Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: 1. Starting a Business Requires a Product
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My pension. My pension...
My hands and feet trembled, my heart pounded. While my body rejected this unacceptable reality, Laila grew anxious at my lack of petting and started stroking her own head.
'Self-returning merchandise...'
Was this for real? But I couldn't treat Laila roughly. She'd saved my life, after all.
Like a delivery guy saved by the package itself. No matter how you sliced it, I owed her my life, so I couldn't complain.
With dead eyes, I had no choice but to pet Laila's head. Didn't she swat my hand away last time I tried this? Why was she enjoying it now?
But I couldn't give up yet.
'Such opportunities don't come often. I have to make this work somehow.'
Noble, influential family, man or woman—it didn't matter. Talent? Who cared.
This sales channel was practically made for Laila. If I couldn't sell her here, it'd be a loss anywhere else.
For my pension, my retirement, my operating profit!
"Laila, thank you for saving me."
"No, Director. It's all... thanks to you."
What? Did she always have this kind of marketability? She'd been so snippy and informal before.
I was a bit flustered, but a submissive attitude was even better. As I kept petting her, I desperately tried to cancel the return.
"By the way, Laila, I heard you refused the Margrave's request..."
"Yes, Director."
"Couldn't you reconsider? This is... a really good opportunity."
*A really good opportunity for me.*
"Miss this chance, and you might regret it later."
*You'll regret missing out on my pension and retirement.*
"Could you tell me why?"
Normally, simple change of heart meant no refunds or exchanges.
But despite my desperate gaslighting attempts, Laila just smiled softly. That was terrifying.
"Director, I've got a dream now."
"Uh... really?"
I had a dream too. A stable, wealthy retirement guaranteed through the orphanage business. With a pension.
"But to achieve that dream, I can't stay here."
"Become a noble, and you can achieve even more dreams."
*Like my retirement. My pension. Gold coins.*
"I know. But I can't help it."
"Can't help it?"
"My dream can only come true by your side, Director."
...This was hopeless.
Seeing Laila's eyes sparkle like the 2-Star Orphans', gaslighting seemed impossible.
Though her sparkle seemed a bit murky compared to theirs—whatever, moving on.
'Time for Plan B.'
What? The product chooses to return itself? Declares it won't sell? Fine. Explain the situation to the customer and renegotiate.
Another orphanage director might ditch her, take the adoption fee from the count, and run—a blind sale. But that was a clear last resort.
If I snuck away while she slept and she grew resentful, my pension would vanish. What the Beril Count Family wanted was Laila as adopted daughter, not me or the orphanage.
'Besides, even so... that'd be too scummy.'
Running an orphanage business meant viewing orphans as products, not abandoning humanity.
So instead of ignoring Laila's thoughts, I could think of more realistic plans.
Like ongoing noble gaslighting after returning to the orphanage, or helping build favor by telling the count what Laila likes.
'Either way, she'll regret it later and wish she'd become the adopted daughter sooner.'
Nobles were people above people. Everyone wanted to be one, like stars in the sky, but you had to be born into it.
A chance to become one—even an adopted daughter of an influential family—was pure luck. Right now, it was bravado or whim making her want to return, but later she'd thank me.
And gratitude could be expressed in gold.
'First, lock in the deal with the Margrave.'
It might not be smooth, so the price could drop a bit, but it was worth it. The profit margin was huge anyway.
Adoption fee from selling Laila as revenue, minus costs sunk into her and other expenses—that's operating profit...
'I have to sell her no matter what.'
Motivation surged wildly. Play this right, and from first product, first customer, first deal—my retirement secured!
As I petted Laila—who now looked like a gold nugget—the Margrave reentered.
"Have you caught up sufficiently?"
"Greetings, Margrave. Just now..."
"No need to stand. Sit. Normally we'd take this slower, but I'm quite greedy."
"Greedy, you say...?"
"About Laila."
At her name, Laila hugged me, burrowing into my chest. Don't worry, I'll sell you for sure.
But I needed to negotiate with the Margrave when she was asleep or absent. How to signal...
"Seeing Laila with you tells me what kind of man you are. An orphanage director so loved by his charges naturally thinks of their futures."
*My future matters a bit more, but sure.* A merchant always considers his product's future.
"So you know becoming my adopted daughter is best for her."
Exactly!
"But... you won't force her into something she hates."
...Huh?
"And so, you'll side with her and refuse the adoption offer."
No, you're way off. Let's talk! Just not with her here!
Why was this noble so oblivious? I gestured frantically behind Laila's view, but he just nodded knowingly.
"Your resolve is firm, as expected. To meet such a young man—no, orphanage director—in these times."
Hey!
"So take this."
Hey?
"Donation for your orphanage."
...Hey?
"You won't refuse even this, will you?"
"......Hey."
"Hey?"
"A truly... bold choice! So, you'll keep slobbering over our Laila!"
"That sums it up."
So, failed for now, but he'd keep eyeing Laila? Maintain ties so he could adopt her anytime she changed her mind?
I got the Margrave's intent. The weight of the gold-filled pouch made it crystal clear.
In other words...
'Jackpot?'
Customer pays without taking the product? Laila would join the Beril Count Family someday anyway; securing my retirement then wouldn't be too late.
Until then, ongoing donations from the Margrave? Pure unearned income, perfect profit.
'The only issue is if his interest fades...'
A man donating this much to "mark his territory"? No way he'd lose interest soon.
Plus, the Beril Count Family didn't desperately need an heir. Giving Laila time was no problem.
But this was all speculation. Maybe force the sale here...
"By the way, I'll send this monthly."
"Thank you for your generosity, Margrave!"
"Take good care of her—my future adopted daughter, Laila—in the meantime."
That attitude, treating her as already adopted—perfect. The ideal mark...!!
This amount monthly? Two years would match my expected adoption fee. Bluntly, even if Laila never sold, no big loss.
From monster hunt to snagging such a generous customer—well, business rewards the honest.
"Laila, thank him too."
"......... "
Shifting to check her reaction, Laila lifted her face from my chest.
She looked pensive, then saw my bright face and glanced at the Margrave.
"Monthly."
"Hm?"
"Monthly... letters."
"...Yes, thank you."
Good, Laila wasn't completely indifferent to noble status.
Product intact, payment received, mark secured.
An excellent first deal all around!
*
"Lord, are you serious?"
"Any issue, steward?"
"I acknowledge the child's spirit, Laila. I'd support adopting her... but sending that much gold monthly?"
"He's sharp."
"Pardon?"
"She said she'd write monthly letters. What does that mean?"
"...Surely, no more letters if donations stop?"
"Saves our face, keeps her interest in us. No news versus monthly letters? Big difference."
"Clever girl."
"Smart too. Even her devotion to the director shows it."
"That young man... indeed."
The steward narrowed his eyes. Yujin, that orphanage director, was a rare upright youth in these times.
His love and care for the orphans was so profound it sparked suspicion of ulterior motives. But no, he was purely a virtuous man guiding them to better futures.
"Laila probably isn't that interested in adoption. But seeing the director beam at the donation, she matched the pretense with letters."
"You're fine with this? Essentially paying her to..."
"Refuse now, it's over. But this way, she might change her mind. And there's an even bigger possibility."
"...You really think the ice spirit's stirrings relate to her?"
"Spirit affinities are unpredictable. Spirits have tastes; matching one is near-miraculous. Spirit mages are ultra-rare—it's a gamble."
Richard's gaze followed the director and Laila out.
He waved with a smile outwardly, but his talk with the steward was grave.
"If she has that talent, this donation's a bargain, no?"
"Lord..."
"And I'm curious about an orphanage better than our count family."
Through the window, Richard's eyes met the director's. He bowed simply with a humble smile; Richard waved back.
A rare pure, upright youth—a true orphanage director who cared for his orphans.
For some reason, Richard felt this encounter with the director more valuable than meeting Laila.
And so.
A year passed.