117 (9) Day 10 - After Close of Business

Ten days of battle is over.

But there are no weaknesses.

Until the withdrawal of the stall, the replenishment of the ingredients for the day after tomorrow, and the meeting with the "Great Tree Pavilion in the South" are completed, and we return safely to the woodside, it is our job.

"You said you sold 170 meals today? No, it's no big deal. That too, the people by the woods, in a dish of giva meat! … This is no longer too much to say in reputation as a historical feat"

Camua rarely stayed on the spot dressed to watch us chased after.

Then I'll run errands too, and I'll summon the shady eye-fa.

Ai-Fa stood beside me silently and Camua smiled a lot "hey hey".

"You were down in town today, too, Ai-Fa! I've been wanting to come see you ever since I asked Late, but I haven't been able to get around lately."

"... I don't have any business on my side."

"She looks well and above all," Camus said, looking around from top to bottom at the cold-mouthed Ey-Fa figure.

As usual, I-Fa hid his left arm injury with a cape, but, well, I guess it's impossible to mislead this man's eyes, I guess.

"Ai-Fa, give me the copper coin"

"Uhm."

Still, Ai-Fa removed a cloth bag that looked heavier from her pocket, being careful not to overcloak it.

Until yesterday, it is the sales of our store.

While I get that from Ai-Fa, I'll circle the calculations.

"Uh, today's snack is sold out, because I sold four dried meats... twelve and maybe nine"

Twelve white copper coins.

Nine red copper coins.

I moved him to another bag, and I offered him to Camus' chest.

"... yeah?," Camua knocks down the elongated face.

"It's a thank you to Camua-Josh. The net profit over the last ten days has been about 129 white copper coins, so at 10% of the time, there will be 9 red coins for 12 white coins."

"Hey, wait a minute. What do you mean, gratuity? I don't want to get this kind of copper coin from you, do I?

I'm more frightened of this.

"What are you talking about? Ten percent of net income minus expenses from sales, that would be the reward for you, wouldn't it? I'm not gonna tell you I forgot, am I?

"I forgot. Or something I really don't remember saying that about!

Late boy chuckles as he looks up at the moody camouflage in a lot of haste.

"I remember clearly, too. It is indeed the Camus who has determined that amount. Well, you must have been joking or something."

"Yeah? Really? Damn it, I don't remember it at all... anyway, even if it was true, it was a joke or something, as Late said. Put it back in the bag, Asta."

"That's not how it works. Without your advice, we wouldn't have gotten so much copper coins, so this is a legitimate reward. Please, please."

"No, but hey..."

"If you don't take it, I'm in trouble. I want to be in a borrowless relationship with you."

That said, I made him stick out more cloth bags.

"Whether you can be a respectable friend or an unforgivable traitor, either way, we don't want to lend or borrow. Please draw our feelings."

Camua sighed deeply, comparing me to Ai-Fa, and then stretched out her elongated arms in such a way as tannic.

"I get it. I consider this copper coin a rite of passage that qualifies me as a reciprocal friend and I will accept it.... What a waste. Even if you give me some kind of copper coin, it's all gone to crap anyway."

"If that's what you think, weigh yourself in," he is, of course, a late boy.

"But! I need you to be clear on this already, Ai-fa to Asta? Because this is the only time you can thank me! Treat all future sales as property of Fa's house, even!

"Okay. Thank you."

I bowed my head honestly and I thanked Ai-Fa just for my eyes.

"Not at all, man.... Then I'll let you go back to the inn. If tomorrow's the day off, we'll see each other after tomorrow."

"Right. We look forward to seeing you again."

"Yeah, it's my pleasure, and I'm eager to have Asta's cooking again.... Oh, yeah, I just want to ask you one last thing."

"Yes?"

"... Has something troubling broken out so far that might help me?

I kept my mouth shut and looked up at Camus' lengths.

Probably what I = fa do, too.

Camua is grinning with her eyes narrowed.

Finish your purple eyes in strange shades, like an old man like a baby.

(... not yet, no) and I twist the emotions that blow all over my chest.

At this stage, we cannot rely on Camua-Josh.

If everything involves this man, who also goes through with the Lord of Genos, with uncertainty - that's what the relationship between Forestside and Genos may collapse by the deadly.

So I let Camus shake my head beside me with such a neat look.

"... so far, that doesn't seem to be happening"

Then Camua laughed amusedly and not much again.

"Good, then. See you the day after tomorrow! Good luck to the beautiful ladies of the Lew family!

Camua and Leyt boy disappear across the crowd, and I breathe so much.

Then Lara-Rue behind me called me "hey".

"Are we done talking? I'm almost done cleaning up."

"Oh, I'm sorry!...... Lara-Luu, Vina-Lu, Sheila-Lu, thank you so much for today. And not only today, but thanks to all of us, we made it through the last ten days."

When I said it that way, each of the three of them gave me an uncontrolled smile.

"What are you doing? I'm off tomorrow, but this isn't the end of the job, is it?

"... from the day after tomorrow, I want to work with Asta Wow..."

"That's true. I sincerely agree."

It's been ten days since I was just immature and I've been a doozy, but everyone was laughing at me with a face that looked really fun.

In the last ten days, I've been able to sell over 1,000 meals.

Total sales are over 2,000 red copper coins.

Net profit net of all expenses and remuneration to Camus is approximately 1169 red copper coins.

If you convert it to Giva's horns and fangs, it's roughly 97 heads.

The customers of the people of the west were also able to earn quite a few.

It will not only be possible to sell food in stalls, but also in inns.

And then, as long as the Sung family does something about it - steadily, it will be able to get closer to its purpose.

"... what's going on, Asta?," Ai-Fa leans over with a slightly angry face.

"If you're worried about something, don't cover it up and tell me"

"Sure, I'll talk to you.... but it's not an easy story. Even at night, will you listen to me slowly?

Ai-Fa stared at my face silently for a while, but eventually snapped "ok" and pulled herself back.

"Well, let's go home!

Pushing two stalls, he steps out onto the stone streets.

The crowds on the streets are peaking now.

The people with the faces I see, they call me "annoying".

Some people still turn their eyes to fear and disgust.

Would it be the travellers who arrived in Genos today who stood as stifled as a little?

Enjoying the sight, we slowly follow our way home.

"Hey, are we done here? It's crackling early today, isn't it?

And, as I walked by, Dora's father laughed.

Tara is laughing next to it, too.

It's the same scene as in the morning.

Think of it - these two are the number one customers in our store.

In that way, members of the Silver Kettle became customers, meeting the old man and Mr. Aldas, meeting Schmiral, meeting Yumi, meeting Mr. Naudis and celebrating the day.

I laugh back at the both of you while I keep those thoughts in my chest.

"Yes, it was kind of a big day. We'll buy vegetables for the day after tomorrow."

"Oh, I'll wait for you."

It's only been ten days, but this is my routine.

I don't want anyone to break it, I think.

So, pushing the stall further, Lara-Rue eventually raised his voice, "Oh, yeah," he said.

"Asta has something else to buy for vegetables, right? We'll return the stall, so why don't we get it done by now?

"Huh?"

Looking back, Lara-Lew was laughing with a very petty face.

I say, "Right," while I think about it.

"Then I'll have to stop by the store called" The Great Tree Pavilion in the South, "and then I'll just finish my personal shopping first."

"Yeah. Well, say hello to Ai-Fa, Asta, huh?

Me and I-Fa stop, and the two stalls go straight ahead.

"... a cooking knife and an iron plate"

"Yeah. The iron plate is heavy, so let's put it behind us and go buy a cooking knife"

I have done my research yesterday.

The "Silver Kettle" store was just halfway through the outdoor area, right next to Grandma Missil's vegetable shop.

Large, pitch-black cloths are laid in the space for two stores, where cluttered products are arranged.

It has a skinned roof that can cover all of its vast space and is a little dim because of it.

There were three Sim people in the store.

"Sorry to bother you.... Is that it? Is Schmiral absent?

All the members of the seller had their hoods hanging on their backs, but they could not find long silver hair there.

A single tall Sim man bows his head to me and I-Fa as he combines his fingertips into an odd shape.

"Schmiral, it's for you. I'll be right back."

"Really? You're supposed to be putting the product away, you know?

"Merchandise, Schmiral, I have. … please wait"

If I tell you to wait, I'll have to wait.

I decided to break my knee along with Ey-Fa and entertain my eyes with products arranged on a cloth.

"I don't know... it's a store that sells all the weird stuff, right?

Ai-Fa sneaks up on me.

Well, that's the only lineup I've had to be told.

Weird or what, anyway, the way it's arranged is just disorderly.

I can see many different kinds of swords than Schmiral showed me. but other than that, it's a pot in different shapes, it's an elaborately crafted loose wooden box, it's an overdecorated bow and arrow barrel, it's a silver glowing ornament, and then it's a bunch of extravagant cloth - every one of which is like a superior piece of cloth that you've actually got, but all of which is out of line with no integrity whatsoever.

But, well, maybe it has a taste rather than being arranged neatly. As for the atmosphere, it felt like an antique shop at the flea market.

"Oh, isn't this a banquet costume for the ladies?

A bunch of maggot-colored cloth gleams in a dim, hiccups.

"The metalwork over here looks a lot like the one the women of the Lou family are wearing. I wonder if they were all Sims' products."

"... they're all useless lengths to me"

And after saying it in an unsympathetic tone, Ai-Fa circled her eyes, "Wow.

"Asta, what is this?

"Oh, is this - a glass of wine, is it?

From the shape, there is no mistake that it is a vessel.

However, it was made of clear vitreous.

"In this world, there was something called vitreous. Sure, this guy is amazing."

"Are you calling me a scum? This is beautiful."

Ooh, Ey-Fa's eyes are glowing so much fun.

"... it's five vitreous, liquor glasses, and white," as many young men have told me in modest voices.

"I knew it was vitreous.... Ai-Fa, they say there's five pieces of white, right?

"Hmm? It's beautiful, but I don't need a drink or anything to drink fruit liquor"

Still, Ai-Fa kept the same eye on him, holding the surface of the liquor cup at his right fingertip or something.

I'm a little happy that you're not motivated to buy, but you still have the sensitivity to love those things.

And that's where Schmiral came back.

"Asta.... sorry, have you waited?

"No. I just got here."

I got up and welcomed Schmiral, but I-Fa still had a liquor cup on him like a child.

I'm insignificant, just a few steps away from Ai-Fa.

"Now that the store is over, I'm going to buy the promised product"

"Yes, I'm glad."

With a nod, Schmiral inserts his hand inside the cape.

Those black eyes looked at me all the time.

"Knife, white, eighteen."

"Yes, thank you"

"It's stone, white, ten.... Stone, what do you want to do?

"... Yes. I'm going to buy you one too."

Schmiral has gladly narrowed his eyes and offered those products from the inside of his cape.

"Together, white, 28 sheets."

And I get a glimpse of Ey-Fa still crouching.

"I'm a beautiful woman. Asta, is that your wife?

"No.... but he's the most important person to me"

"Really?" he nodded and received the product from Schmiral, and I offered him 28 white copper coins.

"From the day after tomorrow, we will cook with this cooking knife."

Cooking knife for vegetables, housed in a black leather sheath.

Even in the chisel of Tino in the store, this guy should do a great job.

"It's an honor. … Meet Asta, Sim, Selva, thank you"

"Welcome. The Blue Moon is now day six, thank you for your continued support."

I sent a heartfelt smile and Schmiral was happy to narrow his eyes.

"... then excuse me today because there are other shopping left"

"Yes, I look forward to it the day after tomorrow"

Schmiral turns to the back of the store, and I take Ai-Fa's shoulder.

"Please wait. We're done shopping, huh?

"Hmm? Oh, yeah"

Step away from the Silver Pot store, along with the risen Ai-Fa.

Ai-Fa had a rare look in her eyes, and she peered into my hand.

"Is that the cooking knife of 18 white copper coins? That must be a great slice of sauce."

"Oh. As far as vegetables are concerned, you can't even beat my father's santoku knife, can you?

Then Ai-Fa laughed with an indescribably soft look.

"... then that would be a really great knife"

I nodded, "Oh," and proceeded to the empty space between the stall and the stall.

Stop there and stare at Ai-Fa.

"So... as I said during the day, I also bought something that had nothing to do with cooking"

"Hmm? What did you buy?

Ai-Fa still has a serene look on his face.

What look this face would look like in a few seconds - I let him give me the item I had hidden in my hand in front of I-Fa, while consolidating my readiness to do so.

"... what is this?

Much like that, Ai-Fa frowns.

It was gripped in my right hand, it was - a blue stone pendant.

A small stone like a thumbnail is embedded in a silver plate, knitted in intricate shapes and made to be lowered from the neck.

"Well, as you can see, it's a necklace."

"Neck decorations... ornaments"

In the eyes of Ey-Fa, a mundane and calming light begins to float.

"... you had a desire to decorate yourself like a bunch of women, Asta?

"No.... I bought this one for you, Ai-Fa"

"Ugh," Ai-Fa narrowed his eyes.

"I mean, you didn't... you didn't hear one thing about me, did you, Asta?

"That's not true. I was listening. You said you'd stop beating me up if I bought ornaments and stuff with precious copper coins, you know?"

"Hmm. Exactly."

Ai-fa, quietly leaning over.

I'm telling you, while you sneak up on your saliva.

"But just ask me one thing before I knock you out. This is a tragedy protection."

"... disaster-relief?

"Oh. He says it's Sim's amulet to protect himself from all sorts of catastrophes. Of course this is how they sell it in western towns, so it has nothing to do with which god they worship. At Sims, men and women wear these amulets to protect themselves from catastrophe."

In the eyes of Ai-Fa, there is no change.

Well, it's me who's ready to get beat up with one or two shots.

"I don't know how effective this amulet is, but it's just a ornament. Then I'm just gonna piss you off, and I'm gonna say there's no shortage of supplies, and I still wanted you to buy something, so I let you choose with my discretion and prejudice.... amulet, but a pretty stone, huh?

Small, but very deep blue, stone.

Yesterday, when Schmiral showed me this stone, I almost liked it because it felt close to love at first sight - like a stone in a shade like an eye-fa's eye, he said.

"... how many copper coins did you pay to buy that amulet and them?

"White Copper Coins, Ten Sheets"

"... white copper coins, ten..."

Between sharply narrowed eyelids, different emotions loosen in Ai-Fa's eyes.

"It may not be your doctrine to rely on such amulets. But he's actually living a dangerous life like that. I wanted to give you something, too, just like the men by the woods gave you three horns and fangs in hopes of a quick raw family."

As I said, I pinched the leather string on the neckline to make a ring.

"If you don't mind, you can beat me up later. But will you take this guy?... as a gift from a family wishing you a speedy life."

Once Ai-Fa closed her eyes, she then took a deep breath.

That's how they find me in front of them again.

"... the men by the woods hunt Gibba with their own strength and bless his family raw with their fangs and horns"

"Oh."

"Then should I assume that you, who worked in the lodging town, used that copper coin to bless the family raw is not a mistake..."

"Well, if you think so, it would be lucky for me."

"... hum," Ai-Fa said, letting his lips hang.

"I kind of feel like my leg was teased by a trap to capture Gibba. I wonder if I'm being beaten up by my family?

"That's not true. At least the only thing that makes me want to keep the disaster away from you is the true feeling."

I = fa said "hmm" again and then only one step closer to me.

And I'm going to bow my mind.

"... what are you doing?

"Huh?"

"If it is a gift, will it be a moribe offering with its hands?

I haven't learned that yet.

As I said, I put a blue stone pendant on my eye-fa's neck.

The blue stone gleams slightly above the corners and fang neckline.

Ai-Fa shrugged it in the flat of his right hand, stared at it for a while, then raised his face as if he remembered something on the pretend.

"Oh. I had something for you, too."

"Huh? To me?

"Uhm," Ai-Fa turns her hand to the side of her back.

From the inner pocket of the fur cloak, pulled a little harder with one right arm, it was… a necklace with ten horns and fangs.

"Oh - the jewelry I left for you."

"Hmm. It will no longer be like having to use these fangs and horns. You've done enough to wear this necklace."

That's what I said, Ai-Fa's been kicking my leg.

"Keep your head down"

"You know... the order of words and feet is the opposite, right?

As you complain, I'll make you follow what I say.

Ai-Fa cleverly decorated me with one right arm.

Ten blessings, obtained from the people of the Lou family.

It was a promise to fill the hole if we failed in the lodging town business.

"It will still take some time to bring abundance to the woodland. I'm sure you'll be able to do your job."

"It's not just me, it's me and you."

"Uhm.... and so is the work of Luu and Rutim"

Ai-Fa lays her eyes down.

There is no longer a shadow of distress on that surface - but the slightly younger, anxious feeling is hidden from view.

"So, in the end, it will be the work of all the people by the woods."

I'll laugh at Ai-Fa like that.

"From today on, I was to buy meat from the Lew family. One of these days we won't have enough in the Lou family, and we might even be buying it from Rutim.... so when we can sell the meat itself, not the food, we'll all be competing and hunting for Giva, regardless of the family. If you think about it, we're just starting work one step ahead of everyone else, I'm sure."

And even in order to open up such a future - I guess the people by the woods will have to stand together.

To this unforgivable state of affairs that it is the human beings of the chieftaincy who should lead the clan who are polluting pride by the woods.

"... right," he said, keeping his eyes down, Ai-Fa shrugged the blue stone on its neck again.

"What's up? Are you trying to beat me up?

"No.... but even though they are talismans, ornaments are ornaments. I'm still uncomfortable wearing something like this"

"Right.... but it's a beautiful stone, right?

I = fa, slowly raise the face.

And.

Like a little kid, I grinned.

"Uhm. It's glittery and very pretty"

I accidentally stuck my breath.

About that, that was an innocent smile.

Our work has only just begun, and we still had a pile of problems - but I could still get enough fulfilment and tranquillity from the smile of I-Fa.

This is how our battle in Accommodation Town finally ended its first act.