AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 177
Check my other translation works for other interesting stories
Maria : Mebius World Online
Ouren/Yuuzen : I Was a Small Fish
Episode 13-17
On the 63rd day since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Branch Store.
It’s been two weeks since we sent off Chloe’s younger sister, and the two Dragon Sales we’ve held so far have been a success.
However, the Cat-kin tenants and the port town’s shop haven’t opened yet.
The reason is-
“Whoa! It really suits you, nya! You look super dashing, nya!”
“With this, the woman you’re interested in might even rub up against you, nya!”
“Isn’t that just a Cat-kin trait?”
“What!? Isn’t it normal for everyone to get close to someone they like, nya!?”
“Is that so? I guess I still have a lot to learn.”
“Well, there are customer service styles that involve complimenting people from up close, so it might not be a bad thing…”
Even though they’re tenants, since they’re part of “Aion Mall,” a certain standard of customer service is expected.
“So if we learn human customs, everything’ll be fine, nya?”
“No, I think you should change your approach entirely.”
“Hmm, why’s that?”
“The customers coming to Aion Mall Isekai right now are mostly adventurers and merchants.”
“Now that you mention it, the people we see are all seasoned travelers, nya!”
“So how does that connect?”
“The clothes you two are selling have minor effects like <Speed Boost> or <Mental Fortitude Increase>, right? Instead of focusing on the design, I think you should emphasize the functionality to attract buyers.”
“Whoa! I see, nya!”
“If you make the magic circle affects your main selling point and add value by emphasizing ‘lightweight’ and ‘stylish,’ you could appeal to adventurers and merchants heading out of town.”
It’s not just customer service—I also give advice to help boost sales.
Some might not appreciate it, but the two Cat-kin are taking it positively.
“Hey, Manager! What about us? Well, we’ve brought folks who’ve done business in port towns, so I don’t think we’ve got a problem!”
“Step right up! We’ve got rare delicacies, unique goods, imports, and unusual items! Check it out, young man!”
Curious about our conversation, the Dragon-kin, Quano-san, called out from the shop across the way.
The large, rough-looking man working there cheerfully ran a simulation of calling in customers.
It seems liveliness and ports are inseparable.
Yeah, this kind of energy somehow feels like they’d try to sell you contraband. Not that I’d let them.
“This seems fine as is. The liveliness matches the port town vibe.”
“Oh, really? As expected of you, Manager, you get it!”
“Well, if I were to nitpick, I’d suggest hiring someone a bit more approachable, but… adventurers and merchants are your customers, so it should be fine. Yeah, it’ll be fine.”
“Hmm? What’s on your mind, Manager?”
“Nothing, really.”
You shouldn’t judge people by their appearance.
Cheerful port town folk should be accepted. Adventurers are often even rougher-looking anyway.
With the signboards and interior decorations ready, we should be able to open soon. Maybe we’ll do a soft opening first to test things out—while I was thinking that:
“Naoya! It’s an emergency!”
“What’s wrong, Chloe? Is it a monster?”
“It’s worse than that! Just come quickly!”
“Worse than a monster…? I’ve got a bad feeling about this…”
Chloe rushed into the tenant space, grabbed my hand, and we headed outside.
Along the way, a fully armored skeleton knight joined us, perhaps summoned or concerned.
At the main entrance, Anna-san and Francine-san stood with troubled expressions, staring at the road.
“Naoya-san. You’ve come.”
“What’s going on? Did something happen on the road?”
“No, the road is as usual, but…”
Anna-san glanced at the road ahead.
Not toward the port town, but the direction of the nearest city.
There were no abnormalities—just a group of adventurers walking.
No abnormalities… huh? Wait.
“What’s that dust cloud on the road ahead? It’s coming from the city, so it’s not monsters, right?”
“Indeed. The Merchant Guild sent a herald earlier, it’s not monsters.”
“So that’s why you called me out here. Then, what is it?”
The dust cloud on the road leading from Aion Mall Otherworldly Branch Store to the nearest city grew closer.
Even though it wasn’t monsters, in this dangerous world, I couldn’t help but tense up as I focused my gaze.
At the front of the dust cloud, I saw it.
“A carriage? But just one wouldn’t kick up that much dust… huh?”
The dust cloud was caused by carriages.
A grand four-horse carriage, far too luxurious for a traveling merchant.
And it wasn’t just one.
There were several large carriages, along with two-horse carriages commonly seen in town, carts pulled by horses, and an escorting group surrounding them.
There must have been over ten carriages in total.
“Is that a merchant caravan? Heading from the royal capital to the port town or something?”
“No, Naoya-san. That is not a caravan.”
Anna-san’s voice was firm.
Without replying, Francine-san gently stroked Colette’s head as her ears twitched beside her.
The fully armored skeleton platoon, led by their captain, arranged themselves around us protectively.
Sensing something, I looked up to find Barbera watching the road from the rooftop. Thankfully, she was in her human form.
“If it’s not a merchant caravan, where are they heading? Wait, since you said the herald came, does that mean they’re stopping by here?”
“No, Naoya-san. Their destination is here.”
“…What?”
“Well… uh… there were some overlapping circumstances.”
“What kind of response is that? Are they connected to Chloe somehow?”
“It’s not my fault! Stop looking at me with those cold eyes, as if you’re saying, ‘You’ll take responsibility for this with your body,’ or something! Ugh, kill me already!”
“You’re saying ‘it’s not your fault,’ yet you’re ready to take responsibility. So, it is related to Chloe.”
“I deeply apologize, Naoya-sama… If this becomes an issue, I will atone for it with my life…”
“Please don’t!? Even if there was a problem, you don’t need to die for it! This otherworldly sense of responsibility is terrifying!”
Chloe and Francine-san’s usually calm demeanor felt stiff. Even Colette was quiet.
Could they really be the cause of this? If so, what could it be?
While I mulled it over, the lead carriage entered the Aion Mall Otherworldly Branch Store premises and proceeded straight to the rotary.
“Huh? That lead carriage looks familiar. I think I’ve seen it before…”
As I searched my memory, the door to the lavish four-horse carriage swung open.
“Oh my, oh my. What a warm welcome! Very commendable of you,” came a voice, accompanied by a smug grin.
Stepping down from the carriage was the portly Guild Master of the Merchant Guild.
Ah, of course, I’d recognize that carriage.
But why was the Guild Master here? And with such a massive entourage?
The nearest city is less than an hour’s walk away and only about 30 minutes by regular carriage. If he had business here, he could’ve come anytime.
“Guild Master, so what is all this—”
“Chloe! I knew you were capable of great things!”
“I’m sorry, Chloe. When Carol told us, this man just couldn’t wait and rushed over.”
“Father… Mother…”
“Ah, I see. They’re Chloe’s family. So, are those folks behind them connected to the Elves?”
“Francine! Forgive me! If only I had been less stubborn and accepted the two of you, this wouldn’t have happened!”
“Father, I’m happy now. See? Colette.”
“Nice to meet you, Grandfather.”
“G-Grand… father!? Then this child is my grandchild!? A real angel, not a dream!?”
“So Francine-san’s family came too, huh? That explains the numbers.”
“Hehe. That’s not all, Naoya-san. But this isn’t the place to discuss it. Let’s move somewhere more private and start our… negotiations.”
“Uh… sure.”
While the two families tearfully embraced each other, the Guild Master stood nearby, grinning from ear to ear.
On the 63rd day since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Branch Store, it seems my employees’ families are still fond of bringing chaos wherever they go.