Published: September 10, 2025
“What a harsh way to describe it as a rundown shop.”
Arisa shot back at the unfriendly blonde girl with twin tails.
“What, you? Do you really think an adventurer like you can speak on equal terms with Kerina Gure, the eldest daughter of the Usher Trading Company, the biggest store in the fortress city of Arcadia? You’re a bit too arrogant—”
“Kerina Gure? I think I saw a commercial like that ages ago.”
Sorry, Arisa.
I don’t know that commercial. It’s probably from the Showa era or the early Heisei period.
“Don’t get it wrong! My name is Kerina Gure! Our Usher family was such a prestigious house that my great-grandfather was granted a noble title in the Bribroga Kingdom!”
The girl heated up, and Arisa apologized lightly, “Sorry, sorry.”
Noticing her slightly pointed ears, I checked the AR display and saw the girl seemed to be a leprechaun from the fairy tribe.
If I remember right from Earth’s folklore, they’re mischievous fairies.
“Um, so, Kerina Gure-san—”
“It’s Kerina Gure! My name is Kerina Gure!”
The girl yelled at Rolo, who had mispronounced her name by accident.
Her eyes were teary, and I felt a bit sorry for her.
She reminded me of Leliril, the house brownie from the Ivy Manor in Labyrinth City Selbira.
“Rolo, protect.”
“Rolo, not your fault.”
“Rolo, pet.”
The hamsters, pretending to be knights, struck cute fighting poses in front of Rolo.
“So, what business does the daughter of the Usher Trading Company have at the hero shop?”
I stepped in front of the hamsters to ask about her business.
Come to think of it, it was the Usher Trading Company that poached the hero shop’s alchemist.
“Hmph! You could have just said so from the start!”
The girl wiped the tears from her eyes and pointed at me, shouting, “It’s a challenge!”
◇
“What is this baked confection? Why is it so delicious?”
The blonde twin-tailed girl maintained her graceful manner while rapidly eating the baked sweets.
She must have really liked the treats.
At her feet, the hamsters were diligently crunching on the sweets they’d been given.
Tama and Pochi were also naturally snacking alongside the hamsters.
‘—Wasn’t this supposed to be a challenge?’
‘I’d be happy if they just forget the challenge and go home.’
Arisa and I shared a quiet conversation through the spatial magic “telephone.”
Standing and chatting at the storefront would be a disturbance, so I invited the girl to the reception room just inside the shop and offered tea, but she was completely captivated by the homemade cookies.
These cookies were a byproduct from developing dessert recipes using local ingredients during slow periods at the shop.
“Miss, I thought you dashed out, but now you’re having a tea party?”
“Tomari!”
A beautiful woman called from the shop area.
Riza, who was tending the shop, blocked her from coming through.
When I told Riza it was okay to let her in, the short-statured beauty came over.
Judging from her pointed ears like the girl’s, she seemed to be another leprechaun from the fairy tribe.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Tomaritrolore, secretary to Miss Kerina Gure of the Usher Trading Company.”
Are all leprechaun names tongue-twisters?
“Miss, if you’ve finished your business, it’s about time to go back. The golden lion rank adventurers, Tigar, have been waiting quite a while.”
Arisa muttered beside me, “Tiger even though it’s lion?” tilting her head, but I think it’s just that the pronunciation sounds like German.
“Hah! Speaking of which, we’re not done yet! I almost fell for the baked sweets trap and was going to leave without doing anything.”
Too bad, the girl just remembered.
“It’s a challenge!”
She stood up from her chair, shouting.
“I’ll specially let you participate in the Great Witch’s request! If you complete this quest, this shop will receive the Great Witch’s seal of approval!”
“The Great Witch’s seal of approval!”
Rolo unusually shouted loudly.
Apparently, it’s something really amazing.