AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 97
Episode 9-6
Since I became the manager, it’s the 23rd day at Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
Despite it being early morning before opening, Aion is bustling.
“Foreign-, or rather, items from another world… Manager, what kind of products are these? Are they things we don’t have here?”
“The items that arrived this time include ‘umami seasoning,’ ‘stew roux,’ and granular consommé. It’s almost as if they know I’m selling deli foods… Iori-san?”
“Oh, how are these used? How much do you plan to sell them for? These are items you can only get at Aion Mall, so perhaps they should be aimed at the nobility.”
“No, no, they’re not that expensive. It’s more like ‘now you can have the simplified version of our deli foods at home!’ I’m planning to sell them normally.”
“My, my! What a waste! No, rather, it’s unwise to hike up the prices and attract the attention of the merchant guild or nobility. The manager is thinking about these things, too, isn’t he?”
“…Something like that.”
Once every two weeks to a month, we can receive three cartloads of products.
The most excited about this are the traveling merchants.
Even now, they are eagerly eyeing the items on the cart I brought in.
Even though these are just umami seasoning, consommé, and stew roux, which are sold at any supermarket in Japan.
“A monthly sales target of 100 million yen. If we don’t reach it within six months, maybe I’ll consider stocking high-priced items. What would be good then?”
“Hmm, how about luxury items or ornaments? There are people who don’t mind spending money on such products.”
“Mom? Really?”
“How does Francine-san know about this? I’m worried about her past since she seems to know the head of the merchant guild.”
Francine-san, however, smiles without much concern.
The dog-like beastkin Colette is excitedly flitting around, interested in the new products and her mother.
Both seem to be enjoying themselves, not much different from usual.
“Luxury items or ornaments that can be ordered and transported in some quantity by cart… Alcohol or watches, perhaps? Oh, maybe I could get accessories from the tenants? But the value of gemstones and precious metals might be different here…”
I should investigate this as a backup plan.
We have Barbera’s scales, which are supposed to be valuable, but selling a part of an employee’s body to boost sales feels wrong.
Even if the ‘Dragon Sale’ might be an option, it doesn’t sit well with me.
“Tasty?”
“Barbera, neither watches nor accessories are edible. Alcohol might be questionable since you look like a ten-year-old… Wait, dragons probably like shiny things and alcohol.”
“Wrong.”
Peeking from below is Barbera.
As usual, she’s expressionless, no, she’s drooling. Her tail is patting the floor.
“Oh, you mean the delivered items. Hmm, they make cooking easier, but consommé and stew roux alone aren’t much, and umami seasoning isn’t used on its own.”
“Taste!”
“Calm down, Barbera, we’re opening soon! You can try them at lunch!”
“Understood.”
“We should do some taste tests before selling them anyway. I think we could sell them with slogans like ‘Make beef stew easily at home!’ or ‘Turn your camping soup into a delicacy with this one item!'”
The tip of Barbera’s tail flares up.
Her tail, now visible to me thanks to its acclimation to magic, has such a feature. As expected of a fire dragon. Also, her emotions are easy to read.
“Maybe we could sell them as additions to our deli foods or fresh products. Perhaps I should make recipe cards.”
The items from Aion headquarters are so spot-on that it’s unsettling.
If these products hadn’t arrived, and the next restock would be when ‘the magic wavelengths align,’ I would have ordered something like these.
Is someone watching? Is everything okay, Iori-san? Iori? (he said with respect then casual)
“Now we can sell various items. I’m looking forward to it.”
Anna-san is also in a good mood, smiling.
There was a letter for Anna-san, but she didn’t tell me what it said.
Did she know someone from Japan, like Iori-san? Well, she was hired as an employee of Aion Mall Otherworldly Store, so she must have met someone… Did she?
“By the way, Anna-san,”
“Yes, what is it, Naoya-san?”
“We can only get over-the-counter items, but if you need any Japanese medicines or products for your research, please let me know.”
“Really!?”
“Of course. After all, there might be times when I or others get sick or injured.”
“Thank you so much! I’ll compile a list then!”
Anna-san, rarely beaming with a full smile, ran off to the drugstore corner.
A skeleton in an apron and a ghost mascot followed her, bowing slightly to me. Wait, the skeleton should move to the backroom or an unopened space soon. We’re opening soon, and customers will be coming.
Anna-san developed a cure for the incurable ‘Red Death Disease’ by combining Japanese medicine with medicines or materials from this world.
Even with over-the-counter drugs, having more available might advance her research.
“Got it. Then maybe I should also order some books.”
We can only receive shipments once every two weeks to a month, but I can send and receive data on a laptop every three days to a week.
That means next time, the items I order will arrive.
Should I start with supplies and equipment instead of products?”
Books, laptops, digital cameras, printers, laminators for making POP displays, banners—there are countless things I want to sell at Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
I also want camping gear that can serve as a bathtub. For my own use, though.
“I should check the backroom again to see what’s there. I also need to check the order laptop.”
Today, I’ll skip working on the floor and focus on these tasks.
Just as I thought that, I noticed something.
All the employees are here, yet it’s unusually quiet.
That’s unheard of.
“…Chloe?”
I turned around.
The former manager, an elf prone to erotic daydreams, was reading a letter with a serious expression.
“What’s up? Did it say something weird?”
“Mu!? N-Nothing, Naoya! Nothing, absolutely nothing!”
“Hey, Chloe?”
“No matter how much you pressure me! I won’t spill anything! Elves are tight-lipped!”
“It’s fine if it’s not something you need to say. Is everything okay? It doesn’t concern the operation of Aion Mall Otherworldly Store, right?”
“O-Of course! Don’t worry, Naoya! You wouldn’t, by any chance, think ‘let’s see if her body will talk’ and then grope and torment me until I can’t hold out anymore—”
“Alright, it’s the usual Chloe. Seems like everything’s okay.”
Well, the letters addressed to Chloe, Anna-san, and Barbera were personal, not related to business. I’m sure of it.
“Alright, let’s get ready to open, then I’ll check the backroom supplies in the morning, have a tasting session during the afternoon lull, and prepare orders in the afternoon.”
“Yes, indeed! Leave the operation of Aion Mall Otherworldly Store to me, the former manager and holy knight, Chloe!”
Chloe seems unusually enthusiastic, but anyway.
It’s the 23rd day since I became the manager of Aion Mall Otherworldly Store.
Today’s operation might be different from yesterday.