"Wait, who are you?"

  Luldona stared, blinking in surprise. The voice that had been screaming earlier belonged to Scorie, who was currently watching the shop, but Luldona had only ever seen Scorie hidden deep inside her hood. There was no time for introductions.

  "Explanations later," I muttered, stepping out in front of the customer.

  "Is there a problem, ma'am?"

  "Are you the manager? I came here expecting a proper shop, and yet here you are, selling food!"

  The woman wore a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses like a praying mantis's eyes, and a thick mask.

  "Uh... is that not allowed?" I asked, glancing down at the items on the shelf.

  "Of course not! You need a sanitary management permit! You have to display the license somewhere visible!" the woman shrieked in a high-pitched voice.

  "How do I go about getting one?"

  "Even if you get one now, you'll still have to pay a fine! How can you not know this?! You're a failure as a business owner! Go to the building next to the police station at the foot of the hill. You pay the fine there, too!"

  "I see. I'll head there right away and pay the fine. Thank you for letting me know. And please, take this as an apology. It's on the house."

  I handed her a Haniwa doll with a smirk. It was a masterpiece I’d secretly whipped up yesterday. The 'Karen' of this world looked visibly shaken.

  "Wh-what is this... creepy doll...?"

  I leaned in, speaking with intense passion. "Exquisite, isn't it? Look at the curvature of the arms! The hollow depth of the eyes! The haunting distortion of the mouth!"

  I pressed closer, my breathing purposely heavy.

  "Just go! Hurry up and get that permit! Here, take your wallet!"

  Luldona kicked me in the rear to hurry me along. Caught off guard, I let out a pathetic "Y-yes, ma'am!" and started prepping to leave.

  "Fine, fine! I'm leaving! But I'll be back tomorrow to check on you!"

  The woman scrambled away, clearly disturbed by the clay monstrosity in her hands.

  "I wonder if she’s a 'Reincarnated One.' She acts so... Japanese."

  "Who knows? Maybe she’s just addicted to 'righteousness.' Every country, every world has people like that. It's best not to engage too much. Now, get moving."

  Luldona seemed much more used to this kind of thing than I was.

  "A person from another world opening a shop in this town? Not as an adventurer, but as a merchant? What's the angle here?"

  At the government office, I was getting grilled. I’ve always hated this kind of atmosphere. It was the same air I breathed back in my old world, and the result was always bad.

  "Well, you see... I had some connections."

  "Connections? Like what?" The purple, stout Kobold official narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

  "I ended up on the outskirts of town after I arrived. I’ve had some help from a woman named Mary, who runs the tool shop..."

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  "Oh! Mary's friend?! She was just telling me about you when we were drinking the other night! Why didn't you say so sooner?! If you're with Mary, you're fine! She's one of my favorite drinking buddies!"

  The tension evaporated instantly.

  "Anyway, I'll need you to take a quick sanitation seminar. It won't take long."

  "What about the fine?"

  "Ah, forget it. Nobody's gotten sick from your food, right? Just make sure you follow the rules starting tomorrow. People from your world always make things so complicated, but things are a bit looser around here."

  "Thank you so much!"

  As I thought, there's a certain warmth in this other world. It's different from Japan, where a rookie entrepreneur can be shut down instantly for one tiny mistake.

  "Um, please take this. As a token of my gratitude."

  I handed him a Haniwa doll. The purple Kobold official made a very complicated face.

  After a ten-minute seminar, I decided to stop by Mary's shop to thank her. It was thanks to her that things went so smoothly.

  "That sounds like a real headache. I should have warned you sooner," Mary said back at her tool shop as I told her the whole story.

  "No, I’m just glad your name helped me out. By the way, do you know that woman who complained? The... 'Lady Anonymous' or 'Complaint Auntie' or whatever?"

  "I've heard rumors, but she's never stepped foot in my shop."

  "I guess she doesn't visit people who look like they’d fight back."

  "And who exactly looks like they'd 'fight back'?" Mary growled, narrowing her eyes at me.

  "No, no! I meant... reliable! You look very reliable!"

  "Hmph. Well, either way, if you look like a pushover, people will take advantage of you. You need to firm up your shop's appearance. Got a name yet? A big sign might keep the vultures away."

  "That’s a good point. A sign adds a sense of dignity."

  "Exactly. I'll give you a discount. My husband, Dory, handles that stuff. He's a bit rusty and needs the work."

  "I'd appreciate that."

  I gave Mary the shop name and arranged for her husband to make the sign. It turned out they also handled architecture and renovation referrals. Just as I was about to leave, she called out to me.

  "Oh, and wait a sec. Here. Take this Lunar Magic Clock. It’s an old model, but consider it a grand opening gift. We just bought a new one."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Take it, take it. It’ll just gather dust here otherwise. Besides, keeping it charged under the moonlight is becoming a chore."

  "...Thank you!"

  She really was looking out for me. Touched by this rare display of kindness, I bowed deeply several times, feeling a bit misty-eyed as I walked away.

  Meanwhile, back at the shop...

  The two left behind were introducing themselves.

  "I'm Luldona. Nice to meet you."

  "I'm Scorie, the new part-timer starting today! It’s an honor to meet you! You’re even cuter in person!"

  People into fandom activities tend to have an intense passion for anything they like.

  "The fact that you're here... does that mean you're working off your debt for the Moon-Viewing Grass?"

  "Yes! The grass didn't actually work, but it led me to this destiny, so it’s all good! You’re as smart as you are beautiful!"

  Despite being 750,000 in debt, she was incredibly energetic. Destiny is a powerful fuel for the obsessive fan.

  "It didn't work? What 'ailment' were you trying to cure?"

  "My obsession! But honestly, I'm so glad I failed to 'quit'!"

  She gazed at the Brick Bread, her eyes shimmering with a dangerous, golden light.

  "Does that bread have something to do with it?"

  "It has... everything to do with it! This rugged crust, this absolute, perfect 'brick-ness'... it contains the very soul of Him—yes, You-Know-Who, the one who sits enshrined in the sanctuary of my heart! His stoic sincerity is baked right into this loaf! Ahh, this bread is practically a fragment of his being...! I could stare at this and eat three bowls of—I mean, three more loaves of bread just from the thrill!"

  "...... (Who? I have no idea who she's talking about. But she's definitely one of those people.)"

  "Oops! Sorry! I know it's bad manners to over-explain the 'concept' of my Oshi on the first day! But it's okay, because I've already found my second Oshi! And it's you, Luldona-san! Your texture, your movements, your voice—everything is top-tier!"

  "Huh?"

  Luldona’s eyes went wide as she stared at the glowing fan-girl. Scorie stared back with intense, feverish eyes, desperately trying to keep herself from drooling.