A week had passed since we started looking for land for the new store. Thanks to Mr. Braimon and Mr. Madret, who run the real estate agency next door, we safely found a plot, and construction by Mr. Gregor and his workshop has begun.

Since magic exists in this world, even a store three times the size of the current one can be built in about two to three months. That speed would surprise any construction company from the original world.

“So, you're relocating to a new store?”

“Certainly, this shop is starting to feel a bit cramped.”

“Yes. Fortunately, we've already found the land, and construction on the new store has already begun.”

Now that today’s business had safely ended, Ms. Berna and Ms. Ferry, A-rank adventurers who regularly distribute outdoor shop goods to the royal capital and other towns, had come by to visit.

“So, I'm planning to close this shop temporarily soon and head to the royal capital. When that time comes, would it be possible to ask you two again to serve as escorts?”

For the two to three months it would take to build the new shop, I was thinking of closing the current store for about one to two months to visit both the Adventurers’ Guild in the royal capital and that particular member of the royal family.

After all, the large sum of money for relocating the store came from the royal capital’s Adventurers’ Guild. The compass seems to have been successfully completed, so I need to go greet them at least once.

Also, since I accepted the request from the royal family to supply them with dry shampoo, I need to greet them as well... Honestly, I really don’t want to. Greeting royalty? That’s seriously the worst.

“Of course, that’s no problem at all!”

“Requests from Tetsuya and Lilia take top priority.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Berna, Ferry, thanks as always.”

Together with Lilia, I expressed our gratitude to the two. Since we're going to the capital anyway, I’d like to bring our employees along, so I plan to ask them to handle both the carriage and the escorting. Just like last time, I’d like to ask Ms. Berna and Ms. Ferry to accompany us again.

Both of them already know about my outdoor shop's special features, and they're familiar with the staff too, so it’ll surely be a fun trip.

“Then, I’ll officially request it through the Adventurers’ Guild later.”

This time, both travel and accommodation costs for going to the royal capital will be paid for by the royal capital’s Adventurers’ Guild and the kingdom. I told them we would pay for this trip since they already gave us that large sum of money, but since we’re also accepting a request from the royal family, they decided to cover the costs.

“Understood. Now, Mr. Tetsuya, actually, I have a small favor to ask…”

“A request.”

“Yes, what is it?”

I wondered what kind of request Ms. Berna and Ms. Ferry might have. They’ve always been helpful, so if it’s something I can do, I’d definitely like to help out…

“Actually, we would be very happy if we could receive a bit more of those chocolate bars and yokan snacks you always give us…”

“Also, I want lots of jelly drinks and rice cakes too!”

“………………”

Yep, I had a slight feeling it might be something like that.

“Last time, I did give you more than before, but was that still not enough?”

Originally, I gave Ms. Berna and Ms. Ferry a variety of items from my outdoor shop as thanks for transporting goods to other towns and the capital. I had given them more last time than the time before, but apparently even that wasn’t enough.

“W-Well, you did give us more than before but…”

“O-One bite led to another, and then I just couldn’t stop…”

“………………”

It seems Ms. Berna and Ms. Ferry aren’t particularly strong when it comes to self-control. Well, I understand that once you start eating delicious snacks, it’s hard to stop.

“I don’t mind giving you more than usual, but just so you know, those snacks are pretty high in calories. You’re both adventurers, so I’m sure you move your bodies a lot, but are you really okay?”

After all, yokan and chocolate bars are meant to be emergency rations, so they’re way higher in calories than regular sweets. I feel like explaining “calories” to people in this world would be a bit difficult though.

They’re a bit expensive for the average adventurer in this town, so normally people wouldn’t eat them as daily treats. But in the case of Ms. Berna and Ms. Ferry, there’s a chance they’re eating a whole lot every single day.

“Hmm, now that you mention it… I guess my stomach area has been feeling a little concerning lately…”

Ms. Berna rubbed her stomach as she said that. In addition to sweets, I’d also given them smoked meat and fried foods, so yeah… maybe the calorie intake was a bit too much after all.

“Using magic makes me hungry, so I’m fine. Look.”

“H-Hey! That’s improper, Ferry!?”

As she said that, Ms. Ferry casually lifted her shirt, while Lilia hurriedly scolded her and tried to cover it up.

...It was only for a second, but I saw Ms. Ferry’s adorable, slender stomach all the way to her navel, her pale elven skin shining faintly. It was just a moment, but it made my heart skip a beat—can’t be helped, right? Yeah, totally understandable.