Chapter 14

Suddenly, the beautiful mayor appeared.

"What could the mayor want with me?"

"I have a few reasons for coming to see you... First, I would like to thank you for doing business in my town. Thank you. As the person in charge of this town, I am truly grateful."

"Oh, no, thank you for allowing me to do business here."

In Japan, it would be a hassle to go through all the application procedures just to start a business. But here, I can do business as if it were a flea market, and I'm making a lot of profit. It's really a blessing.

"Hmm... I'm surprised. Most merchants who come to my town are arrogant, but you seem different."

"Really?"

"Yes. Nino Rich is a border town. All the merchants act as if they've done us a favor by bringing their goods here. They sell their products at high prices and buy our local specialties at low prices. I created this 'market' to break that cycle."

The beautiful mayor said this and proudly looked at the market.

"Well, let's get to the main point. I want you to take this."

The mayor said this and handed me a key.

"A key? What's this for?"

I hope she doesn't say, "It's the key to my room" or something like that. You know, like in those love dramas where they say, "Actually, I've booked a room for us."

"It's the key to my house."

"Huh!?"

I let out a strange sound, completely surprised. Did she fall in love with me at first sight? Like, she decided the moment she saw me.

"Oh? It seems you have misunderstood. It's the key to a house I no longer use."

Suddenly, Aina shouted.

"I get it! The mayor wants to live with Shiro-nii!"

"What!?"

"Marriage! The mayor wants to marry Shiro-nii!"

Reacting excessively to Aina's outburst, the mayor's face turned bright red.

"N-no! I'm not looking for a husband just because I'm single... I absolutely, absolutely do not think that! I swear it on my name as mayor!"

She denied it with all her might. Despite being so beautiful, the mayor is unmarried. Well, I can't really talk, though.

"Ahem! ...Today, I came to make you an offer."

"Is it a marriage proposal!?"

"No!!"

I jokingly asked, and the mayor's face turned bright red again as she shook her head vigorously. She looks cool, but maybe she's just shy.

"Listen, the house with this key is located at the back of the market... Can you see it from here? It's right there."

The mayor pointed to a house deep in the market with her slender finger. It was a two-story house, quite large.

"The first floor of that house is a shop. I want you to start your business on the first floor of that house from tomorrow."

"Me, run a shop?"

"Yes. Of course, this is a request from me. I will cover the cost of setting up the shop. What do you think? Will you accept my offer?"

"Wait a minute. Why would you do that? I'm happy with my stall. Suddenly giving me a shop..."

"I understand. It's natural for you to have questions. So let me explain one by one. First of all—"

To summarize the mayor's explanation, it went something like this:

1. A merchant who can create a line on the first day is a valuable asset to a border town.

2. You sell rare items that no one has ever seen before, and at very low prices.

3. You are especially popular among adventurers, and as a town that relies on adventurers, we hope you will continue to contribute to the town's development.

4. I will cover the cost of setting up the shop and the rent. You can even live on the second floor if you like.

All of these reasons made sense.

In short, she wants to keep me in the town by giving me a place to live and a shop for free. I never expected such a passionate and serious offer for a street vendor. Even my late grandmother would be doing a double thumbs-up in joy.

"That's all I can do with my authority as mayor... What do you think?"

The mayor asked.

"Shiro-nii, are you going to open a shop?"

Aina, excited, waited for my answer. I crossed my arms and thought for a moment before saying,

"Alright, I can't refuse such a request. I would be honored to have a shop."

And that was my answer. I had only started doing business in this world for two days, and now I was going to have my own shop.

By the way, when Aina saw the ten silver coins for her part-time job, she let out a scream and fainted on the spot.

【Current Money】

- Gold Coins: 00

- Silver Coins: 51

- Copper Coins: 10,300