The three-day festival had ended, and I was calculating my turnover in my hotel room.
“Wow, I earned almost 170,000 rims in just three and a half days,” I marveled. “That festival really did work wonders.”
Aside from the Mobile Forces, toys like the Super Orbs, along with the more expensive drinks, had also sold well.
“That’s great, Yusuke.” Michelle smiled at me, having removed her mask. She had changed into some comfortable loungewear and was relaxing.
“I can buy those boots I’ve been wanting now.” The sneakers that I’d been wearing since my previous life were falling apart as a result of my coming and going from the dungeon every day. It probably wouldn’t be long before the soles wore completely through.
“Do you want me to get you something too, Michelle?” I asked her.
“Me?! I mean, it is almost the thirty-day anniversary of when we started dating, but...”
Sorry, I don’t remember how many days it’s been.
“You remember even minor details like that?”
“It’s because I have this,” she replied, taking out her Waterproof Notebook that was decorated with the crest of darkness. Apparently she was on her tenth curse—er, poem notebook. Now that I thought about it, the contents of the gachapon were just about to run out. I wonder what’s the next thing it’ll be replenished with...
“Oh right, I’ll make a note of our conversation just now,” she said. “Yusuke asked me what I wanted as a thirty-day anniversary present. I want a ring, but maybe it’s too soon for that? I need to save matching rings for our one-hundred-day anniversary...”
Her inner monologue was leaking out.
“Do you really have to record your life to the last detail like that?” Also, she was slightly distorting what had actually happened. I didn’t think it was acceptable to rewrite history.
“It’s fine,” she said. “Just rereading this notebook makes me happy. I always carry them all around with me.”
So, in the near future will she be walking around with a hundred notebooks?
“Oh, Yusuke...” Michelle drew closer to me then, her eyes wet with tears after reading her poem. It seemed that her own words had moved her. She sat beside me and leaned against me only slightly. Satisfied with just that, she smiled as her cheeks flushed.
✦ ✦ ✦
Our time at Grantham had ended in the blink of an eye, and today was the day we’d go back home to the capital. We had come to the baron’s estate to say our farewells.
“We made some good sales thanks to you,” I told him.
“Oh, no, no. I am pleased that you could further popularize the Mobile Forces for me,” the Mobile Forces-loving Baron Ethel said, nodding in what looked like great delight. “Incidentally, I have a good proposal for you.”
“What would that be?”
“There are talks about having you set up Dagashi-ya Yahagi in the best spot in the capital,” said Baron Ethel with a triumphant look on his face, but I was left astounded. What the hell is this old man saying? That’d be like opening up a dagashi-ya in the best spot in Ginza. I couldn’t help imagining an old Showa-era wooden house sandwiched between those famous luxury brand high-rises.
“I’m a mere dagashi-ya,” I said. “Those who need me are mostly child porters and novice adventurers. That suggestion doesn’t suit someone of my status.”
“But you have items in your store that certainly do not suit their low price tag. I am speaking of those Mobile Force units and the universal elixir. Even if you priced your Mobile Forces at 2,000 rims, I believe they would fly off the shelves.”
“It’s not about my earnings. The reason I can make it as a dagashi-ya is because of the people who need me...” If I were surrounded by brands like Chanel and Gucci, I’d feel intimidated. No thanks.
I thought my rejection would sour the baron’s mood, but he only smiled slightly.
“It seems you truly are the type who does not concern himself with wealth and honors, Sir Yahagi.”
“Huh?”
“No, what I said was unimportant. Do forget I said anything. But will you hear me out on one request?”
“What is it?”
“I would like you to sell those Mobile Forces aboveground as well. I want to also popularize the Mobile Forces in the capital.”
That would be nice, but my shop belonged in the dungeon. I couldn’t bear to leave behind the rookies I had grown close to.
Maybe he’d read my answer in my expression, but Baron Ethel came up with a proposal. “If you would prefer, we can establish a consignment sale. Of course, I shall not charge a handling fee, nor shall I try to earn a profit through resales.”
The baron was rich, so I didn’t need to worry about him becoming a cunning reseller. It seemed he purely wanted to spread the good word of the Mobile Forces.
“I understand,” I said. “Then I’ll give you thirty boxes a day, Baron.”
“I see!” he exclaimed, quite pleased. “That would be of great help! With this settled, it seems that it shall not be long before I can host a Mobile Forces tournament.”
“A Mobile Forces tournament?”
“Indeed,” he answered. “I am thinking of sponsoring a grand tournament. Will that be a problem? Why, there is a chance that His Majesty the king himself will sponsor it.”
“The king?!”
“To tell you the truth, His Majesty has been completely engrossed in the Mobile Forces ever since I presented them to him.”
This had suddenly become a serious matter. But when it came to a tournament, my stance was that it was fine for anyone to sponsor it, so long as everyone could enjoy themselves.