Chapter 8

007. Comprehensive Chaos

Convenience Store Owner (Jin). Or is he already the owner? Anyway, to me, the convenience store was a place of dreams and hope.

Of course, I am fully aware that this statement will invite criticism and condemnation. When you encounter a difficult customer, it gets tough, and when you meet a real troublemaker, you just want to grab them by the collar. Especially, I can't forget the lunatic who came back a month ago demanding a refund for a triangle rice ball that had passed its expiration date.

Still, the convenience store was a sufficiently attractive space.

First, the discarded food is the best.

I can't stand it. I really can't stand it.

Discarded triangle rice balls and sandwiches, bento boxes, milk, drinks, and those refrigerated bread with sausages, rolled rice, and hamburgers.

If I talk to the store owners well, I can get through the day with discarded food from three different convenience stores, which have their disposal times at 10 AM, 2 PM, and 3 AM. And if there are many local regular convenience stores, it's secretly quite good.

Moreover, the distribution of Jeffrin in the game D/Z SAGA was better than expected. No matter where you go in the village, you don't have to spend a lot of money to buy a potion.

However, the price of a healing potion is 10,000 rin per bottle.

Are you kidding? Who would drink a healing potion for that much money? In this game, without a healer, it's called "pot grinding," a technique where you push through dungeons with potions. But that's when healing potions cost 100 rin. At 10,000 rin, it's not even worth considering.

The Jeffrin bastards, they're growing strong.

Anyway, when I came to Jeffrin, I reached out to the convenience store because the numbers added up.

First, the discarded food, and then the monthly income of about 3 million rin.

If business goes well, I can hire three part-time workers for 800,000 rin each, manage the store on weekends, and live on 500,000 rin a month, which I thought would be enough. I would also do some side jobs.

But, there's nothing to sell.

Midas' touch only produces weapons and armor, but it seems that high-quality equipment doesn't come out often.

Yggdrasil is at the level of a seedling club. Are these guys crazy? Still, the fruit seeds sell well, which is satisfying.

The magic merchants deal in good horse regenerators and healing potions. If you mix healing potions with water and spray them on plants, and then turn on a good horse regenerator, the plants grow faster—whether it's science or magic.

Anyway, this distribution network in Jeffrin is a mess. It's completely beyond redemption.

So.

I can't just live off the supplies from headquarters, and in a world that has regressed to medieval levels where the concept of a convenience store doesn't exist, I become the only convenience store owner.

A convenience store that can't order supplies.

A convenience store that has to display items through cottage industry.

Wow. Wow, really...

"Isn't it great?"

Hmm.

It seems great.

***

"Well. Hehehe."

"Ms. Eve?"

Student Council Room. Eve von Loewen格林 was leisurely reading documents when she turned her head at the secretary's call. The secretary tilted her head and sniffed the air, smelling the student council room.

"Why?"

"Doesn't the student council room have a strangely sweet smell?"

"···No way."

"Is that so···? It smells like some fruit."

"Hehe. You're saying strange things. Then someone must have brought snacks to the student council room."

"···Is that so? I don't think so."

"Right. Do you know how luxurious snacks are in Jeffrin?"

"Right···?"

The secretary stared at Eve, but Eve's mouth didn't move.

Eve had her own thoughts. She could leisurely let the candy melt in her mouth, but this top-quality candy has an excellent aroma, making it hard to do so.

Swallowing it immediately was also not an option. Eventually, Eve closed her eyes tightly and apologized to the candy in her mouth.

Crunch.

"?"

"What is it?"

"···No, nothing."

She pushed the candy, which had clearly broken between her molars, down her throat and pretended not to notice the secretary, who tilted her head and returned to her work. Eve was relieved that she wasn't caught and apologized to the candy that didn't get to enjoy its full lifespan.

But the secretary is also the type who goes crazy for sweets. Especially, people who use their brains a lot are crazy about sweets.

However, candy is a high-end ingredient and a luxury.

Eve nodded, counting the remaining candies she got from Wolfram in her head. Seven pieces. There are still plenty left. If I eat one a day, I can last a week.

I don't know where Wolfram got such candy, but if he uses all his candy, his finances will be ruined.

"I'll keep you alive for a while. After I eat all this candy and you've bankrupted your assets, that will be the end for you, Wolfram."

Eve secretly put a candy in her mouth.

"Hehe."

Now there are six left.

The end is right around the corner.

***

"What should I prepare for the next seedling?"

The convenience store of the 8th Magic Guild doesn't even have a sign yet, but it does have one thing: a garden.

Why is there a garden outside the entrance? Is this really a convenience store, or a thrilling rural life?

But Wolfram doesn't have the stamina for such a rural life. Anyway, I planted the fruit seedlings I received from Yggdrasil, mixed water and healing potions to make a nutrient solution, and turned on a good horse music box.

【You are a good child.】

【Hang in there. You can do it!】

【This lecture is free today!】

【The professor is giving less homework!】

【You will get your Ph.D. this semester! Hang in there!】

Good horse music box.

It's the embodiment of pseudoscience gone mad.

Do you remember the experiment where they played nice words to onions, and the onions grew bigger? When I saw that as a child, I thought, "Do onions have a central nervous system to understand Korean?" It was a stupid experiment.

Of course, it was pseudoscience. It's like saying water knows the answer.

But when magic is involved, it really does have a 'good effect.'

At first, it was used as a mind control element by graduate students in the magic department. When you play this self-hypnosis happiness circuit music box to plants, they really do grow 'bigger and tastier.' This Easter egg actually exists.

I ordered this good horse music box through graduate students and am using it to great effect.

I pick the fruit, crush it, filter it, boil it, and mix it with edible slimes.

Then I pour it into molds, cut it, and wrap it in paper.

One piece is worth 10,000 rin, so considering my labor costs, there's no better side job. Preparing tomorrow's candies is done with this.

"Phew... Hii... Hoo."

Making money is nice, but I might really die doing this.

"Please hold on. Damn body."

Then, we can take over the world.

I lay on the convenience store floor, trembling, and prayed to the world.

If only my stamina was 30,000...

"···What are you doing?"

At that moment, the convenience store door opened, and someone slipped in.

A customer. Damn. I have to welcome them while lying down today.

"Whoever you are, I can't do business like this. Sorry."

"No. I mean... Why are you like this?"

"My stamina is all gone."

"···Do you want me to help you up?"

It's a familiar voice from somewhere.

······Aila?

I swallowed hard.

If I'm this vulnerable, one black blade and I'm done for, right?

Damn, the frustration of not being able to move makes me shudder.

But Aila, who had me in her grip, lifted me gently.

"Are you okay?"

"······I'm fine."

And little Wolfram slumped into the sofa, and Aila sat facing me.

"You've received help, so what brings you here?"

"···Hehe. I came here out of admiration for your plan without even realizing it."

"Oh, is that so. I see. A plan. Right."

"Yes. That's right. And it was a good plan."

"···So, that's it?"

"Yes. That's it."

"Right."

"Hehe."

We smiled at each other.

Right, a plan.

······What plan?

***

Fortunately, before I could ask, Aila elegantly laughed and started talking nonsense.

The ambitious witch Aila listed my actions one by one.

"I heard that you made the graduate students of the magic academy your first customers. Hehe. It was impressive. To receive good reviews from them, who are so focused on their projects and live on 2 million rin a month, is quite an achievement."

"Is that so."

"Yes. They are people who only move at the call of their professors and have little interest in how society works. Getting good reviews from them will be a great help to your path."

"Is that so."

"Yes. You have now formed good connections with the next generation of scholars in this country."

"Is that so."

"Hehe. You've been talking as if you have no interest in anything since just now. I understand. Your ambition is... not just this, right?"

"Is that so. ···More. Knowing that is impressive."

I almost continued the flow of consciousness. If I had, I would have been stabbed in the gut. Really.

Anyway, when I acknowledged it, Aila nodded and smiled.

"What do you think of me?"

"Ambitious lady. Prodigy of black magic."

"Hehe. I like it. Wolfram. As long as you don't disappoint me, this place is yours in name and in reality. I guarantee it as the landlord."

"That's very kind of you."

For a tenant, having a good relationship with the landlord is always beneficial.

"Can you clear up one question for me?"

"What is it?"

"How did you win the favor of the graduate students? They are only interested in graduation, assignments, and papers. ···Is that a costly question?"

Ah, that?

"Hmm. It's not difficult."

I stood up and handed Aila a candy wrapped individually.

"···What is this?"

"Try it and see."

Aila unwrapped the paper and put the candy in her mouth. Then...

"······Wow!"

"It seems you like it."

She looked at me with wide eyes, emitting a strange exclamation.

"Candy? This is the kind of taste that would be supplied to the royal family... No, it's even better. How did you...?"

"That's my secret weapon."

"······Did you bring a lot of candy before leaving? No. If it was a limited method, you wouldn't call it a secret. Then, you have a connection to make candy or...?"

As she muttered, I shook my head. I don't know how far her misunderstanding will go. She might say something like, "You know the underground organization of the empire and will spread the wings of rebellion someday!" Really.

Ambition is just one step away from middle school syndrome.

"Self-made."

"···What?"

"As long as I have the materials, I can make as much as I want."

"······Ha. I see. This is one of your 'skills.'"

Don't put emphasis on the word 'skill.' It makes me embarrassed. I remained silent, and Aila nodded and continued.

"I won't ask about the manufacturing method. ···As long as you are my fiancé and my ally. You are someone who can help me."

"Thank you."

"Hehe. I'm the one who should be grateful. Wolfram. You have been pushed to the bottom of hell, but you will rise more splendidly than anyone and spread the wings of rebellion."

No.

That's not it. Really.

I usually talk like that, but hearing it in person is a bit...

Aila shone with her eyes and spread her hands.

"Do you have any requests?"

"···Requests?"

"Since you showed me something so good, I want to return the favor."

"···Hmm."

I nodded. I do have a request. The most essential item for an adventure.

"I need a map of the eastern forest of the academy. There's something to mine there."

"···Even if you have the map, won't it be difficult with your stamina? Do you want me to send someone with you?"

Your consideration is really appreciated.

"···It's a secret mission."

"I see. I understand. I'll watch what you do. I'll bring you the map by tomorrow."

With that, Aila stood up, and I thought of the eastern forest.

Sorry, Aila.

"There's an item in the early part of the eastern forest that can be 'hidden.'"

So, I can't hand it over.

Don't I need to eat and live too?