AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 103
Episode 10-5
We were able to enter the port town quite easily.
I didn’t show the Aion Mall employee ID like I did when entering the nearest town to the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
By the 25th day of my life in the other world, I’ve learned a few things.
I asked Chloe, the dispatched Holy Knight from the Order of Knights, to prepare an ID for me.
It seems that the small piece of metal, like a dog tag, has been magically processed.
Apparently, it can be used in any town within the country.
It took some time to get, but there were no problems entering the port town.
I doubt I could have gotten in with just the Aion employee ID.
“Alright, looks like everyone got through without any issues.”
As Chloe and I waited in the plaza in front of the gate, Anna-san, Barbera, and Barbera Mama quickly passed through the gate as well.
Barbera was rummaging around inside her dress. Oh, so that’s where she kept her ID. Also, even a dragon got an ID? The Holy Knights are impressive.
Anna-san, the undead, was smiling calmly. Even though she shouldn’t have received an ID from Chloe, she apparently managed to get into the town. I won’t ask for details. I’ll just pretend I don’t know. I didn’t know anything.
Barbera Mama passed through the gatekeeper’s check without any trouble. It seems she got by on face recognition alone. Also, the soldiers lined up and saluted her as she passed. She didn’t even glance back at them. Wait, do they know she’s a dragon?
“No problem. Getting through means there’s no problem. Don’t think about it. Just go with the flow.”
I muttered to myself.
Avoiding reality, I joined the group and looked out onto the main street.
The port town is large, as it’s directly connected to the royal capital by a highway.
The town is densely packed with buildings from the high outer walls and gates down to the beach.
But perhaps because of the white walls and orange roofs, it didn’t feel oppressive.
The buildings are at most four or five stories tall, and maybe the difference in elevation of the land plays a part.
The white beach curves gently, with medium-sized ships anchored at the ports on the capes to the left and right.
“The sky and sea are both blue. If this place were in Japan, it’d probably be a tourist spot. Ah, the color of the sea changes over there. So that’s why the large ships are anchored outside the port.”
The port town seems to be located between two capes.
A river flows from the northern part of the town down to the sea.
“Abundant in water too. There are many slopes and stairs, so it feels like Nagasaki. But in terms of color scheme, it might resemble southern France more. Like Nice?” (City name)
I wouldn’t know since I’ve never been there.
I looked down at the main street with its varying elevations.
The people walking around are diverse.
There were all sorts of people at the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store too, but just at a glance, it seems there’s even more variety here in the port town.
Tanned humans, a fair-skinned, blonde, middle-aged handsome man, beastfolk with dog ears or cat ears like Colette, beastfolk with fluffy hands, necks, and dog-like faces, and those with scales on their necks that might be reptilian beastfolk. I can also see what looks like a Lizardman, a bipedal lizard about human-sized.
Most people are wearing light, somewhat loose-fitting clothing.
Now that I think about it, Barbera Papa and Barbera Mama, whose hometown is near the port town, wore similar clothing.
It’s a bit sweaty now, so it might get even hotter in the summer.
“It’s said that shading yourself from the sun while ensuring breathability keeps you cool… wait, aren’t there a lot of bipedal beastfolk around? Huh? I only saw a few at the Aion Mall.”
“Fufu. There were many in the nearest town as well. I suppose it looked different to Naoya-san back when you had no magic power.”
“Oh, magic power, huh? That’s what makes the other world so crazy.”
It’s fine. Everything’s fine.
In fact, seeing people the same way as the locals is a benefit.
As a store manager who thinks about the products to sell, there’s nothing but advantages. If I tried selling clothes with the same designs as in Japan, it might fail. They’d probably complain there’s no hole for the tail!
I stared blankly at the main street.
Perhaps because there are so many slopes and stairs, I didn’t see any carriages or carts.
Some people carried loads on their backs packed tightly in wooden frames, while others carried them on their shoulders or on top of their heads. It feels foreign. Though it’s supposedly the same country as the territory where the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store is located.
“This is the port town! There’s a strange smell in the air! It’s lukewarm, sticky, and has a scent—this is the first time I’ve felt such an unpleasant wind!”
“Ah, right, Chloe, you mentioned it was your first time in a port town. I understand the feeling since you were born and raised in a landlocked area.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to a port town. Fufu, once you get used to it, even the salty sea breeze feels pleasant.”
“Huh? Anna-san, are you okay? Doesn’t salt have effects like warding off evil spirits or purification? Or is that only in my original world?”
Just like me, or rather, just like me when I first arrived, Chloe was gazing at the port town with wide-eyed excitement.
Anna-san, on the other hand, watched us with a relaxed smile.
“Since this is a survey for procuring seafood, the first places I’d like to check out are the market and the fishing port. If we have time, we should also visit a few popular eateries.”
“…Lunch?”
“It’s still a bit early, so we’ll eat later. By the way, Barbera, since your hometown is nearby, do you know where the market is?”
Barbera tilted her head.
She doesn’t seem to know. Yeah, I had a feeling.
“Very well, I shall guide you. Follow me, human. Come along, Barbera-chan.”
Perhaps noticing Barbera’s uncertainty, Barbera Mama offered to guide us.
She held her daughter’s hand and began walking ahead of us.
Her dark blue tail swayed as she walked.
Today marks the 25th day since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
For my first survey of a port town, it looks like I’ll be guided by a dragon.
It’s definitely got that otherworldly vibe, but since she’s in human form, it should be fine. It should be fine. I really hope it’s fine.