyone looking from the outside, they appeared to be a couple.
“Yesterday I was on cleaning duty and not here, and the day before that Josette and Akane were here, so that might be why,” Kent replied.
“How long do you think the shop renovations will take?” Caro asked Kent.
“I can’t really say yet. Tasks that can’t be handled by the terminal will require craftsmen, and we haven’t discussed that part yet,” Kent explained.
“I see. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of shop you’ll create, Kent.”
Kent and Caro went home, got ready, and headed for Marie’s Bakery.
“Welcome back, Kent and Caro.”
“Welcome home, Older brother, Older sister Caro.”
“We’re home.”
Kent placed orders for the missing ingredients, and Caro went to fix the merchandise display. Since he had already told Marie about the terminal, he would now place orders in the bread workshop in the back instead of returning home. It made the work a little easier by eliminating the need to move.
“Good day, everyone.”
Shortly after they started working, Josette arrived at the shop in a carriage.
“Welcome, Josette,” said Catherine, who was minding the store.
“Thank you for your hard work today, Catherine. I’m not here to help today, but rather for a specific reason. Could you please call Marie and Kent for me?”
“Please wait a moment.” Catherine said and went into the bread workshop in the back.
“Mother, Older brother, Josette is here and says she has something to discuss.”
Called by Catherine, Kent and Marie showed their faces towards the shop.
“Welcome, Josette,” Kent said to Josette.
“As you mentioned today, Kent, I have prepared 20 large gold coins. Could you please confirm them?” The maid standing behind her placed a bag containing the money on the counter. Kent and Marie then checked the contents.
“Seeing so much money makes me a little nervous,” Marie said, taking the money with trembling hands.
“Then, repayment can begin after the shop is on its feet… Let’s say, until you graduate from school, Kent. Would that be alright?” Josette asked the two of them. It was currently May, so even if the shop was on its feet next month, it would be about 22 months until Kent’s graduation. Calculated monthly, it meant they would have to repay approximately one large gold coin (equivalent to one million). Normally, this repayment amount would be considered extremely difficult. If it came to it, Kent thought he could offer himself as collateral. He didn’t dislike Josette; in fact, he rather liked her, so he figured the burden would be manageable.
“Understood. That would be acceptable,” Kent replied.
“Kent, can you really repay that much?” Marie asked, concerned, as she had expected a longer repayment period.
“It’s all right. Please rest assured,” Kent said to calm Marie.
“Well then, I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave. I will help out again when I have more time.” With that, she quickly got into her carriage and left.
“Huh? Did Josette-sama already leave?” Caro returned after taking out the trash from the shop in the back.
“Good work, Caro-older sister. Josette said she had some business to attend to,” Catherine said.
“Then, Kent, please take this money.” Caro handed the money she had just received from Josette to Kent.
“I’m going to start the work now. There might be some loud noises during the process, but please don’t mind them,” Kent said. Caro remembered something she had experienced before.
“Indeed, there was a loud noise from the ceiling. I thought the house was going to collapse back then,” Caro said. Although she had become accustomed to this life and now took it for granted, she recalled that when she first saw things appearing out of nowhere, she had tried to maintain her composure but had been quite flustered.
Kent entered Marie’s parents’ house next door.
“Welcome home. Master,” Emily said, hugging him the moment he stepped inside. She was wearing a thin outfit that clearly showed her figure, making it difficult for him to look away.
“Emily, can’t something be done about that outfit?”
“This? It’s an outfit that reflects your previous master’s taste. If you don’t like it, I can change it?”
“Is it something that can be easily changed?”
“It’s simple. The outfit you imagine in your head will be reflected exactly. Would you like to try?” Emily asked. Kent immediately decided to imagine an outfit.
(For now, how about a nurse outfit?) He pictured something that came to mind.
“I have received your image, Master. I will convert it now.” Emily’s body then glowed, and it transformed into a white coat that emphasized her figure. It looked like something worn for cosplay rather than actual work.
“Amazing, it’s exactly the outfit I imagined,” Kent said, surprised.
“Um, is this outfit satisfactory?”
“Sorry, I’ll change it.” Kent seriously imagined a different outfit this time. He pictured a modest maid uniform with less exposure.
“I have received your image, Master. I will convert it now.” Emily’s body glowed again, and she transformed into the maid uniform that Kent had pictured.
“Is this satisfactory?”
“Yes, it’s good. So, can this outfit be changed as many times as I want?” Kent asked Emily.
“It can be changed as many times as you wish. Of course, I can also take it off, or wear real clothes. Please enjoy yourself as you please, Master.”
“Is it alright for Emily to do customer service?” Kent decided to assess Emily’s potential as an asset.
“It’s fine. To regular customers, I will appear as just an employee. However, merchants who use their own shop fairies will be able to see through my disguise. They won’t be able to do anything, so there will be no disadvantage, please be at ease. Of course, you, Master, will also be able to see other shops’ fairies.”
“How do you tell the difference?”
“There’s one place that’s different from everyone else, right? That’s how you tell. Other people can’t see it,” Emily explained. The way to identify them seemed to be through the wings on their back. However, a question arose in his mind.
“I feel like I could see Emily’s wings even before we made our contract?”
“You’ve noticed something important. In fact, I can choose to show my wings at will. I showed them to you to let you know of my existence.” Emily seemed to have intended to form a contract at that point.
“So, Master, what will you be doing today?”
“Today, I plan to start the renovations according to the plan,” Kent replied to Emily’s question.
“Even if you’re renovating, the craftsmen haven’t arrived yet?”
“Today is not a day for craftsmen. I’ll do it by myself.” With that, he spread out the plan sheet and took out the terminal.
“This is a tool I’ve never seen before. What is it?” Emily looked at the terminal with curiosity.
“With this, I can summon items. However, doing so reduces my current funds.” The funds section of the terminal showed 20 million, equivalent to the 20 large gold coins that had been added from Josette’s loan. Like Marie’s Bakery, this building also had a shop on the first floor and a living space on the second floor.
“Emily, where do you sleep?”
“As I am a shop fairy, I cannot leave the premises. Also, I don’t need to eat or drink, so I just kind of drift around the store. Of course, I can eat and drink, but if I do, it comes out from below, so you would need toilet facilities?”
“Aren’t you lonely by yourself?”
“My mission as a fairy is to protect the shop and help my Master, so I am fine,” Emily replied.
“I understand. Then, I will proceed with the renovations with you living here in mind.”
“Master, you’re going to use precious money for my sake. Thank you,” Emily said happily. Kent operated the terminal while checking the plan, summoning items necessary for the shop such as a solar power system, storage batteries, exterior and interior finishing, air conditioning, electrical wiring, kitchen equipment, waterworks, plumbing, insulation, tables, chairs, counters, registers, and display shelves and refrigerated shelves. He then arranged the summoned items with Emily’s help, making minor adjustments. He also created a room and a shower room for Emily on the second floor.
“This is amazing, Master. In just this amount of time, we have acquired more than enough equipment to operate as a restaurant,” Emily exclaimed. She seemed to be able to read Kent’s thoughts, as she was already well-acquainted with how to use the equipment without needing explanations. Since there was no need to teach her from scratch, it saved a significant amount of trouble.
“Indeed, if it were a restaurant. However, this is intended to be a bakery, so next, I need to renovate the building next door. Therefore, it will take a little longer until we can open,” Kent explained.
“Is that so? What a shame,” Emily said with disappointment.
