AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 63
Episode 7-2
“Oh, I’m saved. I said it was for gathering, but this guy forgot to bring a bag.”
“I thought I could manage with my cloak! Oh, I also want that rope! And give me another one of these sandwiches… What is this, it’s delicious! Give me one more!”
“Damn you messy bastard! I’ll buy one too.”
After overcoming the morning peak, I was working on the second floor of Aion Mall in the otherworld when I overheard such a conversation.
Having finished summarizing the documents, I printed them out and descended the non-functioning escalator.
“Thank you for your purchase. Do you have a water flask? We also sell them, and you can refill them with clean water here.”
“I’m good with this. And, is it okay to refill without buying a flask?”
I nod to the traveling merchant who looks back at me with a questioning look.
“Yes, it’s fine.”
“Thanks, I’ll stop by again next time I buy something! And this cutlet sandwich? Does it go bad easily? Oh, until tomorrow. Then give me five!”
“Lured in by the sign, but this is a nice shop.”
It seems adventurers passing by saw the sign and decided to stop by.
They came to buy the forgotten item and ended up purchasing various other things.
Just as I planned, the incidental purchases.
“All right. And be impressed by the cleanliness of the water source and restroom. If you do that, you’ll stop by again, make more incidental purchases, get hooked on Aion Mall’s charm, and won’t be able to escape… Kukuku, fufufu, hahaha!”
“What’s wrong, Naoya? That laugh is creepy, like the head of the Merchant Guild! Oh, did you finish the documents!”
“Embarrassing. I tried to act villainous and laughed three times, but Chloe asked me what’s up, and now it’s super embarrassing.”
My face is hot.
Of all people, Chloe is the one who commented on it even more embarrassing.
And she casually brushed it off and started talking about work.
“Ah, well, for now. Should I explain?”
I let it slide.
I know my face is red, but I’ll try to go along with the conversation normally.
“Hmm. It’s okay, Naoya. I used to be a store manager, you know? S-so, I can easily… understand this by skimming through.”
Chloe seems interested.
Good. I’ll just not worry about it.
Besides, Chloe always openly talks about embarrassing fantasies without minding, so she probably doesn’t care.
“All right, all right, I get it. But I’m a bit worried if it’s easy to understand. Please explain while looking at the documents.”
“Indeed! If Naoya says so, I’ll listen! If Naoya says so!”
Relieved by Chloe’s smiling expression, I continue.
When I glanced around the store, it seems the adventurers who came to buy their forgotten items are about to leave.
The old merchant says, “We sell medicines, and we have a pharmacist and a user of recovery magic. If needed, please feel free to visit,” as he sends them off.
“Hey, that merchant is sharp! Earlier, he casually made them buy more. Naoya?”
“Huh, yeah, let’s not mind it. Let’s get to the explanation of the documents.”
“Understood! I’ll listen, Naoya!”
The relieved expression on Chloe’s face puts me at ease.
I quickly glance around the store, and it seems the adventurers who came to buy their desired items are about to leave.
The plump old merchant, who has been sourcing and selling on his own, is indeed a skilled salesman.
This morning, I was able to consult with other tenants, and I might have found a valuable talent.
“By the way, this is the first decent employee I’ve hired… although they’re a store clerk in the tenant space.”
I’m not a resident of this world.
Chloe is an elf, Anna-san is undead and a lich, Barbera is a dragon.
Captain, the skeleton squad, the skeleton with an apron, and the rabbit-costumed ghost? They’re out of the question. Well, they’re valuable forces that never get tired.
Considering this, the traveling merchant couple and their daughter are the first decent employees working at Aion Mall in the otherworld.
The shortage of people has turned into a critical shortage.
“In essence, this document is to verify the purpose behind the country’s set goal of ‘monthly sales of one billion yen.'”
Trembling at the shortage of personnel, I began explaining to Chloe.
Depending on the response to this document, the direction of whether to search for tenants or focus on direct sales will be determined.
The 14th day since I became the store manager passed like this.
“So it’s okay to combine the sales. Then, we should definitely bring in tenants.”
“Naoya is amazing! By showing this document, you got the answer immediately!”
Chloe, during the afternoon break, dashed out, and before the peak in the late afternoon, she came back.
It seems the answer was obtained without much consideration.
While closing the store, I contemplate the future.
“More importantly, Naoya! How was today’s sales? Customers must have come even in my absence, right?”
“It was decent. At least, it wasn’t zero.”
I operate the cash register and print out today’s sales.
By the way, Anna-san entered the sales for the daily necessities section.
Just because the old merchant is competent doesn’t mean he can immediately handle the cash register.
And I’m still reluctant to let him handle it.
His wife and daughter are resting at Aion Lounge, so there’s no need to resort to embezzlement, but still.
“The number of customers and sales increased slightly. It’s the second day since opening the daily necessities and drugstore sections, but both have increased compared to before.”
“Oh! Then, Naoya, excluding the ‘Dragon Sale,’ it might be another record update!”
“Well, yeah. Thank you, Anna-san.”
“Hehe, I’m glad I could be of help.”
The 14th day since I became the store manager at Aion Mall in the otherworld.
Number of visitors: 169.
Sales: 381,000 yen. (2676.22 USD)
Certainly, the number of customers increased by 7, and sales increased by 4,000 yen compared to yesterday. (28.10 USD)
It’s a small increase, but it seems like word of mouth and the signboard are effective.
Today, there were customers who came for forgotten items and made additional purchases, and there were also injured people who visited seeking recovery magic.
Adventurers and merchants passing through the street in front of Aion Mall exist, and there’s still potential for growth.
“That’s still a limit. Whether it’s tenants or attracting customers from the city, it’s necessary.”
The goal set by the country, ‘monthly sales of one billion yen in Japanese yen,’ is probably about demonstrating the value of Aion Mall.
So, the answer is to combine direct sales and tenant sales.
“Currently, the only products that can be brought here by taking the time to visit and that people might come for are dragon meat and dragon meat dishes.”
It takes about an hour on foot or 30 minutes by carriage from the city to Aion Mall in the otherworld.
In terms of time, it’s not much, but monsters exist in this world.
I’ve encountered one-horned rabbits and goblins myself.
Even if they are weak monsters, it would be a hindrance for people to come all the way here.
“The assurance of safety on the way, attractive products that people would want to take the time to visit for, or tenants. There are plenty of challenges.”
There’s a lot to think about, but as a store manager, I still feel a sense of accomplishment.
On the first day of the Dragon Sale, we achieved sales of nearly 2 million yen, and achieving monthly sales of one billion yen is not an impossible task. Probably.
“…They’re coming.”
“Hmm? What’s wrong, Barbella?”
Out of nowhere, Barbella suddenly muttered, looking up diagonally. There is nothing on the ceiling of Aion Mall’s otherworldly store. Ghosts possess costumes.
“Barbera? Where are you going? It’s already dark outside.”
Ignoring my question, Barbera walked outside, pitter-pattering.
With a tilted head, I followed along with Chloe and Anna-san.
“There… they are.”
“The night sky? The stars are even more beautiful than in Kasugano where I used to live. Did you want to show me that?”
“No! Naoya, please step back! Go to the merchants’ place!”
“Huh? What’s wrong, Anna-san? Oh, the Skeleton Captain too.”
“What is this magical mass!? The speed of this! Step back, Naoya! A strong and large monster is coming!”
Pointing at the night sky, Barbera urged us to follow.
Anna-san and Chloe, panicked, called out to me.
It’s an hour after closing, and the Skeleton Captain and the Skeleton Squad, who usually don’t appear until later, are all gathered, looking up at the night sky.
“It’s no use; we won’t make it in time! Naoya, behind me!”
In front of me, Chloe and the Skeleton Captain stood, turning their backs to protect me.
“We’ll be okay.”
“Is this really okay, Barbera? Regardless of whether Barbera is a dragon or Anna is a lich, our magical power is not enough to rival an enemy! What is this!?”
“Oh, it’s been a while.”
Amidst Chloe’s panic and my tension, Anna-san relaxed, seemingly understanding what’s going on.
Barbera and Anna-san were staring at something.
Looking at what they were staring at, I saw something in the night sky.
Only there, the stars disappeared, and a silhouette appeared.
Small.
No, it was small because it was flying high in the sky.
The silhouette got bigger and bigger.
Descending without flapping its wings, it continued to grow larger.
“It’s too big! It’s larger than Barbera’s dragon form… and there are two!?”
Barbera points to the night sky.
While Chloe and I remained tense, Anna-san relaxed.
Chloe freezes.
Somehow, even without understanding much, I have an idea what they are.
With a thunderous roar, two dragons land in the parking lot of Aion Mall in the otherworld.
Barbera points behind her, and I turn to look.
“…Hmm. Papa. Mama.”
…
…
Yeah.
Certainly.
Since I became the store manager, the 14th day of business at Aion Mall in the otherworld ends.
After closing, two dragons came to the store.
Doesn’t this store often have a lot of customers after it closes?
Well, the merchant’s daughter is sick, so it can’t be helped.