The Smithy in the Town
“”"Hello~~!!””"
The three of us greeted together. Then...
"Hey, what's this-!? This isn't a playground for kids."
"It's dangerous here, go home, go home!! If you don't leave, we'll splash water on you!!"
The younger craftsmen, who were younger than Steve, said this to us.
Did they treat us like this because they thought we were kids? Even if we were kids, we could still be potential customers. This kind of customer service is unacceptable. It’s just asking for complaints. I remember how my juniors used to look down on kids when serving them, only to get complaints from their parents later.
"Are you sure this kind of service is oka… mmff..."
"Jo!!"
Brother Gene covered my mouth.
"Huh? What's this? You brats reek of milk. Go home and suck on your mom's breasts."
"”Aahahaha~~!!”"
The craftsmen laughed.
"Mmfft... Let go, Brother Gene... Phew. That was suffocating. Brother Gene, please wait a moment. So, I was asking if this kind of service is really okay with you guys?"
"Jo."
Brother Gene was exasperated.
Beside us, Vee was frozen. Behind him, Brother Noel and Brother Alan silently watched how things unfolded.
"Ah, what? Do you really want us to splash water on you!?"
One of them picked up a bucket of water and pretended to throw it.
"Apologize now if you're going to!!"
"You should be the ones apologizing now!"
"What did you say, you little brat!?"
"Don't you dare talk back to us!!"
They were like thugs who wouldn’t listen even if you spoke kindly. Well, having dealt with such customers before, I wasn’t particularly bothered.
"Tch. Don’t underestimate me just because I’m a kid! I don’t care if it’s some low-ranking guy saying this!! You’ll splash water on me? Go ahead, if you can. But if you do, you’ll be choking yourself. Got it, aaahhh!?"
“"!!”"
The craftsmen were shocked, not expecting a little girl to talk back like that.
“””"!!!!”””"
At the same time, Brother Noel and the others were also stunned.
No wonder, since the last time I had talked back like that was in the kitchen, and only Mr. Abe and Ben had heard it. They had seen me calmly scolding someone, but they never expected me to snap like this.
From the back, Steve, an older man who seemed to be Steve’s father, and some senior craftsmen came out.
"Oi, what’s going on? You are so noisy. Who’s causing a ruckus in my shop... Ah!!"
"Oh, Steve, thank you for the other day. I thought I’d come by to give my year-end greetings, but when I arrived unannounced, your craftsmen here kindly welcomed me. I didn’t expect to be offered water so soon... I can’t drink that much, though."
I greeted them with a courtesy that seemed out of place in a blacksmith’s shop.
"Jo, Young lady Joan!? So, that was you talking back just now?"
Steve was shocked.
"Oh my. If you heard, you could have helped me. I was so scared."
"””Uwahahaha!!””"
The older man, who seemed to be Steve’s father, and the senior craftsmen laughed.
"Well, well, you’re truly Old Master Will and Old Madam Lindsey’s granddaughter."
"Ah, that way of talking back is just like Old Madam Lindsey."
"I’m sorry, young lady. Our young ones here..."
The senior craftsman knocked the younger ones on the head.
"Ouch... What was that for? Who is this kid anyway?"
"My apologies for the late introduction. I’m Joan, the eldest daughter of the Lampail family. Thank you for taking the time to create what I requested despite your busy schedule."
I bowed.
Clang. The bucket in their hands fell.
"”W-we’re so sorry for our rudeness."”
The younger craftsmen apologized simultaneously.
"I accept your apology. But looking down on customers just because they’re kids can be fatal. From now on, treat everyone equally, okay?"
I said with a smile, though my eyes weren’t smiling.
“"Yes, we’ll be careful!!”"
"No, no, we’re truly sorry. I’m John, Steve and Martin’s father. Your idea was truly eye-opening. I had so much fun making the prototype. Thank you for giving us the job. And that was quite the impressive talking back. It felt refreshing to hear. Ah, I’m sorry for keeping you here. Please, come in."
Mr. John guided us to their residence.
"I feel bad for not having much to offer..."
Martin’s mother served us tea.
"I’m sorry for the sudden visit. I’m Noel, the eldest son of the Lampail family. This is my younger brother, Gene. And these are Arandolph and Vince from the Longest family. I apologize for Joan causing a scene."
"Thank you for your kindness. We’re the ones who should apologize for our young ones’ rude behavior. Please, feel free to punish them as you see fit."
Mr. John said.
"That won’t be necessary. We should have introduced ourselves first. But I agree with Joan that customer service should be equal for everyone."
Brother Noel said.
"Yes. We’ll re-educate them."
Steve said.
"Ah, please, have some of these."
I took out some cookies and a pound cake from my storage.
"Were these cookies perhaps...?"
"Yes, I used the mold you made to cut them."
"By the way, is Martin... here?"
Brother Gene asked.
"Ah, yes. Just a moment. Hey, Martin, come down!!"
Steve called upstairs.
"What is it, Big bro? Ah..."
Martin came down.
"Hey, Martin."
"Gene, you could’ve told me you were coming. Young master Noel, Young master Arandolph, Young master Vince, I’m sorry we couldn’t offer you better hospitality. Lit… Young lady Joan, I’m sorry too. I heard someone yelling earlier... was that...?"
"Sorry, Martin. Jo just got a bit loud... ahaha."
"No, it’s our fault."
Steve said.
"Martin, here you go."
I handed Martin a cookie.
"Eh!? For me? Thank you. I’ll treasure it."
"Just eat it!"
Brother Gene interjected.
"So, why are you here?"
"Ah, Jo’s social studies? She’s only been to the orphanage. So, we came here for year-end greetings and to see the blacksmith’s."
"We should’ve come in first. Gene and the others rushed straight to the shop, which caused all that commotion."
Brother Noel scolded.
"”Sorry."”
Brother Gene and Vee apologized.
"Not to me, right?"
“"Everyone, we’re truly sorry.”"
They apologized again to John and Steve.
"No, no, please raise your heads."
Steve said.
"Indeed. We were also at fault."
Mr. John said.
After that, we apologized to the craftsmen and excitedly watched the blacksmiths at work. I also ordered a square frying pan for making tamagoyaki.
"So, where to next?"
Martin asked.
"Shall we go to the carpentry workshop next? We need to greet them too, Jo."
Brother Noel said.
"Yes, let’s greet them. I want to give Gan some cookies too."
"Eh... (So it’s not just me...)."
Brother Gene patted Martin’s shoulder.
"Martin, you coming too?"
"I’m in!"
"Then let’s all go!"
I started walking ahead.
… But of course, I didn’t know the way to the carpentry workshop, so I was quickly caught by Brother Noel and Brother Aran, turning me back into a captured alien.
What do you think about this chapter?
