“…Phew, the customers have finally settled down. Let’s take a short break.”

“Okay!”

It’s the third day since the shop opened. Since we don’t have a large variety of products, we don’t see the same customers every day. Most of our new customers come from word-of-mouth referrals by those who’ve already shopped here.

Once the line dies down, I go back to demonstrating how to use the products, calling out to passersby like I did on the first day. Right now, though, it’s the perfect time for a quick rest.

“Fia, you’ve memorized the prices and can explain the products now. You’re doing great.”

“All the things Tetsuya-oniichan sells are so unique, it’s easy to remember them!”

Despite the limited product range, Fia has already memorized all the prices and usage instructions. She’s even capable of handling customers on her own while I’m busy. She hasn’t made any mistakes with change either—she’s a smart girl.

“By the way, what do they teach you in the town’s study sessions?”

“Well, they teach addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Right now, I’m learning how to read and write.”

Wow, that’s more comprehensive than I expected. And the fact that it’s free is impressive. Adventurers need basic math and literacy skills to take on requests and handle transactions, so it makes sense.

“When my mom’s working, I attend the study sessions. They also offer free classes for adventurers, like how to use weapons or identify medicinal herbs.”

This town really caters to rookie adventurers. No wonder so many aspiring adventurers from nearby villages and towns flock here.

“Welcome… oh, Lilia!”

“Hey, Tetsuya. How’s the shop doing?”

While we were resting, Lilia showed up. Judging by her adventurer’s gear, she must’ve just finished a job. She looked just like she did when we went into the forest together.

“Thanks to you spreading the word, we’ve had a steady flow of customers.”

“Glad I could help, then.”

Many customers have indeed come because of Lilia’s referrals, and they, in turn, have brought new customers to the shop. It’s been a positive chain reaction.

“By the way, about the other day—I’m not exactly running this shop purely out of goodwill…”

“Oh, that? Don’t worry, I get it! Even though you know your products could sell for more, you’re keeping prices reasonable. That’s just the kind of person you are.”

“…”

She doesn’t get it at all. Lowering prices can sometimes boost overall sales—that’s a basic principle of business. But explaining this further feels pointless.

“That girl wasn’t here the other day. Did you hire her recently?”

“Oh, I was planning to hire someone through the adventurers’ guild, but I met Fia by chance before that, and now she’s helping out at the shop. Fia, this is Lilia, a B-rank adventurer who’s helped me a lot.”

“I-I’m Fia! N-Nice to meet you!”

“Fia, huh? I’m Lilia. Nice to meet you.”

“Y-Yes!”

Lilia knelt down and shook hands with Fia.

“Hmm, what a cute girl you are.”

“Wha?! T-Thank you! Lilia-oneechan, you’re so beautiful and cool!”

“Haha, thanks for saying that. It makes me happy. Anyway, I’m glad to see your shop is doing well.”

“It’s all thanks to everyone’s support. It’s only the third day, but things are going smoothly.”

“That’s good to hear. Still, Tetsuya, remember: the smoother things are going, the more you need to be wary of unexpected setbacks.”

“Yeah, you’re absolutely right. I’ll stay sharp.”

She’s right—this is only the third day, and while things are good now, one unexpected problem could ruin everything. I need to stay on my toes.

“You’ve got the right attitude. If anything comes up, don’t hesitate to call me. Well, I’ll get going now before I overstay my welcome.”

“Thanks, Lilia. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Lilia left the shop with a wave. She really carries herself with grace and charisma. The impression she leaves in her adventurer’s gear is so different from the one in her casual clothes.

“Wow… Lilia-oneechan is so cool!”

“Yeah, she’s a great person—kind and supportive to rookie adventurers. I’m sure she’ll stop by from time to time, so I hope you’ll get along with her.”

“Of course! My mom says B-rank adventurers are incredibly strong. I really admire her!”

It seems Lilia’s charisma even inspires Fia. Hopefully, they’ll get along well in the future.

“Alright, let’s call it a day. Great job today, Fia.”

“Okay!”

The third day of business ended without a hitch. We had about the same number of customers as yesterday.

“Here’s your pay for today. See you tomorrow.”

I handed Fia a gold coin, just like yesterday.

“…Wow, so much again. Thank you so much, Tetsuya-oniichan! I’ll do my best again tomorrow!”

“I’m the one who should be thanking you. See you tomorrow, Fia.”

Sales were excellent again today. At this rate, I might be able to upgrade the outdoor shop to level 3 by tomorrow.