Chapter 253 Birthday 3

[……I see, so that’s why……] Master Pyrotechnician

As expected, they’re Japanese! The man was convinced and nodded to my explanation while we’re still in the car. The employee guy was also nodding in agreement.

……You’re too adaptable to the situation, guys!

[So that means we’re on Barsoom*……] Master Pyrotechnician

[Bathroom?] Mitsuha

[It’s Barsoom, Barsoom! The young people these days……] Master Pyrotechnician

Eh? Is that something I should know? Is it basic knowledge?

[Anyway, this is a different world, we’re at the royal palace, and you’re going to launch fireworks from here for the people of the capital to see. Do you understand? They’ve never seen fireworks in their entire lives……] Mitsuha

Yeah, in Japan, large-scale fireworks displays were already being made way back in the Edo period, but we don’t have that kind of culture here……. I guess it’s not surprising, since gunpowder has not yet become widespread here.

Besides, even if they start producing gunpowder, it will all be sent to the military because it is a precious commodity, to begin with.

If something fireworks-related product is made instead of being used for cannons or guns, it will probably start out as a smoke signal or some sort of a flare that you shoot straight up to use as a signal during nighttime emergency……

[Kuku……]

[Fuhihi……]

[Kukukukukukuku……]

[Fuhihihihihihi……]

Areya? These guys are suspiciously chuckling with each other…….

[[Fu a ~ hahaha ~a!!]]

While I’m thinking about it, they went on a burst of full-blown laughter……

[I, Zenjiro Nakabayashi, owner of Nakabayashi Fireworks Shop, will put my heart and soul into this work!] Zenjiro

[O ~usu!] Man

What’s going on? You guys are getting way too excited……

I wonder what happened?

[Fumufumu……. The size and terrain are fine. Now as long as the weather is fine on the big day, there’s no problem with the launch itself.

The only problem is……] Zenjiro

Yeah, it’s about that, isn’t it? Probably…….

[What should I do about applying for a smoke and fire consumption permit and reporting to the fire department?] Zenjiro

[I knew it……] Mtsuha

Getting permission is not a problem on this side. All we have to do is ask the king, it’s that simple.

The problem is that it consumes a large amount of gunpowder, so you’ll need to have a document saying <I used it properly as fireworks>, and evidence that you got permission from the fire department or the person in charge of managing the land…… Even an amateur knows that.

Now, what can we do about that?…….

[Well, I think we can do something about that……] Narukai

[Narukai!] Zenjiro

That was quick, oi!

[I mean, it doesn’t matter if the client is a young lady. If a foreign cruise ship requested for fireworks display over the ocean and shoot them off from a barge or a fishing boat, we might be able to get away with it even if there are no witnesses……] Narukai

[Can we get a permit for that, Uncle?] Mitsuha

[I don’t know. Well, there are other things we can do, like say it’s for a festival in a small village deep in the mountains, or say that it’s for an experiment of new fireworks and not a commission……

Worst case scenario, we can say <It was moved somewhere else on the day of the event>……

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The client on the paperwork is just an intermediary, and we don’t know anything about the real client’s identity, so we can just play the victim.

……Miss, you don’t have a problem with being treated as a criminal in Japan, do you? No matter how good the Japanese police are, they wouldn’t be able to come to another world to investigate. In addition, there’s no name and no photo, so the identity of the person is unknown.

I’ll make you a montage photo or a caricature so you’ll look different……] Zenjiro

What the hell! That IS a problem!

…Maybe that’s a joke and I don’t think that’s really going to happen…

[Well, we’ll figure something out! We will cross that bridge when that comes! So don’t worry about it, Miss!] Zenjiro

[……O, o ~u……] Mitsuha

I’m not sure about this, but as they say, leave the mochi making to the mochi makers. Just leave it to the professionals and you’ll be safe!

Alright, let’s go to the next location. Next!

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With that in mind, I continued to check the scene along with Sabine-chan and the soldiers on guard duty.

No, it’s fine if it’s just me, but I’m together with a strange old man and a younger man, then there will be people who will look after me. Especially since I’m with Sabine-chan, a princess of this kingdom……

Then, after checking out the site…….

[Say, Miss. How about adding 2 million yen more and see what we can do with it?] Zenjiro

Eh？

[I want to show the people who are going to see fireworks for the first time in their lives the best ones. To do that, I need 2 million more. Just 2 million more……

If it was just me, I wouldn’t mind if I make no profit from it or even getting a small deficit, but as a manager, I’m responsible for the lives of my employees and their families, and no matter how much I put my life on the line as a pyrotechnician, I can’t do business with a deficit. So 2 million more! If I have 2 million more, I’ll make a firework that will definitely satisfy you!] Zenjiro

Ah～……。

I understand.

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I know how you feel!

When he found out the truth, that the budget did not come from the kids’ part-time jobs but the public budget, I guess his greed…… got the better of him. Not because of the money, but because of his passion as a Pyrotechnician.

However, 2 million is equivalent to 80 gold coins after converting from gold to dollars and then to yen……

[I… I’ll think about it……] Mitsuha

And so, after doing some more preliminary checking, we’re finally done here.

[Captain, in about three weeks, I’ll need a light armored vehicle and two trucks with open roofs! For about 3 days. And 3 drivers, for at least an hour……] Mitsuha

[What for? Also why too sudden?…….

Well, there’s hardly anything you’ve asked me to do that wasn’t so sudden.] Captain

It can’t be helped. The only time I ask for help from the Wolf Fang is when I’m already in trouble and when I have no other options.

[It’s not for an escort mission or a battle, it’s for an event, so it’s not dangerous. I’ll pay for the car rental, the decorations, the drivers, and their daily allowance. So please!] Mitsuha

Yeah, we can’t use the lightings over there, and since these guys have just the right car, it’s best to ask the Wolf Fang to do it. It’s also a good way to prevent the spread of information.

The reason why we have to rent the cars three days in advance is, of course, because we need time to decorate them.

Ah！

[We’ll also need to get some costumed personnel from……. No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.] Mitsuha

I’ll send out a request to some fledgling mercenaries for the costumed personnel. It doesn’t matter if they are locals or not.

It is also my role as a business owner to provide jobs for people who are struggling to make ends meet.

Besides, all of the members of Wolf Fang are so burly that some of them might not be able to wear a costume.

However, since this mercenary group has a lot of personnel, if we select people with small builds like women or teenagers <which would be considered minors in Japan>, there’s no way the costumes won’t fit because of it being too small.

Although, the orphans are…… too small to be in costume, it seems.

[It can’t be helped……. Some people seem to like that kind of thing anyway, so I’ll take that request as well.] Captain

[Yes, please!] Mitsuha

All right, that’s all I need to do here. Now all I have to do is pick out and reserve some stuff from a stuffed animal rental company, and the rest will be taken care of. I’ll have to ask Kuntz-san, the woodworker, to do some work on the stage and…… the stalls! He’ll probably need to talk to some of his colleagues, though, but I’m sure he’ll be fine……

Yeah, somehow. I think I can handle it!