Chapter 11
Lowering the angle of the corner of my mouth that twitched upward, I wrote a reply saying I would visit soon.
The date of the appointment… I had to follow the rule that it should be the day Salvior arranged.
I called Emma over, asking her to send the letter, and at the same time, I asked one thing.
Or rather, I got a bit excited.
“Emma, is there anything you want to do during the holiday?”
“Huh? Didn’t our schedule get postponed?”
“You never know. Maybe things will wrap up sooner than expected. Come on, tell me. We’ll make sure to do it.”
“In that case! I want to pick the local specialty cranberries myself and make a Berrycon for you, Miss.”
“Oh, we should make a schedule for you too.”
After my parents, Emma was the one who cared about me the most.
“Miss, how should I prepare for you tomorrow? It’s the day for staff interviews, right?”
“Ah, right! I’ve been so out of it lately… I hope I don’t look too scary. Hiring staff is urgent, after all.”
“Got it. How about braiding your hair tomorrow? It will make you look softer.”
“Yeah, sounds good. As always, Emma is one step ahead of me.”
Perhaps Emma even had a better sense for beauty than I did.
“No, thank you for the compliment. I’m really embarrassed. Shall I prepare your bath in ten minutes?”
“Yes, please.”
I should go to bed early today. I had been through too much.
Moreover, with staff on leave or vacation, and the manager not back yet, working alone was exhausting.
Every day took a tremendous toll on my energy.
I needed to soak in warm water and get a proper night’s sleep to handle my schedule without issue.
So, the names of the people being interviewed today were:
Jane, and Berry.
‘I remember Emma talking about cranberries yesterday.’
I thought about the light conversation as I opened the salon door inside the shop.
Emma had chosen today’s interviewees.
I wasn’t bad at judging people myself, but Emma was remarkably perceptive.
Also, I was too busy to review more than fifty applicants carefully.
‘I feel uneasy that I didn’t read the applications closely.’
If I hire someone and they turn out to be unsuitable, I could just train them well.
Harshly, if needed.
So, no need to worry yet.
I had scheduled interviews with the two people Emma selected, spacing them an hour apart.
The first to arrive was Jane.
“Hello! I really want to learn from Daphne!”
Jane greeted with a strong, confident voice—clearly ready to work.
She had some shortcomings. Being young and inexperienced with noble society, she had a few rough edges.
Still, they were cute enough to overlook.
Once the manager returned, staff training could begin, or I could teach them in the meantime.
Jane had worked two years in a bakery, three years as a café waiter, and one year in a clothing store for commoners.
Considering her age, she had worked long and diligently.
“You want to learn to make wedding dresses?”
“Yes! I’ve heard I have nimble hands. I think I’m good at sewing too. I even helped with stitching as a child for payment!”
“Really? I like that. Alright, you can leave for now.”
I was already leaning toward Jane. I urgently needed a competent worker.
Her home was far, so I even gave her money for a carriage ride.
‘Like interview expenses, I guess.’
She smiled brightly, having never received something like that before, which I liked.
I almost felt I didn’t even need to meet Berry.
Ding-dong
The bell on the door rang.
The applicant named Berry hesitated as she entered.
‘Huh?’
Was this really an interviewee? She looked familiar.
It was the same green-haired rookie I had seen at the magic shop yesterday.
“Hello! I’m Berry, here for the interview today.”
She introduced herself with a lively voice, though not as bold as Jane.
“Berry, have we met before?”
“No? No, this is my first time here!”
She didn’t seem to recognize me from the magic shop.
‘Hmm… If she works at a magic shop, she must be a mage. And she wants to do the tough job of carrying and making dresses?’
Could she use magic to lift wedding dresses? Thinking that way was oddly intriguing.
I gestured for Berry, who was staring at the shop’s interior, to come inside.
“Then let’s start the interview. Please come in.”
She nodded, startled, and followed me into the reception room, standing in front of the sofa after glancing around.
“…?”
“…!”
“Please, sit on the sofa.”
“May I sit here?”
“Yes, of course.”
She seemed unusual. I thought it would be better to hire Jane.
I judged her application with bias.
Worked at Tityze Magic Shop for 2 months.
What kind of experience is that?
I stared at her in disbelief. Usually, work experience under six months isn’t even listed anywhere in the world—or in any dimension.
I stared at the boldly written ‘2’.
“…Worked at a magic shop for two months, you say?”
“Yes!”
“Ha… alright.”
I glanced at her academic background. After dropping out of the academy, I usually didn’t care about education.
‘I was foolish to ask Emma to filter applications.’
Did I trust my maid’s judgment too much?
I sighed deeply as I looked at Berry’s education. Then I realized why Emma picked her application.
Graduated top of Mainmaim Magic Academy
Mainmaim Magic Academy was the most prestigious, longest-established academy in the empire.
Tuition was high, and only one child with the most magical talent from a family could attend.
So why was such a talented young lady working as a low-level employee at a magic shop?
Why did she leave her major to apply to a wedding dress shop?
Before I could ask, she spoke first, telling her story.
“I… graduated, but while attending, there was a mentor who helped me. A commoner like me, he supported my tuition so I could study. But due to certain circumstances, he passed away.”
Wait. I dislike dramatic backstories, and she started with one.
I crossed my arms, waiting to hear the rest.
“My mentor was loyal to the family he served, but he died because of them. After that, I lost all interest in the academy after just two years.”
“….”
“But thanks to my twin, Rain, I managed to graduate. But…”
Suddenly, she began crying.
I handed her a napkin in surprise.
She wiped her eyes and explained why she wanted to leave the magic shop.
“I didn’t want to go to the Magic Tower… I only had three options to earn a living: work at the tower, work for a noble family, or join a magic shop.”
“…So you worked at a magic shop?”
“I studied magic for over ten years, so I didn’t understand the world well. I feared loyalty because of my mentor. I was also scared of reconnecting with people from my past who bullied me at the academy.”
“So for you, the magic shop was a last resort.”
“Yes… But I couldn’t even work properly at the magic shop. That’s when I realized I’m someone who should be distant from ‘magic.’ But I must earn a living so my twin, Rain, can continue research. He’s currently in the Bratten region for work.”
Bratten. The middle of nowhere.
Her situation was pitiful.
But I wanted competent staff. What help could someone who had only studied magic bring to my shop?
Seeing my hesitation, she clenched her fists and exclaimed:
“I… can lift heavy things well. Not literally what I lift! But I can manage teleportation magic easily.”
“And?”
“…I also studied accounting at the academy. I’m confident in that work!”
“Hm, then what do you know about wedding dresses? How can you help?”
“I’ve made clothing with magical stones a few times, and my sewing was rated highly! Also… I can always greet customers with a cheerful smile.”
She had done her best PR.
I told her she could leave for now. I said we’d inform her within three days, but my mind kept returning to Jane.
Someone who graduated top of the empire’s best magic academy felt too valuable to work here.
She could easily find a place paying better, making full use of her skills.
Perhaps reading my indifference, Berry turned back as she was leaving and spoke again.
