After Hapty-san finished her instruction of Aoi-chan and Hina-chan, we made a brief stop in front of the house thanks to the function Shiro-san had added, then headed straight to the Adventurer Guild to file our report.
Since this had been a purely formal request meant for training, and there were no specific reporting requirements, we finished up in no time.
Hapty-san offered the two of them one final recommendation to get their equipment in order, declared her work finished, and went on her way.
Thus, their first "job"—which was essentially field training—concluded safely... well, aside from the two wyverns that met fates so miserable they defied description.
It seemed to have been a valuable experience for Aoi-chan and Hina-chan. Even after we returned to Lilia-san’s mansion, they were both deep in serious conversation about the challenges they had identified over the course of the day.
Naturally, the topic eventually turned toward the equipment Hapty-san had urged them to prepare.
"Aoi-senpai, do you want to go look for some as early as tomorrow?"
"I think sooner is definitely better, but we need to find a place that actually sells weapons and armor first... And since we’re doing this, I’d prefer a shop with high-quality stock. It might be best to ask someone like Luna-san for a recommendation."
It was true that I didn't know much about weapon shops, as I didn't frequent them. This was a vital step for their future as adventurers, so finding a good shop was... Wait.
"……You two."
"Kaito-san?"
"Is something wrong?"
I see, so that was it. I finally understood why Hapty-san had been so strangely persistent about them preparing their gear.
"……I found a weapon shop. And it's right nearby."
""Huh?""
We moved from Lilia-san’s mansion back to my house, and I led them down to the basement. Yes, our destination was the weapon shop Alice had built down there as a prank. I never dreamed the day would come where we’d actually use it.
"……A weapon shop in the basement? It’s like a hidden shop!"
"A weapon shop in a basement... doesn't that seem a bit pointless?"
In contrast to Aoi-chan, whose excitement was surging, Hina-chan wore a look of utter confusion.
"Hina-chan, that’s just..."
"Aoi-chan... I hate to say it, but I don't think she’ll understand the appeal even if you explain it."
"……T-That might be true, but still."
Aoi-chan was a net gamer, and while she wasn't as deep into them as I was, she seemed to have read her fair share of light novels. Consequently, she had a strong grasp of the "unspoken rules." She understood the romance of the genre; she was the type to get caught up in the mood with you.
Even now, the idea of a secret shop in a basement—especially one run by Alice, a crafter with the world's most elite skills—seemed to be tickling her fancy, sending her excitement levels through the roof.
Hina-chan, on the other hand, had claimed to be quite the gamer herself, but her experience was almost entirely limited to multiplayer party games. To Hina-chan, games weren't solo journeys; they were social activities meant for having a loud, fun time with everyone.
Of course, that was a perfectly valid way to enjoy gaming, and having so many friends to play with was enviable. However, alas... because her preferred genres were so different from mine and Aoi-chan’s, we often ran into these communication gaps.
Even now, as Aoi-chan spoke passionately about the charm and romance of a hidden shop, I could practically see the question marks multiplying above Hina-chan’s head.
"……Um, but if it’s hidden, won’t that hurt their sales?"
"No, it’s not about that..."
Finding the exchange between Aoi-chan, who was desperately trying to explain, and the hopelessly confused Hina-chan quite heartwarming, I interrupted them just as we reached the door.
When we stepped inside, we were greeted by rows of beautifully displayed weapons and the same lion kigurumi from before.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Alice-chan Shop. I’m so happy I might finally make a sale!"
"Setting the shopkeeper aside, the quality here really is incredible."
"Ahaha. Well, I’ve put up some sheets next to the displays with simple descriptions and the various enchantments I’ve added, so please, have a look around."
At Alice’s prompt, Aoi-chan and Hina-chan began browsing the weapons and armor with wide, sparkling eyes. Drawn in by their enthusiasm, I looked around too, only to notice something strange.
"……Wait. Haven't the prices changed significantly?"
"Ah, I adjusted those. I could’ve left them at the original prices, but if things are too cheap, you don’t get that sense of accomplishment, right? I changed the pricing so they can feel a sense of progression as they earn money and upgrade their gear."
"……That’ll probably help you sell more in the long run."
"Well, that’s the goal."
Alice seemed remarkably savvy at business whenever it didn't involve her general store. Considering the quality had always been too high for the price, the current tags were likely far more appropriate.
Looking closely, I noticed the armor was generally priced lower than the weapons, making it easier for them to secure high-performance defensive equipment first.
As I watched Aoi-chan and Hina-chan inspect the goods, Alice muttered softly to herself.
"……Well, my impression of them has improved enough that they've at least 'met the minimum requirements' for my approval. I suppose I’ll meddle just a little bit more."
??? "And with that, the story of the two girls' adventurer debut is scheduled to end with the next update."
Serious-senpai "What's next? A festival in the God Realm?"
??? "No, before that, we have the Six Kings' Executives Arc."
Serious-senpai "……Are we finally getting the details on that group of perverts? (Trembles)"
??? "……Seriously, is there any way we can just skip my executives?"