Chapter 29 - Episode 029: Headhunter, Observing the Reaction
Episode 029: Headhunter, Observing the Reaction
That night.
“Hmm.”
After completing all preparations for bed, Ack sat at his desk, deep in thought.
“What are you drawing?”
When Tina peeked over from behind, there was a peculiarly shaped object drawn on the paper.
Ack was drawing again.
The monsters were also interested, with Snow and Shiln climbing onto Tina’s shoulders, and Chiffon climbing onto Ack’s head and shoulders.
“This here is a tool for making shaved ice.”
What Ack was drawing was the tool for shaving ice that he had seen at a shaved ice shop in the tropics before.
As Maria was surprised, normally shaved ice isn’t made by shaving it with a knife.
It’s typically made using a dedicated tool.
The tool has a mechanism where ice is placed in the middle, and when you turn the handle on the side, the ice rotates, and the blade underneath shaves the bottom of the ice, causing the shaved ice to fall.
Since he didn’t remember the mechanism perfectly, he was drawing it from memory.
“It’s cute.”
“That’s good to hear.”
However, as the tool he saw in the tropics looked rugged, Ack had improved its appearance to resemble fluffy monsters.
Tina was also delighted by its adorable appearance.
“Are you going to sell shaved ice at the shop?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“I think everyone will be happy.”
“That’s true.”
As Ack stroked Tina’s head, she giggled as if she were being tickled.
The reactions of the regulars were good, and Tina and Snow seemed to have the same idea.
However, there was something he wanted to try before that.
“It’s time to sleep.”
“Yeah, I understand.”
But staying up any later wouldn’t be good for Tina’s growth.
After ending the conversation, Ack took Tina to bed, and they fell asleep with the fluffy monsters.
On the next day off.
Ack was about to go out into the city.
“It’s okay for you to rest at home, you know?”
“I’ll help.”
“Is that so? Thank you.”
Not wanting to leave Tina alone, he picked her up, not just leaving her with a tight grip on the edge of his clothes.
He planned to set up a temporary shaved ice stand today.
The reactions around him were good, but he wanted to see the reactions of the people in the city for himself.
“Kyuu.”
“Kuru.”
“Kurur.”
Naturally, Snow and the others also wanted to go, so everyone ended up going to the city together.
Getting permission from the Commercial Guild, they arrived at the market and reached the designated spot.
While Ack initially planned to operate with just a simple table and utensils, since Tina and the others were there, he set up a canopy with four support pillars to soften the heat as much as possible.
To ensure immediate hydration, in addition to ice for shaved ice in the magic refrigerator, they also stocked plenty of drinks.
However, even so, if the temperature rose, it could still affect Tina’s health, not just the monsters’.
“If anything happens, tell me right away.”
“Got it.”
Placing his hand on her head, Tina nodded firmly.
“Take care.”
Once the preparations for the stall were done, they exchanged greetings with the neighboring vendors.
“Oh, hey. Today, take care, buddy.”
“Haaah. Enjoy it.”
The neighboring shop owner seemed bewildered by the imposing presence emitted by Ack, wearing a fluttering apron.
As a gesture of goodwill, Ack offered shaved ice to the neighboring shop owner.
“I-Is it okay?”
“Yeah.”
“In that case, without hesitation… Delicious!! This is unbelievably delicious!!”
The shop owner received the bowl and spoon from Ack, and hesitantly tasted the shaved ice.
In that moment, overwhelmed by its extraordinary deliciousness, the shop owner exclaimed.
He quickly finished eating it.
“Thank you. That was delicious.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“Try my cooking too.”
“I’ll gladly accept.”
In return, they received the neighboring shop owner’s cooking, and exchanged similar gestures with the shop owner on the opposite side.
“It’s delicious.”
“That’s true.”
“Kyuu!!”
The food was enjoyed together with Tina and the others.
As soon as they opened, customers began to gather.
Although Ack hadn’t been conscious of it, by offering shaved ice to the neighboring shop owner, despite it being a novel shaved ice, it caught the attention of the residents.
“I want some too.”
“M-Me too.”
“M-Me too.”
However, the one running the stall was a tough-looking man in a fluttering apron. It was understandable that everyone hesitated for a moment.
“Welcome. Welcome to the Fluffy Cafe, the temporary shaved ice stand.”
“Kyuwi!!”
“Kuukuu!!”
“Kururur, kururur!!”
Furthermore, with Tina, who was expressionless but adorable, as the poster girl, and the fluffy monsters as mascots, they attracted customers.
“S-So cute…!!”
“What, is she an angel…?”
“Who knew monsters could be this adorable…?”
The synergistic effect caused a massive influx of customers.
The hustle and bustle was dizzying.
While allowing Tina and the others to take frequent breaks and stay hydrated, Ack tirelessly handled everything with amazing efficiency.
He didn’t forget to distribute flyers for the Fluffy Cafe as part of the promotion.
“Good job.”
“Thank you.”
Tina poured a drink from the magic refrigerator and handed it to Ack. He quickly drank it all to quench his thirst.
“Thanks to you, my place also thrived. Thank you!!”
“The same goes for me!! Thank you!!”
“I just did my job. There’s no need for thanks.”
Thanks to the success of Ack’s stall, people gathered, and the neighboring shop owners also profited, wearing happy expressions.
Although he didn’t intend to do anything special, Ack felt happy to receive thanks.
“It seems like a good idea to keep this up.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Having received positive responses from the city residents, Ack decided to continue offering shaved ice.
Tina and the monsters smiled happily.
However, there were observers watching their seemingly blissful scene from afar.