Translator: Shizukuku

Editor: Lilia

Read at Watashi Wa Sugoi Desu!

Chapter 147 – Crash’s Side Job…?

When I entered the Adventurer’s Guild and spoke to the staff at the reception desk, they gave me a friendly smile and said, “Yes, your package has arrived.”

”Does it usually arrive this quickly?”

I couldn’t help but ask, and the staff member gave a wry smile and replied in a low voice, “No, it usually takes about ten days.”

“This time, it arrived early at the guild master’s discretion, so please expect it to take a little longer next time.”

“Yes, I understand. Um, please tell Emily-san thank you for me.”

“Certainly. Thank you for using our services.”

The staff member smiled and placed a large box on the counter, and I took it, stored it in my inventory, and bowed to them.

Seriously, it had only been a day. For now, I should go thank Crash.

When I left the guild and headed for Crash’s shop, as expected, there was a crowd of people there again today. But this time, everyone was lined up in a single file, waiting for their turn to enter the shop.

I wondered if I should get in line too. It would be a bit cheeky to enter through the back door, wouldn’t it?

With that in mind, I went to the back of the line.

The line moved along surprisingly quickly, and by the time I got to the store’s entrance, there was already a long line forming behind me again.

When it was my turn, I entered the store to find the shelves almost empty and Crash serving the customers.

The moment he saw my face, his expression instantly brightened.

“You came to deliver, right?!”

That was the first thing he said? I couldn’t help but smile wryly. But it was true that the shelves were almost completely empty.

The prices here ranged depending on the rank of the items being sold, so it was relatively more expensive than the Guild shop. But that was because Crash sold the best stuff.

For now, I nodded, remembering that I had quite a few potions on hand, and he told me to come over to the side of the counter.

Weaving my way through the player customers and arriving at the counter, I was met with Crash, who clasped his hands in front of his face and said, “Sorry, but could you deliver around 300 of each for now?”

“No problem. They’re all S-rank though, is that okay?”

“Fine by me. I owe you one.”

Crash happily removed the “Sold Out” signs from the shelves. 

Since Crash seemed busy with customers, I started arranging the potions I took out from my inventory on the shelves.

“Oh, awesome! They just restocked! I’ll take three High Potions!”

“Thank you. Just so you know, they’re quite a bit more expensive than before. Is that okay?”

“Huh, a price increase?”

“We only have higher-ranked items,” Crash informed them with a smile while watching me arrange the potions. “If you’re not satisfied with the price increase, please come back when we have regular items in stock.”

“No, no, if they’re higher rank, of course I’ll pay!”

“Thank you very much.”

Crash held out his hand, so I handed him three High Potions. Crash handed them to the player, who happily paid.

The next person wanted a similar transaction, and the person afterward too, so the potions I brought were quickly sold out.

“Sorry, but this time we’re really sold out of potions for the day. Please come back tomorrow.”

As Crash bowed his head, a bunch of players left the store, muttering their disappointment.

The few people who remained in the store were locals who had come to buy ingredients.

“Crash, your business is booming. Fondia and the other retirees would be happy to see it.”

“That’s true. I’m grateful. Though we do get some troublesome customers.”

“Well, you’ll find those anywhere. There are a lot of drunkards who come to my shop, too. You’re an adult now, Crash. Bring along someone nice and come have a drink at my place. I’ll give you a discount.”

“If you say that, then I’ll have to give you a discount too. Or well, I’ll sell to you at cost.”

“Don’t be silly. Young people shouldn’t be so considerate. Save your money while you’re still young. Then build a good family.”

“It’s still too soon for me.”

The old man smiled and waved goodbye, telling him to take it easy. 

Each person said things like, “You’re working hard. That’s great,” as Crash nodded and smiled at them. 

Crash was well-loved. It was like a big happy family. 

As I watched from the back, after the last person had left the store, Crash let out a huge sigh.

His smile quickly changed to a tired look.

“Sorry, Mac. I had to ask you to stock something that wasn’t scheduled for delivery.”

“It’s fine, I’m still making a lot. Should I make more?”

“Yes. Please.”

I took a stamina potion from my inventory and handed it to Crash.

Crash accepted it with a small bow and gulped it down.

“By the way, was it you who delivered my package, Crash?”

“Ah, to the frontier? Yeah, that was me.”

“I thought so. Thanks, it really helped. But why?”

Even though the shop was so busy, he went all the way to the frontier for me. I felt a little guilty.

While stretching, Crash answered my question.

“Remember that time I kicked that foreigner out and told them not to come back unless they were a customer? Maybe that worked because now everyone buys something before leaving. The store is running out of stock. That day, I was completely out, and I thought there was no point in staying open if I had nothing to sell, so I closed. Then my mom asked me to help her out a bit. So, when the store’s closed, I’m helping my mom. I get paid for it, though, so it’s fine.”

“I see. So?”

“Yeah. I had Mac’s delivery, and since I hadn’t been to the frontier town before, I jumped to Sei and then rode on Blanc¹ to the frontier town. It felt great. There were no dangers because the foreigners took care of any monsters that appeared. It was a nice break, and now I can jump straight to the frontier town, so it turned out to be a pretty good job.”

Crash told me with a smile. 

So Blanc was doing well. I hadn’t seen him since then. I wondered if I could pet him later.

Crash must have been tired from the sudden rush of customers. I was glad he managed to get a break.

Besides, the shelves were empty. With so many players coming to buy, it was no wonder they were empty. I should deliver more frequently.

“I’ll be brewing non-stop for the next while, so I’ll make you some more potions too.”

“That really helps. I don’t make much profit from high potions made by anyone other than you, Mac.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, because the others are only rank C.”

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Crash, who put the empty bottle under the counter with a pout. 

I also felt bad for the other pharmacists, who had their own struggles too. 

Aristocrats, pharmacists, and the church: it seemed like this world had a lot of problems.

I wondered if there were any players out there digging into any of that. It’d be nice if someone could just solve everything. …I felt like Yukihira would probably have a lot of information, though. After all, he seemed to be involved in all sorts of things, even inside the royal palace. He even called Vidello-san [ Good Luck ]. 

“At this rate, I’ll have to close the store for at least half the day tomorrow. Maybe I should go ask my mom if there’s anything else I can help with.”

“You might end up making more from your side job.”

I teased with a grin, but Crash, with a serious face, agreed, “It’s possible.”

“Maybe I should just become a courier.”

“A courier, huh?”

As I chuckled, Crash narrowed his eyes and leaned on the counter with his chin in his hand.

“I could deliver you to Vidello. You can give me those flower-shaped cookies as a reward.”

“Too bad, I can go myself. But I’ll make the cookies.”

When I replied like that, Crash sulked and said, “I see. How boring.”

When I asked Crash to see Blanc, he said yes without hesitation, so now I was in the back, petting the white horse to my heart’s content.

His white coat was incredibly smooth and felt great. Blanc didn’t mind being pet, which made me happy. What a good boy.

“So cute. Blanc, do you want to eat a meile fruit?”

“Oh, you’re offering fruit? Thank you. You really like meile fruit, don’t you, Blanc?”

Crash, who had been brushing Blanc’s back next to me, spoke to Blanc with a smile.

In response, Blanc stretched his neck toward Crash. Blanc seemed to be either asking for a pet or affectionately nudging Crash with his nose. It was mutual love.

I took a meile fruit from my bag and offered it to Blanc.

Blanc glanced at Crash, and after confirming that Crash had nodded, he gently took the fruit with his mouth.

With his long eyelashes slowly fluttering up and down, Blanc ate the meile fruit whole. Looking satisfied, he finally rubbed his cheek against mine. So cute.

“This little one really seems to like you, Mac. I mean, given how things started, he likely sees you as someone to protect.”

“What, really?”

“Probably. The way he looks at you gives that kind of feeling.”

“That kind of feeling, huh? Well, as long as you don’t hate me, Blanc.”

Blanc snorted in response to my words.

After seeing off Crash, who was going for a quick run around the area, I returned to the workshop to log out for sure this time.

I moved the fire liquor to the warehouse inventory. Yuuta had sent me 10 bottles. Thank you, Yuuta!

Kairi also asked me what I wanted, but I didn’t have any requests at the moment. What should I do?

I placed just one bottle of fire liquor on the table and took out the last of the high-grade evening primrose.

I retrieved the last bottle of holy water and took out my dispensing kit.

Come to think of it, I wondered how holy water was made.

A bit curious, I decided to appraise the holy water.

[ Holy Water: Rank C – Can dispel corruption. Can purify tainted things. Created by offering a prayer over water produced by magic power. ]

“Rank C, huh… I wonder if the water produced by magical power is made with water magic. And offering a prayer… I wonder what that involves.”

Not wanting to waste top-quality alcohol and high-grade evening primrose on Rank C holy water, I put everything away again.