Chapter 99 - I Met Someone New
Returning from the Sacred Tree Festival, I met with Alice again…… but she was so useless that I think she would die if she keeps going like this, so I preached at her for a while.
[……That’s why if you’re going to gamble, you need to learn to keep it in moderation.]
[Geez, all those people who can’t exert self-control are human trash…… They’re the worst kind of gamblers——- Ouch!?]
[I’m talking about you!]My head is starting to hurt.
It would have been great if I could just end up in a conclusion where she got what she deserved, but unfortunately, it’s difficult for me to say that because of my personality.
Rehabilitation…… might be impossible, but I should at least make her change her trajectory of mind so that she won’t become broke from it…… After today, I would come visit and check her every now and then.
With that in mind, I pulled out a red bear sandwich from my magic box that I had bought earlier since I liked it when I ate it before and was planning to eat again today when I got home.
[Hey, don’t just eat fruits, eat this too.]
[Eh? What is this, is this the carrot gently held out to me after the stick…… Kaito-san, you’re so dreamy! You’re making my heart beat fast!]
[That’s disgusting.][Even within this flow of conversation, you’re still throwing sticks!?]
Saying another joke, Alice started eating the red bear sandwich I served her.
As I watch her eat, I think about the future for a bit.
As for the wasted money from gambling, she should be able to improve her life if I keep warning her in the future, but the problem is her income.
To tell the truth, Alice’s shop, by her own account, isn’t getting any customers.
It’s been nearly seven days since I was here, and I don’t see how her life can improve under such conditions.
Though I say that, it’s not like I know everything about running a business, and making a shop popular is difficult.
The problem is that the shop owner is too suspicious to begin with, and I don’t think that area will improve at all.
Even if I were to buy some stuff here every now and then, it’s not going to last forever……
[Kaito-san, what’s troubling you?]
[Well…… Ah, that’s right. Do you have any recommended items in your store?]
[Of course, I have! It’s my masterpiece!]
[……Masterpiece?]
I wonder why, but I have a very bad feeling about this.
A recommended item that Alice is proud of…… wait, hey, why the heck are you pulling out several pieces of those familiar stuffed costumes from the back of the store!?
[What do you think!? This magnificent craftsmanship!]
[……I will ask just in case, but what’s that?]
[They’re stuffed costumes!]
[………………]
As I thought, this guy’s no good.
She looks like she’s doing her best to look smug, but what I’m only feeling now is the urge to strike her head again.
[Oops, is that doubt of the excellence of this product I see in your face? Fufufu, I would be troubled if you think that these stuffed costumes are the same as normal stuffed costumes.]
[……Unnn?]
[This stuffed costume is filled with multiple magic crystals that automatically keep it at a comfortable temperature, and it also cleans itself some extent! Plus, it’s elastic and feels great on the skin! It also emits a faint recovery magic, giving the wearer a relaxing effect, showing how magnificent this item is!!!]
[What the heck is with that uselessly high efficiency!?]
It has a body temperature control function and relaxing effect, it automatically cleans itself, and it feels great on the skin…… but all of those great functions were used on a stuffed costume.
It’s performance, which should make this considered as a magic tool, is tremendous, but the shape ruins everything.
[Why…… is it these stuffed costumes?]
[Well, due to the fact that I have to put magic crystals in it, I need a certain amount of thickness in it. Since I can’t make it into clothes…… I made it into stuffed costumes!]
[So, are they selling?]
[I’ve never sold one!]
[……Why didn’t you make it as a “futon” or a “coat”?]
[……Huh?]
I asked this because I was simply wondering, but Alice froze as if time had stopped.
[Well, as I was saying, if you just made it because you need a certain amount of thickness, if you made a futon or a thick coat, even if it’s a little more expensive, wouldn’t a noble buy it? And since sleep is really important, if you had made it into a sleeping bag, wouldn’t you be able to sell it to adventurers?]
[……Kaito-san.]
[Ah, no, it’s just a layman’s idea, so if it’s impossible, I guess it can’t be helped……]
[……Are you…… perhaps…… a genius……]
[……………]
No, it seems I’m mistaken, I quickly gulp down the urge to say she’s just that much of an idiot.
In the first place, I don’t think there’s anything I can do for you if the first thought you have to make is a stuffed costume……
[That certainly would sell like crazy! Kaito-san’s amazing!]
[Well, I still don’t see a future where customers come in this store…… so you might as well wholesale it somewhere else…… ]
[…….Well, but I’m banned from the company in the royal capital……]
[If I could, should I introduce you to my acquaintance?]
Even if she has good products, I thought it would be difficult to sell well because the storeowner is as despairing as this.
To begin with, Alice had quite the despairing business acumen, so I wouldn’t know what kind of results she’ll get if I just leave it to her.
In the meantime though, I need to find a stable way of earning income for her…… It would be no laughing matter if someone came to the store and found her emaciated and dying.
I’m sorry to say this, but I’ll have to rely on Kuro’s help.
[Eh? Kaito-san has a connection with a company~~ Which company is it?]
[Errr, I think it was called Seditch Magic Tool Company……]
[Pfft!? I- I- Isn’t that the topmost company!? Eh? What? Kaito-san…… Are you a king from somewhere?]
[No, I just happened to know her…… Anyway, I’ll ask her, so can you make a sample?]
For the time being, I’ll go talk to Kuro about it.
Her products actually look great, and if it weren’t for the shop owner’s personality, they would have been good enough as is.
[Well, for now…… I guess I’ll buy some clothes.]
[Really!? Thank you! Kaito-san, I’m falling in love with you!]
[Anyway, that’s it until next time……]
[With this, I can have a round again—— Gyyaaahhh!?]
[……The next time I come, I won’t accept the excuse that you gambled away all your money……]
[Y- Y- Y- Yes!? R- Roger that!]
Seriously, I wonder why I got to know this person…… I really dislike my own personality for not being able to leave people like this alone.
Anyway, I’ll try rehabilitating Alice for a while…… and make sure she doesn’t suddenly die a dog’s death.
While looking at Alice, who quickly got back on her feet and recommended a variety of products with a smile, I let out a big sigh as I thought about the future.
Before I knew it, it was already past noon and I walked down the street, feeling that I had stayed there longer than planned.
While I was moving for a while, I suddenly noticed something out of place.
The road I’m currently walking down isn’t exactly the main street, but when I usually pass by here, I would still see some people around, but now, I don’t see any people at all.
It may simply be that no one is passing by in this place by chance, but how should I say this… It’s strangely silent.
[……Hey, the guy over there.]
[Eh? Wha!?]
While I was wondering about the strangeness of the situation, I was suddenly called out from behind, and when I turned around…… There was a strange being there that made me feel discomfort far surpassing what I had felt earlier.
There was a soft, spherical object…… lying on a sphere-shaped cushion floating in the air, and when viewed from the front, there was a breezy-looking purple-haired woman looking at me.
It at least doesn’t look like she’s talking to any other people, so the woman, who’s impression rather fits cute rather than beautiful, languidly scratched her long, light purple hair as she spoke.
[You’re the child from another world, aren’t you? I just wanted to ask you something, is that alright?]
[……Umm, you are?]
With her half-opened eyes that had the same reddish-purple color as her hair, the woman looked at me as if she’s feeling sleepy, while I tilted my head and asked her back.
[Me? Ahh~~ I’m that…… what’s my name again? Ahh~~ Well, there’s that. You can just call me “Fate”~~ Nice to meet you~~]
[Ah, yes. It’s nice to meet you…… Errr, I’m Miyama Kaito.]
[Unnn, nice to meet you~~ Kai-chan.]
[Kai-chan!?]
With a lazy grin on her face, Fate-san called me by a strange nickname.
Dear Mom, Dad—– Various troubles happened since I came back, but it looks like the troubles haven’t stopped yet…… How should I say this… I will just end it with this—— I met someone new.
