The area prepared for Dagashi-ya Yahagi was spacious, and they had even provided a Mobile Forces arena next to it. Baron Ethel made us some nice arrangements, I thought to myself.
“Store, open. Dagashi-ya Yahagi.” Today, I brought out the street stall version of my store. It was perfect to use outdoors.
“What the hell is this?!”
“There’s a bunch of stuff I’ve never seen before.”
“How pretty...”
All the local kids had immediately gathered around my store.
“Come one, come all!” I said. “Please stop by and have a look! We’re a very popular dagashi-ya from the capital!” My shop wasn’t that popular, but it was typical for street vendors to exaggerate in their sales pitches.
“It says this thing is gum,” said one child. “What is it?”
“It’s a snack you enjoy by chewing without swallowing. It has a lottery.”
“What’s a lottery?”
The kids kept bombarding me with questions, their eyes sparkling. Before long, a boy took a ten-rim coin from his pocket.
“I would like this, please.” He had selected a cola-flavored Odama Candy. Cola and soda didn’t exist in this world, so you could say it was a pretty bold choice. It took courage to try something you didn’t know.
“Thank you,” I said, accepting the coin. “There’s a lottery ticket inside the wrapper, so look carefully. Also, don’t throw your trash around here. Throw it in this cardboard box instead.”
“Okay.” He unwrapped the Odama Candy and timidly put it in his mouth. His face lit up. “Wow, it’s delicious!” he exclaimed. “And it’s huge!”
He seemed to struggle to get the words out around his mouthful of candy, but he enthusiastically expressed his excitement to his friends.
“I see,” I said. “Hey, try moving around.”
“You want me to move?”
“That candy boosts your agility when you eat it.”
“Really?” The boy gave the ground an experimental kick. “Whoa?!” He was amazed at the speed of his own movement.
“This is amazing!” he exclaimed. “If I raced someone right now, there’s no way I’d lose!”
His rave review seemed to completely sell the other kids on my goods.
“Seriously?! Give me some candy too!”
“Gum over here!”
“Some chocolate for me!”
Yep, kids are always full of energy, no matter what town you visit.
I wasn’t in the dungeon today, so I decided not to sell dangerous items like my Rocket Bombs. They were items meant for adventurers, so these kids weren’t ready for them quite yet.
Actually, the baron had said he wanted me to popularize the Mobile Forces. He’d gone out of his way to prepare an arena for me, so I might as well put it to good use. I’d also brought some of Mister Sanaga’s Mobile Forces weapons to sell on his behalf as part of a consignment deal.
“Minerva, I have a favor to ask of you,” I said to Michelle.
“What is it?”
“Give a martial arts demonstration using your Mobile Force unit. You’re the capital’s champion, so it’d be a good way to attract customers.”
“Got it.” Michelle took out her Kian and began moving it, drawing all of the kids’ attention in her direction.
“Whoa! The doll is moving!”
“How are you doing that?”
The kids were brimming with intense curiosity.
“It’s called a Mobile Force,” I said. “It’s a really popular toy back in the capital.”
“Can we move them too?” one kid piped up.
“You betcha. Anyone with mana can use them.” Of course, none of the children immediately whipped out three hundred rims, but they were all very interested.
“So, it’s three hundred rims for one?” asked a grandpa who had brought along his grandchild.
“Yes, that’s right. Regardless of type, each one is three hundred rims.”
“Then let’s get one.” The grandpa handed me three one-hundred-rim coins and turned to the child. “Which one would you like?”
“Hm... Gungalf!” Little kids seemed to like the protagonist mechas.
“Would you like to assemble it right away and try it out?” I suggested. “If you choose to do it now, the capital’s champion will instruct you.”
“I will?!” Michelle blurted out, so surprised she used her normal voice.
“Why not give them a bit of a hand?” I said. “You’re good at teaching, aren’t you?” She used to be a teacher at a magical academy, and she had been thorough when teaching me too.
“G-Got it. Young boy, come this way.”
Michelle really did have a knack for teaching. Soon enough, the young boy could walk his Gungalf around. After that, other customers came one after another.
“Gufufu please.”
“I’d like Zako.”
“I’m going to bring my mom!”
“Me too!”
This continued until I’d sold all forty units I had prepared.
“When will you be opening your store tomorrow?” asked a young man with bloodshot eyes. I think he was the one who bought the last Zako. Maybe he wants some of the other models too?
“Maybe around ten.”
“Really? All right, I’ll come by around that time and buy everything you got. Let me reserve them now.”
Baron Ethel wanted to popularize the Mobile Forces among the people of this town. I myself also wanted a lot of people to enjoy them, so I couldn’t allow them all to be bought out.
“I can’t do that. I’m only selling one unit per person this time.”
“Why?! I can make a deposit right now if you want!”
“I want as many people to know about these as possible,” I explained, “so I’ve decided that I’ll only be selling one unit per person this time around.”
“No way!” he exclaimed in dismay. “But your earnings will be the same either way, right? How about this—I’ll pay four hundred rims per box!”
He was kinda annoying.
Just as I was debating how I was going to chase him off, a line of five soldiers came running this way. They bowed once to me before putting up a sign next to my shop. What’s written on it?
Notice:
Buying out Mobile Forces and reselling them is strictly prohibited. Violators will be sentenced to thirty days of hard labor.
Ruling Lord Baron Moe Ethel
Huh? That guy who’d been pestering me to sell him the Mobile Forces was gone. I guess that means he was aiming to resell them.
Had Baron Ethel predicted this would happen? If he was taking these preventative measures against resales beforehand, then maybe he really was an astute man.
I continued to do business as the sky grew dim, and I reflected on the fact that my Mobile Forces had sold out. Even around here, they were pretty popular.
“These sold really well thanks to you, Michelle,” I said to her.
“I didn’t do much, really...” she mumbled.
“You showed those kids the ropes on how to move them, and you even accepted their challenges, right? Although you did completely wipe the floor with them.”
Holding back wasn’t her forte, it seemed.
✦ ✦ ✦
The setting sun sank behind the buildings, plunging Kumpf Plaza into twilight. The children had long since gone home, and the people who were already hyped up for the coming festivities had headed to the pubs or restaurants to celebrate the eve of the festival. There hadn’t been any customers in a while, so it was an ideal time to close up shop.
“It’s a little early for dinner,” I said, “so you wanna stroll around as we head back?”
“Yeah.” Michelle was happy, fidgeting bashfully. Due to her cognitive obstruction spell, all people would see was a wriggling mask-clad man. I wanted to shout to the heavens, She’s actually really cute! But there was no way that was happening. Since this was an unfamiliar area, I had at least wanted to try walking around town holding hands, but I managed to restrain myself.