Chapter 64

Tendo and I have been walking around the school grounds, but I can't help but feel that Luna and the other two have been following us.

Probably, our movements are being predicted and we are being intercepted.

Even though I am moving with the assumption that I am being predicted, there is a limit to what I can do.

Ah! Could it be that they've noticed Tendo is here?! Luna and Yomi are actually fighting Tendo, so it wouldn't be strange for them to notice his presence!

If we run into them here, it will definitely turn into a fight. I need to run more seriously!

"Ahh! Owl! There's a play over there!"

A play at a time like this...? Sure, plays are interesting, but if we go to a place with no place to run, the outcome is obvious.

"No, the play doesn't fit our schedule, so let's try going over there!"

"Really? Hehehe, what are you running from, Owl?"

Gah, they know...

"Well, it's because... "

"Ah, I see! That sounds fun! ...Yeah, this way!"

She's really perceptive... or maybe just impossible to read. I don't know if she's an enemy or an ally, but I don't want her to be an enemy.

After explaining the gist of the conversation with the king, she seems to understand something. She seems to know something.

"Hmm... I'll give you a hint."

She then pressed her forehead against mine. What, what? So close!

"Yeah, no doubt. Owl, you are───"

The fact Tendo revealed was shocking.

"Then, Owl, I had fun today. Let's play again!"

Satisfied, Tendo left without any issues. For now, the mission is complete.

When I returned to the stall, Ray and Marco were already back from their break and preparing.

"Hey, Owl, are you okay?"

"Yeah, three women were looking for you, but are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's get to work!"

The second day of the cultural festival ended without any issues. I don't know the exact sales figures since Professor Monica is managing everything, but from the amount of materials used, it seems to be going well.

The materials Luna and Yomi prepared in large quantities, which I thought were too much, might just be enough. There are also many customers who take the food to go, and some even order in large quantities.

The queue tickets I prepared just in case seem to have been useful.

Rebrant came by when I was serving customers and bought all the flavors in all grades.

As usual, he asked to buy the recipes, but I declined because the cooking fruits are valuable.

Even if I get more money, I can't spend it all, and it's not good for one person to have too much money.

However, as a favor, I gave him the mayonnaise recipe for free.

Of course, I didn't forget to thoroughly purify it with multiple layers of cleaning magic.

I told him this was payment for all the help I received, but he said it was too much and considered it a favor.

...For a commoner, I'm accumulating more and more favors, but I can't let it bother me.

When I got home, two maids were giving me a deadpan stare.

Being stared at like that makes me feel like I'm about to wake up to something. It was really dangerous.

When I told them Tendo had been there, they were surprised but understood.

However, Mirei is quite busy on the third day, so she won't be able to join us.

But Luna and Yomi have seen most of what they wanted to see, so they will be doing the Sakura role.

I think we can take the top spot in sales as it is, but it's better to be safe.

Tomorrow, I will increase the menu of the premium course, which was only available for a fee.

It will be shortcake and fruit tart, two types.

I have already informed all the customers who used the premium course, so they will definitely come to buy.

...But because of this, I'm sure to be up all night.

I have some pre-made ones, but I don't think they will be enough.

I will limit it to one whole cake per group, with a total of 30 whole cakes. So, 60 whole cakes in total for the two types.

I feel like I'm at a professional level now.

The price, considering it's a festival, will be 5 platinum coins, which is a bit expensive.

It's hard to imagine spending 50 million yen on one cake... but I think it will sell due to its rarity. If it doesn't, I'll share it with the class.

"Anyway, I need you two to help me make the cakes, so please do your best!"

"Leave it to us! Luna, let's see who can make more!"

"Hehehe, the winner gets to eat the cake, right?"

"I won't lose!"

"Daydreams are for bedtime!"

Wah, it looks fun, but I don't intend to make extra cakes...

Since I can't, I'll have to make do with some sweets from storage.

Thanks to the two of them, the cakes were completed before the sun rose.

I took a short nap and then took care of the fields. I plan to plant seeds again after the festival.

Thanks to the accelerated cultivation, plants that normally take months to years to grow are easy to cultivate.

It might feel like there's no challenge, but when I have my own field in the village and become a proper farmer, I'll grow them without magic.

Now, as a student, it feels more like a hobby garden.

The money I have now will be used to buy land, build a house, and buy livestock.

As part of revitalizing the village, I will use it to raise the living standards of the village. My goal is to turn it into a major city in the frontier.

Since the Azalea Spirit Mountain is nearby, it should be possible to attract adventurers.

Hehehe, it's getting exciting! If I marry Mirei and have children, it will be perfect.

If Luna and Yomi want to work, I want them to stay with me.

If Mirei allows it, I want them both...

Well, that's for later. For now, I need to focus on school life and the "thing" Tendo mentioned.

While thinking, I made today's breakfast, which is perfect for a hot day.

It's cold tomato pasta, cold shabu-shabu salad with leafy vegetables and pork belly, and apple juice.

The key is topping the cold pasta with thick-cut grilled bacon.

Since I didn't sleep much, I couldn't eat fatty foods, but this was easy to eat.

The two who woke up from their short nap also seemed to enjoy it.

"Master! This cold pasta is wonderful! It's perfect for summer!"

"Hehehe, it was light and easy to eat, and the taste was very refined."

By the way, the cold shabu-shabu salad is a sauce based on soy sauce with the sourness of the cooking fruit added.

It's similar to ponzu, but it has a different flavor. It's definitely delicious, though...

"Then, I'll go ahead, but I'll leave it to you to do the Sakura role! You don't need to pay, just eat and walk around the store to make it look delicious."

"Eating job! What a wonderful job!"

"Hehehe, I'll advertise to make the gentlemen want to eat."

Hmm, how does Yomi plan to advertise...? I want to ask, but there's no time, so I'll just tell her not to overdo it.

"Luna and Yomi, please be moderate. If you overdo it, the Sakura role will be exposed."

"Understood."

With that, the preparations are complete. I'm sure I'll be asked to do hair arrangements by the girls when I get to school, so I'm leaving a bit early.

Since it's become so popular, I might ask Gal to develop a hair iron using magic stones.

I think he'll be happy to do it if I give him some wine.

When I arrived at the school, as expected, the girls were waiting, and a line had already formed.

I started working smoothly and finished in less than an hour.

I was praised by the boys and the girls were happy, so I'm sure it will lead to an increase in customers. Everything is going well!

Thanks to this, I learned that the demand for hair arrangements is quite high.

As I was preparing, the principal's voice suddenly echoed throughout the school.

"Students, today is the last day of the cultural festival. Everyone is enjoying their youth in their own way. We will tally the sales at dusk today and announce the top-selling class at the after-party tonight! Enjoy the last moment!"

With the principal's speech, the third day of the cultural festival began.

Then I regretted it. The popularity of the whole cakes in the premium course was so high that I couldn't keep up with the turnover.

The stall items were almost like accessories, and eating the premium course's paid sweets became a kind of status symbol among the nobles.

I'm not sure if it's a factional dispute or vanity, but the trend is that the more money you spend, the more impressive it is.

I have a rough idea of who started it, but I'm not sure. Alice came with the princess on the first day, so it's probably their fault.

Since the king has banned noble disputes within the cultural festival, there is no open conflict, but it has led to a competition of vanity.

I planned to change the cake types in the morning and afternoon, but the sales were so good in the morning that I was worried about the afternoon's main event...

In the end, the cake sales ended around mid-afternoon.

As an alternative, I started selling pancakes with honey, but the rumor spread quickly and the turnover couldn't keep up again.

I think this is due to the effect of Luna and Yomi's advertising.

...I might have gone a bit overboard. If it becomes this popular, I'm sure there will be a lot of inquiries to the Rebrant Company, but I'll deal with it when the time comes. Future me, do your best!

The boom continued, and by the end, most of my classmates were exhausted and collapsed. It's a good memory.

We used up almost all the materials we prepared, and it feels like we really did our best.

Looking back on the three days, the most memorable customers were probably the Duke of Listenia and the Deputy Leader of Ilria.

They visited the stall together in the morning and afternoon every day and ordered in large quantities.

And it was always the premium course. On the last day, they even came twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, so they were regulars.

At first, we had conversations, but I think I was just smiling wryly halfway through...

On the contrary, I can still remember the full smiles of the Duke and the Deputy Leader.

But seeing the happy faces of the customers was a great three days.

I've done what I needed to do, and now I just have to wait for the results!

Since the cleanup of the stalls will be done later, today we will have an after-party and then disband.

The largest training ground in the school has a huge campfire, making the night bright and lively.

The after-party is not a dance or anything, but a standing party where you can freely eat and drink the light food and drinks provided by the school.

I can see upperclassmen talking happily near the central campfire, but I am resting in a corner with Ray and Marco.

"Students! Did you enjoy the three days? I walked around the cultural festival for three days, and I think this year was more exciting than usual! Now, let's announce the top-selling class! To make it more interesting, I'll start with the fifth place!"

Oh, it's about to be announced. I hope we get first place...

"Fifth place! 3-7! They sold magic tools! All the magic tools made by the students were sold. Well done!"

Magic tool making, huh. I guess there are many students in 3-7 who are good at making magic tools.

"Fourth place! 2-1! A delicious food tasting event! They served truly delicious food. I tried it, and it was indeed top-notch!"

Oh, one of the events I was interested in. I wanted to go, but it was too high for a commoner to enter, which was disappointing.

"Third place! 3-2! A noble exchange event! Here, you could interact with high-ranking nobles and even royalty. I heard that nobles from various countries used it!"

This is another one I was interested in. The entry fee was ridiculously high, so I didn't even consider it. I heard that the light food was delicious, and I wanted to try it.

Actually, I wasn't called, so did we get first place?

"Second place! This is a very close second, only 5 gold coins behind the first place! 3-1! The play 'Hero and Demon King - The Final Battle.' I went to see it, and it was really interesting! The student who wrote the script is a genius!"

Of course, that one made it to the top. I remember the admission fee was surprisingly high for the better seats.

I thought it would be in the top ranks because it was indeed interesting...

So, does that mean...

"First place, surpassing 3-1 with a grand victory! 1-10! Despite being first-year students, they showed unique ideas and solid strategies! Of course, the food they sold was also exceptionally delicious! I even visited every day! Congratulations!!"

"Yaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh