Chapter 207: The Reopening
Link: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7583de/
Author: Hirukuma
Translated by Zzonkedd
Edited by Gumihou
Gumihou: General editing for smoother delivery [1]. Also, change ‘beastmen’ to ‘beastkin’ from now on.
As usual, the sudden increase of people on the floor came with its spate of problems. Director Bear and his team could be seen running around the area every day, trying to get things settled.
This time, the sudden influx of people came from Rocky Dog Mountain Floor. It was clear from the sheer number of people that it was quite the popular choice of settlement with its favourable climate and the sea. In short, we had a really large number of people moving in this time.
The issue of housing had been temporarily taken care of through tents. Fortunately, most hunters were pretty good at pitching up tents.
Naturally, as the resident vending machine, I was able to solve the other pressing issue, food. Even so, I do believe that the people could have gotten through without my help.
Aside from food that had been brought onto this floor, there was a growing number of people growing crops now.
The seeds and seedlings provided by Kikoyu had been greatly improved by Mister Field to the point that they required only minimal watering for abundant yields. As a result, sections of the Floor had been cordoned off for farming purposes. Thanks to this, Clearflow Lake had become largely self-sufficient in terms of food.
With food and shelter taken care of, the next priority on the list was clothing. Initially, I thought this would be a major issue, but it turned out that there were plenty of clothes available in various styles at Clearflow Lake. Later, I discovered that thanks to the Miss Dungeon Contest, both men and women became more interested in fashion.
Clothes were now seen as a form of self-expression rather than purely utilitarian. Clothing stores at Clearflow Lake enthusiastically embraced this shift and began crafting vibrant garments with embellishments to better showcase individual taste and aesthetics. When there was a fabric shortage, monster fur and leather were used, ensuring a consistent supply of clothing.
Well, when people no longer had to worry about food, shelter, or clothing, their next desire turned towards entertainment. This need was particularly pronounced among the free-spirited residents of Rocky Dog Mountain, who relished the freedom and thrill that the monster-filled sea offered. There were concerns that some individuals might turn to crime in search of excitement.
Fortunately, many women eagerly delved into the new found world of fashion that had unfolded before them. Additionally, the introduction of new dessert lines added to their delight. However, the question remained: how to engage the men?
So, there was this store that many men had been eagerly anticipating the reopening of.
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“Thank you, Hakkon.”
“Welcome”
At Shirley’s request, the late-night business was relocated. [1] Naturally, the shop had to be closed for a few days during the relocation.
On the night of the reopening, I was in charge of attracting customers at the entrance.
Shirley was right there beside me, ready to call out customers and lure the hesitant men with her alluring words.
“Welcome, won’t you share a night of dreams with us?”
This single line sounded corny. However, because they came from Shirley’s lips, the man’s knees buckled, and he was drawn into the store as if entranced.
I guess men really couldn’t help themselves when they were being lured in by such an attractive woman. Even now, she was already busily attracting the attention of other men on the street.
The men’s eyes appeared to be drawn to her breasts, which looked like they were on the verge of spilling out of her low-cut evening dress.
The moment any man stopped in their tracks, she would give them a flirty little side smile. A wink and a line later, they were reeled in. The ease with which she worked her charm bordered on comical, yet it was undeniably effective. The magical charm of such a woman was honestly unbelievable.
“Well, it looks like the store is getting quite busy. I’ll be needed there soon. Do take care of the rest here, dear?”
“Wo-rk ha-rd”
“Oh, I will~”
Please don’t say those words so provocatively. Also, the way you push your hair back moved all the curl s and curves in all the right places… to the point that even a lump of iron like me could feel some strange emotion stirring inside of me.
With Shirley gone, the flow of customers decreased significantly, but there was still a steady trickle for me to greet.
“Welcome welcome”
As I welcomed the customers, I did my other self-appointed job, t he details of which were written on the signboard that I had received as a birthday present:
[Want to increase your positive impression on a special someone? We have a gift for that. We also have gifts for the ones waiting for you at home~]In short, I am selling items that would appeal to women working here, as well as gifts for the people (wives) waiting for them at home.
Now, I should say that Shirley operates several proper bars and restaurants, in addition to establishments that offer extra services to men. So, husbands and fathers who visit these establishments could soften their wives’ attitudes by bringing a nice gift home.
The population boom came with an increase of customers, which meant I made quite the killing. [2] Additionally, I do offer a special service that no other vending machine gives.
“Hey, Hakkon. Do you know what Rosie likes?” A regular customer of Shirley’s special establishment asked in a quiet voice.
This customer has a wolf-like face with sharp fangs and a demeanour that could frighten a human child to tears. However, he was also strangely shy around women.
Let’s see, Rosie should be that female dog beastkin who works here. I think she likes this item.
I transformed into a shape that’s less than half my usual size. The colour of my body was predominantly pink with English letters all the way down the sides and front. There was an area close to the lower part of my body that emits a smell that entices dogs. When dogs pressed their noses there, they would activate a button that dispenses dog food.
By the way, I encountered this vending machine at a certain shopping mall. So, of course, I had to give it a try. Naturally, I did not just give my customer the kibble as is, but used my powers to pack the kibble into a small bag and handed it to him through <Telekinesis>.
“So, she likes this? Thank you, Hakkon~”
“Thank you very much”
The wolf person left in good spirits after waving goodbye to me.
As mentioned, a lot of people stopped by to buy some small gifts and things for the night shift ladies here, and would often consult me for advice.
Since I generally remember what my regular customers liked, it was no problem for me to give advice or product recommendations.
Ah, another customer. Oh ho, this one has a shaved head and a ruggedly masculine aura. A typical manly man.
“Hakkon.”
“Gor-su”
Isn’t he the other half of the gatekeeper duo? The one who had been a bit lonely lately?
While I had seen him patronise Shirley’s establishment, it was rare for him to approach me while I’m here.
In fact, it was rare for him to even talk when he’s alone, so I braced myself, wondering whether something was wrong somewhere on this floor.
I waited for a while, but the moment of dreaded anticipation passed into awkwardness.
“Welcome”
[1] Well, if he won’t break the silence, I will. Perhaps some of my impatience must have leaked into my voice, because Gors body shook slightly.Even so, his grim expression remained unchanged. I had known him long enough to recognis e that he wasn’t truly angry with me. However, to an outsider, his expression might have appeared rather intimidating.
“Do you know what Shirley likes?”
Ah, so it’s Shirley you want to impress—wait, what?
My thoughts came to an abrupt halt for a moment. Was Gors joking? I scrutinis ed his face, now flushed as red as iron in a furnace.
Is he serious? Shirley of all people? She’s a beyond ‘Very Difficult’ level; I’d say she’s more of an ‘Inferno’ class! I had witnessed numerous individuals attempt to court her, only to be politely rebuffed in her professionally flirty manner. While I believed Gors to be honest and sincere, hmm…
What does she like ? I knew she regularly purchased contraceptives and alcohol from me, but those were business-related transactions. Anyone attempting to gift her condoms would likely face immediate rejection. One individual once confessed to her with a bouquet of flowers bought from yours truly, only to leave with their head hung low.
While she seemed to enjoy alcohol, I assumed she must consume a fair amount at work, making alcohol an unsuitable gift. To be honest, I knew very little about Shirley’s personal life. I was aware of her skills as a hunter who ventured into the nightlife business and her strong desire to serve others, but… that was the extent of my knowledge.
Hmm, this is challenging. I hold both of them in high regard, and it would be wonderful if they hit it off, but I’m at a loss for a suitable gift. She’s one of my best customers, yet I lack significant knowledge about her and struggle to think of an appropriate present.
“Ne-xt ti-me”
“Right, I’ll come by again.”
Gors appeared to know exactly what I meant as he gave me a slight nod before leaving. His shoulders looked a little hunched over… Ah, I would really like to help him, but I just don’t know that much about Shirley.
As the vending machine who had helped Karios nurture his love into fruition, I have a great desire to help Gors as well.
Right, I’ve decided. Let’s observe Shirley closely for Gors’s sake and gather information.
I have been a little curious about the kind of life she leads for a while now.
While it is not good to pry into other people’s lives, this is for Gors’s sake, not my own curiosity.
Yup.
Now, how should I proceed? While shadowing others might prove challenging, I have mastered the art of blending into the background. For now, let’s review my product list to determine if there’s anything that could aid in this noble cause. I used to dream about being a detective and have always wanted to try my hand at something like this.
[Gumihou: This is such a guy thing, haha]
[1] General editing for smoother delivery [2] Adjusted to minimise misunderstanding. The author sometimes places ‘although’ or ‘buts’ in the oddest place, giving the following paragraph a completely different meaning…
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