AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 100
Yay 100 chapter!
Episode 10-2
“But the problem is transportation. It takes two weeks by carriage from the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store to the port town. Putting ice in the ‘Item Pouch’ should help preserve them, but fresh fish is still out of the question.”
“F-Fresh!?”
“Fresh fish, Chloe. I’m talking about fresh fish. Your reaction is too quick.”
To expand the supermarket section and boost sales, I want to procure seafood. However, in this underdeveloped otherworld, transportation is a major issue. The road in front of Aion Mall Otherworldly Store is said to be a highway connecting the royal capital and the port town. The nearest town is a thriving “transportation hub” located midway along this highway.
“I want to go on-site to investigate the suppliers, transport routes, and methods. But a round trip would take a month. I can’t go.”
The Dragon Sale, planned to be held every ten days, daily business reports, and ordering also make it difficult. So, someone else has to be sent…
“The port town! That means there’s a sea! I’ve heard it’s even bigger than the lake in the Elven Village! And it’s salty! A huge salty lake! Hehehe, I’m excited, Naoya!”
“It’s been a long time since I last saw the sea. The last time was about 100 years ago— I mean, I’m 21 years old. What am I saying? Hehehe.”
The former manager’s excitement makes me uneasy, and Anna-san is an undead. I can’t let her go alone. Collette and Fansine just started working at Aion Mall Otherworldly Store, and I can’t send them. Besides, Fansine is still recovering. The peddler is treated as a tenant. I should seriously reconsider the contract and employment.
Barbera seems lost in thought. Oh, she looks like she wants to say something.
“What’s wrong, Barbera?”
“…Ride.”
“Hmm? Yeah, whoever goes to the port town will take a carriage. Walking isn’t an option.”
“…No.”
Barbera shakes her head. She’s trying to figure out how to explain, frowning in thought. It’s just that she’s not very talkative, so she should just speak up.
“Oh, I see! That’s a good idea, Barbera-chan!”
“Anna-san?”
“It’s simple, Naoya-san. It takes two weeks by horse and carriage to the port town. Right, Barbera-chan?”
Anna-san seems to understand what Barbera wants to say. Barbera nods in agreement.
“…Fly.”
“Fly? Oh, right, Barbera is a dragon.”
“That’s right, Naoya-san. If it takes two weeks by carriage on the ground, Barbera-chan’s wings can get there in no time!”
“Wow, that’s a great idea! Amazing, Barbera! Hehehe, flying on a dragon’s back, just like a legendary Dragon Knight! Hahaha!”
Anna-san and Chloe are enthusiastic, and Barbera seems motivated too, as the fire on the tip of her tail flares up. But…
“People will notice. The speed is appealing, but a flying dragon will cause a commotion.”
I can’t wholeheartedly endorse the idea. If rumors spread about a dragon appearing at Aion Mall Otherworldly Store, it would further reduce customer traffic. And during the journey, being spotted from the ground would cause a stir. Dragon scales, blood, and meat are valuable, and it’s not strange for them to be targeted. When Barbera’s parents flew over, it caused a monster panic even though they weren’t seen.
“Don’t worry, Naoya-san. We’ll use illusion magic to make Barbera look like a giant bird instead of a dragon.”
“That might work… But is it okay for a bird the size of a dragon to fly around?”
“Hmm? There are many large bird-type monsters like Firebirds and Roc birds. Wyverns are also sometimes seen around here.”
“Oh, then it should be fine. But wow, this otherworld is something else!”
If it’s not a dragon, it’s okay to be seen flying. That means large bird-type monsters are not uncommon. Come to think of it, on my first morning as manager, I saw a giant colorful bird and a wyvern. This otherworld is terrifying.
But anyway, we’ve found a way to make a quick round trip between Aion Mall Otherworldly Store and the port town. Barbera will transform into her dragon form, and Anna will use illusion magic to disguise her true form—
“Wait. Illusion magic? I always thought Anna-san didn’t quite look like an undead, but could it be—”
“The personnel going to the port town will be Barbera-chan and me, and of course, you, Naoya.”
“Naturally, I will go! As the former manager, an elf, and a holy knight, I can’t imagine not riding a dragon!”
Anna-san seems to be avoiding my question while counting off on her fingers. Chloe suddenly jumps in, blocking my line of sight to Anna-san with a fervent plea.
“I’d prefer if Chloe stayed to watch the store.”
“What!? This is Dragon Knight stuff! And the huge salty lake!”
“I get that you want to go, but we need someone to handle operations here.”
“Store Manager! I will do my best! Apothecary-sama taught me, and I can now operate the register!”
“I’m well aware my body can’t endure a long journey, let alone an airborne one… I apologize for my selfishness, but if possible, I wish to help at the store.”
“Please, Francine-san, raise your head. It’s very helpful that you’re willing to stay. So, you two will stay, and as for the others…”
“We can take turns at the register when we’re not acting as drivers. Right, dear?”
“Of course, darling.”
“Thank you. But with four people gone, we might not have enough hands given our current customer numbers. So that leaves…”
I get it. Barbera and Anna-san are essential, and if I take Chloe, and leave Collette and Francine-san to watch the store, there’s no one else. No human employees. We have people from another world, a dragon, an undead, an elf, a beastman, and a human, but not enough humans. The only ones left are…
“The food prep won’t be a problem. Recently, I’ve only been checking the work.”
The skeletons, wearing aprons and standing in formation with their hands clasped in front, visibly cheer up. Or rather, they clatter excitedly, making noise with their bony hands.
“They’ll be fine, Naoya-san. They’ve been helping out during the Dragon Sales and more recently as well. There have been no problems.”
“That’s true. I’m a bit nervous, but… I’ll rely on you.”
The ghostly figures in mascot costumes jumped with excitement, taking a pose reminiscent of a sentai team. They seem eager to be relied upon. Where did they learn such poses? Oh right, there’s a bookstore in Ion Mall. It’s good to see they are diligent students.
So, the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store’s operations, with four of us gone, will be supported by the undead. Thank you all, as always.
“Seriously, just trying to expand the fresh food section is proving way too difficult! I’m anxious about both the team going to the port town and those staying behind! I’m counting on you, Collette, Francine-san, and peddler!”
In the middle of the celebrating undead, Collette stood with her tail straight up, her eyes full of determination as she clenched her fist. Francine-san also looked determined, though there was a hint of despair. It’s okay, I won’t be mad if you make some mistakes. There’s no need to look as if it’s life or death.
The peddler family also nodded, holding each other’s hands. “We owe you our lives,” they said, but there’s no need to be so dramatic.
This marks the 24th day since I became the manager of Aion Mall Otherworldly Store. It seems an otherworldly business trip won’t be easy.
By the way, since the undead will help with store operations, will the nighttime construction work be okay? Well, the main workers for construction are the skeleton team, so it should be fine. A slight delay in the apartment completion shouldn’t be an issue.