Chapter 126: Chou Part 3: Supply And Demand

Sakura's POV:

It has now been several weeks since I witnessed the terror behind that woman's mask, and things have only gotten worse for me.

Back when I first began working as the shop mascot, all I had to do was wait inside a dancing costume that moved on its own, until my shift ended. It may have been embarrassing, but it was bearable.

However, as time passed, the demon behind that fox mask seemed to enjoy my suffering and endeavored to increase my hardships. I was soon made to do other tasks as well, all while wearing this stupid rabbit costume. I was made to sweep the streets right outside the shop. I'd be forced to clean the employee bathrooms right before my 10-minute lunch and/or bathroom break. I would be made to fill in at the counter if anyone got sick. I even was made to do some of the shops paperwork in place of that demon, which was only made worse by the fact this stupid costume lacks fingers, making the whole process excruciatingly slow.

Meanwhile, the rest of the staff are being spoiled by her in comparison. They are never demanded to work more than six hours a day, they get to use the bathroom whenever they want, they are given at least a 30-minute lunch break, permission to take the weekends off, are given paid vacation days and free health care. All these benefits are paid for by the chores I am handed along with my role as the mascot. She has got them all wrapped around their fingers as there isn't a day that passes without me overhearing someone calling her the best boss ever. It was frustrating to no end, but I was still able to endure it somehow.

However, it wasn't until we opened a new clothing store right next door that the true hell began. Up until then, I was only forced to work nine hours a day, but now that time has doubled. I can feel my mind begin to slip a little more each day as what little sleep and rest, I am permitted is often disrupted by nightmares of either my late father or that demon superior of mine.

At first, my routine had been made to just dance with that golem throughout my 18-hour shift, but that changed the day after that demon showed me her true colors.

*Thud*

"Hohoho! Here are your gifts for this week, little girl! Now remember to stay off my naughty list or Santa will be very sad!" The jolly old man said as he dropped a bag full of jewelry and fabric on the floor.

Apparently, our main supplier of materials had cut us off. It seems when our brand expanded, so did our number of competitors. Before we arrived in the capital, we had spent most of our time traveling in a caravan, establishing connections with different people and places around the country, before eventually setting up our shop. One of those connections was the supplier we have been using to get the materials we needed to make and design our accessories, but he was not a very influential or popular figure in his trade. Hence, he was easily pressured into cutting us off by our more well-off competition. Which is why the demon had called upon another servant of her master to fill that role, and for some reason he was really into roleplaying as Father Christmas despite the fact we are still in July.

He would come once a month holding a bag filled to the brim with what I am starting to suspect are stolen accessories of rather high quality. Which we would dismantle and melt down for parts. Of course, the person tasked with removing all nonmetal parts before we send them to be melted down would be none other than myself.

Despite not having the faintest clue on how to do so, I was made to dismantle all the accessories, before reassembling them into our newest line of products. I would glue, string, paint and sow together whatever new products that demon demanded, and if I made a mistake I would either be made to start over, or it would be sold through her back-alley dealings as part of her scheme to frame and slander our competitors' reputation.

In spite of my moral quandaries regarding the matter, it would seem that our business has been making more profits from that demon's side hustle rather than our actual stores. Our clothing shop is still rather new and is facing heavy resistance due to the famous 'Wong Thread' clothing shop sponsored by the Yellow Palace being one of the competing clothing stores in the city. Meanwhile, our accessory shop is facing a shortage of high-quality wares due to my lack of fingers, which gives that demon an excess of bootleg items she can use in her schemes.

Unfortunately for our competitors, thanks to that demon's successful bootleg operations, our company has been growing at a steady pace with each day that passes. There is now at least one Jewel Rabbit brand store in every major city in the country.

Due to our shady source of materials, we had a limited workforce in regard to producing our wares. That's why that demon just had me work overtime on making accessories we could ship to the other branch stores, while the demon would handle the few clothing shops. But as more and more shops opened up, it became impossible for me to keep up with demand, even if I wasn't hindered by my faulty costume. Since two people was obviously not enough to supply multiple shops, I was fortunately only required to handle the wares of the accessory store in the capital.

Meanwhile, the demon got our supplier to lend us his subordinates to speed up the process. They were short little people with pointy ears in red and green clothing, all of them wearing a comedy mask over their faces. I can't help but wonder if they too are like that demon under their masks.

Business was booming and halfway through August I finally managed to get the hang of working in this ridiculous costume, as I was making less and less bootleg material every week that passed thanks to the advice of those little elves, who seemed much friendlier than that demon. Even my dancing on the street has shown some improvements as I can see more and more onlookers gathering to watch me single-handedly perform the two-person dance I had perfected. It may be just my imagination, but it feels as though this sweatshop routine has gotten lighter somehow, or maybe I am finally losing it after about a month of less than adequate sleep.

"Those little pests! When I get ahold of who's behind this, I will skin them alive while I burn off their …!"

I was just finishing this week's batch of accessories, when I saw that demon walk by, muttering about how she was going to torture whoever it was that pissed her off. Either way it was none of my business, as I have long since given up on stopping this psycho from enacting her deranged fantasies. I have even grown used to the sounds of muffled screams coming from her office at night, as I go to sleep in my dirty small bedroom located under the stairs to the second floor.

"HOLD IT!"

Just as I was about to walk out into the rainstorm outside to recite my dance routine once more, that demon called out to me. Sending chills down my spine as I feared she might try to vent her frustrations on me.

"Jewel Rabbit! Have you received an update on our last shipment to the accessory store in the city of Chu?"

"Uhm! N-No! M-Madam!" I stuttered.

As the demon was often away from the shop preparing for some big secret project she has been working on since the start of August, I have often been put in charge of managing the paperwork and product distribution on her behalf. I almost felt relief at the realization this demon only approached me to ask me about a report she was expecting.

"God damn those insects! Hm? PFT! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Just as the demon was about to resume her angry muttering, she suddenly went silent as her mood changed completely, letting out loud laughter. Having learned from experience to keep my distance should this ever happen, I tried to sneak away, but…

"Ugh!"

*Thud*

I was about to walk out the door, when I bumped into someone and fell backwards. Looking up I saw a young man who looked to be a little older than me, and behind him was…

"HEY! LET ME TAKE THIS STUPID THING OFF, YOU LITTLE SHIT!"

A loud woman in a horse mask.

"Go wait outside until I call you!"

"WHAT?! I'M NOT WALKING BACK OUT INTO THAT TORRENT OF WATER!"

"That's an order my trusty steed!"

"WHOSE YOUR TRUSTY STEED!! ARGH! GOD DAMN IT! SCREW YOU!"

"HAHAHAHA! Thomas, you crazy bastard! I love your idea!"

It seemed like the demon knew this guy, which likely means he probably works for that devil too.

"*Giggle* You couldn't have come at a better time! Let's get started! I need you to-!"

"Hold it!" The guy said, daring to cut this demon off.

"Mady! I know better than to let you run amok at my expense! So, we will operate as a separate business entity from the Jewel Rabbit Company!"

"What are you trying to say little Thomas?!" The demon spoke while I could feel hints of her bloodlust leaking out from her.

I wanted to run into the rainy streets to escape, but I was petrified by my fear as the memories from July were flashing before my eyes.

"I'm saying if you want my help you have to pay me first! Then I might consider doing you a favor or two!"

"Favor? Isn't it only right to help each other in fulfilling our king's decrees?" She spoke, as her bloodlust was becoming more and more palpable.

"Haha! Funny! But we both know that's not what you've been doing here!"

"What do you mean, Thomas? You know without a doubt I have been doing my job diligently, isn't that right, Thomas?" The demon spoke as she removed her mask.

"Silly old Mady! Your hypnosis doesn't work on me, remember! So, drop it!"

"Tsk! Hm? Jewel Rabbit? Tell me! Are there anyone else in the building right now?" The demon said as her twisted face turned to me.

"N-N-Nobody, M-Madam! I-It's the weekend so all the employees have taken the day off! A-And the rainstorm is keeping the costumers at bay!" I stuttered as I feared what came next.

Even Santa had to concede in the face of this demon's bloodlust, but this crazy man has been all up in her face since the moment he got here. There is no way she is letting this go.

"Did you here that, little insect! There are no witnesses! You know what that means!" The demon spoke as drool started leaking from her toothy grin.

"That I made the right call when I asked the boss to check in on me in 10 minutes!"

"…!"

Suddenly, the demon froze in her tracks just as she looked about ready to pounce on the man.

"Well, of course I'll pay you for your services! We are colleagues after all!" The demon spoke, changing her tone completely as her face returned to normal.

"Good! Also, undo her brainwashing, or I'm telling the boss!" The guy spoke as he pointed towards me for some reason.

"I don't know what you mean!"

Just then, the guy's eyes started glowing as he started talking out loud.

"Hey, boss! Mady-!"

"YOU LITTLE INSECT! FINE!"

*Snap*

And the moment she snapped her fingers I could feel my mind clearing up.

"Huh? What? Wait, what happened? What did you do?" I asked in bewilderment as I could feel not a trace of the suffocating terror I was feeling a moment ago.

"Shut your mouth and go dance already you insect!" The demon told me.

"Hypnosis?" I muttered as I pieced together what had happened to me.

All that fear and terror I've been feeling at the sight of this woman must have been the effect of a form of mind control. Nearly all forms of technique and magic with the power to influence the mind are forbidden by law and considered heresy in nearly every corner of the world. And I had just been released from one of such demonic arts.

"YOU! YOU WHENCH! HOW DARE YOU! I WILL-!"

"Silence that's and order!"

And with that, my cries of rage were stopped by my deal with the devil.

"Now go da-!"

"Actually, I'd like her to stay!"

"What are you plotting?"

"Oh, nothing really! I'm just filled with tender feelings towards the fairer sex!"

"STOP SCREWING AROUND! I'M SICK OF THIS FUCKING WATER! MY EVERYTHING IS ALREADY SOAKED!" The horse woman screamed from outside the shop.

"Pft! Fine! But you better do a damn good job, or I'm telling the lord you interfered in my work!"

"IF YOU DON'T COME HERE BY THE COUNT OF THREE, I'M BLOWING UP THE BUILDING!"

"Oh, don't you worry!"

"1!"

"That horse will just demolish anyone who gets in her way!"

"2!"

"Friend and foe alike!"

"3!"

*BOOM*

Just as he said that a giant explosion blew down the wall of the shop.

"You convinced yet?"

"MY STORE!"

"Pleasure doing business with you Mady! Got to go! Bye!"

"YOU INSECT! GET BACK HERE AND FIX THIS!" The demon screamed as she started running after the horsewoman powered carriage speeding down the street.

For the first time this year I let out genuine laughter or so I would have, if not for the order to remain silent. Instead, I just stood there clutching my cramping stomach as I watched my tormentor getting a taste of her own medicine.

As they finally left my range of vision, I calmed down. As the rain poured down on my costume, I felt as light as air as I danced alone while an indescribable sense of relief began to wash over me.