Chapter 56

"Raaaaaah! Bow down, you fools! Before the artistic collaboration of me and Mako!"

Delfai, a demihuman with the blood of the salamander race, threw up fireworks one after another, dyeing the night sky of the capital.

The glass bombs created by Delfai, combined with the "metal shards" produced by my Alchemy, formed "color sticks" that created makeshift fireworks.

Red, yellow, green... the sky was dyed in a rainbow of colors due to the flame color reaction with the "metal shards."

And, drawn by the light and sound—

"Mako! More and more customers are coming!"

"What, what should we do..."

In addition to the people who had been waiting in line from the beginning, more people gathered from nearby, drawn by the spectacle.

Maur and Meala were running around in a panic—

"It's okay! Just greet them normally and answer their questions as usual."

I reminded everyone from *Beowulf* and Fressa and Orchidea, and then opened the front door.

"Welcome!"

"Welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome!"

The customers who entered were captivated by the bright and vibrant atmosphere inside the store.

Especially, the female customers had shining eyes.

The walls and ceilings painted with colorful *paint*, the fresh and juicy vegetables and fruits, the hand-made POPs (boards with product information) that made you want to read them, and the fragrant flowers.

"Please take a look! These are the specialties of Abatoks Village!"

Alright, the opening seems to be going well.

As expected, the timing is right, and there are many young customers, just as I planned.

"Mako, Mako"

Maur and Meala poked my feet.

They were looking at the cash register, which had already started working.

"Amazing! It's already selling!"

"Yeah, that's great... but we can't just stand here and watch."

I headed to the back of the store, to the backroom.

When we set up the store, we made one of the spaces a kitchen-like room.

There, Uga and several other *Beowulf* members were already preparing cut fruits.

"Let's start the tasting session right away!"

"Alright!"

I had also researched with the head of the Weebleu family, and it seems that tasting is important when selling food and drinks.

Even with power tools, you can't know how they feel in your hand until you actually hold them.

With clothes, you can't imagine how they feel until you try them on.

The taste can't be conveyed by the packaging alone.

Plus—I have confidence in the taste.

If they try it, they'll—

"Delicious!"

"What is this, it's so good!"

"I've never tasted such a delicious tomato!"

"The last time I went to the market city, I couldn't help but buy it, and the taste is still excellent!"

Great!

The reaction is good!

Thanks to the tasting, the sales speed is increasing rapidly.

"Bagos! The orange shelf is empty! Restock from the back!"

"Got it!"

"Maur, Meala, take the samples to those customers over there!"

"Okay!"

"Understood!"

It had only been a few minutes since we opened, and the store was already packed.

"What! What is this!?"

One customer showed interest in the displayed products.

This was the area where flower-related items were displayed, including floral arrangements and other creative works.

The item that caught the customer's eye was a glass container with flowers swaying inside, like a jar.

"It's a herbarium."

I quietly approached the customer and explained.

A herbarium is a plant accessory made by placing dried flowers and special oil in a bottle.

It's a stylish item that allows you to enjoy beautiful flowers and a pleasant scent for a long time.

I had been looking for transparent aromatherapy oil at an oil shop in the pleasure district the other day to make this.

"These flowers have a scent that calms the mind."

Orchidea explained from the side.

I had asked her to make the dried flowers for the herbarium the day before yesterday.

"Hahaha, by the way, that glass bottle is a custom-made item crafted by my artistic skills. It's designed to change the appearance of the flowers artistically depending on the angle of the light."

Delfai had also come over, probably after the fireworks show had paused.

The glass bottles for the herbarium were indeed custom-made as he said, according to my specifications.

"Really, it smells good..."

"It's so soothing..."

Young ladies living in the capital were getting excited.

Yes, this is a success too.

"Mako, the preparations outside are done."

Gurai appeared from the back of the store.

I had asked him to prepare something in the slightly wider area next to the store.

"Alright, let's start the beer garden too!"

"Sure, we're happy to!"

I said "beer garden," but we're not serving beer.

We're offering fruit wines made from the village's specialties.

Basically, like cocktails.

And, dishes made with the village's vegetables and the meat I always get from the head of the Weebleu family—mostly roasted.

Outside, there were chairs and tables that Gurai had prepared in advance, making it like an outdoor bar.

"Here's the menu board."

"It's already beyond the level of a direct sales store..."

Iksa, who had received the menu board and order slips from me, was smiling wryly at the scene.

"Hey, Iksa! Customers are here! Take their orders!"

"Sure, sure, I never thought I'd be a waiter... but it's fun."

Iksa went to a table where a group of women had just sat down and greeted them with a smile.

The women were initially surprised by Prince Iksa's appearance but gradually relaxed with his lively conversation.

Iksa is really getting into it.

Well, he is handsome and a good talker.

"You're getting used to it, Iksa. You flirt."

"Haha, the flirting is unnecessary, Mako."

In the kitchen, the *Beowulf* members were preparing the drinks and dishes (they had been having parties every night recently, so they were quite efficient), and Iksa, along with Maur, Meala, Fressa, and Orchidea, were serving them.

"Wow..."

It had only been an hour since we opened, and the atmosphere was already incredible.

The main source of income at this time seemed to be the drinks and dishes.

(...It really feels like a bar...)

But it's okay.

During the day, we have a different strategy.

The important thing is to maintain this momentum until morning.

"Ah, Suaro. How's the 'outsider' situation?"

"For now, it doesn't seem like I need to intervene."

Suaru, who was in charge of security, came over.

She pointed to the yakuza members who were confused and unable to do anything due to the overwhelming flow of customers.

"Hehe, my condolences."

Meanwhile, the outdoor tables were filling up, and the fragrant aroma of the dishes being served began to waft through the air.

Well then.

The long night has just begun.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

So.

This momentum continued until around five in the morning the next day.

...It really is like a bar's schedule.

I'm fine because I have experience with all-night inventory counts, but I let Maur and the other kids and Orchidea go to bed early.

"Yawn... sleepy..."

"I'm tired..."

I also let the night shift *Beowulf* members rest.

It was a good idea to have a staff rotation for the night and the next morning.

"Wow... it's selling so well!"

"The kitchen is quite chaotic..."

"Alright, night shift, you can rest. Morning shift, good morning. Let's clean the kitchen and the store, and restock the products."

I gave instructions to the new staff.

Already, regular customers were starting to enter the store in the morning.

"Gurai, Iksa, sorry to keep you working straight through."

"No problem at all."

"Are you okay, Mako?"

Iksa and Gurai would continue to stay at the store, but it was their choice, and I planned to let them rest whenever they felt tired.

"...Well then, this is where the real business starts."

Today, customers who knew about last night's fireworks and the store's success but couldn't come due to time or other reasons would start arriving.

The second peak is about to begin.

"Everyone, let's do our best!"

"Alright!"

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

So.

This momentum continued until around five in the morning the next day.

...It really is like a bar's schedule.

I'm fine because I have experience with all-night inventory counts, but I let Maur and the other kids and Orchidea go to bed early.

"Yawn... sleepy..."

"I'm tired..."

I also let the night shift *Beowulf* members rest.

It was a good idea to have a staff rotation for the night and the next morning.

"Wow... it's selling so well!"

"The kitchen is quite chaotic..."

"Alright, night shift, you can rest. Morning shift, good morning. Let's clean the kitchen and the store, and restock the products."

I gave instructions to the new staff.

Already, regular customers were starting to enter the store in the morning.

"Gurai, Iksa, sorry to keep you working straight through."

"No problem at all."

"Are you okay, Mako?"

Iksa and Gurai would continue to stay at the store, but it was their choice, and I planned to let them rest whenever they felt tired.

"...Well then, this is where the real business starts."

Today, customers who knew about last night's fireworks and the store's success but couldn't come due to time or other reasons would start arriving.

The second peak is about to begin.

"Everyone, let's do our best!"

"Alright!"