AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 85
Episode 8-12
“Naoya, is this the right spot for this table?”
“Yeah, just line it up over there. Barbera will bring more from upstairs, so please arrange those the same way.”
“Here?”
“That was quick, thanks Barbera. You’re not just strong, your balance is impressive. I can’t believe you can carry so many tables at once.”
“Naoya-san, the banner is ready! Hehe, the captain’s calligraphy is amazing as always.”
“Thank you, Anna-san. I’m not sure if it counts as good calligraphy in this world, though. Also, the skeletons are incredibly helpful.”
It’s been 20 days since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store. The front entrance is bustling in the early morning before the sun fully rises. Chloe, Barbera, Anna-san, the skeletons, and the mascot ghosts are all here early to prepare for the event.
In the brick-paved space in front of the store entrance, tables and chairs are being set up. There are booths for cooking spaces to promote ready-to-eat meals, spaces for displaying vegetables brought by local farmers, temporary cash registers, and more.
“It feels strange to use outdoor extension cords for electricity. Thanks, Barbera. Great job, Anna-san.”
In the waist-high freezer chests, there’s meat from horned cattle, charging boars, and battle chickens.
And the highlight of the day: dragon meat.
I reached into the open freezer and confirmed it was cold enough. It might not keep things frozen, but it could work as a refrigerator. In Japan, this would be a problem, but in this world, it should be fine. Probably.
The skeleton captain, with clanking armor, led his troops in lining the street with banners he’d written on cloth. The Peddler-san’s wife directed them, and their daughter prepared price tags.
Today is the first big promotion we’ve announced: Aion Mall Otherworldly Store’s Dragon Meat Sale.
All the staff are working together, steadily preparing. The Peddler-san himself isn’t here because he’s still asleep—just kidding.
With a clatter, a wagon rolled into the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store’s rotary. It’s a free shuttle service the Peddler-san set up to coincide with the city gates opening. But the passengers weren’t customers.
“We’ve arrived. This is Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.”
“Thank you, Peddler-san! Good morning, manager and everyone!”
The girl selling galettes, Colette, hopped off the wagon and bowed. She seemed interested in the event setup, her dog-like triangular ears twitching. Her fluffy tail, typical of canine beastfolk, wasn’t visible at the moment.
“Good morning, Colette. Looking forward to working with you today.”
“Yes, I’ll do my best! And it’s not just me—”
Colette ran to the back of the wagon and reached for a hand emerging from inside. She looked worried but didn’t offer more help.
Soon, a woman stepped down.
Her fine blonde hair, thin arms, and hand holding Colette’s were delicate. Her cheeks were sunken, and though not as pale as Anna-san, she looked unwell. She wobbled as she descended the wagon’s ladder.
“Careful, mom!”
Colette quickly supported her.
“Thank you, Colette. But I’m fine.”
The woman gently pushed Colette’s hand away and turned to face us.
“Nice to meet you all. My name is Francine. Not only did you save my daughter, but you also provided me with medication… Today, I intend to work myself to the bone to repay this kindness, even if just a little.”
“Please don’t overdo it. We appreciate the sentiment, but really, don’t push yourself. If you collapse while working at the event, it would be quite problematic.”
The one who descended from the carriage was Colette’s mother. She received Chloe’s healing magic on the day Colette was rescued and has been taking Anna-san’s medicine since then, allowing her to move lightly. It’s astonishing how the magic and medicine of this other world can make a bedridden patient get up so quickly. If we could send this to Japan, monthly sales of a hundred million yen would be a breeze. But I guess getting into the treatment and medicine business isn’t something Aion could easily do.
“I am Chloe Dupois Christophe Claudine Vertu Ondine! Pleased to meet you again, Francine!”
“From the Vertu village… Then you truly are the Elf Holy Knight everyone in town talks about.”
“Oh, so Chloe’s introduction sounds normal. And she’s famous in town after all. Chloe, what kind of rumors are going around about you?”
“This is the first time we’ve properly greeted each other. I am Anna. Here you go, Francine. This is a nutrient supplement to help recover and boost your strength.”
“Thank you, Anna-san! Mom, here you go!”
“Oh, how kind of you… Thank you, dear apothecary. No, perhaps you are not just an apothecary, but a saint…”
After being taken care of by Colette and drinking the supplement, Francine-san seemed ready to bow down and worship Anna-san. In fact, she clasped her hands in prayer. Watching this, I moved behind Francine. It had already been decided that Colette and Francine-san would help with today’s “Dragon Sale.”
Considering the possibility of them joining as tenants, I had mentioned something to Chloe, Anna-san, and Barbera.
I suggested that we should reveal our identities from the start. It’s better to do so than to have them later find out and say, “This isn’t what I signed up for,” which would cause trouble. Hiding the working environment when recruiting is a no-go.
So, basically…
“No, I am not a saint. I was once human but now I am a lich, a high-ranking undead.”
Anna-san smiled sadly as she revealed her true identity. The undead working at Aion Mall otherworldly store appeared. From inside Anna-san’s robe, a ghost peeked out with a blurry black outline. Skeletons in aprons emerged from the store entrance with cleaning tools. Oh, they were cleaning during their free time. Thanks for your hard work.
From the forest emerged a skeleton captain with a luxurious helmet decoration and armored skeletons. There were few skeletons, suggesting they were the elite, or perhaps the others were scattered in the forest ensuring safety. Thank you all for your hard work.
“Lich, ghost, skeleton… Oh no…”
“Mom, mom!”
“It’s okay, Colette. They saved my life.”
“I’m glad she somehow accepted it. It feels a bit shady revealing our benefactors’ true nature afterward, but it would be great if they also accepted becoming tenants just as easily. They could even work for us.”
“Lich apothecary, I don’t mind what happens to me. I will work until I die and join the ranks of the skeletons to repay my debt. So, please, spare my daughter, Colette.”
“She hasn’t accepted it after all! I understand, Francine-san, Anna-san is a lich but a good one. The ghosts and skeletons may look scary, but they are harmless and diligent workers.”
After some effort, or rather, after explaining the facts, both Francine-san and Colette calmed down. Francine-san still looked a bit pale, and Colette’s tail was tucked between her legs, but at least they were calm. When I glanced over, Barbera noticed the signal and started walking towards us.
“…Barbera.”
“So, even younger children than Colette work here. That’s a relief.”
“I’m not a child.”
Francine, overwhelmed by the holy knight, lich, ghost, and skeletons, seemed reassured by the greeting from Barbera, who looked about ten years old. Colette reached out and patted Barbera’s head. Colette’s hands were furless, indicating she was a beastman with only ears and a tail.
Barbera, as usual, puffed up her cheeks, annoyed at being treated like a child.
I watched from behind Francine-san as the skeleton captain spread his cloak. With the help of Chloe and Anna-san, Barbera hid under the cloak, making rustling noises.
Colette tilted her head in curiosity, while Francine-san seemed deep in thought, possibly wondering what kind of beastman Barbera’s horns belonged to.
When they were ready, Chloe and Anna-san returned to their original positions. I crouched down, finishing my preparations.
“Groaar!”
Despite the lackluster voice, Barbera leaped out with incredible speed. She jumped diagonally upward from behind the skeleton captain.
Completely naked.
Even from behind them, I could sense their shock. But the real surprise was yet to come.
Barbera glowed in mid-air, and with a squeal, the two closed their eyes. When they opened them, there was a dragon in Barbera’s place. Barbera herself was gone.
“That child, Barbera, is a dragon.”
“A d-d-d-dragon!?”
Colette, startled, stood with her tail stiff. Francine-san was silent, then collapsed without a sound. As expected, I caught her from behind.
“M-mom!”
The cry of a girl selling galettes echoed in the dim early morning light in front of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
“ROOOAAARRR!”
Barbera’s roar followed.
It’s okay, it’s okay. We advertised it as a Dragon Sale, so her roar serves as an attraction to draw in customers. It’s like a siren announcing the start of the sale to the neighbors.
And besides, Colette and Francine were saved by a holy knight and a lich. Even if they decide not to join as tenants, they’ll at least keep it to themselves. Hopefully.
On the 20th day since I became the store manager, the Dragon Sale at Aion Mall Otherworldly Store was already a commotion before it even started.