Published: August 2, 2025
Today, five chapters were updated simultaneously.
This is the first chapter.
I reported that I had stopped by the store and returned, and received a report about what happened during my absence.
As usual, there seemed to be no problems, but today there were two additional messages separate from the work report.
“This came from Weizen.”
Mr. Calm handed me a letter, and on the desk in the office, there were two framed documents.
Weizen... I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before... Ah! It’s the name of Ms. Fina and the others’ village! I completely forgot it was written on their resumes. Now I remember the name...
“The sender is the village chief of Weizen Village?”
...The content was a report about deciding to produce and sell barley tea in the village, along with thanks addressed to me.
It seems that the village’s unity of purpose and cooperation with the Saionji Trading Company are going smoothly. Each household is actively processing stored barley, and discussions with Mr. Pioro are ongoing about plans to build a processing facility capable of handling large groups and increasing barley production as raw material.
Our introduction letter and samples were accepted, and the head of the association personally came to visit. They even bought the surplus grains except for barley... I could feel their joy.
As a token of gratitude, they were giving me a certificate of appreciation and the position of “advisor” at the Weizen Village Barley Tea Factory. These two framed certificates are the contents.
The advisor position seems to be honorary, without any work, obligations, or responsibilities. There is no reward, but under the pretext of consulting on taste and quality, they will regularly send me tea leaves they produce.
“Congratulations on becoming an advisor.”
“Thank you.”
I don’t really have to do anything, but if they’re giving it, I might as well accept.
“What about the other message?”
“Yes. I have heard a somewhat concerning rumor... Recently, among the slum residents, there’s a rumor that ‘the slum district will be demolished to build a new town’ and that ‘residents will be driven out.’”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
What does it mean? I understand the words, but I don’t get why it would happen.
Mr. Calm felt the same and immediately investigated.
“Through the commercial guild, we confirmed with the government office that there is no such plan. However... before we were assigned here, there was a scandal at the office, right?”
“Yes, and then a new person in charge was appointed... but they aren’t trusted?”
“That seems to be the case. The issue was temporarily resolved by punishing and replacing the person in charge, but they haven’t managed to regain lost trust yet. It looks like suspicion is breeding more suspicion.”
That’s unfortunate...
The man I met at the Founding Festival came to mind.
The person tasked with cleaning up after the predecessor must be having a hard time...
“Does this affect our store in any way?”
“Not at the moment. But I’ve also heard that people living in the slum have been actively seeking jobs in recent days, visiting stores that are hiring. This store isn’t hiring currently, but there is a possibility that people might come asking to be hired. If that happens, you should decide in advance how to handle it.”
“Right... For now, do we need to replenish staff?”
We have the budget to pay salaries, but the current staff can run the store adequately. Even if we plan to expand in the future, is there a reason to urgently increase staff right now? I can’t think of one.
But our store has been supported by people from the slum since opening. Many of my acquaintances come from the slum. If they’re in trouble, I want to help.
“I think it depends on the person, but having worked with everyone so far, I don’t have a particularly bad impression of this city’s slum.”
“I also imagined it was more dangerous at first.”
“I think most of those impressions are accurate. In large cities, there are places even security forces can’t enter. Considering that, this city’s slum is quite safe—safe enough for environmental inspections.”