Chapter 251 Birthday 1

[Mitsuha, are you ready?] Beatrice

[Eh? Ready for what?] Mitsuha

When I returned to my territory’s residence, Beatrice-chan, who should be working at the <Beatrice Trading Company>, said something I didn’t quite understand.

[What are you talking about? Of course for my fifteenth birthday party, my debutante ball, my social debut!] Beatrice

[……Eh? Eeeh?! E e e e e e e e e h~~~!!] Mitsuha

No, no way…….

[It’s almost my birthday. It’s not that the debutante ball should be held on the day of my birthday, but it’s common sense that it should be held as soon as possible after my 15th birthday!

I’m pretty sure you said you were going to show us something called <Electric Light Parade>, <Stall Show>, and <Fireworks>! The food has to be better than Adelaide-chan’s, or I won’t forgive you!] Beatrice

Aaaaahhh!

I was hoping that she would forget about it, but I didn’t realize that she remembered so accurately about that thing that I was forced to promise Beatrice-chan after I became in charge of Viscount Rainer’s Adelaide-chan’s debutante ball……

When we first met, Beatrice-chan was 13 years old.

It hasn’t been two years since then, but on her next birthday, she’ll be turning 15……

Unlike the Vanell Kingdom, this country does not celebrate minors’ birthdays with much fanfare, so although I am aware that Beatrice had turned 14, but before I knew it, she’s already turning 15. I did not even know when her birthday was……

Even though the birthday of a minor is celebrated only by the family and servants, if I had been nearby, I probably would have been invited, so I guess Beatrice’s birthday was when I and the entire County of Bozes were away from each other in the royal capital and the territories. I’ve yet to…… tell the Count that my secret art of <transfer> can actually be used without much of a burden.

U umu, what should I do…?

This means that I have to hurry up and get everything ready before her birthday, or even if I have to do it along with the territory thing……

Since it was a debutante ball, the location would naturally be the residence of Count Bozes. But since it was to be held in front of a large number of invited guests, there was no way it would be held in their territorial residence.

Then……

-Cooking, okay!

I’m sure I can borrow Marcel-san and all the cooks from Adelaide-chan’s place, so it will be a lot easier.

……If I get down on my knees and ask for help, it’s certain that I will not be turned down.

-Stalls, okay!

It’s not such a big deal to teach the cooks and other servants one type of street food at a time.

To begin with, street food is either fairly simple or most of the prep work is done in advance.

I’m not trying to train people to be full-fledged chefs who can do everything. We only need one person for each type. There are those who will only cook squid, those who will only cook octopus, those who will only make candy apples, and those who will only make cotton candy……

Yeah, the hurdle seems pretty low.

For cotton candy, if we have a power source, I can rent a machine where you can insert a 100 yen coin and it will automatically dispense a certain amount of sugar and start working on it, and then you can roll it up yourself using disposable chopsticks.

For the ice cream shop, you just scoop it out of the cold container with an…… ice cream disher or something like that and put it in the cone cup. You just have to squeeze the handle to remove the scooped ice cream.

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I have made Takoyaki by myself many times…… The octopus was not a regular ingredient in our refrigerator, so I would put Chikuwa in place of octopus to make and eat it by myself as a snack.

I don’t need to build a full-blown food stall. We can easily just set up a temporary stall.

Since it would only be for a day or even a few hours, there was no need for mobility. As long as there is a window to hand over the goods, the cooking can be done in the back, so there is no need to over-stress ourselves.

Umu, no problem!

-Electric Light Parade…

Uh…….

Can I rent the costumes from a Kigurumi rental for a few thousand yen to 10,000 yen?

For the parade, we’ll need about twenty sets. Well, I’ll charge the expenses to the Count, so it won’t be a problem.

It was a feeble amount compared to what the aristocracy in this country spent on lavish parties.

But the problem is the floats. I’m not sure how much it would cost. Just how much do those things costs?……

Probably a newly built one or something similar would cost a few million……. In addition, the delivery time will be quite slow for such special order.

We probably won’t get it in time even if we order it now.

-Fireworks.

Aaahhhh!

Beatrice-chan won’t let forgive me if I give her hand-held ones like sparklers or snake fireworks from toy stores or convenience stores……

A full-scale pyrotechnic would cost millions……

No, even if the Count pays for it as an expense, what am I going to do about the set up and launch? There’s no way an amateur can do that……

There is no problem with the lack of qualifications for handling gunpowder, or someone reporting to the authorities, or getting permission to set off fireworks because we’re in a place where Japanese law doesn’t reach, but there is no way they would sell authentic fireworks to amateurs. They use a lot of gunpowder, and just a small mistake could result in a fatal explosion.

Besides, there was no way I could buy an electronic launch system to control the firework’s launch at an electronics store. It’s not the kind of problem that I can handle by myself!

What should I do?…….

[What’s the matter?] Beatrice

[No, nothing. Don’t worry about it…] Mitsuha

This is bad.

It’s really bad……

[Eh? You want to commission a fireworks launch?] Master Pyrotechnic

[Yes!] Mitsuha

This is a city in Japan. It is a city where a lot of fireworks…… companies gather.

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There are various types of fireworks companies: <pyrotechnicians> who manufacture and launch fireworks, <pyrotechnicians (launchers)> who purchase manufactured fireworks and mainly set up and launch fireworks, and others who do all of these.

……And here is a small company that does the manufacturing, setting up at the location, and launching the fireworks.

With only a few employees, all of whom had special expertise, one person’s small mistake could cost the lives of everyone, and it was a very dangerous place to work if these people did not trust each other’s skills.

Only pyrotechnical idiot professionals would be in such a place. (1)

……Yes, it means <people you can trust>.

So I chose a small place instead of a big one.

Secrecy can be a problem, especially in a properly organized big company.

In such places, every move will need to be reported to their boss and the fieldworkers will not be allowed to do anything on their own.

No, it’s not that there’s anything wrong with it, it’s just that big organizations have to be that way. It’s a given. It’s just that…… it’s <a little inconvenient> for me.

So, I chose this place.

The president/manager/workshop owner…… The uncle looked a little tired but still responded to me with all the sincerity he could muster. He was indeed surprised and froze with his mouth half-open.

No, it’s normal for a customer who comes to a pyrotechnician’s workshop to ask for a fireworks display, right? If someone came to a pyrotechnician’s workshop and asked for ramen to be delivered to their house, that’s the time you should be surprised.

……Good. I don’t need to tell him that! He probably thinks I’m in middle school or in high school anyway.

[……Ah, ah, sorry, I’m sorry. It’s just the super-busy-summer-murder schedule is over and my heart starts to relax and get scared. It happens every year.

So, what is it? Do you want to plan a surprise fireworks display for your parent’s wedding anniversary?

Well, a cheap No. 3 ball costs 4,000 yen per launch, plus labor and equipment costs. If you and your siblings can get part-time jobs and come up with about 200,000 yen, we’ll launch about 60 of the No. 3 and No. 4 balls. Since it’s the off-season and I’m not busy, I’ll do the paperwork for you.

For the time being, if you have at least 100,000 yen, I can take it. But if you pay 150,000 yen or more, I’ll throw in a few special No. 5 and one No. 6.] Master Pyrotechnic

The fireworks should be pink. The cheapest fireworks, such as the No. 2.5 and No. 3 balls, cost between 4,000 and 5,000 yen per shot, but the No. 10 ball (1 shakudama) costs less than 100,000 yen, and the 20 ball (2 shakudama) costs about 800,000 yen per shot. (2)

No matter how small the balls are, and no matter how off-season it is, 200,000 yen for 60 rounds is a great deal, don’t you think? They’ll even throw in a larger ball as a free gift……

Not only do they sell the fireworks, but also transport them to the site, set up the launching equipment, launch them, and take them down afterward. With only a few expert workers.

Because of the long hours involved, the labor costs alone could be quite high.

Moreover, you have to notify the authorities in advance…… In our case, though, the government procedures are not relevant.

……But that’s not the kind of <surprise> I’m asking for.

[Well…… For 3 million yen, how many shots can you launch, including the shakudama ones?] Mitsuha

[……Eh?] Master Pyrotechnic

Yes, I’m not going to be stingy here for my precious Beatrice-chan’s debutante.

……Even though it’s the Count’s money, not mine!!

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Umū umu.

But, as expected, it would not be good to spend over 10 million yen, so 3 million yen should be about right. Considering the exchange of money, 120 gold coins in their money. In the Count’s financial sense, it would be about 12 million yen for the Japanese currency.

I wonder if it’s expensive or cheap?

……Well, we won’t know until we’ve seen it……