Read Novel Full Vol 15 Chapter 7
Vol 15 Chapter 7
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(3/4)
Chapter 7 – High Alert
We prepared for the early opening of a temporary general store in the village chief’s house under the watchful eyes of the children. It would be an experiment, but we were able to install an ice-cooled refrigerator, and Anita-san and Bertha-san, who would be in charge of the store, seemed reliable, so it would be a good store.
“The ice melted to some extent overnight, but the inside of the refrigerator stayed cold. Even during the day, when it gets hotter, it should be no problem if we freeze the water regularly.”
“I see, that would be very useful. Thank you both very much.”
On the morning of the opening day, I received a report from Anita-san and Bertha-san about the refrigerator.
Yesterday, when we discussed how to monitor the progress of the refrigerator, they had advocated it, so we left it in their hands, and they worked together to monitor its progress in detail.
I knew that they were good and reliable in keeping the children under control, but I also heard that they were serious and excellent people. I am very sorry that they are married women.
“It’s just that the freezer can be a little difficult. By mid-morning, half the ice cream was melted.”
Well, the freezer didn’t go so well. Still, if half of it kept its shape, it must be cooler than the rest of the fridge.
It may not be able to keep ice cream, but it will be able to keep some meat and fish for a long time. Let’s experiment with it for a while and let them find a practical way to use it.
“Um, we didn’t use magic this time until the morning because it was also an experiment, but if we freeze it with magic once or twice during the night, it might be possible to preserve ice cream.”
When I gave up on preserving ice cream early, Bertha-san made a new suggestion. But…
“I appreciate the suggestion, but that would mean getting up several times during the night. It’s a lot of work, so I wouldn’t recommend it.”
I understand that there are jobs in Japan that require irregular sleep. But in this fantasy world, that would be too much when your life is not in danger.
In this quiet and peaceful Dark Elf Island, corporate stockbreeding does not suit it.
“If it only has to be done twice, then Anita and I only have to get up once, and if it only has to be done once, then Anita and I only have to take turns for a day, so I don’t think it’s that hard. If it has to be done more than once, then we give up.”
Anita-san nodded her head, and maybe they had discussed countermeasures before we arrived.
“Well… you don’t have to try so hard; the original experiment was lucrative if it worked, so it’s okay if it doesn’t work.”
As two serious people, they may be unhappy, but experiments are bound to fail.
And since it can be used as a refrigerator that cools well, it is not a complete failure. It’s good enough.
“No, we really want to bring ice cream to the island!”
Oh, Bertha-san’s enthusiasm is incredible.
“Did you really love ice cream that much?”
“Yes. …No, of course, I like ice cream, but I think that ice cream on this hot island will help everyone on the island. So, if we can introduce it with a little effort, I would like to try it. Is that bad?”
Oof. A married woman’s upward glance is moderately destructive.
“Ah, it’s true, eating ice cream in the heat is the best, isn’t it?”
Ines joined the conversation. I think Ines could sympathize with her because she likes to get out of her air-conditioned cabin and eat ice cream on the deck while the wind blows in the breeze.
Well, working on the island involves a lot of physical labor, so it’s understandable that ice cream helps.
“I understand. If you can keep it within two degrees, please go that way. If you can’t, please give up.”
I don’t want to see a beautiful married woman with dark circles.
“”Yes!””
The answer with enough motivation makes me worry on the contrary. I’ll ask the village chief to check on them regularly to make sure they’re not overdoing it.
“Wataru. Now that you’re done talking, why don’t we open the shop soon?”
Alessia-san spoke to me as soon as our conversation was over. She seemed to be in a bit of a hurry.
“We don’t have a set opening time, so there’s no need to be in such a hurry.”
Alessia-san pointed out the window without saying a word.
What is it? I looked out the window and saw a line of people waiting to get in. The village chief is working hard to organize the line, but I don’t think that’s his job.
Ah, I see. He seems to be handing out money and organizing the line. I guess they use the money to make purchases.
Still, there are a lot of people. As expected, there are no mermaids in the queue, but there are clearly more than the number of people living in this village. The people must have come from the hot spring village.
What about work?
“Um, why is this happening? And are their jobs okay?”
The story of the store’s opening was well-known in the village, but still, there must be too many people waiting in line.
“There were no stores in the dark elf village that used money, so everyone was looking forward to this store. Don’t worry; the work should have been done as early in the morning as possible.”
The preparations for the shop are more complete than expected.
I see that although they knew of the store’s existence, it was not in their village. So they are excited that a store, albeit a temporary one, has been built in their village.
Is it like having a famous brand open a store in your hometown?
The first store is sure to be very successful.
“It would be bad to make people wait too long, so let’s open the store. Anita-san and Bertha-san are the main staff, so please do your best. Alessia-san and the others, please help us as well.”
“””Yes.”””
With the energetic responses from the beautiful women, the temporary general store was opened.
＊＊＊
…I don’t know what to say, but it’s more peaceful than I expected.
Since the locals are not used to shopping, I expected the place to be crowded, like a time sale or a bargain sale at a supermarket.
But the scene before me was completely different.
Everyone looked nervous, quietly staring at the products, examining them carefully, and selecting the items they wanted.
The atmosphere was like a library.
Is shopping fun now? I can’t help but wonder, but while the atmosphere seems calm, the single shoppers are seriously thinking about which items to buy, while those with their families are quietly engaged in a battle of gazes.
This is fine with me, as they seem to be enjoying themselves. Eventually, when they get used to it, it will get noisy.
Since everyone was quiet, I had time to observe the store.
The most interesting areas are the cosmetics and alcohol sections.
Although it is quiet, the couples exchange glances with each other.
At first, as a gentleman, I supported the women’s side. But now, I am an ardent supporter of the male side.
…Because the winning percentage of the male side is sadly low. As a man, I can feel the same thing, and I long for a man who has achieved man’s dominion over the family.
Sometimes, the male side wins, but it is just a loving couple that makes me want to vomit sugar just to watch them.
Is there any hope for the male side?
In the end, no hope star appeared. It’s a sad result even for me, a man who loves to be on a woman’s back.
…I’m kind of depressed, but for now, I’m just happy that we made it through the first day of business without a hitch.
“Huh? Come to think of it, weren’t the children and fairies here?”
That noisy presence would have made a lot of noise regardless of the library’s atmosphere, so I’m sure I would have noticed if they had definitely come.
“Oh, in that case, they’re coming now.”
Bertha tells me like it’s no big deal.
“Now? You split them up?”
I thought it would be over when the people were separated, but it seems there was a strong enemy left at the end.
“Yes, I thought it would cause a commotion if we brought them in as they were, so we discussed it in the village and took measures to deal with them. These children are noisy.”
Anita-san says they are noisy as if it were someone else’s problem, but the child at the center of the commotion is your son.
“But wouldn’t they be louder as a group?”
I think it would be more controlled if they were each under the supervision of their parents.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Oh, here they are!”
I looked at the entrance of the store at the sound of Bertha-san’s voice and saw children coming in, led by their parents’ hands.
I see. So the plan was to finish their own shopping and then devote all their energy to watching over the children.
Perhaps the reason they came before the children was to inspect the store and select items to buy for the children.
“Oh, Mom!”
“Almiro, I told you to be quiet, didn’t I?”
“Ugh.”
Anita-san quietly intimidates him. Almiro was intimidated and scared.
“Sweet, sweet…”
“Ciro. You can have no more than three sweets. Choose seriously, or you will regret it.”
“Ugh!”
Bertha-san is putting pressure on her son, who is looking at the sweets with bright eyes. What she says is certain, but is it my imagination that she feels like she is threatening him?
What was also a huge miscalculation was that Anita-san and Berta-san were a loving couple.
I was very jealous of their eye-to-eye communication with their husbands while putting pressure on Almiro and the others.
I’m surrounded by beautiful women, too, and I’m sure I’ll be like that someday… but they’re the kind of girls money buys and the kind of women held together by the allure of a luxury liner… If I think about it too much, I feel like my own lowliness will come out.
I’ll look away from everything and see where the fairies are gathered.
“You there, stay in line. If you get points deducted, you’ll have fewer sweets to buy!”
It’s like gym class over here. Line up and points deducted = less sweets, something they must have learned on the luxury liner.
The normally free-spirited fairies seemed to listen to everyone when it came to not being able to buy the sweets in front of them.
Children and fairies, who I thought would be difficult enemies, seem to have no problems.
But… it’s different from what I thought.
In my imagination, the shop was supposed to be like an old general store and pastry shop, a little noisy but a heartwarming shop where the children are in harmony…
…Well, once they get used to having a store, I think it’ll be what I imagined. Being disciplined is also much easier for the shop.