An Outing With Mai ODoll 2

Liberated in exchange for Meat, Mai ODoll walked over.

Spreading out her handkerchief next to me, who was resting in the shade, she sat down.

Phew really, those children dont hold back.

Well, thats what children do.

Mai ODolls voice was lively as she said that. I wonder if its because she enjoys playing with children the same age as her?

Most of the children here are the children of adventurers.

Heeh

Meaning that is the reason they are orphans, probably.

Maybe there are children of adventurers that died at our dungeon, too now I feel a bit weird.

Having taken a short rest and caught her breath, Mai ODoll turned toward me.

Um, this is the orphanage Im supporting. Kehma-sama, what do you think of it? Do you think its just a publicity stunt?

Are you doing it with the intention for publicity?

No! Id never do it for something like that. Just, theres people who say I do.

Isnt it alright then?

Mai ODoll looked to be somewhat relieved when I said that.

At first I did it for the orphanage itself, but then, when I saw the children ask for more food with those smiles, I

Kids not starving is a good thing.

Yeah Excuse me, Kehma-sama. I want to continue supporting this place even when I am married.

Alright? Whats the problem?

Well its a matter of money. Im able to support it now thanks to my fathers help, but I would have to ask my husband when Im married. I mean, Keh

I get it. Relying on others for money is unstable. So why not earn it yourself? Rather, why not have the orphanage earn you money?

Dont say Husband = Me, yeah?

Good, lets use this chance to nonchalantly show off how little money I have. I have to do it casually so that she wont dislike me so that I can still get information about the Godly Pillow from Von ODoll.

Have the orphanage earn me money?

Yeah, then if you cant get any support, wouldnt you still be earning money on your own from the orphanage?

But when you mean earn money from the orphanage do you mean sell the orphans?

How the heck did you get that idea? Well, I think I might know why, but still.

Im not saying that you have to go and make them slaves or anything. You just have to teach them a trade. With that, you wont even have to pay them Have them set up a stall and sell small baubles they make. They could even cultivate some fields. So long as it makes them able to live on their own, anything would work.

Live on their own?

Wouldnt it be better if the orphans wouldnt starve even if you left them alone? Its not like theyll die even if it fails, they used to not have your support at all, yeah? Thinking about what they had to do for that to work is a bit troubling though Right, theres a merchant in my village thatd definitely say something good like [Teach them all how to run a business!].

Kukuku, she should be disillusioned by my [Whaaat, orphans? Leave em be]-esque attitude now.

I see! So I should hire a merchant to teach them!

Eeh? Well, that works too.

Eh? What just happened?

If its like that, Ill push with my greedy side!

You can lend the initial funds and collect when theres a profit. If it goes well, you can add interest. If that happens, itll be great. If it doesnt. well, think about that if it happens.

Hmm, mmm. I can think of it as normal support if it fails. I can do also something on my side about the necessary trade permission, interesting.

Getting the permission wont be much of a deal with the lords daughter backing them. Being able to trade how you wanted so long as you used orphans, honestly, wouldnt merchants actually want to pay for the opportunity?

Eh? Itd be harder to fail that way? Hahaha, how stupid. Making money through trading isnt that easy, the reason my merchant paid the money back was because hes excellent.

But in the small chance they succeed, I dont want to be restrained. [1]

Mmm, the children just want to enjoy themselves, and if youre wanting to show that youre supporting them for the sake of supporting them, it might be better to just continue handing them money as-is.

Mai-sama, you should do what you want. Its none of my business.

Right.

Mai ODoll started to brood over something.

Did I succeed? Or fail?

What a hassle. Thinking about it wont help, so maybe I should go and help Meat out?

Hey, brat! Thats my hug pillow, dont get your snot all over it!

*

Having left the orphanage, we were walking down an uptown street.

We werent really travelling incognito, so we didnt hide. I just need to look impressive.

Kehma-sama, could we visit that shop?

Hm? A grocer?

Now that I take a look at it, isnt that the shop I bought an apple from a long time ago? It was sour.

You want to buy something? An apple?

Yes. Shopkeep-san, do you have a moment?

Heya, welcoM-Mai ODoll-sama! Welcome to my shop!

As soon as he saw that it was Mai ODoll, the shopkeeper fixed his posture and started speaking more politely. Seeing as her face is well known, maybe she takes strolls like these a lot?

Could I have some of that fruit over there? Is this enough to buy it?

Thank you for your patronage!

Mai ODoll handed a silver coin over to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper moved away from the shops front into where he kept his inventory.

Here it is! Here you go!

With that, the shopkeeper walked out with a barrel of bananas theres a lot of them, so I guess she intends to distribute them? Wouldnt it have been better to buy those before we went to the orphanage?

Rather, she doesnt have any attendants here, so is she intending on having me carry them? When I casually looked to my left, Meats tail was wagging back and forth as if to say leave it to me.

However, Mai immediately stowed the barrel into an empty space she created with [Storage].

And then looked at me with pride and spoke.

Fufufu, I can use [Storage]. Ill have some at home, but this it more than I can eat so Ill pass them out next time I go to the orphanage.

Hooh, amazing. [Storage] stops the passage of time too, so its great for storing perishables. Its convenient for carrying them around, too.

You dont seem too surprised and you know so much about it. Have you seen [Storage] before?

Its because I use it so often. I didnt say it though. It seems like a pretty expensive skill.

Uhh, lets use the established setting to deceive her.

Ive seen White Goddess-sama use it.

As expected of Kehma-sama.

Shouldnt that be as expected of White Goddess-sama?

When I looked at Meat, her once vigorously wagging tail at the thought of carrying the barrel was now moving limply back and forth.

Did you want to carry the bananas that badly? Okay, Ill buy a bunch for you too since youre so lively.

Footnotes:

I have absolutely no idea why Keima says this here, sorry