Elsa and I were on our way back home.

"Oh my God!

　I saw a man in work clothes coming from across the street.
　He looked pale.
　Screaming, breathing hard, like he's running away from something.
　--What's wrong with that Kamru guy? What happened to him? Could there be a monster in the village, and he's after her?

　I was alarmed, but it was not a demon but Anna, the second of the three sisters, who came running after Kamru.
　Her hair was in a braid, hanging down from her left shoulder.
　She had a face like a noble cat that ten out of ten people who saw her would think, 'She's cute, but she looks strong.
　A thirty-something worker was desperately running away from a teenage girl.
　It was as if the monster was chasing him.

'Dad!　Get Mr. Kamul!
'What?　Oh, yeah.

　I accepted my daughter's request and stood in front of the worker, Kamru.

'Get out of the way!　Kaisel!
"Not so fast. It's my daughter's request. As a parent, I'm asking you for a favor. --I'm sorry, but you need to give yourself up!

　I tackled Kamru and fell into the street.

"G-ha-ha!
Nice, Dad!

　Anna snapped her fingers and came running to me.

"Why did Kamru run away?
Nothing is wrong with me. This guy's been sneaking drinks on the job and I've been slacking off. I'm gonna give him a squeeze.
I don't have a choice!　We need to take a break once in a while!
You don't get a break from work. That's why I have the mine hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., five days a week.
'We want to work when we feel like it and leave when we feel like it!　Regularity isn't in my nature!
"It wouldn't be very efficient. When you work, you work hard. When you work, you work hard. I think it's important to keep yourself in check.

　Anna said.

'Mostly because if you can work as hard as my dad, two days a week, three hours a day, you'll still make the same profit.
Don't be absurd!　Kaiser is on a monster level!　This guy alone has enough horsepower for a hundred workers!
Right?　It's the first time I've ever been able to whine when I'm as good as my dad. You have to work eight hours a day, five days a week, exactly.
But don't you think that's a bad idea for a kid to be in our business?
'Hmmm . . since the kids started meddling in your business, the coal mine profits have hit an all-time high?
Guh. ......!
No, it's okay. If I stepped down as a foreman... I'm just being paid to do it. I'll let your boss and your wife know.
Oh, no, I don't want to do that!

　Kamru said in a panic.

'Both you and your wife have a lot of faith in Anna!　If they tipped me off, I'd be out of a position at work and at home!

　Kamru kneels on the ground, clinging to Anna's legs and pleading with her .
　A thirty-something man begs a ten-year-old girl for forgiveness.
　It was a great picture.

"Well, I'll work, dammit," she said. Okay?
'Yes, yes ......'
All right, I'd better get back in the field. Quickly, or you're going to lose your precious lunch break, okay?
d*mn it!

　Kamul spat and ran towards the coal mine.

'Huh. ....... I thought all adults were supposed to be just like their dad. In fact, they're just kids in adult clothing. If you spoil them a bit they complain, skip work, make excuses. We can't afford to let our guard down.

　Anna let out a deep, stunned sigh.
　She didn't look like a ten-year-old.

You've been working hard. Working as a foreman in the mines, repairing damage to the village from the last typhoon. And lately you've been running a tavern, haven't you?



　So--.
　Anna, the second daughter, was a skilled manager and motivator.
　She was involved in countless businesses that doubled their profits through her involvement, and any disputes were quickly settled when she interceded.
　Anna was also well-liked by her elders.
　She was the master of the mines, the village chief and the tavern master. She was very good at tapping into the pockets of her elders.
　Elsa had a different kind of promise.

I help out because the other side asks me to. The experience will help when I join the guild in the future.
'Anna's dream is to be a guildmaster, isn't it?
Elsa said she wanted to be an adventurer. He's never been anything but a good swordsman. I'm going to have to manage him.
Wow, I can do a lot more than just sword!
Yeah. So, do you keep track of your household expenses and stuff?　Do you have any idea how much money you need to live on in a month?
............

　Elsa's eyes were glazed over.
　She seemed to have overheated.
　Apparently, she's very bad with numbers.

There you go.

　Anna smiled triumphantly.

'And I also want to support people who are adventurers like my dad. I thought the guild master position would be the best for me.

　I knew .
　To achieve her goal of becoming a guild master, Anna makes a dream notebook of what she'll do when she's __________.
　She's setting goals year by year.
　I'm sure her dream will come true.

Are Dad and Elsa coming home now?
Yeah. Bake an apple pie.
'Apple pie!　Is that your dad's handiwork?
Of course. I'm gonna take my sweet time with it.
Great!　I'm coming with you!
Is your job good?
There's nothing like a job to take precedence over daddy's apple pie.

　Anna's face lit up and she wrapped her arms around me.
　The adult-like nature of her earlier days is gone, and she is spoiling you to the hilt. ...... This is the kind of place where she is still an innocent, innocent child of ten years old.
　I took Elsa and Anna and headed home.