The next day.
A meeting was held right away, bringing together Hayarn and the witch.
Not at the lab — at the Hayarn Trading Company's headquarters building. The conference room.
It was the same building I'd once ridden into on the top floor on the Etrange and decked Hayarn.
A striking black building, one that stood out even in Hydrangea.
It was a modern office tower straight out of my past-life memories.
Also present in the conference room were Akindura, chairman of the Hayarn Trading Company, along with his secretary.
"Wof. Mistress Witch. Thank you so much for cooperating on the development of this new product."
Akindura, in a perfectly wrinkle-free suit, bowed to the witch and me right off the bat.
"Oh, no, it's really more of a hobby, so…"
I hurried to deflect the formal courtesy.
"In particular, Wof, the company owes you a tremendous debt."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Huh, what was he talking about?
I tilted my head slightly, and Akindura explained.
"All of the ideas behind our flagship products — the light orbs and our advertising methods — I understand they all came from you, Wof."
"A-ah, right. Well, don't worry about it."
"The Hayarn Trading Company exists because of you, Wof."
"W-wait, that's—"
That got out of hand. I really didn't mean any of that.
I just didn't want them to take it too seriously.
I can't do some all-powerful modern knowledge thing, and I wouldn't even if I could. I don't even know how to make mayonnaise.
"Well, well. Let's leave the introductions there and move on to business, shall we?"
The witch smoothly threw me a lifeline. As expected of the witch.
Akindura gave a slight bow and took his seat. We sat down too.
"Now then, regarding the new product — according to Hayarn's report, seven units have already been completed as finished products."
"Mm. Impressive, isn't it?"
If I'm being blunt, it's practically a ripoff, though.
"We've also heard that, with the cooperation of Wof and the witch, new flavors are currently in development."
"Yes. We'll be making them now."
"And then we release all eight varieties. Isn't that perfect?"
Hayarn was looking awfully pleased with himself.
Are you showing off?
Akindura lowered his gaze slightly and spoke.
"...I'm sorry, but regarding the new product... we do not intend to put out all eight varieties at once."
"What!?"
"Oh my."
"What do you mean by that?"
Not releasing them? That came out of nowhere too.
"To start, eight varieties for a new product is too many. I think we should narrow it down to four."
"Four?"
"That's half, isn't it?"
"First of all, this is a new drink. We should expect a great deal of bewilderment from the public. Moreover, releasing eight varieties at once risks making that confusion even worse."
"That's... well, fair point. I see."
Now that it was pointed out, eight varieties right out of the gate was indeed too many.
If people were already used to the drink, it might be one thing — but this was, in a sense, the world's first.
I supposed that was a fair concern. Hiyaan let out a groan too.
"I think it's better business to let one flavor settle in before introducing the next. Fortunately, we can produce the next flavor right away."
"That's true. What do you think, Witch?"
"Hmm, hmm. Sounds fine to me. I'll leave that sort of decision to Akindura."
"Thank you."
"Right then. Business matters are in Miss Akindura's hands. Let's follow her lead."
Hiyaan was satisfied with that.
Well, I had no objections either.
"Next, regarding containers. These cans are a wonderful replacement for bottles. Being fully metal vessels, they're ideal for storage and less likely to break than bottles. However, unlike bottles, they can't be reused after drinking. They're disposable."
"The manufacturing cost for the containers will be covered by the lab, so there's no expense involved."
"That's not what I mean. I'm talking about how to deal with them as garbage."
"Hm? As garbage, you say..."
"Oh my, oh my."
As for the garbage after drinking, it was a problem even with my memories from my past life.
One option was to prepare a dedicated trash bin.
But not many people would bother to throw things away in the proper place.
With bottles, if they broke, there was a dedicated junkyard where you could dispose of them.
But metal containers couldn't be reused once used. There was no choice but to throw them away.
And as far as I knew, metal containers didn't exist in this world yet.
Canned goods didn't exist either. Hmm. Canned goods, huh.
The lab could manufacture them, and maybe they could be sold as preserved food for delvers.
"...So I'd like to stick with the traditional bottle format. How does that sound?"
"Hmm. You're right. Understood. Let's go with bottles."
"For the bottle shape, I'd like a bottle type with a drinking spout attached to this can."
"Wouldn't that work fine?"
"Bottles can be manufactured at the lab too, so there's no problem."
"Well, well, but I do sense potential in this can."
"Yes. I have no objections to that. I'd like to think of an appropriate way to utilize this can."
Canned goods, huh.
Just like this, things kept getting decided with Akindura-san taking the lead.
I just had to nod along, which was nice and easy.
"H-huh!? Kon as the image girl!?"
"Yes. This witch is perfect for such an exciting new beverage. I'd really appreciate her cooperation as an image girl for PR."
"I-I-I really don't think someone like me suits being an image girl...!"
"Not at all. The witch is the most suitable candidate!"
Incredible. Akindura. Pushing right in on the witch herself.
When I first met him, he was a timid, pitiful man who got pushed around by Haiyan.
But now he's running things splendidly as the guild president.
Does the position shape the person? Or was that temperament there all along?
Either way. The witch was going to get steamrolled.
Help her out? Hmm. That'd be tough.
All I can do is watch.
And I have no reason to object.
I want to see the witch as an image girl too. I really, really want to see it.
So I'm sorry as her apprentice, but I'll just have to watch.
I feel terrible about it, but when I want to see something, I want to see it.
"Fine, fine. I'll cooperate."
"Thank you. I'm delighted."
And so the witch was chosen as Enadori's image girl.
With the witch at the center, the entire product lineup for Enadori was decided.
Incidentally, the product name was changed from "Enadori" to "Witch Water."
Now, where have I heard that before...?