Returning from the Sacred Tree Festival, I met with Alice again… but she was so hopeless that I honestly thought she might end up in serious trouble if she kept going down this path. So I preached at her for a while.
[…That’s why, if you’re going to gamble, you need to learn to keep it in moderation.]
[Geez, people who can’t control themselves are just human trash… the worst kind of gamblers—Ouch!?]
[I’m talking about you!]
My head is starting to throb.
It would’ve been great if I could just wrap this up with a conclusion where she learned her lesson, but unfortunately, it’s difficult for me to say that because of my personality.
Rehabilitation… might be impossible, but I should at least try to steer her mindset in a direction where she doesn’t end up broke because of it. After today, I plan to visit her occasionally to keep an eye on her.
With that in mind, I pulled out a red bear sandwich from my Magic Box—a snack I had bought earlier because I liked it last time and planned to have again today when I got home.
[Hey, don’t just eat fruit, eat this too.]
[Eh? What is this? Is this the carrot after the stick…? Kaito-san, you’re so dreamy! You’re making my heart race!]
[That’s gross.]
[Even in the middle of all this, you’re still throwing sticks!?]
While saying something silly again, Alice started eating the red bear sandwich I gave her.
As I watched her eat, my mind wandered to the future for a moment.
As for the money she wasted on gambling, I think she’ll be able to improve her situation if I keep warning her. The bigger issue, though, is her income.
To be honest, Alice’s shop, by her own admission, isn’t attracting customers.
It’s been nearly a week since I was last here, and I don’t see how she can turn her life around under these conditions.
Though I say that, it’s not like I’m some expert at running a business, and making a shop popular is tough.
The real issue is that the shop owner herself is way too suspicious to begin with, and I don’t think that’s going to improve anytime soon.
Even if I were to buy some things here every now and then, it’s not like that will solve anything in the long run…
[Kaito-san, what’s troubling you?]
[Well… Ah, that’s right. Do you have any recommended items in your store?]
[Of course, I do! It’s my masterpiece!]
[…Masterpiece?]
I don’t know why, but I’ve got a really bad feeling about this.
A recommended item that Alice is proud of… wait, hold on, why the heck is she pulling out a bunch of those familiar stuffed costumes from the back of the store!?
[What do you think!? This magnificent craftsmanship!]
[…I’m just gonna ask… what exactly is that?]
[They’re stuffed costumes!]
[………………]
As expected, this is a lost cause. She’s trying so hard to look proud, but all I can feel is the overwhelming urge to smack her head again.
[Oops, is that doubt of the excellence of this product I see in your face? Fufufu, you’d be in for a surprise if you thought these were just normal stuffed costumes.]
[…Huh?]
[These stuffed costumes are filled with multiple magic crystals that automatically keep them at a comfortable temperature, and they even clean themselves to some extent! Plus, they’re stretchy and feel great on the skin! And they emit a faint Recovery Magic that gives the wearer a relaxing effect! Just look at how magnificent this item is!!!]
[What the heck is with that absurdly high efficiency!?]
It has a body temperature control function, a relaxing effect, cleans itself automatically, and feels amazing on the skin… but all of those fantastic features are packed into a stuffed costume.
Its performance is incredible, to the point that it could be considered a magic tool, but the shape? That ruins everything.
[Why… is it these stuffed costumes?]
[Well, because I need to put magic crystals in it, it requires a certain amount of thickness. Since I can’t make it into clothes… I made it into stuffed costumes!]
[So, are they selling?]
[I’ve never sold one!]
[…Why didn’t you make it into a “futon” or a “coat”?]
[…Huh?]
I asked the question out of curiosity, but Alice froze, as if time had stopped.
[Well, if you’re just trying to add thickness for the magic, why not make a futon or a thick coat? Nobles would buy it even if it was a little expensive. And since sleep is really important, if you made it into a sleeping bag, you could probably sell it to adventurers too.]
[…Kaito-san.]
[Ah, no, it’s just a simple idea, so if it’s impossible, then I guess it can’t be helped…]
[…Are you… perhaps… a genius…?]
[……………]
No, I must be mistaken. I quickly suppress the urge to call her just that much of an idiot.
To begin with, I don’t think there’s anything I can do to help if the first thing you think of is making a stuffed costume…
[That would definitely sell like crazy! Kaito-san, you’re amazing!]
[Well, I still can’t see a future where customers actually come into this store… so you might want to wholesale it elsewhere…]
[…Well, I’m banned from the company in the royal capital…]
[If I could, should I introduce you to my acquaintance?]
Even though she has great products, I couldn’t help but think that it would be hard to sell them with a storeowner this despairing.
To begin with, Alice had quite the despairing business acumen, so I wouldn’t know what kind of results she’ll get if I just leave it to her.
In the meantime, though, I needed to find a stable way for her to make money. It would be no laughing matter if someone walked in and found her dead from starvation.
I’m sorry to say this, but I’ll have to rely on Kuro’s help.
[Eh? Kaito-san knows a company?? Which one is it?]
[Uh, I think it was called Seditch Magic Tool Company…]
[Pfft!? I-Isn’t that the top company!? Wait, what? Kaito-san… are you a king or something??]
[No, I just happen to know her… Anyway, I’ll ask her about it. Can you make a sample?]
For now, I’ll talk to Kuro about it.
Her products are actually good, and if it weren’t for the shop owner’s personality, they’d be more than good enough as they are.
[Well, for now… I guess I’ll buy some clothes.]
[Really!? Thank you! Kaito-san, I’m falling in love with you!]
[Anyway, that’s enough for today…]
[With this, I can have another round—Gyyaaahhh!?]
[…Next time, I won’t accept the excuse that you gambled away all your money…]
[Y-Y-Yes!? R-Roger that!]
Seriously, I wonder how I ended up getting involved with this person… I really dislike my own tendency to not leave people like this alone.
Anyway, I’ll try rehabilitating Alice for a while… and make sure she doesn’t suddenly die a dog’s death.
As I watched Alice quickly get back on her feet, smiling and recommending various products, I let out a long sigh while thinking about what the future might hold.
Before I knew it, it was already past noon, and I found myself walking down the street, realizing I had stayed longer than I had planned.
As I moved along, I suddenly noticed something out of place.
The road I was walking down isn’t exactly the main street, but whenever I’ve passed through here before, there would usually be a few people around.
Now, though, it was completely empty. It could just be a coincidence, but still… it felt eerily quiet.
[……Hey, you over there.]
[Eh? What!?]
As I wondered about the oddness of the situation, a voice suddenly called out to me from behind. I turned around and—what I saw made the discomfort I felt earlier seem trivial.
There was a soft, spherical object… resting on a floating cushion in midair. And, standing in front of it, a breezy-looking woman with purple hair was looking at me.
She didn’t seem to be talking to anyone else, so it looked like she was addressing me. Her appearance gave off more of a cute vibe than a beautiful one, and she lazily scratched her long, light purple hair as she spoke.
[You’re the child from another world, aren’t you? I just wanted to ask you something, is that alright?]
[…Umm, you are?]
With half-closed eyes that mirrored the reddish-purple hue of her hair, the woman looked at me drowsily, while I tilted my head in confusion and asked her in return.
[Me? Ahh~~ What’s my name again? Ahh~~ Well, there’s that. You can just call me “Fate”~~ Nice to meet you~~]
[Ah, yes. It’s nice to meet you… Err, I’m Miyama Kaito.]
[Unnn, nice to meet you~~ Kai-chan.]
[Kai-chan!?]
With a lazy grin plastered on her face, Fate-san casually called me by a strange nickname.
Dear Mom, Dad—Various troubles have occurred since I got back, but it looks like the troubles aren’t stopping anytime soon… How should I say this… I’ll just wrap it up by saying this—I met someone new.
<Author’s Notes>
Kaito is basically a good-natured person, so he can’t leave even no-good people like Alice alone, so he unconsciously ends up helping her in various ways.
And then, the new character, Fate…… It may be the Six Kings Arc, but the new character doesn’t necessarily have to be one of the Six Kings…… but one thing’s for sure.
Lilia’s fainting flag +1
T/N: 9/15
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