Kamisama Shop de Cheat no Kaori

Chapter 103. The Secret Horned Girl In The Wilderness

After waking up in the morning, the first thing I did was go to Hagg’s room.

“Hey, Hagg! Don’t you want to eat a katsu sandwich?”

I was worried because she was almost a katsu sandwich addict. I hoped she wasn’t doing some strange dance from withdrawal symptoms.

I called out and knocked repeatedly, but there was no response. The door was also locked.

“Oh, onii-chan, Hagg-san left a long time ago.”

There appeared Narnia, the little girl from Kujira Tei.

“Really? She seems to be quite busy.”

“That’s how dwarves are when they get engrossed in something.”

I see… Reminds me of my workaholic boss.

“Well, it’s not that urgent. Did you see Hagg, Narnia?”

“Nope. My dad saw her.”

“I see.”

If Hagg is so busy, should we delay our departure? It’s not a particularly urgent trip anyway. It depends on the priest, though.

As usual, after finishing breakfast and brushing my teeth, I left the inn.

My remaining fund is 4,274,692 yen.

――――

When I went to the stall, the boy had just finished eating a roasted potato. He hurriedly swallowed the potato and stood up straight, bowing his head.

“You didn’t have to rush.”

“N-no! Excuse me!”

The boy hastily packed away the brazier and a sack of charcoal.

“Thank you for the potatoes! They were delicious! Everyone who took over also thanked you! They said the brazier kept them warm at night, too!”

He bowed his head. Children in this world are diligent workers. Well, that’s common in Asia.

I hadn’t thought about the cold at night. I slept warmly in my room with a fireplace… It’s good that they were more comfortable, even if just a bit.

When the boy left, I checked the wooden box and found that all the potatoes I had left were gone. They didn’t hold back. I liked that. Children shouldn’t have to be considerate.

I asked Yaralai to keep watch and filled the wooden box with potatoes. Since sales were better than expected yesterday, I decided to stock more today.

As soon as I opened the stall, people started gathering. Fast.

Most of them were customers who had tried the potatoes yesterday. They must have come early to buy before I sold out, as they had heard I would be leaving town soon. Most people bought 10kg… more than five potatoes each. To avoid any trouble, I handed out symbols to everyone. Surprisingly, it was quite profitable.

Customers kept coming. While many had the same reaction as yesterday, some asked for five large bags. Most of these were merchants. The prepared potatoes quickly ran out, and I had to restock frequently. Busy.

However, they didn’t like to wait in line, creating some tense moments. It was frustrating when they shouted complaints!

Thanks to Yaralai’s tireless efforts, we managed to handle the rush of merchants by midday.

In the afternoon, the number of customers dwindled, and it got quiet occasionally.

During one of these lulls, a familiar customer arrived.

“Oh, you came again today.”

“Hey! That’s mean, onii-chan!”

It was, of course, Narnia. While I was used to seeing her, behind her was a group of unfamiliar little girls.

Well, maybe not so little. They were about the same height as Narnia.

“So, did you come to mooch with such a big group today?”

“That’s even meaner! What do you think I am?”

She didn’t seem intimidating when angry, but it’s scary to make a girl mad, so I decided to handle it properly.

“Shopping again today?”

“Yeah. It’s not a feast, but it fills us up. Right now, your shop is the cheapest for food, isn’t it?”

“Is that so?”

I didn’t think I set the prices that low.

“Usually, it’d be pretty expensive, but since it’s a rare variety, it’s not surprising. Hey, this potato will be handled by Cherina’s trading company, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Did I mention that?”

I wasn’t sure if I did.

“It’s already a topic among our guests. Everyone was excited because it’s a product handled by the Velliaro Trading Company. Didn’t merchants come by?”

Now that she mentioned it, some merchants bought in bulk.

“Oh, there were some like that.”

“I knew it… I brought my friends before they sold out. They were looking for where to trade, but some even went directly to the Velliaro Trading Company.”

They wouldn’t sell directly there. Maybe to traveling merchants or other companies, but the potatoes aren’t grown yet. It’d be six months before they’re ready. It’d be a wasted trip.

“I can’t say for sure, but they might be on the market in about six months.”

I sold them 10,000 plants. With Yaralai’s agricultural guidance and secured compost, they should grow quickly.

“I hope it gets a bit cheaper by then…”

“Even though the war ended in one night, prices will rise for a while… I need to make some profit, too. I don’t think I’m overcharging.”

Considering there were no labor or transport costs, it might be seen as overcharging.

“It’s fine. Even bread prices are rising. No one thinks your shop is expensive. More importantly, merchants are buying them up, so they’re not reaching the market. We’re grateful you sell them at all.”

“Well, if you say so… So, how much do you all want?”

Each girl bought about 20kg. They all brought large baskets.

Since there are no plastic bags in this world, it’s natural to bring your own container. I gave each one an extra potato as a bonus, and they thanked me with bright smiles.

Yes, yes. Grow up without becoming cynical.

“It’s not just about potatoes; corn might be available soon.”

“Corn?”

Narnia tilted her head.

“Yeah. Not sure how well it will grow, but it should taste good. As a staple food candidate, it rivals cassava. Either one would help reduce food shortages.”

“Will it solve the food shortage?”

“Not for sure… but relying on imports might lessen. There will be more demand for farmers, which could reduce unemployment a bit.”

If I return to see the wasteland covered in corn and cassava, it’d be spectacular.

“We just need to hang in there!”

“Everyone, including Cherina, is working hard to make that happen. It’ll be okay.”

Hearing that, smiles spread not just on Narnia’s face but also on her friends’.

“If Cherina-sama is working hard, we need to do our best too… Bye, onii-chan!”

After the children waved and left, I realized I should have given them some candy.

“…Well, it’s fine.”

I gave them the symbols.

After Narnia and her friends left, one child remained. No, she was different, unrelated to Narnia’s group.

The girl had a unique appearance. She had a loli figure, like a middle schooler, with black and silver hair… a transparent black that shone beautifully, though my description seems inadequate.

Her hair was in a long ponytail, swaying gently as if alive.

But there were two things more striking than her hair.

One was her eyes.

They were a mysterious golden color, with large, vertical slit pupils like a reptile’s.

I thought I was used to seeing various species here, but her overall mysterious aura drew me in.

The other was the two small horns on her head. I had never seen a species with horns before.

There really are all kinds of people here.

Her outfit was also unique.

The first thing that caught my eye was the large, black-silver gauntlets with claws and matching greaves. Both were intricately designed and oversized for her slim frame, but she wore them effortlessly.

Next was her skimpy outfit. A piece of fabric barely covered her budding chest, and her pants were cut daringly to expose her belly button. A decorative cloth hung from her waist, emphasizing her healthy thighs.

Her appearance was that of a beautiful idol-like girl, popular with Japanese tastes. If there were talent agencies, they’d rush to scout her. She’d undoubtedly be the center.

The black-silver-haired girl seemed to be looking at the potatoes on the counter, but her gaze felt directed at me. Was it my suit that caught her eye, as Yaralai had mentioned?

When I looked at Yaralai, he was staring at her. I thought he was captivated too, but he seemed wary. His gaze was sharp.

The girl, oblivious to the elf’s gaze, walked towards me with a pitter-patter sound.

She grabbed a cassava potato from the counter and examined it closely. Then, she alternated her gaze between me and the potato.

“Heh… I never thought such a thing existed.”

She gave a dark, mature smile with twisted lips. Was the potato that unusual?

“Where did you get this?”

She raised the potato. I couldn’t tell her that.

“Sorry, that’s a trade secret. If you’re unsure, you don’t have to buy it.”

“Heh. A secret. Nice. I love secrets.”

She spoke in an odd, mature tone. Old-fashioned, perhaps… Oops, that was rude.

“You like secrets?”

“Indeed. I love secrets. I’ll take one.”

She placed two silver coins on the counter, and as I tried to give her change, she stopped me.

“No change needed. Small coins are bothersome.”

“Thank you… Here’s a bonus.”

I gave her a small bag of candies with the potato. The profit margin shrank, but it was a service for a child. Maybe a bit lenient. The girl looked at the candy bag and then at me, her eyes wide with surprise.

“…This is rare. No… perhaps the first time…”

She muttered something I didn’t understand. Did she want the candy?

“Yeah, candy. Do you like it?”

“…Indeed.”

She nodded, tearing the candy bag and putting one in her mouth. Her golden eyes widened in delight.

“Oh! This is also a first… It’s delicious.”

She gave a pure smile, different from her previous mature demeanor. She must love sweets. I could relate.