Step. Step...
With heavy footsteps, Damian and Carolla approached the Kingsman Bakery – Lunemire Branch, dressed in neat black suits and wearing dark sunglasses.
The bakery was a sleek, three-story building. A sizable line of customers stood at the entrance. There, Damian and Carolla saw a row of cute young girls in maid-style dresses—short skirts revealing their slender legs, fluttering lace aprons tied in front—greeting customers with bright smiles.
"Welcome~ to the Kingsman Bakery, Lunemire Branch!"
"To celebrate the joyous weekend, we've prepared a variety of sales and a special gift for our beloved visitors. We hope you enjoy your time with us!"
As they waited in line, Carolla observed Damian's eyes constantly scanning the building, the promotional banners and placards hanging outside, and the maid-uniformed girls cheerfully promoting events and guiding customers.
"What are you staring at, Damian? Don't tell me you're getting distracted by those girls flashing their legs and selling smiles to lure people in?"
At Carolla's comment, Damian finally opened his mouth.
"A tidy building. Eye-catching banners and placards full of creative ideas. You're talking as if those girls are some kind of bar hostesses, but I see it differently. This is marketing. It's a method to attract customers."
"The girls are all lively and pretty—and dedicated to their work. Honestly, I bet some people come here not for the bread, but to see the girls. Kingsman Bakery... they're not just all fluff with a fancy name. They know exactly how to draw in a crowd. Bread quality aside, these guys are formidable opponents."
"R-Really?"
Up until now, Carolla had assumed Kingsman Bakery was just an overhyped fraud with a big name. But hearing Damian speak seriously, she swallowed nervously. Damian had a point—these weren't people to be taken lightly.
While the two were chatting, the line moved, and soon they were inside the Kingsman Bakery.
"Welcome, dear customers. We're delighted to have you at Kingsman Bakery."
Even Carolla, a giant woman with large horns sticking out of her head, was greeted with unwavering smiles from the cute staff. She couldn't help but be impressed.
"Those girls who just greeted us... they didn't even flinch at the sight of me. Most would've at least looked startled."
"Whether you're tall or short, angel or demon, monster or human, dragon or orc—once you step inside this bakery, you're just a customer. They're trained not to react. And you're right... seeing them smile so calmly even when someone like you walks in proves they've been properly trained. They may be young girls, but they're true pros. Impressive."
Damian and Carolla took a seat at an empty table and ordered the basics—cream bread, red bean buns.
"What do you think, Carolla?"
At Damian's question, Carolla replied,
"Not bad. But... it tastes familiar."
"That's the nature of franchises. A uniform, predictable taste with little personality. They might make some items here, but most of it's delivered from headquarters as ready-made. Especially the basic items I ordered—they're almost all distributed that way."
"But the rest of us independent bakeries make everything by hand. And yet we're still losing to these franchise guilds?"
"To be blunt, aside from what you and I bake, most independent bakeries aren't producing anything better than this. You said it yourself—this isn't bad."
"Which means, even if they're generic and lack individuality, franchises have money, scale, and power. So naturally, they offer better products than small shops. And so, consumers seeking quality naturally flock to these franchise-run stores."
"Then... is there a way to beat them? Like…"
"Like what?"
"You're a legendary hero. I'm the former commander of the Demon King's army. So maybe we should just combine our powers and blow up this Kingsman branch—or even storm their headquarters?"
At that, Damian snorted and smirked.
"That's ridiculous. What era do you think this is? You can't just solve everything with brute force."
"But Damian... you said yourself they're tough opponents. What do we do if there's no other way?"
As Carolla spoke, Damian's smile slowly twisted into something more devilish.
"We'll use our heads. And the law. You don't crush people with fists anymore—you crush them with strategy. Now is the time for..."
Damian and Carolla continued eating their bread leisurely inside the bakery.
Some time later, Damian spotted someone entering with a few broad-shouldered men in black suits behind him. It was Zach, the head of sales at Kingsman's headquarters—someone who had recently visited Damian's bakery.
The maids bowed politely as he headed upstairs.
"Hey... isn't that the guy from earlier...?"
Carolla recognized Zach too and glanced at Damian, slightly startled.
Damian stood up.
"Looks like he's heading to the office. Time for us to move too."
"So all this time, you've been waiting here just to meet that Zach guy?"
Damian nodded.
"Yeah. I figured... it's time we had a little chat."