Sabotaged by Amada, We Pushed Forward With Preparations Undaunted

"… Oi, 'All-A'…"

As though he'd just witnessed something as unbelievable as a flock of flying slimes, Raul stared down at the dish in front of him, his voice trembling as he asked.

"What, exactly, is this supposed to be…?"

"Huh?"

At Raul's question, Airi blinked her indigo eyes at him in puzzlement.

"You can tell just by looking, can't you? It's omurice. Omurice."

"That looks like nothing more than plain white rice no matter how I squint at it!!!!"

"How rude! I'll have you know I splurged on ketchup too, even though it was a waste! Look closely, it's got a reddish tinge to it, doesn't it? And I even sprang for a whole ten grams of meat!"

"Ten grams is within the margin of error!"

"Th-this scrap of eraser shavings… it isn't meat…"

"See, even Fino, who loves meat, is in shock! … Wait, by any chance, that tiny yellow thing tucked off to the side, that's…?"

"… Obviously, it's the omelette. Raul Chaser, this is omurice, you know?"

"I'll throw those exact same words right back at you! What is this microscopic excuse for an omelette?!"

"I used a whole egg, you know?! A whole egg all to itself! At my orphanage, we only got that when we were hovering between life and death with a forty-degree fever!"

Airi planted her hand on her hip and raised her voice as though she were the one in the right.

"You should be grateful you can eat rice at all! The staple food at my orphanage was basically the pumpkins and sweet potatoes we grew in the back garden! Did you know? If you eat too much pumpkin, your skin gradually turns yellow!"

"What era are you from?!"

"And also, I discovered this myself, but if you use a little extra salt you don't feel the lack even with hardly any ingredients!"

"Normal people add more ingredients in order to cut down on salt!!!"

Shouting in spite of himself, Raul clutched his head in both hands.

With Fino on the line for the maid café showdown, the staff of Magic Shop Leon, Royal Capital Store had gathered after closing in the second-floor break room for a potluck omurice tasting that doubled as dinner, to settle on a recipe.

Fino aside, Raul had secretly been looking forward to a rare chance to sample the Manager's always-delicious-looking bento and Airi's resourcefully clever home cooking. Somehow, now, he wanted to take a magical slipper and smack his past self on the back of the head as hard as he could for entertaining such sweet expectations.

… And then. Across from Raul, Manager Seara, fork in hand, smiled brightly.

"But this is delicious in its own way, you know? It might be a little different from omurice, but the seasoning's just right, and the vegetables are so carefully cut…"

"Huh, you're right, it's delicious…!"

"Looks aside, this is honestly edible…"

Following the Manager's lead, Fino and the Assistant Manager sampled Airi's omurice and offered favorable reviews.

Raul timidly extended his own fork, and the moment he took a bite, his eyes went wide.

… True enough, it looked like nothing more than salted rice, but the salt was struck with such miraculous balance there was no improving on it. And just as the Manager had said, the vegetables and meat had been cut to uniform sizes with mechanical precision…

"… Huh. So it's actually proper cooking after all."

"Of course it is."

Catching Raul's impressed murmur, Airi gave a haughty sniff.

"I have confidence in my cooking. Back at the orphanage, I was always the one cooking for everyone…"

… And then.

"Fuhaha, now it's my turn!!!!!"

Declaring it with full confidence, Fino pulled a container from her beloved Maou-kun backpack, set it on the table, and popped the lid off.

"Behold, the ultimate omurice of yours tru— ah!"

""""—?!""""

The instant she did, a black shadow darted across the staff's field of view.

The shadow that shot out of the container vanished through the gap in the window in the blink of an eye, and in front of the dumbfounded staff, Fino cried out in a panic.

"Om got awaaay!!!"

"Hold on just a minute!!!!!"

Unable to help himself, Raul snapped at the distraught Fino.

"Fino, what was that just now, hey?!"

"Eh, what was what? It was Om, but…"

Fino answered with a blank look. Glancing back down at the container, she scowled at the magic circle drawn on top of the rice in rice seasoning and muttered regretfully.

"The demon spirit that holds the powers of darkness and savory taste, 'Om'… and I went to all that trouble to summon him…"

"Don't put something that sinister on top of rice!!!!!"

"But, it goes really well with rice! If you put just a dash of soy sauce on it,"

"Don't put soy sauce on a demon spirit!!!!!"

"Fino-chan, there's no telling what germs a wild demon spirit might carry, so make sure to thoroughly cook it before eating, okay?"

"No, Manager, that really isn't the issue here…"

Raul's eyes narrowed, but Manager Seara only smiled brightly.

"Now then, it's my turn next, isn't it?"

Smiling serenely, Manager Seara opened the lid of her woven-rattan picnic basket.

In that instant, the staff, particularly Raul and Assistant Manager Visor, leaned forward.

… Manager Seara's home cooking! Raul couldn't help but swallow. Whenever their break times overlapped, he'd been admiring those vividly colorful, delicious-looking bentos of hers. The Manager was dexterous enough to qualify as a Living National Treasure, capable of crafting anything from clothing to magic items, so just what kind of mouthwatering dish would she make?

A tantalizing, appetite-stirring aroma drifted out of the basket.

The moment the Manager lifted out a dish, the staff couldn't help but let out a cheer.

What sat on the pure-white plate was an omurice so beautifully shaped like a leaf it could only be called art. The egg covering its surface was so smooth you wanted to touch it, and the vibrant yellow and the red of the tomato sauce drew a hypnotic contrast.

"Heehee, it's been a while since I made one, but I'm glad it turned out so well."

The moment the Manager dipped a large spoon in, delicious-looking chicken rice peeked out from underneath.

In what seemed like magic, the omurice was portioned out and lined up before the staff.

"Now, please, try it."

"Y-yes!"

The moment they brought their forks to their mouths, suppressing their eagerness, the texture of the omelette melted on the tongue.

The chicken rice, simultaneously moist and crumbly, came apart on the tongue, intertwining with the half-cooked egg that had been heated to a flawless texture, weaving a harmony that left them swooning in—

… In the chicken rice, something popped.

""""—?!!!!""""

Pop-pop, pop-pop. A string of tiny explosions in their mouths. At the same time, a cloying sweetness welled up from inside the chicken rice and prickled their taste buds.

Before the bewildered staff who couldn't tell what had happened, Manager Seara giggled and smiled.

"I tried putting popping magical candy inside. You see, omurice has such a monotonous texture, and when I tasted it, it felt like a completely new sensation, so I thought, ah, this could work…"

"It does not work!!!!!"

Chewing the chicken rice as it crackled and popped in his mouth, Raul pressed a hand to his forehead. Ah, that's right. Manager Seara was wild about offbeat combinations and quirky ideas…

Airi, who had been chewing her omurice with a grim expression, finally opened her mouth, hesitantly.

"… Um, Manager, this sauce on the omurice is…"

"Ah, that's a cherry-cranberry sauce. The candy was strawberry-flavored, so I tried matching it with something berry-based. Heehee, it's homemade, you know?"

"… And the black flecks that are often in the omelette in your bento, those are…"

"Eh, those are chocolate chips, but… is there something the matter?"

Manager Seara answered Raul's hesitant question with an innocently puzzled expression.

The Assistant Manager scratched his head, struggling for words.

"Manager, um… for the actual event, please stick to a standard recipe… okay?"

The Assistant Manager's words, as if speaking for all of them, prompted the rest of the staff to nod fervently.

"Wow, Assistant Manager, this is super tasty!"

Smothered in a runny half-cooked egg, an omurice every bit as delicious-looking as the Manager's. The moment she took a bite, Fino let out a cheer, and Assistant Manager Visor spoke up with a proud air.

"Well, believe it or not, cooking's my hobby. I'm particular about my seasonings especially. I keep several kinds of salt and olive oil on hand, and pick which to use depending on the dish…"

"Wow, that's our Assistant Manager!"

"It's delicious… I have to admit I've reassessed my opinion of you."

"H-hey, c'mon now, don't praise me that much…"

Despite himself, pleased by his subordinates' approval, the Assistant Manager turned aside.

"Seems they like it well enough, but Manager, how do you…?"

"Yes, it's very delicious."

The Manager nodded with a beaming smile.

"The omurice at Gargoyle Tei is one of my favorites, after all."

"Eh?"

The instant she said it, the staff's eyes went wide, and the Assistant Manager's expression froze stiff.

"Visor-kun, during your break, you slipped out of the store to go shopping, didn't you?"

"N-no, that, well, that was, I just went to grab some lunch—"

"There was a Gargoyle Tei receipt in the trash with an omurice on it, you know?"

As the Assistant Manager flailed and his voice cracked, Manager Seara continued, still smiling brightly.

"I told you to make your own, didn't I?"

"… I'm sorry, I overslept this morning and totally forgot about the tasting."

Admitting his crime in clean defeat, the Assistant Manager threw himself into a dogeza so deep his forehead scraped the break-room floor.

Sighing as she eyed the Assistant Manager, Manager Seara turned her gaze to Raul.

"Now then, that leaves Raul-kun, doesn't it?"

"A-ah, yes!"

Prompted by the Manager, Raul hurriedly took out the container he'd brought from home.

"This is the one I usually make…"

"Wow, it's Raul's omurice!!!"

"H-hey, Fino…"

"It's delicious!!!!!"

The moment she pounced on it, Fino lifted a fork to her mouth and shouted in excitement.

"Raul, you're amazing! Hey, this, this is super tasty!!!!"

"Heh…"

Beside Fino, who was happily stuffing her cheeks with omurice, Airi offered a calm critique.

"The vegetables are chopped sloppily, the sauté is uneven, the egg is overcooked, and it's a little burnt. But the taste isn't bad."

"… Hey, for all your complaining, you sure are helping yourself to seconds."

"I-I said the taste isn't bad, didn't I?! It's, well, there's something nostalgic about it… And besides, it'd be a waste to leave any. There's lots of meat in it too…"

Pursing her lips in excuses, Airi heaped a generous second helping onto her plate.

… And then.

"… Huh, what's the matter?"

After a single bite of the omurice on their plates, both Manager Seara and Assistant Manager Visor had fallen silent, complicated expressions on their faces.

Faced with their reaction, Raul timidly opened his mouth.

"Was it… not to your liking?"

"Ah… no, that's not it, but yeah…"

Sidestepping the question, the Assistant Manager scratched his red-haired head with a troubled expression.

"This is rough… could it be…"

"… Say, Raul-kun."

Beside the Assistant Manager, Manager Seara quietly raised her head.

"This recipe, did you read it in a book or something?"

"A-ah, no…"

Caught off guard by the unusually serious tone in Manager Seara's voice, Raul shook his head in spite of himself.

"It's… Magical Cooking Pad. I found the recipe on MITNet's user-submission site. You mix two kinds of sauce to season the chicken rice, and add just a tiny bit of antidote-grass as a secret ingredient. Somehow it turns out really tasty, so I make it pretty often."

"Magical Cooking Pad, hm…"

The moment he heard that, the Assistant Manager pulled the latest model of MagicPhone from his pocket and ran his fingers across it. Once he had the site's homepage open, he asked,

"Raul-kun, do you remember the keywords for the recipe?"

"Eh… I, I think it was something like 'Everyone-Smiles Happy Omurice'… ah, you can also get to it from the Hall of Fame ranking."

"Thanks… And this is it…"

In short order, the recipe in question appeared on the MagicPhone's display.

The moment he saw it, the Assistant Manager pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed.

"Bingo. The recipe was posted seven years ago… here, take a look at the poster's name."

The handle the Assistant Manager pointed to read 'ELTO_123.'

Rolling the name around in his mouth, Raul drew in a sharp breath.

"Elt… Elt, you don't mean… Manager, this is—!"

"… Yes."

Dropping her amber gaze to the plate before her, nostalgically.

"… This is the omurice my brother used to make for me all the time."

At Manager Seara's quiet words, Raul and the others' eyes went wide.

The Manager's brother, Elt August. The tragic [Hero] who had been framed and killed by the other [Heroes] in league with the demonkin Chancellor, the previous owner of the sword the Manager had passed down to Raul.

"MITNet, originally, was built so [Heroes] could share information, you know…"

So murmured the Assistant Manager, a hometown friend of Manager Seara, and apparently the late [Hero] Elt's best friend.

"… It's gotten pretty common in general use now, but seven years ago most of the users were still [Heroes]… when did that guy go and post something like this…?"

My beloved little sister's favorite, and one of my specialties. She doesn't like dark green peas, so I substituted hane beans. Work's kept me busy and I haven't been able to make it for her in a while…

The Manager picked up the Assistant Manager's MagicPhone.

She stared down at her brother's recipe comment, her eyes deep with feeling. And then.

"… Fino-chan?"

Manager Seara's apron was suddenly tugged, and she lifted her head with a start.

Looking up at the Manager, Fino pointed at the MagicPhone and beamed.

"This… your brother's Happy Omurice that Raul made, it was super delicious! Hey, for the maid café's omurice, this one's the best!!!"

At Fino's suggestion, Manager Seara's eyes went wide in surprise.

Following Fino's lead, Raul and the others spoke up in unison.

"I second it! I really love this recipe, it's kind of addictive… it made the Hall of Fame on Cooking Pad, you know. Just like the name says, everyone loves it!"

"Ah, I agree too. If Raul Chaser's careless version can taste this good, then if we make it carefully it should turn out even better…"

"… Hey, that was uncalled for, 'All-A.'"

"Manager, I want to eat more of this!"

"Everyone…"

At her subordinates' words, Manager Seara murmured in flustered surprise.

Beside the Manager, Assistant Manager Visor raised a hand lightly.

"Ah… I'm in too."

"Visor-kun?"

"… Well, what can I say, this is probably some kind of fate, isn't it? And that guy's omurice was honestly good. I think this'll work too."

"…"

Taking in the Assistant Manager's words, the Manager once more looked down at her brother's comment on the recipe site.

"Brother, please, lend us your strength to protect Fino-chan, okay?"

Clutching the MagicPhone, Manager Seara softly smiled.

 

*

 

Water-Day. Magic Shop Leon, Royal Capital Store's regular day off.

Raul, who had been reading a manga magazine on his bed, reluctantly sat up when the chime sounded from the entryway.

… The kind of person who'd ring the chime midday on a weekday was usually a delivery person or the postman, royal-capital newspaper or religious recruiters, or a shady door-to-door salesman peddling magic urns and magical signature stamps. Or maybe…

"Raul!!!"

Sure enough, the moment he opened the front door, a familiar silver-haired girl tumbled into view.

But in Fino's hand, as she stood in loungewear with an apron that looked like a hand-me-down from the Manager thrown over it, gleamed a kitchen knife. Wait, a knife?!

"Fino? What in the world…"

As Raul instinctively recoiled, the girl gripped her knife.

Turning a tear-filled gaze on him, she cried out as though pleading.

"Please… I want you to teach me to cook!!!!!"

"…"

"Um… it just isn't working out at all…"

… The kitchen of Fino's apartment was a sight of utter devastation.

The countertop was strewn with vegetable peels and leaves; the sink was pitch-black with grime. A package of what appeared to be meat had somehow ended up rolling on the floor.

"Hey, your fingers are covered in cuts!"

At Raul's raised voice, Fino, still gripping the knife, awkwardly looked away.

"This 'kitchen knife' thing, it's all rattly and won't cut, and the vegetables keep slipping…"

"Hey, where'd you buy this piece of junk?"

Examining the edge of Fino's knife, Raul let out an exasperated sigh.

"A knife that doesn't cut is dangerous, you know? … Hey, where's your cutting board?"

"Cutting board?"

Fino tilted her head at Raul's question, looking genuinely puzzled.

Surveying the prep counter, all dented and scratched as though it had been the scene of some crime, Raul couldn't help but sigh.

"… Geez. For now I'll patch up your wounds, so wash your hands… None of the proper tools are here, so once we're done cleaning up we'll take the salvageable ingredients to my place and have a crash course."

"O-okay…"

Looking somehow apologetic, Fino timidly nodded.

"… So, what exactly were you trying to make?"

After much labor, the two of them had finally cleaned the kitchen and rescued the surviving ingredients, retreating to the kitchen in Raul's apartment.

At his question, the silver-haired girl lifted her face and hesitantly opened her mouth.

"… Omurice."

Holding the washed carrots in both hands, the girl looked up at Raul through her eyelashes. The bandages he'd affixed to her cuts covered her white fingers.

"Last night, the Manager said I might end up cooking in front of the customers… and everyone's doing their best for me, but I'm the only one who can't even cook properly…"

"… Yeah, that's true."

Reaching out to gently pat the head of the earnestly insistent Fino, conveniently at the perfect height, Raul turned back to the counter and pointed at the cutting board in front of them.

"All right then, Fino. First, the basics: when you use a knife, you put a cutting board under it. Without one, your counter gets all chewed up and your ingredients slip around."

"Heh, so there was such a thing!"

"First, cut off the top of the carrot…"

"O-okay! … Wow, what a sharp blade! Raul, is your knife a magic knife?!"

"Unfortunately, it neither heats up nor glows. It's a perfectly ordinary knife… You really should buy yourself a proper one."

"Hey, what do I do from here?"

Standing on tiptoe to look up at Raul with the trimmed carrot in front of her, Fino tilted her head.

Raul nodded, repositioned the carrot, and placed his hand against it as though it were a knife.

"You're going to mince the carrot, so first, you cut diagonally like this."

"L-like this?"

"Hey, that's dangerous for your fingers! Your hand should be shaped like… ah, no, not like that!"

He reached out reflexively, and the moment his fingertips touched Fino's, Raul's heart skipped.

"L-like, like this…"

… They looked delicate, but to the touch they were soft and pillowy. The fingertips of a girl.

Concealing his agitation, Raul somehow managed to guide her fingertips into the proper position.

"…"

A thought crossed his mind.

Swallowing, Raul left his left hand resting alongside Fino's on the carrot, and reached his right arm around the girl's back. In a posture that all but embraced Fino from behind, he laid his right palm over her right hand on the knife.

"Eh, R-Raul…?"

With both of her hands suddenly held, the silver-haired girl gave a small start and looked up at Raul timidly.

Shaken by the girl's reaction, Raul couldn't help but raise his voice.

"H-hey, don't make weird noises! You're always clinging to me anyway!"

"B-but, it's fine when I'm the one touching, but when I'm touched it gives me shivers!"

"… I-I'll move the knife, so just get the feel of it, okay?"

"O-okay…"

With Raul gripping both her hands from behind, Fino nodded uncertainly.

The body heat of the girl pressed against his chest, the defenseless nape of her neck flickering right in front of him. Flustered, Raul lifted Fino's hand together with the knife… And then.

"… Raul, your heart's pounding."

"—?!!!!"

Bullseye'd by Fino's observation, Raul nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Ah… n-no, that's, hey, I'm holding a sharp object, so naturally I'm tense…"

His ulterior motive exposed, Raul reddened and stammered out his excuse.

At Raul's words, Fino glanced back over her shoulder and, after a moment, giggled.

"Raul, you fight with way bigger swords all the time, but getting nervous over a kitchen knife like this… you're unexpectedly timid, huh?"

"Ha, haha…"

Raul could only manage an awkward laugh at her teasing.

… And then, in his arms, the laughter stopped.

Looking away from Raul, Fino murmured softly to herself.

"But… maybe my heart's pounding a little too…"

The mumbled words were bashful, embarrassed.

Caught off guard by them, Raul opened his mouth as well.

"F-Fino…"

… And then.

"Oh, my?"

Just to the left of the kitchen where Raul and Fino stood, from beyond the small window, came a startled voice.

Almost simultaneously, the front door opened and a girl with honey-colored hair peeked in, and—

… There stood Raul in the kitchen, all but embracing Fino from behind.

Catching sight of the pair, Airi froze, indigo eyes wide.

"I-I'm so disappointed in you, Raul Chaser!!!!!"

A moment later, at the girl's shout, fired off with enough force to send spit flying, Raul leapt back from Fino and frantically protested.

"N-no! I was just teaching Fino how to cook!!!!!"

"But your face is bright red! You were thinking pervy things, weren't you?!"

"I-I wasn't! It's just, her knife handling looked dangerous, so I was helping out!"

"Don't play innocent! Going after a human is one thing, but laying hands on a demonkin? Do you have no pride at all?!"

"I-I haven't laid hands on her!!!!!"

"Hey, Raul,"

And then, having listened to their exchange, Fino tugged on Raul's clothes.

"What are 'pervy things'? Does it have anything to do with the pervy books you've been collecting?"

"Th-that's…!"

… The girl's gaze, fixed on him, was impossibly innocent.

While Raul broke out in a cold sweat and stammered, Airi grabbed Fino and pulled her close.

"Fino-san! You too! Just because you're a demonkin doesn't mean you can let your guard down this much! If you keep being so careless, Raul Chaser is going to defile you!"

"D-defile…?"

"H-hey, wha, don't teach Fino weird words!!!!!"

"Listen to me, okay? Just because he's your neighbor doesn't mean you can casually drop by Raul Chaser's room! And if he touches your body or does anything weird, you tell me or the Manager right away, okay? Absolutely don't suffer through it in silence!"

"Hey, what kind of person do you think I am?!!!!"

"… Hm?"

And then Airi, who had been clutching Fino's shoulders, paused as her eye fell on the cutting board.

"What's this, the carrot slices are all uneven thicknesses. You're surprisingly clumsy with anything that isn't magic, aren't you."

"Sh-shut up."

"… Or was it that you were too distracted by your ulterior motives to focus?"

"Uh…"

… Stung by the accurate hit, Raul found himself at a loss for words.

Eyeing him exasperatedly, Airi let go of Fino and sighed.

"Fino-san, come here for a moment."

"Eh, whoa!"

So saying, Airi embraced Fino from behind in exactly the same way Raul had moments earlier.

As the carrot was sliced with precision under Airi's guidance, Fino cried out in excitement.

"Airi, you're amazing!"

"… Honestly."

Glancing at the dumbfounded Raul, Airi gave a haughty sniff.

"I can't leave this to you. From now on, I'll teach Fino-san to cook."

 

*

 

"Hey! You're not actually going to throw those out, are you?"

"Eh… y-yeah…"

"… Unbelievable. Listen, vegetable peels are full of nutrients, you know? If you boil them down they make a nice tea, so rinse them off and put them in this strainer."

"O-okay!"

"And the carrot tops in the scrap bin, pick those up too. If you set them on a small saucer of water they'll sprout, and chopped up they make a nice garnish."

"Airi, you know so much!"

"… Honestly, that feels less like cooking and more like something else entirely."

Watching Fino gaze at the briskly instructing Airi with eyes of pure respect, Raul felt his own narrow. … Geez, what am I supposed to do if Fino converts to pauper cuisine too?

"Hey, Raul Chaser, where's the frying pan?"

"—"

Airi glanced back over her shoulder, and Raul, whose attention had been drifting to the thighs visible under her miniskirt, hastily averted his eyes.

"Ah, ahh, that, it's under the sink…"

"Under the sink… ah, found it. Thanks."

As she bent forward, the hem of her already short skirt rode up, and Raul's eyes were drawn back almost magnetically—

"—?!!!!"

The very next instant.

At Fino's silent scream as she leapt back, Raul nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Wha, w-what's wrong, Fino?!"

"R-Raul, Airi, be careful!!!!!"

Clinging to Raul's arm as he hurried over, Fino fixed the cutting board with a tearful glare.

"This vegetable, it's cursed! The moment I cut it my eyes started stinging!"

… Pointing at the onion with the knife still buried in it, Fino's voice rose in alarm.

Airi narrowed her eyes at the girl in exasperation.

"… You, for a demonkin, what are you whining about over a sliced onion?"

"F-fuee, no, no more…"

"Ah, hey, Fino-san, wait! … Honestly."

Watching Fino scurry out of the room, Airi sighed. Eyeing the half onion left on the cutting board, Raul scratched his head as well. Well, demonkin do have heightened senses, so I guess it can't be helped.

"Speaking of which…"

Now alone with Airi, Raul finally raised the question that had been on his mind.

"…'All-A,' why'd you come over? Was there something you needed?"

"Eh?"

For a moment, Airi looked taken aback by Raul's question.

Then, hesitantly looking away, she answered bluntly.

"It's… I wanted you to teach me yesterday's omurice recipe…"

"Huh?"

"I tried searching for it, but I forgot the keywords and couldn't find it… I think I roughly remember the chicken rice you made, but if I try to recreate it from memory without the recipe, I'll end up cutting the portions down by my usual instinct…"

"But, you could have just asked at work…"

"My shift's off tomorrow, so it'd be the day after. That'd cut into my practice time."

Airi clenched her fists.

"In short, I want to do everything I can while I have the time… Fino-san is the one on the line, after all. We can't afford to fail, can we?"

"'All-A'…"

"… D-don't get the wrong idea, okay?!"

At Raul's widened eyes, Airi's cheeks flushed and she narrowed her own.

"I'm the one who once protected that child from Amada. So now that it's come to this, I have to see it through to the end… Besides, that child is a demonkin with enormous mana, so if she isn't within my line of sight I get worried…"

"… You know, you really are a good person."

The words slipped out of Raul's mouth in spite of himself.

The moment they did, Airi blushed and quickly looked away.

"I-I just…"

She turned back to the cutting board, her tone annoyed.

… And then.

"Hey, 'All-A,' behind you!"

"Huh, whoa?!!!!"

The knife Fino had stuck in the onion and left lying on the cutting board.

Before Raul could finish his warning, Airi turned and her hip bumped the handle, knocking the knife loose; it tumbled across the cutting board.

"Look out!"

The knife slipped off the cutting board, dropping straight toward Airi's toes.

As the girl tried to dodge reflexively and lost her balance, Raul instinctively reached out.

"—?!"

Honey-colored hair filled Raul's vision, and a citrus scent tickled his nose.

Stunned by the indescribable sensation of the girl clinging to him, Raul stared.

The girl who had pitched into his arms hurriedly pushed herself away.

"S-sorry…"

Flustered by the lingering warmth on his arm, Raul found himself apologizing to the bright-red girl.

Hugging her slender frame with both arms, Airi at last hesitantly spoke up.

"Th-that… t-thank you…"

"Ugh, ughhh…"

Suddenly, an unsteady figure appeared at the entryway.

The silver-haired girl who peeked in through the open door collapsed to her knees as if folding in on herself.

"F-Fino-san?!"

"I-I'm back…"

Looking up as she gasped for breath, Fino tilted her head, puzzled.

"Huh… why are both your faces red?"

"Th-that's…!" "M-more importantly, Fino-san!"

As Raul stammered, Airi hurriedly raised her voice.

"Where in the world did you run off to?! Now then, let's get back to your training!"

"A-Airi, please, let me rest a little longer…"

Still rubbing the residual sting from the onion in her eyes, Fino half-sobbed her appeal.

Glaring down at the demonkin girl, Airi sniffed, fully back to her usual self.

"A little stinging in the eyes isn't going to kill you. Come on, get over here!"

"F-fueee, R-Rauuul…"

Geez. Watching Airi grab Fino's arm and forcibly haul the slumped-down girl to her feet, Raul murmured to himself.

She really is no good at being honest, that girl.

 

*

 

"The cookware we need for the event can't be procured?!"

The next morning, in the back room of Magic Shop Leon, Royal Capital Store, after the day off.

At the bombshell sprung on them the moment they arrived for work, Raul and Fino could only gape.

"On yesterday's day off, I inquired with every vendor in the royal capital, but the rental magic rice cookers and MagicStoves we need to make omurice are, for the day of the event, all booked solid."

"I split up and went looking too, but it was wiped out everywhere…"

Looking thoroughly exhausted, Manager Seara and Assistant Manager Visor explained reluctantly.

Narrowing his eyes, the Assistant Manager continued, looking uncomfortable.

"… And the vendors hinted that there was someone behind it. Seems like Amada is…"

"Amada is?!"

The moment he heard that, Raul couldn't help but raise his voice.

"But why?! This time the challenge was their idea to begin with…"

"It's probably… Ka-chan… Amada's Assistant Manager Karen. Whether it's to make Amada's Manager win or to harass me personally, I'm not sure, though…"

"Tch…!"

A burning anger rose in Raul, and he ground his teeth. After forcing this contest on us in the first place, they pull something like this… those people, how dirty can they be?!

"As a contingency, there is the option of pre-cooking chicken rice with the equipment we have on hand, freezing it, and reheating it in a magic range to serve, but…"

"… The taste is going to drop, no question…"

In response to the Manager's troubled words, the Assistant Manager pressed a hand to his forehead.

"And on top of that, we'd need to procure a magic range as well, and there'd be that much more work to do… This is going to be a brutal fight, you know?"

… A heavy silence fell over the back room.

Out of the corner of his eye, Raul caught Fino's tearful expression, and couldn't help but raise his voice.

"A-anyway, let's all think of something together!"

Putting deliberate brightness in his voice to lift the room's spirits, Raul went on.

"And there's still time before the event, and a cancellation might come up. It's too early to give up just yet!"

"Raul…"

"Raul-kun…"

At Raul's voice, Manager Seara softly smiled.

"That's right, Raul-kun is right. I'll try every connection I have, too…"

… And then.

A sudden knock at the back room door.

The staff drew in a sharp breath and exchanged glances.

"Good morning! Oh, thank goodness! It's before opening hours, but I thought, just maybe, so I knocked!"

Light-brown hair pinned up in a half-up style, an open-collar blouse, a tight skirt. The woman who had knocked on the back room's door parked her hand cart beside her and offered a charming smile.

"Ah, I'm with sales at the 'Hyper Kitchen Item Laboratory.'"

"Th-the 'Hyper Kitchen Item Laboratory'…"

The name rang a bell, and Raul couldn't help but narrow his eyes. Ah, right, that's the brand the Assistant Manager always uses for material. The items themselves aren't bad, but there isn't a brand name out there with a more shady ring to it… it's hard to push, and customers put it right back on the shelf the moment they see the box… honestly, that reflexive shelf-return reaction is perfectly understandable too.

For reference, it was the kind of third-rate brand that the big retailers (read: Amada) probably wouldn't carry.

"Thank you for always doing business with us!"

"Oh my, and thank you, as always."

The sales rep bowed deeply, and the Manager returned a smile and a slight nod.

As the sales rep bowed, the cleavage exposed by the open-collar blouse came into view, and Raul hurriedly averted his eyes. Why do saleswomen always wear clothes that emphasize the chest like that…? An-and they smell nice too…

Sure enough, the Assistant Manager's eyes were wandering as unnaturally as Raul's. Well, can't be helped…

"Hey, Raul, what's a 'sales rep'?"

Suddenly, Fino tugged on Raul's arm and looked up at him curiously.

"They come by the store every now and then and let themselves into the register counter, rearrange the products on the shelves, leave flyers and pamphlets, and chat with the Manager and customers…"

"Ah, the sales reps are people from the manufacturers that make the items. They make the rounds of small retailers like ours to check how their items are selling, give us advice on selling more, build out the displays, and so on."

"… And by the way, depending on how you negotiate, they might give you tons of samples and leftover promo toys, so it pays to get on their good side, you know?"

"Wow, they'll give you toys?!"

"Hey, Assistant Manager!"

… Exploiting the gap in Raul's attention, the Assistant Manager had casually fed Fino some insider info.

Setting that exchange aside, the sales rep from Hyper Kitchen Item Laboratory rummaged in the document case under her arm and got down to business.

"So, today I'm here regarding our 'Autumn of Appetite, Cookware Demo Fair'. If it would be all right, we'd love to hold a live demonstration sale here at your storefront."

"A live demonstration sale, you say…"

"Yes. This time, we'd really like your help in pushing this item."

So saying, the sales rep gestured to the stack of cardboard boxes on her cart.

Looking interested, the Assistant Manager peeked at the cart, then muttered to himself with narrowed eyes.

"… And what is this 'Magical Ion Food Processor'? You'd better not be telling me it uses the power of magical ions to make the kitchen a more pleasant place or something like that…"

"That's not it at all! Don't lump us in with those occult-ish things, please!"

Picking up on the Assistant Manager's words, the sales rep raised her voice in indignation.

"Listen, this item's attached magical titanium cutter releases magical ions, and the vegetables it cuts become 60% more mellow (according to our research)!"

Sticking out her chest with full confidence, the sales rep declared.

… At her words, Raul hesitantly asked.

"Um, 'more mellow,' specifically what does that mean?"

"Well, that's what the catalog says… but a proper research institution conducted the study, so it should be fine. It should be. Please don't worry!"

"O-okay…"

… The sales rep's unshakable confidence drove Raul into a noncommittal reply.

Then, rummaging through her cart, the sales rep held up the next box.

"And next, this one's amazing too! With the power of magical ions, the vegetables you cut don't stick to the blade. The 'Magical Ion Magic Kitchen Knife'!"

"… Couldn't you just buy a regular knife with slits in the blade…"

"Or this 'Magical Ion Takoyaki Maker'! With the power of magical ions, you can easily make takoyaki that's crispy outside and gooey inside at home, and what's more, the ingredients' inherent tenacity goes up 90% (according to our research)!"

"No, again, 'tenacity' how exactly…"

"And this one is the 'Magical Ion-Coated Frying Pan'! With the power of magical ions, food doesn't burn on, and what's more, the hidden power latent in the ingredients gets a 120% (according to our research) boost!"

"… This is starting to feel like a shounen manga…"

Having abandoned the urge to keep poking holes, Raul muttered to himself. … There's really not a lot to expect from this brand… names really do matter.

… And then.

"Ah, how about this! The 'Magical Ion Rice Cooker'! With the power of magical ions, the rice comes out perfectly fluffy, and on top of that, the rice's umami goes up 300% (according to our research)!"

"So 'umami,' how exactly… eh?"

About to lazily push back, Raul went wide-eyed instead.

Slipping on a pair of magic rubber gloves, the sales rep held up a rice paddle and smiled brightly.

"I've prepared samples specially. Everyone, please give it a try!"

"Here, please."

"Th-thanks…"

The silver sampling tray the sales rep handed over. Picking up the accompanying spoon, Raul, without much expectation, dropped a bite of rice into his mouth, and his eyes went wide.

"—?!"

The moment it hit his tongue, an unmistakable richness and aroma.

The grains crumbled cleanly when chewed, and a mercifully gentle sweetness seeped out from inside.

"Oh my."

"Wow! This rice, just on its own, is super delicious!"

"Ah…"

The Manager blinked in surprise, and Fino bounced up and down with delight. Eyes uncharacteristically wide, the Assistant Manager turned to the sales rep.

"… You're not using any special rice or anything, right…"

"Um, it's new-harvest rice, but… still, it's not anything particularly expensive, you know?"

"This is rough… this might be tastier than New Lagoon's 'fairy rice'…"

The Magihikari cultivated in New Lagoon, one of the Panasonia Continent's premier rice-growing regions.

Specifically, the variety grown in places where the 'fairies' that can only survive in pristine soil and water reside is called 'fairy rice', a super-premium brand that runs over 2,000 gold per kilo. Naturally, Raul had never tasted it before.

"Actually, this one doesn't just use magical ions. The inner pot has a special magical coating applied. We're using 'Syntax Modules' from a microorganism, a patented module our 'Magic Syntax' Hunters discovered, so no other manufacturer has this tech!"

In front of the staff, who had been overwhelmed by how good it tasted, the sales rep launched proudly into her explanation.

"This breaks down the surface of the rice grain, letting the water penetrate all the way to the center to accelerate the starch's alphagization and bring out the sweetness and stickiness. Plus, we use various 'Magic Syntax' combinations to manage the convection inside the pot and ensure the optimal cooking finish."

"… Honestly, I've been underestimating rice cookers…"

"Heehee, at the Hyper Kitchen Item Laboratory, we're proud to say that, true to the name, we offer high-quality cookware backed by research upon research!"

The Assistant Manager murmured as if scales had fallen from his eyes, and the sales rep beamed.

Holding up a finger with a chuckle, the sales rep continued.

"And there are all sorts of other cooking modes, too. Soft, of course, but also firm settings perfect for pilaf and chicken rice—"

"—!" "Hey, Manager!"

As if struck by the same inspiration, Raul and Fino looked up almost simultaneously.

Sensing what they were about to say, Manager Seara smiled.

Turning to the Hyper Kitchen Item Laboratory sales rep, Manager Seara opened her mouth.

"Um, I have a little proposal for you…"

 

*

 

"The negotiation with the sales rep has been finalized."

That day's morning briefing. Looking out across her staff, Manager Seara opened with a smile.

"If we can sell eight 'Magical Ion Rice Cookers' at today's demonstration fair, then on the day of the event, Hyper Kitchen Item Laboratory will provide us a full set of demo cookware: ten Magical Rice Cookers, self-heating Magical Ion-Coated Hot Frying Pans that don't need a stove, large cutting boards and knives for demonstration purposes, and so on."

"Yes. It'll be good PR for our products too, and honestly we'd love to lend everything free of charge, but the company says we can't unless we hit a quota, so… well, everyone, please do your best!"

The Hyper Kitchen Item Laboratory sales rep bowed with a charming smile.

But.

"""E-eight units?!"""

At the unexpected number, Raul and the rest of the staff blanched.

"B-but, that's 70,000 gold per unit, isn't it…"

"Heehee, more precisely, it's 68,000 gold."

"Unlike the big brands we can't mass-produce them, so the price ends up higher…"

The Manager filled in the figure, and the sales rep added an apologetic note.

Looking troubled, Assistant Manager Visor scratched his head.

"Our bestsellers run in the 10,000-gold range… can we really sell something that expensive?"

Echoing the staff's collective feeling, Raul couldn't help but nod.

With deflation still pushing prices down, the cost of items was only falling. Our store's stock is mostly low-priced too, and with our customer base, high-end gear has never really been a good fit…

"… That's exactly what the demonstration sale is for, isn't it?"

In response, the Manager opened her mouth.

"It's a rare chance to convey things that catalogs and words alone can't get across. I think it's a product worth the price, and… we just need to share that honestly with the customers. Heehee, there's no need to overthink it, you know?"

Looking each staff member in the eye, the Manager spoke with firm resolve.

"The goal is eight units… For Fino-chan's sake, we have to hit it. Today Airi-san is off, so let's all give it our absolute best for her sake too, okay?"

The Manager's voice was quiet, but firm with resolve.

"""… Yes!"""

Surrounding the Manager, the staff nodded with determination.

And so, that being that.

"Welcome! Please, have a taste!"

"Heehee, here you are, please try it."

"Pleeease, give it a try!!!"

Wearing an apron over her open-collar blouse, the sales rep busily scooped rice onto sample trays in front of the new rice cooker. In their maid uniforms, the Manager and Fino flashed their most brilliant smiles as they handed the loaded trays out to customer after customer.

"Ah, yes! Was it to your liking? This is our latest model, with a special magical coating on the inner pot…"

The aromatic smell of freshly cooked rice filled the store.

The staff bustled through the floor, their lively voices ringing out everywhere.

"Oh, look at you, all fired up."

To the regular customer's familiar greeting, Raul at the register nodded firmly.

"This time the fair is, well, there's a bit of a story behind it… Adwards-san, would you like to try a sample too?"

"Sure."

A meaningful smile curled the regular customer's lips.

"Actually, I've already signed for one… Honestly, Manager Seara is unmatched."

"Th-thank you very much!"

"Well, I trust this store."

As Raul bowed in spite of himself, the customer gave him a thumbs-up and winked.

"Heehee, I'm honored that you like it."

Manager Seara's voice suddenly drifted to Raul's ears.

Glancing over, he saw the Manager attending to a middle-aged man.

"It is delicious, true… but it is rather expensive."

"Yes. Compared to the 10,000-gold one we sell the most of at our store, this one is 58,000 gold pricier, which is a considerable difference."

Affirming the customer's evasive words, Manager Seara ran her fingers across her MagiCalc.

"But, since you eat rice every day, if we say the rice cooker lasts five years, that's 1,825 days… if you cook rice three times a day, that's 5,475 times in total."

"H-heh, that's a lot…"

… The Manager's ample bust, asserting itself even through her apron, jiggled subtly with each press of the MagiCalc's buttons.

The customer, whose attention seemed to be drawn more to that than to her words, watched as the Manager tapped at the MagiCalc.

"Divide that extra 58,000 gold by the number of cooking sessions, and it comes to 10.6 gold per use. And if you've got a family of five, that's 2.1 gold per person."

"Tw-two-point-one gold!"

"Yes. For just that, every day, you can eat rice this delicious. I'm sure you'll start looking forward to mealtimes every day, you know?"

"2.1 gold, huh…"

The figure being more reasonable than expected, the customer's interest was clearly piqued.

MagiCalc in hand, the Manager continued with a smile.

"What's more, since you can downgrade the grade of rice and still eat it deliciously, in the long run it saves you money. For instance, if you switch to a rice that costs 500 gold less than before, and you buy rice twice a month for five years, that's 60,000 gold saved… right around the cost of the cooker."

"Ah, true enough."

"Heehee, and on top of that, you'll eat out less, and even simple side dishes will satisfy you… if you only look at the price, it might seem expensive, but actually, it's an excellent bargain, you know?"

Leaning forward slightly, the Manager looked up into the man's face and softly whispered.

"… I think people who are willing to spend on these kinds of things are very wonderful."

Her amber eyes gazed up at him through her lashes.

At Manager Seara's deal-clinching line, the customer swallowed.

"W-well then, I'll take this one…"

"Heehee, thank you very much."

With an angelic smile, Manager Seara gave a graceful bow.

Listening to the exchange, Raul was thoroughly impressed.

… Well, there's a bit of a cheat to it, but using the MagiCalc to lay out concrete numbers makes it easy to follow and persuasive, and the technique of making customers picture "how this item will change my life" to stir their buying desire is masterful, as expected.

Of course, Assistant Manager Visor was no slouch either. Gesturing animatedly, he was eloquently working an older woman… while the item was a bit pricey, given what it was, targeting the housewife demographic like this was a solid strategy.

According to the magic intercom chatter flying between staff, at this point Manager Seara had three contracts, the Assistant Manager three, and the sales rep one.

One more to hit the quota… But there wasn't much time before closing. The number of customers in the store was already thinning, and although the Manager and Assistant Manager were giving it their all on the floor, it was nothing to feel comfortable about. Fino's at stake, and even if I'm on the register, I have to sell one too…!

"Raul, Raul!"

Pattering up, the silver-haired girl leaned over the register counter.

"What's up, Fino?"

"Um, a customer who tried the rice sample said they want to hear more about it… can you take over the service?"

"—"

Blood surged through his body in an instant.

A beat later, Raul nodded sharply.

"Got it… watch the register for me!"

"Yeah! Ah, it's that lady over there!"

Trading places with the nodding Fino, Raul hurried away from the register and over to the customer.

… All right! Excitement and nervousness mingled inside him, and Raul psyched himself up.

I probably can't do it as well as the Manager, but I'll do my best to land a sale for Fino…!

"S-sorry to keep you waiting!"

The customer Fino had handed off to him was a woman in her thirties wearing red-framed glasses.

Standing in front of the stacked "Magical Ion Rice Cookers," eyeing the price tag, she got right to the point.

"This one's quite expensive, isn't it… is it really worth that much?"

"Y-yes!"

Voice cracking with nerves, Raul pulled his own MagiCalc out of his pocket.

Taking the Manager as his model… drawing in a light breath, Raul began.

"Cer-certainly, compared to our 10,000-gold bestseller, this one is 58,000 gold more, but since rice is eaten every day,"

"… Sorry, I'm a bread person, and I only eat rice maybe once every two days."

"Ah, i-is that so? Th-then, taking the rice cooker's life as five years and cooking rice once every two days, that's 365 divided by 2, times 5, so about 912 sessions. Divide the extra cost by that…"

… Staring at the resulting figure, Raul, after a moment, opened his mouth hesitantly.

"… That's 64 gold per meal."

Wh-why?! When Manager Seara did it, the number came out way lower…?!

… In front of the increasingly flustered Raul, the customer narrowed her eyes and offered a calm critique.

"Somehow, 64 gold per meal feels pretty pricey to me…"

"N-not at all! For only the price of six troll chocolates, you can eat rice this delicious! I'm sure your mealtimes would start to be something you look forward to every day,"

"Like I said, I only eat rice about once every two days."

"Th-then this…!"

Shaking his head frantically, Raul tapped at the MagiCalc again.

"You can downgrade the rice grade and still eat it deliciously, so in the long run you save. For instance, if you switch to a rice 500 gold cheaper and buy it twice a month…"

"Like I said, I don't really eat rice, so I don't even buy it once a month…"

"… R-right, of course!"

Thoroughly cornered, Raul nodded in desperation. "S-so, let's set that conversation aside for now, shall we?!"

Aaaaah! Why am I so bad at improvising?!

C-calm down…! Even as he panicked, Raul reminded himself. If the customer flagged a staff member down, that means she's at least interested in the product. So…

"There's no need to overthink it, you know?"

… The Manager's words from that morning suddenly crossed his mind.

"I think it's a product worth the price, and… we just need to share that honestly with the customers."

"Th-that…"

Swallowing.

… After a moment, hesitantly, Raul opened his mouth.

"Honestly, I used to think all rice cookers were basically the same, but when I tried this rice, I was really surprised… like, even the very first bite was clearly different…"

… Damn, I wish smoother phrasing would just come out… Frustrated at the inarticulate words leaving his own mouth, Raul pushed on.

"S-so, sure, it's a bit pricey, but being able to eat rice like this whenever you want, I think it'd make you really happy, like, well…"

"It was indeed very delicious."

Cutting Raul off, the customer suddenly spoke up.

"Like I said, I'm more of a bread person. But that rice I just tried was surprisingly delicious, so I got a little curious…"

"Th-thank you very much!"

Raul bowed reflexively.

Standing before the boy, the customer murmured, "I see," to herself.

"It's true, being able to eat rice like that whenever I want would be pretty wonderful… so wonderful that even a bread person like me might convert… Say, does this store take magical credit?"

"Y-yes!!!"

Yes! Throwing a fist-pump in his heart, Raul's expression brightened. That makes eight. With the quota met, we can borrow the cookware safely…!

An indescribable sense of accomplishment swelled in Raul's chest. The bespectacled woman opened her mouth.

"All right then, I'll take this…"

"Hey, what brand is this?"

… Suddenly, a loud voice from just beside him.

Glancing over, Raul caught sight of two young men who had struck up a chat next to them.

"Whoa, for a price this aggressive, this brand is completely off the radar."

"… Hey, lay off. For this much money you could buy the latest item from a major brand."

"True enough. No matter how good the sample tastes, you can't drop this kind of cash on a sketchy brand."

"Could break down right away, and we don't even know if you'd actually get the same taste as the sample."

"Unlike the big brands, there's just no trust there. Well, let's just go to Amada or something."

"Oh, that's a fair point too…"

"—?!"

At the customer's contemplative response, Raul couldn't help but jolt.

H-hey! Watching the two otaku-looking guys leave, laughing as they went, Raul ground his teeth. Th-the sale was practically closed, those guys!

"By the way, what's this brand called?"

"Eh…"

… At the customer's question, Raul froze.

"… There isn't a brand name out there with a more shady ring to it. It's hard to push, and customers put it right back on the shelf the moment they see the box…"

The Assistant Manager's grumbling rose in his mind, and sweat broke out on his back. Now that we've come this far, if I say 'Hyper Kitchen Item Laboratory,' everything goes down the drain…!

"Uh, it's HKK (eich-kay-kay)…!"

Pointing to the logo, which looked to be initials, printed at the top of the "Magical Ion Rice Cooker" box, Raul answered evasively. But the customer looked puzzled.

"Hmm, that's a brand I haven't heard of… I wonder what it's short for."

"Th-that's…"

Muttering to herself, the customer picked up the box, turning it over in her hands as though searching for information.

… Resigning himself, Raul exhaled the formal name.

"Um, uh… Hyper Kitchen Item Laboratory…"

"H-Hyper Kitchen Item Laboratory…"

At that moment, the customer parroted the brand name back with an extremely complicated expression.

Crushed with despair, Raul groaned inwardly. … It's over. With this, everything is over. Farewell, customer… wait!

"B-but! This brand might be minor, but it has a real track record!"

Holding the line at the last possible moment, Raul pressed on. … No, I can't give up over the brand name! I have to convey the quality of this item and this brand to the customer properly…!

"They make all sorts of things, Magical Ion knives, Magical Ion takoyaki makers, Magical Ion-coated frying pans, all of them…"

"Magical Ion-coated frying pan?"

… The moment she heard Raul's explanation, the customer's eyes went wide.

"Oh, I have one of those."

"Eh…"

… For a moment, Raul couldn't process what he'd just been told.

In front of the dumbfounded Raul, the customer continued, looking impressed.

"I bought my 'Magical Ion-Coated Frying Pan' a while back at a sale, and I've been using it for five years. Even using metal spatulas, the coating doesn't peel at all, and the food turns out wonderfully. How can I describe it… it really does feel like the hidden power latent in the ingredients gets a 120 percent boost…"

"O-oh…"

"If it's the same brand, then I can trust it."

… Stunned by the unexpected turn, Raul could only gape.

The customer pointed at the "Magical Ion Rice Cooker" and, this time, decisively declared, "I'll take this one."

 

*

 

"Thank you so much for today! You really saved us!"

After the Hyper Kitchen Item Laboratory sales rep had taken her leave with a smile.

The moment the store's shutter came down, Fino, who had been visibly fidgeting with anticipation, pounced on Raul as though she'd been waiting for it.

"Raul, thank you!!!!"

"H-hey, Fino?!"

Pressing her cheek against Raul's chest, Fino laughed happily.

"Thanks to you selling that last one, we hit the quota, so we can make omurice! Thanks for taking over for me!!!?"

"But, in the end, I only sold one…"

"No, after that, no one else sold any… your one sale, Raul-kun, was a really big deal, you know?"

Eyeing Raul as he murmured in confusion, Manager Seara then looked up at the Assistant Manager.

"Visor-kun, thank you for selling three all by yourself."

"… Honestly, I felt like I could've gotten two more, but I bungled the handling a little."

"Heehee, you said such timid things this morning, but I was watching from the side, and you were really fired up today, Visor-kun. You're not usually so pushy, after all."

"W-well, you know, this is for Fino-kun… for our cute little subordinate."

At the Manager's words, the Assistant Manager scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.

"… And, I figured, every now and then I oughtta get serious."

"Heehee, Visor-kun, if you were always serious like this, you'd be a Manager in no time."

"Ugh… a-anyway!"

Looking away from the smiling Manager, the Assistant Manager raised his voice to deflect.

"At any rate, the demo fair was a success, we got to borrow the cookware safely, all's well that ends well. Before the closing meeting, let's get the place ready to close up…"

"Yes!"

Nodding at the Assistant Manager's words, Raul suddenly muttered, "Speaking of."

"Speaking of closing up, lately there have been a lot of customers turning the product packages backwards on the shelves."

"Ah, and the price cards for similar products have been getting switched around a lot too."

"Ah, come to think of it, today there was some dirty graffiti on the display Magical Pen Tablet…"

"Dirty graffiti?"

"F-Fino! Don't worry about that!"

As Fino reacted immediately, Raul hurriedly headed her off.

Holding up a finger, the Assistant Manager mused, looking amused.

"Could it be Amada harassment, maybe…"

"… No, no matter how you look at it, no one would pull such petty harassment."

Narrowing his eyes at the Assistant Manager's joke, Raul let out an exasperated breath… And then.

"Huh?"

Fino, suddenly raising her voice, crouched down and held something up to Raul.

"Hey, Raul, what's this?"

… In Fino's hand was a thin, fingertip-sized, small black lump.

As Raul made a puzzled face, the Assistant Manager peered over from the side.

"Here, let me see. 'Open.'"

The moment he murmured the word and twisted his finger, the "Magic Field" opened above the lump.

Glancing at the "Magic Syntax" packed inside, the Assistant Manager's color changed.

"… Hey, this is a bug, you know?"

""—?!""

At the Assistant Manager's startled words, Raul and the others' eyes went wide.

 

*

 

"… So, we've been found out, have we?"

… Eyeing the speaker before her, the black-haired woman sighed slightly.

The tall man standing behind her quietly opened his mouth.

"The way the bug was planted was sloppy… who exactly did you have do it?"

"… Part-timers from our store. Honestly, the personnel choice was a mistake."

Recalling the faces of the two young Amada part-timers she'd had infiltrate Leon as customers, the woman's eyes narrowed slightly. The additional harassment she'd ordered them to do, "make a point of advertising Amada inside Leon," didn't seem to have had much effect either.

Hearing the woman's answer, the man exhaled in disappointment.

"And yet, after going to all the trouble of having you reach out to every event company in the royal capital and reserve every last piece of cookware, to think they got around it like this…"

"… There's still another move."

In a composed voice, the woman answered the man's reproachful words.

"As long as we lock down that, the thing they need for omurice, even they will have no way to deal with it."

In a calm, level voice, the woman declared, then once again turned her gaze toward the speaker, now silent.

"Seara-san. I won't give up over something like this, you know…?"

Moving her lips, lightly tinted with rouge, the woman narrowed her eyes slightly.