Huh? Hire Angel?

"You mean hiring Angel in this shop… so Dolph isn’t quitting?"

"…Of course, if you already have enough staff, I would have no choice but to leave and let Angel work here. But if possible, I would like to continue working at this outdoor shop as well."

"No, no, no! We’re actually short-staffed! Dolph, I absolutely want you to keep working here!"

"Oh, I see."

My vehement denial seemed to have startled Dolph a bit. But I was honestly relieved to hear that Dolph wasn’t planning to leave.

"Tetsuya was worried that Dolph might be planning to quit the shop. He even started imagining all sorts of unnecessary concerns about dissatisfaction with the job," Lilia said.

"Hey, Lilia!"

"No way! The salary here is higher than other shops, and we get not just one but two days off. The work is fulfilling because it helps beginner adventurers, and more than anything, I’m grateful that you hired me and taught me everything step by step.

I couldn’t possibly feel dissatisfied with such generosity! In fact, I’ve been feeling guilty for asking such a favor from someone who’s already been so kind to me."

"Dolph…"

"See? I told you Tetsuya worries too much. I don’t know about other shops, but this one is a fantastic place to work."

"It’s my first time running a shop or hiring people, so I’m really unsure about a lot of things. I’ve probably caused a lot of trouble for everyone, so it’s such a relief that you’re not quitting, Dolph…"

"Tetsuya…"

Running a store and hiring people was an entirely new experience for me, even counting my previous life. Back in my old world, when I worked at that black company, I had a junior join the team, but they quit soon after.

Back then, that junior had approached me with a similarly serious look and told me they were quitting. While they said their dissatisfaction was with the company and not me, I always wondered if there was something more I could have done as their senior.

"Ah, sorry, I got sidetracked. So, Angel wants to work here, right? Of course, she’s welcome! Our customer base is growing, and I was just thinking about hiring one more person."

"Really? Are you sure about this?"

"I’ve spoken with Angel a few times and know she has a good personality. You mentioned she used to work in a shop, so she’s probably familiar with handling calculations too, right? Even if she’s not, she can learn step by step."

Having already interacted with Angel several times, I was confident about her character. Knowing she had experience in retail made her even more suitable for the job.

"Yes, I can handle calculations. From what my brother described about the job, it’s very similar to my previous one, so I think I’ll be fine!"

"Great, then there’s no problem. Welcome aboard!"

At one point, I was worried Dolph might quit, but instead, we’re gaining another team member. That’s a huge relief.

"…Um, before you officially hire me, there’s something I’d like to discuss with all of you. Sorry, brother, but could you step out for a moment until I finish?"

"What? Whatever it is, if it’s about Angel, I—"

"Just go. Now."

"Alright!"

------------

With Angel’s firm command, Dolph immediately left and headed down the stairs. He really seems to be completely obedient to his sister.

"Before you decide whether or not to hire me, I want to explain the reason I left my previous job."

"Now that you mention it, you did say before that you didn’t like your previous workplace."

I recalled Angel mentioning this during the barbecue we had previously.

"Yes. The truth is, one of the male staff at the shop where I worked was harassing me…"

"Harassing you?"

"He confessed his feelings to me, but I turned him down firmly because I didn’t think we were compatible. After that, he kept making advances and even started following me around.

I reported it to the shop manager, but they didn’t take it seriously. I even went to the town guards, but they said they couldn’t intervene since no actual harm had been done. If I could work in the same place as my brother, I’d be able to return home with him, which would ensure my safety."

"I see… If there’s no direct harm, the guards can’t act. And if you told Dolph, he might… well, he’d likely end up in jail after beating the guy up."

In my old world, anti-stalking laws had only been established relatively recently. I could understand why the guards here wouldn’t intervene unless actual harm occurred, but by then, it would already be too late.

"…I can’t forgive someone for scaring a woman. Angel, can you tell me the guy’s name and what he looks like? Don’t worry, I can take care of him without anyone knowing."

"W-Wait! That’s going too far…"

…Lange, your casual threats are genuinely scary sometimes. He may be a playboy, but he seems to value women and can’t tolerate those who mistreat them.

"There’s a chance that man might come to this shop, which means I could end up causing trouble for everyone."

So that’s why she wanted to explain this upfront. If the stalker were to show up here and cause a scene, it would indeed create issues for the shop.

The fact that Angel wanted to disclose something that might put her at a disadvantage before we even decided to hire her showed her integrity. She’s a good person. My decision was clear.

Looking to my sides, I saw both Lilia and Lange nodding at me before I even said anything. Ever since coming to this other world, I’ve been incredibly fortunate with my employees.

"There’s no problem at all. Angel, I will officially hire you as a staff member at the outdoor shop. And, of course, we’ll ensure the safety of all our employees to the best of our ability!"