The night dawned.
　The streets of Akiba in the early morning were filled with the crisp October air. At this time of day, when the sun had not yet risen in earnest, the air was moist and cool, filled with silence.
　In the Elder Tail, the city of Akiba shares its geography and general structure with that of the Old World, but of course it is different as well.
　The city is wrapped in ancient trees, and the main streets and squares here and there are covered in greenery, with moss and grasses rippling across the land.
　Deciduous trees and tall bushes wrap around the city. The city of Akiba has a strange landscape where the ruins of tall buildings and nature are fused together.

　The dew drops of an autumn morning are dripping wetly down on the greenery.
　Feeling the drops on her toes as she walked, Minori hurried to the guild hall.

　It was the morning of the second day of the "Balance Festival", the so-called Autumn Festival.
　Unlike the first day, when the festival started at noon, today's second day was entirely devoted to a series of events.
　The main features of the festival are the various displays and sales that will be held on the second day, a dinner party in the name of Princess Reinesia, and the Akiba Yorozu Market, which starts tonight and continues into the night on the third day. That's right, the real work of the Autumn Festival begins today.

　Perhaps it's that sense of anticipation, but the normally quiet streets of the early morning are quiet, and people can be seen here and there carrying their goods. They must be people carrying goods to the stalls, or rushing to get the items they noticed missing that day.

　When we came to the entrance of the guild hall, we could see a number of 'adventurers' coming and going. Minori entered the obsidian-like building while forcing herself to greet them cheerfully.
　The Log Horizon was one of the 11 guilds that made up the Round Table, and Minori often comes in and out of the guild hall as an assistant to Shiroe. I'm not sure I've ever heard of it, but I'm sure I've heard of it.

　I didn't go to the floor where the Roundtable and its reference room and office are located, where I've come to help out a few times, but instead headed towards the Producers Guild Liaison Association today. I know where it is because I once came on an errand from Shiroe to pick up some materials.

　The floor was filled with a hectic atmosphere since early morning. The large oak doors were opened in a Kannon style, with a number of wooden boxes protruding into the hallway.

　The Growers Guild Liaison Association is the main organization for this year's festival. That's why it's full of energy even at this time of night. Words of instruction that almost sound like shouting are flying from inside, and people are rushing in and out of the room, rushing out and carrying their belongings in a hurry.

　Minori quietly walked through the door and greeted the adventurer, who she knew. He was a craftsman from the Eighth Shopping District, I believe.

'What's the matter?　Minori-chan.
Well, you see. --Mr. Karasin, are you there?
　Minori feels uncomfortable. If I were to put it that way, it would be similar to "feeling like you've walked into the club room of a club you're not a member of.

　The craftsman laughed at the restless Minori and said, "Ah, he's in the back. Why don't you come in?　It's all over the place, but bear with me there! He told me. His voice was loud, probably because he was high from being up all night. It's not that he did anything wrong, but Minori felt vaguely apologetic as she headed to the back of the office.

　There was a reason why Minori had come to a place like this so early in the morning.
　Last night, he had seen the secret scene between Akatsuki and Shiroe and felt depressed at his own shallowness, but Minori's own goal for this autumn festival was to snowball Shiroe's bad reputation.

　His original plan to do so was to get an invitation to the big dinner party while gaining attention by participating in a cake buffet. By attending the dinner and chatting with the attendees, Shiroe would increase her favorability.

(It ended up failing in the end, though...)

　Twelve whole cakes is too much to ask, Minori thinks.
　It's mean, totally - but it's inevitable.
　But that being said, in order to complete the mission, I had to think of another way to accomplish the mission. What I came up with after gathering my unfamiliar wisdom was a direct appeal to the Producer's Guild Liaison Association.
　Fortunately, I was acquainted with Karashin of the Eighth Shopping Arcade, who runs this place. I wondered if there was any way I could get a copy of the invitation, if there were any left over.　With this in mind, Minori had come to the Growers' Guild Liaison Association.

　However, Karashin's situation was far from satisfactory. Is this the central office of the Growers Guild Liaison Association or is it a conference room?　There was a wall of papers pinched in that large room, and that was exactly what it was, a wall of papers.
　Massive amounts of paperwork were familiar in Shiroe's study, and he had heard that in this computer-free world, papers would quickly proliferate, but the level of confusion in this room was nothing compared to Shiroe's study. Shiroe's study showed at least a willingness to be tidy and efficient, but all there was in this office was chaos and entropy.

　In a corner of the table in the center of the room, Kalashin and his colleague, a boy, were desperately trying to protect their work space (civilized). But in vain, their modest territory is threatened by a bundle of papers (the barbarians who are rushing in) and they are breathing the blues.

　Minori hesitates to call out to Karashin, who looks horrible. Just then, a man enters the room from behind Minori and begins to report in a cheerful voice.
''Karashin-san!　I've brought the sales list and forms for the south block!　Please help me out!
　After adding a decent amount of documents to the table, the young man immediately left, but the blow changed the power structure on the table. The tower of wavering documents slipped through Minori's outstretched fingertips and collapsed. Through a chain reaction like dominoes falling, the bundle of documents (the barbarians pushing in) began to raise the specter of invasion one after another.

''Ahh!'' Hee!
　Karasin and his assistant's faces, which sounded like screams, were pale with despair. It's only natural under such circumstances. After a round of horrible language abuse, Minori called out to the two of them fearfully as they began to sluggishly rebuild the tower of documents.

'Can I help you, sir?'
That. ...er...Shiroe's place. Was it Minori-chan?
Yeah. I'll help you.
　Minori rolls up the arms of her long-sleeved blouse. I'm not going to let such a mess of paperwork go unnoticed, and I had a hunch that if I helped out here and helped Karashin's confidence improve, he would listen to my request.

I'm sure you will. ...Taro, tea, please. The strong stuff.
Yeah, I get it.
　After watching the boy wander off, wondering how much continuous labor he had done, Karasin and Minori began to collect the wads of papers that had been scattered about. A quick look at them revealed that they seemed to be documents related to today's exhibition and sale. Other notifications related to business transactions, questionnaires, instructions, tax forms, and all sorts of other things are jumbled up and sorted and pinched into a pile just because the paper is similar in size.

'Karashin-san........um. These are all different kinds, though.
I know they're all in pieces, but once they fall apart, it's impossible to know how they're classified. There is no fixed format or paper to begin with, so even if they are documents for the same purpose, their sizes are all different.
　Kalashin grunted as his shoulders slumped.

I didn't think it would be this hard. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this. I wonder if they don't pay their taxes.
Mr. Daichijin, what's going on?
'No, last minute changes and additions are normal, it's just business. I didn't expect this many people to be there. The paperwork isn't as good as it should be, and I guess it's a different culture.
　You know the rest.　Karashin shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "I'm sorry. It's true that it's a bit of a mess. I know I have to sort through it all, but in the meantime, I've been receiving an incessant stream of inquiries and urgings. It's difficult to track down documents once they're lost in the pile.

　Of course, the Karashin that Shiroe had bought was very responsive to the field and the staff seemed to be diligent. Their reactions to inquiries were quick and immediate.
　But on the contrary, that decision-making ability is what keeps the field spinning even when reports and documents don't get sorted out, and it allows them to postpone problems. It was a composition that was good for now, but Karasin was gradually being driven to the edge. Pre-submissions and ever-increasing amounts of paperwork were being put on the back burner.

I'm going to be here to help you.
'Is that okay?　Isn't there a lot going on today with Record Horizon?
　After a bit of thought, Minori declared. The route from the cake buffet was cut off, so it's true that we have time. Shiroe said she had some help from the Crescent Moon Alliance, but if the need arose, wherever she was, she would be summoned by telekinesis.

"I'm not busy,
Now, no offense, but can I ask you to do something for me? I have to admit, I haven't gotten around to the paperwork. I've heard that Henrietta is very busy today.
　Minori nodded at Karasin's words. He had heard from Shiroe that Henrietta was also involved in the liaison group's business. It may be that she was left out of the quick sale, which led to this confusing situation.

Anyway, let's get this sorted out.
　Minori sets the handy tower of papers down on the floor and pulls the paper and ink out of the pochette. The rank isn't exactly high, but it's something he made up himself.
　He places the pocketknife, still in its sheath, in place of a paperweight and begins to read from the top of the tower of papers. No hurry, but hurry. It was the custody certificate for the package they had brought into the warehouse. Minori nods one nod and places it in the slightly empty space. A certificate of custody, one. Next to that, an offender's report from the patrol. Report form, one.
　First step. Don't get discouraged, even if it's small. You've just started, so it's only natural for you to make small achievements. It's important to be dedicated.

　--I haven't done anything yet.
　Minori moaned in coal tar-like agony.
　He found himself longing for Shiroe, and despite his fondness for her, he hadn't started walking.
　If that was the case, then he had to start something.

　If I like Shiroe, then I need to do something for her.
　I'm still just a middle schooler who could be anywhere, but Minori wished to be someone who could give Shiroe something to do in order to boast that she was in love with him.
　That was the conclusion Minori came to after overcoming a night full of bitterness that burned her lungs.

　The master's back, which he had aimed for just to be with him, without even thinking deeply about it because of his admiration, now took on a different meaning in Minori's mind.
　If he only wanted to follow Shiroe, if he only wanted to see the same view as Shiroe, then his back could be the goal. But if he wanted to help Shiroe, he would have to acquire another power. It would probably be hard to walk the same path while aiming for another power, but that was exactly the route Minori wanted to take right now.

　The adventurer's improvement in the physical abilities of an adventurer also applied to his eyesight and reflexes.
　Minori took advantage of this and sorted through the documents with incredible speed. The ones that looked like they would need to be dealt with immediately after a quick glance through them would be thrown one after another into the crates borrowed from the vicinity. This would have to be checked regularly by Karasin. The other documents would be grouped together by type.

　Minori's current sub-occupation is "Apprentice Apprentice. Minori didn't like being a seamstress and wanted to change her sub-occupation, but she couldn't decide what to choose. It was then that Shiroe's suggestion to become an Apprentice Apprentice came into his life.
　While apprenticeships are included in the sub-apprenticeship system, they are not professions in the general sense of the word. The system is similar to the role-playing accountants and fortune tellers, but with stranger characteristics.
　The Apprentice Apprentice could "copy" some of the sub-occupational skills of other registered players that could be learned at a lower level. Minori made paper and ink and carried it with her because she "apprenticed" to Shiroe - that is, she registered as a master and copied the skills (skills).

　You can copy skills quickly and with the experience acquisition bonus, an apprentice can level up quickly and have a certain amount of things to do right from the start, which is good for growth. However, the skills that can be copied by an Apprentice are limited to mid-level and below. In that sense, it's an incomplete and unattractive sub-profession.

　The true characteristics of the Apprentice lie in the later stages of growth. It is possible to change to almost any sub-occupation, with the exception of a few special sub-occupations that require you to change jobs, and you can transfer your experience to any of them.
　For example, if an adventurer raised to 30th level in the Apprentice's Apprenticeship, if he moved to the Cook's Apprentice, he would not start at 1st level, but would be able to move to 30th level.
　It is said that if you want to become an apprentice in a sub-occupation such as Blacksmith, which requires more work to level up, going through an apprentice is not a bad idea. However, there are some problems with this, such as the need for a master, and the fact that the number of recipes in the item creation menu does not increase as you level up, so you need to work harder to expand your repertoire.

　However, Minori didn't mind such shortcomings.
　Originally, it was a sub-profession to imitate Shiroe, so a handicap of that magnitude would be meaningless as a handicap. Besides, the same skills as Shiroe's scribe are now of great use in this chaotic battle against paperwork.

　On the "form" he had roughly prepared on a cheap piece of paper, Minori transcribed from one to the next the notification forms for the items she wanted to sell. Whenever a certain number of documents were gathered, he copied them and put the originals in a wooden box. Shiroe's help made her familiar with the process of compiling mere notification documents into usable materials.

　Minori looks around at the pile of documents.
　In this battlefield, there must be something that Shiroe had already acquired, but which she could not acquire in the battle of the Elder Tail. What it is, what it means or not, Minori doesn't know right now.
　There are a number of hints buried in the vast amount of knowledge Shiroe has taught him so far. Not just about the knowledge of the game, but about the running of the guild, about the various things that happened in the past, about the various situations in which we compete for our wills, not just physical combat. Even though I know that there must be a secret to 'it' in the many interjections I've heard from Shiroe, Minori's lack of experience in operating it is a drag.

　-- that's why it's here to stay.
　Minori's decision is to continue the battle. And on top of that, she aims to get as close as possible to achieving the mission.

'Minori-chan, you're very crafty.'
I'm Mr. Shiroe's apprentice.

　Minori smiled and replied, her expression had a strength that hadn't existed until yesterday.



　◆



　The second day of the festival.
　Shiroe was having an early lunch or a late breakfast. The place was the cafeteria "Issenya" near "Kanda Water". The recent increase in the number of restaurants operated by the Daichijin is probably due to the influence of the cultural setting of the game, but most of them serve simple Western-style food.
　However, many of Yamato's adventurers are Japanese in origin, and Shiroe in particular, who is a male, has an urge to eat teishoku.

　Iczenya is one of the oldest teishoku-ya in Akiba.
　It opened its doors early after the formation of the Round Table Conference, and has been researching and serving Japanese teishoku since the time when there was neither soy sauce nor miso. Back then, the menu consisted of only salted fish, white rice and pickled vegetables, but today, with the development of both soy sauce and miso, one can enjoy a flavorful Japanese meal.

　Normally this restaurant is very popular, but since it was a festival day and the time was early, there were few customers in the restaurant. Shiroe has no objection to the quietness of the restaurant.

'Good evening, sweetheart.'

　Brought in front of Shiroe was a set meal of grilled sunfish.
　It's not a particularly special dish, but in this case it's worth being ordinary. There's no need for such an extraordinary case of a dozen cakes. Shiroe clasps her hands together, thinking that she'd rather eat slowly, especially when she's alone.
　The pre-dinner "Itadakimasu" has been a disciplined chant since she was in her former world, but it has turned into a sincere prayer since she found something delicious to eat in this world. Living a sluggish life as a drifter in another world, a good meal is more nourishment for the soul than anything else. I naturally feel grateful for the food that soothes my heart.


　Shiroe used a pair of black lacquered chopsticks to dexterously loosen the saury and then shoveled it in with the white rice. I couldn't get enough of the fatty saury and the refreshing spiciness of the grated radish.

'Oh, I'm Japanese after all.

　As for Shiroe, she is deeply relieved only after the tragedy of yesterday. Today is the second day of the festival, and the plan is to help out as requested by Henrietta. But I haven't heard any details from Henrietta. Probably in the afternoon, I'll be contacted by telekinesis function.
　After waking up, I made a round of the guild house, but the only one I found was Nyanta. The other members seemed to have gone out on their own errands and helpers, which made Shiroe feel a little disappointed.
　The other members of the guild seem to be out doing their own thing, and Shiroe feels a little disappointed.

　Normally, the guild members' meals are prepared by Nyanta, for whatever reason, so this is an unusual meal for Shiroe. The food is prepared by Nyanta, who is a good cook himself and has a high level of skill at cooking, so the normal diet of the Record Horizon is rich.

　However, eating out once in a while is not a bad idea.
　Shiroe is eating a saury set meal. Sanma, rice and miso soup. Sometimes it's pickled vegetables. The loop of it brings us happiness.
　But soon, Shiroe is eating like a young man of his age when a couple of acquaintances come up to his table.

"Yo, "Haraguro glasses.
It's been a while.
　The one who raised one hand and greeted me casually was Isaac the Black Swordsman, head of the Black Sword Knights, and next to him was Krusty the Mad Titan, the leader of D.D.D., with a serious expression on his face. Next to him was Krusty, a serious-looking, grim-faced madman leading the D.D.D.
　What are two masters of Akiva's proud fighting guild doing in a place like this?　Shiroe thought to himself, but he was at the dinner table. He decided to give a very Japanese reply, "Thank you.

　After refusing Shiroe's request to share a table with him, the two men turned around and ordered a meal. They ordered a horse mackerel set meal and a meat and tofu set meal. Together with Shiroe's saury teishoku, it was an extremely masculine and venerable Japanese teishoku scene.

What are you doing with your "Haraguro glasses"?　Right here.
You want to eat?
　Shiroe points to the sunfish set meal with a glance at Isaac, who asks as he half leans out of his chair.

''Looks ... tasty, sunfish.''
No, sir.
Tsk.
　Isaac clicks his tongue abominably. However, he is not sarcastic. It's not a sarcastic feeling, it's more of a friendly yankee. I'm sure you'll find that Krusty, on the other hand, has a scholarly air about him, and he's looking at you with a calm gaze.

I'm not sure what's wrong with you two.　Isn't it unusual for them to be together?
Yeah, sure.
　Krusty takes the second half of Isaac's words.
"Our guild was in charge of the festival guard. As guildmasters, we had a meeting.

　For this event, the Black Sword Guild and the D.D.D. guilds are working as vigilante guards.
　However, since they are acting as volunteers, they were said to be short on manpower.
　The patrols of the festival do not seem as spectacular as Zantorieff's war effort. Shiroe thinks it's natural, in a way, that the lack of spontaneous volunteers can't be gathered, as everyday security that lacks a morale boosting element is probably just a tedious chore.
　I'm sure the two of them must have a lot of trouble finding volunteers. When I said this in a few words, Isaac laughed and shrugged his shoulders and said, "It's my job, so I'll just have to do it.

　Then their meals were brought to them.
　You will find that you will be able to get a lot more than you bargained for.
　The two of them eat immediately. It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for. Itzenya is a well-stocked teishoku-ya, but for three men of their age, the pace of their meals is quite fast.

　The best part is that three of the 11 guild masters of Akiba's autonomy, the Round Table, are seated at the same table. It's a good thing that the three of them are in the same room with the rest of the guildmasters.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of people who will be able to help you. Isaac said directly in the middle, "Hey, Krusty. Where are you going with Princess Reinesia?　What?　Krusty said, "I'm not sure I understand what you mean by that. He was just trying to make a swipe at them.

　Shiroe, who had started eating first, finished before the two of us. I thought about asking him to leave, but it was a festival outside and Shiroe was in holiday mode. Also, it seemed reluctant to leave the table while they were eating, so they just went along with the conversation.
　A roundtable is a meeting. There are some topics that go along with the agenda, but these rambling chats are rare and refreshing. Problems with patrolling, guild personnel exchange, transfers, acquisition of new recruits - dealing with people who have moved in from Susquino, and being wary of goblins.
　It was quite interesting to exchange frank opinions on those topics that also come up in meetings. More than that, it was also interesting to hear Isaac's lighthearted comments and the slightest hint of Reinesia's story that leaked out of the tight-lipped Krusty.
　Gathering and exchanging information was another part of a guildmaster's job, Shiroe thought, and he enjoyed the conversation to a degree that was surprising to him.

　Even the martial artist Isaac, aside from Shiroe and Krusty, seemed to know a lot about the city's "adventurers".

　It's a great deal of information that Shiroe knew from his reports, but the opinions of those who actually deal with it in the field are always the most reliable. I need to get out a bit more, Shiroe thinks.

　The conversation comes to an abrupt halt when the proprietor himself brings a cup of hot tea.

"Hey, 'bellygro'."
What is it?
　Isaac calls out to Shiroe, who was organizing the information from the conversation from earlier into bullet points in his brain.

'It's been bothering me for a while now. It's all about that day in the formation of the Roundtable. Can I ask you a question?
Yeah.
That day, we were. We were astonished at the new cooking method. I'm sure the guild of combatants didn't notice anything like that. Are you sure that was a good idea?
　Crusty also looked at Shiroe with interest as Isaac cut to the chase.

'What do you mean?'
No, that's why. I'm just saying that it was too much of a gamble for a combat commander. Who else might have figured out how to make that item?　If that happens, all is lost. If the story gets out, Mititaka and the Fairy Doctor wouldn't have loaned the Crescent Alliance the money, would they?　If that happens, that side will lose the funds to buy up the guild hall. The very foundation of the operation would collapse.

Yes.
"Could it be that the whole point of the mission was to leave it up to chance?　That's why I want to fill in the blanks. "Is the 'belly-glasses' really a schemer or a gambler?"

　Isaac's question.
　Isaac's question was about Shiroe's operational planning ability. The Round Table Conference was certainly a success. Shiroe overcame many hurdles to convince the assembled members.
　But that was the result. Isaac's concern is that the strategy may have been flawed.

(That's a fair point.)
　--I'm sure you're not alone. This is a good sign. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do with it.

'Oh, that's it. --That's right, you were there, weren't you?
　So Shiroe answered frankly.
　That's not to say that there weren't other adventurers who noticed the method of cooking, and perhaps there were others besides Nyanta who did. Of all the hurdles, Shiroe believes that cooking was the easiest to open.

　There are about 30,000 Japanese players who have been transported to the world of Elder Tail. Roughly speaking, if three percent of those players were cooks, that's 900; and if half of those 900 were capable of cooking normal food in the real world, as opposed to in this world, that's 450.
　In other words, there were about 450 adventurers who had the potential to discover a new way of cooking.
　But how many of those 450 adventurers actually prepared the ingredients for their meals? In a world without kitchens, the chances of them buying new cooking utensils and experimenting with camping were "not very high. But that doesn't mean it's not possible. --It's only a matter of time.
　How many adventurers will be able to get there within a month in the midst of all the hustle and bustle since the catastrophe?　Underestimating, Shiroe had predicted that it was one-third; it might have been around 150 people.

　And at that time, there were about half the players in Akiba's city as there were in the Japanese server. Putting it all together, there were about seventy-five adventurers in Akiba who fit the bill.

　Whether or not Nyanta was the "first to discover the truth about item creation" on this server is not known. However, he was one of the fastest group of people on the server. If the number of people in the group was about 75, he may have been the "first to discover". However, in a strict sense, Shiroe wasn't interested in such things in the first place.

''Then it was a gamble after all?''
'No, not really.' --It doesn't make that much sense to notice it in the first place. The reason we set up Crescent Moon, the snack seller, was to make connections with the three major production guilds. The funding was a hurdle, but we didn't see it as much of a problem.
Is that so?
　Shiroe nodded at Krusty's confirmation, which seemed surprising.

'Why?　I think the money is what matters most. As long as you can buy up the money, you can threaten us, at worst, and the conference can be formed. Because that's where the balls are.
'No. That's no good. It will only spark other problems. In the first place, the funds could have been earned in another way. Sooner or later, the money was made.
How?
Any way you slice it. ... cooking was a new innovation, but the biggest revolution that happened with the disaster was the idea of the relationship between menu items and skills. If you can get that right, you can make money, even if it takes a little bit of time.
I'm sure that's true.
　Krusty explains to Isaac, who cocks his head in disbelief.

I'm sure you had other skills besides cooking, at that point in time. If you were working with the Crescent Moon Alliance, you would have had skills in other fields. In other words, in addition to cooking, you could've had a steam engine, or a clothing line, or some other invention. ...There are probably a certain number of adventurers in the Elder Tail who are cooks themselves, who cook in their daily lives. Cooking is an everyday activity in the Old World, too. But there aren't many people who worked as blacksmiths or carpenters on Old Earth. Indeed, cooking is the easiest door to open. It wouldn't have been easy to notice in any of the other sub professions.
I could have made money in a sub-occupation that was less likely to be detected, or I could have done something else.
Really?

　At Isaac's words, Shiroe shrugged and produced a piece of paper from his pack. Taking one look at it, Krusty chuckled and Isaac was taken aback.

'It's an IOU. I can make one with a scribe. If you take this, you can borrow money from the bank; it looks like you can borrow 30,000 gold coins for about 50 levels of ink. .........although it seems that since I'm only borrowing it, the repayment is automatically taken from my account. Oh, come to think of it, you can make a contract between adventurers too.
Really?
Yes, I can make other things, too. You know you can issue quests, right?　All you have to do is issue a high-priced quest for yourself. ... Well, it only generates the cost of producing ink and paper, and a ton of money.
　Isaac was stifled by Siloe's stilted words.

That's why making money is a hurdle, but not the biggest one. By the same token, it doesn't make sense to have a 'monopoly' on a new method of item creation. The most important thing was to get the Round Table together, and in order to do that, we had to get your approval.
　If we were to get your cooperation, monopolizing the profits of the Round Table would only be a disadvantage. If the Roundtable won't work, and even if it does, it will become something else entirely. I like Akiba's streets, but I didn't want to do what I wanted.
　Even if the mystery of the cooking method leaked out through a third party route other than us, that's okay. It's a blow and a setback, but it's not a fatal failure.
　--It's more painful to be distrusted as a crack in the negotiations.

　Isaac loses his voice at Shiroe's statement.
　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that the exposure of the new technology and the takeover of the guild hall were all just bluffs and a showpiece. Isaac is shocked that Shiroe used all those trump cards as a showpiece.
　But for Shiroe, it's only natural. He may be able to bend the actions of others, but he can't put his soul in chains. If you want to buy conviction, you have to persuade them in good faith.

'To gain consent, you must propose a pitfall that you can all agree on. "In order to get people to agree with you, you must propose a solution that you can accept. Create an atmosphere of majority manipulation. ...to be able to make that final push.

　There was truth in Shiroe's words, as well as strength in them.
　I'm sure there were other adventurers who had figured out the mysteries of the cooking method back then. But there were few adventurers who were able to spread their techniques to other sub-professions. As far as Shiroe was concerned, there were only two: Shiroe and the Western Nagon.
　It was clear to Shiroe that the technology would soon spread. The spread of good food and new items would give hope to the adventurers who would have to live in this world. It doesn't make much difference whose mouth it comes from. What Shiroe wanted was to set up a Round Table as part of the staging process.

　That is--
I don't think you can say the same about Minami.
　Krusty opened his mouth with a timing that seemed to trace Shiroe's thoughts.

　At Krusty's words, Isaac and Shiroe let out a small sigh. It's not like anything has happened. There has been no official announcement or communication at all. And so it was, the West Japan - the relationship with the Holy Empire West Runde was becoming a bigger problem for the city of Akiva by the day.



　◆



　I stepped back in time. At the same time, in another corner of town, the women of the Crescent Moon Alliance were preparing for a winter clothing exhibition and sale.

　The place was a newly built auditorium called the White and Silver Hall. On Old Earth, it was the site of a huge electrical retail complex, but in this other world, Akiba, it has been replaced with ruins.
　I spent about two months refurbishing that abandoned building to make this Silver White Hall. Although it is a ruin, the upper floor was "broken", but the base of the building is still intact, and the high ceiling and hotel-like structure made it less difficult to renovate.

　With the development of a method of shaping the wooden frame, pouring cement into it, and then shaping the surface with plaster, the renovation of abandoned buildings became much easier. This was another change that occurred after the formation of the Round Table, and the work progressed at a rapid pace.
　The adventurers had the ability to create items in a short period of time, and they also had the on-site labor force, including spirits, which was a plus.

　The interior of the Silver Hall is divided into several halls and event halls. The first floor hall, the largest hall in the building, was considered to be the main venue for the fall festival. Many guilds were making final preparations for their sales booths there.

　The Crescent Moon Alliance's clothing sales stage was one of those many guilds, and they had decorated their own booth.
　The booth was about five meters square, with not much room to spare if you put a wooden box for goods and a table for accounting. There were shelves that had been converted from a chest of drawers for display, and the most important exhibit, a tunic dyed by plants and trees, was hung there.
　Marielle and a few other members involved in the clothing business work as vendors. Akatsuki, who was abducted early in the morning as a helper, was decorated by Henrietta, who was unusually enthusiastic in the corner of such a booth.

''Akatsuki-chan, you're so cute! Really!　I'm going to be a meltdown.
I wish this was all right...
　Henrietta's heart mark sizzles as Akatsuki declares with a troubled upward glance. But at Akatsuki's words as she tries to escape, she holds her wrist firmly and ruthlessly declares, "Not yet.

　What Akatsuki was being made to wear was a grass-dyed tunic blouse that was being displayed as a product. It was coordinated with a black undershirt and an asymmetrical cotton wrapped skirt. The fringe at the bottom of the skirt and the wooden bead necklace unified the ethnic and cute image of the blouse.

'Since we're here, let's put on a little makeup, shall we?
I'm not really good with makeup, and...
Don't worry. --You'll be fine.
　Henrietta kneels on the floor to meet Akatsuki's eye level. Akatsuki feels an ominous feeling and tries to run away, but he

　However, I'm embarrassed to wear makeup.
　Especially in this other world, looking at your own face in the mirror sullenly makes you feel embarrassed, as if you are somehow seeking a narcissistic sense of pleasure and beauty.

　On the original earth, I would have done it without a second thought, but now that I think about it again, make-up seems like an outrageous action. If it were a game, it would be a texture change. It's the kind of thing that can transform you into a different person.
　It's a good thing that Akatsuki never wore makeup when she was in her original world. Her lips, which had only been glossed on, were blurred at the edges and she had never worn mascara.

'Ugh.'
Akatsuki is a Japanese style beauty.
?
　Akatsuki remembered her own makeup history, and Henrietta applied the work gently but quickly. Henrietta draws the outline of her lips with a fine brush. Akatsuki can't resist and stiffens up.

It's okay. It's a light make-up, so it's very effective for those foolish lords who don't know the difference between a skinny face and natural make-up. --It's a good idea to make sure that you're wearing the right kind of clothes. You need to increase the coloration. And let's put your hair in a barrette.
　As for Akatsuki, I can only nod at the words.
　Indeed, looking down, the patterned curled skirt is ethnic or rather country-like, and it doesn't seem to go well with my own dark hair.

　I follow Henrietta's instructions and suck the pocket paper into my lips a few times to get rid of the excess oil. ''Ugh. Henrietta narrows her eyes and hugs me, saying, 'It's so cute.
　Such an attitude would have annoyed me as a mascot not long ago, but strangely enough, it's bearable in this world.

(Is it because I don't feel like I'm being made fun of?)
　Still, I squirmed a little, uncomfortable. Henrietta noticed, so she scooped up her hair a few times and used a barrette to hold it up and let it go. The hair she showed me in the mirror was long, straight hair as usual, but it looked a bit sissy because of the barrette.
　I had avoided this kind of haircut, saying that it didn't suit my short stature, but combined with the light makeup, I wondered if it wasn't so unsuitable.　What a feeling, and Akatsuki couldn't help but feel her cheeks relax.

(Sisterly style. ........doesn't that sound good!)

What do you think?
Hmm..... Mm.
　Akatsuki is at a loss for words. It's a happy feeling, but it's kind of embarrassing to admit it outright in words. Besides, it's very uncomfortable to sound like you're bragging about it. On the other hand, if I show any negative signs, I feel bad for Henrietta, who has taken such good care of me.
　Of course, this is even if the makeup and costumes were for sales and show decorations.

'Didn't you like it?　--Isn't he cute?　Master Shiroe.
What, huh?
　But that hesitation didn't last until he heard Henrietta's words. Akatsuki is paralyzed and unable to move, as if she were being stared at by the "snake eyed demoness" (Medusa). The feeling of anxiety that creeps down your back is "no way"!

Yeah. I think it looks good on you.
　The guild master and master of Akatsuki's guild, the Recorder's Horizon, came from behind me. It's the voice of Shiroe, a dark-haired young man whose round glasses hide his sharp gaze.

"Someday--
You know. I was called in to help, too.
　Akatsuki can't even meet his gaze as Shiroe shrugs his shoulders and continues. She looks like she's going to ramble and shake so much that her mouth is in a strange shape, and it's not like she's herself.
　Henrietta, unaware of such a situation, says, "How do you like this coordination?" and pushes Akatsuki, who tries to hide, out of the way.
　Akatsuki hurriedly tries to get behind Shiroe, but he can't move when Henrietta gently holds him down. It would be easy to push her away, but that would be too outrageous an act.

''d*mn.''
　Akatsuki, who indulged in being shown off for good as a result, looks at Henrietta and Shiroe with reproach. As Akatsuki himself, he intends to glare at them, so to the two of them, it looks like he's just pleading with them to look up, which is a gadget.

'It's okay, Akatsuki. It looks good on you.
　I'm sorry for my own body heat, which danced so casually when Shiroe's hand was placed on my head. It's a conditional reflex or social gratuity for Shiroe, but it still makes her happy, so she's troubled.

(Mm!　(Failed as a burglar!)
　I tried desperately to recreate my expression, but today I wasn't as confident as I usually am.

'What am I supposed to do?'
Silouette-sama will be wearing these clothes.
　Shiroe unfolds the clothes Henrietta offered her and slumps her shoulders. She doesn't like the clothes, even though they look comfortable to wear. It's a good sign for Akatsuki, I think.

(That's for embarrassing me, my lord.)
　And since you're always wearing the same clothes, I'd like to see Shiroe in her normal clothes. Akatsuki opened her mouth to say something, but at that moment, a cool chime sounded from outside the hall.
　The sound of hundreds of sighs of anticipation and the sound of applause that began to come from no one else could be heard from the surroundings, which had been quiet for a moment.

　Even Marielle, who came to the three of them, clapped happily. --It was the opening. It was the first time in this other world that the Adventurers were holding a festival. This is the main event, an exhibition and sale of all kinds of clothing and accessories in this hall.

I wonder who's going to be there today!　I hope it sells a lot. .........100 pieces may have been too much. But let's do our best.
The hall is open. Shiroe-sama, Akatsuki-chan. I'll be looking after you for the next half day. You'll be selling at the booth and modeling on stage. Let's sell a lot of stuff!

　Shiroe and Akatsuki nodded their heads in agreement, losing their happy smiles.

　It was the second day of the Balance Festival. This is how the curtain was cut on the exhibition and sale, the real show.