AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 173
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 13-13
It’s the 48th day since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Branch Store.
After finishing my lunch break and dealing with a little trouble—repelling a wolf—I was walking through the store.
“This building is so large, it’s unimaginable back in the village… The inside is really spacious too. It’s like a castle.”
“Thank you. We have floors up to the third level, so it’s even more expansive.”
“Fuhahaha! How about that, Carol! The store I work at is amazing, right?”
“Calm down, Chloe. Is it really something for a knight to be proud of, working in a store? Well, I’m happy for you.”
“Hehe, if you include the ‘backyard’ and the basements, it’s even larger.”
“We don’t show those areas, though… Wait, Anna-san. Basements? Not just the parts I’ve seen?”
This was part of the regular rounds—or rather, a tour for Carol-san, Chloe’s sister, who came from the elf village. Chloe, eager to impress, tagged along enthusiastically. Anna-san came too.
Since it was later in the afternoon, there were few customers, but the other staff continued their usual work. With the main sales area outside, the inside of the building was quiet. The apron-wearing undead weren’t around, especially with Carol-san here.
“Hey, Naoya, can I go into town later?”
“Hm? What’s up, Chloe? Something happened? You’ve just reunited with your sister. You could stay in the employee apartment if you want.”
“I need to deliver the wolf to the butcher! But the meat is quite gamey, so instead of splitting it, I thought we’d buy some other meat and have a BBQ on the roof!”
“Ah, I see. Well, you should go before it gets too late. I’ll mark it as a break or an early clock-out.”
Chloe smiled brightly, patting the item pouch on her waist. Even though she was a runaway, she seemed to get along well with her sister. However…
“Onee-chan? Can I ask you something?”
“What is it, Carol? Ask me anything! I’m the holy knight who left the village, after all!”
“That item pouch—where did you get it?”
“This? I took it when I left the Ondine village—ah.”
Chloe’s eyes darted around nervously, and a bead of cold sweat trickled down her face. Carol-san continued to smile softly, gazing at her.
“Come to think of it, you did mention before that the precious item pouch was taken when you left the village.”
“Na-Naoya!”
“See, Chloe? You said ‘ask me anything.’ Now answer properly.”
“B-but…”
“Sure, you needed it for a journey without a clear destination, but now you work at the Aion Mall Otherworldly Branch Store. We even have shuttle carriages to the city.”
“I also have an item pouch. I can lend it to you anytime, Naoya-san or Chloe-san.”
“Thank you, Anna-san. See, Chloe?”
“U-um…”
“It’s better to return and apologize for something you took without permission. Whether you’re forgiven is another matter.”
Chloe looked down for a moment, then lightly patted the item pouch. She lifted her head, meeting Carol-san’s gaze directly.
“I… I took the item pouch from home. I’m sorry. Could you return it to Father and Mother for me?”
With a firm bow, she handed the item pouch to Carol-san. Seeing Chloe, her runaway sister, Carol smiled warmly.
“Father and Mother were relieved that you took the item pouch with you, Onee-chan.”
“Eh?”
“It had the household’s food supply. They thought, ‘At least Chloe won’t starve to death for a while.’”
“Their love and Chloe’s lack of survival skills were apparent. We lived together, so it’s no surprise they saw right through her. And they knew.”
“That’s why they said you can keep the item pouch, Onee-chan.”
“I-is that so! Father and Mother said so! Then I don’t need to send them the wolf meat!”
“That’s what you were worried about? I thought it was a touching story!”
Chloe, who had run away from home and taken a valuable item without permission, apologized and offered to return it. But her parents had already forgiven her, so there was no need to return it in the first place.
I thought it was a heartwarming story of parental love and a daughter’s repentance… but it turns out the daughter was just reluctant to part with the meat.
I hung my head, feeling as if my skull would drop if I were a skeleton.
“We’ll prepare dragon meat and hamburgers for you to take back, Carol! You can bring them as souvenirs!”
“So you’re sharing that. But you were hoarding your own share, huh?”
I couldn’t grasp Chloe’s sense of values. Judging by Carol-san’s wry smile, it didn’t seem to align with elf values either.
Relieved, Chloe patted her chest with a smile, turning to continue down the aisle. Just then—
“Onee-chan, I have one more question.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“That… is a spirit sword, isn’t it?”
Chloe froze. Carol-san’s eyes were fixed on the sword at Chloe’s waist. Before turning around, Chloe quickly removed the sword and hid it behind her back.
“No point hiding it. You used it earlier to take down the wolf, saying, ‘I’ll make you rust on my sword!’ even though it’s a wooden sword.”
“Chloe-san…”
“Ugh…”
Chloe shook her head slightly in denial, unwilling to concede. Carol-san, still smiling, moved closer to her sister. It seemed the younger sister was stronger than the elder.
“I’m sorry…”
Finally giving in, Chloe handed over the sword. For Chloe, who wasn’t good with a bow, this was probably the best weapon from her home.
The wooden sword—Epe de Pois, the spirit sword—was held out for a moment.
Carol-san gently pushed the sword back toward Chloe.
“This is a message from Father.”
“Y-yes?”
“He said, ‘If Chloe gets a good weapon to protect herself, she can return it.’ Until then, you’re allowed to keep it.”
“O-ooooooooh!”
“Father, Mother, and I are better with bows anyway. They want it to be a ‘usable weapon’ rather than an ‘unused family heirloom,’ especially since you’re not missing.”
“Thank you, Carol! Thank you, Father, Mother!”
“That’s great, Chloe. You really liked it, didn’t you? It’s a mysterious sword that cuts even though it’s made of wood.”
“However, Naoya-san, obtaining a sword that equals or surpasses one made from materials blessed by spirits is quite difficult.”
“I think it’s essentially an indefinite loan. Plus, lending out the family heirloom sword probably means they don’t want you to go missing.”
“Got it! Hehe, you’re loved, Chloe-san.”
“Indeed. Honestly, when I heard Chloe’s family was coming, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out… but it ended well.”
It really was a relief.
Regardless of the items Chloe had taken, I was worried they might take her back home. Not because of the shift schedule, but because I wanted to respect Chloe’s wishes.
But I could only watch Carol-san with ease up to this point.
“Oh! Naoya-san, I have something I want to ask you too.”
On the 48th day since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Branch Store, the visit from Chloe’s runaway sister, Carol-san, seemed far from over.