The first one to arrive after we opened our stall was Kuro. At any rate, thanks to the soundproofing magic tool recommended by Elise-san and the Recognition Inhibition Magic that Kuro uses, she doesnāt seem to have been noticed by everyone around us.
[Tre, Cento and Cien too, good work. Do your best today.]
[Yeeees.]
[ [ Yes. ] ]
After greeting her three family members, Kuro looked at me and gave me a cute smile. The fact that she was really looking forward to this was evident even without using my Sympathy Magic.
[Iām looking forward to the baby castella Kaito-kun and the others made, so I hurried over here.]
[Well, anyway, Kuro is our first customer, but we have regular baby castellas and chocolate-filled baby castellasā¦ā¦]
[Unnn. Iāll have ā100 bagsā of both.]
ā¦ā¦The heck is this guy talking about now? Did she just say 100? Thatās a total of 200 bags, how much time would it take to bake all of them.
It would take too much time to bake them all, and I donāt think it would be good if weāre unable to serve other customers in the meantimeā¦ā¦ but just as I was thinking that, Kuro spoke with a bright smile.
[Ahh, itās alright. Iām not in a hurry, so for now, Iāll just buy one bag of each. Iāll come back around closing time later and you can give them then.]
[Ahh, that is, wellā¦ā¦ I guess we could start baking them while weāre open.]
I thought she had suddenly made an unreasonable request, but if she wanted to have it before closing time, I think we could just bake them in moderation and toss those weāve cooked in my magic box.
I had already baked some baby castellas and put them in my magic box, so I guess it really would be alright.
For the time being, we decided to make the bag of baby castellas that weāre going to give to Kuro right now, and since itās for Kuro, Tre-san and I decided to bake it together.
Tre-san baked the plain ones while I baked the chocolate-filled ones, while Cento-san and Cien-san packaged them in a bag and handed them to Kuro.
[Thanks~~ Hmmm, it has a good scent. They seemed delicious. Well then, letās immediately try it outāāāā!?]
Kuro has a happy smile on her face as he brought one of the baby castellas in her mouth, but at that moment, her smile faded and her eyes became as sharp as a bird of prey.
[ā¦ā¦Itās different. Of all the baby castellas Iāve eatenā¦ā¦ The ingredients used here are different. As far as I can tell, every combination of every ingredient canāt produce a baby castella of this flavorā¦ā¦ Is this made from new ingredients created by Shiro!? This flavor is definitely raising the perspective of baby castellas up a notch. Moreover, itās so much more than just a push up of a foundationā¦ā¦ This indeed marks the beginning of a new era for baby castellas.]
Somehow, looking at her like thisā¦ā¦ makes me think that she really is Ein-sanās master. Just like when Ein-san talks about anything related to maids, Kuro seriously talks about incomprehensible things when it comes to baby castellas.
[However, the taste of the ingredients is too strong. Even if something is added or kneaded to it, the taste of the other ingredients would probably be overpowered. Even this chocolate-filled one would probably be- What!? The taste didnāt get overpowered? Even though the taste of the ingredients is of this levelā¦ā¦ This isā¦ā¦]
[ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦]
What should I do? Sheās been mumbling with a serious face for the past hour or so and continuing her musings about baby castellasā¦ā¦ With her giving off such a bizarre atmosphere, the other customers donāt look like they want to approachā¦ā¦
How should I say thisā¦ā¦ Rather than her becoming unapproachable, it feels more like Kuro has this aura that makes people hesitant to talk to her, as even we were also at a loss as to what to do with her.
[ā¦ā¦Yes, yes. Can you please go back and do all that nonsensical thinking when you get back? Youāre being a hindrance by standing still there.]
[Shalltear, wait, Iām now studying the infinite possibilities of baby castellasā¦ā¦]
[This aināt the place to think about possibilities and all that. Youāre just being a hindranceā¦ā¦ Alright, out with you.]
[Ahhh, wait a moment! I changed my mind! Iāll order 10,000 more bagsā¦ā¦]
[Are you trying to crush Kaito-san and the others from overwork!? Rejected, your orderās rejected!]
ā¦ā¦It may sound like Iām quickly changing my attitude, but Iām really glad sheās here as our mascot. She isnāt as effective when it comes to attracting customers, but sheās great as a bouncer for our stall.
I hope she will continue to do her best for the rest of the day, because I would really rely on her ability to remove Kuro while sheās in that condition.
Well, at any rate, Iām relieved that the problem has gone away. However, as the saying goes, āone problem goes away and in comes anotherā.
I hope that this wonāt turn out to be a series of troubles as soon as we openā¦ā¦
[Donāt act so distant, my sworn friendā¦ā¦ Why have you not summoned me from the depths of the abyss?]
ā¦ā¦And here comes the next problem. Isnāt it too early for me to recover the flag that I raised?
[ Afterword ]
Serious-senpai : [Here comes Amel huhā¦ā¦ She seemed really downhearted though.]
? ? ? : [Sheās a bird, but she really feels more like a puppyā¦ā¦]