Episode 3: Chivalrous-san Appears Part 2

Translated by AmaLynne
Edited by AmaLynne

 

「(This is a building where stores have opened and quickly gone out of business several times, so I guess they figured it was time to get things established. The rent is cheap, isn’t it? As a matter of fact.)」

 

「(Indeed, it is cheap.)」

 

The rent was cheap for this store because it was a distressed property that would go under as soon as the tenant opened a store.

 

So they’ve been watching it for the past month?

 

「Now, give me money!」

 

「I’ll pay you, but on what terms?」

 

If I can buy safety, I’ll discount it as a necessary expense, but if it’s too expensive, I won’t be able to make a profit and I won’t know why I’m running the store.

 

It all depends on what the other side wants.

 

「Half of the sales.」

 

「Rejected. 30%!」

 

「What the hell―――」

 

Half of the sales…? This store is selling at a very low profit, how can they take half of the sales?

 

「Boss Yard, isn’t that too much to ask? You’re way out of line with the market.」

 

「Grandfather, is that so?」

 

「No matter what, half of the sales are outrageous. Even the stores in the red-light district don’t pay that much.」

 

He told me that even in the most expensive bars with beautiful women and brothels, which are supposed to be lucrative, half of the sales are not paid as commission.

 

「I’ve got some business to attend to.」

 

It was the first time I heard his voice, but he had a handsome voice too.

 

Unfortunately, he was my enemy now.

 

「You got a commission from some other shovel-ready store to shut down my store!」

 

Somehow I was getting to the bottom of it.

 

The Boss was asked to shut down my store by a store in the same business like mine that was already paying the shoveling money.

 

That’s probably why he demanded such an absurd amount of money.

 

He said that if I couldn’t pay him, he would shut down my store.

 

「Boss Yard, isn’t that too much to ask? The proprietress runs a legitimate business. The girl, Lara, was saved by the proprietress when her home village was destroyed by a demonic beast and she drifted to the capital. If the landlady hadn’t saved her, she would have ended up in the streets. I heard that Boss Yard had also wandered in the capital as a child with nothing but his clothes on. I don’t think that’s the attitude of someone in the world of chivalry towards people in the same situation.」

 

「Grandfather.」

 

Grandfather, I don’t think it’s a good idea to pick a fight with the most powerful man in Royal Capital.

 

I’m grateful to you for covering for me, but…

 

「Don’t worry, landlady. I’m retired now, but I was quite famous when I was young.」

 

Famous?

 

Did you used to be a famous actor?

 

No way.

 

You don’t look like that.

 

「I’ve never heard of a vigilante who didn’t know Brendluk, the founder of the Starblood Trading Company. I’m amazed that a man with so much money would go to such a humble establishment instead of an expensive one.」

 

Grandfather, you really were famous.

 

I didn’t recognize him at all from the outside.

 

Also, I’m sorry for being such a cheap place!

 

But I’m confident in the taste!

 

I can’t say it now because I’m afraid of the boss…

 

「When I was young, I worked hard to rebuild an old restaurant that was going under. For the rest of my life, I plan to live doing what I love. So you’re Boss Yard?」

 

「The shopkeepers who asked me to do this are not usually in the business of doing frivolous things. They have families and employees to take care of. I’m a half-wit like them. I can understand their feelings. I’m the one who’s a big customer, right?」

 

The boss grinned and asked me that last question.

 

His cynical smile was cool, but to me, he was my enemy now.

 

So this is a request from other store owners who have lost customers because of my store.

 

I feel sorry for them, but I have a life of my own.

 

I have to take care of my own house, and I have Lara.

 

「Boss, I’ll pay you the market rate for your services, but I won’t give in to unreasonable demands. If I have to protect this store, I won’t back down even if it’s against you.」

 

The momentum was with me now.

 

A woman has guts.

 

I rejected the demand from the boss.

 

「You! You dare not listen to brother? You naive little girl, you’ll regret it!」

 

「I’m talking to the boss. You underlings stay back!」

 

You’re just a punk with a big boss!

 

It’s pointless to negotiate, so I’ll just ignore you here.

 

「Do you want to be hurt?」

 

「Come and get me.」

 

「You little bitch!「Terry!」」

 

「But… brother…」

 

「I told you not to move. Don’t you listen to me?」

 

「No, that’s not it…」

 

And here, the boss stopped his minion, Mr. Thug.

 

It was not that loud, but he stopped his movements as if it was a conditioned reflex.

 

It seemed that he knew in his bones that if he angered his boss, he would be in danger.

 

「You’ve got some nerve, young lady. Right in front of me.」

 

「I regret it a little, but…」

 

「So you’re just a normal person with a weakness. So am I. So why don’t you play a game with me?」

 

A game?

 

What game?

 

Is it gambling against the boss?

 

Or a fight?

 

「Why?」

 

「I’m a man of weakness, you know. I’m not very hungry, but give me something to eat. If I like it, it’ll be my favorite place, and I won’t charge you exorbitant prices.」

 

「A one-time deal? You want me to give you something that you like?」

 

「My brother has a good palate. Give it up, little girl.」

 

This is the kind of thing that you would expect to see in a Japanese gourmet manga or something, but when I am put in that situation, I am in trouble.

 

He said he wasn’t very hungry, so I served him a dish that would make him want to come back to this restaurant.

 

Normally, I would have just served one of my famous grilled skewers or miso stew, but I don’t think my boss would be convinced by such a conventional approach.

 

Now, when I was wondering what to serve… 

 

「(Landlady, I think the first thing you served me is fine.)」

 

The old man came to the rescue.

 

By the way, this man is the previous head of the Starblood Trading Company, isn’t he?

 

The Starblood Trading Company is not just the biggest in the capital, but the biggest in the country, and even I knew its name.

 

If this is the advice of the former head of the company, it should be very helpful.

 

「(You mean that? But the boss is young.)」

 

The food served to the old man was completely geared towards the elderly, so it was unlikely that it would suit the tastes of the boss, who was only about thirty years old.

 

「(It’s not suitable for people from the capital, but Yard’s father is from a cold village in the countryside. At this time of year, he would be eating that kind of food. He has abandoned his homeland, but he is still… You can try it out and see if it works.)」

 

「(Okay, gosh darn it.)」

 

「(Don’t retire, landlady. I’m just an old man who likes to drink.)」

 

As the old man said, I began to cook a dish to serve to the master.

 

「Ehh? You mean this? I have a feeling he’d rather have meat skewers.」

 

Lara-chan seemed to be half in doubt, but after all, it was the opinion of the former head of the Starblood Trading Company.

 

He must have a better eye for people than anyone else, and I felt that he was more certain than I was about the food I would serve.

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