Chapter 56

Today, I have updated two stories.

- The Three Leftover Breads

- The Cat-Ear Bread Shop That Must Not Laugh

When I returned from making bread, a grand sign was already completed. It was a sign for "Enoch's Second Squad Expedition Meals," with Amelia's fierce face carved on it.

"Wow, amazing! It's a great sign!"

"Isn't it?"

Lieselotte spoke proudly.

Since just the shop name seemed a bit dull, she had the idea to carve a griffin's face on it.

"That person, despite his large body, has very nimble hands."

"Mr. Gar, that's right. He occasionally helps with cooking and other things."

I was sure that Mr. Gar could make a wonderful sign. Still, I was a bit worried, but it seems that Mr. Gar and Lieselotte worked well together. Perhaps the captain knew their compatibility and paired them up.

"By the way, you said you were having a family argument. Where is Lieselotte living now?"

Lieselotte and the Marquis are currently in a big argument over the direction of the幻兽保护活动. She said she had run away from home. When I asked where she was living now, she shook her head.

"I commute to the knight squad from my parents' house."

"Really!?"

I was surprised to find out that it was like a separate living arrangement within the family. I thought she was living somewhere else.

"But I haven't spoken to my father since the argument."

"That's tough..."

If they live together, it would be better to make up soon. I suggested this, but apparently the Marquis is very busy and hardly ever at home.

Well, reconciliation with that stubborn Marquis might be difficult.

In any case, the preparations for the charity bazaar are complete. The only problem is the captain's customer service.

The uniform for the day is the knight squad's uniform, but it seems that an apron is allowed.

Hmm. If the captain were to man the shop, the children might be scared. It would be nice if he could wear something funny.

Well, even just the captain in an apron would be quite amusing.

◇◇◇

On the day of the charity bazaar, the sky was beautifully clear.

The fountain square, the venue, was bustling with knights preparing for the event.

There were about fifty stalls. It's not a huge event, but the handmade feel is nice.

We headed to the designated display stand, set up a canopy for shade, and laid out the textiles that Zara brought from home. We then placed the baskets of bread on top.

We set up the sign that Mr. Gar made in front of the shop, and Amelia, the sign girl, appeared from the back of the shop.

"It looks pretty good, doesn't it?"

"Yes. The problem is the captain, though."

I glanced at the captain with Zara.

He stood there with his arms crossed, looking like a gatekeeper.

"Isn't that a completely 'no strangers allowed' grumpy old man's shop?"

"That's the only way to describe it."

Unable to bear it, Zara went to teach the captain about customer service.

"Captain, first greet the customers with a smile—"

The smile the captain showed was not a "niko!" but a "nyari..." kind of smile.

It was a terrifying expression, like a blood-soaked berserker who finds joy in battle. How did it come to this?

"No good. Not at all! With that smile, children will cry."

"How am I supposed to smile, then?"

"I'll show you an example."

Zara, who had a fierce expression a moment ago, suddenly showed a soft smile and said, "Welcome."

"That's how it's done."

"I can't do it. You do the customer service."

"It only makes sense if the captain does it!"

The smile was no good, the customer service attitude was lacking, and there was no enthusiasm. It was the worst.

The bread was baked so deliciously.

"Quack quack~"

Amelia, who was on the podium with enthusiasm to be the sign girl, sighed and said, "This guy is hopeless. He's completely unsuited for business." I couldn't deny her words.

No matter how hard Amelia tried, the shop wouldn't sell anything with the captain manning it.

"Trouble! Trouble!"

Urgas, who had gone to check out the other shops, returned. It seemed something terrible had been discovered.

"Urgas, what's wrong?"

"T-t-that's bad! The shop across from us, run by female knights, is also selling bread, and—beautiful women are serving with cat ears on!~"

"What!?"

Beautiful female knights selling bread with cat ears.

I was stunned by the formidable competition.

"This is a problem. Even without the captain's poor customer service, we won't sell anything."

"Hey, why are you assuming the customer service is poor?"

No one agreed with the captain's point.

Anyway, what should we do? I was racking my brain.

"Ah, I know!"

It seemed Urgas had a good idea.

"The captain should wear cat ears too!"

"No one will benefit from that!!"

After shouting, he suddenly realized. He had accidentally said something he should have kept to himself.

"Lis, you...?"

"Does the captain have the confidence to wear cat ears?"

"..."

It seems he doesn't.

However, it was decided to try it anyway. It can be made easily with a handkerchief.

"I made cat ears with a handkerchief when I was a child."

I provided a floral handkerchief. It seems cat ears can only be made with a square handkerchief.

"First, fold the handkerchief left and right to make a rectangular shape. Then, flip it over and fold the top and bottom towards the center. Finally, hold the ends of the handkerchief in two places and pull them to the sides to complete the cat ears."

"Wow...!"

The handkerchief was perfectly shaped into cat ears.

Urgas handed it to the captain and suggested he try it on his head.

The captain silently placed the handkerchief cat ears on his head.

Everyone bowed their heads, speechless.

This won't do. I gathered my courage, raised my hand, and asked for permission to speak.

"Can I be honest?"

The captain nodded solemnly.

"I'm sorry, but you look like a pervert wearing women's underwear."

The captain, who seemed to think the same, quietly took off the handkerchief cat ears.

The atmosphere became completely silent.

It felt like something sad had happened, a scene filled with a sense of tragedy—then.

"Ha ha ha!"

Unable to hold it in, Urgas burst out laughing.

"Hey, Urgas, you bastard! You knew it would be like this and made me do it!"

The captain, with a red face, threw the handkerchief at Urgas.

Hey, that's my handkerchief.

He's treating it so carelessly.

But, this wasn't the time for such nonsense.

"If the bread doesn't sell, we need to change our strategy."

It was decided to target a specific customer base.

Urgas suggested that since male customers would be taken by the female knights' shop, they should focus on female customers.

"I think the combination of Arts and Vice Captain Berry is good."

Indeed. Zara and Vice Captain Berry, both dressed as men, would surely attract a lot of female customers.

"Perhaps the captain could be in charge of advertising."

It seemed to be a simple job of walking around the venue with a sign board with the shop name and shouting out the advertising slogans.

"Then I'll go ask Mr. Gar to make the sign board."

"Sure, thanks."

Gar and Lieselotte were on morning duty, waiting at the squad quarters. They were to come in the afternoon.

Vice Captain Berry, who had gone to exchange money, returned.

She was informed about the change in strategy.

"Can I handle customer service? I have no experience."

"Don't worry. Vice Captain Berry, just being yourself is fine."

"Alright. I'll do my best."

Zara and Vice Captain Berry stood at the shop.

"Oh, wow!"

What beautiful shop assistants.

It's easy to approach them, and the overall atmosphere is much more vibrant.

"Quack quack~"

The adorable sign girl, Amelia, was also full of enthusiasm.

With this, I thought we could win.