Volume 2 - CH 151

As I was standing in line, a line was starting to form behind me, so I would not have time to talk with them even if I went inside.

With that in mind, I was able to go inside the store.

Looking inside, I saw that nothing had changed since my last visit.

There are a variety of products on display, some of them are shady looking, but nothing that looks particularly dangerous.

The only thing that has changed, however, is the fact that there are …… kids inside the store describing the products and selling them.

I recognized all of them.

The two girls working the booth are Mina and Muu.

They seemed to be working together to do their job, and while Mina was packing the goods into bags, Muu was offering and receiving the money.

The customers smile at the children who are trying their best, even though they are still a little flustered.

And there was another little boy running around the store in various places. Jin.

Although Jin was the youngest of all the rescued children, he seemed to know how to use all the products and what they were for, and was able to answer the customers’ questions appropriately.

Jin seemed to be satisfied, as he was praised by the customers for his great feat for such a small boy.

However, I couldn’t find one more person ……, the oldest one as I recall, Jigul. (Previously Jigal, author typo probably?)

I was looking for him in the store when I heard a voice call out to me.

“May I help you, sir?”

The person who approached me was Jin, who had just been treating customers.

I know it’s a bit difficult to go and talk to someone by yourself, but I was impressed again by his courteous service that didn’t make me feel that way at all.

But he didn’t seem to remember me. I was a little sad, I have to admit that.

“Jin, it’s been a while.”

“…? ….rh- uhm…..”

“I was only with you for a day or so. I guess it’s understandable. My clothes are different too. See, it’s me. Oure-“

“Aah! The white-haired Onii-chan!”

A loud voice came from the counter.

I looked over to see Mina deserting her work and running toward me.

Muu seemed to have noticed me, too, but he seemed to be at a loss as to what to do since there was a customer in front of her.

Mina’s words seemed to remind Jin of me, and he jumped up and down with a smile on his face.

Mina was about to jump on me, too, so I held her head down to stop her from coming any further. 

“Mina, do your job first.”

“Awww…….”

I wondered if these girls were such tomboys, and looked for Irza.

But Irza, as well as Jigul, did not seem to be in the store, and I could not find her.

Mina looked a little disappointed and went back to her work, but Jin was still there and decided to talk to me.

“Jin, where did Irza and Jigul go?”

“Well, the teacher is in the back of the store working on a compound. Jigal is out earning money as an adventurer.”

“Pardon?”

“He said he’s going to be a bodyguard for the store.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea.”

Jigal was indeed a boy with a pretty strong persona.

He must have had something on his mind after what happened.

I was somewhat uneasy to see a small boy working as an adventurer, but I guessed that Jigal would be working in this area, so I would have a chance to see him again.

I will help him out when I see him again.

“Hmm …… can I talk to Irza now?”

“Well, …… she told me not to come in while she’s compounding, so I don’t think she will be able to for a while. My work ends in the evening, I’m free if you come back at that time. I will talk to the teacher.”

“Well, …… I just have a little something to tell her. I’ll wait here until she’s done with the brewing or something.”

“All right, Jigal is coming home today, so let’s have dinner together!”

“I’ll wait, then.”

With that verbal promise, I decide to look at the merchandise in there.

I looked around for a while, but it seemed that my presence here was making it difficult for the kids to concentrate on their work, so I decided to sit down on a chair in the corner of the store and take care of my swords.

Because it would be very eye-catching to maintain a three-foot-long sword in this room, I decided to maintain only the Shadow Serpent, the wakizashi.

The blacksmith Oni had taught me how to maintain the sword, so I knew exactly how to do it.

After removing the blade and handle and wiping off the blade with polishing paper, I lightly tap the blade with a polishing powder.

I looked at the black blade of the sword and admired its beauty, letting out a breath of admiration.

I looked at the place where the mark was written, and sure enough, there was the inscription “Shadow Serpent” on it.

It was quite strange that it had been carved by someone’s hand, but it was no less beautiful.

After cleaning and oiling the sword, I put the blade into the hilt and tap the handle head to make the blade drop deep into the hilt.

After putting in the mekugi (nails) and shaking the sword lightly to make sure they were firmly seated, the sword was placed in its sheath.

“Swords are nice, aren’t they?”

At this rate, I was about to reach for my three-foot sword, but then I remembered how outstanding it was and quickly retracted it.

So I decided to carry my sword at my waist.

At the same time, I saw a short person come out from the back of the room.

The person was wearing a triangular hat, which occasionally had to be adjusted, as if it was not the right size.

“Teacher, there is a white haired Onii-chan here to see you.”

“White haired- ……? Eh?”

I heard such a conversation, and when I reconfirmed again that it was definitely Irza, she appeared from the corner of the room.

Her appearance was completely different from the others, but Irza seemed to remember me and was surprised to see me with her eyes wide open.

“Yo. It’s been a while.”

“Ouren-san! You are really him! Look at what you’ve done to me!?”

“Excuse me, what?”

As soon as Irza opened her mouth, she began to demand me to take responsibility.

Since I had no recollection of any of this, I could only take a step back and let Irza’s accusations slide, but then she stepped forward and pressed forward.

“Wh-what are you talking about?”

“We can’t talk here! Come with me!”

Irza forcefully pulled me by the hand and took me to the back of the store.

The customers and the children could only gawk at the scene and listen to the sound of the door slamming until it closed.