AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 83
Episode 8-10
“Hehe, we sold out… and everyone was so kind…”
“That’s great, Colette. However, today’s sales might just be because it was a new product, so let’s consider today’s sales as just a reference.”
“Yes!”
It was the 18th day since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
The young girl selling galettes, who was considering whether to set up shop here, had come to check out the store and sell her galettes in the deli and bento section.
The results were excellent, and it seems the galettes sold out.
Unlike the high-end restaurants in town where beastkin are sometimes avoided, adventurers and traveling merchants don’t seem to mind.
The sales were strong, and both the customers and Colette, who sold them, were happy.
“The prepared foods we sell now all have strong flavors. Galettes with sweet jam might become popular. Yes, we do need some sweet treats.”
“When the next fruit season comes, I’ll prepare a lot with my mother!”
“That would be great. I’d even buy just the jam from you.”
“Thank you so much!”
Colette bowed her head, her triangular dog-like ears standing proudly. I resisted the urge to touch them.
When she raised her head, I saw her tail behind her, slowly wagging, as if tempting me to touch it, but I refrained.
In places with different cultures, it’s fundamental not to touch people lightly, something I learned in the Aion cross-cultural communication training. Thanks, Aion! Back then, I thought I’d be careful overseas, but it’s useful here in another world! By the way, it wasn’t predetermined that I’d end up in another world, was it?
“Shall we get going?”
“Yes, please.”
As I pondered Aion Corporation’s plans, Peddler-san called out to me.
The trial run of the free shuttle carriage, which was parked in the rotary, was about to make its final round trip to town.
Colette, the galette seller, bowed to Peddler-san and got into the passenger space in the back.
Chloe and Anna-san had invited her to stay over, but Colette chose to return to town on the last carriage because she was worried about her sickly mother.
“Oh, Colette. I’d like to hear about the carriage ride next time.”
“Yes, I understand, Manager!”
“And this, from Anna-san for your mother.”
I handed her a small paper bag. Inside was a tonic made by Anna-san.
It wasn’t for treatment but mainly for nutritional support, so there was nothing to worry about, apparently. But still, a tonic made by an undead lich… is it really okay? Too late now, I guess.
“Thank you so much for everything…”
Colette’s eyes welled up with tears, and her voice turned nasal.
Feeling awkward, I signaled Peddler-san to depart.
“Well then, see you. You should come to the ‘Dragon Sale’ the day after tomorrow. It’s expected to be the busiest day so far.”
“Yes! I’ll definitely come! And I’ll bring more galettes next time!”
Colette waved her hand vigorously as she moved away.
The Aion Mall Otherworldly Store is about an hour’s walk from town, or 30 minutes by carriage.
If Colette or other merchants decided to set up shop here, their commute would be an hour round trip.
“Commuting is tough, huh…”
I couldn’t help but complain.
After seeing Colette, I told Peddler-san that if there were others who wanted to come, they could ride along…
But even after shouting in the plaza at the gate, no one else wanted to come to the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
“Notice. The reason no one came is because there wasn’t enough notice about the free shuttle carriage. I’m sure of it.”
“What’s up, Naoya? Muttering to yourself again? Oh, sorry, I guess that’s normal for you!”
“That still stings. No, I was just thinking that commuting from the town to Aion Mall must be tough.”
“Hmm? It’s just the right amount of exercise in the morning, you know? Maybe even a bit too little!”
“An elf running early in the morning in metal armor, huh? I’m not talking about you, Chloe. I mean Colette and other potential tenants.”
“If you’re concerned about it, they could just stay over like you do, Naoya. I stay over occasionally too, you know?”
“Yeah, I guess. Hmm, maybe we should build dorms for employees and their families… In Japan, when an Aion Mall is built, stores and rental apartments and houses naturally pop up around it.”
“What, stores and houses just pop up? The world you came from is amazing, Naoya!”
“That’s not exactly what I meant. When an Aion Mall is built, stores and houses start appearing around it, but not literally popping up.”
In this world, it’s unlikely to become like the area around an Aion Mall in Japan. Despite being here for a few years, there are only local farmers around, with no signs of development.
“If there were apartments or houses, Colette might become a tenant. She could move here with her sick mother, and Anna-san as the apothecary would be nearby.”
“You’re forgetting me, Naoya! I am a holy knight! I can use Holy magic! The great Chloe is here too!”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s right, oh so great Chloe-sama.”
By the way, in Japan, not only do houses and apartments get built around Aion Malls, but Aion Housing also handles brokerage. Amazing, Aion! They’ve been expanding into various industries without me knowing… I wonder how things will be in six months when this world connects with ours.
“We don’t have Aion Housing here, but we could build apartments or houses. Until then, tenants could live in the tenant space… but the budget is an issue.”
“Hmm? If we get Anna and Barbara to help, we could build it quickly, right? I can chop wood with my spirit sword Épée de Vois.”
Chloe tilted her head with a blank look. Come to think of it, Aion Mall Otherworldly Store was built with materials brought from Japan and local materials and magic.
“…Wait, could the employee housing issue be resolved more easily than I thought?”
“For detailed matters, you should consult Anna! She has extensive knowledge of construction and magic, and for simple labor, there are skeletons! Not that I don’t know or understand!”
Chloe’s eyes darted around as she broke into a nervous sweat. Even though she used to be the manager, I know she’s not the brains of the operation.
“Gasp! Could it be, Naoya, that you’re thinking, ‘No way a holy knight wouldn’t know this!’ and are pretending not to notice my ignorance to mock me? Kuh- Kill me!”
“I’m not. But it seems likely. Hey, Chloe, where do you get this kind of knowledge? Shouldn’t you be studying more useful things?”
I know she’s competent enough to manage the store here despite never having seen an Aion Mall in Japan. Chloe blushed and hurried off, saying, “I-I have to close up the store!” leaving me alone in the Aion Mall rotary.
“I’ll ask Anna-san about it later. Maybe get Peddler-san’s opinion too. They can’t be comfortable living in the Aion Lounge forever. Yeah.”
My muttering was absorbed into the twilight sky of this other world.
Oh, and I should think about my own living arrangements too. I’m still living in a tenant space.