I was running a stall at the Arclesia Empire's Founding Anniversary Festival, but things had taken a bizarre turn right from the get-go. Actually, it had started off quite well. I’d opened for business, and the very first customer had already purchased a set of Nebula’s teacups. It was a smooth start...
Until Fate-san suddenly showed up, followed closely by Chronoa-san, who I assumed was chasing her. Hearing their exchange made the situation easy to grasp. Fate-san must have slipped away the moment they arrived at the castle and headed straight here, leaving Chronoa-san to hunt her down. I could almost see Chris-san holding her head in her hands right about now.
More importantly, my priority was to rescue the customer who looked like she was on the verge of death, caught right between the two goddesses. It was only natural; anyone would be terrified if two Supreme Gods suddenly appeared and started bickering across them.
"Please, both of you, calm down. You're distressing the customer."
"Huh? Oh, you're right. Sorry, sorry! I was manipulating destiny to keep people from noticing the stall, but that didn't apply to anyone who was already here. I was so startled by the God of Space-Time appearing that I didn't even notice her."
"Hm? My apologies. It seems I let my temper get the better of me. Forgive me for alarming you."
"A-Ah, n-no, not at all!? S-S-Such a thing, I-I don't mind in the slightest!?"
When I spoke up, both Fate-san and Chronoa-san seemed to notice the customer immediately, and they apologized to her with awkward expressions. Well, the customer being apologized to by Supreme Gods looked quite overwhelmed and was acting incredibly humble.
"I'm sorry for startling you. Are you all right?"
"Y-Yes! There is n-n-no problem at all!? I-It is I who should apologize... for not leaving quickly even though I finished my shopping, thus causing trouble..."
She seemed to be a very kind person; the emotions reaching me through Sympathy Magic strongly expressed a sense of guilt, as if she felt she had caused confusion by not leaving the storefront sooner.
Well, I suppose that’s what happens when two Supreme Gods suddenly show up. Anyway, since we caused her trouble, I felt like I should give her something as an apology. Was there anything good? Ah, come to think of it...
"As an apology for startling you, please take this if you'd like. It's just a little something like an amulet, but if you don't mind..."
"A-Ah, s-such a... I am sorry to make you worry, I should be the one apologizing. But it would be rude not to accept, wouldn't it? Then, I shall gratefully receive it."
"Yes. Thank you for your purchase today."
What I offered her as an apology was a prototype accessory made from Magnawell-san’s scales. When I’d asked Alice to process them, she’d presented several designs. I’d kept the ones that weren't officially adopted, so I gave her one of those.
Calling it a "rejected design" might sound like I was giving her junk, but in truth, it used more scales and was more ornate than the final product. We only passed on it because the luxury would have made the unit price too high, opting for a simpler design instead. It was a high-quality piece.
The customer accepted the accessory while looking quite overwhelmed, bowed many times, and then left. She had praised the teacups Nebula made quite a lot; she was a good customer.
"...Um, so, once again, I can more or less guess the situation, but what are you two here for?"
"I came to play at Kai-chan's stall!"
"Well, I believe you already know, but since this one disappeared during the meeting with the Arclesia Emperor, I followed her here."
Yeah, it was exactly as I expected. I could understand the situation as if I were holding it in my hand. I could easily visualize the scene of Fate-san sneaking out, Life-san sleeping, and Chronoa-san dealing with Chris-san while being exasperated.
"In any case, we are going back, God of Fate."
"Hold on, God of Space-Time. We're already at Kai-chan's stall, aren't we? It would be rude to leave without buying anything. That would be an insult to Kai-chan, and by extension, an insult to Shallow Vernal-sama, wouldn't it?"
"Mgh... Ngh... Well, true. If one visits a shop, leaving without a purchase would be no different from heckling."
Because Chronoa-san is so serious, she was being talked right into it. Well, I suppose it wouldn't take much time to just buy something and leave, so maybe it was fine.
"So, Kai-chan! Do you have any food or drinks?"
"...I'm amazed you can place an order like that with a straight face while looking at this stall. I mean, I have some World Tree fruit drinks, if that works..."
"Ah, then I'll have that!"
"...Should I point out the contradiction, or should I just act like I didn't hear it?"
I wasn't exactly selling them at the stall, but since I had plenty in my Magic Box, I took out some World Tree fruit drinks. In short, Fate-san just wanted to perform the act of shopping at my stall, so any product was probably fine.
For now, I'd let her choose between an Ordinary World Tree Fruit Drink or Nebula's World Tree Fruit Drink.
Serious-senpai: "By gifting a One-of-a-kind Dragon King's Scale Accessory, he sets a stomach pain flag for the Mob Young Lady. By selling World Tree fruit drinks to Fate, he sets a stomach pain flag for Chris... Is this guy some kind of Stomach Pain Devil?"