【The Old Man of the Expelled Inn Unwittingly Dominates Today Too】Although I Want to Lead a Slow Life, for Some Reason the Strongest Beauties Who Hold Important Positions in the Country, and Were Once My Disciples, Gather Around Me Asking to Be Hired – Even Though I Only Taught Them a Little～ - Chapter 56: The Old Man Hires an Archmage as an Employee

“Good, good, Cal~ Add another 10!”

“Understood, Bal~”

It was a long-awaited morning practice with Cal.

Calut Mage, one of the Three Deities, the Archmage.

With black short hair and grey eyes, her petite figure makes her appear around 10 years old, but now she must be… 19, I believe.

At 13, she earned the title of Archmage, and at 14, she annihilated the empire’s mobile fortress in a single blow with the ultimate magic Meteor during the Battle of Blood, an incredible feat.

I reunited with Cal just yesterday.

She seemed to have learned about my exile from Prince Genus.

Apparently dismissed from the Three Deities, she expressed her wish to work at this inn.

Though the situation was unclear, I told her she could stay as long as she liked.

With her abilities, she could make a difference in any country. When that time comes, she can leave the inn.

“Bal~ I’m done~”

Cal waved her tiny hands vigorously.

Alesia and Milene also came over.

Yet, I never imagined the day would come when I’d practice with these three again.

As I was healed by the angelic smiles of the three…

Another angel appeared.

“What in the world is happening!”

Liena rushed out of the inn, clearly flustered.

“Good morning, Liena. We were just practicing this morning.”

“Morning practice… But, there was this thundering, like an earthquake! And the sky is red!”

“Ah, that’s just the aftermath of Cal’s morning practice, it’s alright. Alright, Cal, the last 10!”

“Understood~~~ Meteor! Meteor! Meteor! Meteor!…”

“STOP! What are you doing!”

“It’s just the final 10.”

Liena shouted, and both Cal and I tilted our heads.

“Don’t say it like it’s just 10 dashes!”

“What’s wrong, Liena? You’re all red.”

I knew she wasn’t a morning person, but this was something else.

“You would turn red too in this situation! Please explain what’s going on!”

“Morning practice? Liena, this isn’t a real Meteor, so it’s fine.”

“A real or not real Meteor… I don’t understand, but I’m listening.”

“When Cal uses Meteor seriously, she mixes 【Fighting Spirit】 with her magic. But doing that during morning practice would obliterate everything around us, including the inn.”

“Ultimate magic, indeed…”

“So, in the morning, we only use 【Fighting Spirit】. Magic is only used to form the stones.”

“I see… that would indeed minimize damage to the land… though the inn is quite noisy.”

“Hehe, Liena. I forgot to apply soundproof magic this morning. I’ll make sure the inn is covered during tomorrow’s practice.”

Milene, swaying her beautiful purple ringlets, winked at Liena, who reluctantly nodded.

Liena is the princess of this country. It’s understandable she’d be worried about Meteors being fired off. Plus, she’s considering the inn’s welfare.

She’s truly thoughtful. A good kid, indeed.

Normally, it’d be my role to be considerate… The old man was just too excited to have his three disciples together again.

“Ugh… I guess I understand now. But…

What are you doing, Baldo-sama!”

“I’m just infusing small stones with 【Fighting Spirit】 and throwing them. It’s a make-believe Meteor.”

I explained to Liena as I continued to throw the last 10 stones into the sky.

The stones, launched into the air, hit Cal’s practice Meteors and shattered high above.

Even without magic, falling stones could cause accidents, so they’re pulverized high above.

I have no magic, so I can’t use magic spells.

Especially not Meteor, the ultimate magic.

Then, why am I conducting this training?

Cal had her reasons for needing to control Meteor.

However, I could only teach her about 【Fighting Spirit】.

To Alesia, the 【Fighting Spirit】 sword, to Milene, the 【Fighting Spirit】 barrier.

And to Cal, ――― the 【Fighting Spirit】 stone.

Their goals were incredibly lofty.

What the old man could do was simply to join them and practice together.

That was all.

It’s easier to persevere when doing things together rather than alone.

Moreover, each of them carried a dark past, and opening up took time.

That’s why he practiced with them.

When people do things together, they naturally become closer.

“Bal has always been there to do it together,” Cal said as she released the last one into the sky.

— Sei!

At the same time, a stone I threw collided with it high above and beautifully burst apart.

“Alright, that’s the last one. You did well.”

“Hehe, it’s been a while since I’ve done this with Bal. It’s fun.”

“Is that so… I also broke a good sweat for the first time in a while.”

“It feels like it’s ended on a very good note, but thanks to you two, the sky is as red as sunset! Well, I guess… being surprised is nothing new… Anyway, breakfast is ready.”

Liena said with an exasperated voice but smiled with a sense of resignation.

◇◇◇

After breakfast, all of us set off to our respective tasks.

I changed into a white T-shirt, refreshing my mood. I seem to be changing clothes more frequently these days…

I was even told I smelled during the massive monster stampede. And Cal keeps sniffing around me, too.

My body odor may be beyond improvement, but at least I can change my white T-shirts.

“Wow~ Cal-chan is so cute~”

“Liena! Cal is older!”

“But, but~ she’s just too cute~”

“Is that so?”

The girls were getting excited. It seems that, given Cal’s employment, she would need a uniform.

Could it be…!?

“Ba-Bal… what do you think?”

Yes, it was a mini-skirt maid outfit…

I remembered that Milene quickly ordered the uniforms yesterday. She was unusually cheerful with a mischievous “Ufufufu~”. The mini-skirt ratio has increased again.

“Hey, what do you think?”

“Oh, uh… it suits you very well.”

Cal jumped for joy at my awkward response.

I wish she would stop hopping; the mini-skirt is too short. It’s been established that Cal’s color for today is red. Let me clarify, it’s not that I want to look; it’s the mini-skirt’s fault.

“Baldo-sama~ What will you have Cal-chan do?”

“Ah! I wasn’t looking… I mean, let’s see…”

Don’t suddenly speak to me like that. It makes an old man panic.

For now, I decided to put her at the reception desk. Back when we were at the inn in Fridania, Cal often watched me at the reception.

Starting with something familiar seemed best. Besides, Liena seemed to take quite a liking to Cal.

“Welcome~”

Good, she’s off to a good start with her greetings.

Liena, teaching her various things, made sure Cal was enjoying herself.

This should be fine. I informed the two that I would be going to the back for a bit.

I started my showdown with the ledger, beginning the month-end closing tasks.

◇Liena’s Perspective◇

Kyaa~ Cal-chan is so cute.

The cute little sister I’ve always dreamed of is becoming a reality!

And she’s a quick learner too. At this rate, she’ll get used to things in no time.

After handling about ten groups of customers… it’s time.

“Cal-chan, want to try handling the next customer by yourself?”

“U…um, I’ll try!”

Ahh~ Even Cal-chan being a bit nervous is cute~~.

While I’m giggling to myself, the next customer walks in.

A man, someone I haven’t seen before. A new face.

“Fuhyo~ what a cute receptionist~ How old are you, miss?”

Hey, don’t look at my Cal-chan with those sleazy eyes!

I wanted to say that, but this kind of thing is an everyday occurrence. And it seems he doesn’t know about me.

You can do it, Cal-chan! Your big sister is cheering for you from behind!

Despite my worries, Cal-chan smoothly handles the slightly harassing customer.

She’s truly excellent.

And her movements remind me of Baldo-sama.

She must have been watching Baldo-sama all the time back at the inn in Fridania.

Just when I thought it would be a smooth one-man show, an incident occurred.

When handing over the room key, the male customer grabbed Cal-chan’s hand.

It wasn’t an accident… it was on purpose.

This won’t do. As I tried to step between Cal-chan and the man…

—Cal-chan!? What’s happening!

Something was off.

Her body was trembling, her face was pale, and her breathing was rough.

“…runa”

“Huh? Cal-chan, what? Are you okay!?”

“…Don’t touch meeeee!”

With a fierce glare, Cal-chan stared down the man… Could she really change this much?… And the sky!!

The sky visible through the window was turning bright red… Could this be!

“Wow~ What’s up with the sky turning red!”

“Is it another monster attack~~~!”

The other customers began to notice the anomaly.

“Cal-chan, calm down!”

A massive object was forming in the distant sky.

This is— definitely!

That’s when it happened.

Baldo-sama burst out from behind the counter with vigor.

He immediately grabbed Cal-chan’s hand tightly and started rubbing her back with the other hand.

Her rough breathing gradually calmed down.

At the same time, the sky’s color returned to blue, and the formed object disappeared.

“Ba-Baldo-sama… this is…”

“Ah, Liena, are you okay? Sorry about that. I didn’t expect a customer to directly touch her. It was my lack of foresight.”

“Um… does Cal-chan have a problem with men?”

“Yes. If Cal is touched by men other than me…”

“Touched by men and…?”

“—A Meteor comes out.”

“A Meteor comes out if she’s touched??”

What is that!?

“It’s a wonder the world has been safe until now…”

The Three Deities, they’re really something else…