AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 166
Check my other translation works for other interesting stories
Maria : Mebius World Online
Ouren/Yuuzen : I Was a Small Fish
Seneca : Unrivaled Sewing Skill
Episode 13-6
The 41st day since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Branch Store.
It was evening, with the sun having set completely, and I was standing behind the store.
“Th-this is…?”
“It’s an apartment for employees. I’m planning to make it available for tenants as well.”
“So, it’s a rental house… not a fortress…?”
“Hehe, that’s what it might seem like. But my daughter and I also live here. Naoya-san is a compassionate person, after all.”
“Francine-san, your phrasing is odd. Look, commuting from the town to here is tough, right? Besides, it’s said that the outside without walls is dangerous. So, at least this much…”
“It’s sturdier than the village, nyah.”
“Seriously… and the rent is that low, nyan?”
“Exactly, exactly! This fortress is sturdy and safe! After all, it’s constantly guarded by the undead—”
“Wait, Chloe. Just hold off on that for a bit.”
The meeting with the two Catkin who were interested in becoming tenants had just concluded, and I’d explained the terms to them.
For now, it was “take it back and give it positive consideration.”
It seems that for the Catkin to join as tenants and continue selling their goods, they’d need the cooperation of their village.
Fabrics, clothes, leather goods, accessories.
One-of-a-kind items are great, but without a steady supply, running a “shop” would be difficult.
After finishing the business discussion, I gave them a quick tour of the Aion Mall’s back office.
Finally, I showed them the employee apartment located behind the store.
“If you’d like, please stay here tonight. I’ve prepared one furnished room just in case.”
*”Nyan!?!”
“Thank you, Naoya-san.”
“Whether you decide to become tenants, and if you do, whether you’d like to live in the employee apartment—this might help you decide.”
At my suggestion, the two Catkin’s eyes sparkled as they nodded enthusiastically.
It wasn’t just curiosity, I was sure.
But more importantly…
“There’s something much more critical that I need to discuss…”
Would they still consider becoming tenants after hearing this?
More importantly, if they refused, would they keep this secret?
But not telling them and making a contract would feel deceitful, and that wouldn’t sit right with me.
My steps were heavy as I walked towards the employee apartment.
Standing on either side of the front door were two full-plated armored figures, acting as guards.
Thank you so much for your continued service. You’re lifesavers, truly.
“Before you stay here and consider becoming tenants, there’s something I must tell you both.”
“Nyhat is it, nya?”
“Wow! Such impressive guards! Wait…?”
“Naoya-san, I don’t think now is the right time to discuss this. At least wait until the Apothecary-sama is here.”
“No, I believe in being honest in business. Also, Francine-san, what are you planning to make Anna-san do? Are you thinking of having her… you know, that?”
“Oh! You’re going to introduce them, Naoya!”
“I am, but why are you so enthusiastic about it, Chloe? Aren’t they supposed to be fundamentally opposed to a Holy Knight like you?”
Chloe’s unchanging demeanor helped lighten my mood a little.
The tabby-striped Catkin tilted her head, staring at me with round, curious eyes. The calico Catkin, meanwhile, was sniffing at the full-plated armored guards, tilting her head repeatedly as she did so.
“If possible, even if you decide not to become tenants, I’d like you to keep this a secret.”
“We won’t spill business secrets, nyah!”
“No matter what it is, we’ll keep it confidential. As long as it doesn’t involve breaking the law, that is.”
Their words gave me some relief.
The law? With Chloe, a knight of this realm, working alongside me, surely it’s fine. It’s fine, right?
With resolve, I turned my gaze to the full-plated armor standing by the front door.
Just then, the door opened, and Anna-san stepped out.
“Apothecary-sama. As expected of Naoya-san, you timed this perfectly, didn’t you?”
“Please stop, Francine-san. It’s just a coincidence. Though, I’ll admit it’s convenient for explaining things—not because I was planning for ‘just in case.’”
I didn’t think I could correct Francine-san’s misunderstanding, but for now, I let it slide.
I also ignored Anna-san’s puzzled look for the time being and turned back to the two Catkin.
Before my determination wavered.
“At Aion Mall Otherworldly Branch Store, we have people from various races working with us.”
“You mentioned that earlier, nyah. That’s why we said it wouldn’t be a problem for us.”
“Of course, there’s no issue. And are you both truly okay with it? Working with people from all kinds of races? Really?”
“You’re persistent, nyah. We’ve been through a lot ourselves, so we don’t want to cause the same trouble for others.”
“Same here. If anything, I’m excited about working with people from diverse backgrounds.”
“I see. That’s great. Then… you’d also be fine working with these… individuals?”
Anna-san seemed to quickly grasp what the conversation was about.
She had one of the full-plated armored figures by the door step forward and remove its helmet, which had been concealing its face.
“A green face…? What race is this, nyah?”
“Its expression doesn’t change. There’s no scent, either… could it be a golem type?”
The two Catkin weren’t particularly shocked.
The precautionary rubber mask we had them wear seemed effective.
However, that wasn’t enough for this particular matter.
“Anna-san, if you would, please.”
“Understood.”
At Anna-san’s signal, the person inside the armor removed the rubber mask.
What emerged was… well, nothing resembling a face.
Instead, a white skull.
“At Aion Mall Otherworldly Branch Store, we also have undead under Anna-san’s supervision working for us. They handle security, cleaning, cooking… they’re all diligent and hardworking. Of course, they don’t attack people.”
The skeletal figure in full armor scratched its head bashfully, using its bony fingers to touch its skull. It seemed to have also quickly removed its gauntlets and gloves.
Both the tabby-striped Catkin and the calico Catkin stared with wide, round eyes.
“What do you think, you two? You said earlier that it wouldn’t be a problem, right? They’re not bad undead! They’re good undead!”
“U-uh, nyahh, uh—”
“What’s wrong with you, nya? Don’t tell me…”
The tabby let out a cat-like noise. I thought they were growling out of caution, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
Their eyes darted left and right, following something.
Their gaze was fixated on the exposed skeletal hand.
“…Huh?”
*”Nyahhh!”
“Compose yourself! We’re not cats, remember? Act properly!”
The tabby tried to pounce on the skeletal hand, but the calico stopped them.
Do they want to chew on the bones? I didn’t realize cats were into bones too. I thought only dogs were—oh wait, no, they’re Catkin, not cats.
“By the way, it’s not just skeletons…”
As I started to elaborate, Anna-san gave another signal.
From within the armor of another skeletal figure, a dark mist began to seep out.
A ghost.
“Nyah!?”
“No, no, no! Calm down, me! We’re not cats!”
This time, even the calico reacted. They seemed eager to chase after the floating ghost.
Good. It doesn’t seem like they have any aversion to them.
Although, Ghost-san, could you not provoke them by zipping around like that?
Oh, they both leaped at the ghost. It evaded them. Now they’re playing a game of tag…
“You planned all of this, didn’t you? As expected of Naoya-san…”
“No, Francine-san, it’s just a coincidence.”
“Hehe, this worked out well for you, Naoya-san.”
“Hmm, this seems fun! A good opportunity for training, perhaps!”
“Stop it, Chloe. Let go of your sword. Even if it’s fine, using the ghost as a practice target seems cruel.”
The 41st day since I became the manager of Aion Mall Otherworldly Branch Store.
It seems the two Catkin have accepted the skeletons and ghosts.
Alright. That should reduce the negative factors.
If they’re okay with skeletons and ghosts, then dragons, wyverns, and dragonkin shouldn’t be an issue… right? I hope not!