Laura's Room

“Is it really okay to just hire her on your own?”

Kent asked Rachel, who had decided to hire her without consulting Marie, who held the hiring authority.

“Isn’t it fine? I’m the store manager, after all.”

Rachel said there was no problem.

“I think you’ll be able to pay her salary from the profits once the shop opens, but what will you do until then?”

“Ah.”

Told by Kent, Rachel realized the implication of what he was trying to say.

“Big Brother, what should I do…?”

“Since it’s Marie-san, I think it’ll be fine, but there’s a proper order to things, you know.”

“In that case, how about paying it from my house? I am technically a sponsor, and I can’t exactly stay uninvolved.”

Caro offered to take on the burden.

“If it’s a bother, I’ll look for another place to work…”

Laura, who had been listening to the three’s conversation, said apologetically.

“Ah, sorry. I only said that in the sense of following proper procedure, so the fact that you’ll be working for us hasn’t changed; it’s fine.”

“I see.”

Kent explained in order to take away Laura’s worry.

“I’m starting to get a little anxious. Big Brother, contact Marie-san for a moment.”

“How do I contact her?”

Rachel, seemingly anxious, said to Kent.

“You can call Emily-san and have her come to the phone, right?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

Since the shop was still during business hours, it certainly seemed like contact could be made immediately that way. Kent took out his terminal and called Emily.

Ring ring ring…

“Yes, this is Emily.”

“It’s me, sorry to bother you during work. Could you call Marie-san for me?”

“Yes, please wait a moment.”

After a short ringing sound, Emily answered. Then Kent asked her to call Marie.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Kent-san, did something happen?”

“Sorry to bother you while you’re busy, my sister has something to talk about, so I’ll hand it over to her.”

When Marie came on, Kent handed it over to Rachel.

“Hello, Marie-san…”

Rachel reported that she had hired Laura based on her own judgment. Then, as Kent had predicted, Marie readily gave her permission. Having received permission, Kent ended the call.

“Thank goodness. Marie-san said it’s okay. So, Laura is officially hired.”

“Y-yes.”

Laura was staring blankly after watching the previous exchange.

“Umm, Rachel-san, what was that just now?”

Laura decided to take the plunge and ask Rachel.

“Were you surprised? Umm, that’s a… phone, I guess. It’s a convenient tool that lets you talk to someone far away. You can contact the main shop with the mysterious tool Big Broth… I mean, Kent has.”

“I see. So such a convenient tool exists.”

Rachel kept the terminal a secret and only explained the function from before. Laura listened to that story in surprise.

“And the person I was talking to just now is Marie-san, the owner of the place where I work.”

“I-is that so?”

Laura spoke in surprise. Kent thought that she likely felt a sense of incongruity at the fact that they spoke in a tone as if to family, in contrast to her previous employer Etsigoya, where the hierarchy was distinct.

“We’re going back home now, so Laura, come along too. For the time being, training at the other shop will be your main job; we’ll prepare a room, but you’ll be living and sleeping in the same place as me.”

“Understood. Then I will pack my things, so please wait a moment.”

“Ah, you don’t have to take everything. Once my shop opens and the utilities can be used, you’re free to return to this room, so please keep the things you prepare to a minimum.”

“By any chance, is this building going to be the new shop?”

“That’s right. So you can leave things as they are.”

Rachel told Laura about her temporary living arrangements.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’m ready.”

It seemed her spare clothes had been left in the room, so Laura finished her preparations by packing the bare minimum into a bag.

“Well then, shall we go? We’re going to drop off Caro first, so it’ll be a bit of a detour, sorry.”

Rachel said that, and everyone went downstairs.

“Mike, well then, please look after the place.”

“Understood. Have a safe trip, nyan.”

Rachel spoke to Mike, who was awake.

“Th-the cat spoke.”

Laura spoke in surprise.

“Ah, this boy is Mike; he’s the cat who protects this shop.”

“I-is that so?”

Rachel explained to the surprised Laura.

After walking a bit after leaving the shop, they arrived at the Noble District where the aristocrats lived. The four of them proceeded through it toward Caro’s mansion.

“Caro-san, good work today. See you again tomorrow.”

“Yes, well then, Kent-san, Rachel, Laura-san, good night.”

Since Caro’s mansion belonged to a lower noble, it was in a location relatively close to the town. The higher the rank, the further back one had to go. They arrived in front of Caro’s mansion and parted ways with her.

“Well then, shall we go?”

When Kent spoke, Laura asked for confirmation.

“Is Caro-san… no, -sama by any chance a noble?”

“I guess she’d be a baron’s daughter.”

“I was interacting with her in such a rude appearance. I’m worried that I might have offended her.”

“I think it’s fine. I don’t think Caro-san cares about that kind of thing at all.”

“I see…”

Kent spoke to the worried Laura in order to reassure her.

“We’re here.”

“Isn’t this Marie’s bakery?”

“That’s right.”

“Even if it was indirectly, I caused a great deal of trouble; is it really okay?”

Laura spoke while looking at Marie’s bakery. Etsigoya had viewed Marie’s bakery as an enemy and had a history of performing various harassments. Knowing that, Laura spoke apologetically.

“I think it’s fine. I don’t think Marie-san holds it against you at all.”

“If that’s the case, then it’s fine, but…”

Taking the worried-looking Laura, Kent and the others entered the shop.

“We’re back.”

Since the shop was already past its closing time, the three of them entered through the back door.

“Welcome back, Kent-san, Rachel-chan. And would this be Laura-san? I’m Marie, the manager of this shop. Nice to meet you.”

“P-pleased to meet you, I’m called Laura. I’ll be in your care from now on.”

Marie and Laura exchanged greetings.

“Umm, everyone has already gone home, so I guess we’ll start with preparing the room? Kent-san, please.”

“Understood.”

Leaving things here to Marie, Kent went upstairs and decided to prepare Laura’s room.

“Oh? Welcome back, Kent. It’s rare for you to come up here.”

Elnette, who had come out of the shower room, spoke. She was dressed only in a single bath towel, so Kent was at a loss for where to look.

“I’m home, Elnette. A new employee has joined us, so I’m just about to go prepare a room.”

“Is that so? Then shall I help too?”

Elnette offered.

“No, the preparation will be over soon, so it’s fine. Elnette, you’ll catch a cold if you stay like that, you know?”

“By any chance, Kent, is your heart pounding at this outfit?”

Saying so, Elnette clung to Kent. Elnette’s body heat was transmitted to Kent.

“If it’s you, Kent, you can touch me, you know?”

“Then, just a little.”

Kent lightly touched Elnette’s body.

“Just a light touch from Kent sent a jolt through me. Want to go for a round now?”

“I’m sorry, but I have to prepare the room.”

“It can’t be helped. Well then, hold me too next time… Wow, just thinking about it for a bit made me feel strange. I’m going back to take another shower. See you later, Kent.”

Elnette said that and went back into the shower room again.

“I guess this room will do.”

Kent entered a vacant room, took out his terminal, selected an interior renovation plan, arranged the room, and prepared it by placing a bed, desk, furniture, and so on. He worried about whether to install an air conditioner, but since it would only be used for a few days, he decided against it. Having finished the preparation, Kent returned to the shop below.

“It’s ready.”

“Thank you, Kent-san. The shop will bear the costs incurred for the renovation, so please let me know later.”

“Understood.”

Kent informed Marie that the preparation was finished.

“Well then, the job description will be as I explained earlier, so I’m counting on you. Also, Rachel-chan, teach her how to use the shower and such. Well then, Kent-san and I are going home. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Marie finished her explanation to Laura, left the rest to Rachel, and decided to return home with Kent.