Chapter 7: Level-up and Pop Rockets

Chapter 7: Level-up and Pop Rockets

When I bought a towel this morning, I had already prepared myself to camp out tonight because I might not earn enough, but thanks to regular customers like Merle, sales exceeded 3000 rims.

And so, I can also stay at the inn I stayed at before, Bottakuro, tonight.

[Staying overnight? Or just taking a rest?]

As this is already the second time I visited, the blunt attitude of the proprietress didn’t bother me anymore.

[Overnight please.]

[The same room is available, so you use that. Remember to keep quiet.]

It seems like she remembered my face.

Thereupon, I noticed a stain on the corner of the counter that wasn’t there yesterday.

[That is......]

Seeing where I’m looking, the proprietress loudly sighed.

[A fistfight happened earlier. Good grief, can’t they put themselves in my shoes!? Who the heck do these people think cleans their mess up!?]

As I thought, this place really is a rogues’ den.

However, I don’t think I have enough money to move to a fancy hotel.

Even if I wanted to, the situation wouldn’t allow it.

I quickly climbed the stairs, trying not to make a sound.

The next day, I headed to the open space in front of the dungeon early in the morning.

I wanted to earn and save a little more so that I could move to a safer inn.

Taking up a position closer to the entrance than usual, I said “Open” to myself.

[Arehh, it had a slight upgrade?]

The usual shoulder-pole stall appeared, but with a slightly larger selection of items.

Moreover, the powdered juice (pineapple flavor), which had been out of stock, had been replenished.

Moreover, there was a large piece of cardboard hanging from the shoulder-pole.

Turning it over, I found that they were pop rockets. That’s certainly something I feel nostalgic about.

Pop rockets are plastic toys.

When paper gunpowder is inserted and thrown, the gunpowder bursts upon impact and makes a loud noise.

It was being sold in a lottery form, with the customers possibly drawing out a large rocket or a pack of 3 rockets.

However, these rockets seem to be a little different from those in Japan.

Product name: Rocket (Lottery)

Description: Explosion Magic bursts when thrown at a monster. Consumable. The bigger they are, the more powerful they are.

Price: 50 rims per draw

Mira’s words lightened the burden in my heart.

That meant that even if this thing hangs on the shoulder-pole, it wouldn’t suddenly explode.

I could continue my business with a little piece of mind.

Evening.

[Mister!]

Merle, who had returned from the dungeon, jumped towards me.

[Whoa, w- what is it?]

Suddenly being hugged by someone, I couldn’t help feeling shaken.

[Thanks to the pineapple juice, today was the best! I think we made over 1000 rims more than usual. There are also those rockets! That was crazy.]

[How was it crazy?]

[It blew up a Poison Lizard with a single shot! That’s a tough opponent for us, but it was one-shotted today. I’ll definitely pull on this lottery too! Come on, bring it out quickly!]

As Merle was drawing lots, Mira arrived too.

[Welcome back.]

[I have returned. I see Merle has started pulling for some rockets.]

[She seemed to be in high spirits.]

[The rocket is an item that anyone can use after all. They aren’t as powerful as the magic used by veteran adventurers, but they were perfectly practical items.]

I see, if it can be bought for 50 rims, it might be just the right item for new adventurers.

Taking her time yet again to choose her pick, Merle pulled out her ticket.

[Ghaak, 5th prize!]

And she’s as unlucky as ever......

[Hello! I heard you have some new items in stock.]

Other regulars came in.

Behind them was a little boy, curiously peeking at my wares.

[Welcome. You’re new here, aren’t you?]

[Unnn, I’m Regal, a porter. I heard I can buy snacks here that were as cheap as 10 rims.]

[That’s right. These ones over here are 10-rim snacks.]

Dagashi shops are for the sake of such children after all.

The storefront is bustling with customers.

That day, even after dark, they didn’t let me close up my stall.

Translator Notes:

ロケット弾 / Rocket-dan. It’s also called ジャンプ弾 / Jump-dan. It doesn’t really seem to have an english translation (or it does and I’m just being an idiot), so I named it pop rocket. It’s a small, rocket-shaped toy made of plastic, with a small amount of gunpowder at the base of its tip. When thrown onto a hard surface, it produces this popping sound.