Chapter 45

"Then, let's celebrate the completion of the store... Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

Everyone, following my lead, clinked their mugs together.

Tonight, we decided to have a party to celebrate the completion of the store (just the building, though).

Everyone from *Beowulf*, Garai, Orchidea and Fressa, and the construction team members Mau and Meala.

Also, there were two boars, Entia and the two that were left behind in case of emergencies.

It was a party with everyone's participation.

By the way, the venue was the ryotei where we had become regulars -- *Kourin-tei*.

"Do you guys... have nowhere else to go besides here?"

The one who brought the plates of food was one of the three who had come to complain about our construction site the other day -- the leader of the group.

I later found out that he was apparently one of the chefs at this restaurant.

"Huh? Do chefs serve food?"

"Well, since you guys are regulars... it's necessary to greet important customers."

Yeah, now that you mention it, we've become regulars since that incident.

It's not like we're trying to harass you or anything; it's just that the food is really good.

"He has a bad personality, but he's a good cook."

"Yeah, the food is great. Even though he has a bad personality."

"He's twisted, isn't he? Both his personality and his hairstyle."

"Am I being praised or insulted..."

He muttered, shaking his uniquely twisted bangs (like Suneo's bangs, but grown out and more pronounced).

"Delicious, Cole!"

"Great food in the capital, Cole!"

On the floor, the boars who were eating the neatly arranged salad said the same thing.

"Still, thank you for allowing us to bring animals in."

"Well, you guys are regulars, and you're quite famous in the capital now. It would be rude to refuse."

He glanced at the other customers discreetly.

They were looking at us and whispering to each other.

At first, I thought we stood out because we were a mixed group of different races and genders... but it seems that's not the case.

"Excuse me..."

A young man approached our table and spoke to us.

"I heard the story. You're the ones who defeated that pack of wolves, right?"

"Ah, yes, that's us."

He was wearing light armor and carrying a weapon like a throwing knife.

He was probably an adventurer.

"Amazing! Many adventurers had trouble with them!"

"Thank you. Are you an adventurer too?"

"Yes, I'm still a beginner, but the adventurers have been talking about it all morning!"

The young man spoke excitedly, shook hands, and left.

The rumor had spread among the adventurers.

This might have a better effect than I expected...

"Huh, those guys..."

Then, I overheard a conversation from another table.

"Apparently, they're from a beastman village that came to build a store nearby."

"They seem suspicious... can they really be trusted?"

"They're wolf beastmen, right? There's a rumor that they were the ones who incited the wolf pack trouble that was recently resolved..."

...Well, that's to be expected.

Not everything is positive.

Of course, there are skeptical voices.

Trust is built one second at a time -- we'll have to work hard and be honest.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

The next day.

"Wow! Look, Mako! There's a person floating in the air!"

Mau was excitedly watching a street performer's act in the main square.

Since the work had progressed to a certain point, we decided to take a day off for relaxation.

Everyone was taking a break as they pleased.

As for me, I decided to take a leisurely walk through the capital with Mau, Meala, and Garai.

Mau and Meala had been helping us for several days, but they were still kids.

They were fascinated by the vibrant and stimulating streets of the capital.

"Mako, Garai, can we go into the weapon shop?"

Meala pointed at the weapon shop, her eyes sparkling.

She's a boy, huh.

"Is it okay? Won't they think we're bad customers if we don't buy anything?"

"...It shouldn't be a problem."

Since I was still not used to the city in this fantasy world, I relied on Garai's advice as we walked around.

We watched street performers, bought sweets, window-shopped, and strolled through the city at a leisurely pace.

"Meala, let's check out that alley too."

"Is it safe? It's not dangerous, is it?"

Mau and Meala were still running around everywhere.

"Mau, Meala, don't go to dangerous places."

They're really energetic.

Personally, I'd like to run around with them, but as an adult, I have to be mindful of the surroundings.

"Phew..."

I leaned against the wall of a random building and looked up at the sky.

The noise of the crowd was as loud as in the cities of the real world, showing how big this city was.

"Are you tired?"

Garai stood next to me, leaning against the wall.

"Working too hard is dangerous."

"I'm fine, I'm fine. I'm used to this kind of heavy labor."

I chuckled, remembering my days at the home center.

It was really a physically demanding job.

"Also, the other night."

"I'm sorry. But thank you, Garai, for understanding Lam's opinion and calming Mau and Meala."

"I trusted you. I knew you'd be fine."

He said something nice.

Garai then smiled faintly.

"It seems your deeds are spreading throughout the city. Helping people in need for free, like a hero of justice."

"A hero of justice, huh?"

I crossed my arms and pondered at Garai's words.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm not a hero. I have ulterior motives."

'If you expect something in return, it's not justice.'

I recalled the words of Kiriya Sento from *Kamen Rider Build*.

"About that noble kid yesterday."

I changed the subject.

"Is there any connection between that kid and the situation where you were being pursued?"

"...Yeah, something like that."

Garai said it as if he was mumbling.

"That kid seemed really happy, didn't he?"

"..."

"Just a wild guess, but... weren't you a hero to that kid? That's what I think."

"...It's not that big of a deal."

He sighed lightly and said.

"...?"

Then, Mau and Meala returned to us.

"What's wrong? Didn't you find anything interesting?"

"Ah... yeah."

What's going on?

They both seemed a bit distant.

Where did they go?

I looked at the alley they had entered.

"...Ah."

Suspicious-looking signs, sexy-dressed women standing at the entrance.

A bustling pleasure district even in the daytime.

Ah, that's right, this is the 'Color Town'.

"Okay, good kids, let's play on the main street."

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

The next day.

"Good afternoon!"

The store was completed, and the interior was almost finished.

We were in the middle of making or buying necessary props (display shelves and other business items) when a girl suddenly stood at the entrance and called out loudly.

"Um, who are you?"

She had her blonde hair in twin tails, her arms crossed, and was looking around the store with a confident expression.

"Hmm... I didn't expect it to be a proper store."

She said in a haughty voice.

"Excuse me, the store isn't open yet?"

"I know. Besides, I'm not a customer. I'm here to declare war."

She laughed.

To declare war... so she's from another store?

"Originally, this was supposed to be the site of the Weeblue family's fruit store. When I first heard about it, I didn't believe it..."

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

I asked the girl who had been talking to herself.

"What!? You don't know me!?"

I'm sorry, I don't know you.

She pressed her forehead and sighed deeply.

"I am Rayle Grossam. The daughter of the Grossam family, which handles wholesale fruits and vegetables in this country."