"Lass! What the hell did you do!?"
Three days before opening. Just as I expected, Wire burst into the store that was preparing to open with his eyes wide open.
Freed isn't here. If he was, his identity would be exposed, so he won't come before the match finishes. Cain is here instead so I'm not worried, but seeing Wire's bloodshot eyes, I missed Freed a little.
For an instant the employees raised bloodlust, but it subsided right away since I gave them the explanation in advance. We exchanged looks and they returned to work like nothing happened.
Yup, they really are excellent.
Wire found me in the back and thrust a flyer he was holding before me.
" 'New stores showdown! Time is one week from opening. Which one is the favorite? Vote!' What is this!? I hadn't heard about anything like that!"
Disgusted by the flying saliva, I quickly distanced myself from him.
"Eh? After all, Mr. Wire, didn't you say I could decide on the referee? So I did this."
"Referee, you say?"
I nodded, "Yes," to Wire who was making a puzzled face and explained.
"After all, the fairest referee is the customers who will eat at our stores. So I thought about having everybody vote and grandly announcing the results. During the showdown, the customers will get a special coin with fraud prevention magical art each time they pay. Then on the last day, they'll put them in a box installed in a plaza. They'll be asked to put them in the box of the store they prefer. The one with the larger sum wins. It's easy to understand and hard to cheat, right?"
"T-That's true, but… Not that! Why are you making a show out of me!? If you make such a big event on your own, the country will notice. Don't you understand that!?"
"Ah, it's alright. Both the town association and the castle gave permission to hold this event."
When I smoothly said that, Wire's tiny eyes opened a little wider.
"P-Permission, you say? The association is one thing, but from the castle? Is it so easy to get?"
"Yes. They gladly gave permission."
Wire stared at me in disbelief, but I didn't lie.
As a result of consulting with Freed and Brother about the event, three days ago they went to get permission from the King and Father. With Brother's connections, the association that controls the stores in town also readily gave permission. According to Brother, many association members are fans of my curry and hamburg steaks. I'm grateful.
Brother and Freed… I used as many connections as I could. So much it could be called unfair, but… let's turn a blind eye to it.
I grinned and told Wire, who couldn't react from surprise.
"I'm sure everybody in town will happily participate in the grand event of new stores showdown. That's why I did my best. People from other towns and, after hearing the rumors, customers from outside the Royal Capital will come and stimulate the town. Our newly opened stores will immediately contribute to the town. It's wonderful!"
"Laaaass!"
Having finally returned to his senses, Wire glared at me. I'm sure he's angry about his various tricks being rendered useless. It must be that.
"You agreed to leave it to me, right?"
"~~!"
"Let's have a fair match. You are confident you can win, right? Then, isn't it the ideal opportunity to beat me in front of the crowd?"
When I said that while slightly tilting my head, Wire looked taken aback.
Then he began muttering.
"T-That's right… There's no way my store would lose to a store of such a lass. I even brought a skilled cook from Irvine. Even if that lass is the owner of the curry rice original recipe, she'll lose without curry… Lass! One question. Is curry rice on the menu in the new store!?"
"No, the concept is different, so there'll be no curry."
Instead, there'll be other original recipes, I replied in my mind.
I know it's unfair because I have the knowledge from my previous life. However, that's exactly why I want to spread my knowledge to other people. I want them to get to know and eat delicious food. I make dishes with such a feeling.
That's why as long as everybody regardless of age and sex can enjoy eating in places like the curry store or hamburg steak store, I'm fine. I don't want to compete with other stores. If anything, I want to cooperate and with mutual encouragement enliven the town together.
But, men like Wire are in the way of that. When I asked Brother about his new store, I heard he snatched it from the previous owner in an almost fraudulent way. Brother said it was in a gray area extremely close to black. From what he heard from the previous proprietor, it was bought for dirt cheap, so they bear significant grudge towards Wire. It's natural, the store that had been running well was stolen forcibly.
Even before, Wire cruelly cornered Lars, the manager of my store. I couldn't let it go, so I gave Lars curry. I wished he could escape Wire with it.
This time the situation is different from before, but I can't ignore Wire repeating similar behavior all the same. I'll thoroughly defeat Wire with all my power. And as promised, make him leave the Royal Capital.
Having heard my words, Wire looked clearly relieved.
"What, there won't be curry rice? Then I don't need to be scared… Hmph. Event, huh. Well, fine. Thinking about, it's a great chance to promote my store inside and outside the country. It will be a stepping stone for my future. Alright! Lass! It's annoying, but I accept that challenge! Be grateful for my generosity."
"Thank you."
It seems he understood what he wanted to understand. He's confident in his store and doesn't think he'll lose either. It's natural as a proprietor, but it's not bad that he trusts the skills of his cook.
―― But, I won't lose either.
Otherwise, I'd feel sorry for everybody from the castle who cooperated and Ms. Delris, who provided the tea recipe. I'm carrying their expectations. So I'll open the café with absolute confidence.
As I decided, I watched Wire confidently leave.
I will be switching to releasing every other day due to I Favor the Villainess resuming. Please bear with me~
Chapter end
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