Chapter 11: Cocktails (Good for You)

“Ark’s General Store.”

Honestly, the naming sense is terrible, but since it’s a store with my name on it, I can’t help but feel a sense of ownership.

But.

Ark’s General Store was on the verge of going under.

“No, when did it get like this…………….”

Just after I possessed this body, the chest under the counter was overflowing with gold coins.

But now, the bottom is starting to show……………?

At this rate, I’m going to go bankrupt………….?

It was a dire crisis.

Of course, the reason was clear.

There’s no money because we’re operating at a loss.

It’s not even economics—it’s basic elementary school math, something even Rumi’s intelligence could figure out.

Then why are we operating at a loss?

It’s because of the store’s flawed structure.

We’re tied to a system where we have to manage popularity and reputation to earn points.

We have to buy all sorts of junk items that make you wonder, “What am I even supposed to do with this?”

But on the other hand, the heroes?

If ten heroes dump their trash on me, maybe one of them will buy it, if I’m lucky.

The profit margin is terrible, just terrible.

“Sigh.”

One of the pieces of trash I’m idly tossing around in my hand right now is…

Slime mucus.

…..I’m just playing around with it, treating it like some liquid monster.

For a moment, I had the wicked thought that if there were more men in the neighborhood, I could make “that kind of product” and sell it. It would probably sell well.

But I dismissed the idea because it seemed unhygienic.

And.

Second, it’s partly my fault.

No, not partly—mostly…….

When you see a pile of gold coins, it’s only natural to want to spend them recklessly.

I spent a fortune rebuilding the guild house.

And to celebrate safely clearing the third floor of the tower yesterday, I built a blacksmith’s forge.

……It’s absolutely not because I got screwed over by the gacha again and blew off steam by flexing.

Of course, the forge is currently closed.

There’s no blacksmith, what am I supposed to do, dammit.

I’ve never even touched iron before…

I asked our party’s social butterfly, the queen of free-to-play, who downs beer in one shot but sips potions slowly—Ari—to look into it.

But so far, there’s been no news.

Even if I do bring someone in, there’s another problem.

I’ll have to pay their wages……

Is there no way out of this?

Should I give up on the EXP dungeon and just run the gold dungeon for a while?

Is that the only option?

It’s all because of the summoner.

Originally, the summoner was supposed to spend money at my store, buying things left and right, creating a cycle of wealth.

But…

“Sigh.”

Just as I was about to let out a sigh that could shake the earth.

Ding-a-ling

“Today’s business is over…. Oh, is it already that late?”

A blonde, tanned, cool-type muscular warrior girl.

The heart of our guild house, the Yagada Crew.

Though we haven’t made a contract, she’s like a comrade now—Mr. Brown came in again today with a bill.

Time to settle the wages.

I have to pay what’s due…………. 

While crying tears of blood in my heart.

But with a customer service smile still on my lips.

“Here you go. You worked hard today.”

I handed over the heavy money pouch containing the wages for all the crew members.

Still, seeing the place gradually become more livable and even somewhat decent as the days go by makes me proud.

But the expenses are high.

Maybe I should lay off some people soon?

Do a little dance with the axe?

“Hey, Ark.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

“By any chance, is there not much left of that lately…?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“You know, that thing that gives you energy when you drink it.”

Ah, she means the Elixir of Growth.

I do have a bit left.

Since the materials to raise a character’s rank to rank 3 are still limited in purchase quantity, I’ve already leveled up Rumi, Ari, and even Johanna to level 30.

Well.

At this point, even the lowest-grade potions barely scratch the experience bar.

“…….Just this once.”

“Yay! Ark, you’re the best! Thank you!”

As she snatched it from my hand and downed it in one go, a question popped into my mind.

“Mr. Brown. What kind of effect does that potion have on you?”

For the contracted heroes, the effect of leveling up is visually obvious.

But for someone like Mr. Brown, who isn’t under contract, what kind of effect does it have?

Does her level increase in advance?

“Hmm, it feels like I get stronger after drinking it?”

So, it’s leveling up.

“And when I’m exhausted, drinking it makes me feel full of energy again?”

So, leveling up restores her health.

“Anyway, if I had the money, I’d buy and drink it all the time.”

“I see. Thanks for telling me.”

“I’ll keep it a secret from the others! See you!”

With that, Mr. Brown jingled her pouch and left.

And I felt something.

A realization shimmering before my eyes.

The scent of money tickling my nose.

I opened my inventory to check the stock.

[Inventory]

-Lowest-grade Elixir of Growth x65

-Low-grade Elixir of Growth x9

It’s not exactly abundant, but.

I can use the shop points I haven’t touched yet to reset the sales quantity and duplicate them with a click.

I saw it.

The thread of opportunity.

***

Business isn’t something you can do alone.

I needed a reliable business partner.

Of course, I also needed to verify whether the ideal product actually worked.

Ding-a-ling

With a cheerful chime, I entered the Meeting Tavern.

It was the place where I had picked up Ari before.

And currently, it is the most bustling spot in the city.

With the tower being conquered, heroes were producing all sorts of materials.

Those materials were being bought up by some sucker—I mean, shopkeeper—who was crying as they paid.

With that money, the heroes drank away their fatigue from the day.

Today’s goal was the apex of that food chain.

“Madam, how are you?”

The chicken coop—no, Madam Lefanse.

A 5-star ranged debuff.

Her performance was quite outstanding, especially in PvP, but…

Both in her illustration and in real life, the faint scent of a chicken coop was a major point of contention.

“Oh my, our cute little shopkeeper. Are you here for a drink? Or are you looking for your little doe? She’s over there.”

Even her way of speaking was a point of contention.

Ari…

So you’re drinking on your day off…….

“Well, today it’s about business. A business proposal.”

“Hmm? Business? Did you get some good snakes for brewing?”

“You should come by the store later and see for yourself. Anyway, ahem.”

I cleared my throat to keep my tone in check.

“Since there aren’t many customers during the day, I was thinking of opening at night too. Just some light trading and maybe selling some drinks.”

Most of the trading actually happens between 4 PM and 6 PM.

The saintess finishes her duties by morning.

Ari is just a freeloader.

Rumi spends all day lazing around the guild house.

Dungeon during the day, business at night.

And night business is all about drinks.

And those drinks will be… “a little special.”

“Hmm, are you declaring competition, dear?”

Not at all. 

I’m not planning to go all out with large-scale sales, just something on the side? 

Like, just at the counter? 

You know how small my store is.

“It’s cramped, as you know.”

“Hmm, that’s true. It is a bit cramped, isn’t it?”

Good.

She’s halfway convinced.

“Beer is a bit complicated, so I was thinking of making cocktails or something light. That should be fine, right?”

This place mainly focuses on beer and food, so.

I emphasized that our target customer base would be completely different.

“Hmm, that should be fine. I might even drop by occasionally. Alright. But you have to pay the proper price, okay?”

“Of course.”

Persuasion is successful.

It’s a bit of a hassle, but small businesses have to crawl before they can walk in front of big corporations.

Especially in a small town with the same industry?

You have to go through these formalities to avoid trouble later.

With a refreshed mind, I walked over to Ari’s table.

“Ari? Can you help me out?”

“Huh? Oh, hey, Ark…..Right now?”

“I’ll buy you a drink. Something tasty.”

Swish, swish –

I shook a bottle of vodka I got from the madam earlier.

“Oh, right, Ari’s friend? What’s your name?”

“It’s Harong!”

“Yes, Harong, you’re coming too.”

I even secured a 3-star test subject whose name I couldn’t remember.

“Here, take this for me.”

“……”

“It’s heavy.”

I also secured a porter.

It’s a very manly thing to do, but I was proud.

Speaking for myself, I have below-average strength for an adult male.

But Ari?

As a summoned hero, her strength is several times greater than mine.

She’s a different species altogether.

“I’ll help too!”

So Ari carried one crate of alcohol.

Harong carried another.

Heave-ho, heave-ho.

Come on, strength.

***

“Ugh…………. I can’t carry anymore………….”

“Mr. Ark, Mr. Ark. Let me see your face again.”

Huh?”

While Ari was wandering the afterlife thanks to the pure power of alcohol.

And Harong was drunkenly rambling after sampling my special cocktail.

“Ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha……!”

I let out a hearty laugh.

After several trials and errors, I had perfected the miraculous recipe.

Cheap orange juice: 1/2.

Alcohol: 1/4.

Lowest-grade Elixir of Growth: 1/4.

The orange juice lowers the cost.

Using hard liquor means getting drunk.

And the Elixir of Growth’s effect remains intact!

If this isn’t creative economics, what is?

The energy of the universe is gathering within me.

“Ugh, that was good. I’ll head out first, okay? Ark, from tomorrow, I can come here to drink, right?”

[The customer is satisfied.]

[Popularity has increased by 1.]

[Reputation has increased by 1.]

This is it!

Since it was treated as a normal “sale” at the store.

The store’s reputation went up, and so did its popularity!

I was extremely satisfied.

With this, I can turn the losses around in one go and start making a profit!

“Yes, take care on your way home.”

After happily seeing Harong off, I turned back.

“Ugh…….”

“……”

Ari was completely passed out, snoring.

What can I do?

It’s my fault for letting her drink so much.

I’ll carry her back to the guild house and dump her there.

Hey, but.

Did you find a blacksmith?

You weren’t just drinking and goofing off, were you?