AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 122
Episode 10-24
“…They’re here.”
“Ah, yeah. Is it Barbera Papa and Mama this time?”
“…Yes.”
Barbera muttered softly while staring off into the distance, and I shifted my gaze in the same direction.
After a lengthy conversation with the flood of iguanas, the night had already passed, and it was now morning.
In the transparent sea, lit by the morning light, a massive shadow could be seen. Was it a dorsal fin? Or spines on its back? Those were visible, too.
With a loud splash, a deep blue dragon burst out of the sea and onto the sandy beach.
“Welcome back, Barbera my dear.”
“…I’m back, Mama.”
Barbera rushed forward and clung to the blue dragon’s neck.
While the two enjoyed their first reunion in two days, I turned my face toward the mountain.
I heard a deep, low roar that sounded like “Gwooon!”
From the mountain peak, a shadow emerged from the crater.
Its scales were a deep red, almost black as if they absorbed the sunlight.
The shape was similar to Barbera, but the horns on its head were far more impressive than hers.
The red dragon flapped its wings with a loud sound, and its massive body rapidly closed the distance.
Soon, with a loud “swoosh,” it landed on the beach.
“You’re back, Barbera! What’s wrong? Did you miss your papa? Shall we live on the island together again?”
“…I won’t live here.”
The red dragon recoiled.
It seemed surprised by the blunt rejection.
However, Barbera quickly ran up again and this time clung to the front leg—or arm?—of the red dragon.
The dragon growled deeply.
“That’s a happy sound, right? The scene still makes me nervous, as usual.”
“Wow, manager, you’re not fazed at all, even seeing Aniki and Aneki in their dragon forms.”
“…Transform.”
“Hmm? I see, so there are humans around. Very well, it is hard to speak in this form, given my immense size!”
“Oh, dear. Naoya, tell us why you came here.”
Responding to Barbera’s request, the two dragons began to glow.
When the light subsided, two humans stood in their place—Barbera Papa and Mama. They were dressed.
“Good, there was sand flying around earlier. It’s been a couple of days, hasn’t it?”
I bowed my head.
I was smiling, but not because they were dragons, but because they were the parents of one of my employees at the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
I’m always grateful for your kindness.
“I’d also like to know why you came to the island…”
I glanced at Barbera.
Her expression was as emotionless as ever, but her tail was swaying, and the fire on it flickered slightly—she seemed happy.
However, it didn’t seem like we came to Twin Dragon Island just because Barbera wanted to visit her home.
I glanced at the iguana.
The iguana wearing a hat slowly stepped forward.
“Aniki, Aneki, we have a favor to ask.”
“Oh?”
“My, what could it be? Little lizard.”
“So, it’s okay for Barbera Papa and Mama to call the dragon-kin ‘lizards.’ Well, they are absolutely powerful beings.”
“Please lend me a hand!”
“Was that a pun? You were saying ‘I’ earlier. And does that pun even work with this translation ring? Is it really that versatile?” (the usual difference between watashi, boku, ore)
“Hand, huh? Hmph, if you say that, there must be something in it for me, right?”
Barbera Papa glared at the iguana.
They could talk and ask for favors, but the iguana seemed to be of a lower rank.
The iguana continued, its voice trembling.
“O-Of course, Aniki. Manager, you brought it, right?”
“Uh, yeah. Some of it is just ingredients, though.”
“I want you to cook it here and let Aniki and Aneki taste it.”
“Oh? Human cooking, huh? I’ve tasted the world’s finest ‘steak,’ you know. I won’t be easily satisfied.”
This time, I was the one who got glared at.
The air grew tense.
I wish you’d told me it would be like this in advance, Iguana-san…
“Oh, come on, dear. Let them try.”
“…Naoya’s cooking is delicious!”
“Thank you, Barbera. Alright. I still don’t fully understand, but… since it’s about getting seafood, I guess I’ll cook!”
I tried to convince myself, though I still wasn’t completely on board.
The only ones looking at me with expectant eyes were Barbera and the hat-wearing iguana.
The other iguanas, or rather, the dragon-kin, seemed to have spread out into the forest and along the beach, perhaps out of deference to Barbera’s parents.
Some were up in the trees, others were sunbathing on the beach.
Some were eating leaves or nuts, while others dove into the sea, seemingly after seaweed. That part really is iguana-like. Interesting.
“Where should I cook? Indoors is not an option since there’s no house, and I’m not selling anything, so as long as it’s not on the sandy beach, an outdoor location should be fine.”
“…This way.”
“Hm? You have a recommended spot?”
Hearing my muttering, Barbera began to walk off.
She turned around and tilted her head as if to say, “Aren’t you coming?”
“Hmm? Is it alright, Barbera, to bring an outsider to that place?”
“Oh dear, Barbera seems quite fond of Naoya, doesn’t she?”
Ignoring her surprised parents, I followed Barbera.
After walking through the forest for a while, we came to an open space.
There were no trees here, and the sunlight was good.
With grass growing like a lawn, it should help prevent sand from getting into the food.
“…We will do it here.”
“Ojou, are you sure? This is your private nap spot where even we are forbidden to enter.”
“…It’s fine. There are also seats.”
“Seats. Well, there are some fallen trees that would make for good benches… Alright, let’s get started.”
I reached for the magical tool at my waist—the <Item Pouch>.
This time, I had brought a large-capacity <Item Pouch>.
When I was preparing for this trip, Iguana had asked, “Make sure you can cook t-h-a-t d-i-s-h we ate before,” so I asked Anna-san to lend me this.
“I wouldn’t have been able to fit everything otherwise.”
“…Naoya, there’s no fish.”
“Ah, right. I used most of it for the trial run, and since we’re heading to a port town, I didn’t prepare any.”
“Seriously? I don’t have any on me either. Damn, guess I’ll have to make a dash across the sea.”
“…Mom, please. Get the big one with the long horns.”
“Oh my, oh my! Barbera dear, asking for ingredients from me! Fufu, Mama will do her best!”
“Barbera, what about Papa? What should Papa get? A Fenrir? A Phoenix? Or perhaps the most delicious, my own tail?”
With Barbera Papa eagerly asking, Barbera looked at me with a troubled expression.
Why are you asking me?…
Barbera Mama was supposed to get the fish for the fish dish, and I had brought all the other necessary ingredients.
“Ah, yeah, how about asking Dad to handle the ‘grilling’?”
“…That!”
“Grilling? Not an ingredient? Is it necessary? Can’t we eat it raw?”
“You said the ‘Dragon Steak’ tasted good when it wasn’t raw. This time, controlling the temperature and time—the ‘grilling’—is crucial.”
“…Yes, very important.”
“Kuh… Kuhahahaha! I see! That’s why you need my help! Very well, human, I shall show you my ultimate grilling technique!”
Barbera’s dad—the legendary strongest dragon, the Crimson Ancient Dragon—threw his head back and laughed heartily in his human form.
He seemed delighted that his beloved daughter had asked him for a favor.
Meanwhile, Barbera Mama, having been asked first, happily wagged her tail and headed back toward the beach.
In the distance, I heard a high-pitched roar, “Kwoooon!”
It seemed she’d be fishing in her dragon form.
It’s now the 27th day since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
For my second business trip to this world, I somehow ended up doing outdoor cooking.