Chapter 54

"Got it, got it, you came all the way to become an adventurer and rush to my aid because you wanted to meet me, huh? As expected of me. I'm so popular, it's like art."

With that, Delphi burst into laughter.

Hmm...

His eccentric appearance and this personality...

I suddenly remember what the lady at the glassware shop said back then.

—You'll be surprised when you meet him.

Indeed, he's quite a character, to say the least.

"Turns out there was no treasure, huh?"

Iksa said, touching the cave wall at the back.

"Yeah, it was a good story, but if there had been any treasure, I was planning to take it back without telling the guild and use it for my art."

"You're the reason you've never moved up from E-rank."

Urushima sighed.

He's so self-centered, it's exasperating.

This arrogance reminds me of Tendou Souji from Kamen Rider Kabuto.

"Alright, my fans! To repay your enthusiasm, I'll show you something interesting!"

Delphi shouted, raising his silver hair.

He picked up one of the beads attached to his body and clenched it.

Then, he put his mouth to his clenched fist and blew into it.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, a balloon floated out of his hand.

No, it wasn't a balloon.

It was a soap bubble made of glass.

"Wow, how did you...?"

Iksa reached out to touch the floating soap bubble.

"Hey, it's better not to touch it randomly."

Delphi stopped him.

The soap bubble floated in the air and eventually hit the cave wall.

—Instantly, an explosion occurred.

"!"

"Whoa!"

The moment the soap bubble burst, a loud explosion and flames erupted, echoing through the cave.

Akashi couldn't help but cry out.

"Hahaha, surprised? I call it an artistic bomb!"

"Um, I think the naming could be better... What was that, exactly?"

"What? You don't understand me at all, even though you're my fan. Look closely."

Delphi scratched his head.

On his cheeks, faint scales were visible.

Scales... reptilian...

"Fire salamander, huh."

Iksa whispered, nodding beside me.

"Right, that's correct. I'm a demihuman with fire salamander blood. This power allows me to breathe fire."

"..."

I understand now.

He's a demihuman like Garai, with a unique ability characteristic of a demon.

In Delphi's case, it's the ability to breathe intense heat—using this power, he heats glass and processes various artworks without tools.

He sealed the magic of a salamander inside the glass bubbles he made, turning them into bombs that explode upon bursting.

"So that's how you made glass crafts."

"Glass is the egg of art. I thought glass was the material where I could best showcase my talent."

Delphi laughed without a care.

He genuinely believes this from the bottom of his heart.

"So, why did you want to meet me?"

Delphi then asked us again.

"Maybe it was just fan psychology, but did you want me to make something for you?"

"Exactly, that's it!"

I had been waiting for those words!

I ran to Delphi and took out a piece of paper from my pocket.

It was a drawing of the "glass craft" I was looking for.

"Actually, I want you to make something like this."

"Hmm?"

Delphi looked at the detailed drawing I had made.

"...You."

Delphi's eyes widened as he saw the drawing.

"You're an interesting one! You want me to make something like this!?"

"Really! Do you like it!?"

"On the contrary! I'm incredibly angry!"

"Eh!?"

Delphi frowned and started to get angry.

What's with this sudden change in emotion?

"The idea for this work! Frankly, it's something I never thought of! That's what makes me so angry! It's like I lost artistically!"

"Um... so you won't make it?"

"No, I will!"

"Which is it!?"

"If your idea is better, creating it will prove that I'm the better artist! I'll make it, no matter what!"

Well... I don't understand artists.

But if he's willing to make it, I won't stop him.

"Anyway, let's head down the mountain first."

Garai said calmly.

Yeah, that's right.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

After that, we descended the mountain at night and returned to the capital.

Naturally, it took as long to go down as it did to go up.

During this time, Delphi kept talking to me, saying, "Mako! Your ideas are quite impressive! I think we'd get along well as artists!"

Ugh... I'm so tired...

In my past job at the home center, when a customer liked me, I sometimes had to accompany them for an hour or two, which would delay other tasks.

Anyway, we finally returned to the capital in the morning.

The sun was just starting to rise...

"I'll report to the Adventurers' Guild for you."

Urushima suggested, seeing my exhausted state.

It's not that I'm at my physical limit, but I'm just really sleepy...

"You should go back to the inn and get some rest."

Thank you, Urushima.

"Alright, Mako! I'll start preparing! Come to my workshop after a nap!"

Delphi seemed completely energetic.

I wish I could have some of that energy.

"Mako, we ended up spending the night without explaining anything to everyone. I'll go explain, so you get some rest."

"Ah, thank you, Garai..."

The rest is a bit hazy, but I definitely returned to the inn.

I probably fell asleep on the way and was carried back by Garai.

I was in a dream world for a while.

I was playing in the grass with the little Urifus, Mau, and Meala.

...Am I really that tired?

I woke up when Delphi appeared in my dream and started talking about art.

Maybe I have a bit of a trauma.

"...Huh?"

In my room at the inn, I looked outside the window.

It was pitch black.

That's strange, we definitely returned in the morning...

"Could it be..."

I hurried out of the room and went to the inn's reception.

I asked the staff there,

"Excuse me! What's the date and time now!?"

The staff, surprised by my urgency, explained.

It was the night of the day we descended the mountain.

...I must have slept the whole day.

"Is everyone still working at the store... I need to go!"

I rushed to our store, fully recovered after a day's sleep.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

The night before the opening, two days away...

I rushed into our store, which was still lit up.

As expected, everyone was still working on the fine decorations.

"Sorry everyone! I completely overslept!"

"“““““Mako!””””"

Everyone rushed over as soon as they saw me.

They came running with a lot of momentum.

"You disappeared yesterday afternoon, and we were worried!"

"You've been sleeping since you got back to the inn this morning."

Mau and Meala clung to my legs, looking worried.

Were they that anxious?

"We were worried too."

"We kept working according to the instructions we had, though."

"Thanks, Ram, Bagos."

Everyone from Beowulf also looked relieved to see me.

"Garai explained the situation this morning, so it was okay."

"Please, Mako. You're the backbone of our operation."

"Hehe, sorry."

I glanced at Garai, who was in the corner.

Great support.

Garai is always reliable.

"By the way, Mako. While you were gone, Entia and... that black wolf"

"Ah, Kuro?"

"Those two and Suaro guarded the store."

"Hey, lady. It feels like it's been a while, even though it's only been one night."

Entia, Kuro, and Suaro came to me.

I had asked them to guard the store while I was gone.

"Those gangsters tried to cause trouble at the store a few times. I beat them up as soon as I saw them."

"They were despicable. They tried to spread sewage around the store and stick vulgar notes on the walls."

Suaru sighed.

Wow, classic. It feels like a Yakuza from the Showa era.

But thanks to everyone, the store's peace was maintained.

"Thank you, Suaro. And Entia and Kuro too."

"Hehe, as Mako's knight, it's my duty to protect Mako's precious things."

"Always so pretentious."

"...Hey, Mako."

One of the Beowulf members, Ram, whispered and pointed to the back of the store.

There stood Delphi, standing arrogantly.

"Mako, who is this guy!"

"He's been here since this afternoon and won't leave!"

"He says he has business with you, but he won't give any details!"

"Then he says, 'I'm bored, so talk to me,' and starts talking to us one-sidedly!"

"He's really annoying!"

The Beowulf members were complaining loudly.

Yeah, that's his character, alright.

"What's with these people? They're so rude, even though I'm giving them an artistic talk."

Delphi didn't seem the least bit bothered.

"Right, Mako! Since you didn't come to my workshop, I came here! I even brought the item you wanted!"

"Really! You already made it!?"

Delphi picked up a large furoshiki (wrapping cloth) and placed it on a nearby table.

"Take a look!"

He unfolded the furoshiki.

There were various glass containers, just as I had requested.

"Wow! They're exactly as I specified!"

Triangular glass bottles, artistically decorated glass containers with diverse shapes.

Hexagonal, octagonal, dodecagonal, and stylishly shaped bottles.

"Hahaha, are you impressed? I, the artist, have perfectly realized your artistic vision."

"Yep, yep, I'm impressed. Artistically impressed."

"Wow, they're beautiful."

"I've never seen anything like this."

Mau, Meala, and everyone else were captivated by the glass containers Delphi had made.

Exactly, that's the reaction I wanted.

Thank you, Delphi.

Now, the final piece is in place.

"Alright, let's all head back to the inn for now. Thank you so much for everything since yesterday."

"What!?"

Delphi was surprised.

Well, it's late at night, and everyone is tired from working non-stop.

"Shouldn't you show the true value of these glass containers now? I came all the way here to see it!"

"It's fine, it's fine. We can do it tomorrow. It's late tonight, so let's continue tomorrow."

I leaned in close to Delphi's ear and whispered,

"Besides, I'm really surprised that you actually made such an amazing piece. I'd love to hear about the manufacturing process."

"Hmm? You want to hear the artistic secrets of my creation? Well, if you insist, I'll tell you."

Delphi nodded with a grin.

Great, I think I'm starting to understand how to handle this guy.

So, we decided to stop working for the day and head back to the inn.

"Suaru, would you like to come back to the inn to thank you?"

"I will stay with Garai to guard the store at night."

Suaru and Garai will stay to guard the store in case the Blads try something.

They haven't rested at all... they're so reliable.

"Thank you. I'll bring some snacks later. Oh, Orchidea."

I called out to Orchidea.

"Orchidea, I need you to prepare this for tomorrow."

I told Orchidea about the "plants" needed for the new product.

"Hehe, I understand, Mako. It's been a while since I've had a role."

"Big sister, I'll do my best!"

Fressa encouraged Orchidea, who was now motivated.

I also whispered a "special request" to Entia and Kuro, who were yawning.

"Hey, Entia, Kuro."

"Hmm?"

"What is it, Mako?"

I whispered my request to them.

"Understood, lady."

"Since it's Mako's request, I'll do it."

So, we decided to head back to the inn for a rest.

I ended up talking to Delphi for quite a while again.

He seemed to have been isolated as an eccentric artist for a long time.

He probably hadn't had someone to open up to like this before, and he talked about art with childlike enthusiasm.

The next morning arrived.

The final day before the store opening began.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

On the final day, everyone worked together to develop the new products.

"Alright, follow my instructions, everyone!"

We used the materials we gathered in the pleasure district to create new products.

Everyone was surprised by the various items being made, as they were seeing them for the first time.

Time flew by, and it was already night.

All the work, including display, was completed.

We were ready to open the store the next day.

I stood at the entrance of the store and looked at the whole place.

The signboard with the colorful letters "Abatos Village Direct Store" was hanging.

...Hmm, thinking about it, we built this entire store from scratch.

It feels like a dream.

"Good job, Mako."

I was feeling a bit restless when I heard a voice from behind.

It was Iksa.

He had helped out as a staff member until today.

But starting tomorrow, he will return to a responsible position.

"Phew, it was hectic."

However, he said this with a gentle smile, showing no signs of stress.

"Anyway, thanks to everyone, we're ready to open tomorrow."

"How do you feel about our chances?"

Iksa asked me.

We need to make 10 million G in a week to win.

"What do you think, Iksa?"

"I believe you can win, Mako."

Iksa said this with complete confidence.

"Thank you."

I replied.

The restless feeling in my chest.

It's not fear or anxiety.

It's pure anticipation.

—I have a feeling that our store will do something amazing from tomorrow.

"I don't feel like I'm going to lose this bet at all."

Whether this feeling is an illusion or reality will be clear tomorrow.

Honda Makoto, former home center employee.

My culmination will be revealed in this other world's capital.