Chapter 94

When my brothers all went out and I was waiting for the masters to arrive, suddenly, a voice came from the entrance.

"Excuse me, can you hire me?"

"Huh?"

Wondering what it was, I went to the shop, and there was a girl with short, yellow-green hair. She had sleepy eyes and seemed to exude a lazy, lackadaisical aura, not at all like someone eager to work.

"Um?"

"Ah, hello. I need a job, please."

"…Why is that?"

She looked like a high school student who found working to be a hassle. Or maybe she just looked young because of her lazy expression.

"I won't work hard, but I'll work."

"No, you should try your best."

What does it mean to not work hard but still work? She seemed to lack motivation, just as she looked.

If that's the case, I don't think she really needs a job. I wasn't even looking for employees, so why did she suddenly come here asking to be hired?

"I'm not sure myself. My boss told me to come here and get a job."

What does that mean?

Does "get a job" mean I'm supposed to hire her? Who is this boss?

"You're not here because you want a job?"

"I don't really want to work, but I came because I was told to. Oh, I was told you'd understand if I gave you something. Let me see, where is it?"

Hmm.

It's not like she was referred by someone.

She started searching through her bag and then handed me something she found.

What she gave me was a small coin made of a magic stone, with the Medici family crest engraved on it. It was something I made for the information gatherer my brother hired.

The larger version of this coin was supposed to be held by the information gatherer my brother hired, and the smaller ones by their subordinates.

"Whoever told you to come, can you tell me more about why they said to get a job here?"

"Um, I think they said, 'The store's layout makes it easy to be kidnapped when you're out. I would target that spot. So, you should stay inside and be the shopkeeper.' Also, if nobles start making direct requests, it could lead to trouble, like being taken to their house, so it's to prevent that."

"Huh?"

At first, she seemed to be trying to remember, and her sentences were drawn out, but what she was saying… it was about keeping me safe by having a shopkeeper and not going out.

"I remember! They also said, 'As an apology for making you wait, come directly. You need a window, so go there.' Oh, I'll work, so please pay me."

"Ah, okay."

"Also, I heard I'll be in charge of communicating with the shop owner's brother."

In other words…

My brother needed her to be the liaison for the person he hired, and as a bonus, to be the shopkeeper.

It seems they also considered my safety.

Well, I'm often away, so I don't want to anger the nobles by making them wait, and I don't want to involve the masters. It would cost money, but maybe hiring someone to be the shopkeeper is a good idea?

I didn't plan to open a shop, but if I get requests, it could be a problem even if the shop isn't open.

"Can I talk to the information gatherer my brother hired?"

"Sure. Just a moment."

She took out a sphere and started channeling magic power into it. After a while, the sphere glowed, and a voice came from it.

"Hmm, what is it? Lanna, did you fail to do what I told you? You're really hopeless, aren't you?"

"No, that's not it. The shop owner wants to talk to the boss."

I haven't hired her yet, so she's not the shop owner, but the "boss" is probably the information gatherer.

The voice from the sphere was hard to hear, but I could understand it if I listened closely.

"Hmm… I see. I'm Nevia, the information gatherer. You know that I'm employed by Lord Granos, right?"

"Um, yes, I've heard."

"To be straightforward, meeting him directly would draw attention. I want you to place Lanna as the liaison."

So, this is Lanna… She doesn't seem very motivated, but is that okay?

"Will Lanna be the liaison?"

"Yes. With the communication artifact I gave her, we can communicate no matter where I am. The benefit for you is that you won't have to deal with troublesome customers."

Yes, that's true… Nobles are a hassle. If having Lanna here can avoid that, it would be beneficial for me.

The downside is… I have to open the shop. I wasn't very enthusiastic about it, but…

"…I understand. I'll hire Lanna."

"Really? That's easy for you?"

"Yes. Thank you, Nevia, for helping my brother."

"Hmm, I see. I have my own goals, but that's fine. I'll visit you in person someday."

"Uh?"

"Please take care of Lanna."

The light from the sphere faded, and the voice disappeared.

Hmm. An artifact… It sounds convenient, but I've heard you can get one from a dungeon, and I haven't prioritized it because I'm not sure if I'll get what I want.

But it does sound useful. Maybe I should include dungeon exploration as a goal.

"Um, so, Lanna."

"Yes, I don't want to work, so I'll turn down all requests."

Okay, that's fine.

I'm not sure if requests will come, but nobles are a hassle, so if she can just be the shopkeeper, that might be enough. But I'm worried if she can handle it since she says she doesn't want to work.

"…Well, I don't have any products to sell yet. If you can turn down requests, that's fine."

"Got it. It's a hassle, so I'll sit in this chair from 10 AM to 6 PM and listen to whatever people say."

"Then, I'll leave it to you. About the pay…"

"Um, I want about 50G per day."

"Is that enough to live on? Are you sure? You might have to deal with difficult people, so I'll give you 150G as a trouble fee."

"Really? Thanks a lot."

50G per day is probably enough to live on, but as a shopkeeper, she might have to deal with difficult people… Should I add more for handling complaints or pay extra for being the liaison?

"It's fine for the daily pay. Also, if I have free time, I can do some side work. Shop owner, please take care of me."

"Okay, got it. Please take care. Also, the master and the landlord will be here today, so can you show them to the back?"

Since she's going to be the shopkeeper, I'll ask her to help.

For now… I'll bring a cushion from the sofa. Sitting in this chair for a long time might be uncomfortable, so I'll give it to her.

"Thank you."

"No, um, please take care. My name is Crein."

"Got it, shop owner, I'll handle it. I'll turn down the requests."

I thought she might call me by my name since I introduced myself, but she still called me "shop owner." Well, I don't mind how she calls me, so I'll leave it to her.

"Well, what should we do today?"

"I need to consult about the shopkeeper."

When I consulted with the master later, he said it was a good thing since we already have a shop. He suggested that even just having a few simple and necessary medicines like healing potions, cold medicine, and stomach medicine would be fine.

But if she's not motivated and puts out products… I'm worried she might sell the wrong ones.

After that, the landlord came, and the class started. The landlord was excited, and the master seemed to be in a good mood.

The three of us decided to try out various things we were curious about.