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“Dominique-neesan, this place called Akitsushima Island resembles Mizuho, which we previously visited together with His Lordship, doesn’t it?”
“I hear they used to be from the same ethnic group. As such it’s no wonder that their cultures resemble each other in parts.”
“So, what did we come here for today?”
Our lord often gets dragged into various situations, leading to our workload increasing accordingly. Currently he’s in the middle of unifying this southern island, which has been having constant wars for some reason.
As a matter of fact, he’s doing something quite amazing…almost like a historical person of importance, but His Lordship doesn’t give off that impression at all, or rather, he appears estranged from things related to war, I think.
And yet he’s somehow being treated as a noble of the military faction in the Helmut Kingdom.
With the goal of the island’s unification in front of his eyes, His Lordship got us to also come here as the central city Ootsu already belongs to our side.
“It’s great that we can go to other countries if we’re working as maids for His Lordship. It allows us to learn a lot of new things.”
Traveling, and moreover traveling to foreign countries, isn’t very common among people working for other nobles. It means we’re experiencing something truly precious.
“It’s rare for you to say something very normal, Lea…”
“Dominique-neesan! That’s so mean of you!”
Doesn’t that make it sound as if I’m always talking silly nonsense?
“Umm…『Ootsutaisha』, was it? Let’s hurry to that place.”
“It’s just as Anna-san says.”
Dominique-neesan! You haven’t apologized to me yet! Also, Anna-san! You’ve already become a veteran at teaming up with Dominique-neesan and dodging issues!
“I’m always serious about everything, but… Mister, twenty dumplings please.”
“Thanks, foreigner missy.”
Let’s try to cure my heart, which had been hurt by Dominique-neesan’s cruel words, with a sweet snack. They were selling dango, which you could also buy in Mizuho, at stalls on the roadside, so I ordered some right away.
Given my professional level at buying sweets, I would never miss a stall like this, even if it’s on the roadside.
“That makes twenty cents.”
“Oohh! So we can already use cents in this area! Nothing less of His Lordship.”
Although it doesn’t look like it at all, this island is already on the verge of being fully conquered.
“Didn’t you say we need to hurry?”
“Ouch, it huuurts…”
Once again, Dominique-neesan’s fist…
If I remember correctly, we’re heading for a church-like place called Ootsu Taisha upon His Lordship’s order, but since it’s not like we’re racing there, I don’t think it matters, even if I buy dumplings on the way. (T/N: the Taisha is the katakana version for 大社 (grand shrine) and simply shows that Lea and so on don’t know the word and its meaning)
“It’s a gift. Ryouko-sama is currently at Ootsu Taisha.”
I didn’t want to eat dumplings or anything like that. We’re going to help Ryouko-sama, who’s going to become His Lordship’s new wife, since we heard she’s busy with Ootsutaisha’s restoration, so I’m bringing her a gift to reward her hard work. If we showed up there empty-handed, it’d affect His Lordship’s reputation, and didn’t we get an allowance from His Lordship before leaving the mansion for that very reason?
“Wouldn’t it have been fine to buy it in a store close to Ootsu Taisha?”
“But, these dumplings look really delicious.”
I’m not buying sweets on a daily basis for show. My eyes have developed quite a discerning observation, allowing me to appraise food. These dumplings are definitely winners.
Not a store, but a stall. Moreover, they’re only selling dumplings. I’m sure even His Lordship would immediately buy them.
“Misses, you won’t find any stores around the Grand Shrine Ootsu.”
“Is that so?”
“People don’t visit desolated shrines after all. If it’s close to the Great Miyoshi Shrine, there’s lots of stores though,” the dumpling seller explained to Dominique-neesan.
Apparently there’s no stores close to the Grand Ootsu Shrine. So, wasn’t it correct to have bought the dumplings over here?
Even in the Helmut Kingdom you’ll find many stores near bigger churches and many people will stop by after their church visit. Especially on rest days, the restaurants, bars, and cafes close to churches are very busy.
I’m sure the same applies to this island as well.
“The Grand Ootsu Shrine should become more crowded with people from now on.”
“Hoh, I heard rumors that the Head of Akitsushima has returned to the Grand Ootsu shrine. I guess it’s true then.”
As expected of a merchant, he has keen ears.
“We’re heading to the shrine to help with that return.”
“A restoration of the Grand Ootsu Shrine, huh? I’m looking forward to that. The people will surely be happy about it, too.”
The dumpling seller seemed to be interested in the restoration of the shrine.
“It happened just after the current family head was born. Miyoshi-sama increased his own authority while leaving the Grand Ootsu Shrine to rot away so as to lower the influence of the Akitsushima family. After the new Miyoshi Shrine was built, he continued to donate to that place. Many were critical of that, but in the end, the other party was too powerful a man. We all welcome a revival of the Grand Ootsu Shrine.”
A new shrine was built while letting the old one fall apart to suit the convenience of those in power. And now that desolate shrine will be restored while the new shrine will be left to rot away.
“It’s what you call the 『ups and downs of life』.”
“It’s not like the Miyoshi Shrine will be turned into a ruin, though…”
“You think so?”
I feel like it’s going to have its position switched with the Grand Ootsu Shrine, though.
“It will likely stop being as crowded as before, but won’t the people of the Miyoshi family do their best to keep it going? Ryouko-sama didn’t mention anything about taking down the Miyoshi Shrine either. I hear she’s a gentle person.”
I guess Ryouko-sama won’t take revenge on the Miyoshi family who let the Grand Ootsu Shrine waste away. It seems like she’s a woman of fine character. I can fully understand why His Lordship is doing to take her as his wife.
“Missy, here’s your twenty dumplings.”
“Lea-san, isn’t that a bit much?”
“Thank you. There’s Ryouko-sama and if I remember correctly, other people will be coming as well, so this amount of dumplings will be necessary.”
Anna-san, I’d definitely become fat, if I hate twenty dumplings all by myself at once. So you can see it as me having gotten a share for everyone.
“It’s not that you can’t eat twenty dumplings.”
“Sure, I can, but I will end up gaining weight again.”
Recently, my belly returned to its previous state before I started to work at the Baumeister House──naturally my butt and chest have been growing as suitable for my age. I’ll also marry Erwin-sama once I become an adult, so I have to be very careful about that part.
“Umm, is it okay for us to idle around over here?”
“Ah, you’re right. Let us hurry to the shrine so that I can bring those dumplings to everyone.”
“Understood.”
After receiving the dumplings from the middle-aged seller, we hurried towards the Grand Ootsu Shrine.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Creampuff, it’s dumplings. You like those?”
“Myuu myuu.”
“Is this the animal called a dog? It’s Lulu’s first time seeing one.”
“Say, Your Majesty, isn’t that dog somehow weird? Its color is pink and its barking is very unusual.”
“It’s my servant after all.”
“That’s not much of an answer…”
“I brewed some tea.”
When we arrived at the Grand Ootsu Shrine, many carpenters were repairing the buildings and facilities, and the priests were cleaning the grounds, spreading out new gravel, planting new trees, and pruning the overgrown vegetation.
As soon as I entered the building with Shrine Office written over its door, Demon Queen-sama and Creampuff-chan, the southern girl Lulu-chan, and Fujiko-sama, a noble young lady of a famous family on this island, were inside. They happily ate the dumplings I offered them. Creampuff-chan seemed to also like the dumplings. The demon queen fed some to it as well.
“Dogs eat dumplings?”
“Dogs are omnivorous.”
Do dogs really eat dumplings?
Well, some of them might eat those as well, but before all that, Creampuff-chan is a dragon. So, do dragons eat dumplings then?
A maid like me, who is no researcher or scholar, has absolutely no idea.
“Myuu myuu.”
“Tea? But, it has a slightly adult taste.”
The tea brewed by Ryouko-sama was just like the Mizuho tea which His Lordship loves so much. It seems to be slightly more bitter because of the inferior cultivation methods on the island, but Creampuff-chan thrust its tongue and mouth into the tea bowl, and skillfully drank the tea.
If I remember correctly, Creampuff-chan is a fire dragon, so it’s not like it dislikes hot food and drinks. As such it was also fine with the hot tea. Still, the demon queen apparently can’t drink the tea yet.
Ryouko-sama brewed mate tea and since the demon queen is still young, she’s bad with bitter stuff.
“Do dogs drink tea?”
“My Creampuff does. Right, Creampuff?”
“Myuu myuu.”
Creampuff-chan drinks tea because it’s a dragon, but since the demon queen is still a little girl, she prefers the dumplings over the tea. And the same applies for Fujiko-sama as well. However, Lulu-chan drank the tea without batting an eyelid.
MAybe her outward experience is that of a young girl while her inner self is as middle-aged as Dominique-neesan…
“Who’s middle-aged!?”
“Why could you hear what I thought…”
I can easily tell what is going on in your head, Lea.”
Let’s take that as proof that Dominique-neesan and I are connected on a deep, emotional level.
“Ryouko-sama, what do you want us to do?”
“Actually, we plan to re-open this shrine tomorrow. For the sake of those people who wish to come pray here.”
Considering Ryouko-sama’s current standing, a big event to celebrate the unification of Akitsushima Island should be hosted by His Lordship over here sooner or later. I guess they want to open the shrine before that.
“I’m usually busy healing people together with Elise-sama, so I won’t be able to come here often. When I consulted Earl Baumeister as I didn’t know what kind of people would come here, he mentioned you. He also said that you should help out since we will provide the necessary shrine maiden outfits.”
“Understood.”
Given that this shrine will become busy once His Lordship has unified all of the island, they’re having it re-opened in advance. And we will be helping out over here for a while.
Even so, being given shrine maiden outfits is definitely nice. It’s the outfit Luise-sama wanted to have beforehand.
But…
“Umm… Is someone with child able to be a shrine maiden?”
“Hmph!”
“Argh!”
Dominique-neesan, am I wrong or what? I simply asked Ryouko-sama because I want to adhere to the customs and rules of this island…
“Eh? Is it wrong for a priestess to be married? I’m Erwin-sama’s wife as well…”
And Anna-san slyly used that opportunity to introduce herself as Erwin-sama’s wife.
“Married women or even children can serve as shrine priestesses.”
“Ah, but I previously heard…”
This is something I heard from Luise-sama, but when she met Ryouko-sama for the first time and commented that she’d like those clothes because they might be effective for seducing His Lordship, she was turned down while being told that it’s not that sort of outfit.
“I don’t think that this matter and the requirements for a shrine priestess are related… Shrine priestesses and priests are supposed to forget worldly matters while serving God. Married and unmarried people alike can serve as shrine priests and priestesses for that period of time.”
In other words, it’s fine to serve God only while working at this Grand Ootsu Shrine. As long as you don’t have a love affair in a church-like place or make out as a married couple, it’s no problem.
I guess the shrine isn’t overly different from the church in that regard.
“Only few people know about the reopening of the Ootsu Shrine as of yet, so it will take time to gather priests and shrine maidens. Accordingly, we’re having retired priests and priestesses return temporarily.”
Now that she mentions it, the priests and priestesses, who were making amulets and charms inside this office as well as repairing and maintaining the ritual tools, were all elderly people.
＊
————– End of Part 1 ————–
“It sure would be nice if a young priest could come here while we’re still able to move.”
“Young priestesses are better, too. I tried to ask my great-granddaughter, but ended up being told that she’d do it after settling down since she’s going to marry soon.”
“Kazue-san, your great-granddaughter is already marrying? I guess I’m just old at this point.”
“(They sound like they’re going to be called to their maker as early as tomorrow)”
“Hmph!”
“Ouch, that hurt…”
And here I was being tactful, keeping my voice low…
“Once the Grand Ootsu Shrine is reopened, young priests and priestesses will be flocking to it from the Great Miyoshi Shrine.”
“””…”””
Anna-san, Dominique-neesan, and I were lost for words.
Does that possibly mean that the priests and priestesses of the Great Miyoshi Shrine are going to this shrine because their current shrine will keep losing in significance? I mean, Ryouko-sama is also from that sort of family, so yeah…
Their way of thinking is…
“Let’s try on the shrine maid outfits right away. We also have versions for children.”
“I’m looking forward to it. You too, right Creampuff?”
“Myuu myuu.”
No, I don’t think they got a shrine maiden outfit for dragons…
“I’d like to try wearing one as well.”
“Those are nice clothes. I’m so happy to wear them.”
It looks like they also got outfits for the demon queen, Fujiko-sama, and Lulu-chan. As such we were all led deeper into the shrine office by Ryouko-sama to change into shrine maid outfits.
＊ ＊ ＊
“That’s a bath…is it not…?”
“Ryouko-sama, is this cold instead of warm water?”
“Clear and pure water is gushing forth like this beneath this shrine. We’re going to use this to rinse our bodies first.”
Inside the shrine office we found a bath, but it used cold water.
“Do the priests and priestesses all use this without exceptions?”
“Yes.”
This water is quite chilly.
“Those old grannies and grandmas did well to not have gone to their maker by now.”
“Hmph!”
“Ouch, that hurt…”
I mean, if something were to happen to their hearts…
“Since we’d be in trouble if something were to happen, they rinse their bodies in a simple, informal way, limiting it to only washing their feet and hands.”
“Figures.”
If those old folks were to bathe in this cold water, their hearts might stop then and there.
“Okay, us too then.”
“Sorry, but you’re young, so please wash your whole body. I will go ahead and show you how to do it properly.”
With those words, Ryouko-sama took off her shrine maiden outfit, scooped up some water with a bucket and poured the water all over her body. She didn’t look as if it was cold or anything…and Ryouko-sama had skin as beautiful as Haruka-sama. And her hips look like they’re perfect for giving birth, too.
Her breasts wouldn’t satisfy Luise-sama, our local big-boob connoisseur, but they’re very nicely shaped…
“(Why are you analyzing her like some silly goose!?)”
“(Hey, that’s my job)”
Ultimately I’m doing it for His Lordship’s sake…I’ll also report back to Luise-sama later, but since this is a request from His Lordship’s wife, I can’t really turn her down, now can I?
“(I’m a role model of a maid)”
“(I don’t know what I should think about Luise-sama who wants to know all about the chests of the women she’s acquainted with, though…) I will go next.”
Given that Ryouko-sama finished washing herself and putting one new clothes, it was our turn next, but…
“Hyaaa! So cold!”
“Anna-san, endure it. But, this is…”
“Quite cold, isn’t it?”
“I’ll be fine…not!”
“Lulu has always been washing herself in water as cold as this, so it’s okay for Lulu.”
Anna-san, who was usually pretty enduring, screamed from the coldness of the water. The same applied for the demon queen and Fujiko-sama. Only Lulu-chan had apparently always washed herself in cold water when she was on her home island, so she didn’t seem to be overly cold from this water.
“That’s a surprise, Lulu-chan. And of course, our old veteran, Dominique-neesan.”
“Who’s old!?”
“Ouch, it hurt…”
Dripping a fist on my head during this important rinsing ceremony feels like a bad omen.
Okay, I will have you change into shrine maiden outfits. We have prepared new sets over here.”
Once we had washed out bodies, we put on the shrine maiden outfits with the help of Ryouko-sama and the grannies.
“This sure looks nice. It seems like I’ll be able to become a demon queen who is beloved by everyone.”
“I’m certain Earl Baumeister-sama will be delighted as well.”
“Umm…it’s not like I’m wearing those clothes with that intention, though…”
Those serving god wear these clothes to inform god of their devoted support and to show their piety. Given that the demon queen was going for popularity and Fujiko-sama was trying to appear to His Lordship, both were astonished by Ryouko-sama.
“This outfit looks sooo pretty.”
Lulu-chan, on the other hand, had mostly worn similar clothes before, so she truly enjoyed being able to wear different kinds of outfits. Ryouko-sama and the grannies looked at her with a warm and gentle smile.
“The reopening of this shrine happens tomorrow. Since I’m going to heal together with Elise-sama, I won’t be able to show myself much, but we haven’t announced the reopening broadly yet, so I don’t think too many new people will crowd the place. I leave things in your care.”
After changing into the shrine outfit, we were quickly taught the basics of what we have to do, getting ready for the Grand Ootsu Shrine’s reopening tomorrow.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Huh? The guardian lion-dog hasn’t been delivered, you say?”
“It sounds like it’s taking more time than expected to repair it…”
“That’s a problem since we’re only missing one of them. Ryouko-sama isn’t here either, so I wonder what we should do…”
The next day, just when it was about time for the shrine to open soon, the old priest, who was serving as Ryouko-sama’s proxy, looked unusually flustered. According to him, they only had one of the two dog statues, which are usually positioned on the grounds of the shrine.
They had sent one of them in for repairs since it got damaged, but they apparently didn’t manage to repair it until the appointed day.
“Will it be such a problem to go with just one guardian dog for today?”
“The guardian dogs are the protectors of this shrine. It’s impossible for us to open it with just one of them present,” the older priest answered Dominique-neesan’s question.
But he’s right, it does look weird for one of the pedestals to be empty.
“Are we going to stop today’s reopening?”
“That’s…currently there are unexpectedly many visitors impatiently waiting outside the gate.”
According to Ryouko-sama, it has been advertised much, and a bigger event in the shrine is planned for the time when His Lordship has unified the whole island──at the moment a lord with the name of Sou is still opposing. This world is full of blockheads──therefore we didn’t anticipate many people to come, yet it’s crowded out there.
At this point, it’d be kind of hard to tell them that we’re going to delay it until tomorrow, I guess.
“Dominique-san, what should we do?”
“We cannot show something we don’t have. I think there is no other way but to accept the situation as it is.”
“They mentioned that they would finish the repairs by last night, so we set the reopening to today. If only we had known…”
Anna-san, Dominique-neesan, and the old priest seemed to be worried about what to do about this whole situation.
“Oh, I got a good idea!”
“Really, Lea?”
Umm…Dominique-neesan…could you please stop looking at me with eyes full of doubt?
“Even I will occasionally reach the correct answer, you know?”
Somehow, it’s kind of sad that I have to say this myself. But this too is a great preface for the sake of getting praised later. All will be fine as long as I’ll thoroughly be celebrated as the proposer of this plan.
“Let’s do it like this…”
I lifted up Creampuff-chan and placed it on top of the free pedestal.
“Creampuff-chan, sit there. We will give you loads of dumplings afterwards.”
“Myuu myuu.”
Apparently it understood what I told it. Creampuff-chan remained seated on the pedestal just like the other guardian dog.
“We will be able to deceive the people for today.”
“Isn’t that asking a bit too much? The size and color of the shrine’s guardian dogs is different from Creampuff, no?”
The Grand Ootsu Shrine is the oldest shrine on this island and has been managed by Ryouko-san’s family for centuries. The guardian dogs had a size suitable for the importance of this shrine, but it shouldn’t be a problem for Creampuff-chan to stand in for one day.
“Seeing how there are no other plans, we have no choice but to go with this, don’t we?”
Besides, currently Creampuff-chan is a dog. It should be able to fit the role of guardian dog perfectly.
“Somehow…is it really going to be okay to go…with this very Lea-like, dodgy idea?”
That’s quite a thing to say about me, but I can tell. No one will care anyway.
In the end, no one had another plan to deal with this and thus we got Creampuff-chan to serve as substitute guard dog in return for a dumpling payment.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Oh, the mister from the dumpling cart.”
“I actually got permission to sell my dumplings on the grounds of the Grand Ootsu Shrine. Business isn’t bad here.”
“Is that so? 50 mugwort-flavored dumplings, please.”
“Thanks, Missy.”
After deciding to leave the matter with the guardian dog to Creampuff-chan, the shrine opened without any further hitches. The number of visitors was much bigger than Ryouko-sama had anticipated. Some prayed, others bought talismans, charms, and sacred water──apparently it was purified with the underground water. Things were selling well, causing the older priests and shrine maidens to be fairly busy.
The demon queen, Fujiko-sama, and Lulu-chan were busily working as vendors.
“Doing stuff like this is fun, too.”
The demon queen was doing her first part-time job──Ryouko-sama will apparently pay them afterwards──while looking quite happy. The small Fujiko-sama and Lulu-chan were very popular among the older visitors. And as for the guardian-dog replacement…
“No one is bothered by it at all.”
“See, Dominique-neesan?”
Creampuff-chan is pink and smaller than the real guardian-dog, but almost none of the visitors minded that fact. Occasionally some people would closely stare at Creampuff-chan, but they all headed to the main temple after a short moment.
“The objective of the visitors is to visit the main temple and buy new amulets and charms. If it’s limited to today, it shouldn’t be any problem.”
Understanding its role, Creampuff-chan didn’t leave the pedestal, so let’s give it plenty of dumplings afterwards.
For some reason, people were placing sake and rice balls in front of Creampuff-chan, but maybe it’s for getting a divine blessing? Either way, there’s really a lot of visitors.
Ryouko-sama might not have expected this, but since the manager of the Great Miyoshi Shrine should be an old man or grandfather, it’s only a question of time for the popularity to swing this way. From Ryouko-sama’s point of view, that might be an unintentional reason, though.
＊
“There’s a lot of visitors today as well.”
“It’s great for business to thrive so much, isn’t it?”
“Umm…Lea-san, it’s not a business…”
Even on the next day and afterwards, we commuted to the Grand Ootsu Shrine to help out as shrine maiden apprentices. It looks like Ryouko-sama is very popular, so the number of guests in this shrine, which is managed by her, has visibly grown as well.
Given that the guardian-dog was delivered after the repairs finished, Creampuff-chan was now selling charms together with the demon queen, but…
“What a cute dog.”
“Myuu myuu.”
“Its barking is slightly unusual, but it’s adorable, so who cares.”
At some point Creampuff-chan turned into a store mascot. Being called cute and receiving sweets, rice balls, and sake from the elderly made it very cheerful.
“20 mugwort-flavored dumplings, please.”
“Ten for me.”
“I’ll take 30.”
The dumpling seller was making big bucks. His dumplings were flying off the shelves so quickly that it’s pretty much set for them to be the special product of the Grand Ootsu Shrine.
“Your business is flourishing, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, Gonzaburou-san’s dumplings are delicious, after all. He was being dutiful to our family and turned down an invitation from the Great Miyoshi Shrine, selling his dumplings on the roadside instead.”
An elderly priest told us about the dumpling seller. It sounds like he possesses a strong sense of duty. On top of that, his dumplings are very tasty too.
Come to think of it, lately we’ve had dumplings as snack every day. Because of their moderate sweetness, you can eat them on a daily basis without ever getting tired of them.
However, once evening came around, the old dumpling seller got involved with an unexpected person.
“That’s His Lordship…right, Anna-san?”
“Why has he come here?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
His Lordship was eagerly suggesting something to the dumpling seller. When I silently listened in on them…
“Certainly, these dumplings compete for first or second spot when it comes to the deliciousness of the dumplings I’ve eaten thus far. But!”
“Is something bothering you about them?”
“You’re acknowledged to be very fixated on selling nothing but mugwort-flavored dumplings, but I think you should increase your menu. I would love to eat skewered dumplings in a sweet soy sauce glaze!”
“Skewered dumplings? What’s that?”
Skewered dumplings are standard servings at any tea house in Mizuho. Their sweet and fluffy red bean paste is irresistibly tasty. Whenever I go to Mizuho together with His Lordship, I’ll always bring some of those back as souvenirs.
Haruka-sama, Erwin-sama, and everyone else loves skewered dumplings.
“Umm…Earl Baumeister-sama, soy sauce is an extremely valuable ingredient on this island. …You can’t really use it for cheap dumplings.”
“Don’t worry about that! If you leave it to me, it’ll settle in a whiff!”
“…Dominique-neesan, His Lordship finished the suppression of the rebellion, right?”
“We’re simple maids, so I couldn’t tell.”
Sure, it’s just as she says. And given that he’s idling around over here, I’ll just assume that everything’s fine.
＊
And then, on the next day, we saw something shocking.
“Dominique-san! There’s a building where the mister sold his dumplings yesterday!”
Just when…
Moreover, it looked just like the dumpling store on top of the mountain, which we happened to see in Mizuho. Since there’s no way that it could have been built within a day, this must mean…
“Earl Baumeister-han, thanks for your continued patronage.”
“Baron Rembrandt-sama?”
“I always make an exception for Earl Baumeister-han’s requests. Anyway, see you soon.”
Baron Rembrandt-sama moved to the next workplace with His Lordship’s Teleport. Still, I definitely didn’t expect for a Mizuho building to be relocated onto the grounds of the Grand Ootsu Shrone…
I mean, sure. It does fit the scenery here. I guess that’s because Mizuho and this island share similar cultures.
And as soon as His Lordship came back with Teleport…
“This is Akira-san.”
His Lordship bringing Akira-san here means he apparently plans to upgrade the old man’s dumpling store to a genuine tea house.
“Dominique, Anna, Lea, please serve the customers over here starting with tomorrow.”
We’re bound to His Lordship’s orders as servants who have been hired by him.
Ryouko-sama and the elderly priests have already arranged for new helpers. Given the unforeseen crowd of visitors, they must have hurried it up quite a bit.
“Those are mugwort-flavored dumplings, aren’t they? Their sweetness is just perfect and the mugwort is fresh and smells nicely. I can understand why they’re so popular.”
Akira-san sampled the dumplings. And even a professional like him approved of their tastiness.
“Having said that, having a bigger menu would be better. Given that dumplings are extremely delicious, let us increase the types of dumplings.”
“You’d want to have skewered dumplings as well, wouldn’t you?”
Your Lordship, is the matter with the southern Sou family already resolved? I guess he’s trying to start a Mizuho-styled tea house over here because things are alright.
Let’s just assume that to be the case.
Anyway, the owner of the dumpling store seems to not fully grasp the situation yet, but he’ll eventually get used to His Lordship’s way of doing things.
“This island has no adzuki beans, so I guess we’ll need to import those from Mizuho, huh?”
“Yeah, as expected ,it’d be best to cook red bean jam for this.”
“We could also sell red bean jam dumplings and mugwort-flavored dumplings glazed with red bean paste. On top of that, we can add the menu with other red bean-based food.”
“This region is rather hot, so we can also sell jelly strips.”
“Oh, that’s a nice one.”
“Ummm…”
“Shopkeeper, we’ll teach you the secrets of business. Then again, you’re already doing it to some degree anyway.”
“Really?”
The dumpling seller is so skilled? I mean, sure, his dumplings are selling well.
Recently he’s always been sold out in the evening, no matter how many dumplings he makes. Unlike the mugwort-flavored dumplings in Mizuho, his don’t use red bean jam, but their exquisite, refreshing sweetness and mugwort aroma are perfect. They go well with tea as well.
“The shopkeeper over here started to sell dumplings at the same time as the Grand Ootsu Shrine was reopened. The cleverness to spot an opportunity is essential for succeeding at business. But, he must take one more step!”
“One more step?”
“He will build a tea house while renting the plot over here. While continuing to sell his usual dumplings as before, he’ll receive teaching from Akira, increase his menu, and make it possible to eat inside the store. He’d be the first to set up a store while renting a place.”
I see. If he sets up a tea house on the grounds of the shrine, he’ll also be able to do business with the people, who finished their shrine visit, while turning his mugwort-flavored dumplings into a specialty product of this shrine.
“He’ll be the first to do it.”
“Certainly. The number of people not knowing about the reopening of the Grand Ootsu Shrine should be negligible. People planning to rent or buy land and the surrounding buildings have started to show up as well. I also heard rumors about the shrine town around the Miyoshi Shrine getting deserted.”
“That’s why. As long as he sets up shop here while renting the land, all will be fine. The competition over the land around the shrine should become quite intense very soon. In that regard, this place is a great spot. If it’s right now, the rent of land is cheap as well.
I always wonder about, but where did His Lordship acquire all that business sense? But he’s also right. The rent for stores and plots close to churches with lots of visitors is usually quite high. After all, it’s more likely for customers to visit in such places.
“Everyone is going to help out, so let’s do our best and get this tea house going!”
It was decided for me to also assist in the tea house, starting tomorrow, but I feel like there’s not that much of a difference between selling charms and dumplings.
“No, rather..”
“Hmm?”
“You can eat all the leftover dumplings!”
Isn’t that awesome? After all, you can’t eat talismans or charms.
“Lea, you’re going to get fat again.”
“Ugh!”
Dominique-neesan didn’t drop her fist on my head, but her words hurt more than that.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Welcome.”
“Two anmitsu please.”
“Of course. Give me a moment.”
“I’d like to have three mugwort-flavored and skewered dumplings each.”
“Please, another refill of tea.”
“Okaaaaay, I will be right with you.”
Another day later, the tea house was super popular from day one. The new menu, which the dumpling seller had improved thanks to Akira-san’s coaching, was selling wonderfully. His family also seemed very busy with the cooking and preparing of dumplings.
Back when he only sold mugwort-flavored dumplings, the food was take-out, but now that guests could eat inside the store, the number of guests kept growing.
Enjoying sweets, tea, and regular food after a temple visit must be the same for the Helmut Kingdom and this island.
“Dominique-san, Lea-san, is this okay?”
“How so, Anna-san?”
“We are serving customers while wearing the shrine maiden attires we received from Ryouko-sama, but…”
“Well, isn’t it fine either way?”
We’re on the grounds of the Grand Ootsu Shrine and above all, it was His Lordship who mentioned that the customers would love these outfits.
And surely, the demon queen, Fujiko-sama, and Lulu-chan were also carrying food around, but they were popular among the elderly.
“As might be expected, preparing a special uniform overnight would be asking too much. It seems like new people and new uniforms will soon become necessary for this tea house. Ryouko-sama is busy healing together with Elise-sama, so they shouldn’t come here for a few more days. It’s no problem.”
“That’s right.”
It’d be bad if Ryouko-sama saw us serving tables in shrine maiden attires, but we’re in no danger of that happening, and the elderly priests are veterans who have experienced the ups and downs of life. They shouldn’t say anything to us, who are helping with making the shrine prosper.
His Lordship is with us, too.
“Three red-bean soups, please.”
“Okaaaay. Anna-san, we’ve got a new order.”
Anna-san, if you’re bothered about such small stuff, you won’t last as maid of the Baumeister House.
Three days after that, we were dismissed from helping at the tea house. The number of young priests and shrine maidens at the shrine had increased, and so did the number of the shop assistants at the tea house. We also received quite a big pay from His Lordship as pay for the work. Isn’t that great?
“Maybe I can use this shrine maiden attired during my newlywed life with Erwin-sama? …Yep, those will be useful! How lucky.”
“You think so? Thanks to the huge amount of dumplings you bought, the meals at the tea house, the sampling of new menu items, and so on…your sides have become flabby once again, Lea…”
“T-That’s not true at all!”
I made sure to not eat too much sweet stuff after reflecting on whatI did last time.
“Oh, what’s the flesh I’m pinching right now then?”
“I’m out on an errand! I need to run!”
＊
Once I become an adult, I’ll marry Erwin-sama, so I must get rid of that extra-meat as soon as possible! Then again, there exist a lot of temptations for a maid of the Baumeister House. Please be mindful of that, if you should ever work for them.
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