AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 95
Episode 9-4
This is the 22nd day since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
After finishing work, I was in the tenant space where I live.
“Now, Naoya-san, first, please try to feel the magic power flowing within your body.”
“Um, isn’t that a bit too challenging right off the bat?”
“It is necessary to use magic. Can you feel an energy different from your flesh and blood?”
“I don’t really get it. Also, Anna-san, do you have flesh and blood? Well, you do have flesh.”
“I read in a book that there is a concept called ‘ki’ or ‘qi’ in Japan…”
“I understand the concept of ki, but still, I don’t quite get it.”
The employee apartment being constructed behind the Aion Mall Otherworldly Store is not yet complete. According to Anna-san, it will take “another two or three days.” Isn’t that too fast? The construction industry in a world with magic is crazy.
To be able to use such magic, I decided to have Anna-san give me personal lessons starting today. No erotic meaning intended.
“The flow of magic power… I wonder if I could feel it by sitting in a meditative pose.”
I sat on the carpet that was sent to Aion Corporation without my consent, which I brought from my detached house. I also put a cushion.
Sitting cross-legged is tough because my hip joints are too stiff. I try sitting on the cushion in a formal Japanese sitting position. I close my eyes.
Speaking of which, the iguana I saw during the day apparently knew Barbera, but Barbera didn’t remember. Apparently, it’s an iguana that Barbera, still a young dragon at the time, once saved. It seems to be based in a port town about two weeks away by carriage and a nearby island.
“A port town… I want to eat fish again.”
“Naoya-san? You’re getting distracted.”
“Ah, sorry, I got carried away. Magic power. The flow of magic power in my body.”
Fish.
Sashimi, salted grilled fish, simmered fish, dried fish are all good.
Making namero or adding it to soup as meatballs is also good.
“Buying it is not difficult. But if we sell it, the main issues are the quantity we procure and the transportation method…”
Chloe and Anna-san have ‘item pouches’ that hold more than they appear to. However, time inside these pouches does not stop. Although it’s a mysterious feature that can keep items cool for a while if ice is added, seafood would be difficult. It would spoil after taking two weeks to transport.
“We don’t have cars or bikes… Should we use multiple ‘item pouches’ and ride horses? Or maybe ask Barbera, or Barbera’s parents, to help with air transport…”
“Naoya-san?”
I shuddered and opened my eyes.
Anna-san was there.
Anna-san, with a black aura around her, smiling but not really smiling, was there.
“Gasp*.”
“Shall we try to avoid distractions? There are various methods, but…”
“I’ll concentrate properly, I’ll do my best. By the way, is that black aura magical power? Like, I can see it because I’ve gained magic power?”
Still smiling, Anna-san took a step closer.
My body started trembling on its own.
“Naoya-san?”
“Yes, I’ll do my best. Become nothing. I need to become nothing. Empty my mind.”
I closed my eyes.
Anna-san was kindly teaching me, and it would be rude of me to be like this.
Yes, if I could use magic, I might be able to get to the port town faster. Maybe even fly through the sky with wind magic.
Or like Chloe, I could enhance my body and run all the way there.
…The distractions wouldn’t go away.
The goal wasn’t to empty my mind, but to feel the magic flowing inside my body.
I focused.
I explored inside my body.
The blood pulsing, the stomach moving with each breath, the legs touching the cushion in a kneeling position, oh, my legs seem to be getting numb. No, not that.
“Magical power. The magical power flowing inside my body. No good, I can’t tell.”
“No need to rush. It’s difficult to feel it at first. Once you can do this, it’s just theory and practice.”
“Sigh. Well, that still seems like a high hurdle to me.”
I looked at the clock.
Apparently, quite some time had passed.
In the end, I couldn’t sense the “flow of magical power inside my body.”
“Few people can sense it on the first try.”
“Sigh. Hearing that makes me feel a bit better.”
“Try it as many times as you can when you have time. Unlike me, it’s about time for Naoya-san to go to bed, right?”
“Now that I think about it, being an undead who can be active 24 hours a day is amazing. Not that I want to become one, though.”
“Hehe, I understand… Oh?”
Anna-san tilted her head.
She looked away from me and turned towards the corridor.
I followed her gaze.
There was a clattering noise.
By now, it wasn’t surprising.
“Skeletons are coming closer. Are they cleaning?”
“No, if it was cleaning, they wouldn’t be in such a hurry. And the number of them…”
“Ah, you’re right, the sound is louder and there are more of them than usual.”
I looked through the half-lowered lattice shutter.
The clattering and rattling noises were approaching.
In addition to the sound of bones clashing, there was the sound of metal hitting metal.
“Oh? So, the skeleton squad is with them too.”
Eventually, the skeletons appeared in the corridor.
Besides the usual apron-wearing skeletons, there were also the armored skeleton squad who were supposed to be patrolling the forest at night, and the skeleton commander with helmet decorations and a cape.
“Why is everyone here? They seem to be in a hurry.”
On the other side of the shutter, the skeletons clattered to get our attention.
They seemed to be doing a bone dance. No, not that.
They seemed to want to convey something.
“What could this be about? Did something happen?”
I couldn’t understand the skeletons’ feelings.
Next to me, Anna-san gasped and widened her eyes. Oh, she can breathe. I guess it’s a leftover habit from when she was alive.
“Naoya-san, this is bad!”
“Huh? What is it, Anna-san?”
“Let’s go immediately! Follow me!”
“The skeletons who were supposed to be patrolling at night came to get me… Could it be an intruder!?”
“No, it’s not! Just come quickly!”
“Oh, it’s not an intruder. Then I don’t need to bring a weapon. The skeletons are here, after all.”
Normally, skeletons would be monsters, but that’s not surprising anymore.
Apparently, I had come to trust the skeletons. Thank you for always helping me.
Anyway, I followed the skeleton squad and Anna-san out of the tenant space.
We entered the backyard.
We went down the stairs.
We arrived at the loading dock of the Aion Mall Otherwordly Store.
The skeletons clattered around, showing their agitation, and Anna-san’s eyes widened.
And then, I—
“What the fu-! What is this!?”
I was so shocked that I could only scream.
“What the heck is going on, Iori!”
It was the 22nd day since I became the manager of the Aion Mall Otherwordly Store.
Aion Corporation had done it again.