After settling Rin in the tidy but somewhat empty dormitory, repeatedly confirming that she would rest obediently, and teaching her how to use the simple internal communication system, Yae Sakura left the dormitory.
After closing the dormitory door, Yae Sakura leaned against it gently, letting out a long sigh with a complicated expression.
It was now afternoon, and the morning's experience felt like a bizarre yet exceptionally smooth dream to Yae Sakura.
At that time, after seeing the recruitment notice, the thought of "not being able to freeload" in her heart was like a small flame, driving her to try the glass door with the recruitment notice posted on it.
And when Yae Sakura pushed open the door of [Hmoe Random Play], the sound of the wind chime and the clamor of people inside rushed towards her.
The shelves were piled with a jumble of boxes, the walls were covered with exaggerated posters, and there were some Homu dolls that were so exquisitely made they seemed unreal.
Several young girls were enthusiastically greeting customers, and behind the cash register...
Yae Sakura's gaze froze there.
Two identical girls, wearing black hoodies, with gray hair and golden eyes, were standing side by side behind the cash register.
Their faces were quite delicate, but they had no expression, and their temperament... was a bit hard to describe. They were neither like ordinary clerks, nor like the warriors or scholars of the Fire Moth she had seen.
What concerned her more was that when she walked into the shop and her eyes met theirs...
The look that the two girls revealed at the same time was definitely not the look one should have when "seeing a new customer."
Astonishment, disbelief... and a hint of confusion that was almost overflowing.
It was as if they had seen some legendary creature that shouldn't be here suddenly appear alive in front of them.
Although the two's expressions had almost no flaws, that momentary lapse of composure did not escape Yae Sakura's eyes.
A trace of doubt rose in Yae Sakura's heart.
Was her attire strange?
Or... was her hair color rare in their eyes?
Well, that should be the reason...
It couldn't be that this pair of twin shopkeepers knew her, right? Yae Sakura was sure she had never seen them before.
Before she could think much, a girl with an excess of energy had already bounced up to her.
"Welco—huh? A new face! Sister, are you here to buy something or..."
She saw the piece of paper with the address that Yae Sakura was holding, and her eyes immediately lit up. "Ah! Are you here because of the recruitment notice?"
Yae Sakura nodded, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Yes, excuse me, is the shopkeeper here?"
"Yes, yes, yes! It's them!" The twin-tailed girl enthusiastically led her to the cash register and shouted at the two shopkeepers who were still looking at Yae Sakura with strange eyes, "Stelle sisters! Someone's here for an interview! This sister looks so serious!"
The two shopkeepers, who were called "Stelle sisters," seemed to have come back to their senses only then. They quickly exchanged a glance, so fast that Yae Sakura almost thought it was an illusion.
The expressions on their faces were still that slightly bland look.
The one in front cleared her throat, her voice was very calm.
"Hello, I'm Stelle, and this is my sister, also Stelle. Which position are you applying for?"
The first to react was the other twin who was called "sister." The moment she heard herself being called "sister," she suddenly elbowed the "older sister" in the waist.
Yae Sakura watched as the "older sister" staggered from the elbow, almost losing her footing. Her initial impression of the two instantly crumbled.
Are they reliable?
I think... they should be?
In the end, Yae Sakura still answered according to her prepared speech, frankly admitting that she didn't know much about "Homu culture" but was willing to learn, and could take on tasks that required patience and physical strength, such as organizing goods, maintaining cleanliness, or... security?
She tentatively mentioned it, but seeing the other party's expression instantly become subtle, she immediately realized that mentioning "security" in this peaceful shop might not be appropriate.
It's really orderly here...
The interview... if that could be called an interview... the whole process was unbelievably short.
The "Stelle" sisters asked very basic questions, whether she could accept rotating shifts, whether she was meticulous, and whether she had any resistance to dealing with people.
Yae Sakura answered truthfully one by one.
She could feel that their attention seemed to be more on "observing" her person, rather than delving into her abilities.
Just as Yae Sakura thought they would reject her on the grounds of "not understanding Homu culture," the two looked at each other again, and then directly threw out the conditions.
"Trial period... one month, is that okay? You should be able to accept a trial period, right?
"Well, considering you're not familiar with Homu-related knowledge, the trial period will mainly be for learning the shop's operations and basic Homu knowledge, is that okay?
"Monthly salary of two thousand contribution points base, plus a personal performance commission based on the shop's overall turnover, is that okay?
"Work hours are on a rotating shift basis, the specific schedule will be notified after it's confirmed, and a simple work meal can be provided... do you accept?"
Yae Sakura: "...?"
She was stunned.
This attitude... wait... are you really the boss?
No... it should be asked like this.
Are you really a boss who can offer such conditions in the Fire Moth?!
Just this morning, when Sirin was leading them through the procedures and the base, she had noticed some public information boards and overheard some scattered conversations, and had gained the most rudimentary understanding of the "contribution point" economic system used within the Fire Moth:
A most basic work meal, one meat, one vegetable, and one staple food, cost about 5 to 8 contribution points.
A set of clothes with good material and fine workmanship cost about 20 to 50 contribution points.
A decent tool or small piece of furniture cost about 100 to 300 contribution points.
The prices of food and basic living materials, because the supply was still unstable and they were necessities for survival, although much more expensive than before the Great Honkai, were still maintained within a range that ordinary people could easily afford under the control of the Fire Moth.
And those "non-essential" entertainment and cultural products... like the Homu discs on the shelves, she had glanced at the price tags, which were usually between 10 to 50 contribution points.
In comparison, these "luxury goods" from before the Great Honkai seemed quite cheap, but this was only relative to their "non-essential" attribute.
And the monthly salary of two thousand contribution points offered by the "Stelle" sisters! And this was just the base salary!
In the current era of relative scarcity?
In the current era with almost no high-end consumption?
In the current era without the packaged luxury consumer class...?
Offering a solid base salary of two thousand just for considering the daily necessities? And a considerable commission?
During the trial period?!
Even if she only took the base salary, the salary for this trial period would be enough for her and Rin to eat well every day, purchase necessary clothes and daily necessities, and even have a lot left over!
This was already higher than the treatment of some junior official members of the Fire Moth!
"I'm not seeing things, am I..."
"Is that really..."
It's Bronya!!
Even Yae Sakura, standing by the cash register, felt the sudden change in atmosphere.
Unlike the others, however, Sakura—who didn't yet have a deep understanding of the Fire Moth's inner workings—was simply surprised to see her here.
Back in Sapphire City, Bronya had been one of the people, along with the Kaslana girl named "Kiana," who had looked after her and Rin. She was also one of the high-ranking members of the Fire Moth...
The girl...
Yae Sakura blinked. It was only at this moment that she suddenly realized the girl was just a child, not much older than Rin.
And in the back, the two Shus froze the moment Bronya pushed the door open.
The Bronya-whale!!
My cover!!
*I'm such an idiot...*
*No, my other self is the real idiot. Seriously.*
*I only knew that Homu was popular, that it had a market.*
*But I forgot that out of everyone I know, Bronya is the biggest Homu fan there is!*
Alright, actually, Shu had remembered it from the start. He didn't even have to make an effort to remember that Bronya liked Homu.
It was just like how Mei loves Kiana, loves to cook, and loves to cook for Kiana.
And how Kiana loves Mei, loves to eat, and loves to eat the food Mei makes.
Bronya loves Seele, loves Homu, and loves every little flower from the orphanage...
In short, Shu remembered. You could even say...
Bronya was this shop's biggest "investor."
She just didn't know it yet.