AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 149
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Maria : Mebius World Online
Ouren/Yuuzen : I Was a Small Fish
Episode 12-6
“…Somehow, this place feels comforting.”
“Hehe, it does feel like we’re back home. I’ve lived here since before the store was even built, after all.”
“Hm, and it seems there’s no trouble here!”
It’s my 35th day as manager of Aion Mall Otherworldly Store. Our return from the dungeon, “Old Town Catacombs,” was smooth. No monster attacks, and soon enough, the familiar sight of Aion Mall Otherworldly Store came into view. After all that otherworldly dungeon atmosphere, the familiar exterior is oddly reassuring.
“Trouble, huh? I mean, we were only gone for a day. It’s not like we’d come back to some major crisis, right?”
“Naoya-san… In this world, it’s not uncommon for entire villages to vanish overnight.”
“That’s right, Naoya! A single blast from Barbera’s Breath is one thing, but if Barbera’s Papa or Mama used theirs, it’d be over in one shot!”
“Wait… that’s terrifying. Barbera’s parents are that dangerous?”
“Don’t worry, Naoya-san. Villages can fall even without monster attacks. Although, it usually takes a few days for a town to be wiped out…”
“Nothing reassuring about that, Anna-san. And anyway, calm down—Red Death can be cured now.”
The revelation shocks me. Well, considering Barbera’s Papa can take down dungeon bosses while still in human form, I guess I should have expected this. Even the employee apartments were designed with heavy defense in mind.
As we walk along the road, mingling with passing adventurers and merchants, we pass a signboard of Chloe, Anna-san, and Barbera in swimsuits holding various products to promote our deli section. Maybe it’s time to swap it out for something seafood-themed, and I wonder if they’ll do the swimsuits again.
“Welcome back!”
“…Welcome back.”
“We’re home, Colette. You too, Barbera. Thanks for welcoming us.”
“How was it, Colette? Was everything alright while Naoya and former manager Chloe were away?”
“Yes! Naoya-san, could you check yesterday’s closing procedures later? I think everything’s fine, but…”
“Got it. I’ll do that before we head out again.”
“Wait, you’re going somewhere else already?”
“Yeah, since we made a lot of discoveries at the Old Town Catacombs, I figured I’d explore another dungeon. It’s pretty close by too, so it should be a different experience.”
“Indeed! Better to leave quickly once we’re unpacked. Waiting only makes it harder to get going!”
“You’re really eager, Chloe-san. Naoya-san, we’ll stay behind this time. There’s new employee training to handle as well.”
“We’ll stay? Oh, right, with the Captain and the others inside the armor. Got it. Thanks for helping out.”
“Wait, Anna! That would leave just Naoya and me alone! Imagine… alone together in a dungeon, looking up at the night sky… ‘Finally, just the two of us,’ he’d say! Ngh, as if that would sway me!”
“So wholesome. Though, being alone with you in a dungeon is a bit nerve-wracking, Chloe. This is exactly why…”
“Um, if Naoya-san wants me to, I… I’ll try my best! Even… even as my mother would!”
“Relax, Colette. And we’re definitely not bringing Francine-san along, she can’t fight and is still recovering!”
I calm Colette, who’s clutching her fists determinedly. Despite her resolute gaze, her lowered ears and curled tail reveal her true feelings. For someone raised in the city who can’t fight, entering a dungeon must be pretty intimidating.
Wait, why am I going to these dungeons, anyway? …Customer research, right? Just part of the job. It’s not like I had much choice being thrown into this monster-filled world. A little more prep time would have been nice, Aion.
“I’ll go.”
“Hm? What was that, Barbera?”
“…I’m going to the dungeon.”
“Oh! Barbera’s coming too? Then it won’t be just Naoya and me!”
“Thank you, but… are you sure?”
“No need to worry, Naoya-san. Barbera-chan’s territory will be fine even if she’s gone a day or two.”
“Ah, I wasn’t worried about that, but… yeah, she’s already traveled back and forth to Port Town and Twin Dragon Island, after all.”
“I’ll help with the work, too!”
“Thanks, Colette. I’ll try to come back quickly, so don’t overdo it.”
“Let’s close up the register together, Colette-chan. Don’t worry, after a few tries, you’ll get the hang of it.”
“Thank you, Anna-san. So it’s me, Chloe, and Barbera for the next dungeon then.”
A holy knight and elf, Chloe, and Barbera, who may look ten but is actually a dragon. I can’t fight, but with them around, our combat power is more than enough. Almost too much, really. I still can’t shake a certain worry, though…
“By the way, what’s this next dungeon like? Please tell me it’s not another undead-filled tomb-type…”
“You’d prefer something different, right? The next one is a field-type dungeon!”
“Oh, thank goodness. Really. It’s not that I dislike the undead—it’s just the worry that we might somehow end up with even more employees…”
“Hehe, understood. From now on, I’ll consult you before adding any new ones.”
“…By the way, what’s the dungeon called? Is there anything I should be prepared for?”
“Just bring supplies for camping, and you’ll be fine!”
“Alright, I’ll add a tent and some camping gear. So, what’s it called? I need to mentally brace myself.”
“The next dungeon is the ‘Petrified Forest!’”
“Hmm, Petrified Forest. Oh, right! When Barbera’s Papa flew in, cockatrices and basilisks came out from that forest. Makes sense, the Petrified Forest. Petrif—”
Barbera’s Papa dealt with those creatures with a single breath, so I’m sure we’ll be fine with Barbera and Chloe here.
…In battle, at least.
So, Petrified Forest… probably filled with monsters using status effects, considering the name.
It all checks out, but…
“Wait, is that going to be okay?!”
“…Fine. I’m a dragon.”
“Well, yeah, you’ll be fine, Barbera! But I’m just a regular human! Aion employees don’t get any immunity against status effects! Some of them look permanently exhausted, but that doesn’t count!”
“Don’t worry, Naoya! If the petrification starts, leave the curing to me! With my holy magic—this Chloe shall save you!”
“Thank you, I’ll definitely rely on you… wait, why does it sound like you’re expecting me to get petrified?! Aaaagh!”
I clutch my head. Sure, it doesn’t sound life-threatening, but still…
First, the undead-filled “Old Town Catacombs” dungeon.
Now, the status-effect-heavy “Petrified Forest” dungeon.
Dungeons in this world aren’t something you can tackle half-heartedly.
…Maybe I should abandon this customer research idea.
No, it’s necessary.
To truly understand adventurers’ needs, real experience is crucial.
Hang in there. Hang in there, me.
Here’s to hoping I make it safely to day 36 as manager of Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.