According to Lola’s indirect explanation, it’s fine when they give prior notice, but sometimes they come to the store in large numbers with retainers and guards. Naturally, during that time, the entry and exit of regular customers are restricted, and there are severe scoldings from Bine to the store if it takes too much time to prepare from scratch. It seems some stores have been shut down for that reason alone. Furthermore, even with prior notice, if the desired merchandise is not available, or if there are complaints about the attitude of the store clerks, there are severe scoldings, and if the anger does not subside, stores with weak backing may also be shut down.
“That sounds like a malicious, power-tripping complainer.”
Rachel was indignant upon hearing this. Kent also had thoughts about Bine, who wielded power and acted unreasonably.
“Regardless of what the store manager thinks, it is a fact that stores have been forced to close down because similar things happened in the past when he was displeased. This store has Caro’s family as its backing, so I don’t think we’ll be forced to close down for minor issues, but I believe it’s best to handle this cautiously and proceed amicably.”
“That might be true, but something about it doesn’t sit right with me.”
While some royals like the Queen or the 2nd Prince might be somewhat flexible, such thinking would not work with the 1st Princess Consort, whom he had never met. If power is exercised directly, even with noble backing, a store run by commoners would have no means to fight back. Just as Lola suggested waiting for the situation to pass, Rachel, understanding this, reluctantly accepted it, even though she was dissatisfied.
“I can’t burden the store manager, so I will handle this situation myself. Is that alright?”
“Huh? Lola will do it? Yes, I leave it to you. The fate of this store rests on your efforts.”
Since Lola offered to deal with Bine herself, for taking on the troublesome task, Rachel patted her on the shoulder to encourage her.
“…That is all for today’s important notes. Do you have any questions?”
After that, Lola conveyed other matters and asked the employees if they had any questions.
“If there are no questions, the meeting is concluded. Well then, everyone, let’s work hard today.”
With no questions arising, Lola ended the morning meeting.
“Are we not getting any help from Store No. 1 today? Older brother, have you heard anything from Marie?”
“Hmm, I haven’t heard anything yet.”
“I see. They must be busy too, so I guess we can’t really ask for too much.”
Rachel asked about the help expected from Store No. 1 that day, but Kent hadn’t heard anything from Marie. When he conveyed this, Rachel seemed to understand the situation, realizing that while they were busy too, Store No. 1 likely didn’t have enough staff to spare, and resigned herself to it.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
“Emily is here to help today. Is it okay for you to help at another store?”
The meeting ended, and as they were about to resume preparations for opening, Emily appeared at the store. Emily is a special fairy who stays at one store and helps it prosper. Kent wondered if she might compete with the store’s existing shop-attached fairy and asked.
“Originally, I couldn’t leave the store. There are no restrictions preventing me from helping other stores. Although someone over there is making a displeased face, it’s not a problem if you don’t mind it.”
Emily replied with a composed expression. However, staring cautiously from behind the counter where her face peeked out, Mike showed his displeasure at having his territory invaded.
“Alright, alright, don’t glare at the person who came to help. There, there.”
“I’m not a horse, meow.”
Mike brushed away Rachel’s hand, which was patting his head to soothe him, and said.
“By the way, if Emily comes to Store No. 2, how will procurement be handled?”
At Marie’s Bakery, anything not available in this town is ordered through Kent’s terminal. When Kent is absent, Emily can order similarly from her terminal, but in that case, the content must be confirmed and the approval button pressed on Kent’s terminal. After approval, the ordered merchandise appears at the designated location from Emily’s terminal. Since there are only these two terminals, if both Kent and Emily are here, direct orders from Store No. 1 become impossible. Rachel, who had understood the system through various means, wondered about this and asked Emily.
“That will be fine. Store No. 1 rarely has sudden orders, so they have plenty of stock. It won’t be a problem to be absent for about a day. Besides, even if there are any unexpected situations, they can just come here to pick it up or I can deliver it, so it’s fine.”
“If you say so, then it seems alright. So, is it just one person helping today?”
The stock situation seemed to be fine. This time, Rachel asked Emily about the number of helpers.
“Well, that is… Ah, here they come.”
“The main act always arrives late.”
“Mm, came to help.”
Just as Emily was about to say something, the store door opened, and Al and Hanako entered.
“Oh. Al and Hanako are helping too. That’s great.”
“Rachel-sama, please don’t treat me like a child.”
“Mm, Rachel, pet me more.”
Rachel patted Al and Hanako on the head, praising them. Their reactions were polar opposites, with Al disliking it and Hanako looking delighted.
“So, that means there are three helpers today? Will Store No. 1 be alright with so many dispatched?”
“I believe the others will work hard, so there’s no need to worry.”
“That’s right.”
“Mm, no problem.”
Kent was worried about Store No. 1 with three people absent at once, but Emily, Al, and Hanako replied that it would be fine as they had excellent clerks.
“Rachel-san, should we also change into our event costumes?”
“Yes. I have Al and Hanako’s prepared, and Emily’s are the same size, so we can use the ones Marie brought yesterday. Will you prepare your own?”
“Yes. I think I’ll arrange it to match Master’s preferences.”
“In that case, I will too—”
“Mm, I’ll go with that too.”
Emily asked Rachel about the costumes. Normally, clothes change in an instant, but with the other store employees watching, the three seemed to have decided to change in the back room. Emily, Al, and Hanako disappeared into the back room one after another.
“I believe it will reflect Older Brother’s preferences. I’m a little curious to see what kind of outfits they’ll be.”
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
Rachel was looking forward to it as a good reference for understanding Kent’s preferences, but Kent had a premonition of something unpleasant.
“Rejected, rejected! All three of you, honestly, wear the clothes Rachel prepared!”
Kent’s loud voice echoed throughout the store.
“I made them to match Master’s preferences, so I’m disappointed you didn’t like them.”
Emily looked disappointed. Emily was wearing a white bikini with red trim and a matching red pareo. She had a good figure, so it was eye-catching, but it looked like swimwear. Naturally, Kent immediately rejected it as unsuitable for customer service.
“It’s cruel to reject these clothes that Master likes so much.”
Al was wearing an old-fashioned red school swimsuit with white trim, colored to resemble Christmas, but like Emily, it was unsuitable for customer service and was rejected.
“Mm, to think this would be rejected, I can’t believe it!”
“Hanako, that’s not clothing in the first place.”
Hanako was wearing a red diamond-shaped chest-covering garment with “金” written on a white background. It looked like the one in fairy tales with a woodcutter carrying an axe. It only covered the front, leaving her buttocks exposed and her back bare.
“Now that you mention it, Older Brother used to like Kin-kōrō from picture books when he was little.”
“Rachel, it’s true I liked that story when I was little, but stop censoring it so vaguely. People will interpret it in other ways.”
“Eh? What other ways? Come on, what ways?”
Rachel mischievously pressed Kent for an answer.
“An-anyway, all three of you, change into the clothes Rachel prepared. Understood?”
“““Yes”””
At Kent’s command, Emily, Al, and Hanako dejectedly returned to the room to change.
