AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 108
Episode 10-10
It’s been 25 days since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store
After inspecting the fish market and sampling the food at a local diner, I found myself at the fishing port.
When it comes to sourcing seafood, it’s better to buy directly from wholesalers or fishermen rather than from retailers. At Aion Corporation, we often source directly from producers. Sometimes, we even produce the goods ourselves for exclusive sale.
Maintaining consistent quality and reducing intermediary costs are key to our private brand strategy.
“Well, that’s a bit ambitious here. It might work with agriculture or livestock, but seafood is another story.”
The types of fish available are different, and weather conditions can prevent fishing altogether. Without a stable supply of consistent quality, it’s tough to establish a private brand.
The port town is a two-week journey by carriage from the Aion Mall Otherworld Store, or just a few hours by Barbera. The fishing port itself was much smaller than I had imagined.
There’s a stone-built pier and a breakwater extending into the blue sea. According to Anna-san, both were constructed using earth magic. Magic is amazing, as evidenced by the fact that employee apartments were built in such a short time.
There’s also a boat ramp for hauling ships ashore during storms, high tides, or repairs. A few small boats are lying there, exposing their hulls.
The small boats are wooden, powered by oars or sails. Larger vessels and warships are reinforced with magical metals to withstand monster attacks.
There are huge monsters in the open sea, and ships are occasionally sunk. The oceans of this world are terrifying.
Despite the wooden boats and different propulsion methods, this port is quite similar to a Japanese fishing port. There are processing plants for making dried fish and unloading areas, just like back home. There are no facilities for aquaculture, but that’s not a big deal.
The biggest difference, however, is the absence of a market.
“You’d sell directly to your regular customers, wouldn’t you?”
“So how do you purchase fish?”
“Hah, who’d be crazy enough to sell to outsiders?”
There’s a fish market, but no fish market. I’m not trying to be philosophical here. There’s a place where locals and random visitors can buy fish, but there’s no auction or marketplace where fresh fish is bought and sold. It’s confusing.
“Every boat has its buyers lined up. Even if there are leftovers, they’re sold through the fish market.”
“Seriously… The barriers for new businesses are way too high… But then again, this is another world. I guess it’s not so strange.”
Once fish are caught, they’re landed and sold to regular buyers. These buyers then distribute the fish as fresh produce to local restaurants and retail shops, with some going to processing. Some fishermen even sell directly to restaurants.
Fishermen secure their own share of the catch before or after selling. Any surplus ends up in the fish market.
According to the fishermen taking a break at the port, that’s the usual distribution route for fresh fish. Given the dangers of the open sea and the lack of aquaculture, it’s likely due to the limited catch.
“The problem isn’t just the transportation time, even getting the fish in the first place is an issue…”
I gazed out at the port from the stone pier.
There was another significant difference from Japanese fishing ports.
While there are processing plants, there are no frozen storage facilities. There are “refrigerated warehouses” where mages create ice to keep things cool, but they’re small-scale.
In this world, most mages are nobility, with only a few commoners capable of using magic. Hiring a mage is, therefore, quite expensive.
Fish are stored in refrigerated warehouses, and though time doesn’t stop, the inclusion of ice makes it less likely for the fish to spoil. These are then transported using a magic item pouch. The costs involved make the final product an ultra-luxury item for nobles.
“Well, it’s no use complaining. I guess I’ll buy some dried goods to take back.”
“What are you talking about, Naoya? If there’s no fish, we just need to catch some! I, who was known as the best angler in the village of Veltu, will catch plenty for you!”
“Right… You were raised in a warm, sheltered environment with people telling you, ‘Chloe, you can’t leave the village since you can’t use a bow or spirit magic,’ so you spent your free time fishing, huh?”
“Th-th-that’s not true, Naoya! Between my sword training, holy magic, sunbathing, and keeping a plant growth diary, I just fished as a way to relax during my busy days.”
“That doesn’t add up. Besides, one person’s catch isn’t going to be enough to sell in a supermarket. It’s fine as a hobby, but it won’t be enough.”
“Naoya-san, if you’d like, I could gather everyone and have them help with the fishing?”
“Please don’t, Anna-san. We’d start getting a lot of ghost ship sightings.”
Neither Chloe nor Anna-san were any help when it came to sourcing fresh fish.
…If we skip the boats and throw a skeleton crew into the sea, could we drive the fish into nets? But the skeletons in aprons are busy with cooking and cleaning, and the captain and his skeleton crew are our main security force…
The port was closer to her hometown, so Barbera was considered a local. She tilted her head slightly, her tail swaying and making a soft pattering sound. Barbera’s mother looked at her daughter with adoration, apparently having nothing more to say.
“I guess it’s no use… But thanks to Barbera, we were able to reach the port town within a day. Can’t complain about that.”
At that moment, Barbera’s tail stopped moving. Everyone except me—Barbera, Barbera’s mother, Chloe, and Anna—was now focused on the processing plant.
“Dammit, I told those useless adventurers to finish it off properly!”
“Get out of the way! Run!”
“Where are the young guys when you need them?”
Suddenly, there was a loud crash, and the large door of the processing plant was blown off its hinges. A monster wriggled its way out and began to approach.
“Damn, there are people here! Run, you guys!”
“Get the harpoon, now!”
“Don’t push yourself! Go get the doctor!”
“Oh no! My prized sea serpent…”
A massive water serpent, with one eye crushed and blood flowing from its body, was slithering toward us. Despite its injuries, it showed no signs of dying soon. It was heading from the processing plant towards the sea, which meant that we were in its path.
“Naoya, get back—hm? What is it, Barbera?”
“Barbera-chan? I see, you want to impress your mother, huh? You can do it!”
Ignoring Chloe, who had stepped forward to protect me, Barbera began to walk towards the serpent, her tail straight up, the flame at the tip burning more intensely.
“Wait, why are Chloe and Anna-san just watching? That monster is huge, and Barbera looks like a 10-year-old! It’s too dangerous! Barbera’s mom, shouldn’t you stop her?”
“Don’t worry, Naoya,” her mother said with a gentle smile.
“…Defeat it,” Barbera said simply.
With that, Barbera broke into a run, her tail swaying behind her. The sea serpent opened its massive jaws, ready to swallow the small Barbera whole. But she ducked under its chin.
“…Take this,” she murmured.
The sea serpent raised its upper body like a snake—
“Wait, did it just get launched? It looked like it was hit from below with incredible force! But because it’s so long and heavy, its back half stayed on the ground.”
I looked up to see the 10-year-old-looking Barbera raising her right fist. It was as if she had just finished an uppercut.
“I see… Barbera’s punch must have hit the serpent so hard that it took its whole upper body with it. Even though she looks like a kid, she’s still a dragon. Impressive.”
While I was processing this, Barbera leaped high into the air, about 10 meters. Oh yeah, she did jump pretty high by the beach too. Girls from another world are amazing. Well, she’s a dragon, though.
Barbera spun in the air, extending her leg as she turned. A heel drop.
“…Take this,” she said again, her voice calm and controlled, as the sea serpent’s head plummeted toward the ground.
“Oh dear, Barbera-chan, you’re still learning,” her mother said.
She flicked her tail, and a sphere of seawater formed and floated up from the sea. The sea serpent’s head splashed into the water sphere.
“Uh…”
“If it had hit directly, the stone pier would have cracked. It might have even collapsed.”
“Oh, I see. That’s why ‘Water Queen Dragon’ manipulated the water to cushion the impact. Wow. Dragons are incredible. This world is terrifying.”
“What a masterful use of magic! I must tell my father, mother, sister, and the elders when I return to the village!”
“Are you sure that’s what a runaway daughter should be doing?”
“…Defeated,” Barbera said as she walked back to me, her chest puffed out in pride.
“Thanks for the help, Barbera. You did great,” I said, patting her head. She squinted her eyes, looking pleased.
Behind us, the sea serpent lay still, while the burly men who had been fighting it stared at us in stunned silence.
It’s been 25 days since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store. The fishing ports of this world seem full of danger.
Not that it matters to us, though. After all, our staff includes a dragon, a lich, and a holy knight. I’m the only weak one around here…