AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 81
Episode 8-8
“Alright, all that’s left is to let it simmer for a while. Hm?”
It’s the 18th day since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
I’ve been holed up in the kitchen since before the opening time of 8 AM, and I’ve finally finished the preparations for the “Dragon Sale.”
There’s still a lot to do, but now I just need to watch the pot. I look up.
A skeleton wearing an apron taps me on the shoulder.
“What’s up?”
It peers into my face. Its jaw moves, clicking its teeth together, and its bones rattle with every gesture.
“Not that you can answer even if I ask. I still can’t read the writing here.”
The skeletons, who can work 24 hours a day and handle simple tasks, are indispensable at the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
Led by a skeleton captain adorned in luxurious armor and a decorated helmet, the skeleton squad is in charge of patrolling the surrounding forest and ensuring safety.
The apron-wearing skeletons help with cleaning the store and assist with simple tasks like cooking——
“Oh, you’re saying ‘Just keep an eye on it, and if anything happens, we’ll call you, so leave this to us’?”
When I ask, the skeleton nods. Clicks its head.
“Thanks. Well, I’ll go work outside then.”
The skeleton waves. Its bones rattle.
I give a slight nod and leave the kitchen.
In front of me is the fresh food section. But the stockers are empty, and there’s no power to them.
Since we started selling, we’ve been selling prepared foods outside.
The meat Chloe procures from the butcher is kept outside in a refrigerated stocker. We sell vegetables there too, but we don’t carry seafood.
For now, products imported from Japan are lined up on the shelves, but they aren’t on sale yet.
The empty fresh food section feels a bit lonely.
“Sigh. I’d like to bring in tenants, but I guess the supermarket comes first. Once the supermarket is well-stocked, we’ll have regular customers coming in every day.”
I mutter as I walk through the empty supermarket in the Aeon Mall.
In Japan, a supermarket department is never unmanned during business hours.
Whether it means no customers or staff patrolling around.
I realize I’m getting used to this strange sight and remind myself to stay focused.
“I mean, I’ve been communicating with skeletons! I’m really getting used to this otherworld!”
Outside, the special sales area is bustling with employees and customers.
Through the glass of the automatic door, I can see Chloe and Anna-san serving customers with smiles, and Barbera carrying heavy loads.
Customers are enjoying Cutlet sandwiches and hamburg steaks.
“Alright, let’s do this. Let’s make that our everyday scene, bring in more customers, and provide satisfaction. Yes, I need to stay positive, positive.”
I say this to myself as I walk through the automatic door.
…Wait, an automatic door in another world?
I’ve gotten used to the magical power generation, but still.
I’m grateful for the electricity, water, and magic stoves instead of gas, but it’s really something.
Aion Mall building facilities in another world with electricity, water, and fuel is impressive.
“Chloe, two hamburgers and one katsu sandwich over here!”
“I’ll have my usual beef stew, please.”
“There’s that weirdo who likes muddy water! Seriously, all mages are weird.”
“Hey, hamburg steaks. Three of them. All with demi-glace.”
“Ha, amateurs. Anna, I’ll have a beef stew and a hamburg steak. Put the steak in the stew!”
“Whoa, is that an off-menu item? I’ll have that too!”
Even though it’s not quite lunchtime, the adventurers don’t seem to care.
They’re ordering and buying prepared foods left and right.
The eat-in space with just tables and chairs is already filling up.
“Looks like alcohol would sell well too… but letting adventurers with weapons drink is risky.”
Chloe, Anna-san, and Barbera say it’s fine, but I can’t quite commit to it.
If we sell alcohol, it will have to be for takeout only, I think, as a horse-drawn carriage arrives.
It stops in the rotary in front of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store’s main entrance.
“Oh, Naoya-san, perfect timing.”
“Oh, welcome back, Peddler-san. Did something happen on the road or in town?”
The traveling merchant, who had been test-driving the free shuttle carriage between the town and the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store, nimbly descends from the coachman’s seat.
Despite his bulky frame, he’s quite agile.
He apparently can’t use magic, so that’s his raw physical ability. Another world is really something.
“I saw her at the square in front of the town gate.”
“Ah! Hello, Manager-san!”
“The girl who sells galettes? Hello. What’s up? Did you perhaps decide to become one of our tenants?”
“Wait a moment, Naoya-san. She mentioned she has never seen the actual Aion Mall, so I more or less forced her to come along. I apologize for that.”
“Oh, is that so? Thank you, Peddler-san. I’m sorry for not being considerate. It would be hard to make a decision without seeing the place. Sorry about that, um…”
“Colette here!”
“Sorry, Colette.”
“Y-You called me by my first name… from a man…”
“I’m sorry, sorry. Colette-chan, no, it’s rude to invite you to be a tenant like that. I’m really sorry, Colette-san.”
“No! It’s fine to call me by my first name! I prefer it!”
“Is that so? Then just Colette.”
“Yes!”
The girl selling galettes, or rather, Colette, is smiling and looks happy.
She has a somewhat dog-like demeanor, and I could almost see her wagging her fluffy tail like a Shetland Sheepdog. A phantom tail… or is it just an illusion? Hmm?
“Um, Colette, what’s that thing at the back? A tail? An accessory, maybe?”
“Ah! I’m a beastman… Is that not okay?”
“No, it’s not that it’s not okay. But your mom was skinny, but human? Or maybe human-like?”
“Yes, my mom is human! My deceased father was a dog beastman!”
“Ah, I see, so your parents were a beastman and a human. Well, the difference seems to be just the tail, so I guess that’s normal.”
“Um, it’s not just the tail, but my ears too…”
Her tail, which was wagging happily, drooped, and Colette timidly took off her triangular band from her head. From the top of her head, triangular dog ears appeared. They were flat.
“Oh, so beastmen in this world have ears and tails like that? There’s no problem, so don’t be so scared.”
After all, our staff is already weird. We have elves, dragons, and lich.
Humans are only the peddler couple who are selling daily necessities.
Ears and tails? Totally normal.
If you can show yourself, there’s no problem. Except the Undead…
“Hehe, thank you so much…”
When Colette shyly smiles, her drooped tail and ears perk up, and her tail starts swaying gently.
What is this? It’s so obvious! The other world isn’t scary!