By the Grace of the Gods

Today, two chapters are posted simultaneously.

This is the first chapter.

Five days after returning to Gimul.

Less than a week after coming back, I visited the Saionji Trading Company Main Store in Renaf Town.

Under the arrangement made at the Duke's household the other day, regarding the deployment and utilization of bloody slimes at the Saionji Trading Company Main Store... the plan was to distribute management of the bloody slimes to prevent total annihilation in case of an emergency. I came to sign a contract to entrust three bloody slimes.

After being shown to the reception room and waiting for about 30 seconds,

“Ryoma! Sorry to keep you waiting!”

Head of the association, Mr. Pioro, burst in energetically.

I thought the same thing when I first came here—they never really make you wait.

Their response is so quick you’d think they were waiting for you...

“You came at a good time. It’s a relief you’re early, but how are things on your side? You just got back to the store, right?”

“Not at all. Mr. Serge, who arranged everything, is really capable. In fact, almost too capable.”

“? Did something happen?”

“If I explain, it’ll take a little while...”

That happened the day after I returned to Gimul.

As agreed the day before, Ox and I had a match in the vacant lot next to the store.

But from my conversation with Mr. Calm the day before, I thought I’d push myself a little harder.

For Ox, it was the first chance to show his skills at a new workplace.

Both of us got fired up, and unintentionally, the match gradually escalated.

In the end, the dust kicked up by our fight hit the employees and customers watching, our intensity made children cry, and elderly people were so startled they almost collapsed... We got a little too enthusiastic, and Mr. Calm told us we'd gone too far.

“Fortunately, most of the customers were regulars, so they were happy to accept the free full-body washing service for the dust. Also, since we had informed the security force beforehand about the match, it didn’t become a big problem...”

After dealing with all that, I was called again by Mr. Calm to talk.

He first told me that while the match was a bit excessive, it succeeded in making Ox’s skills known inside and outside the store.

Then he explained that his “getting serious” comment from the day before meant he was becoming more proactive about expanding the store’s scale, not that I wasn’t working. He apologized for the misunderstanding due to poor wording.

I replied that I was sorry for misunderstanding it on my own.

But as we talked more...

I realized he was happy I’d become positive about expanding the store.

I started thinking about what I could do to help with that.

The way to expand the store is to increase the number of branches.

What is needed to increase branches?

There are many things, like manpower and stores, but above all, “funding”.

How to efficiently accumulate and prepare funds?

Increase laundry income?

Look for other sources of income?

...My thoughts developed like that, and when I mentioned services like pickup and delivery for elderly people or those living far from the store, as well as a new privately run garbage disposal business, the conversation was abruptly cut off.

“I know the manager always thinks seriously, but please don’t try to increase work any chance you get. You’re working too hard.”

“I was told that...”

On top of that, until yesterday, Mr. Calm had been revising security measures, discussing emergency response procedures, and compiling all necessary paperwork for the future.

“When I finished the work and asked what’s next, I was told, ‘There’s no work until you come back from your next outing, so rest.’ When I asked if there was a problem, he just said no... So right now, there’s absolutely no problems or work.”

“I see...”

I wonder how Mr. Pioro feels listening to this... He gave a wry smile.

“Well, you should rest when you can. And even though you need funds, it’s not like you’re in a desperate situation.”