New chapter of Single Old Man is out! (1/1 chapter)

 

 

 

New Product Battle

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

While Gentoku was forming a mutual contract with the Scarlet Camellia…

At the main store of the Alexandrite Trading Company, from early morning, a large number of customers had visited in search of the “ice maker”.

The Alexandrite Trading Company had built a five-story store in the center of the royal capital, taking advantage of the success with matches. As a magic tool shop, it boasted an exceptional size, but on the day of the ice maker’s release, there were so many people lined up that they couldn’t all fit in the store.

“Give me an ice maker!!” (Customer)

“The ice one!!” (Customer)

“Where do I sign the lease!?” (Customer)

“Hey, don’t push!!” (Customer)

They released large, medium, and small-sized ice makers in such quantity that there would be leftovers.

Just as Sandrone predicted, they developed an amount that made them say, “Even if we make this much, there will be leftovers”. However, even so, it sold so well that the stock was starting to look uncertain.

Richter, while looking down from the window of the fifth floor, which also served as an office, said…

“There are more people than we expected… It was the right decision to double the security.” (Richter)

“What about the lease contracts?” (Sandrone)

“Applications are over six times what we anticipated. The number of ice makers is sufficient, but…” (Richter)

“Request additional production from the factory. Also, I’ll be giving bonuses to all employees. Prepare funds equivalent to three months’ salary.” (Sandrone)

“Understood.” (Richter)

Looking at today’s sales and expected future revenue, paying bonuses worth three months of salary to all employees posed no problem. In fact, even a full year’s worth would be fine.

Sandrone chuckled softly.

“Alexandrite Trading Company will continue to grow. Fufufu… I’ll have to give a bonus to Gentoku too.” (Sandrone)

 

—

 

In the evening, the storefront finally settled down, and the battlefield-like hustle also ended.

Sandrone checked the store’s condition from the third and second floors, offering words of appreciation to the employees. Today, the store would close earlier than usual, with the night shift staff taking over. The night shift’s duties included cleaning the store, restocking products, and checking the day’s sales. The elderly woman in charge of the night shift bowed her head toward Sandrone.

“Good work today, Ojousama.” (Sally)

“Yes, Sally. I’ll leave the rest to you.” (Sandrone)

“Of course. Leave it to me.” (Sally)

Sally was one of the few people Sandrone trusted.

She was formerly the head maid of the House of Count Iolite, and as soon as Sandrone was exiled, she quit and followed Sandrone. As a former maid, she was not only skilled in cleaning but also well-versed in accounting and clerical work, making her an indispensable presence in the Alexandrite Trading Company.

Currently, she was on the night shift along with her apprentice and grandson, Tinari.

“Tinari, take care of the cleaning.” (Sandrone)

“Yes, Ojousama!! I’ll make it sparkling clean, so please leave it to me!!” (Tinari)

Tinari. Currently an 18-year-old young man and Sally’s grandson.

He got into the House of Count Iolite as a butler-in-training thanks to Sally’s connections, but he fell in love with Sandrone. He had given up, thinking that there was no way a commoner and a noble could ever be together… but when Sandrone was exiled and became a commoner, he thought there might be a chance and came along with Sally.

However, that affection was completely unreciprocated, and to Sandrone, he was nothing more than a “cheerful little brother”—a pitiful young man.

“Alright, Baa-chan, I’ll clean up!!” (Tinari)

“Such a racket. Don’t make such a fuss. And once cleaning is done, you’ll help with the accounting.” (Sally)

“Ehhh… I’m no good at math…” (Tinari)

“Don’t say spoiled things!!” (Sally)

Hearing the usual exchange between grandmother and grandson, Sandrone let out a soft chuckle.

As she stepped out of the main store… there he was.

“Yo, Sandrone.” (Barion)

It was Barion.

Sandrone, who had been in a good mood, instantly felt her mood plummet.

 

—

 

Barion said, looking somewhat troubled.

“The reason I came to see you like this… it’s about the contest. How about calling it off?” (Barion)

“…Hah?” (Sandrone)

A vein bulged on Sandrone’s forehead, and she ended up speaking in a voice laced with menace.

Richter thought, “This is bad…” but Barion, seemingly unaware, continued.

“Well, I just think it’s meaningless. I’m sure you spoke emotionally. I totally understand your desire to catch my attention. I get it… You still have lingering feelings for me, don’t you?” (Barion)

“…” (Sandrone)

“That’s why I made up my mind. I even persuaded my wife… I’m ready to welcome you as my second wife. Sandrone… Let’s forget everything that’s happened. From now on, let’s prosper together… Alexandrite Trading Company and Peridot Trading Company.” (Barion)

“…” (Sandrone)

“If we become a couple and act as the advertising faces of both companies, they’ll grow even more. This competition is meaningless. Working together is the path to our future.” (Barion)

“…” (Sandrone)

“Sandrone. Let’s work together. Together, toward the future.” (Barion)

“Die.” (Sandrone)

Barion’s hand came to an abrupt halt.

Richter had already turned completely pale.

“You… are an idiot? It seems you understand nothing about beauty, and on top of that, you’re a coward trying to run from a challenge. Up until now, I rejected you out of anger… but now, I reject you on a physiological level. You’re truly disgusting.” (Sandrone)

“…” (Barion)

“Second wife? You’re the one who annulled our engagement because you claimed to have found ‘true love,’ aren’t you? And now you say you persuaded your wife so you can make me your second? Is that what you call true love? That kind of repulsive love is enough to make me shudder.” (Sandrone)

“…” (Barion)

“And I’m the one who proposed the contest, but you accepted it. I’ve been preparing for it, and I’ve already finished developing a new magic tool for summer and am getting it ready for market. What have you done? You have time to come to me with this nonsense?” (Sandrone)

“…” (Barion)

“Unless you’re certain of victory, you wouldn’t act so smug. Either you’ve got a magic tool with extreme confidence, or you never intended to compete at all… In that case, you’re just a coward running from a challenge.” (Sandrone)

“…Sandrone.” (Barion)

“I’ve been meaning to say this for a while, but could you not address me so casually? Jasper next Duke-sama.” (Sandrone)

“…Haa.” (Barion)

Barion let out a sigh and gave a troubled smile.

Sandrone hated that troubled smile, that condescending, mocking smile more than anything.

“The new summer product is already complete. It’s a product that will bring a revolution to the world of beauty… My victory is already decided. That’s why I came to say it’s meaningless.” (Barion)

“Well, well. So then, when’s the competition?” (Sandrone)

“…You’ll regret it, Sandrone. If you lose this contest, you’ll come under my umbrella.” (Barion)

“Then, if I win…” (Sandrone)

“Peridot Trading Company will be yours. Do with it as you like.” (Barion)

“Hah? I don’t want a company tainted with your filth. Let’s see… You’ll resign as president of the Peridot Trading Company, and work as a bottom-rank janitor. Fufu, I’d love to see you throwing yourself into scrubbing toilets.” (Sandrone)

“…How vulgar.” (Barion)

“Then, the date of the contest is… from the start of the eighth month, when summer begins. Half a month from now… You better prepare.” (Sandrone)

Saying only that, Sandrone left.

Barion watched her retreating back and snorted through his nose.

“Good grief. What a vulgar woman… Her body is first-rate, but her nature is below third. If I just shut her mouth, I could still sleep with her. Hmph… whatever.” (Barion)

Barion took a small compact out of his pocket.

When he opened the lid, white cream was inside.

“It’s almost complete. A revolution in beauty products… Fufufu, Sandrone will be surprised. She’ll never imagine that it was developed by her beloved magic tool engineer.” (Barion)

Barion closed the compact and walked away.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)