Kent’s Day Off

“I’m back.”

Al returned just as business for the day had ended and Marie was calculating the sales.

“Welcome back, Al.”

When Kent said that, Al looked happy.

“I dumped the human named Mark in front of his house.”

“Is it all right to do something like that?”

Kent said that out of concern for Al.

“It will be fine. I hope this makes him behave himself for a while.”

“If that happens, it will help us too.”

Kent did feel somewhat uneasy, but while Al played pranks, she was basically loyal to her master and would not do anything disadvantageous to him. Their relationship had been short, but Kent trusted Al when she said it would be fine.

“Everyone, good work today. Did something happen?”

Then Elnette returned after finishing her sword training. Sensing something different about the atmosphere inside the shop, Elnette asked everyone.

“Ah, Onee-sama, welcome back. Actually, this happened…”

Josette told Elnette about the incident with Mark.

“Unforgivable. To raise his hand against my fiancé… I will not be satisfied unless I go protest to him personally.”

When Elnette heard the story, she looked ready to rush out right then and there.

“He is banned from entering this shop. If he comes again, we will drive him out by force if necessary.”

“““Agreed!”””

At some point, it had turned into something like a meeting in the dining area, and Josette’s proposal was unanimously approved by all the women present. Then Marie, who had finished her calculations, came over.

“Thank you for waiting. Many things happened today, but we somehow made it through. Tomorrow and the day after are regular holidays, so everyone, please rest properly. Also, you all understand that matter, don’t you?”

After giving her usual closing words, Marie said something meaningful. Josette, Caro, Catherine, Patty, Elnette, Emily, and Al nodded in response. Rachel, like Kent, seemed to have no idea what they were talking about.

“Huh? What? What are you talking about?”

Rachel seemed to say that, but in the end, they dispersed for the day without knowing what it was about.

“So what was that last thing you were talking about? It felt like only Rachel and I didn’t understand.”

After returning home, Kent asked Marie again during dinner. Seated at the dining table besides Kent were Marie, Catherine, and Al.

“It was not such a difficult matter. I heard from Caro-chan that tomorrow and the day after, Kent-san has not had a proper day off since returning from managing the territory, so we were talking about not inviting Kent-san anywhere and letting him relax.”

“Why wasn’t Rachel included in that discussion?”

“Because she is your younger sister. Including myself, the others all have at least some affection for Kent-san, so it was something like an agreement not to get a head start. Rachel-chan was not included in that category, so we did not discuss it with her.”

“I see. It’s not like you needed to hide it… Wait, everyone except Rachel was like that?”

He had almost let it pass, but when he thought back on what Marie had said, he realized it. Kent was surprised that even Emily and Patty, who normally did not act that way, were included in that category.

“Oh my, was that supposed to be a secret?”

Marie said that without the slightest sign of guilt.

“Well, if it’s been found out, then it can’t be helped. I love Master too. Please hold me tonight.”

“Honestly, Al-chan, we promised to let him rest properly, didn’t we?”

“Ugh, that’s right. Tonight I’ll sleep with Catherine.”

Catherine stopped Al, who had become eager, and Al said that while sulking a little.

“Ah, that’s right, I forgot to mention it. There is a Bakers’ Guild meeting tomorrow, so I will be going out in the afternoon.”

“I see. Even though it’s your day off, that sounds tough. Please be careful when you go.”

The Bakers’ Guild office had suffered a major blow from the previous fire, but Marie contributed a considerable amount of money toward its reconstruction, and the office was rebuilt in a short period. Until then, each bakery had taken turns hosting the meetings, but from the next meeting onward, they would apparently use the newly built guild office.

In the end, that night, Marie, Catherine, and Al slept in the Japanese-style room, and Kent ended up sleeping alone for the first time in a while.

“It feels like it’s been a long time since I slept alone. It’s lonely not having anyone beside me, but I suppose it’s fine to have a day like this once in a while.”

Kent intended to enjoy having time alone for the first time in a while, but while thinking about various things, he fell asleep.

The next morning, Kent woke up, changed his clothes, and went to the living room.

“Good morning, Catherine. Where are Marie-san and Al?”

“Good morning, Kent-san.”

“Mother is still sleeping. Al-chan seems to have gone out somewhere.”

“I see. Should I go wake Marie-san soon?”

“Yes. Breakfast is almost ready, so please do.”

“Got it.”

Al sometimes wandered out from time to time, so Kent did not pay it much mind and stepped into the Japanese-style room to wake Marie.

“I expected this, but…”

Marie was sleeping sprawled out with her stomach exposed. Marie was a restless sleeper, and Kent had been kicked and punched many times while sleeping, and those actually hurt quite a bit.

“I wonder if Catherine and Al are all right when they sleep.”

Thinking that, Kent decided to wake Marie.

“Marie-san, it’s morning. Catherine made breakfast and is waiting.”

“Uuugh… Kent-san, something that big won’t fit… Mumble, mumble.”

Kent did not know what kind of dream she was having, but Marie’s sleeping face looked happy.

“““Let’s eat.”””

Kent somehow managed to wake Marie and let her finish changing, and then Kent, Marie, and Catherine sat around the table. For breakfast, they were having the black objects Catherine had made, which had been lined up on the dining table for the first time in a while.

“I think I’ll take care of the vegetables in the home garden today.”

“Should I help?”

“We all decided today, so Kent-san, please take it easy.”

“That is right. Rest is also an important job.”

Catherine seemed to be taking care of the vegetables in the home garden made in the backyard. When Kent said he would help, Catherine and Marie told him to rest. After breakfast, Catherine went to the backyard, and Marie began cleaning the house. Since Kent had nothing to do, he headed toward the shop to kill time.

“Onii-chan. Morning. You look really bored.”

“Well, yeah. Everyone told me to rest, but when I don’t do anything, I feel restless instead.”

When he entered the shop, he met Rachel, who was rummaging through the kitchen refrigerator.

“So that means you’re free, right?”

“I guess that’s what it means.”

“It seems the others agreed to let you rest today, Onii-chan, but I’m not part of that group, so it should be fine if I invite you out. So we’re going out. But before that, I need to take my spoils. Onii-chan, do you want one too?”

Rachel handed Kent one of the puddings in a cup that she had just taken out of the refrigerator.

“Thanks. But this is for sale, right?”

“Marie-san said I could eat them, so it’s fine. Elnette-san eats way more than me too.”

“Achoo!”

When Rachel said that, a cute sneeze came from the upper floor. It was probably Elnette upstairs.

“Hehe.”

“Ahaha.”

The timing was so perfect that they found it funny and laughed, then the two of them happily ate the puddings they had prepared before Kent and Rachel left the shop and headed into town.