Chapter 60

"……Huh?"

The night streets of the capital.

I was walking with Garai on the way back to the inn.

We had left the lit-up streets behind and were about to enter a slightly dim alley when I suddenly noticed something.

"…Garai"

"Ah"

I called out to Garai and stopped there.

At the same time, I turned around.

"!"

In an instant, I realized that a black shadow had hidden itself behind something.

It seemed that someone had been following us.

"Who? I know you're there."

When I said this without any pretense, a figure in dark clothing with a hood timidly appeared from the shadows.

"Huh? Miss Reire?"

When she took off her hood, Miss Reire's face, with her eyes darting around, was revealed.

"Um, do you need something?"

"O-Of course not! It's just that our paths happened to coincide on the way back!"

Well, no matter how you look at it, that doesn't seem like the outfit of someone just heading home...

At that moment, I came up with a hypothesis.

"Could it be, Miss Reire... you've been scouting our shop all this time?"

I asked, trying to provoke her.

She visibly trembled in response.

"Concerned about our shop's success, you came to scout, and then followed us on our way back..."

"Th-That's not it!"

"……"

"Ugh... That's right! It's for analyzing a strong competitor, what's wrong with that!?"

She seems to be the type who can't tell a lie.

"Miss Reire, we're on our way back to the inn, so even if you follow us, nothing will happen."

"No, there must be... some hint!"

Excitedly, Miss Reire pointed at me with her index finger.

"To think of such innovative advertising methods and products! By closely observing you, I should be able to see where these ideas come from!"

Well, they're all based on modern home center knowledge.

I don't think it will do you much good to stick with me...

"To be honest... today, I infiltrated your shop and saw everything... the products, the food service, the store equipment, the various media, and the customer service... I was shocked by everything. I felt a sense of defeat, even though I didn't want to admit it. I want to have that kind of creativity too!"

"Thank you. But if you felt that way, why not just start your own shop without stalking us?"

"There's no way I could do something so embarrassing!"

Miss Reire said.

"To directly copy someone else's ideas as the next head of the Glossam family would be the most shameful thing possible!"

"Hmm... but they say that imitation is the first step in learning anything—"

"Mako"

At that moment, Garai spoke.

"It's not just her. The presence I felt earlier was multiple."

"……"

"Hey! What are you keeping quiet about—"

At that moment, both Miss Reire and I noticed something was amiss.

Several figures had gathered around us in the darkness, surrounding us.

"What... what is this..."

"Miss Reire, please leave this place."

Sensing the abnormal atmosphere, I urged her to retreat.

Upon closer inspection, among those surrounding us were the faces of the men who had caused a commotion in the shop earlier.

In other words—

"Completely unexpected, really."

A man with black and white hair stepped forward from the group.

It was Brad.

"Unexpected, unexpected, to be honest, we underestimated you. We never thought you'd be so full on the first day. We had no chance to interfere. We managed to get into the shop in a desperate attempt, but were driven out by the city guard knights. In the end, we could only watch as you succeeded..."

"So, you decided to take direct action."

When I said this, Brad chuckled.

I understood.

Despite his usual nonchalant attitude, his expression was tense.

He was anxious.

The battle had already tilted in our favor, and it was too late.

"If I'm gone... that's what you're thinking, right?"

"From what I've seen over the past few days, you're the leader of that group. The key to this battle isn't Prince Iksa, it's you."

In an instant, something that had been stealthily approaching from behind me grabbed me.

"I'm not going to kill you. If I can take you hostage, the others will have no choice but to listen to us. It's easy to shut down the shop."

Garai reacted instantly, but the man was faster, carrying me away from the scene.

"Hey! Don't touch me!"

He pressed a knife to my neck, taking me hostage.

"Heh heh, thanks for the trouble earlier. Hey."

Another man approached Garai, who was restrained.

Upon closer inspection, it was the man who had caused a commotion and attacked Garai, only to be beaten back.

"If you care about that woman's life, don't make a move. Got it? You're going to get a beating from us—"

"Garai"

Without waiting for the man to finish, I said.

"Go ahead, don't hold back."

"Alright."

In an instant, Garai's fist crushed the man's face.

"Ugh!"

The man's body spun in the air and flew far away.

"What!"

"What are you doing!?"

The other men immediately attacked Garai, but they were no match.

Those who approached were punched and sent flying, some rolling on the ground, others slamming into the walls.

"Kyaa! What's happening?"

Miss Reire, caught in the sudden storm, screamed in confusion.

"That guy's crazy... No choice, woman!"

The man holding me tightened his grip on the knife at my neck.

"A little pain—"

While being held by the man's arm, I activated Alchemy with my free hand, creating a 1-meter-long "pipe."

The pipe's tip immediately struck the man's chin, lifting it upward.

"Ugh!"

"Until now, we were just shop employees. We wouldn't start a fight."

The approaching men had already drawn their weapons.

However, Garai ignored them, dodged, and sent them flying with counterattacks.

"It's off-duty now. Do you understand what that means?"

"I'll do as I please."

I dodged the approaching men and fought back with the pipe.

Maybe because I had a bit of alcohol in me, I was being quite ruthless.

Nevertheless, we easily fended off the men who kept attacking us.

"What's happening..."

Miss Reire, watching the scene in shock.

"Damn, you!"

One of the men who had been sent flying by Garai got up and attacked Miss Reire.

Perhaps, in the darkness and the shock of being hit, he attacked the nearest person indiscriminately.

"Kyaa!"

Miss Reire screamed as the man approached.

In an instant, I summoned a 5-meter-long "pipe" in my other hand and struck the man's abdomen with it, like a spear.

"Ugh..."

The man clutched his stomach and fell to the ground, unable to move.

At this point, there were more men lying on the ground than standing.

"Boss!"

"Don't panic!"

The men, crying out to their leader, Brad, who raised his voice.

"…Garai"

Brad furrowed his brow, looking at Garai.

"Garai... Garai Quillon... Could it be..."

Realizing something, Brad's eyes widened.

He immediately turned and fled.

"Retreat! Hurry up!"

Together with Brad, the men retreated, carrying their injured comrades.

In a moment, only we were left on the scene.

"Phew..."

I took a deep breath and went to Miss Reire, who was trembling and hugging herself.

"Y-You... what are you fighting against?"

When I helped her up, she asked in a trembling voice.

"Those men... they're not just thugs from the dark streets... How can you... be just a merchant with good relations with the Weeble family?"

"..."

It was hard to hide the truth.

She knew about Iksa, so it was fine to explain our situation simply.

"..."

I explained our current situation briefly.

"..."

She was clearly shocked.

"I'm sorry for involving you. If you'd like, I can escort you home."

"..."

She walked in the direction she had come from, seemingly in shock.

"..."

After a moment, she turned to us and asked.

"Why can you remain so calm despite such unfair treatment?"

"..."

Calm... huh.

Indeed, being caught up in all these troubles could be considered unfair.

...But personally, I've experienced so many unfair situations in sales that I'm used to it.

And having a cheat skill... wouldn't make sense to her.

"Well, I guess it's just who I am."

"..."

With that, we left the scene.

Miss Reire stood there for a moment before continuing on her way.

---

The next day.

The morning of the third day of the competition.

"Waiting for you, Mako!"

"..."

Before opening—when I arrived at the shop, Miss Reire was standing at the entrance.

"Huh? Miss Reire? Is everything okay with your shop? It's almost time to open?"

"I've talked to Father. I've decided to step down from running the shop."

"Huh?"

"I'm going to learn how to run a shop from scratch... starting today, Mako! Under you!"

She pointed at me and declared loudly.

"Please take me as your disciple!"

"..."

For the first time in this world,

I have a disciple.