Meikyuu Toshi no Antique Shop Vol 1 Chapter 9

Fujiwara stifled a yawn.

It was not a good morning for him. He woke up way past the time he decided to, and he couldn’t leave the bed easily after that.
His blood pressure was completely low.
Although he had tried to reform his body through training several times, it became no more durable and the training failed entirely.
Even if he went out into the store now, he’d have his elbow thrust out, sitting there dimly.
Fortunately there were few cases where he had to work in mornings, so it was no hindrance to business.
“I’m home~”
With the sound of a bell, the door opened with great momentum, revealing a Full Armor standing there.
No matter how you looked at it, this full suit of armor was a warrior, and this person was a great Explorer, although they were in fact a bona-fide worker of the shop.
As if it were a usual thing, they wore a frilly ap.r.o.n on their lower half, and they had just returned from a wholesale purchase at a certain tavern, hanging shopping bags on one arm.
“…Welcome Back.”
“Since its baked fresh, it’ll surely be good. I brought the Manager’s favorite plain, but also chocolate chip, ginger, and a variety more.
“…Ah, dark chocolate.”
“Doesn’t it help with tension, is the drowsiness not going away?”
“…My blood pressure is low.”
“Ah, since I was behind the store today, I collected a person. Wait, no, who do you think I am?”

Anemone often collected strangers to the store.
Basically, troubled people and often those just returning from the dungeon, to be treated if they’re falling dead on the street.
There didn’t seem to be any such person today.

“h.e.l.lo—“
“Sorry to disturb you”
Unexpectedly, two familiar faces appeared behind Anemone.
It was the pigtailed girl Linne and the short-cut girl Soarer.
They were both guests who had visited the store.

“…Hey.”
“Do you have a bad condition?”
“Is he turning blue?”
“The store manager is weak in the morning.”
“…Well,”
“But lately, something has had you in wraps, something troubling.”
“Uuh,”
Since employing Anemone, he had become a chronic offender. Fujiwara could not refute that.
Even when his intention was to get up early, by the time opening work, she had already completed everything. Anemone had truly been working hard in her heavy armor. Recently, she had even obtained citizens.h.i.+p after helping around the neighborhood.

“Please sit here waiting, I will go prepare the coffee beans.”

“Oh, we will help.”

“Me too.”
“Hmm…”
Upon the three girls flowing into the back yard, Fujiwara’s att.i.tude became lazy again, with his elbow on the counter as he stifled a yawn.
◆

“This, is delicious.”
“Maple syrup with nuts, my favorite flavor.”

“What is this?”
“That’s Ginger.”
“Unfortunately, there’s only a little.”
“They seem to keep a honey called ‘Seth Moraz’ as a secret ingredient. I’ll have to own the Tavern’s Goodwife.”
“There seem to be so many interesting ones.”

“There are many kinds indeed. I have not eaten yet, either.”

In the back yard had begun a small party.
Three girls, well one barely a girl with her full body armor who looked like a senior, ate the biscuits that were bought instead of breakfast and were all noisily chatting, emptying the platter.

Much like the coffee, that tavern’s owner was the only one who knew the full recipe.
That tavern, bustling with Seekers, in the evening also had a side business as a Coffee Shop in the morning. Fujiwara very much preferred this particular Coffee Shop.
Fujiwara, while manning the counter, carefully placed a plate in a position not visible to those outside.
Fujiwara ate his first biscuit, welcomed with the bitter taste he enjoyed instead of the sweetness you’d expect from chocolate.
Another was picked up, moved near his mouth while he chewed. Despite being tired, Fujiwara was confident he could respond immediately and properly regardless of the situation.
“By the way, are you planning to go anywhere today?”
“After the end of that exploration we did yesterday, I’m on holiday.”
“I’m going to shop at the mall of the Labyrinth City.”
“But, before that, we decided to stop by here to check in with you two.”
“This one, that means…”
“Okay.”
Soarer nodded powerfully, Fujiwara appeared to be glad.
“You could finally arrive at the fourth floor.
Fujiwara had suffered with Soarer up until now.
He couldn’t capture the third floor, no matter what. It was to the point where the young Seeker had considered visiting here for the first time, but in one month, they finally achieved it at last.
“Congratulations, you have done very well.”
“Thanks to you two who let me meet Linne.”
Soarer stood up, dutifully bowing their head.
Since Fujiwara and Anemone saw that he could not capture the third floor due to lack of a party, they had introduced her to Linne who was also looking for a companion. Apparently this was a success.
“Her magical flame is truly wonderful. Such big Metal Slimes could be killed by a single blow.”
One could tell how much Soarer thought Linne’s magic was wonderful with her very active gestures.
“Magic. It’s amazing!”
“It was simply Beginner Cla.s.s magic,”
Apparently not used to being praised, Linne contracted.
“Not only that, but since the light magic could be used, we didn’t need a lantern. The fuel cost was reduced greatly, which was a big help.”
“The magic was so gentle with its light.”
“Uu… It wasn’t that wonderful.”
“And, also,”
“No, no, That’s more than enough, Soarer”
Linne couldn’t endure the situation anymore, trying to pull the hem of Soarer’s jacket to make them sit down.
Anemone was relieved to see that the two were on good terms, to an extent it could be seen with a glance. With how impromptu their introduction was, she was anxious they would not be compatible.
“Oh, I wish I was good with…Gusun”
Anemone was unconsciously moved to tears.
“Ee, softened tears came out”
“Anemone-san…”
Soarer also teared up, their eyes becoming hot.
Then, wiping their eyes, they remembered that there was another good thing to be reported.

“Speaking of the exploration, we also got a fairly good item haul.”

A knapsack was swelling to its limit, with a sword hilt sticking out and a large number or items somehow stored in it.

“Eh, isn’t that a large quant.i.ty of items?”
“Feeding ground, do you know what it is?”
“I see, was that found?”
Anemone nods.
In the Dungeon, the third floor has a monster called a Mold Slime. Its body is very hard, and its staple foods are iron sc.r.a.p, and it had a habit of collecting weapons and armor in one place. Seekers call this a “Feeding Grounds”, and therefore this is a place many strive to find, to get many items.

“So today, we’re going to get you to do the appraisals.”
“So, immediately, the Manager…”
Anemone turned around to Fujiwara, the salesperson
“Suuu… Suuu…”
Sleeping breaths could be heard from the counter.

“Huh?”

“Yeah, sorry, this person really can be useless in the morning.”