The Combat Baker and Automaton Waitress: Volume 3

by SOW

  A baker’s skill rested on attending to those elements, as well as the ability to bake to the same degree of quality every time. That skill separated the excellent baker from the merely adequate.

  For Lud, this time of the morning required the most concentration and would determine the success of the day ahead.

  “Good!”

  Just before he set about the challenge before him, Jacob interrupted.

  “There’s a problem, Lud!!”

  “Waah!!”

  The tense thread of Lud’s focus snapped.

  “What is it, Jacob? I told you not to come inside the oven room!”

  “I didn’t!”

  Jacob’s feet were planted right outside the threshold of the room.

  “Anyway, something’s wrong! Out front!”

  “Out front? Has something happened?”

  Pulled by Jacob, whose face was overcome with distress, Lud went outside. There, Milly stood in shock at the sight before her.

  “Wh-What’s all this?”

  Lud’s eyes widened.

  There was an ordinary house adjacent to Tockerbrot. The owner worked in the office at the mine. He and his wife had two daughters. The mother appeared to enjoy gardening and had placed small potted plants around the one-story house.

  But now, many trucks were parked in front of the house and workers were disembarking from the truck beds as if they were soldiers.

  “All right, everyone! Get to work!” At this command, all the workers applied mattocks and hammers to the walls of the house and rapidly began tearing it down.

  “Wh-What are you doing?!”

  The one giving commands was Poracho, the thug who hurt his wrist yesterday when he punched Lud.

  “Heh heh heh...”

  Poracho laughed when he saw Lud, as if he found something hilarious.

  “Don’t worry. No one lives in this house anymore. Mr. Shylock blew a wad to buy this whole plot of land!”

  “He bought it?”

  Forcing the family to clear out so quickly defied common sense. It was hard to imagine how much money Shylock must have paid to make the family accept immediate eviction.

  But that wasn’t the only problem. Why was he destroying the house he had just bought?

  “This is your fault, baker! You made Mr. Shylock angry!”

  “What...?”

  Lud had no idea what their intentions were. But he noticed with surprise that some of the trucks were carrying something besides workers.

  “Those are...”

  “Oh, you recognize those? After all, you are an ex-soldier! Heh Heh heh!”

  As if finding this funny, Poracho laughed.

  “Lud, what’s the matter? What are those?”

  Uneasy, Jacob asked Lud from his hiding place in the shadows.

  “Those are portable architectural materials for use in battle.”

  Sven answered instead of Lud. She had also come outside after sensing something unusual.

  “In the recent Great War, constructing camps for field battles was important.”

  Protracted field battles placed soldiers under great stress. Buildings were necessary for storing weapons and materials, as well as for treating injured soldiers.

  “These were developed for that purpose. By separating architectural materials into parts and simplifying the method of assembly, an experienced army engineer could build a house in less than half a day.”

  The resulting structures were bulletproof but couldn’t withstand shelling. Nonetheless, they allowed for command posts at a close but safe distance from battle.

  According to one story, an engineer from the East had developed these materials, inspired by the tale of a general long ago who built a castle overnight in front of an enemy force.

  “This is a simple-assembly shop that Billions Trading developed based on that technology. As long as there’s ground to build on, we can raise a shop anywhere in one day.”

  Poracho explained this proudly.

  “Build a shop? What are you talking about?”

  “We’re opening here today! We’re building Bakery Billions!”

  Poracho said this as if showing off a favorite magic trick to Lud, who still didn’t grasp what they were doing.

  “Bakery? You’re building a bakery?!”

  “That’s right, baker! I told you, you got Mr. Shylock steamed! The might of Billions Trading is gonna crush your shop!”

  Shylock’s spiteful plan involved quickly setting up a rival shop to interfere with Tockerbrot’s business.

  “So much expense and hard work for harassment!”

  How much had Shylock paid to buy the land and gather trucks for transporting the materials and workers in one night?

  “He should have spent his money on something else.”

  Lud, who was usually in financial straits, found this so stunning that he was speechless.

  “It shows how strongly Mr. Shylock wants to take the boy home.”

  “Stop messing around!”

  Jacob screamed angrily at Poracho’s words.

  “I’m not going to do what that old man says! What does he want from me?!”

  “That’s... He wants you to inherit Billions Trading, the company he established. Mr. Shylock ain’t immortal!”

  “I’m telling you, I refuse! If he needs an heir, how about you?”

  To Jacob, Shylock’s demand was nothing but a selfish ego trip and a nuisance.

  “Not happening, boy. Someone like me could never take over Mr. Shylock’s most precious possession. You shouldn’t even joke about that.”

  “What the...?”

  Jacob was confused. Poracho had acted like a cheap underling ever since they first met two days ago, but now Jacob saw something sad in his eyes.

  “That’s enough for now. Master, let’s go back. We have a busy day ahead.”

  Sven coolly wrapped up the situation as if there were no more to say.

  “They won’t be able to open their shop today no matter what. On the contrary, look at the number of workers they have. We can count on more sales than usual for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We should prepare more bread than usual.”

  Sven said this in front of Poracho, who was less a business rival than a disruptor of Tockerbrot’s business.

  “D-Don’t you understand?! If you bring the boy and apologize, Mr. Shylock’ll forgive you!”

  “Huh? Do you think using the power of money to launch competitive warfare can topple my beloved master’s castle? If so, you’re sorely mistaken!”

  Poracho had intimated that they should surrender, but Sven’s cool reply was unconcerned.

  “Sooner or later, you will suffer a decisive defeat and run away with your tails between your legs! So prepare yourselves for defeat and disappointment!”

  “Wh-What?!”

  Sven’s unshakeable confidence was panicking the attacking force.

  “Well, everyone, let’s head back inside. See ya!”

  With raucous laughter, Sven led Lud and the others back into the shop.

  And then...

  “What a disaster!”

  As soon as she entered the shop, Sven gripped her head in a panic.

  “What?! I thought you had some kind of plan for overcoming this!!”

  “No! Since time untold, the brute force of material warfare has been the worst!”

  Her answer to Jacob’s question was laced with anger. In a way, material warfare was the ultimate fighting strategy. It ignored the individual qualities of each soldier and accepted damages in order to push forward with numbers and power.

  The August Federation favored this method. It forcefully drafted village farmers and sent them by rail to the front line without any training, and with as little weaponry as possible, and then ordered them to “Charge!” Of course, their opponents killed these soldiers one after another, but their numbers were overwhelming. By sending in such a vast number of soldiers, they were able to push back the front line.

  If Wi
ltia had not developed the Hunter Units with each one able to trample one thousand soldiers, the red flag of the August Federation would be flying in the royal capital of Berun right now.

  “All we can do right now is bluff to cover our fear and...”

  Sven began jotting notes on the memo pad she kept in the pocket of her apron.

  “Jacob, could you assemble these things right away?”

  “What are they? Aluminum plates and sugar... Huh?!”

  The note contained a list of drugs and solvents that Jacob recognized.

  “Those are the ingredients for making bombs with common items.”

  “What are you planning?!”

  The only way left open was to eliminate the enemy. That was the best solution this skillful waitress, in all her wisdom, could come up with.

  “Umm...”

  Lud was rather calm compared to the other two. He held his hand to his mouth in deep thought.

  “H-Hey, you...”

  Milly pulled on his sleeves worriedly.

  “Is the shop in trouble? If so, I don’t need any pay. I’ll do my best, so...”

  Milly, who was completely inexperienced and frightened, tried to help. Her comment communicated her desperate worry over the situation.

  “Huh? Uh, no, no... It’ll be fine.”

  With a gentle expression, Lud patted her head.

  “Anyway, Milly, I have a favor to ask you.”

  “What is it? I’ll do anything!”

  “Thanks. After dawn, will you bring Marlene here?”

  Meanwhile, Sven and Jacob were pacing around behind them in a panic.

  A few hours later...

  In a hotel room in Saupunkt where Shylock was staying...

  The country town of Organbaelz only had simple, inexpensive hotels where the merchants who visited from time to time stayed. Shylock had no choice but to book a room some distance away. Even though it was the best room to be had in Saupunkt, to Shylock, the hotel was a mere hovel.

  “We’ll be able to open the shop tomorrow.”

  Faran, the younger of the two thugs, updated Shylock, who was sitting on the sofa and running his eyes over all the newspapers published in Wiltia.

  “It’s just that the woman at the shop, the one who is sheltering the boy, acted oddly confident.”

  “Harrumph!”

  Upon hearing his underling’s report and noting some worrisome elements, Shylock didn’t move even one eyebrow—he just snorted.

  “That is no more than a ridiculous bluff! The owner and staff of that shop may be eccentric, but their products and prices aren’t so special. It’s a perfectly good bakery, just like any other.”

  Yesterday, Shylock had closely examined the shop as he left, memorizing the prices and characteristics of the bread, which were written on the shelves. He had tasted the boule he brought back, and while he admitted that it had been baked with care, that was all.

  “Let’s see... Hold a sale as soon as we open. One bread for one krant!”

  A krant was the lowest unit of currency used in Wiltia and Pelfe.

  “We’ll continue the opening sale for a month. If they can’t generate profits in that time, it’ll be a huge blow to their shop.”

  For a small shop like Tockerbrot, even one day of lower profits would indeed be a huge blow. If that continued for a month, it would be ruinous. And now they were in debt to the bank. If their sales fell, the bank would stop the funding and they wouldn’t even have working capital.

  “After that, I’ll put pressure on the mine and schools that they have contracts with. This won’t take a month. I can destroy them in a fortnight!”

  There was a reason that this man had the nickname Greedy Shylock. When he opened a new business, he had a record of destroying his competitors and taking them over, thereby growing his own business.

  Neither Lud nor Sven could come close to him in business management. Shylock chuckled in satisfaction at his assured victory.

  The phone rang.

  “Yeah? What is it?”

  Faran answered the call for his boss.

  “Huh? A nun? Why’s she here? To conclude a war treaty? What’s that?”

  “What is the matter?”

  Shylock questioned his subordinate about the call.

  “Um, that bakery is sending a messenger to conclude a war treaty.”

  “What?”

  Shylock frowned at this nonsense.

  A little later...

  Marlene, a nun from the church atop the hill, entered Shylock’s hotel room.

  “You haven’t come here to pester me for money for those in need? Are you in league with that baker?”

  “No, I am only a woman of God who lives in Organbaelz.”

  Marlene tried to be as friendly as she could, but her smile was slightly stiff and uncomfortable.

  “I come to you as a neutral party, a fair and faithful servant of God. I am a messenger from the owner of Tockerbrot.”

  Milly was the only staff member of Tockerbrot who had not met Shylock. Therefore, Shylock didn’t know about Marlene, who was Milly’s guardian. Lud had sent Marlene under the guise of a neutral messenger.

  Marlene had been hesitant to go.

  “I don’t want to visit such a frightening man. If you make an enemy of him, there’s no telling what he’ll do!” she had said with a look of revulsion.

  But Milly reminded Marlene that it was for Lud, who Marlene secretly had a crush on, so she could not refuse.

  “Tockerbrot suggests that you settle this competition quickly since it’ll be a lot of trouble.’”

  “Huh?”

  Shylock’s exclamation sounded irritable.

  Marlene felt cold sweat on her back at the sound of his voice.

  “Your shop... Bakery Billions opens tomorrow. They want to compete to see whose profits will be higher one week from tomorrow. If you win, they will give you Jacob.”

  “You must be joking.”

  Shylock’s voice was soft but deep. Marlene was proud of herself for not screaming “Yiiiiikes!” and running away.

  “Why should I follow rules made by an opponent who will go bankrupt even if I do nothing? Furthermore, the fact that they’re suggesting this now is an admission of eventual defeat. I’m under no obligation to obey.”

  Shylock spoke with incredible ferocity. It was so forceful that any other young woman would have cried, or even fainted.

  However, Marlene wasn’t just a young woman or a virtuous nun. Lud hadn’t sent her because he expected Shylock to listen to her as a servant of God.

  She had once been a terrorist. Marlene had hidden in Organbaelz for years, cooperating with the August Federation, an enemy nation, and neither Lud nor Sven—an ex-soldier and ex-Hunter Unit—had even noticed. She had since reformed, but the children at the church, including Milly, did not know her past. Marlene could exercise great courage when necessary.

  “Are you sure?”

  Marlene maintained her smile as she questioned Shylock.

  “If you destroy Tockerbrot according to your current strategy, what do you think those two will do? They’ll take Jacob and flee Organbaelz. They’ll take him somewhere where you can’t find him.”

  “Urgh...”

  Slight frustration showed on Shylock’s face.

  Fall for it! Fall for it! Fall for it!

  Marlene continued.

  “I’m sure you know that those two are not like ordinary people.”

  “..................”

  The ridicule in Shylock’s eyes disappeared. He was losing his confidence. Now Marlene took her gamble.

  “If Lud Langart, a former soldier, were to get serious, he just might escape your grasp. Yes... just like your son.”

  “—!!!”

  Marlene felt as if the air in the room had turned into violent waves. Shylock’s anger was overflowing. His son’s escape, years ago, was an extremely sensitive matter.

  As risky as it may be, it’s sometimes necessary to goad
an opponent by touching on raw and difficult subjects.

  “But if you win under their conditions, Jacob will come to you of his own free will.”

  Marlene spoke again to drive the point home.

  If he continued on his present course, Shylock would win the battle but lose the war, and lose Jacob, which was his primary objective. Once again, he would taste the sadness that was still an open wound: the loss of a family member.

  “........................”

  The room fell into a silence that lasted only a few seconds but felt like forever to Marlene.

  “Let me hear the details.”

  Later, Shylock accepted the war treaty Marlene offered on behalf of Tockerbrot.

  A few more hours later...

  “That was scary!!”

  After the success of her negotiation, Marlene was face down at a table in the Tockerbrot food court, trembling as she remembered Shylock’s fierce expression, which was burned into her mind.

  “Thank you, Marlene! Thank you!”

  “Good job, Marlene! Would you like something to drink?”

  Both Jacob and Milly praised her daring effort.

  “Now perhaps we can just hang in here!”

  The war treaty stipulated that the shop that posted the most profits after one week of sales would be the winner. If Tockerbrot won, Shylock would leave quietly, and if Tockerbrot lost, he would leave with Jacob. By limiting the struggle to one week, Tockerbrot would avoid the worst-case scenario, in which the shop would go bankrupt. Their opponent was ready to destroy Tockerbrot, so this was significant progress.

  The treaty also included a prohibition against disrupting one another’s business activities. Simply put, the treaty forbade violence between staff, destructive acts toward each other’s shops, and disruption of supply routes to prevent the other from acquiring ingredients. It could be said that these conditions were a considerable improvement over the disadvantageous situation that had existed before.

  “Hey, Sven? Did I do well?”

  Although feeling great fatigue, Marlene looked at Sven with a victorious face.