Striving For The Luxury Liner – Vol 9 Chapter 30

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(9/20)

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Chapter 30 – Signs of Beauty-Related Fever and the Month Leading Up to the Ceremony

Take the children… Claretta-san takes the children and enters the city. Some of the children began to cry at the sight of the ruined city, but Dorothea-san quickly took them in her arms and brought them along, comforting them.

Did the tattered city cause trauma? Maybe we shouldn’t bring them inside until the city is cleaned up.

We arrive at the orphanage, and the gatekeeper opens the iron door, and the children make frightened noises. I can’t help but feel sorry for them. I should have changed the iron door. It’s okay, Claretta-san calms them down, and we go into the orphanage.

I ask the orphanage staff to gather around and introduce the children. The scary-looking guards and gatekeeper wave their hands away.

The ten children meet the staff member in charge of the ten orphans. The staff members are not used to meeting the orphans, so they are a little awkward. I guess they will have to get to know each other gradually from now on.

“Wataru-san, the children seem hungry. I heard that they haven’t had lunch yet, so why don’t we prepare lunch even though it’s late?”

“Is that so? Then I will prepare lunch. After all, I promised them that they could eat as much as they want.”

Claretta-san and some of the staff prepare the food. I know it’s a bad word, but let’s hook them up with food. Time is short, so we prepare a simple meal of vegetable soup and bread and set it out in the dining room for everyone to enjoy.

The children were full and perhaps a little calmer; smiles began to appear on their faces. Little by little, the conversation between the staff and the children increased. After a break to chat, we decide on the children’s rooms.

I ask the children if they want to be in the same room, so I lead them to a large room and decide on a bed and a chest for each of them.

“Master, if we don’t return to the Castle soon, we’ll have to keep the envoy waiting.”

“Hmm? Yes, that’s right. Thank you, Felicia. Elmo, we have to get back. Can you take care of the rest?”

“Understood. You can leave it to me.”

After saying goodbye to the children, we hurried back to the Lutto and headed for the Castle.

“Master, are the children okay?”

“Well, they looked older, but they were wearing proper clothes, and they weren’t skinny. I think they came from a proper orphanage, so I think they were just nervous about being in a new place for the first time. I think once they get used to it, they won’t be so scared. What do you think, Claretta-san?”

“Yes, I think so. I am sure they were in a proper orphanage. They seem like kids who have been through a lot, so it will take time for them to settle down, but if they are treated seriously, I think things will work out.”

I guess that means if you do it right, time will tell.

“Come to think of it, Dorothea-san, you were also used to dealing with children. Do you have a brother or sister?”

“No, I have an older brother but no younger siblings. Sometimes I accompany Claretta to the orphanage, so I’m a little used to it.”

“Oh, I see. When the child cried, I was too nervous to do anything. Experience is important, isn’t it?”

“There will be plenty of opportunities for you to get involved in the future. You will soon get used to it.”

To be honest, I don’t want to experience too much. Well, I’ll leave everything to them once I’m settled in, so it won’t be a problem if I just do my best at the beginning.

We arrived at the Castle. The envoy is supposed to return after dinner, so we’re just in time. I thought they would stay overnight because of the inspection, but they have to leave early tomorrow morning, so they are going back to the city.

…Is it my imagination that I have the feeling that the purpose of the visit is to shop, not to inspect the ship? Even though it’s a lodging facility, it doesn’t feel right that they’re not staying overnight. It seems as if they have been told to deliver in the fastest way possible if they buy anything.

After entering the Castle and waiting in the lobby, the envoy and his men returned. As I thought, they were going back without spending the night, so I sent them to the city of Cagliari.

…I look at the envoy and think, what do they want to do? No, why should it be? I want to ask. But I don’t want to ask because it would be disrespectful, but I want to believe that they are not on bad terms with Camille-san and the others.

“Wataru-dono, Mage-sama’s ship is amazing. I think it is a ship from another world.”

“I don’t know the details either. Mage-sama doesn’t like to talk about himself.”

I don’t think I can hide the fact that the mage is from another world, so I’ll have to go the route of being afraid to mess with him.

“I see. There is a lot of painful history when it comes to relations with other worlds. I guess they don’t want to talk about themselves. However, it would be of considerable national interest to this country if we could dock this ship. No one will complain if the Navy shoulders the orphanage. You can rest assured.”

“I understand. Thank you.”

If the envoy’s words are true, then the opening ceremony will be the only thing that will bring closure to the situation. After that, we can relax and look for the dark elves.

I manage to avoid the envoy’s questions about the mage and me and arrive in the city of Cagliari. I get out of the ship and say goodbye. I’m a little glad that the envoy said he wanted to stay at the Castle privately next time.

I thought about staying on the Lutto, but then I remembered that I hadn’t said anything to Camille-san and the others, so I returned to the Castle. I want to hear about the envoy, you know.

Now that the opening of the Castle is becoming more realistic, there will be fewer opportunities to use it freely with just our group. Let’s enjoy it while we can.

I returned to the Castle and asked Camille-san about the envoy’s situation. She said they only checked out most of the facilities because they didn’t have time, but they were strictly ordered to get as many beauty treatments as possible at the spa, and that was the end of their visit.

Hmm, it must have been an order from the Crown Prince and his wife or something like that. I wonder what kind of letter the Marquis sent. Maybe it’s something that doesn’t exist in this world, so it wouldn’t be strange for a man, but it’s disturbing to me.

First, a full body massage and skin care at a spa and beauty salon. Unwanted hair removal. Nail art… I couldn’t see it with their pants and shoes, but they also did foot care, removing shin hair and decorating the nails on their legs beautifully.

Their heads were also given scalp care, and their hair was nourished to make it shiny and smooth. Eyelash extensions were also applied, resulting in an envoy that makes you want to refrain from expressing yourself. I definitely feel like I’m on the wrong side of this. Normally, they would not have gone as far as eyelash extensions.

Since the envoy spent a lot of time there, the only other places the envoy took time to visit were a liquor store and a cosmetics store. The five of them, the envoy and his attendants, selected alcoholic beverages while looking at some kind of notes, and they shopped until the limit was reached while asking Camille-san and the others.

The purpose of the visit was clear. The purpose of the envoy is to shop and inspect beauty salons. I don’t know what they will think when they see the envoy, but depending on the result, I have a feeling that even the Crown Prince’s wife will come on board.

Is this the situation before the opening? If I hadn’t hired Camille-san, Mauro-san, and Donatella-san seriously, I would have thrown the project away.

“I want to ask you all, what do you think of the envoy today?”

“Well, I think they look cleaner and better.”

Do they look better to you, Alessia-san?

“Hmm, maybe I should try it?”

Mauro-san thinks about trying it himself.

“Ufufu, Wataru-san, I know what you want to ask us because I still have a little knowledge about this shop, but it doesn’t matter because the people in this world don’t know.”

Ugh, is Ilma-san right? The men who come to beauty salons, huh? The different world creates a gap in some strange places.

“I understand. Thank you all. So, Camille-san. Now that the orphanage is up and running, do you think it’s time to open the Castle?”

“That’s right. I think it will be fine if we decide when to open it and contact the Merchant’s Guild. In the meantime, I would like to hire staff members. Is that okay?”

“Are the cooks and clerks who came this time already familiar with it?”

“Yes, they are knowledgeable, and with repeated practice, they have mastered their positions faster than I thought. Based on the response from those who have come so far, I think we need to assign more dedicated staff to the liquor store, cosmetics store, jewelry store, beauty shop, and cook shop; otherwise, Saporabi-chan alone won’t be able to handle them all.”

Hmm, I see what you mean. I thought it would be nice to turn the tables with Saporabi.

“Since they don’t understand Saporabi’s explanation and treatment, it might be deceptive, but wouldn’t the royalty and nobility be offended if a slave explained and performed the treatment?”

“Those who disagree with the fact that slaves are the main members of the Merchant’s Guild and that there are beastmen slaves will be rejected. If a human supremacist comes, the response will be the same. And most importantly, Ilma-san and Saporabi-chan are completely different in their abilities. I prefer to have Saporabi-chan work as a support.”

It’s true that it feels much better to have Ilma-san do the treatment than to have Saporabi do it.

“I understand. Then I will leave it in your hands, Camille-san, and I would appreciate it if you could make the arrangements for me.”

“I understand. Then would it be all right if we send out invitations for the event to be held in a month?”

Inviting a high-ranking person through a Merchant’s Guild would take that long, I guess. In this world, it might take less time. Camille-san and the others will use their personal connections to send invitations to people with a lot of power. It looks like word of the Castle will spread faster than I thought.

“Yes, that’s what I’m asking. Right, would the Girasole want to invite your families anyway?”

I asked, and Alessia-san shook her head.

“It would be my pleasure, but no. There are so many important people coming. They’ll probably shy away and not be able to enjoy themselves.”

“Oh, yes, that’s right. Then please invite them when the Castle is ready.”

“Fufu, thank you, Wataru-san. I’ll take your word for it.”

“I’m indebted to you, so please don’t worry about it.”

After agreeing on some details, I went back to my room.

………………

Tomorrow is finally the opening ceremony for the Castle. I had planned to leave the whole thing to Camille-san and take it easy, but that is not possible in reality.

When Camille-san talks to the Merchant’s Guild, things suddenly get very busy for everyone involved. I show up at the orphanage when I have time and bring snacks. I’m not sure if I should fish with things, but I’m still the director of the orphanage. It would be a problem if the children were afraid of me.

Now, almost a month later, I have maintained a certain popularity as the uncle who brings them tasty snacks. They know by word of mouth that I am the director of the orphanage, but since I don’t live in the orphanage, they don’t seem to think of me as one of their close relatives.

If anything, Rimu, Fuu-chan, and Beni-chan are more popular. When they play outside, Rimu and the others show off their high-level skills without hesitation and play tricks on the children. They have earned the respect and awe of the children.

The children are getting used to life at the orphanage and seem to be able to lead a happy life, eating a full meal every day, helping with farm work, studying, playing, and living a regular life.

Well, according to Elmo-san, some of the children cry at night, and even though they seem fine on the surface, the painful memories are still there. I wonder if they can recover so well in just one month. I guess it takes time.

We went to Lucca to hire more staff and bought and signed contracts for a cook, a beautician, a salesperson, a security guard, and staff for the orphanage. I didn’t think we needed security guards, but I was told we needed them in case of fights, etc. They said it would be bad if the big shots lost their temper and ended up being thrown into the ocean. I know I shouldn’t say it as a side note, but we took another ten orphans and brought them back to the orphanage.

The invitation for the ceremony had been delivered to the Marquis of Lucca, but he found out that I was in Lucca and asked me some questions. I went to Alessia-san and asked her to explain, and she said that the Marquis would be attending the ceremony.

He said there were several people he wanted to invite, and he asked for a slot, but I told him that the mage’s arrangement was to apply to the Merchant’s Guild.

It would be a problem if he suddenly broke the rules with his power. I’m glad he agreed. If he tries to make trouble, I can always threaten to move the ship, but it’s definitely better not to get into trouble.

I asked what they would do about people from other countries, and they said they would name the person who caused the problem and ban the whole country from the ship.

It’s a business where we have an overwhelming advantage, but I wonder if it’s okay for us to be so aggressive. And I wonder if the people who caused the problem will be treated badly by those around them.

After buying the slaves and returning to the city of Cagliari, I heard that an envoy of the Crown Prince and his wife was coming to inform us of their participation in the ceremony. They brought with them their entourage of nobles and their wives, and they had reserved a large number of rooms in the Merchants’ Guild.

And they will stay for three days. I wonder if it’s okay for the Crown Prince to be away from the royal capital for three days.

By the way, it seems that last time the envoy’s transformation was well received, and he was invited to the Crown Prince’s wife’s living room, where the wives and noble ladies gathered to check every nook and cranny of his appearance. It is difficult to judge whether this was a reward or a humiliation.

Rumors of the Crown Prince and his wife’s attendance were circulating, applications from nobles who had not received invitations were pouring in, and they were being rejected to increase the scarcity value, and it was like a battlefield in places I could not judge.

I heard that the Merchant’s Guild in the city of Cagliari is also somehow managing to turn things around, as the old man has decided to greatly increase the number of members after Camille-san talked him through the process.

When I think back to the past month, I feel anxious about tomorrow’s ceremony. I’m just a supporting actor, but Camille-san, Mauro-san, and Donatella-san, please do your best.

By the way, I heard that the old man from the Merchant’s Guild had a hard time because there were no facilities to accommodate royalty, nobility, and wealthy merchants in the city of Cagliari, which had not yet been rebuilt. I am sorry.

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