*Clang! Clang!*

 

As the meal concluded and patrons began to depart the establishment, I greeted them with a cheerful smile.

 

"Thank you for dining with us, sir! ☆"

 

"Yes! I'll definitely be back!! El El is the besttttttttttttttt!!!"

 

Despite the customer's enthusiastic response, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Ahh... Oh! It's about time for my break.

 

"Time for a break!"

 

Upon hearing the manager, Mii-san's, cheerful response from behind the counter, I made my way to the changing room. Collapsing into a chair and resting my head on the table, I couldn't hide my exhaustion.

 

"Ugh... I shouldn't have done that..."

 

I had refused outright, but if I let you slip away here, Mii would definitely regret it! Mihael, help me!! With those words, we were both restrained and led away, resistance futile, into the depths of the establishment.

 

And thus, I found myself forced into a maid uniform in the changing room.

 

"Ughhh... This is so tough..."

 

"Now, now, don't say such things."

 

"Huh? Mii-san, what are you doing here?"

 

"Oh, you see, I just happened to have some free time, so I came to take a break! But more importantly! Thanks to El El, our sales have increased compared to yesterday, so I'm grateful!"

 

Huh? Compared to yesterday?

 

"What were the sales like here until yesterday?"

 

"Well... it was good if we had ten customers."

 

"T-Ten!? Are you serious, just ten people?"

 

"Yes."

 

Ten people? That sounds like a recipe for bankruptcy no matter how you slice it.

 

"Well, we've only just started, and Maid Cafés aren't well-known in this country yet."

 

"This country... So, there are countries where Maid Cafés are popular?"

 

"Yes, indeed! The Rakuslard Empire is one such country! It's also the birthplace of Maid Cafés!"

 

"Oh, really?"

 

That's a bit surprising.

 

"And, the originator is an amazing person! Who do you think it is?"

 

"Considering you said they're amazing, is it the king or something?"

 

"Wrong! The correct answer is..."

 

"The correct answer is?"

 

"It's none other than the summoned hero, Hero Daiki-sama!"

 

Huh!? As soon as I heard Daiki's name, I fell off the chair as if in a comedy sketch.

 

"Why did you suddenly fall over!?"

 

"N-No, please don't mind me. Anyway, could you please tell me more about why the hero is the originator of Maid Cafés?"

 

As I sat back up, I couldn't help but wonder why Daiki-kun?

 

"Well, to sum it up, Daiki-sama often used to say, 'Ah~ I want to go to a Maid Café!' while walking through the halls of the empire shortly after being summoned."

 

Hey! Don't say such things in public! But it's too late now, and it's pointless since he's not here!!

 

"So, one of the ministers heard him say that and asked Daiki-sama, 'Hero-sama, what is a Maid Café?' And then, as an experiment, he suggested trying out one of the establishments I manage. And amazingly, it was a huge success on that very day!"

 

"Whaaatttt!?"

 

Did Daiki-kun receive business-related skills from the goddess, aside from combat-related skills? I highly doubt it though!!

 

"The reason for the great success was partly due to Daiki-sama's influence, but also because men found it heart-fluttering. Ah, so this is what they call 'moe'!! It was well-received!"

 

Ah, it seems he brought the word 'moe' to another world... Great.

 

"From women, we heard, 'It looks fun! I want to try it too!! And the uniforms are cute! Plus, if they're provided instead of having to buy them, it's a great deal!' Applications have been pouring in."

 

Volume 05 Chapter 01

 

"Well, certainly, it's cute compared to my usual maid uniform. But what concerns me is..."

 

"Could it be that you, Mii-san, worked at a maid café in the Empire?"

 

"That's right, nya. I worked at the shop we were talking about earlier, nya. So, I was dispatched to spread maid cafés to other countries, but..."

 

"You were having trouble getting customers in, weren't you?"

 

"That's right, nya. Mii also tried handing out flyers and calling out to people for promotion, but it didn't work, nya. But thanks to that famous Elle working with us, it looks like we'll be in the black today, nyaa!"

 

Yeah, I'm being forced to do this, though.

 

"Well then, it's about time to end the break, nya."

 

"Yes, manager."

 

With that, she stood up from her chair and smiled at the manager as she left the changing room to follow him.

 

That's what they call a sales smile.

 

Now, I've embarked on this ship... probably in a different sense than usual, but if it's something I have to do, I'll see it through to the end.

 

Clang! Clang!

 

Oh!? Customers already? I should greet them!

 

"Welcome, sir... um, well... huh?"

 

The moment I saw the customers enter the shop, my smile froze.

 

Of course it did, considering the people who would never come to a place like this have arrived.

 

"Oh! So the rumors in town were true!"

 

"Yes, that's right, my lady."

 

Why on earth are Lady Ainya and the professional maid here!?

 

"Hmm, you're wearing a cute outfit."

 

Well, it's... a work uniform designed for this.

 

"The maid outfit you're wearing is the same as mine, but the one Elaina-sama is wearing is cuter, don't you think? The short skirt is a bit concerning, but well, it's okay."

 

Well, you see, it's... uh, it's not the time to be thinking about things like how it's more erotic when thighs are visible but panties aren't, okay!?

 

"W-why are you here?"

 

My voice trembled so much that it was obvious I was flustered.

 

Well, it can't be helped! Lady Ainya and the dangerous maid are here! I have no idea what they might do!

 

Help me, Duke Valdeck!!!

 

"Well, you see, since the house was completed, I went to the inn to call for you, but you weren't there. So I thought if I went to the guild, I might meet you there. Then I heard the rumors and came here to check, and there you were, for real."

 

Oh, I see... Mihalun was spreading the word about me working at the shop in town, and furthermore, the customers who left the shop were shouting "El El" as they left...

 

It's not surprising it spread. But my house is finished! And they came to call me! I can quit this job! Lady Ainya, you're amazing!!!

 

"More importantly, hurry up and show us to a table!"

 

...Huh!? Show you to a table?

 

"Um, didn't you come to fetch me?"

 

"Yeah, that's right. I came to show you the house!"

 

"Then why are you trying to enter a maid café?"

 

I really want to be rescued from this embarrassing play!

 

"Oh, well, you see! It seemed interesting, not! I mean, I hadn't had lunch yet, so..."

 

You were about to say it seemed interesting, weren't you?

 

"Yes, that's right. My lady was very busy this morning, so she didn't have lunch. This is just perfect."

 

Hey, you! You're just lying to Lady Ainya to go along with her story!

 

"My lord!"

Volume 05 Chapter 01

 

Oh, Manager! You saved me. Finally, I'm liberated from the maid cafe...

 

"Sorry, meow! Hey, Elle! You can't let the master go forever, meow!"

 

Huh? Is it my fault? ...No, right now I'm an employee of the maid cafe, so it's my fault, isn't it?

 

"Um, sorry. Master, I will guide you to your seat now, so please this way."

 

"Yeah, are you the manager of this place?"

 

"Y-yes! That's right, meow!"

 

Perhaps due to Lady Ainya's aristocratic status, Mii-san trembled with fear, her ears twitching rapidly.

 

I've heard that cats' ears twitch when they're scared, but it seems the same goes for beastfolk from what I can see.

 

"Sorry, but can I borrow this one, Elreina, for a day?"

 

"Eh!? C-customer! Mii's shop is not that kind of establishment, we don't provide such services..."

 

Lady Ainya took out three gold coins from her pocket and brought them close to Mii-san's face, flaunting them.

 

"Meow, meow~!!?"

 

Mii-san's eyes sparkled as she saw the three gold coins up close!

 

Huh? Isn't this expression dangerous?

 

"I see, I was going to give these gold coins as rental fee, but if a one-day rental is not possible..."

 

"If it's Lady Ainya, I'll rent Elreina, meow!"

 

Oiiiiii!!! She just sold me out, this person!!!!! And not only that, she's accepting the gold coins too!! Please, return those gold coins to Lady Ainya!!!!

 

"Now Elreina, quickly guide the master to the table!"

 

Yeah, I can tell just by looking at her face, she won't take no for an answer, meow!

 

"Um... uh, that, uh... Hyaaa!!?"

 

"Customer, no, as our master, you must not keep us waiting, Elreina."

 

U-uhhh!? The dangerous maid grabs my chest from behind to prevent me from escaping!

 

"Let's go like this since you're being so difficult."

 

"That sounds good. Manager, guide us instead of Elle!"

 

"Yes, understood, meow! Master!"

 

Uwaaaaaaah!!! Why did it have to turn out like this!!!!??

 

As Mii-san guides Lady Ainya and the others, Elreina screams silently in her heart.