Konbini Ossan Volume 2 Chapter 13 – Newbie Adventurers' Splurge
Ever since Gaius stopped by, the foot traffic at the shop exploded.
By that very evening, adventurers who had heard the rumors began to drop in, and for the next few days, the number of customers only increased.
Arisa and I spent our time handling one transaction after another.
Even then, it would take hours before the stream of customers finally slowed down.
In the evenings, traffic would spike again, then fall off completely by night.
Only once it got that late did we finally have time to catch our breath. That’s when I’d clean the store and reorganize the merchandise.
These night-time duties were mine alone. Since I can function 24 hours a day, I handled them without Arisa's help.
(E/N: For eff's sake, Unc 😐)
About a week of this passed, and things began to settle down.
The price point of the product was relatively high, and once someone bought one, there was little need to purchase another for a while.
Naturally, the number of customers began to dwindle.
By this point, about half of the Light Stones I had prepared had already been sold.
Maybe I’d lost a few to theft, but I’d kept a close eye on things, so it was probably fine.
Eventually, the shop reached a stable rhythm — only a handful of customers visited throughout the day.
Still, we managed to sell five or six Light Stones daily. Likely buyers were those who hadn’t been able to afford them earlier or had been unsure at first.
Thanks to the buzz among adventurers, even general customers began to stop by.
Unlike adventurers, most civilians relied on cheap oil lamps.
But for those who found the upkeep of those lamps bothersome, the Light Stones offered an appealing alternative.
Then one day, about two weeks after opening, a group of particularly noticeable customers walked into the shop.
Three young adventurers, all wearing brand-new gear. They looked even younger than Arisa — likely rookie adventurers.
They browsed the Light Stones with hopeful eyes but kept sighing as they looked at the price tags.
“Is something the matter?” I asked gently.
One of the trio turned to me with an awkward smile.
“Uh, yeah… We heard the rumors about the Light Stones and wanted to check them out.”
“I see. These over here are the Light Stones. Would you like to test one out?”
“Nah, it’s fine. They're kind of expensive, and I don’t think we can really afford one… Right, guys?”
The others nodded with slightly disappointed looks.
“If I may ask, what’s your budget?”
“Well, between the three of us, we’ve got ten silver coins. But we still need to buy robes too...”
“I see, I see. That explains it.”
Their situation was clear. They were fresh-faced adventurers trying to gather all their necessary gear.
But between buying equipment and budgeting for essentials, there just wasn’t enough left for a Light Stone.
Which… suited me perfectly.
“In that case, how about these robes here?”
I gestured to a pile of worn-looking robes tucked away in a corner. The three rookies all frowned.
“Uh… we were hoping to get something a little more… functional.”
“Oh, but these robes are very practical, I assure you. They come with inner pockets, hoods, and the colors help you blend into forested terrain quite well.”
“Still, they look like they’ll fall apart at any moment…”
Exactly the reaction I’d expected. Now I could push a little further.
“Of course, of course. Nobody wants something that falls apart easily. Which is why — these robes have been specially made with durability in mind.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“In fact, they’re actually magic tools. It’s easier to show you. Allow me to demonstrate.”
With that, I slipped into one of the ragged robes.
“Now then, would one of you mind striking me with your sword — right on top of the robe?”
“Wait, what?! That’s crazy!”
“It’s fine. This robe is a magic tool, like I said. Plus, my own stats are quite high. A rookie’s attack won’t even make a dent.”
I pulled out my status plate and showed it to them. The three of them widened their eyes and exchanged stunned looks.
“Wait… why are you running a magic shop with stats like that? Wouldn’t you be better off as an adventurer?”
“I was one. Due to certain circumstances, I opened this store instead.”
Which wasn’t a lie. It had only been a short while ago, but they didn’t need to know that.
My vague words left an impression on them, and they quickly fell silent. Then, apparently trusting in my stats, one of them gave a small nod.
“…Alright. We’ll believe in your strength — and in the magic tool.”
“Excellent. Now, go ahead and slash.”
“Okay. Here I come!”
He drew his sword and swung it in a wide arc across my torso.
The moment the blade hit the robe, it stopped with a dull thud, like hitting thick cloth padding.
“Wh-what?!”
“This is insane!”
“How did that just happen?!”
All three of them exclaimed in shock.
“Now do you understand? These robes are built to last. They won’t fall apart easily — in fact, they’ll probably last longer than most standard robes.”
I seized the opportunity to advertise.
These robes were infused with the same skills I used during my own adventuring days: «Blade Resistance», «Impact Absorption», and «Shape Retention».
Thanks to those skills, I had been able to use the same robe through my entire time as an adventurer.
It had suffered some wear and tear over the years, but nothing that ever made it unusable.
“H-How much are these robes?!”
One of the rookies stared wide-eyed as he asked.
“Well, actually, these robes are still in the prototype phase. I haven’t even set an official price yet.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So how about this? I’ll offer you a special deal — one Light Stone and three of these robes, all for just ten silver coins. What do you say?”
The three of them looked at each other — then turned back to me and bowed deeply.
“We’ll take it!”
“Thank you so much!”
“We promise to take good care of them!”
Each one gave their thanks in their own way. I must admit, being appreciated like this feels quite nice.
“No, no. Thank you.”
Of course, this was still part of a broader plan.
Once these rookies start walking around in those robes, people will take notice. The ragged robes stand out.
And once others realize they’re more than just junk, the truth will spread fast.
Before long, more experienced adventurers will ask the boys where they got those robes — and just like that, the next wave of customers will arrive.
It might take a bit of time, though. This seed takes longer to sprout. For now, I’ll wait patiently.
And while I wait, I’ll make sure we’re ready for when demand spikes again.
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E/N:
Lot of things to say about this chapter. Ossan has a good business sense but maybe product display and management have potential to improve.
Anyway, the chapter title was one hard muhfugger to translate. Sheesh 🙄
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