Vol. 5 Chapter 7.1

Translated by SoundDestiny Edited by SoundDestiny

First Day at Work after Setbacks

“Takata, it’s time for work.”

The maid who identified herself as 『Cockroach』 came to the room again the next evening.

Well, there were no windows or clocks in the room, so the exact time was unclear. However, they had said work started at five in the evening, so it was probably evening now.

“Just in case you were thinking of seeking help when you leave this room, it would be in vain. The Great Confinement King or the nature of this room. Even if you try to talk about them to someone, you won’t be able to..”

The phrase 『you won’t be able to』 is quite peculiar. Not 『don’t do it』 or 『you’ll suffer if you talk』 but 『you won’t be able to.』

However, I somehow understand. Perhaps it really is impossible.

The maid walks briskly towards the entrance set up in the back of the room, motioning for me to follow as if urging me to hurry.

“I can’t go outside dressed like this!”

“No problem. Beyond this door is already the store’s locker room and break room. The uniform for the shop consists of a bikini top and a miniskirt for the bottom. The miniskirt will be provided by the store.”

Reluctantly, I follow her through the door, and there is a small room not even six tatami mats in size, lined with five steel lockers.

In the centre of the cluttered room, there is a folding long table, surrounded by six folding chairs.

The maid opens one of the lockers and takes out a plaid miniskirt, offering it to me.

“Well then, please change into this and wait for a while.”

With that, the maid goes out of the room.

‘It’s better than just a bikini, but…’

For the time being, I put on the miniskirt. Even though it’s called a miniskirt, it’s so short that it hardly serves its purpose.

I’m only wearing a bikini top and it seems like I’ve become even more obscene looking.

‘Why do I have to dress like this…’

I couldn’t help but slump my shoulders.

From here on, I was alone and idle. After sitting on a pipe chair for a while, I heard a hesitant knock and a girl peeked her head through the slightly open door.

“Chiwaー!”

The girl had a slightly longer platinum-pink short haircut. Her facial features were ordinary but her hair colour was definitely attention-grabbing. She was wearing a blazer-type uniform. However, I couldn’t tell which school it belonged to.

“I’ll be in your care starting from today! I’m Mako, nice to meet you!”

“Ah, uh, no, I’m, uh, starting today too…”

“Ahaha, is that so? Nice to meet you! Hey hey, what’s your name?”

“I-I’m Takata.”

“Taka-chi, huh? Alright, O-k, O-k, I remembered.”

She went out of her way to pull a chair closer and sat down, flashing a wide smile and getting closer.

I don’t know why, but she seemed foolish and overly familiar.

She’s my least favourite type. Always trying to please everyone and going along with whatever, these kinds of kids end up getting into trouble without thinking.

After that, three more girls, stereotypical gals, entered the room.

They came in saying [Ohaー] and [Yoruー] and with lots of giggles and chatter, they started changing into their bikinis.

What is this place…It’s like a nest of idiots, nothing else comes to mind.

Once they finished changing, they spread out snacks on the table and bombarded me and Mako with questions without any restraint.

“Uhaa, where’d you get that tan? Tanning salon? That looks awesome. But seriously, if you’re going that far, you should do your makeup too, you know? It’s all about balance.”

“Makeup?”

“Yeah, your hair’s already that colour, and it’s a waste not to go all out with your makeup.”

While Mako joined in with the girls, giggling and enjoying, it was utterly impossible for me. Or rather, I didn’t want to be part of it.

As I stood there nervously with a strained expression, the door opened again and two more women entered the room.

One was the Cockroach Maid. However, when my gaze shifted to the other woman who followed her, everyone in the room involuntarily gasped.

In the cluttered, narrow room, stood a stunning foreign woman in an extremely out-of-place evening dress. Her long silver hair shone like silk thread, reflecting the fluorescent light and sparkling.

“Whoa! Who’s this? An actress? She’s seriously gorgeous!”

“Wait… why is she dressed as a maid?”

As the gals exclaimed, the Cockroach Maid spoke up.

“Good morning. Starting today, there has been a change in ownership of this establishment. However, I assure you that there will be no changes in your treatment, so please rest assured.”

“Wait, seriously? That perverted old man is gone?”

Then, the silver-haired beauty spoke up.

“I’ve been entrusted with this establishment by the new owner who bought this shop. You can refer to me as the 『Manager』 that would be fine. Please take care of me starting today. Also, although I mentioned that there won’t be any changes, the system for the popularity vote will be slightly different from before.”

“Popularity vote? Oh, you mean like a beauty contest?”

“Yes, exactly. It seems it was used for promotions and evaluations before, but from now on, the person who ranks first for the day will receive a bonus of 100,000 yen.”

“A h-hundred thousand!? Seriously!?”

“No way, that’s super generous!”

“Yabba! We’ve got no choice but to give it our all, right?”

As the gals began to get excited, the maid clapped her hands.

“Now then, we will begin opening, so everyone, please get ready.”

“「「「Okay!!」」」”

Led by the Manager, the gals left the room in a lively atmosphere. Only Mako, the Cockroach Maid and I remained behind in the room.

“Is that alright? The competition has already begun from the positioning stage, you know?”

Pushed by the maid’s urging, I left the break room and on the other side was already the storefront. It was a shop with an absurdly long counter as its only feature.

Since the three gals had taken the middle positions, Mako and I stood towards the corner.

“For today, I will handle the orders for the two newcomers. The two of you, please focus on interacting with the customers.”

The maid announced from behind and Mako smiled and said, [Ahaha, thank you!].

After a while, customers gradually started coming into the store.

“Is Rena-chan working today?”

“Yes, yes. Yama-chan, what brings you here?”

“Of course! I’m head over heels in love with Rena-chan!”

A group of regulars seemed to have taken their positions in front of the gals, engaging them in lively conversation while sipping their drinks.

Customer after customer entered and they all seemed to gravitate towards the three gals.

“Customers sure are coming in a lot today, huh?”

“…Yeah.”

Not knowing how to answer, I furrowed my brows and she leaned in, peering at my face before giving a mischievous smile.

“Come on, Taka-chi, you’re not doing well. Give us more smiles, smile!”

“Uh… Ah, sure.”

As time went on, the shop became fully occupied. Customers filled the counter in front of me and Mako, seemingly pushed out from in front of the gals.

“Hey, you’re the new ones, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Call me Mako! Do customers come here often to this shop?”

As Mako smoothly began chatting with a customer, a plain-looking older man who had come up to me looked up, wearing a puzzled expression.

“Um, you’re the new one… I assume?”

“Yes.”

“Uh, well…”

“What?”

“A highball…”

“Highball?”

I involuntarily tilted my head in confusion.

‘Is he talking about baseball? Is that what he wants to discuss?’

Then, from behind me, the maid handed me a drink.

“Here’s a highball. Please serve it.”

‘A highball is a type of alcoholic drink…’

For now, I placed the highball in front of the older man with a thud. He looked puzzled again, then moved the glass he had been drinking from aside. Peering over my shoulder, he opened his mouth.

“Hey, hey, why a maid outfit?”

“I am responsible for educating the new recruits here. Please think of me as a sort of shadow.”

“Really? I’d rather talk to you than that brooding girl over here.”

“Please understand. I might get scolded by the manager. Takata-sama, the customer would like to have a conversation. Something fun.”

“A conversation? Uh, alright.”

Challenged by the maid’s audacity, I pondered for a moment.

An interesting story… If I’m going to tell one, it might as well be something informative.

And so, I decided to explain to the older man in front of me just how harmful smoking and alcohol can be for the healthy development of young people.

×××

“Are you an idiot?”

The Cockroach Maid stared at me with a scornful, lingering gaze.

“…………”

I returned her stare in silence.

This happened in the locker room after the shop closed, once all the other gal members had left.

Admittedly, if I only looked at the results, I ranked fifth out of five in the popularity vote.

Zero votes and I managed to upset two customers.

The drink back was worth four hundred yen for two drinks.

Indeed, considering the goal of earning three million yen, the situation wasn’t great.

But it’s not my fault. It’s incredibly unfair that I have to lower my standards just to fit in with those kinds of people.

Let alone being blamed by the maid, there’s no reason for me to be held accountable.

“I can’t deal with vulgar middle-aged men like that. I’m not someone who belongs to the dregs of society like this! The customers are scum and the girls at the shop are all scum too! It’s degrading to flatter, provoke and use your looks to be showered with money. It’s nothing but despicable!”

As I spat out these words, the Cockroach Maid raised an eyebrow.

“Houu? The pure and righteous moral committee chairperson. Are you implying you’re a better person than them?”

“Of course I am!”

“How so?”

“Living earnestly. I’m correcting the moral decline and I’m studying diligently too!”

I declared with a fierce tone and the Cockroach Maid sighed as if exasperated.

“Living earnestly? What a joke.”

“Haa!? What are you trying to say?”

“Is that okay? The gals worker you belittled today. Two of them are college students and one is studying nursing. They’re hard working students earning money on their own for their livelihoods.”

“Those kinds of people?”

“Yes, those kinds of people. And right next to those individuals who are desperately working hard to make a living, you pout, act spoiled and belittle others according to your own selfish standards. I have no words other than 『idiot』 to describe someone who justifies their own shortcomings while whining that they’re not at fault.”

“But even so, people who choose this jobs…”

“There’s no distinction between noble and humble in occupations. Money exchanges occur because they’re necessary. That’s the nature of a capitalist society. Men who endure a tough world that students can’t even comprehend come seeking a fleeting bit of solace at this shop. And you call that indecent.”

“I-If they need a way to unwind, there are plenty of other, uh, options!”

“A bratty child who nibbles at their parents’ coattails, lives a cosy life, trips others to feel superior and thinks they’re the leader of the pack. Truly, there’s no other word for it but repulsive. What purpose do you serve?”

“B-But a student’s main responsibility is studying! Teachers praise me, and so do my parents!”

In response, the Cockroach Maid exaggeratedly shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, they’d praise you, of course. Easy customers are pleasant because they require little effort. Being praised, feeling good and deluding themselves into thinking they’re great. What’s the difference between you and those customers who were leaning on the counter?”

“Wha!? Don’t compare me to them!”

“It’s the same. In fact, I’d like to know what sets you apart.”

“W-Well, I’m serious…”

“You keep saying 『serious』 but let me put it this way. 『How about working a bit more seriously?』”

“Haaaa!?”

“Engaging in disruptive behaviour resembling obstruction of business in a legitimate establishment. Angering important customers twice in one night, putting a damper on the atmosphere of the shop. Let me be clear, 『Moral Committee Chairperson』 Tonight, you’re the one who disrupted the business of this establishment. You’re inconveniencing everyone with your selfish behaviour.”

“I… disrupted the business?”

“Yes, in a school setting, this would warrant suspension. If it weren’t for the orders of the Great Confinement King, I’d be at my wit’s end too.”

“Suspension…”

“In that regard, today, Mako-sama, who just entered this shop, performed excellently. Despite not having regular customers, she ranked second in the popularity vote. The customers she attended to all left in good spirits. Despite having the same drink prices and cover charge, Maako-sama’s customers likely enjoyed their next day, while the customers you attended spent the day in discontent.”

“Even if you say that…”

“Mako-sama is working to earn money for her sick mother’s hospital expenses. Now, between you and her, who called her trash, who is the real scoundrel?”

I was already lost, not knowing what to do.

I sat down on a foldable pipe chair, my shoulders slumped with exhaustion. Frustration, sadness and tears streamed down uncontrollably.

“Crying as soon as you’re scolded, you really are beyond help. Please take some time to cool off.”

As the Cockroach Maid left, the only sound left in the locker room was the sound of my sniffling.

“Moou…what should I do now?”

Sobs welled up from deep within my throat.

I want to escape. But if I run away from here, it won’t be that simple.

Kobayashi-sensei, too, will undoubtedly face difficulties.

Just as I tightly grasped the hem of my miniskirt, the locker room door made a small creaking sound as it opened.

Timidly peering in was a girl with platinum-pink hair.

“Mako… san?”

“Ah… Are you okay? Taka-chi.”

And then, she entered the locker room with cautious steps and gently took my hand.

“You seemed like you were being scolded. I got worried and came back. It’s okay, Taka-chi, you’re cute. Today is still the first day. Let’s do our best together, okay?”

Tears started flowing uncontrollably.

I couldn’t quite figure out what was making me sad or what was causing the pain, and holding onto Mako-san’s hand, I cried out loud like a child.

×××

“Lili-sama, Head Maid-sama. Cockroach and Earthworm. We have returned.”

As I reported while bending my waist, Lili-sama floated gently in the air and nodded slightly, saying, 『Good work, Devi』.

Next to me is a girl with platinum-pink hair, who is named Earthworm.

Honoured by the role assigned by Lili-sama, both Earthworm and I are tasked with the carrot and stick of training onto the Disciplinary Committee Chairman.

My words and actions are in accordance with Lili-sama’s scenario. Truly, there’s no other way to put it but to say it’s typically Lili-sama.

“It seems to be going well.”

As the Head Maid-sama says this, Earthworm opens her mouth slightly, appearing somewhat proud.

“Yes, Takata-sama asked me if I could give her guidance on serving tomorrow.”

“How is she at the moment?”

In response to the Head Maid-sama’s question, I answer.

“She has returned to her room and is currently resting. We plan to bring her a meal when she wakes up.”

“Very well. Continue to progress without any oversight.”

“「「Yes, ma’am!」」”

As we responded, Lili-sama nodded with satisfaction and spoke.

“Once you have completely corrupted the Disciplinary Committee Chairman, I will put in a good word for you to FumiFumi to have you both join him in his chamber, Devi.”

“「「Th-thank you very much!」」”

Earthworm and I exchanged glances, sharing our joy. With the dream of offering our virginity to the Confinement King almost within reach, we felt invigorated for Takata-sama’s training.

I’ve heard that Lili-sama also assigned tasks to the Centipede and the Tapeworm.

If possible, I hope all four of us could be favoured by the mighty Confinement King, that’s what I wish for.

And now, as we take our leave before Lili-sama. Earthworm and I bend our knees and shout together.

“「「For the Great Confinement King!」」”

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