AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 66
I’m back,
Episode 7-6
“Focus your strength, gather magic, and even stake my soul on this swing! My ultimate blow!”
“Don’t bet your soul, Chloe. You’re just cutting meat. And it’s the tail meat of an Ancient Dragon, along with scales.”
“Behold, the secret technique of the Vertu Swordsmanship Dupont Style Chloe School! ‘Spirit Killer Spirit Cutter’!”
“Hey, didn’t they say spirits are the guardian deities of the village? You can’t just go around killing them. And by the way, isn’t the Chloe School just you? I don’t think anyone else knows your secrets move.”
“Ugh, and it still won’t cut! Witness the pinnacle technique of me, an elf from the Vertu village and a holy knight! This is my ultimate move!”
“…Papa, it’s hard.”
“Even Chloe can’t do it, so it seems we’ll have to peel it layer by layer.”
“Chloe’s fairy sword was originally a wooden sword.”
“Hmph! Unforgivable, Naoya! This fairy sword Epe Dupont, passed down through generations of the Dupont clan, a sacred knight like myself! It’s not just a wooden sword!”
“If you ran away from home, you’re not really inheriting anything. Oh, no, the sword was properly handed over. You brought it silently, right? Wasn’t that in the item pouch?”
In the cooking area of Aion’s otherworldly store, we were struggling. The Ancient Dragon tail, handed over by Papa Barbera, was freshly cut, and naturally, it came with scales. Neither the kitchen knife nor Anna’s treasured mithril sword nor Chloe’s fairy sword could cut it.
According to Chloe, the “highest existence in the Red Dragon lineage” was no exaggeration.
“By the way, Anna-san, that mithril sword, you inherited it from someone 800 years ago, right? It’s not the possession of adventurers who came to loot tomb dungeons, right?”
“That’s right! Naoya-san, Chloe-san, there’s a cross-section, so why not cut it from there, ignoring the scales!”
“Oh, that’s it, Anna! Then leave it to me! The Vertu Swordsmanship Dupont Style Chloe School secret technique! ‘Elf Thrust’!”
“The technique name is too random. You just came up with it now, didn’t you? As expected of the Chloe School.”
Even though it’s a wooden sword, Chloe thrust her surprisingly sharp fairy sword into the cross-section of the tail. She drew a circle around it, like peeling off the bones.
It felt like we were being deceived by Anna, but I didn’t dare ask her deeper questions. Barbera skillfully peeled off the scales at the tip of the tail.
“Well, next is between the skin and the meat! Vertu Swordsmanship Dupont Style Chloe School secret technique! ‘Scale Breaking’!”
“Chloe, the technique name changed again. You’re saying ‘breaking,’ but you’re thrusting. There’s no reverse scale there, right?”
While preparing aromatic vegetables, I plunged into it. It’s almost time to open the store, and there’s no time to think about new dishes. For now, Dragon Steak and Dragon Tail Soup should be enough.
“Even if we develop a new recipe, it doesn’t seem like we can put it on the market.”
“Naoya-san, it’s not just cooking that won’t sell.”
Looking at the mountain of scales that Barbera was peeling off and piling up on the floor, Anna smiled weakly.
“…By the way, Barbera’s scales are also of great value. In other words, Ancient Dragon scales.”
“With this much, it’s worth more than a hundred million yen. In addition, there’s meat, skin, bones, and blood.”
“Selling a part of an employee’s parent’s body is like organ trafficking, so no. No in the direction of no. It’s ethically questionable.”
The goal set by the country for Aion’s otherworldly store is a monthly sales target of one billion yen. Apparently, with just the scales there, we can achieve that.
“I mean, we’re cooking and selling Barbera’s meat, but it’s a bit late to bring it up now. And if things get desperate, we can sell it.”
“All right, it’s cut, Naoya! Let’s cook it! Starting with the Dragon Steak!”
“…taste test, do my best.”
“Hmm, unfair, Barbera! Leave the taste test to me! As a holy knight! Me!”
Ignoring me and Anna-san, Chloe and Barbera’s excitement is high. Anna-san exchanges a wry smile with me.
“Yes, yes, well, if we don’t taste it, we won’t know if we can just cook it as it is. Wait a moment.”
“Ohhhh! The meat of the legendary Crimson Ancient Dragon turned into a steak! Hurry up, Naoya! Let me eat it, and I’ll do anything later!”
“…Me too. Is Mama’s there?”
“Hey, stop it with the ‘do anything’ and getting all excited about the meat, Chloe. And, Barbera, I don’t need it. I’m not interested in a ‘Dragon Steak Assortment,’ but a ‘Comparative Family Feast’ is a bit much.”
“A comparative feast…wait…!? Na-Naoya wouldn’t! To eat not only me, Anna, and Barbera but also Barbera’s mama and papa…!?”
“Don’t indulge in sexual fantasies, ero-elf. It’s not like I’ve already ‘eaten’ Chloe, Anna-san, and Barbera. Also, Barbera’s papa. I’m not into men.”
“…Papa’s meat, not needed?”
Barbera tilts her head with a clunk. It’s not about that.
On the 15th day since I became the store manager, Aion’s otherworldly store is lively today. Mainly the employees.
“…I can’t take it anymore!”
“Eaten in seconds. Barbera, calm down and eat slowly. I’ll grill seconds soon.”
“Fufufufufu! My meat was delicious after all! Don’t hesitate, eat a lot, Barbera!”
“The more you chew, the more the flavor seeps out. This texture is stronger than Barbera-chan’s for sure. By the way, which arm or leg do you not need? Or maybe a foot?”
“Steak and tail soup are still available, so please stop procuring meat, Barbera’s mother. I feel like I’ve taught you a dangerous level of deliciousness.”
“Haa, the Ancient Dragon Tail Soup is delicious too… It permeates the five viscera and six bowels.”
“Anna-san, do you have five viscera and six bowels? Is that an undead joke? Or rather, the translation ring for ‘five viscera and six bowels’ is amazing.”
“Oh, to think that you can get a heavenly pleasure from food… Naoya, I’ll have seconds too!”
“I’ll get to it later. I haven’t eaten yet.”
After the morning peak, we gathered on the rooftop of Aion’s otherworldly store. We had prepared Dragon Tail Soup and Dragon Steak, mainly for tasting and also for lunch.
Today, it’s not Barbera’s meat, but the meat of the Ancient Dragon Barbera Papa.
While enjoying the flavors, Barbera, her parents, Chloe, and Anna-san were vocalizing their impressions. I picked up a steak and brought it to my mouth. I chewed.
“Ah, indeed, it’s remarkably delicious. Unlike marbled meat, it’s not heavy, with elegant fat and just the right elasticity that pushes back against the teeth. The umami is stronger than aged meat in fashion, and it makes you feel invigorated… huh?”
I dropped the knife and fork.
With a clatter on the ground, my head went blank. I lost strength, collapsed onto the table.
“Naoya? What’s wrong?”
“Naoya-san! Are you okay?! I’ll use ‘Heal’ right now!”
“…Did he faint because it was delicious?”
Even though they should be nearby, a strangely distant voice came from afar.
“Hmm, did he collapse from eating my meat? Isn’t that rude, humans!”
I can hear Barbera Papa’s indignation. But I don’t think I hit the mark. There’s no way I’d collapse so quickly from food poisoning—
“That’s right! Naoya-san is a human! And his magic power is zero!”
“Well! If you eat Dragon meat, it increases your magic power and makes you stronger! What happens when you eat it with no magic power… I wonder?”
“What will happen, Anna? Is Naoya okay!?”
In an unusual panic, Anna-san and Chloe’s voices could be heard. Barbera’s hand is probably on my back.
Ah, the Merchant Guild Chief mentioned something like this. While vaguely remembering, I—
Seemed to have lost consciousness.